6. Chapter Six
Chapter Six
Nate
Adrian: All hands on deck. Help me convince Nate to go with Sammie to her sister’s wedding.
Ben: What’s happening now?
Roman: Why would Nate go with her? Aren’t you supposed to be recovering?
Adrian: I’m sick of recovering. It’s boring.
Me: He’s scheming.
Adrian and I were sitting on opposite ends of my couch, ostensibly watching a movie. But he was twitchy, and my mind was wandering, so I was pretty sure neither of us had any idea what was going on.
Adrian: She dumped Douche. Now she needs a date. Nate is available.
Ben: Makes sense. What’s Nate’s problem?
I looked up from my phone to glare at Adrian. “Did you have to get them involved?”
“Seems like it since you didn’t immediately say yes to being Sam’s wedding date.”
My phone buzzed with another text. That wasn’t abnormal, though. Our group chat was active throughout the day, with random thoughts and updates. My brothers’ texts were the only ones I didn’t dread.
Roman: Is this serious?
Adrian: Extremely. I’m not sending her in unprotected.
I chuffed. “Unprotected? Isn’t that dramatic?”
“Her family is a bunch of dicks.”
“Then why is she going?”
He lifted a shoulder. “Hard to say. It’s important to her, and I can’t convince her not to.”
Ben: What’s your problem, Natey? Are you super busy or something?
Me: I don’t have a problem. Adrian sprung this on me out of nowhere. Until now, I wasn’t sure he was serious.
“I am,” he said. “It’s one weekend out of your life.”
Our eyes met, and for once, I could read Adrian like a book. He was concerned for her. He really didn’t want her going alone.
“I never said no.”
His head cocked. “You didn’t say yes.”
“I know.” I rubbed my jaw hard, considering the idea. “She didn’t seem to be enthusiastic about me going with her.”
“She doesn’t want to put you out, like she’s a burden. Her horror show of a family taught her that.”
I looked down at my phone. Roman had sent another text.
Roman: If Adrian thinks you should do it and you’re not busy, I’m behind the idea. Ade can stay with me next weekend.
Adrian: Yes to the first part. No to the second. I’ll be fine on my own. It’s not like I had a heart transplant. Jesus.
Ben: But your tum-tum hurts!
Adrian: You’re taking this father thing too seriously. I truly regret texting you.
Ben: Go to the naughty corner.
Me: No, he’d like that too much.
Roman: True. That wouldn’t be a punishment at all.
Adrian threw his phone down. “You’re all useless. I’m going to bed.”
True to his word, Adrian shut himself in his bedroom. After an hour of quiet, I checked on him to find him fast asleep.
Good.
That was good.
He needed rest.
But I could have used the company. My skin was crawling, and nothing I did worked to settle me. I sat at my kitchen island, thinking I’d pour myself a drink, but the idea of being stuck with my own thoughts for hours didn’t appeal in the least.
That was how I ended up at Mile High Club.
From the outside, it was nothing more than a squat, nondescript building.
Inside, at first glance, it was a sleek, private bar.
On closer inspection, the stage was equipped with straps and hooks, the crowd wore a mix of expensive suits and leather, and more than a few partners were kneeling on the floor.
I’d been here enough times to decide it wasn’t my scene. I liked sex, but not enough to go the lengths many of these people did to enjoy it. My bed worked fine, and if I was inspired, the shower or couch would do.
I took a seat at the bar and ordered a drink. Getting lost in people-watching while I took slow sips was easy. The sex acts didn’t take place out in the open, but the negotiations did—the flirting, the kink discussions, bargaining for who would do what to whom.
I was caught up in a woman petting a kneeling man when Samantha appeared in front of me.
“I didn’t expect to see you here. I thought we were meeting over nachos.”
Her sleek blond hair was carefully tucked behind her ears. Neat and tidy. Her black suit was tailored to within an inch of its life over her long, lithe limbs. She looked all serious and in charge, while her smile sparked with mischief.
“Plans changed.” I held up my drink. “Adrian left me alone with my own thoughts, and that’s never a good idea. I thought I’d swing by and see what you’ve done with the place.”
She moved beside me, perching on a stool. “You’re just in time for the wax show.”
“It’s my lucky night.”
“It is.” Her shoulder bumped mine. “I’m sure you’ll be amazed at everything Madam Cara can do with a candle.”
That made me laugh. “I have no doubt. The only thing I know to do with candles is put them on birthday cakes.”
“Mmm…cake.” She crossed her ankles in front of her, revealing the bare tops of her feet between the hem of her pants and tops of her stiletto heels. “Did you come to play, Nate?”
So surprised by her blunt question, I nearly choked on my drink. As it were, the scotch lodged in my throat like a fiery ball until I forced it down.
“No,” I wheezed. “No, I don’t think this is my scene.”
“Really?” She hmphed. “You don’t have to be kinky to have fun here. We have all kinds of private rooms. There’s one I’ve always wanted to try, but I seem to keep dating uptight squares who want nothing to do with my job. It’s probably why my relationships never work out, but—”
She stopped herself, rolling her lips over her teeth.
“Keep talking,” I said. “That was fascinating.”
She sputtered a quiet laugh. “Never mind. You don’t need to know the gritty details of my terrible taste in partners. I’m sure Adrian has shared enough.”
I set my drink down, brushing against her arm in the process. “Not really. But he isn’t one to talk. It isn’t like he’s had much success in that department.”
“The difference is he doesn’t want to find success. I do. Knowing him, he’ll decide it’s time to settle down, go out on one date, and it’ll be a fairy tale. Meanwhile, I’m spending my life kissing frogs.”
“Then stop kissing frogs. That’s a pretty gross habit, you know.”
