Chapter 3
Skye
"You need to get out more," Summer declares, reaching for her margarita. "You're all work and no play lately."
I roll my eyes but can't help smiling. We're at our favorite Mexican restaurant, and the three of us are squeezed into a corner booth surrounded by colorful décor and the mouthwatering scent of sizzling fajitas.
"Actually," I say, stirring my drink with its tiny straw, “I met someone. A potential new scene partner."
Gemma's eyes widen. "And you're just now telling us?"
This lunch was supposed to be about her wedding plans, not about me. I also know my friends well enough that they won't move on to the wedding talk until we are done catching up. They know me too well since they were both my roommates at one point.
Summer's eyes light up with interest. "At Club Red?"
I nod. "Yeah. The other night. We've been texting, and we're meeting up tonight for a scene."
"Sexting, you mean," Summer says with a knowing grin.
"So why do you look like you're confessing a crime instead of talking about something fun?" Gemma asks, tilting her head.
I hesitate, choosing my words carefully. "It feels different."
That has both of them sitting up straighter.
"Different, how?" Summer asks, her tone gentle.
I take a deep breath. "Well, I’m not sure. Usually, I keep things casual, right? Scene partners are scene partners. This guy... I don't know. There's something about him. I'm more nervous than usual."
I leave out that part of my nervousness is because of the blindfolding and being tied up, which is new to me. There are some conversations I don't want to hear the details of, like what Summer and her husband, who is Gemma's dad, do at Club Red.
It's been more of a silent agreement between the three of us to keep to the general Club Red talk, while keeping all the details of what happens inside the walls there to ourselves.
Gemma exchanges another look with Summer before turning back to me with a knowing smile. "Is it bad if it's different?"
I frown. "I mean, I don't know. I've always kept guys at a distance. That's the whole point of Club Red, right? No emotions, no strings. My focus needs to be on finishing school."
I am admitting more than I normally do. These girls are only part of Club Red because of me. I took them because I needed to know I wasn't alone in my kinks. In doing so, they both found the loves of their lives, not just a play partner.
"Be careful," Summer says, her tone more serious now. "Club Red is safe, but getting emotionally involved can be complicated."
She would know. Her relationship with Knox, Gemma's dad, started at Club Red and turned into something much more. At first, Gemma had a hard time with it, but now they're practically the perfect family.
"It's just play," I insist. "Nothing serious."
Summer smirks. "Sounds like maybe you're ready for something more."
I shake my head, but the thought lingers. I'm not ready. Not really. But... maybe closer than before. I'm almost done with school, which, in theory, would give me more free time. But if I plan to own my own spa before I'm thirty, I'm going to have to work even harder than I do at school.
The conversation moves to talking about wedding planning and Gemma's thoughts on it all. This is the first time we are doing any planning since her fiancé, Carter, popped the question.
Gemma pulls out a thick binder from her oversized purse and plops it on the table with a thud.
"I've been collecting ideas for years," she admits with a slight blush coloring her cheeks. It’s not as if Summer and I didn't already know this.
"I know it's a bit much, but I want everything to be perfect. "
Summer reaches over and squeezes her hand. "It will be. We're here to help in any way we can."
I nod in agreement, grateful for the change in topic. As much as I love my friends, I'm not ready to delve deeper into my feelings about this new guy. It's too soon, and I’m too uncertain.
"Okay,” I say. “Now, let's start with the two biggest questions: theme and location." I’m ready to dive into all things wedding-related so long as it keeps the attention off of me and keeps my mind occupied.
Gemma flips open the binder, revealing a collage of pictures and swatches. "I've always dreamed of a fairytale wedding," she says, her eyes sparkling. "I'm thinking of an enchanted forest theme, with lots of greenery, twinkling lights, and maybe even some woodland creatures."
Summer laughs. "Woodland creatures? Like, real ones?"
Gemma shakes her head. "No, no. More like cute little decorations or centerpieces. I want it to feel magical and whimsical."
I lean in, studying the pictures. "I love that idea. It's so you, Gemma. Have you thought about a venue that could accommodate that theme?"
Gemma nods excitedly. "There's a beautiful estate about an hour outside the city. It has sprawling gardens and a gorgeous ballroom with floor-to-ceiling windows, and they handle almost all of it, from food to rentals," Gemma says with a huge smile on her face.
