Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Lottie stood frozen in the doorway, her breath catching as her eyes swept over Razor.
The sleek black suit he wore was sharp, the fabric catching the dim light in a way that made him look like something out of a noir film.
His black shirt was unbuttoned just enough to reveal a glimpse of ink on his throat.
A subtle yet striking detail that pulled her gaze like a magnet.
It was impossible to look away, but even harder to find words.
“Wow,” she finally managed, the single syllable tasting foreign on her tongue. She hadn’t expected this…this version of him, standing so effortlessly captivating as if he’d stepped out of a dream or a fantasy.
“I could say the same about you, Lottie. I see you got my gift.” Razor twirled his finger wanting her to turn slowly around so he could see how the suede coat and boots looked on her.
Lottie felt a shiver run through her at the command in his voice, that quiet but unmistakable edge that seemed to pull at something deep inside her. She met his eyes for a moment, studying the intensity in them, then with a subtle nod, she slowly turned.
The soft rustle of the suede coat filled the room as she spun, the fabric flowing gracefully around her.
The coat hugged her frame, the rich brown contrasting beautifully with her skin, and the boots gave her an added confidence as she completed the circle.
She could feel his gaze on her, assessing, taking in every detail, and for a brief moment, she wondered if he approved.
As she came back around to face him, she gave a small, teasing smile. “Well?” she asked, her voice playful but laced with a touch of anticipation. “Do I pass the test?”
“I think so.” Razor smiled at Lottie. He had high hopes for their evening. If nothing else, they were off to a good start.
Lottie caught the glimmer of something in his smile, something that felt like the beginning of a spark between them.
She felt her pulse quicken, a mix of nerves and excitement bubbling in her chest. The night stretched out ahead of them, and for the first time in a long while, she felt like things might actually go right.
“Good,” she replied, her smile softening as she stepped closer to him. “I’m looking forward to seeing how the rest of the evening goes.”
His eyes met hers, the playful edge still there but something deeper, more genuine, lurking just beneath.
The tension between them was palpable, charged with unspoken promises.
She didn’t know exactly where this would lead, but for now, in this moment, she was perfectly content to let the night unfold.
“Shall we?” he asked, gesturing for her toward the landing.
Razor walked her down to the car, reached for the handle and opened the passenger door for her.
“I could have gotten it myself,” Lottie said softly.
“When you’re with me, I take care of you,” he answered.
She climbed in, smoothing nervous hands over her coat while he shut the door harder than necessary just to keep himself from pulling her back out and kissing her. Christ.
Maybe bringing her somewhere temptation lived and breathed wasn’t his brightest idea.
As they drove away from the apartment Razor glanced over at her. “How was your day?” he asked as they pulled onto the road.
“Three kids with stomach issues.” Lottie laughed softly. “They all went to school together, and today was test day.”
“Let me guess. They didn’t study.”
“Exactly what it sounded like.” She smirked. “How was your day?”
“Nobody got arrested. Calling it a win.”
When the conversation quieted, Razor drummed his fingers against the steering wheel before glancing her way.
“Before we get there…figured I should explain a few things.”
Lottie straightened slightly.
“I meant it when I said we won’t be participating,” he said. “No one will be expecting anything from us tonight.”
He saw her shoulders relax. “We’re there to watch. There will be the main stage. And private viewing rooms, as you know.”
Razor saw her head whip around and her eyes go wide. He didn’t address the look. There wasn’t a reason to. “We can have a drink, if at any time you feel uncomfortable, we leave. No questions asked.
“Just like that?” she asked.
“Just like that,” he replied.
The moment Lottie entered The Red Door, the familiar hum of conversation and clinking glasses seemed to fade into the background.
It wasn’t the usual warmth of the place that struck her, but the weight of the attention.
Razor’s hand at the small of her back was like a steadying force…
warm, firm, a subtle but intimate gesture.
But it also drew her awareness to every step she took, every movement.
