Chapter 2 #2
I hum an answer, then let my free hand rest on the doorknob.
Something about this room beckons me to enter.
I’m not sure what it is, but I won’t know unless I turn the knob and go it.
Technically speaking, it’s not off-limits to members of the staff, though Matty did say to avoid it because it’s the bosses’ turf.
That’s what he called it: their turf.
“They love it,” I tell Vivian. “Fantasy scenarios are played out. Creative dates. Relaxation sessions. And the décor, the services, my God, Viv, they’re something else.
I mean, Alex and the guys spare no expense with this place.
You walk in here on a Monday and you leave one, two, three weeks later a completely changed man—or woman.
I’ve read some of the marketing brochures.
They describe Haus of Sin as transformative. ”
“Transformative? That actually sounds hot!”
“I suppose it is, if you’re into bondage, submission, that sort of thing.”
“You’ll have to come out of your shell eventually, Raina,” Vivian says, her tone suddenly serious. “Don’t give Jeremy another thought. Holding yourself back like this isn’t fair to you.”
I let a heavy sigh roll from my chest, wishing this ache would fizzle away sooner rather than later. “Jeremy doesn’t deserve me, period. But it’s only been a week since he basically ruined me. Well, almost ruined me. I bounced back. It hurts, though.”
“I know, and I completely understand. He was just the worst. I’m sorry I ever introduced you to him,” Vivian replied. “Had I known what kind of a prick he was, I never would’ve—”
“It’s okay, Viv. You had a co-worker at your law firm who was single and attractive. I get it. You wanted to do something nice for me,” I reply. “It wasn’t your fault that I settled for that man’s gaslighting and breadcrumbs. I stayed despite the red flags. I kept hoping he’d change.”
But he just got worse, and then he went out of his way to hurt me even more.
“He’s not doing well, by the way,” Vivian says.
“What do you mean? How come?”
As I speak, I turn the knob. My curious itch intensifies, and I push the door open.
Instantly, I catch my breath at the sight unraveling before me.
It triggers every shadow lurking beneath my surface, every want and need, every secret desire and dirty fantasy.
It all makes me shudder as I walk into what has to be the most enticing, most elaborate playroom I’ve ever seen.
“Well, Jeremy’s always had an affinity for hard liquor and, you know, substances,” Vivian says.
I do remember a few times when I questioned his choices, but all I got in return were insults and demeaning remarks. Yet I didn’t walk away. I was so eager to be wanted.
“Yes, I know.”
“Apparently, his personal problems have been bleeding into his professional life,” Vivian says.
“I’m still a junior partner here, but I hear the gossip between our fellow lawyers.
They don’t trust him. He comes in late, looking like something the cat dragged in, after boning and drinking and snorting his way through Old Town.
He’s been missing client calls and court appearances.
They’re worried he might lose the Dandelion Inc.
case. Mr. Bancroft called him into his office the other day, and Jeremy did not look happy when he walked out of there. ”
“Which is surprising, considering what a rising star he was supposed to be,” I mutter.
I’m still talking to Viv, but my focus is on every little detail of this playroom: the sleek, black walls; the luscious, lacquered black furniture with artful curves; the plush cream-colored carpet that covers the entire floor and makes me want to take my shoes and socks off, so I sink my bare feet into it.
“Honestly, I think he was always more talk and less action. He just got away with it long enough for Mr. Bancroft to actually think he was good at his job,” Vivian replies.
“Corporate law isn’t that complex once you figure out that both parties usually seek an out-of-court resolution.
Someone needs to give more to avoid a bigger payout later down the road.
And given that most of our clients are filthy rich, it’s not like they don’t have the cash for a settlement that could save them millions or billions in court, not to mention our fees—”
Suddenly, I notice something. “Viv, I’m so sorry, can I call you back later? I need to check something.”
“Sure. Are you okay?”
“Yes, absolutely. Just remember—”
“Don’t tell Kaleb, I know, I know.” She laughs and hangs up.
I walk deeper into the room and take my time inspecting the details: the wooden cross with leather straps, the weirdly shaped lounger that I can already see myself straddling while Alex takes me from behind. I shake that thought away with a gasp.
“Get a hold of yourself,” I whisper and walk over to an ornate, beautifully painted cabinet. It’s bold red with gold-brushed handles. I pull one drawer open and discover a multitude of sex toys—dildos, vibrators, plugs in all shapes and sizes, each one more inviting and tempting than the other.
Jeremy’s absence forced me to reintroduce self-pleasure into my life, but what I keep in my drawer is nothing compared to this stuff.
Slowly, I pick out a rose-shaped vibrator.
It’s soft, made of silicone, in a shade of powder pink.
I turn it on and giggle as I feel the vibrations making the device’s petals move, mimicking a sucking motion from the center of the blossom.
I know exactly where this thing is supposed to go, and it’s making me wet just thinking about it.
“I never imagined you’d like it here.” Alex’s voice makes me whirl around in a panic, the rose still vibrating in my hand. He’s standing casually in the doorway.
“Oh, gosh, I’m so sorry. I’ll get out,” I reply and quickly turn the rose off, then dump it back in the drawer and make for the door.
But Alex steps in front of me, and he’s not alone. Max and Vincent join him in front of the door. I come to a halt in the middle of the room. I take a peek at the bed—round, covered in satin, and more interesting now that they’re here.
“I… I’m a little embarrassed.” I say with a nervous laugh. “I know I shouldn’t be here.”
“We didn’t say that. The east wing isn’t forbidden to you or any of our staff members, per se,” Alex says.
“True, but I was told you don’t like it when—”
Vincent cuts me off. “When people come up here,” he says. “Consider yourself an exception.”
“Why?”
