Chapter 9
ASPEN
Istared at myself in the floor-length mirror four days later. The light beige walls and fluffy bedding of my original room a stark contrast to my reflection.
After lunch, Lucian told me to take a long bath and prepare for the night. When I exited the bathroom, a simple white box waited on the bed, its note containing two simple words.
Trust me.
My heart thudded, and my muscles tensed, my body balancing on the edge of fight or flight. But I didn’t have to choose. I didn’t want to run, and I didn’t have to fight. So, I opened the box and did as the note said: I trusted Lucian.
Now, I stood in a short black dress, barely more than a slip, meant to fall effortlessly from my body. Simple wrapping for the diamond lingerie beneath it, acting more as decoration for my dusky nipples and smooth pussy than covering them.
Cool metal pressed against my heated skin as I took in my simple makeup and nude lips, wondering what awaited me tonight.
Three days ago, we sat across from each other at the dining room table he’d tied me to weeks before and went through the checklist with the same methodical precision used in a million-dollar deal.
“Anal play with toys?” he asked.
“Green.”
“Anal penetration with fingers?”
“Green.”
“Anal penetration with my cock?”
“Green.”
“Nipple clamps?”
“Green.”
“Voyeurism?”
“Green.”
“Exhibitionism? Partially dressed, fully naked, foreplay, or fucking?”
“…G-green.”
“Aspen…”
“Green.”
“Are you sure?”
“Green.”
“Okay. Oral sex? Giving and/or receiving?”
“Green.”
“Allowing one or more people to join us during foreplay or sex?”
“Yellow.”
“What makes you hesitate?”
“Would they be touching you or me?”
“Either.”
“I don’t want to watch you with someone else. Red.”
“And if I want to watch someone touch you? If I want them to help me touch you?”
“Umm.”
“If I want to sit back and watch them fuck you?”
“…”
“We can keep it as yell—”
“Green.”
We’d covered seven pages, which left me squirming in my seat.
After, he sat me on the edge of the table and ate me out like a starving man before bending me over, fucking me so hard I still had the bruises fading against my hips.
I held my own stare in the mirror and wondered if I’d recognize myself by the end of the night.
The evening loomed with an alluring weight of change—an event that would open my eyes to a new level of pleasure I wouldn’t want to come back from.
With one last deep breath, I turned to go, sliding on diamond heels on my way out.
The quiet hum of conversation and soft music drifted up the stairs; guests had started arriving almost an hour ago.
I’d wanted to be by his side as he welcomed them, but he’d told me it was all taken care of.
The same thing he’d told me all week, each time I asked what I could do to help prepare.
He’d explained that Rose had connections from The Berkshire to plan a sex club scene outside of the sex club.
And that’s exactly what greeted me once I made it downstairs.
The same combination I’d encountered on my first trip to The Berkshire of couples sitting fully clothed with a drink in hand as they conversed with another, others barely dressed at all, and some already playing.
I scanned the crowd until I found Lucian—his eyes already watching me as if he’d been waiting for me.
His dark gaze stroked along my skin from across the room and reeled me in.
I couldn’t look away as I made my way to him, my breath increasing with each step.
Everyone else faded to the background as I made my way to him—until Rose brushed my arm and smiled, clutching Corbin’s arm.
“Wow. You look incredible. Simple, but stunning.” Her gaze slid to Lucian, one brow lifting. “I assume you picked it out?”
“Of course,” he answered, his gaze locked on me.
“Drink?” a server asked.
I blinked, finally breaking free of Lucian’s hold, and accepted a flute of champagne from the tray.
“They’re employees from the club,” Rose explained, noticing my confusion.
“That makes sense.” Freed from Lucian’s consuming attention, I finally took in my surroundings—and her undeniably sexy outfit. “Damn. Is Corbin responsible for your outfit, or you?”
She wore a cropped black bustier that barely contained her breasts and a thin, black lace maxi skirt with two slits reaching either side of her hips. The material did nothing to hide the fact that she wasn’t wearing any underwear.
“Definitely him. Just the way I like it. Especially since we plan to enjoy our evening,” she said, leaning into his side.
Corbin fed her a strawberry from his plate and eyed her with a gaze so heated I needed to look away. Only to find Lucian watching me with a similar expression.
“Where will you two be tonight?” Corbin asked.
