Chapter 14
14
Ashley
What am I doing here? This is a huge mistake.
That’s all Ashley could think as she stared at the blacked-out windows of the Outlands. It looked closed, but she’d seen people going through its doors a few minutes ago. People wearing trench coats, despite the hot weather. She could only imagine what they were wearing—or not wearing—beneath the coats.
The Outlands used to be a restaurant by day and a dance club at night. Last she’d heard, it had closed down. Once she’d looked into it, it turned out it had closed down to become a private club, but she hadn’t been able to find out what kind of private club. Not anywhere that was easily searchable online.
Thanks to Mr. Black, she had an inkling of what was inside.
Telling me to research kink.
Ha.
If all the kinky romance books she read counted as research, she was a fucking expert.
“Fifty Shades of Grey” had started her down the path, but that had just been the tip of the iceberg. Now, she dabbled in more serious waters. Lexi Blake. Cherise Sinclair. Sierra Cartwright. Shayla Black. Lila Dubois. Ashley had a full, kinky collection.
What she didn’t have was experience.
Did she want real experience? What if reality didn’t live up to the fantasy?
And what the fuck was she doing, meeting a married man for kinky sex? The father of her dad’s new wife, no less?
Sure, he said he was getting a divorce. That was a common refrain among cheaters. Of course, with Mr. Black, she believed it. Not just because his wife was cheating on him, but because she was doing it with his business partner, which tangled matters. She didn’t blame him for waiting to serve the papers until after he’d made sure his company was protected.
Ashley took a deep breath and let it out.
She’d come here for a reason. Because drunk or sober, she wanted him. He made her feel alive again. Made her excited again. Both things had been in short supply since her dad had announced he was divorcing her mom because he’d been sleeping with her best friend. Ashley hadn’t realized how numb she’d become until now.
For the first time in months, she wanted.
She yearned.
She craved.
Why did everyone else get to take what they wanted without considering how others felt, but she was still standing here, not going after what she wanted?
Her dad and Slut-becca definitely hadn’t cared about how she or her mom would feel. They’d be getting home from their freaking honeymoon tomorrow, not a care in the world.
Mrs. Black didn’t care about how her husband would feel. Her lover didn’t care how his business partner would feel.
Even Uncle Kellar. He was going after Ashley’s mom, knowing full well her dad would probably blow up, despite the fact he’d been the one to end the marriage.
So, why was she hesitating to take what she wanted?
Squaring her shoulders and lifting her chin, Ashley glanced both ways before crossing the street. No hesitation. No holding herself back. Decision made.
Walking into the Outlands wasn’t quite as exciting as she’d thought it would be. The front door opened into a small antechamber, which served as a teeny lobby. There was a desk with a coat closet behind it. Standing behind the desk was a beautiful black woman with hair that brushed the tops of her shoulders. She was wearing office clothes, tightly fitted, but nothing that stood out as ‘kinky.’
Next to the door that led into the club’s interior was a large white man. Now, he was wearing leather pants and a leather vest, making him look like he’d be more at home on a motorcycle than in an office setting. Tattoos covered his arms and peeked out on his chest between the opening of his vest.
He was hot, and if she wasn’t there to see someone specific, she might have been tempted to flirt.
“Hello,” said the woman behind the desk, smiling brightly. “Can I help you?”
“Um, hi, yeah.” Nerves settled in again as Ashley approached the desk, fiddling with the thigh-length peacoat she’d put over her corset and skirt. “I’m um, Lincoln Black’s guest?” It came out as more of a question than a statement, and she almost called him Mr. Black instead of giving his full name, but at least she’d gotten the words out.
The other woman’s dark eyes widened, then her smile grew even brighter.
“Of course. So glad you could make it tonight,” she said warmly. “I’m Eben. Let me take your coat. He’s right inside at the bar, waiting for you.”
Okay, well, that was good to hear, as was hearing she was expected. Though she couldn’t help but wonder how much Eben knew about the situation. Surely, she wouldn’t be so welcoming if she had all the details. Or maybe she did know? Mr. Black was a member here, which meant he must have been here with his wife…
Ashley shoved the thoughts aside as she handed her coat over.
“Right through that door, and the bar will be directly in front of you,” Eben said, draping the coat over her arm before pointing at the door next to the big behemoth of a bouncer.
Ashley could have figured out where to go on her own, but there was something reassuring about having the direction.
“Thank you.”
“Have fun!” Eben said cheerfully, turning to hang up Ashley’s coat.
The big guy at the door opened it for Ashley when she reached him, and she thanked him as well, giving him a weak smile. He wasn’t nearly as friendly as Eben was, but he didn’t look too unfriendly, either…
Stepping through the door was like stepping into another world. It wasn’t quite as dimly lit as she’d expected, though it wasn’t bright. The whole place smelled faintly of leather and wood polish. She could see some people standing around a railing in the middle of the space, looking down onto a lower level.
The décor along the walls was dragon-themed, though there were some kinky implements as well and a few swords. There was a lot of gleaming, polished wood, from the beams going across the ceiling to the bar where Mr. Black was sitting. As if he’d sensed her presence, he turned around. His gaze locked onto her, making her heart leap up in her chest as anticipation and arousal flared in his expression.
Her insides clenched, nipples hardening beneath her corset, and she was suddenly very aware of how much cleavage and thigh she was showing. The protection of her coat was gone, and she hadn’t realized how much she’d miss it.
She felt exposed, despite the clothes she was still wearing. As though he could see right through them to her body underneath. As if he knew at a glance how aroused she was, how much she wanted him.
She could see it in his gaze, too. How much he wanted her.
He crooked his finger at her.
She went.
Glided forward like she was in a dream, barely noticing the others around them, other than to make sure she didn’t trip over or run into any of them. Her tongue flicked out to lick her suddenly dry lips as she approached. Hungry eyes devoured her until she was finally standing directly in front of him, heart pounding so loudly in her chest, she felt sure that he’d be able to hear it over the conversation and music.
“You came.” The pleasure in his voice was evident. Reaching out, he hooked two fingers into the top of her corset and pulled her to him.
Ashley squeaked in surprise as she stumbled forward, her hands coming up to land on his shoulders. Her body was wedged between his thighs, which he closed around her, trapping her against him as his gaze roamed her face, taking in every nuance of her expression.
His fingers were still in her corset, nestled right between her breasts, which suddenly felt hot and swollen against the tight garment.
“I came. I’m sober,” she blurted out, feeling awkward but excited. It was important he know she’d chosen to be here.
She glanced at his glass.
It looked like water.
“It’s water,” he said, a slight smile curving his lips as he confirmed the thought, as if he’d known what had just gone through her head. “Did you do your research, Ashley?”
“Yes,” she whispered. The urge to tell him how many books she’d read about clubs like this pressed on her, but she wasn’t sure he’d consider romance to be research. Even though it totally was.
“Good girl.”
Fingers pulled again, using the corset as leverage to yank her toward him. As his lips came down on hers, Ashley gasped, her mouth opening for his. His tongue claimed its space against hers, devouring her as his other hand slid around her neck and into her hair, cradling the back of her head and holding her in place.
Even though her hands were free, an odd feeling of helplessness stole over Ashley. It was as though he’d put her under a spell, and she didn’t know if she would ever break free…
Didn’t know if she’d want to, even if she could.