Bronagh
I was nervous and excited at the same time.
The whole way there, I kept glancing down at my ring in wonder.
It was stunning, and something I would’ve chosen for myself.
I’d asked Cathal if he had any help choosing it.
He said he’d found the stone, then sat with Cian and Ashlynn, talking through setting options and such.
He’d come up with the basic design, but they made it come to life.
We were outside Wicked Desires. A man was standing outside the main door of the club. I noticed him as Cathal parked.
“Normally, I’d go to the private garage and enter that way, but I want you to experience what others do.
That’s Pete. He’s our full-time bouncer slash doorman.
We have more security inside if needed. He checks that people are authorized to enter.
If you’re not a patron or a guest of one who is on the list, you won’t get inside. ”
Our guards surrounded our car. Cathal got out, came around to open my door, and gave me his hand. I clung to his arm as we walked to Pete. He smiled as he recognized Cathal.
“Evening, Bossman. It’s good to see you back. You’ve been missed. And I see you brought a guest tonight,” Pete said, his gaze taking me in. There was male appreciation in his eyes.
“It’s good to be back, Pete. And yes, I have a very special guest. Bronagh, this is Pete, whom I told you about. Pete, say hello to Bronagh…my fiancée and, in a few days, my wife.”
The expression on Pete’s face was wiped away, replaced by shock, then discomfort. He lowered his gaze.
“I’m sorry, Cathal. I had no idea she was someone important,” he got out, sounding strangled.
“It’s alright. As long as you never touch her or treat her with disrespect, you’ll live. I know I’ve never brought anyone here. We’re not announcing until after Saturday’s wedding. Want to keep the vultures away.”
“Ms. Bronagh, forgive me. I meant nothing by, well, you know. It’s a true pleasure to meet you. Have you been here before? I don’t recall seeing you,” Pete said.
“No, this is my first time. I asked Cathal to show me his baby. I know he’s proud of it. As for forgiving you, you told me that I picked the right outfit. Cathal said it would be okay, but I wondered.”
Pete chuckled. “It’s incredible, but that’s because of who is wearing it. And I’ll shut up now before I get my ass beaten or worse,” he said, casting a wary glance at Cathal.
I was relieved when all my man did was chuckle and slap him on the shoulder before having Pete open the door. We streamed inside with Dario in the lead. Troi and Cashel brought up the rear. Once inside, they would give us breathing space according to what Cathal told me in the car.
He pointed out where patrons got a bracelet, which they attached different-colored stone charms to.
The stones communicated what the patron was into sexually, and depending on which arm they wore them, would say if they were open to play with others or monogamous.
He’d told me about them yesterday and said he got the idea from the House of Lustz, like several others. He got me one.
Past that point, we entered the actual club.
It was a combination of a nightclub on floors one and two, and then the actual sex club on floors three and four.
The fifth floor housed the security office, which monitored dozens of cameras, and individual offices.
On the sixth floor was Cathal’s crash pad.
He promised to give me a basic overview of them all tonight.
It was a weekday, in the middle of the week, but the place was pretty full.
Strobing lights, thumping music, dancing, and bars serving cocktails to anyone who wanted them filled the room.
And there was seating and dark corners. Staff stopped us numerous times to say hello to their boss and, judging by their curious looks, to find out who I was.
Their shock at discovering we were engaged and that we were getting married on Saturday was universal.
But they weren’t the only ones to stop him. There were patrons, and not all were women. However, it was clear that most of the women were deeply disappointed when they found out who I was. The men seemed mostly envious, though I detected a few were as disappointed as the women.
“Cathal, I have to ask you something,” I said as we got on the elevator, headed to the third floor. We’d spent almost an hour on the first two.
“Go for it.”
“Have you ever had men want to, you know, have sex or play with you?”
“Yes, I have. You noticed them, I see. And before you ask, no, I have never done anything sexual with another man. There’s nothing wrong with it, but it’s not for me. The most I’ve ever done was to have sex with some women while their partners watched. Their guys like to see them with another man.”
I thought about what he shared. I wouldn’t be able to do that, not that Cathal would ever want me to.
The third floor shocked me because I didn’t know where to look first. There was so much happening.
There were stages where one could play for an audience.
