After sex, they’d showered – where there was more sex – then he’d brought her back to bed and told her to wait while he went into the closet.

‘If you hate the shirt I picked out, I will iron another for you,’ she called out, wondering why he had gone into the walk-in closet they shared, but denied her entry.

A few seconds later he came back out of the closet and tossed a ball of material at her. ‘Put that on.’

Unwinding the blue fabric that was almost the colour of his eyes, she fathomed that it was a short, backless, cowl neck dress that would show off plenty of bosom without attaining slutty levels.

‘I’m grateful that I won’t be nude,’ she said. ‘Do I get underwear?’

‘No,’ he said, yanking on a fresh pair of jeans and then donning the shirt she had selected for him.

Music was already blaring from downstairs, meaning the party had started without them. She quickly dried her hair, knowing it would settle in waves, and Dax was kind enough to reveal a makeup kit in one of the dresser drawers.

For the first time in a month, she felt like a real, ordinary woman again. Slathering on the gloss, she finished then spun to face him where he stood, waiting by the door.

‘What do you think?’

‘Great, whatever, can we get out of this room?’

He could’ve left at any time, but he waited so that she wouldn’t have to enter the party alone, although he didn’t explicitly say that.

‘One second,’ she said, approaching him and unbuttoning his shirt from the top.

‘Why are you doing that?’ he asked. The obvious tent in his jeans betrayed his lack of offense at her actions. ‘I’ll give you more sex later.’

She spread her palms on his chest, opening his shirt as much as she could. ‘It’s going to be hot down there.’

‘It’s California, but it’s night time.’

‘Things might get intense downstairs, or I might get anxious and need a distraction, and this is it.’ She kissed the width of his chest.

‘If I get anxious will you flash your tits at me and let me kiss them?’

He took her hands out of his shirt, but didn’t button it, so he was obviously happy for her to have her distraction.

‘Yeah,’ she said, much to his surprise. ‘If you bring me up here first.’

‘Whatever, let’s go.’

‘Wait. What should I expect down there?’

‘You’re not expected to fuck any guy or suck any cock, except mine,’ he said, taking a front length of her hair between his first two fingers.

‘That’s it? That’s the only information you can give me?’

‘Expect everything else to go wrong,’ he shrugged. ‘Do as you’re told, don’t contradict anyone, and make every guy down there want you.’

Trust Dax to drop a bomb like that at the last second. ‘What? How am I supposed to do that?’

‘Just walk in the room, babygirl. Every guy will have a hard-on.’

‘That I’m not supposed to attend to, right?’

‘Be sexy, be flirty, but don’t cross the line into slutty. You’ll have them all drooling, that’s what we want. But you make sure they know that you’re my female and you love it. You’ll have to adore me, let them think you’re infatuated.’

‘Addicted to your dick?’ she asked, not fooled.

‘Right on.’

‘Oh, you’re going to pay for this later,’ she mumbled, but she followed him out of the bedroom and down to the party.

She didn’t stay long in Dax’s wake, or even in his company. The music was constant, the alcohol was flowing, and lines of coke were available on the bar at the outer deck. Twenty guys had shown up and they’d brought a posse of women who were happy to show off their figures around the pool when one man suggested skinny-dipping.

Dax was on a lounger, flanked by women and surrounded by men. Though she didn’t see him talk much, most of the partygoers were just happy to be in Dax’s presence. Bruno took up another corner of the back patio, he had more women adoring him than men, but she figured that was by his request.

Ivy, on the other hand, wasn’t here to enjoy the party at all. As soon as they reached the bottom of the stairs Dax wandered off because Bruno had commandeered her. He told her to keep the guests happy. Her job was to be hostess, she topped off glasses, and cooked at the grill. She stocked the fridge, made cocktails and cleaned up the messes. All of her work experience to date came in handy.

The party guests were getting louder, but because they were in the middle of nowhere there were no neighbours to bother, so it didn’t matter. By the time they reached the wee hours the party was still going strong and didn’t appear to be letting up any time soon.

For the first time all night when she entered the kitchen it was empty and she was alone. Halfway through her task of filling the canapé trays she glanced at the kitchen door and wondered if anyone would notice her making a break for it. If she was lucky enough to find the front door unlocked, as she never had before, then she could get a head start.

Just then, someone came in off the back deck into the kitchen and her opportunity was gone. ‘Do you need any help?’

She hadn’t expected the tall stranger to ask her that, nor did she expect him to come around the island to her side.

‘No,’ she said, happier to be occupied than have to mingle. ‘I’m almost finished.’

‘I’ve seen you running around tonight. You haven’t had a chance to sit still. Let someone help you and you might have a chance to enjoy yourself tonight.’

His hand covered hers when she reached for the box of crackers. ‘I’m happy to stay busy.’

‘You’re quite the pick,’ he said.

All night people had been making comments such as this. Their statements included things like, ‘he’s a lucky guy,’ and, ‘I see why you were chosen.’ She just assumed they were talking about her and Dax.

‘Dax knows what he wants,’ she said, finishing her task. There were daiquiris and margaritas to mix but when the stranger discarded his drink and rested back on the counter, he was in her way.

‘Dax does what he’s told. He didn’t pick you.’

‘I don’t know what—‘

‘I know what’s going on, everyone here does, and you won’t catch a break like this again.’

Meeting his green eyes, she forgot about the task ahead. ‘Who are you?’

‘Your chance to get out,’ he said. ‘I’m your chance at freedom, probably your last one.’

‘Maybe you’re not as clued in as you think,’ she said, thinking of the deadline.

‘If you want to get out of here, you have to come with me. Now.’

‘You expect us just to turn around and walk out of here?’

‘Yes,’ he said, twining his fingers between hers. ‘This time tomorrow you could be far away from here and never have to see Bruno or Dax again.’

Except she was sure that she wanted Dax in her life. ‘Is this a test? To see if escape is in my mind.’

‘No test and there’s no time to waste. Do you want to be free?’

Freedom sounded like bliss, but she wanted it with Dax, not with this person. ‘I can’t just walk away from him.’

‘Dax doesn’t want you. Don’t make the mistake of falling for him. He’s here to fuck you into shape and to win your trust and obedience. And by the sounds of things he’s doing a damn good job of it. Being with you, here, wasn’t his choice but if he succeeds in this mission and makes you compliant, he moves up in the organisation.’

‘What?’

‘Those guys out there worship him because he used to be one of them. Hell is where Dax came from and he’s done everything Mauri ever asked of him to make sure that he never ends up back there. To him, you’re a stepping stone, nothing more.’

‘And you’re here to save me? Forgive me if I don’t believe it,’ she said, but when she tried to remove her hand from his, he increased his grip and tugged her body to his, smoothing his disused fingers down her cheek.

‘I don’t want you to forget this conversation, Ivy. Now there’s no hope for you. You’ve passed the point of no return.’