Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
Savannah
I pull on jeans and a sweatshirt so quickly, I almost trip and fall.
I’ve been dying to check this place out during daylight.
I know he doesn’t want to take me, and I’m not going to do anything stupid and reckless, but if I’m here, with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I’m going to take full advantage.
“Wig,” Thayer says tightly, clearly unhappy about the fact that I’m going with him, and I haven’t had my appointment with Cosette yet. He helps me tuck my hair under the wig, carefully securing every loose strand of pink.
I do a double take when I see myself in a full-length mirror in the corner of the room. I don’t even recognize myself.
We walk to the door, but before he opens it, he stops short and spins me around to look at him. I start at the sound of an angry knock at the door, and Fabien’s deep voice. “Thayer, get your ass out here.”
“On my way,” Thayer snaps. He grabs my chin and holds it tightly, making me look at him.
“We’re investigating an alarm. Normally, we’d call in emergencies on secure devices, but occasionally we need to keep things discreet. I don’t know what we’re going to be met with. It’s unlikely anyone after you has already discovered where you are, but our enemies have eyes in many places.”
I swallow.
Our enemies.
How many do they have?
“I already told you I expect you to obey me. You do not talk to strangers. You do not leave my side. You hold my hand unless I tell you not to. This is not a time and place to ask questions, which I’m sure you’ll have.
I want every single person who sees us to believe that I am your master and you are my slave. Is that clear?”
I nod even though no, it isn’t clear at all. I don’t know enough about this sort of thing to pretend convincingly enough. I do know to follow his lead. I know not to do anything that will draw attention to myself, and maybe that’s good enough for now.
Pursing his lips, he shakes his head. “We don’t have time,” he says with regret. “But we’ll try this for now.”
He takes something small and black out of his pocket and slides it around my neck. Without a word, he attaches a necklace to a little loop. Is that… a collar? I go to reach my fingers to it, but he smacks my hand.
“Hey!”
He growls. “No talking back to me.”
Why did I think this was hot? He’s driving me up a wall already, and we haven’t even left the room.
He opens the door. Fabien looks from Thayer to me and narrows his eyes before he gives me a discreet nod. “You okay?” he asks in a low voice.
I look to Thayer for permission to speak to Fabien. Thayer nods. “Good girl.”
“I am,” I tell Fabien.
“Fucking hell.” Fabien curses and looks away.
Methinks Fabien isn’t a big fan of this whole sister-in-law as slave hoax.
“Why the alarm?” Thayer asks as we walk down the hallway that takes us to the main lobby.
“Suspected security breach by the dance floor.” Fabien glances at me, then speaks in a low voice.
“Maybe not the best idea to take her.” I open my mouth to comment on there being a dance floor, but quickly snap it shut.
I’m guessing the less I say, the better.
Thayer curses and grits his teeth. If there’s a security breach, we risk someone seeing me and, worse, identifying me.
Thayer looks from me to Fabien, then back again. “I’m putting you in one of the secure rooms. I won’t be long. You do not leave.”
I hide my disappointment, because I know he’s right, and I don’t want to do something dumb. But damn, I want to see this place. What if we leave, and I never come back? Nicolette and Fabien would be very happy if that happened.
“Have you given her a rundown of Le Luxe?” Fabien asks in a normal voice, as we walk toward the lobby.
“Some,” Thayer says.
They’re both picking up the thread that I’m here as his guest. I walk close to Thayer, trying to look as guest-like as possible.
“We have a strictly enforced code of conduct,” he explains. “As well as a scrupulous screening process to ensure our members and guests are safe. There are secure entrances for members and guests, and private suites for high-profile members.”
I nod, not sure if I should be talking or not at this juncture.
We arrive at the lobby, and now that I’ve had my blindfold removed, I can see everything. My heart races with excitement. This. Is. Incredible.
“C’est magnifique,” I whisper.
Thayer inclines his head gratefully. “Merci.”
Gleaming mirrors, sparkling chandeliers, shining marble floors beside plush carpets in front of the main desk.
The water I heard last night is an actual waterfall lined with silver and white stones along a wall.
Gorgeous chairs enrobed in matte white leather surround a grated, modern gaslit fireplace.
I am dying to know what the rest of this place looks like.