Dark corners set up with chairs and other furniture for casual conversation or more.
“Some will play, but it won’t end in sex. Others do both. Depending on one’s mood, you may want a partner for the night who’ll allow you to tie them up and flog you, but in the end, not involve sex. Or it might.”
Cathal explained, as he pointed out a woman who had a man tied up on one of the stages, hitting him with a flogger. The woman wasn’t naked, but the man was. And his erection showed he was clearly turned on by what she was doing to him.
On these floors, no alcohol was served. Anyone who had more than two drinks on the first two floors wasn’t permitted to play. And numerous private rooms could be completely private by locking the door and pulling the shade, or left open for voyeurs and exhibitionists to have their fun.
Our guards kept a discreet distance. I was standing with Cathal, watching a shibari demonstration. I’d heard of it, but what I saw before me was utterly fascinating and beautiful. The guy was creating an entire outfit out of different-colored ropes on another guy’s body.
“Cathal, where in the world have you been keeping yourself? You’ve been gone for weeks. I asked where you were, but no one would tell me. I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you tonight. Please tell me you’re free. I’m in the mood to have real fun,” a woman’s sultry voice said from behind us.
My body stiffened. I’d been waiting for it to happen.
It would be too much to assume none of the women he’d played or had sex with wouldn’t be here.
And that at least one would have enough guts to approach him.
He didn’t have his hand on my body or his arm around me at this exact moment, but we stood almost touching.
I heard his low, mumbled, “Foc.”
When I looked over at him, Cathal gave me an apologetic look. Not wanting him to feel worse than I knew he would, I winked at him. Then, as he turned, so did I.
Moving sensuously up to us was a woman I’d place in her early thirties.
She was blessed with an hourglass figure and a pretty face.
She wore an outfit that made mine look demure by comparison.
Only her vital parts were covered, barely.
Her gaze told me she wasn’t someone I’d ever want to call a friend.
She was figuratively eating Cathal alive with her eyes.
“Briar, good evening,” was all he said to her. His tone wasn’t overly friendly.
Her arms opened wide as she swung her hips and purred, “Don’t act shy, honey. You’re acting like we don’t know each other. We know each other... intimately.”
That was when her gaze darted to me and then back, dismissing me as if I didn’t matter. Before he could say anything, I did. I didn’t know where the words came from, but they bubbled out of me.
“Cathal, is this one of your old play partners? One of the ones you told me you’re bored with and wish they’d leave you alone?” I asked sweetly.
I saw his body jerk and his cheek twitch.
I wasn’t sure if he was holding back laughter or a reprimand, but I didn’t care.
Something about this woman rubbed me the wrong way.
Many women had looked at him with lust on their faces, displeasure that he was with me, and fake warmth, but they hadn’t affected me the way she did.
And what the hell kind of name was Briar? That was a name I’d give a pet bunny.
Cathal’s arm came around my waist, drawing me flush against his side. He lifted my chin with a finger and smiled down at me. His lips met mine briefly before he straightened and chided me lightly.
“Mo ghrá amháin, you know that no one means anything to me now that I have you. You are the love of my life.”
He said it loud enough that Briar had no trouble hearing it. She stumbled to a halt. Her mouth dropped open, and a disbelieving expression spread over her face.
“Cathal, who is this woman?” she asked curtly.
I slid my hand up to rest on his bare chest. She zeroed in on my ring immediately. Alarm was her next expression.
“Is-s that what I think it is?” Briar asked.
“If you think it’s an engagement ring, then yes, it is. Hello, I’m Cathal’s fiancée, Bronagh,” I informed her.
“That’s not possible. Tell me this is a joke, Cathal,” she pleaded.
“It’s not a joke, Briar. Bronagh and I are getting married.”
That’s when I saw a grown woman stomp her foot like a toddler, throwing a temper tantrum as she whined. “No, she’s not! You’re lying. Why are you lying? You said that you would never get married. That you didn’t want a wife,” she whined.
Her voice rose with each sentence she uttered. Briar’s fists were clenched at her sides. Tears were in her eyes, though I couldn’t tell if they were ones of sadness or fury.
“Briar, control yourself. You’re making a spectacle of yourself and us. I won’t tolerate that,” he told her sternly.