Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Iris
There were two ways to reach the second floor of Marquis, three if she counted the emergency exit.
Tonight, Iris used the back door. The front would have taken her through the Marquis restaurant, and even though she was wearing a little black dress that would have fit in just fine, she’d already sparked enough gossip by running her mouth at the bar last week.
The more circumspect she could be tonight, the better.
Was she second-guessing tonight?
Yeah. Maybe.
This was her first time at Marquis for something other than class.
She was honest enough to admit she had a crush on the Dom she was scening with and realized she did not know how he felt about her.
As much as she tried not to think about this as a ‘pity scene’ because beggars couldn’t be choosers, the thought still floated around in the back of her head. She was pretty sure she’d felt a spark of mutual attraction between them… and hoped she wasn’t fooling herself.
Even if nothing came of tonight but a great scene, she would be happy. She’d be a lot happier if it meant she got to start scening more regularly, even if it was with Doms, who’d previously been too intimidated.
Slipping in the back door, she could hear the buzz of the restaurant down the hallway.
Only the staff and the upstairs club members used the back entrance, so it was designed not to be seen by anyone in the restaurant.
Heading around the hall to where she could just see inside the dining room—past the stairwell and bathrooms—she smiled with relief that no one was there.
The sounds of people talking and eating dropped away as she headed up the stairs to the lobby of Marquis’ second floor.
It was a lot like Stronghold, just fancier.
There was a door to the manager’s office, as well as a desk next to the door to the main stage where the performances were held, and standing beside that door was a Dom who also served as a bouncer.
A lot of Doms and subs chose to take positions at Stronghold and Marquis to get discounts on their memberships—unlike Iris, who had ended up being a server at Stronghold because she’d gotten into trouble.
She was hardly the only subbie it had happened to.
It was a pretty common punishment, especially for brats who were trying to top from the bottom.
Sometimes, she wondered if that described her or if she just had an issue with authority she couldn’t quite seem to let go of.
“Hey, Iris!” Freddy, who ran the front desk at Marquis and often manned it, perked up when he saw her appear. Next to him, one of the other club subs, Tori, let out a low whistle. “Damn girl, you look good. Going to give Master Law a run for his money, huh?”
“Is that something you think I need?” The dry question came from behind her, and Iris jumped, cheeks flaming. Thankfully, despite her stiletto heels, she didn’t stumble as she turned around.
Master Law had apparently just come from the hallway that skirted around the ‘show’ area and went straight back to the hotel portion of the operation.
Marquis not only boasted theme rooms like Stronghold but each theme room was attached to a regular hotel room so guests could spend the night without having to worry about going home after an intense scene.
That was why a lot of the members used a visit to Marquis as something special since they could stay overnight. Though, not everyone did.
“Hi,” Iris said, hands smoothing nervously over her skirt as she tried to push down her jangling nerves. Wearing his usual leathers, he also wore a button-down white shirt with the top button undone—a fancier version of what he often wore at Stronghold.
When he smiled at her, it was all she could do not to melt into a little puddle on the floor.
“You look beautiful,” he said, coming forward and holding out his hand. Iris took it, blushing even hotter as she felt his fingers against hers.
Yes, sometimes, he’d used her for demonstrations during class, but that had been different. That had been impersonal… in front of a bunch of people. He’d barely looked at her.
Not like he was looking at her right now, with heat in his eyes as they scanned her body. The spark of attraction? Yeah, that lit up her fingers where their hands were touching, making her entire arm feel tingly.
Girl, you have got it bad.
Lower your expectations, lower your expectations, lower your expectations…
Just because he was attracted to her didn’t mean he would want more than a scene. In fact, he probably wouldn’t want more.
The mental reminder helped her get her heart rate under control as they approached the desk.
Freddy was still grinning. The light blue suit he was wearing matched his blue eyes perfectly, and his hair had been gelled and was sticking up in a messy bedroom look.
Iris thought he was adorable. He was a submissive, but he could also be bossy as hell and was a mother hen to all the other submissives.
“We have your table all ready for you,” Freddy said smoothly, accepting the menus Tori held up. The pretty brunette winked at Iris when Master Law wasn’t looking. “Right this way.”
Master Law nodded to the Dom outside the door—Iris was pretty sure his name was Victor, but she only knew him by sight—then they were in a room she had walked into probably a hundred times, but this time it felt different. Because it was different.
This was the first time she was here as a real sub.
Law
Fuck, he needed to get his head on straight.
Freddy hadn’t been wrong. Seeing Iris in that dress, as if she was here for a real date, was making him want things he didn’t have any right to want.
The little black dress wouldn’t have turned any heads at Stronghold, where half of the attendees were wearing nothing at all, but it looked fantastic on her.
Like something she would wear on a real date.
Which made it feel more like a real date, despite his leather pants, which he only wore to the club.
He hadn’t realized he’d picked them out for tonight specifically to make it feel less like an actual date until this moment.
He’d donned them like armor and still took a direct hit right to the groin the moment he saw her.
It was going to be a struggle to keep his head on straight and treat this like a scene.
It was not helped by the fact they were having dinner together before the show started.
“Here you go,” Freddy said, turning and gesturing at the booth he’d led them to. The stage in the center of the room was surrounded by booths. They could seat up to six people comfortably, and there were plenty of bolts and rings that didn’t normally adorn restaurant tables and booths.
The booths themselves were curved around the circular tables, backed by walls that went to the ceiling, and had two sets of curtains that could be drawn across their openings.
Basically, they were set up for maximum privacy.
It was possible to hear what was going on in the other booths, but you couldn’t see beside you, and most of the sounds were muffled.
With the stage lights off and the booth lights on, they could see into the booths across from them, but that would change when the house lights went down, and the stage lights were turned on.
