Anastasia Chapter 14
Tonight had been more than I ever imagined. Just the setup of Lustz, with its two floors and the division of activities, was intriguing. Reign had told me, but it wasn’t the same as seeing it.
Then there were the scenes we’d observed on the second floor. I was slightly self-conscious at first, watching people be intimate. However, after a while, it sank in. They liked to be seen. It turned them on and made their play and sex more enjoyable.
I wouldn’t lie and say that those acts hadn’t turned me on. Before Mikhail and Tajah had walked up, I was about to tell Reign I needed a breather before I shoved him into one of those rooms and had my way with him.
I noted something more as we wandered. Reign, or I should say Sinner, was not only known to numerous staff and patrons, but he commanded their attention and respect.
Plus, he was desired. I saw how women, and even some men, looked at him.
They wanted him, but the red-and-black bead on the right bracelet shouted to all that he was no longer available. It secretly thrilled me.
Reign introduced me as his girlfriend and, through his tone of voice and the way he looked at me, made it clear that I was important. None of my past boyfriends had ever done that.
Now, we were in a lovely apartment meeting the core people in his life.
The ones he considered his friends and family.
He’d told me their names, but it was terrific to match those names to faces.
I took a sip of my iced tea: Ahh, a perfect mixture of sweetness.
I barely set down the glass when Cady spoke.
“Okay, enough of the nicey-nice. We want the dirt. How did you meet? How long ago? What do you do for work? Do you have any weirdos in your life who concern you? Do you plan to use him for his money or to get accepted in Lustz, then bail?”
The others groaned and muttered curses, chastising her, but Cady ignored them. I admit, I was slightly taken aback, but my replies came within seconds of her stopping her bombardment.
“Yes, let’s get to the important stuff. You asked how we met.
It answers two of your questions. I’m a Chiropractic doctor.
Reign came in after a problem on a rescue he did as part of his company.
He’d hurt his back and hip. A long-term patient of mine likes to brag about me.
Her nephew works for Reign. That’s how he ended up at my office.
“As for how long ago that initial meeting was, it’ll be five weeks on Monday.
I admit, it sure seems much longer. As for plans to use him for financial gain or access to Lustz, the answer is no.
I run my own practice and make a good living.
I don’t need Reign to take care of me like that.
As for gaining membership here, I’d never heard of Lustz until he brought it up.
It was Reign asking me to come here with him to see what I thought that made me fill out the guest application. ”
I paused to take another drink of my tea and let what I said sink in. I checked on Reign to find him slightly scowling at the others. I put my hand on his hard arm and rubbed it. I ran my fingers over the bracelet.
“Honey, it’s fine. They’re your friends, your family. They only want to make sure you’re not taken advantage of,” I assured him.
“I know, but Cady could’ve asked differently. Sometimes, I forget how brusque and without a filter she can be,” Reign replied.
“I am, and I’m working on it. Call me cynical. Stasia, you haven’t answered the last question,” Cady replied.
“I wouldn’t call them weirdos, though I do have drama right now that we’re addressing. In fact, we both have some, don’t we?” I addressed it to Reign. He rolled his eyes before speaking.
“Shit, yeah, we do. Do you mind if I tell them what we’re handling?”
“Go ahead.” I relaxed back in the chair.
“Well, you all have heard my tales about my brother Rowan.
A few have even met him. Well, he wants me to make him my company VP and give him a raise.
He feels that, as my brother and my successor, he should be involved at the top level in everything.
He claims it would make him actually do his job.
His current one is beneath him, or it was, according to Ro.
“He was fired and escorted out of the building on Monday. I laid out that my company and anything I have will be distributed as I want, with my wife and children getting the bulk of it. He’s still protesting my decision.”
“Tell me this is a joke. Surely, he can’t be that dense, that entitled,” Sawyer grumbled.
“That boy needs his head examined and probably his ass beaten,” Iker stated strongly.
“I’m about two seconds from giving it to him. So he’s the pain in my ass. Anastasia’s is much larger.”
“Let me guess, her family disapproves of her being with you,” Cristiana interjected.
“You got it. How did you guess?” I asked her.
