Chapter 19
Nineteen
“ Y ou sure you want to do this?” I asked Alfie as we wound back through the halls, the noise from the party growing ever louder. “That was pretty heavy back there, I wouldn’t blame you if you needed some time to yourself.”
“Time to myself is the opposite of what I need right now. Besides, bringing you here wasn’t just about me, Lo. I wanted you to experience the club. Within reason, anyway.” He gave me a smirk that I wasn’t sure I liked.
“Within reason?”
“Yes. You can watch but you don’t touch anyone and no one touches you.”
“What if I see something and I want to try it out?” I asked, only half-teasing.
“You won’t. You aren’t an exhibitionist, Lola. Keira, yes. You, no.”
“But what if I do?”
“Then I’ll be your handler.” I choked on a laugh. He had to be kidding, but, of course, Alfie Tell rarely kidded when it came to me and my body.
“My handler ?”
He rounded on me, bringing me to a stop.
“You need to trust me, Lo. If you want to try something I will help you but do you really think I would sit back and watch you explore your kinks with another man? Even if I was cucked enough to do that, it isn’t safe.
” I understood what he was saying, I got the logic, but he was missing the point.
The point was choice. My choice, my control over my own body.
“You won’t do anything without my permission tonight. Agreed?”
“I don’t like this, Alfie.”
“I know and I understand why. But this isn’t about control and manipulation, it’s about safety and trust.” I scowled at him, rejecting his words. He eyed me and I watched those cogs turn the way I had a thousand times, the way that always meant I was about to lose.
“Watch me.” He stepped into my space and I stepped backwards until my back hit the wall. He didn’t stop until he crowded me and my breath caught in my throat. I needed to push him away, before he drowned me again, but my body felt weighted. I close my eyes, my senses swarming with him.
“Don’t close your eyes. I’ve missed having those blues on me when I work.
” My fists clenched. I could barely breathe.
His hands trailed up my sides, sending shivers along my spine before drifting to my chest. “I missed your pretty breasts. Your nipples always made you so fucking responsive.” He pressed his thumbs over the tips, moving in slow circles, nurturing them to points before pinching them through the fabric.
He tugged them, a sensation I felt all the way to my core.
I gasped. My head swimming. What was I doing?
“ Stop ,” I whispered. Immediately, his hands fell away. He took a step back, leaving me panting against the wall. I stared at him. He’d listened. He’d stopped. No pushing, no manipulation. He could have had me and he didn’t.
“See. Trust .” He took my chin, forcing me to look at him.
“I’m not going to break you again, O’Connell.
” My eyes fluttered, I felt dizzy, overwhelmed.
“Breathe, baby.” I released the breath I didn’t know I was holding and the earth came back to me.
I opened my eyes to find him smiling at me.
“I feel it too.” He straightened, pulling away. “Come on. You’ve got a lot to see.”
I toured the house with him, every room was made for night time deeds.
Every person we passed eyed Alfie with intimidation and curiosity.
We passed a smoke-filled room littered with shisha pipes and lounge cushions, a sauna room where heated breasts heaved together.
I peeked into another room, and saw a row of sex swings, each of them occupied. This place was insane.
Finally, when I was completely overwhelmed from the madness of this place, we arrived back in the entrance hall.
I was about to ask to head in the direction Keira and Maia had disappeared in when a manicured hand appeared on Alfie’s shoulder.
“Mr Tell?” A freckled redhead was smiling at him like they were old friends. “It’s been a while. I’ve missed you.” She all but drooled on his shoes. I tried not to roll my eyes. I looked up at Alfie, his expression was indifferent.
“Yes, it’s good to see you again.” I stifled a snort as I realised whoever this woman was, Alfie didn’t remember her name. An awkward silence hung for a moment as the redhead came to the same conclusion.
“Hi, I’m Lola.” I smiled, offering her my hand and a way out of the awkward moment. She took my hand in the briefest handshake.
