Chapter 167: Nightclub

Cecilia

"You little brat," he said, but there was warmth in his voice despite the reprimand. "Didn't I just tell you, not even an hour ago, that tonight's only requirement was rest? That you needed to stop thinking about promises and just let your body recover?"

My face burned hotter as the memory of his words came flooding back—the tenderness in his voice when he'd stopped us from going further, the way he'd prioritized my health over his own desire. "I—I know, but I just thought—"

"You thought you could tempt me into breaking my own rules," Arthur interrupted, his hand now rubbing my hip in a way that completely contradicted the scolding tone of his words.

"Well, it's not happening, baby. You're resting tonight whether you like it or not."

Shame and affection warred in my chest, making my voice come out small and slightly pouty. "Okay. I understand. I'll be good."

"I know you will." His expression softened, the stern mask falling away to reveal genuine concern underneath.

"And to make up for being such a demanding fiancé these past two days, I'll let you bring me back a gift from wherever Alice is taking you tomorrow. Deal?"

The unexpected offer made me perk up immediately, embarrassment forgotten in the face of this new challenge. "Really? You want me to pick out a gift for you?"

"I'm very curious to see what you'll choose," he said, his lips quirking into that small smile that always made my stomach flip. "So yes, bring me something. Surprise me."

"Okay!" I practically bounced in his lap with excitement, already running through possibilities in my head. "I'll find the perfect gift, I promise. You're going to love it."

"I'm sure I will," Arthur murmured, leaning down to press another kiss to my forehead. "Now finish your dinner before it gets cold."

The next morning, Alice arrived exactly at nine AM looking like a ray of sunshine personified—yellow T-shirt, hair loose and bouncing, smile so bright it could probably be seen from space.

I barely had time to open the door before she was throwing her arms around me, practically vibrating with excitement. "Ceci! Oh my god, I've been looking forward to this all week!"

I laughed and hugged her back, feeling her enthusiasm seep into my own mood. "Me too! Though I still have no idea where we're—"

"Miss Reynolds." Arthur's voice cut through our reunion, cool and slightly disapproving in that way that meant he was about to be territorial. "A moment."

I turned to find him standing in the entrance hall, already dressed for work in one of his perfectly tailored suits, his expression hovering somewhere between fond exasperation and possessive irritation.

He crossed to us in three long strides, his hand finding my waist and pulling me away from Alice with the kind of casual authority that brooked no argument.

Before I could even process the movement, he was tilting my chin up and kissing me—not the soft, sweet kiss of this morning's goodbye, but something deeper and more claiming, the kind that made a very clear statement about who I belonged to.

When he finally pulled back, leaving me breathless and slightly dazed, he shot Alice a look that could only be described as smugly territorial before turning his attention back to me.

"Six PM," he reminded me, his thumb brushing across my lower lip in a gesture that felt almost like a brand. "Not a minute later."

"I know," I managed, my voice coming out embarrassingly breathy. "I promise."

"Good girl." One more quick kiss, and then he was heading toward the door where Ethan waited with the car. "Have fun, baby. And Alice?"

He paused at the threshold, glancing back with that particular expression that meant he was about to issue a warning disguised as politeness. "Take care of her."

"Always do, Mr. Winston!" Alice called back cheerfully, but I caught the slight edge in her voice that suggested she found his possessiveness both amusing and slightly annoying.

The moment his car pulled away, Alice grabbed my arm and leaned in close, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

"God, he's such a territorial asshole. Can't even let me hug you without marking his territory like some kind of alpha wolf."

I couldn't help but laugh at the indignant expression on her face, at the way she was glaring after Arthur's departing car like it had personally offended her. "He's just protective."

"He's possessive," Alice corrected, but her smile took the sting out of the words.

"Though I guess that's what happens when you're stupid in love. Come on, let's go before he changes his mind and decides you're not allowed to leave the house."

She practically dragged me to her car—a sleek convertible—and we were pulling out of the estate gates before I could even ask again where we were going.

"So," I tried, watching the scenery fly by as Alice drove with the kind of reckless confidence that suggested she'd done this route before. "Are you going to tell me where we're headed, or is the mystery part of the fun?"

Alice's grin turned absolutely wicked, her eyes sparkling with mischief behind her sunglasses. "Oh, it's definitely a secret. But I promise you're going to love it."

Something about her tone made me simultaneously excited and nervous, my mind running through possibilities that ranged from spa day to shopping trip to—

Twenty minutes later, when Alice pulled up in front of a building with neon signs and tinted windows even in broad daylight, I felt my jaw drop.

"Alice." I stared at the entrance, then back at her, then at the entrance again. "This is a nightclub."

"Technically it's a gentleman's club," she corrected cheerfully, already unbuckling her seatbelt. "But yes, basically a nightclub. Come on!"

"We can't—it's not even noon yet—" I sputtered, my brain struggling to catch up with this development.

"They open early for private bookings," Alice said, grabbing my hand and pulling me out of the car with surprising strength for someone so small. "I reserved us a VIP room. It's going to be amazing!"

My mind immediately flashed to that night, when I'd deliberately gone to a nightclub to get back at Arthur, when I'd let other men hit on me just to rile him up.

He can never know about this, I thought desperately as Alice dragged me toward the entrance. Never, ever, under any circumstances can Arthur find out I went to a nightclub today.

"Alice," I hissed as we approached the door, where a bouncer was already checking her name against his list. "Does Max know you're doing this?"

"Of course not!" She looked at me like I'd suggested something completely absurd. "This is girl time, Ceci. What they don't know won't hurt them."

That logic seemed extremely flawed, but before I could voice my concerns, the bouncer was waving us through, and Alice was pulling me into a dimly lit hallway that smelled like expensive alcohol and poor life choices.

The VIP room she'd booked turned out to be surprisingly nice—plush seating, a small private bar, a perfect view of the main stage where I could already see dancers warming up for what I assumed would be their afternoon show.

I must admit, that male lead dancer is quite handsome!