Epilogue
HARPER
“You hanging in there?”
I tear my gaze away from the car window to look over at Nate. “Sorry. Zoning out.”
He reaches over to take my hand and, as I so often do, I find myself entranced by the sight of his other hand on the steering wheel. Nate drives like he does everything else—with ease and control—and I find it incredibly sexy.
“It could have gone worse,” he points out, and I sigh, dragging my thoughts away from the first night I’d been in this car, and everything that had followed, to concentrate on the conversation.
“It could have,” I agree, only slightly glum. “He could have stormed out or punched you.” Instead, my brother had just been sullen and sharp throughout our uncomfortable meal. I suppose I should have been thankful.
“It was only the first dinner out with him,” Nate reminds me. “He’s still getting used to the idea.”
In all honesty, I’m relieved that Mason was willing to have dinner with us at all.
A few weeks ago, I never could have imagined he’d agree to it.
I would happily deal with a little bit of awkwardness if it meant I got to keep both my brother and Nate in my life.
Thank goodness Emma had come along as well—that girl could smooth over just about any situation.
“You ready?”
I look up, surprised to see that we’ve already reached the club. I really have been zoning out. A familiar flutter of nerves rises up in my belly, and I glance over at Nate. He’s watching me, his eyes steady and calm. “We can do this another time. It’s been a stressful night.”
I shake my head immediately. I don’t want to do it another night. The promise of these plans is what got me through the uncomfortable dinner and all the stress leading up to it. “I’m ready,” I tell him, warmth hitting me at the pride I can see in his eyes.
“Then let’s go in.”
It doesn’t matter how many times I come to Club Wyld, I’ll always feel a thrill when I walk through the heavy wooden entry door. It’s the promise that just beyond that door, every forbidden desire can be fulfilled. And that Nate will be there right at my side, enjoying it with me.
We’ve spent a lot of time here since Nate gave up his teaching position for me.
Though we both enjoy the privacy of Nate’s house, there’s something the club gives us that we just can’t get anywhere else.
Maybe it’s the acceptance of every other patron, the visible reminder that we’re part of a community, that the love and respect we show each other in this lifestyle exists among others as well.
We generally visit at least one weekend night, and often several weekday nights as well.
By now the staff is familiar with me, as are many of the other patrons.
I feel comfortable in this space in a way I never could have imagined that first night I walked in alone.
Tonight will be my first night as a full member. When the acceptance letter came, there was pride in Nate’s eyes. I just felt relief. Becoming a member is the best way I know to ensure he never has to live this part of his life alone again.
“Nathan,” Philip says, approaching us with his ever-present glass of whiskey in hand.
“Harper. It’s so lovely to see you.” He leans in to kiss my cheek and Nate’s hand tightens on mine.
Philip is about the only person in the world he’ll allow to get so close to me, and even this sets off his jealous streak.
I squeeze his hand back, letting him know I’m here with him and no one else.
Philip fixes his gaze on me. “Feeling nervous?”
“A little.” I glance up at Nate. I know we’re going to try something new tonight but his steady gaze helps me to relax.
“Nothing happens unless you want it to,” he reminds me.
I manage a grin. “I definitely want.”
Nate grins and Philip laughs. “Have fun, you two. Maybe I’ll see more of you later.” He waggles his eyebrows suggestively and I feel a rush of heat come to my cheeks.
A whole lot of people are going to be seeing more of me. Very soon.
“Go into the dressing room,” Nate tells me, leading me in that direction. “There’s a wardrobe with your name on it. Put on what you find inside and nothing else. Then meet me in the hall.”
I nod, swallowing hard, and he kisses my cheek. “It’s going to be fun.”
His assurance doesn’t do much to stop my hands from shaking as I open the wardrobe door. Inside I find only a short, black silk robe. That’s all I’ll be wearing when I leave this room. And I know I won’t have even that protection for long.
Tonight, Nate is putting me on display.
I try to still the beating of my heart as I undress quickly.
I want so badly to please him, to impress his friends.
It will be the first time they truly see me in action as his submissive and I know that my behavior, my performance, will reflect on him.
The thought of disappointing him makes me feel sick.
I step into the hall, my eyes scanning the passing faces for Nate. I already feel exposed in the short robe. It barely covers my ass.