“How else will I find my prince?” she asked with a heavy dose of sarcasm.
“True.” I chuckled, and after a moment, quiet settled between us as a woman dressed in a sheer purple bra and even more sheer skirt took the small stage at the front of the room.
“Madam Cara,” Samantha whispered, rising to her feet. “I hate to leave you, but I have a few things I need to check on. Stay. Watch the show. I’ll find you later if you’re still here.”
I stayed for a while, still not eager to be alone.
Madam Cara’s use of candles was definitely interesting, making me wonder about the cleanup process of wax down there, but my gaze kept wandering to Samantha.
She was like a butterfly, flitting from table to table, talking to clients then moving along to direct staff members.
She only hovered for moments and rarely stopped completely.
It was no wonder Adrian was able to fall asleep easily, knowing she was here running things. If she’d been running my brain as smoothly as the club, I might’ve been able to fall asleep too.
All I had were SSRIs for that job, and they were nowhere near as smooth as Samantha.
The moans on stage caught my attention. A volunteer was draped over a table, Madam Cara dripping wax all over his penis and balls.
The sight made me wince, but the man was at full mast. Despite his pained whimpers, he must’ve been enjoying it.
It was a bit of a train wreck I couldn’t look away from.
Madam Cara danced around him, teasing him with her candles until he begged for more. Then she mounted the table, straddling his midsection, and let the wax drip down her torso onto his.
He was bucking beneath her, pleading for more, all while keeping his hands at his sides.
He was so much bigger, but she was the one in control.
It wasn’t my scene. I couldn’t really say I had a scene. But it was fascinating. I ordered a second drink and sipped it through the rest of the show.
Samantha showed up a few minutes after it ended, taking her perch on the stool next to mine.
“You’re still here.”
I lifted my mostly empty glass. “How could I leave with that kind of entertainment?”
“You should come back on Shibari night. We have a couple who are gorgeous together. Even if bondage isn’t your thing, it’s not to be missed.”
“Maybe I will. Though I can’t imagine anything surpassing wax on balls.”
A light giggle burst out of her. “How did that make you feel?”
I moved a hand over my crotch. “Protective.”
“So no wax for Nate Wells.” She mimed scribbling on her hand. “Got it.”
I leaned an elbow on the bar behind me. “I’m not excluding wax, but not…there. There’s nothing enticing about that.”
“Hey, to each their own. Her volunteer felt no pain.” She tapped her chin. “Well, maybe he did, but it was the kind of pain he likes.”
My nose crinkled. “I think I’m too vanilla to understand that.”
“That’s okay.” Once again, her shoulder brushed against mine. “Vanilla is one of the most popular flavors of ice cream for a reason. Nothing wrong with vanilla so long as it’s not judging the other flavors.”
I raised my free hand. “I’m too busy judging myself to worry about what other people are doing.”
She pressed my hand down to my side. “You don’t have to defend yourself to me, Nate. I know you’re a good guy.” Her fingers slid off mine to gesture around the room. “This isn’t for everyone. I get that. To be honest, without the ‘forbidden’ aspect, it would be a lot less fun.”
Before I could stop myself, I asked, “Do you ever get the chance to participate?”
It was none of my business, but she didn’t seem put off by my invasive question. “I have in the past. But like I said, most of the guys I’ve been in relationships with aren’t the biggest fans of my job, so it’s been a while.”
I shifted on my stool to face her. “I’m not usually a person who gives out relationship advice, but next time, maybe find someone who’s a big fan of everything about you.”
“Yeah.” She propped her elbow on the bar and leaned her head on her fist. “I’m going to take a break from boyfriends.”
“Probably a good idea.”
She nodded, but now that I was looking at her up close, I couldn’t miss the melancholy behind her wide eyes.
I knew nothing about the men she’d dated or her relationships, only that she was usually in one.
Was she sad about the breakup with the last guy?
Were my brothers right about her and Adrian’s unrequited love?
I didn’t see it. Then again, I’d never given their theory much weight.
There was no reason for them not to be together, unless Samantha’s desire for a relationship and Adrian’s aversion were holding them back.
Or maybe they were just friends.
Weirdly close, codependent friends, but platonic, nonetheless.
“I’m sorry about the position Ade put you in earlier.”
My eyebrows rose of their own accord. “What do you mean?”
“You know, when he was trying to guilt you into going to my sister’s wedding with me. That wasn’t fair, putting you on the spot like that.”
“No, no, don’t apologize. I didn’t feel put on the spot. If anything, I felt confused. I had no idea Adrian was being serious until he tried to get Rome and Ben to convince me.”
“Ugh.” She covered her face with her hands. “Wow. Now all the Wells brothers know how terribly pathetic I am.”
“Not at all.” I tugged her hands away from her face. Her wrist bones were delicate beneath the circle of my fingers, her skin warm and incredibly smooth. For a heartbeat or two, my gaze snagged on what that looked like.
My fingers around her wrist.
Her eyes lifting to mine almost immediately.
The glint of hope overpowering her embarrassment.
It was why I said: “If the offer still stands, I’d be happy to go with you.”
“Really?” Her smile was instant and grew wider by the second. “You will?”
“Sure. I don’t have anything happening next weekend, and you shouldn’t have to go alone.”
“Nate,” she sighed softly. “Thank you, Nate. I didn’t…I thought I was fine going alone, but I can’t even express how relieved I am that I won’t have to.”
“I’m glad to help. I can’t promise to be the most exciting date, but I’ll be there.”
“That’s all that matters.” She clutched her hands together beneath her chin. “Oh, you’re going to get the biggest plate of nachos when I get home.”
I smiled with her, never having imagined nachos as a thing I’d look most forward to. But here I was.
“I can’t wait.”