Chapter 9 Harper
HARPER
“Is that what you’re wearing?”
I look up to see Emma standing in the doorway to the living room, arms crossed as she watches me.
I glance down at my sweats and tank top. “Well…yeah. I mean, it’s on my body. I’m pretty sure that’s the definition of wearing something.”
She makes a big show of rolling her eyes. “I mean, is that what you’re wearing tonight?”
My guard immediately goes up. There’s something in her tone I recognize from countless fights over how I spend my free time. “This is completely appropriate for what I plan to do tonight,” I tell her, gesturing to the stack of textbooks on the coffee table.
Emma comes over and perches on the arm of the couch. “Harper, you’re not spending your Friday night studying. You’re not. It’s too lame even for you.”
“Thank you,” I mutter. “You sure know how to make a girl feel good.”
She doesn’t back down. “If you don’t want me to comment on your lameness, you should work on being less lame.” Before I can argue, she pulls two gold cards from her pocket. “Lucky for you, I’m here to help.”
I narrow my eyes at the cards in her hand. “What are those?” I don’t really need to ask. I know what those cards are. And the recognition has my heart beating faster.
“It’s Public Night at Club Wyld. We’re going.”
My throat is dry. “No. I mean…I can’t.” I gesture at the books on the table again. “I have so much work and—”
She holds up a hand. “Don’t you give me that, Harper Cain. You work on this crap all week long—”
“I’m in grad school. It’s a lot of work and commitment.”
She continues as if I hadn’t spoken. “Everyone needs a break once in a while. It’s Friday night! Besides, I didn’t get to go with you last time and I’ve been dying of curiosity ever since.”
I’m starting to feel panicky now. There’s a part of me—a big part—that wants to give in and agree to go with her. The very thought of stepping foot inside Club Wyld again has my stomach clenching in excitement.
But the possibility that I might see Nate has me feeling torn.
On one hand, there’s really nothing that I want more than to spend another night in the club with him.
On the other, my ability to interact with him in a professional setting is already in question.
How much worse will it be if I get another taste of Nate the dominant?
There’s also the fact that he forbade me from returning to the club.
But the thought of disobeying him doesn’t actually put me off.
In fact, it sends a little thrill of excitement through me, picturing his reaction.
How his eyes would grow angry, dark, as he considered the best way to punish me for—
“Earth to Harper,” Emma says, snapping her fingers near my face. I tear my attention away from the delicious images in my head to focus on my friend. I can feel the heat coming to my cheeks and she grins, triumphant. “I know that look, girlie. You want to go back.”
I give it one last try. “I do have a lot of work to do—”
She jumps up from the couch arm then reaches down to grab my hands, hauling me to my feet. “Fine. I’ll do your laundry tomorrow so you have more time to study. Deal?”
I can’t help but grin at the expectant excitement in her eyes. It very nearly matches the excitement in my own chest. “Fine,” I tell her. “Let’s get ready.”
If I had expected to feel more confident at my second foray into Club Wyld, I would have been wrong.
As I wait with Emma in the sedate entryway, my heart is hammering just as hard as it had that first night.
But this time, it isn’t the unknown that has my blood rushing in fear and excitement.
It’s the memory of blue eyes, a raspy, commanding voice.
The feel of Nate’s arms tight around me.
“This is so exciting,” Emma whispers, clutching my arm.
That brings a smile to my face, in spite of the fear flooding my belly. “It’s a lobby, Em.”
“I know,” she says, undeterred. “But it makes it feel so much more exclusive!”
Before I can respond to that, the door opens and Andres appears.
“Miss Cain. So nice to see you again.” I’m taken aback that he remembers me after our one brief meeting.
Then again, I suppose it’s his job to keep track of things like that.
I smile at him, feeling shy, as he turns to Emma. “And Miss Stahl. Welcome.”
Emma slaps her hand over her mouth and I’m sure she’s trying to suppress a giggle. I step on her foot. “If you’ll both come this way.”
Andres leads us through the heavy mahogany doors and into the club.
Stepping foot in that room, I’m overwhelmed by the sense memory. I’m not sure what that scent is—something earthy and masculine—but it’s distinctly Club Wyld and I’m immediately hit over the head by memories of Nate and how he had found me so quickly. Of all the things he had showed me.
“You’re welcome to mingle and enjoy yourself here in the lounge,” Andres is explaining to Emma.