For those who wanted a little more privacy and retain the ability to still watch the show, they could draw the sheer curtains across the booth opening.
The heavy brocade curtains were for those who wanted complete privacy.
“Thanks, Freddy.” Iris smiled as she let go of Law’s hand and sat down, scooting her way along the booth to the back, where she would have the best view of the stage.
“Yes, thank you.” Law took a deep breath and followed her. Dammit. It really felt like a date as Freddy handed their menus over.
Law didn’t think about the last time he’d been on a date. He really didn’t want to. It had been with Elaine, and he was doing everything in his power not to think about Elaine. It would put him in a foul mood, and he needed to focus on Iris tonight.
Iris and their not-date.
Focus and control. That’s what he needed.
How he’d ended up being drawn to BDSM. Once he’d discovered the lifestyle, he’d realized how much he truly enjoyed it.
Almost a little too much, but it had also given him the tools he needed to keep himself under control, and he did what he could to give back to the community that had helped him so much.
Do you think it’s possible your friends are right, and it’s time to stop punishing yourself for the past?
Maybe.
Not exactly something he could think about right now, and considering where he was, he wasn’t sure he should be listening to that voice because his motivations were highly suspect.
“So, ah, come here often?” Iris joked.
Law looked up, chuckling despite the conflicting emotions and thoughts swirling within him.
“Not for the shows,” he admitted. “I’ve heard Will and Gina put on a good one, though.”
“I’ll admit, I don’t know if I could have come here if the couple performing were friends with my brother.
” She shuddered delicately, still smiling but completely serious.
Law didn’t blame her. He enjoyed being a voyeur, but he couldn’t imagine doing so with one of his sisters’ friends, especially not one of the ones she’d grown up with.
“I have wondered how much having them around inhibits you.” Mentor-mode was a place where he was comfortable. Although, as a mentor, he usually tried to avoid looking at his mentee’s breasts, even when she was wearing a very low-cut dress and taking a deep breath.
“I think it’s more they inhibit the others around me.
I mean, I wouldn’t stop to watch them if they were doing a scene in the Dungeon, but other than Andrew and Kate, I wouldn’t walk out of the Dungeon, either.
It’s more their reaction to my presence I find inhibiting, especially how their presence affects the others around me.
” She made a face. “By the way, if I haven’t expressed how grateful I am that you were willing to scene with me, please know that I am. ”
The gratitude made him uncomfortable, as though she was saying she didn’t think he would have scened with her if he didn’t feel sorry for her and her lack of scening partners.
While part of him was tempted to let that notion stand since it felt safer, he didn’t want her believing she was undesirable or unattractive.
Nothing could be farther from the truth.
“You don’t need to be grateful. I asked you to scene tonight because I want to scene with you. If I didn’t want to, there’s nothing in the world that could make me.”
The truth made him feel a little more raw and exposed than he was comfortable with, but it was worth it to see the way Iris lit up in response and the relief in her expression. He also needed to change the subject as quickly as possible while he tried to regain his equilibrium.
“So, you’ve eaten here recently. What’s good?”
Iris wrinkled her nose, obviously picking up on his teasing jab about how her time at the bar had spread the word they’d be here together tonight.
“I don’t know if I’d call drinking at the bar ‘eating,’” she muttered before pushing her voice back to its normal volume. “The sirloin is excellent… or the crab cakes if you don’t like steak.”
“I like crab cakes, but I’m not a huge fan of Old Bay,” Law replied, looking down at the menu, then jerking his head back up again when Iris gasped. Her hand was pressed against her chest, eyes wide, and her expression as though she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard.
“We are in Maryland,” she whispered. “You can’t just say things like that out loud.”
Law’s grin stretched wider. She wasn’t wrong, but he enjoyed her reaction.
Movement out of the corner of his eye had him looking up.
Mark, dressed in Marquis’ uniform of black shorts, a tight dark red shirt, and a black server’s apron, stepped up to their table.
His Dom was Victor, who had been standing guard at the door to the theater, so it wasn’t too surprising to find him working tonight as well.
“Hello, welcome to Marquis.” Mark grinned widely, his dark eyes sparkling with anticipation, thrilled to have them at his table. The gossip about Law and Iris must have really been flying. “What would you two like to drink tonight?”
“Just water for me,” Law said, glancing at Iris. Her eyes widened.
“Oh… I… should I not?”
The rule was a two-drink maximum for both Stronghold and Marquis—and the liquor drinks were always watered down unless you confirmed you had no intention of scening that evening.
“Get whatever you like. You won’t be having more than two.” Law smiled at her. Over the years, he’d gotten used to being the odd man out. That didn’t bother him much anymore. It was people’s reactions to why he didn’t drink that bothered him, which was why he usually didn’t give an explanation.
Thankfully, both Mark and Iris seemed to take at face value he wanted to be clearheaded tonight. It was one of the nice things about the clubs. While there were plenty of people who went there to hang out or get a drink before or after a scene, there were just as many who didn’t.
“I’ll have the hard cider.” Iris glanced at him as if trying to gauge his reaction. Law had to wonder if she really wanted the cider or if she was just testing to see whether he’d really meant it. Maybe both.
“Great! I’ll be right back with your drinks and give you a chance to look over the menu.” Mark smiled at them and whisked away.
“How much do you want to bet he’s going to repeat everything word for word to the other subs on duty tonight?” Iris asked with amusement. The look she gave Law made his chest tighten in an odd way.
“I’m absolutely not going to take that bet.” He was sure everyone who saw them would be hoping for some kind of a show, but they would be disappointed. Law was looking forward to watching the show, then taking Iris back to the Dungeon room where he could play with her to his heart’s content.
No, not his heart, his cock. Dammit. His heart was going to have nothing to do with it.