“In the library,” Lucian answered, his eyes promising me that the library held more pleasure than I ever imagined. “You can stay in your usual guest room. I ensured everyone knew which rooms were off-limits and when to leave by.”
“Perfect,” Rose said.
“Maybe we’ll see you later?” Corbin asked.
“Maybe,” Lucian answered.
Then they were gone. Rose might have waved before walking away, but I couldn’t tear my attention from the man who claimed all my senses.
From the earthy note of his cologne, threaded with his natural, spicy warmth, to the way his black dress shirt molded to his broad chest before tapering neatly at his waist, disappearing into dark slacks—it was impossible to look anywhere else.
“Come,” he murmured, his deep voice skimming over my skin as his hand settled at my back, guiding me forward.
Without question, I followed, soaking in the erotic atmosphere, the guests progressing from conversation to kissing, groping, and more. The voyeurism building my anticipation for what would come next.
“Everyone here is a vetted member from the club. They know the rules and respect privacy above all else,” he explained, knowing I’d be nervous about finding a familiar face that might end up gossiping about me at the next business function.
But I hadn’t needed his soothing words because I knew Lucian would keep me safe.
The realization hovered unsteadily around my heart, brushing up against the undeniable truth that I trusted him. The muscle in my chest beat erratically, startling me less and less each time that truth surfaced.
Then another realization followed—one that brought my heartbeat to a standstill.
I trusted him, and while that truth carried less fear, what unsettled me now was the other feeling—the one that liked the idea of trusting him. The one that made me want to lean into it, to let go completely, and never look back.
“Is Emily here?” I asked, latching onto the first thought to distract me from the revelation.
His brow furrowed, but his gaze remained steady. “No.”
Asking why sat on the edge of my tongue but fell away once we reached the library—nothing else mattered except what came next.
Despite this being my favorite room in the apartment and knowing every inch, I still marveled at the glass walls showcasing the city lights, opposite the floor-to-ceiling dark wood shelves.
The sound of a sharp smack pulled my attention to the right, finding a woman bent over the arm of a leather chair in the back corner. I glimpsed a red handprint blooming against her tan skin before the man struck again, eliciting a throaty moan from her.
I knew the stinging pleasure so well, I almost moaned with her.
“Later, princess,” Lucian murmured against my ear, guiding me further into the room to the end of a black leather sectional situated in the center of the room.
The library was less populated than the main living area.
Two handsome men sat on the other end of the couch, dressed similar to Lucian in slacks and T-shirts, sipping on amber liquid from crystal glasses.
Their attention occasionally wandered to another seating area off to the side, where a woman sat astride a man’s lap, her breasts bared and bouncing with his rhythmic thrusts.
The observational buffet lit my blood on fire, and I couldn’t help but wonder what Lucian and I would add for their viewing pleasure.
He sat, resting his elbows on his knees. “Kneel and keep your eyes on me,” Lucian ordered, nodding toward the space between his parted legs.
I complied, resting my hands atop my spread thighs, eager to join everyone else in their pleasure.
“Who does your orgasm belong to?”
“You.” The answer rolled off my tongue, no longer bristling under the implication that I didn’t own every part of myself. I didn’t want to own my orgasm. Not if it meant I couldn’t have more experiences with Lucian.
“Good girl. Remember that tonight.” He brushed his thumb against my bottom lip. “I planned tonight based on your checklist. However, you know the rules.”
“Yes, Sir.” I could stop at any moment, but only if I needed to. Leaning into the newfound feeling, I chose to trust him to give me what I needed, even when he pushed me.
“Tell me your words.”
“Green means I’m good. Yellow means I need to pause. Red means stop.”
He sucked a deep breath through his nose and released it with a deep rumble from his chest. “Very fucking good. Now, kneel on the ottoman, facing me. Rest on your elbows and part your legs—wide.”
Here we go.
The ottoman was large at my side with plenty of room for me to fit. He slid it in front of him so when I bent to my elbows, his crotch was inches from my face.
Once we both settled, he reached over to fist my dress at my back, inching it higher, exposing me to anyone who cared to look.
Cool air brushed against my overheated skin and damp core, making me keenly aware of how exposed I was with only a diamond chain sliding between my ass cheeks and pussy.
The intricate, sparkling design only covered the flesh above my slit—useless for anything else.