Several people give Thayer a wide berth as we walk through the lobby and head toward another hallway.
I look above us to see a second floor above the first, wrapped with a balcony.
I can’t see much because Fabien and Thayer walk so quickly, everything passes by us in a blur.
I wonder where they’re going and what they’re going to do.
It appears that this main floor is mostly outfitted for community.
We pass the dance floor, then a spa. I see a few women and men in thick white robes sipping tea in a waiting room of sorts.
Mirrored doors and hallways make it feel as if we’re in a maze.
I am dying to know what’s behind those closed doors.
Who goes here. What a private club like this really has to offer.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see a dimly lit room, another with velvet drapes that hit the floor, and a third with a half-open door, sunlight filtering in through slats in the shades.
Thayer takes me to the last room at the end of the hall and guides me in.
He looks as if he’d rather put me in a cage with lions than leave me alone.
“You’ll stay here.”
I look around. We’re in a small, cozy, private library of sorts, complete with leather furniture and bookshelves lined with hardcover novels. Oooh, I could enjoy myself in here. “D’aw. I don’t get the room with the velvet curtains?”
Fabien frowns, his lips turning downward. “This is not a game, Savannah.” Ouch. I didn’t expect Fabien to scold me, too. He turns to Thayer. “Let’s go.”
Thayer hangs back behind Fabien and lowers his voice. “You’ll be safe in here. I won’t be long.” He pauses. “Don’t test me, Savannah.”
The door shuts behind him, leaving me with a pounding heart and enough curiosity that could kill not just the cat but the entire damn zoo.
I turn around and look the room over.
So maybe this isn’t exactly a library. At first glance, that’s what it looks like but now that I see details, I realize this is more of a…
game room. From a quick scan, everything looks normal, like something you might find in a high-end resort.
A pool table in one corner, table with a checkerboard in another.
But normally, checkerboards don’t have leather straps hanging from them, and pool tables definitely don’t have stirrups.
Yikes.
The books along the wall feature titles I’ve never heard of before, but that catch my interest.
A Night with Master.
Power Play and Sexual Exploration
Subtle Mastery
Tied up and Taken
The Art of Submission
I pull out A Night with Master and look over my shoulder. Is this room recorded? I know this is one of the secure rooms, but does that mean it’s private?
What would Thayer think?
I don’t know why I care. He runs this place. What would be wrong about me reading a book in his library?
Against one wall there’s a drink station of sorts—a small mini fridge with a glass door. Inside, there are little bottles of wine, shots, sparkling water, and other drinks I don’t recognize. Next to the fridge, there’s an espresso machine, mugs, and everything else one would need.
I make myself a cup of tea, take my book to the bench, and sit down to read. It feels proper enough.
But of course I can’t focus.
I hear low voices in the hall outside the door.
They pass, but I can’t help but wonder who it is.
A car pulls up outside the window and two people, whose faces I can’t see, exit.
They’re accompanied by scary-looking tall men I assume are bodyguards.
I wonder why Thayer put me in this room to keep me safe when it seems like such a central location.
I wish I could somehow explore this place without anyone realizing I’m here.
Wait.
Could I?
Thayer will be pissed. I know he will. I don’t want to be stupid, but at the same time, I may never get this opportunity again.
I wonder how long he’ll be.
Voices approach the door again. I listen, wondering if it’s Thayer, but neither of the voices sound like him.
They pause in front of the door. I know immediately that they’re coming in.
I look wildly around the room for a place to escape to or hide.
I see a closet door and pray to the gods that it opens.
I bolt to the door and grab the handle, relief washing through me when it turns.
I yank it open and slide inside, pulling it closed behind me as the door to this room opens.
There’s only one problem: this was not a closet door, but a door that leads to another room.
I wish I had my cell phone so I could text Thayer. If he comes back and finds me gone…
I stand by the door and listen, as I observe the room in front of me. It’s another community room of sorts, this one apparently geared toward activities that aren’t actually sexual or deviant.
Meditation pillows, yoga blocks, and a small table with tissues and a few small potted succulents sit in one nook.
It looks cozy and welcoming, with ivory walls and calming music.
Another side of the room houses a small library of books, modern, streamlined chairs that look comfortable, and another small section with canvas and paints.