A gentle hand falls on my shoulder. “Relax, angel,” Nate whispers from behind me. “You’ll do wonderfully.”
I take a deep breath, letting his words, his confidence in me, sink deep into my core. I trust him so completely—when he speaks to me, when he commands me, I respond. I obey. I thrive.
His fingers tighten on my shoulder. “Are you ready?”
As long as he stays beside me, I know that I am. “Yes, sir.”
He takes my hand, leading me into the first room. The room he showed me my very first night in the club. Once again, the dim space is filled with bodies, couples and small groups, the soft sounds of pleasure. I barely spare anyone a glance as I follow him to a fairly deserted corner.
There’s a small round platform set back from the blur of bodies and couples in the room.
Nate stands before me, slowly unknotting the tie of my robe before peeling the silky fabric away from my shoulders, allowing it to fall to the floor.
I stand naked before him, naked before anyone who chooses to look in our direction.
He walks slowly around me, taking in my body, occasionally reaching out to trail a finger over my skin. I keep my eyes on the floor, silent, allowing him his inspection.
“You look lovely,” he finally murmurs. Then he pulls a length of black silk from his pocket and my heart begins to thud in earnest.
“Your safe word is red,” he says. “You may use it at any time, for any reason. I will always be close by. Do you understand?”
I swallow, knowing what’s coming next. “Yes, sir.”
“Good.” He presses one kiss to my temple then places the blindfold over my eyes. The ends of the black silk hang far down my back, tickling my naked flesh. I can’t see a thing.
Nate helps me to step up on to the platform, holding my elbow as I kneel.
“Position, angel,” he reminds me and I clasp my hands to my elbows behind me, pushing my shoulders back and thrusting my chest forward.
I open my legs, exposing myself, and direct my face to the platform on which I kneel.
Nate must come behind me because I feel his fingers on my wrist and then he’s binding them together with a leather strap.
I can feel the air shift when he steps away.
I’m exposed now, blinded and bound, naked and on display.
And I fucking love it.
“You look gorgeous,” he tells me. “I am very proud to show you off.” A thrill of pleasure begins in my toes, radiating upwards. I want, more than anything, to make him proud.
There’s a rustling noise in front of me, a hushed whisper or two. If I strain hard enough, I think I can hear the click of heels approaching. We’re no longer alone.
I struggle to control my breathing, not wanting the visitors to see how nervous I am. The footsteps have stopped now, and I have a sense of someone standing close, though I can see nothing through my blindfold.
“Well done, Nathan,” says a familiar voice. Philip. “She looks perfect. You’ve done a fine job with her training.”
I feel a rush of pride mixed with desire.
Nate had wanted to start the evening this way and I know why.
That very first night we’d been together, he’d brought me to this same room and turned me into a voyeur.
Now we’ve come full circle, our relationship and my experience in the lifestyle developing to the point where I am now the one other couples might watch.
As soon as Nate suggested it, I’d felt a rush of intense desire. I wanted to be seen this way. Wanted him to show me off. Wanted to know that other people were looking and getting turned on, the same way I had felt that first night. It was the perfect way to prove how far I’ve come with Nate.
Somehow, the reality of it feels even hotter than I imagined. For the next ten or so minutes, I can make out the faint sounds of people walking by. Some stop, observing me. Others speak to Nate, who remains nearby. Some stay and watch, the sound of their breathing alerting me to their presence.
“What beautiful tits this one has,” a lazy female voice purrs.
“Yes, mistress,” replies her male companion.
“Perhaps Nate will allow us to use her later,” the female continues. “I wouldn’t mind watching you fuck her.”
My face floods with color at her words, but I remain silent, as Nate had instructed.
The thought of him letting someone else use me…
I know he would never do it without discussing it first. What I’m not so sure about is how I’ll respond.
There’s a delicious kind of fear at the thought but it also turns my stomach, the idea of being with someone who isn’t Nate.
“A perfect ass,” another voice says, a male this time, from very close by. “I hope we get to see it turn red tonight.”
A low cry from another corner catches my attention. “Focus,” Nate says, and I jerk my head back into position, trying not to think about what might be happening nearby.
“Let’s start here,” another male voice says, a little to my left. “I’d like to have a nice view while we fuck.”