“Because I saw the look on your face just now with the rose,” he replies and steps closer. “You belong here.”
I slowly shake my head. “No, it’s just… I was just curious, that’s all. Consider my curiosity satisfied.” I add another chuckle for good measure, but even I can hear myself. I sound unconvincing because I am straight-up lying.
“Relax, Raina,” Alex says, a smile teasing his lips. “This is a safe space, a place for you to make your fantasies come true. Haus of Sin welcomes everyone who walks through its doors.”
“Oh, no, I’d never—”
“You don’t have any fantasies you’d like to explore?” he asks, raising a curious eyebrow as he slowly but surely moves in my direction.
Max and Vincent hang back like tall, quiet guardians watching a hunt unfold before their darkened eyes, and I’m the prey. Alex—tall, handsome as hell and strong enough to twist me into a pretzel with little to no effort—is the predator. My heart’s on a rampage, the anticipation quickly building.
“I’ve never been the type to indulge in wild fantasies,” I admit, my voice breaking a little. “I didn’t feel safe venturing there. I guess I being a good girl has always been my cocoon, my comfort zone.”
“Lucky for you then,” Alex says, a low growl escaping his throat as he comes closer. “We like ruining good girls.”
The air around us shifts, and the world turns into something new, something deliciously dangerous, as my perception shifts with it. I suddenly become aware of the magnetism pulling us closer together. It’s too powerful to resist.
I peer into his eyes, drowning in their depth. The idea of ruin at their capable hands is the only thing I can think about as my lips part slowly. Alex clasps my chin between his thumb and index finger—his touch sends heat throughout my body.
He kisses me, and I quiver, liquid heat pooling between my legs.
“That’s what I thought,” he whispers.
I’m soft against him, melting, as his fingers trace the line of my neck, momentarily annoyed by my shirt collar. I don’t even register the moment when the fabric disappears or when he peels off my jeans and panties, revealing my naked flesh, his to do with as he pleases.
“This is so wrong,” I manage, but he knows I don’t want him to stop.
Glancing past his sculpted shoulder as he leans down to kiss my clavicle, I see Max and Vincent silently watching us, hungry looks in their eyes. The bulges in their jeans make me want more.
I knew about their habit of sharing women. I even imagined myself being one of the lucky ones one day. I just never thought it would really happen.
“Oh, God,” I moan as Alex takes a firm hold of my breasts, pushing me against the dresser. I hear the furniture shudder, but I don’t care.
“You can always stop me,” he says.
I shake my head and close my eyes as he removes my bra and closes his lips around one nipple.
My core tightens, my breath hitches as I let him taste me, as his hands wander downward, touching, feeling, squeezing tighter and tighter until he reaches my hips.
Then he stops and raises his head to look at me.
I’m trembling, burning up, and so close to the edge that I might fall apart and unravel before he even reaches my—
His hand slides between my legs.
“OH, FUCK!” I gasp.
“Oh, fuck, indeed,” Alex replies, a devilish grin slitting his face as he finds my pussy, slick and slightly swollen, my clit aching desperately for release. “Why don’t we indulge a little, then?”
“Don’t stop,” I beg him.
I hold onto his broad shoulders and cling to him for dear life while he reaches around me and fishes the rose vibrator out of the drawer.
“Tell me, Raina, have you ever used one of these before?” Alex asks.
Max and Vincent inch closer, arms crossed, cocks struggling against their pants. Their eyes are glued to mine as I surrender to Alex. They seem to be enjoying every second of my carnal demise.
“No, I haven’t,” I reply.
“Good,” Alex says, then places it against my clit, cranking it up to its maximum level. I cry out and shake loose in his grip as the vibrator sends its shock waves through my body.
It doesn’t take long for the sudden pleasure to take over. I see white stars before my eyes as Alex kisses me again, hungrier and deeper this time, our tongues clashing as the rose torments my clit until time itself dilates and I come hard, gushing and panting.
Alex tosses the roses aside and slides two fingers inside me. He finger-fucks me into oblivion, squeezing every drop out of my climax.
I moan and gasp and laugh with delight, my hips swaying back and forth as he tortures me, as my breasts press against his hard chest. In my dizzying madness, I grab his pants. I feel him, gigantic and ready and rock hard, and I desperately need him buried inside me.
But as the waves dissolve and I come down from this temporary heaven, Alex plants one final kiss on my lips and takes a step back. I lean back against the dresser because my knees are weak. I’m not sure I can stand on my own.
“Oh, God,” I whisper again.
Alex brings his fingers up, the glistening of my arousal shining, and licks them, moaning softly. “You taste like heaven, Raina.”
“I… That was… wow…”
“There’s more where that came from,” Alex replies, so matter-of-factly that I feel as though I might’ve lost the plot somewhere along the way and didn’t even realize it.
“What?”
“We came up here, looking for you,” Max says.
I look at them, then back at Alex. My mind isn’t working the way it’s supposed to, not yet, anyway. The haze of that rose orgasm lingers, making me want to curl up and sleep for eons.
“We have an offer for you,” Alex says, “separate from your culinary duties.”
“An offer?”
“One week,” he replies. “Be ours for one week, Raina, body and soul. Be our woman, our submissive. Let us turn all of your fantasies into reality.”
The more I blink, the more confused I get. “I don’t understand…”
“One week,” Alex says again. “Be ours until Valentine’s Day. During the week, you are ours outside of your work hours. You’re ours to tease and lick and fuck and spoil however we please. This was merely a taste of more to come, should you accept.”
“I… I don’t know what to say.”
I’m wet and wanting, dazed and confused, exhilarated and worried that I might get in over my head with these guys, yet I can’t pull away. I can’t say no. I can’t push. I can’t do anything, because all I can think of is what it might feel like to completely let go.