Chapter Two
Damien
Pushing my way through the crowd, I finally reach my office doors, only to be met with an annoyed, six-foot-tall, stocky man.
“What’s wrong, Jaeko?” I ask my personal bodyguard, teasingly. Truth be told, Jaeko is always annoyed.
He rolls his eyes dramatically behind his mask, his jaw flexing with irritation. “Too many people for my liking, Boss.”
I nod in understanding as I slip past him into my office.
The members wanted something different. Well, they got it.
Singles Masquerade and Mingle Night.
I can’t deny that I thought the idea was completely ridiculous when Shelley, my bartender, first pitched it to me.
My elite sex club, Chokehold, has a reputation to uphold.
Typically, it’s hard as fuck to get invited in, even for an interview after applying.
We have a rigorous vetting process, as upholding our members' privacy is of the utmost importance.
The idea of opening the doors for a night to let just anyone have the free will to enter had my nerves in knots. Thankfully, the members’ private and viewing rooms are all closed tonight to non-members, to keep it mild and strictly for socializing.
I’m looking at the security cameras of the main lobby and bar, from the comfort of my office, as the people pile in.
Although they’re all masked, I recognize quite a few of our regular members, and they already seem to be enjoying themselves.
I hate to admit that Shelley may have been onto something.
Maybe it was a good idea…I’ll never tell her that, though.
There are just as many women walking through the doors as there are men, and everyone is dressed to seduce. The women are all dressed in beautiful gowns that leave little to the imagination. That is, all except for one.
My eyes quickly latch onto the woman on my screen who looks completely out of place, and not necessarily in a bad way.
She has long black hair and a thick, curvy hourglass figure.
She’s dressed more conservatively than any other female here, as if she’s trying to hide her body away, but still looks completely stunning…
I’m just confused by her, and curious if she truly knows where she is.
Typically, women who come here come confidently, knowing what they want and ready to explore that side of themselves. This is a safe place for them to be free and discover things about themselves they’ve kept hidden under lock and key.
They don’t have to hide here.
I hate that this woman appears as if that’s exactly what she’s trying to do—hide.
The friend she appears to be here with looks comfortable, flirty, and as if she's in her element. Leaving no room for question as to who drug whom here.
I’m not sure why, but I can’t seem to look away, watching the pair for far longer than I’d care to admit.
I can’t see her full face, stupid masks, but what I can see of it is beautiful. So, why does she seem to hide behind her friend so much? Why not embrace who she is? Why is she hiding her body behind her conservative dress the way that she is?
There are so many questions that spring to mind about this woman, and I don’t necessarily like them.
She looks slightly uncomfortable. I can see it in the way that, anytime the conversation shifts to her, she deflects, letting her friend speak instead. But something tells me that she has another side to her. A side that she’s not even aware of yet.
I’d love to be the one to peel back those layers, bit by bit, and find out just what she’s capable of exploring.
I watch her as she notices the couple partaking in the festivities at the end of the bar. The woman's head tilts back just slightly before the friend seems to say something, and then leans into her space to look at what stole her attention away.
If I didn’t have strict boundaries for myself not to get involved with members, I’d be intrigued to talk to her, to challenge her, and to see if she’s truly cut out to be here. The thought causes me to chuckle darkly. That’s when I remind myself, she isn’t a member—that much is obvious.
I’m still watching the cameras when I notice the pair of women head toward the stairs that lead to the second floor. Her friend is basically forcing her to go up them, which is almost comical, since the second floor is pretty tame compared to what else we have to offer here.
She looks terrified, unsure of what she’ll find up there.
The people who come here know what they’re coming for, and they’re eager. Rarely have I ever experienced someone hesitant to explore. It excites me, sends a thrill through me. For some reason, I find myself wanting to show her much more than just the second level.
I want to see how she would respond to everything.
Could she even handle it? Would she be curious, or afraid?
Interested in finding out, I watch the camera monitor intently to see how she’ll respond to what she sees as she enters the space.
To my surprise, she doesn’t falter. Not even when her eyes grow wide, landing on the promiscuous dancers on the platforms. It takes her a while to adjust, but she does.
It’s obvious in the way her stiff hips loosen with each sway when she starts dancing with her friend.
Unable to watch from a distance any longer, and needing a closer view, I grab for the black mask that rests on my desk. I slip it back on and stride out of my office in the far back of the first level of the building.
Opening the door, I’m greeted with Jaeko and all of his joy, yet again. He starts following me, but I stop him. “I’m good right now, Jaeko. You can wait in the viewing room.”
He doesn’t argue. Jaeko loves the viewing room, so maybe he’ll perk up a bit.
Time for me to have some fun for once.
I make my way to where she is, but keep myself back in the shadows.
Observing.
Assessing.
I watch her loosen up as she dances with her friend.
It’s more like swaying in place, but it does the trick to help her relax some.
A group of men gets their attention, dancing in the space around them.
I watch as her body visibly tenses back up in discomfort.
The group of men seems to be more focused on her friend than they are on her.
Maybe they notice the way she’s uncomfortable, and she isn’t a sure thing.
After a few minutes, one of the men places a hand on her hip and tries pulling her into him. Instantly, an unwelcome feeling passes over my skin. The thought of his hand getting to feel her, when mine can’t, makes me feel rage.
Her hesitance is the only thing holding me back from stepping in.
I make my way to the bar to grab myself a drink, but keep them in my line of sight. I watch as the friend notices me and draws my gaze to the stunning beauty that has held my attention all night. Before I know it, they’re walking up to me.
Well, here we go.