It’s the same speech I heard the first night, and I tune him out while he goes through the list of rules, turning my attention to the room.
I tell myself that I’m not looking for Nate as my eyes scan the faces.
Much like last time, there’s a gentle buzz of conversation in the room, soft music playing through the speakers, the occasional outburst of laughter.
Like a regular club, there are couples talking, flirting.
I know that deeper in the dim corners and shadows I’ll see more intimacies, but for now I keep my gaze on the more well-lit areas.
I don’t want to think about Nate in one of those corners with someone else.
Andres says my name and I force my attention back to his conversation with Emma. “There will be several shows performed throughout the evening on the main stage here in the lounge. And, of course, the private rooms are through the back.”
Emma nods her understanding and Andres sends me a slight smile. “If you have any questions, I’m sure Miss Cain can help you, but should either of you need assistance, just ask the bartender to send for me.”
“Thank you, Andres,” I say.
He bows slightly. “You’re very welcome. Please enjoy.”
Then he’s gone and Emma’s clutching my hand. “Several performances?” she whisper-squeals in my ear. “What do you think that’s about?”
I have no real idea, having left the lounge so early last time. I didn’t even realize there was a stage, but now I’m assuming it’s hidden behind the heavy velvet draperies at the back of the room.
“Let’s get a drink.” I gesture over to the bar and Emma’s eyes light up even more.
“This is so exciting!”
I laugh. “It’s just a drink. You’ve gotten a drink before.”
She clutches my arm. “I know. But there are people over there! And they’re probably people who are into this kind of thing! I wonder what they’ll be like?”
I roll my eyes. “You’re not going to see whips and chains at the bar, Em.”
But when we slide onto our leather stools at the counter, I immediately notice that the man next to us in the smart wool suit is also wearing a heavy steel collar.
Which appears to be attached, by a thin gold chain, to the bracelet of his partner.
I look over at Emma, and see that she, too, is staring at the chain.
Her gaze flips up to meet mine and she waggles her eyebrows.
It’s my turn to slap a hand over my mouth to keep from giggling.
We order our drinks, not talking much as our eyes scan the room, Emma wide-eyed as she takes it all in. “Look at that couple over there,” she says in a hushed voice. “Is she kneeling?”
I glance at where she’s looking to see a woman kneeling at the feet of a man in a suit who appears to be deep in conversation with the man next to him, neither of them paying any attention to her.
“She’s probably his sub,” I tell Emma.
“Wow,” she whispers. I shake my head. If she thinks that’s shocking, she won’t last ten minutes in the back.
I’m distracted by the couple on my other side as the woman with the bracelet gives the man’s chain a tug, pulling him up to his feet.
“I think it’s time I got my flogger on you,” she murmurs, and I don’t miss the gleam of excitement in his eye as he follows her away from the bar.
I turn to watch them go, curious to see if they’re heading towards the steel door, but instead find myself face-to-face with a tall blond man.
He’s standing close to me, too close, his eyes raking over my face, a slight smile tugging at his lips.
“Hello,” he says, voice a silky murmur. “I thought that was you.”
I search his face, not recognizing him. “I’m sorry. Have we met?”
His smile grows. “Unfortunately, no. But I noticed you the last time you were here.” His grin becomes rueful. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t quick enough before your attention was otherwise occupied.”
By Nate. My heart gives a painful lurch at the thought but I push it away, determined not to spend the entire night pining after him. He made himself perfectly clear—what we shared that night isn’t going to be happening again.
“My name is Aden,” the man says, holding out his hand. I shake it, trying to ignore the way that Emma is gawking at us. Instead of returning my hand shake, Aden brings my fingers to his mouth, brushing his lips across my knuckles. “And you are?”
“Harper,” I say, feeling overwhelmed by his closeness, by the determined, self-assured way he handles himself. Much like I had with Nate, I get the feeling that this man knows exactly what he’s seeing when he looks at me. I shiver and his grin grows.
“I was so disappointed to miss out on the chance of meeting you last time,” he murmurs, still not releasing my hand. “I’m very pleased to remedy that now.”
My throat feels dry and I swallow several times, not knowing how to respond to that. But his grin only grows, as if he’s pleased by my silence. He nods to the bar. “Let me buy you a drink.”
It isn’t a question.
I finally manage to find my voice. “I have one, thank you.”