The murmuring of the room seemed to swell around them, and she could almost feel the eyes of the other patrons grazing over her.
It wasn’t just because of Razor; it was the way they entered together, the way they looked together.
He was a presence, but now, it felt like his presence made her stand out more. Made them stand out.
She stole a quick glance at Razor, noting how effortlessly cool he was, how little he seemed to care about the attention they were drawing. His expression was calm, his gaze cool and steady, but she could feel the energy between them shifting.
“Relax,” he murmured low enough for only her to hear, his thumb lightly grazing her back. “No one’s going to bite.”
Lottie swallowed, a breath she didn’t realize she was holding, and nodded. “I know. Just…feels different this time.” She half-smiled, trying to shake off the odd sensation that had her walking on the edge of something she wasn’t sure she understood yet.
They moved further into the room, their steps almost in sync, and the world seemed to settle back into place, the murmurs of the crowd continuing around them—but it still felt like all eyes were on her.
Lottie took a small, deliberate sip from the glass, savoring the bubbles as they tickled her senses.
She glanced at Razor from the corner of her eye, feeling the familiar pull of his gaze on her, but this time, she wanted to take things just a little further.
Handing him the glass, she slipped the coat from her shoulders, allowing it to hang gracefully from her hand.
Her movements slow and deliberate, giving him a moment to truly appreciate her.
The dress she wore beneath was simple but elegant, the kind of piece that hugged her in all the right places without revealing too much at first glance.
Black, of course, classic and timeless, but it was the way it fit, the way it moved with her was bound to catch attention.
As the coat hung, Razor’s eyes didn’t just glance over her; they studied her.
Lottie felt a thrill rush through her, the heat of his gaze following every inch of her form as if he were memorizing the curve of her waist, the sweep of her neckline, the subtle but undeniable allure of the silk stockings that clung to her legs.
His eyes lingered there, and for just a moment, she saw the shift—a flicker of appreciation, possessiveness, something that only he could convey with such a knowing smile.
The corner of his lips curled upward, a brief but unmistakable smile that made her pulse spike. It was as if he’d been waiting for this moment, or perhaps he simply knew exactly what she was doing, and he approved.
“That dress…” His voice dropped to a low, rich murmur, the kind of tone that wrapped around her like velvet. “Stunning.”
Lottie felt the weight of his compliment settle over her, and despite the growing attention in the room, she couldn’t help but feel an intoxicating sense of satisfaction. Razor was the kind of man who knew exactly how to make her feel seen—and in that moment, desired.
She let the silence stretch just long enough before speaking, her voice playful but laced with a touch of something deeper. “Well, I hope the stockings are to your liking,” she said, her smile challenging him to admit what was clearly on his mind.
Razor’s grin widened. “More than you know, Lottie,” he said, his eyes never leaving hers.
Taking her coat, he handed it to one of the servers to take to the coat room. Handing her glass back, Razor guided them to their seats as the lights began to dim.
A few minutes later, with drinks in hand, they sat watching one of the other Dom’s doing a scene using Shibari. The way the man mastered the art of rope tying was mesmerizing.
She leaned forward, her breath catching as the smooth glide of rope whispered against skin.
Razor sat beside her, arms folded, his usual stoic demeanor softened by the flicker of interest in his dark eyes.
The Dom on stage moved with practiced precision, his hands steady and deliberate, each knot a testament to control and artistry.
The ropes wove intricate patterns across the submissive’s body, accentuating curves, creating tension, and evoking a delicate balance between restraint and beauty.
Razor’s voice broke the quiet, low and thoughtful, “It’s not just about the knots, you know.”
Lottie turned to him, her lips curving in a small, curious smile. “You sound like you’ve done this before.”
His eyes met hers, a glint of challenge flashing in them. “Maybe. But watching and doing are two very different things.”
Lottie’s fingers rested lightly on her lap, but her knuckles tightened as the ropes pulled taut on the submissive’s body.