Not that hiring people is an issue. Her husband-to-be is a literal billionaire and owner of Club Red. There is no expense he wouldn't pay to keep Gemma happy. Not to mention her dad is a billionaire in his own right, and they will both spoil her.
"Is this the place?" Summer asks, looking at a photo in the binder.
"Yes, look at some of their past weddings," Gemma says, holding up her phone to their photo gallery.
This launches us into planning and getting ideas from their past weddings, and makes the time fly by.
An hour later, my phone buzzes. I glance at the screen and nearly choke on my drink.
Gage: Thinking about what you'll wear tonight. Or rather, what you won't be wearing underneath.
My breath catches, and I quickly tuck the phone away, but not before Gemma catches a glimpse of my screen.
"Just play, huh?" she teases. "Your face says otherwise."
"Oh, shut up," I mutter, but there's no heat in it.
The truth is, I'm not sure what this is. Gage feels different from my previous play partners. There's an intensity to our interactions that both thrills and unnerves me.
Gage: Don't ignore me, Skye. That's not how this works.
A thrill runs through me at his commanding tone, even through text.
Me: Sorry, Sir. Having lunch with friends. Can't exactly sext at the table.
Gage: You could if you really wanted to.
God, he's infuriating. And arousing.
Me: Behave, or I'll make you wait longer tonight.
As soon as I send it, I regret the challenging tone. This isn't how submissives typically talk to their Doms. But Gage and I haven't established our dynamic yet, and something tells me he enjoys my defiance, at least a little.
Gage: Bold words from someone who'll be tied up and at my mercy in a few hours.
Heat pools low in my belly, and I shift uncomfortably in my seat. I exhale sharply and lock my phone, ignoring the way Gemma and Summer watch me with smug amusement.
"So, what's he saying?" Summer teases.
I roll my eyes. "Nothing."
Gemma snorts. "Yeah, sure. Your face is about to combust. It's definitely not nothing."
"Have you seen those articles about the Virgin Auction?" Summer asks.
My stomach drops. "What articles?"
Summer pulls out her phone, tapping quickly before sliding it across the table. The headline screams sensationalism: "Elite Sex Club Hosts Virgin Auction: Inside Chicago's Underground Sex Trade."
"This is bullshit," I mutter, scanning the article. "That's not what happened at all."
"You know about it?" Gemma asks, surprised.
"I wasn't there, but Dante told me about it. It was a charity event. All the women who volunteered were club members. It was about auctioning off time with a virgin. Every woman up there was there because she chose to be, could back out at any time, and was paid 90% of the bid."
"Well, the media's spinning it differently," Summer says grimly.
"Carter's been dealing with it," Gemma adds. "He says they've handled it, but it's definitely increased security at the club."
I frown, handing Summer's phone back. "Do they know who leaked the photos?"
"Not yet," Gemma shakes her head. "But they're looking into it."
An uncomfortable silence falls over the table. Club Red has always been a safe haven, a place where consent and discretion are paramount. The idea that someone violated that trust is disturbing.
"Anyway," Summer says finally, clearly trying to lighten the mood, "let's focus on happier things. Like Skye's hot date tonight."
"It's not a date," I protest automatically.
"Whatever you say," Gemma grins. "Just promise to give us all the juicy details tomorrow."
"Not happening," I laugh, grateful for the shift in topic.
As lunch continues, we chat about everything from Gemma's wedding to Summer's plans to redecorate Knox's house. It's normal, comforting, and for a little while, I almost forget about the anticipation building inside me for the next time I see him.
Almost.
The evening air is warm as I step out of my car in the Club Red parking lot, my heart hammering in my chest. I run my fingers down the hem of my short black skirt, smoothing invisible wrinkles.
The drive to Club Red felt like an eternity, my thoughts looping over and over.
Now that I'm here, the thought of turning around and leaving is even stronger.
What is it about Gage that gets to me like this?
I've played with other Doms before, and have enjoyed my experiences, but nothing has made me feel this off-balance, this. .. on edge.
By the time I step into Club Red, the pulse of music and the low hum of conversation ground me somewhat. I walk with purpose, heading straight for the bar where Jax greets me with an amused smirk.
"Gage is already here," he says. "He said to send you straight up when you arrived."
My breath catches. "Up?"
"Third floor," he clarifies. "He has a suite there."