“Easy, I’m Hispanic and grew up in a very traditional family, just as Reuben has.
Our families loved that we had met someone of a similar background, but when they found out about our kink side and this club, it went ugly.
We’re still recovering and rebuilding something to resemble a family with them.
Did your family tell you you should be with someone from your own ethnic background? Or went crazy over you coming here?”
“My dad, brother, sisters, and in-laws all think I should be a traditional, old-fashioned Indian woman. That means I stay at home and take care of the house and the kids, while my husband does whatever he wants and makes the decisions. If they could find a Caucasian man who exemplifies those things, he’d be acceptable.
Dad can’t say much. My mom is Caucasian.
“However, right before I met Reign, I went to a family dinner. A colleague of my brother’s was there.
My family had done this kind of ambush before, but Sameer, Sam, was different.
We got along, so we went out for coffee and a few meals.
I hoped he might be someone I could build a relationship with.
“It went to hell once I met Reign. I couldn’t forget about him.
I was mugged at the dry cleaners a few weeks back, which led Reign to confess his feelings for me and ask me to give us a chance.
I told Sam I wouldn’t see him anymore. My family and Sam aren’t letting it go.
My mom is the only one on my side. They’ve shown up at my apartment and office.
Dad and Sam even approached Mom and me in the middle of lunch this past week. ”
I stopped my explanation right there. They surely got the gist. I waited to see what other remarks or questions this brought up.
“God, you have to be kidding me!”
“That’s utter bullshit.”
“What are you doing to keep them away from you?”
The last one about what was being done to keep them away from me came from Hoss.
“Reign hired Iker to provide guards, which I had no idea of until one appeared out of thin air at the bistro where Mom and I were,” I told him. I was prodded to tell the story, so I did.
There was teasing of Reign for doing it without telling me. The women rolled their eyes. Iker gave his opinion. Before I knew it, an hour had flown by. It was Reuben who brought it to our attention.
“I can stay here all night, but we interrupted Stasia’s tour. I believe we should let them get back to having fun. I need to check on the staff and make sure everything’s good. How about we have dinner soon? That way we can fully relax.”
His suggestion was met with loud enthusiasm.
It took about five or so minutes to agree that Reuben and Cristiana would organize and send out the invites.
I was surprised when we got up to leave that everyone gave me a hug.
I hadn’t expected that, but it felt good to receive so much comfort. I hugged them back.
We were escorted down to the second floor by Reuben, since he was technically working. He explained to me what he did and where his office was. When we got off the elevator, he waved and then melted into the crowd.
“Where do you want to go back to?” Reign asked.
“I want to see one of those themed rooms from the inside. Is that possible without a reservation? I know that the one setup for bondage probably is taken, but I’d like to get a feel for them.”
“Let me find one of the floor managers and ask.”
It didn’t take us long to find one. It was a woman named Sheila. She shook my hand when I was introduced and welcomed me. She pulled out her phone and tapped on it. It took her a minute to answer us.
“You’re in luck. One of the general ones is open. No one has it booked for another hour and a half. Let me show you. I’ll block it off, and if you leave early, just let me know.”
“Great, thanks, Sheila,” Reign said.
“Anytime, Sinner.”
At the door of the room, Sheila left us, smiling.
I walked inside, taking in the layout and all the items. One of the first things that caught my attention was the large, open window.
Anyone passing on the floor outside could watch.
Reign saw me looking at it. Without a word, he went to a remote control mounted on the wall next to the window.
He pressed a button that lowered a privacy screen, blocking everything. He shut and locked the door behind us.
“There, we don’t need people gawking at us. You can relax and check everything out. If you have questions, ask. I set the alarm on my watch so we’ll be out before the next occupiers can come inside.”
“Thank you, Reign. I have to admit, tonight has gone differently than expected, but it’s been incredible. I really like your friends.” I rattled out.
“Good. I’ll sit over here so you don’t feel suffocated. Ask whenever you have a question. Explore to your heart’s content.”
I recognized some toys or implements or whatever they were called. I wasn’t completely na?ve when it came to kinky toys. It was more that I hadn’t had the opportunity to use many of them.