The intricate designs seemed alive, the crimson cords both confining and caressing.
She couldn’t help but marvel at how something so simple…
a piece of rope…could become art in the right hands.
The submissive’s serene expression, a mixture of surrender and anticipation, made her chest tighten.
Could I ever let go like that? Trust like that?
The question sat heavily in her mind, though she tried to shake it off.
Her gaze drifted to the Dom’s hands, the deliberate care with which he placed each loop, his confidence palpable.
There was something magnetic about that kind of control, and for a fleeting moment, she wondered what it would feel like to be in those ropes herself.
Beside her, Razor shifted, his arms still crossed but his posture slightly tense. He wasn’t watching the Dom anymore. He was watching her. He caught the flicker of wonder in her eyes, the way her lips parted almost imperceptibly as her gaze lingered on the scene.
He told himself he wasn’t jealous; this wasn’t about envy. It was about knowing. Knowing her. Her thoughts, her limits, her desires that she was only beginning to explore. Watching her now, he felt a mix of protectiveness and something sharper, more possessive.
She doesn’t even realize it yet, does she? he thought. That curiosity in her eyes, the way her breath catches when she sees the ropes pull tight. She’s drawn to this more than she knows.
Razor cleared his throat softly, and Lottie glanced at him, startled. “What do you think?” he asked, his voice casual but his eyes anything but.
She hesitated, her cheeks warming. “It’s…beautiful,” she admitted, her voice almost a whisper.
He tilted his head, studying her like she was a puzzle he’d been trying to solve for a long time. “It is,” he agreed, his tone quiet. But his gaze lingered a beat too long, speaking volumes of what he wasn’t saying.
“Lottie, would you be interested in using Shibari to work through your intimacy issues?” Razor asked her, risking their evening.
Lottie’s gaze snapped to Razor, her lips parting in surprise. The question hung between them, heavy and fragile, like the ropes they had just been watching. For a moment, she wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly.
“My…intimacy issues?” she echoed, her voice harsher than she intended.
Razor nodded, his expression carefully neutral, though his jaw tightened ever so slightly.
He was risking a lot by saying it out loud—he knew that.
But if there was one thing he’d learned about Lottie, it was that she didn’t need gentle dances around the truth.
She needed directness, even if it stung.
“It’s just a suggestion,” he clarified, leaning forward slightly, his forearms resting on his knees. His dark eyes held hers, unwavering. “Shibari’s not just about ropes. It’s about trust, connection, and—letting go.”
Lottie swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. Her mind raced, pulling at his words, unraveling them like loose threads. Did he really think she couldn’t connect? Couldn’t let go? Was that what he saw when he looked at her?
“Letting go,” she repeated, a faint edge creeping into her voice. “You think that’s my problem?”
Razor exhaled sharply, his frustration slipping through.
“I think you’ve been holding onto walls so tight you don’t even realize they’re there anymore.
” His tone softened, a thread of vulnerability weaving in.
“I’m not saying this to push you, Lottie.
I’m saying it because I see what’s possible for you. If you’re open to it.”
Her heart thudded loudly in her chest. The idea of being bound like that, vulnerable in front of someone…anyone, terrified her. But there was a spark of something else too, buried deep beneath the fear: curiosity.
“I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice barely audible.
Razor leaned back, his posture relaxing a fraction. He didn’t push further, didn’t prod her for more. He just nodded. “That’s fair. But if you ever want to explore it, you don’t have to do it alone.”
Lottie looked at him then, really looked at him, and saw something she hadn’t noticed before. This wasn’t just about her. It was about him, too, what he wanted to give her, what he wanted her to find.
And for the first time in a long while, the idea of letting go didn’t seem so impossible.
* * *
Shannon sat off to the side alone, watching Master Merritt as he sat with a woman she recognized from the clinic. The little goth nurse was no match for her or what she’d do to keep her man.
Getting up, Shannon walked out of the dungeon towards the exit.