“What? Why? I know there are a lot of women who don’t want a man to be there, but I’m not like them. I like knowing you’ll be there. Your possessive nature is part of who you are, Stephen. I wouldn’t want to change you. Even if you are a pain in the ass.”
“The clubs have been going for years like I told you. I inherited them. Being a Knox means I have an obligation to keep them running, and I’ll have to pass my information onto my son one day. There is the age gap between us, and I didn’t want to give you any more causes to doubt our relationship.”
“You have a son?” she asked.
“No.” At the mention of a son, he imagined Ursula swollen with his child. She would look so sexy. An ache hit him square in the chest at the thought of getting her pregnant. He shook his head. He wouldn’t be able to get her pregnant unless they could get past this. “The only person I have is you,” he said.
“What do I need to wear?” He sighed knowing they weren’t going to get much more talking without her knowing more about his club.
“You can come like you are,” he said.
Chapter Sixteen
Ursula sat in the passenger’s side of his car as Stephen pressed the security code and identification into the board at the side of the gate. The silence in the car was deafening. The ring on her finger felt heavy. She’d agreed to marry him without seeing this side of him because she loved him. There was no way she could live the rest of her life without him in it. She loved him. She wanted to be with him. Her decision had to be the right one.
He drove down the long drive way. She found the many trees and darkness amusing. It was like the opening to some kind of horror movie based around a haunted house. After a few minutes he parked the car in a large parking lot. There were several more cars already parked. Stephen helped her out of the car. She gasped when she saw the mansion before her. It was larger than Stephen’s house, and she thought that was huge.
“Wow,” she said.
“It has a lot of history around it.” He placed a hand at her back taking her to the front entrance.
A man waited inside the door. Stephen greeted him then took her coat from her. She smiled at the man, who gave her a nod of the head. So far everything seemed normal. Stephen opened the door to the main hallway. He led her down the hall to another room. She took a deep breath. Her nerves were driving her crazy. They walked through a room that held a bar. There was a sultry dark-haired singer on stage.
They stopped at the bar while Stephen ordered a coffee for himself. “I’ll have a beer,” she said.
“The lady will have a beer.” She needed to do something to calm herself.
Violet sat next to Cadeon at a large table. She saw a couple more men with their women curled up against them. They were touching each other. Small touches on the hand, back, or face, but she saw the need she felt. Acting on instinct, Ursula took Stephen’s hand as they walked the small distance to the sitting area where his friends sat. The men stood when she approached.
“Hi, everyone. Tate, Kevin, Sean, and Lucas you know. Also, Cadeon and Violet. This man, though, is James. He was at the party, but I don’t recall you two being introduced.” Stephen made the introductions. James kissed her hand and let her go immediately. She liked there was no lingering in touches with each other.
They sat for several moments. She saw all the men exchange glances. “I’m going to have to leave you here while I go and talk with the others. Violet will stay with you.” Ursula nodded her head watching them all leave.
Stephen kissed her deeply before leaving. Cadeon did the same to Violet.
Seconds later, she sat with Violet sipping her beer.
“Are you all right?” Violet asked.
“I’m fine. This is just ... erm ... for me it is just a little too much at the moment.” She tried to explain without sounding judgmental.
“I understand. When Cadeon told me about this place I was concerned. Then I was charmed, and I found it funny.” Violet sipped from a soda can.
“I’m surprised you don’t drink hard. Do you want me to order you some wine?”
Violet shook her head. “I don’t drink. I’m more of a tea or coffee girl.”
“When did you and Cadeon become an item?”
“Over four months ago. I used to work for him in one of his businesses.”
Ursula spat beer out of her mouth, the action so sudden Violet jumped. “Shit, I’m so sorry.” She grabbed napkins to try and clean up the mess.
“What did I say?” Violet asked.
“You worked for him?”
The other woman nodded her head. Ursula finished cleaning away the mess she’d created. “I work for, no, I used to work for Stephen. I cleaned his house and cooked his dinner.”
“I don’t know a lot about Stephen. Living with Cadeon is more than enough for me. He likes me to himself, and to be honest, I like being with him.”
“Was he honest about this place?” She finished wiping up the beer. The woman minding the bar came over to gather the towels. Ursula sat down with the half finished bottle of beer.
“Yes, Cadeon has always been honest with me. I wasn’t with him in the beginning. I know this life is not for every woman, but it is for me. I love him, and it’s nice knowing I’ll always be safe.” Violet smiled sipping her tea.
Ursula recalled what Stephen had told her about the other woman. Violet looked really happy.
Several men sat in the opposite booth. Neither of them looked over at them or sent side-long glances. “They won’t approach the table,” Violet said.
“What?” Ursula turned back to the other woman.
“One of the rules of the club is not to approach other women. The staff are not to be dated, and the women who frequent the club are considered taken. You’re wearing a pendant known by many to be Stephen Knox’s possession. To the men, you’re owned by him.”
Ursula listened to Violet. Her words should piss her off. Being owned by men was a barbaric way of looking at situations.
“You’re totally fine with all of this?” Ursula asked. She was pissed at her own lack of being pissed.
“Why wouldn’t I be? Cadeon loves me. I spent a great deal of my life being afraid. He takes care of me. I like knowing when I fall asleep in his arms everything will be okay. I don’t expect you to understand. There have been women that he’s told me about who hated this whole thing. But for once wouldn’t you like someone to hold you, love you, and protect you?” Violet put her cup down. “Before Cadeon there was nothing in my life but fear. I was scared to live. Now, I have him. There is nothing else in the world I want.”