“Pollyanna Berry.” She turned her attention back to Alfie who’s gaze had shifted from indifferent to pissed. I guess he recognised her now, except that his gaze wasn’t on her face anymore, but on the thing around her neck.
“Where did you get that?” He gestured at her necklace. The thing was gaudy, stunning but gaudy. More suitable at a palace than a party. The redhead grinned a coquettish grin.
“Don’t be angry with me, Alfie. I bought it from your little church mouse fair and square.
” She touched her perfectly polished fingers to the necklace.
“I thought it deserved a more suitable owner.” I arched an eyebrow at her obvious flirtation–was I invisible in this dress?
And who was Alfie’s church mouse and why was he so upset about a necklace?
Alfie’s grip tightened on my hand, his jaw clenching. “Enjoy your evening,” he snapped and Pollyanna’s face fell.
“Oh, I thought maybe we could—” She started but Alfie was already pulling me away into the crowd.
“Alfie, that was really rude,” I hissed as he pulled me behind him, the crowd parting for us like a hot knife through butter.
“Where are we going?” I followed him through a series of rooms until we came to one that made my jaw drop.
The room was lit up by a thousand candles and mostly silent despite being the full audience.
Every eye in the room was on Kal Strauss, who was on a small, circular stage, jacket off, shirtsleeves rolled up, performing some kind of rope bondage on an angelic looking, completely naked, blonde woman.
Kal was completely engrossed in his work but when he glanced over at us, whatever he saw in Alfie’s expression had him handing his ropes over to someone else and heading over to us.
“Why have I just seen Pollyanna Berry wearing the Marie?” Alfie asked, his tone hushed and cold as ice. Kal seemed to search his memories for a moment before apparently landing on the right one.
“You told me to help the church mouse sell it. You didn’t tell me who to sell it to. The price was fair.”
“The price isn’t the point,” Alfie snapped and Kal grinned at him.
“Then go get it back. I’m sure she’d be more than willing to work out a deal with you. I’ll watch your girl for you if you like.” He looked down at me. I was still staring wide-eyed at the girl on stage bound in intricate rope. “It’s called Shibari, would you like to try it?”
“No, she wouldn’t,” Alfie cut in. “I want the Marie procured by the end of the night.”
“Can I at least finish with my rope bunny first?”
“What's a rope bunny?” I asked.
“You don’t need to know,” Alfie cut in again before Kal could answer.
“Okay, do I need to know what a church mouse is?” I looked between him and Kal but neither of them answered me.
“How about a Marie?” Still no answer. I was done being patient.
“Alfie, we got done with this bullshit evasiveness two years ago. What’s going on?
” We stared at each other, conflict deep in his eyes.
He wanted to tell me but he didn’t want me to know.
“You won’t like it,” he said eventually.
I gestured at him to spit it out. “Years ago, I played a game involving four women. The prize was that necklace. None of them won it and I gifted it to someone else. One of those women was Pollyanna Berry, it seems she went and bought the necklace after the fact.”
“So? Why do you care?”
“The necklace belonged to Marie Antoinette.” My jaw dropped.
“Marie Antoinette as in the French queen?” I asked and he nodded. “Okay…so why do you care if this Pollyanna has it?”
“She doesn’t deserve to own it,” he said, as if that made any sense. Kal watched us, a curious expression on his face.
“She’s not your concern though. I am.” I held Alfie’s gaze until finally, he nodded. I turned back to Kal. “So, what’s a rope bunny?”
“A woman who’s into rope play. Bondage.”
“Can I watch?” I asked and he arched a brow at me, a smile creeping onto his soft mouth.
“The lady has spoken, Tell.”
“I don’t need her to watch,” he snapped. I knew that tone. He was over this conversation and he wanted me away from here and to himself.
“No? What’s the point in keeping her around if she isn’t a fan of your proclivities?” His proclivities? Why didn’t I understand anything tonight?
You aren’t ready for the kinds of games I want to play…
The words he’d spoken to me once echoed to me now. I swallowed the lump in my throat, hoping the room was dark enough that they wouldn’t see the blush creeping over my skin.
“Who said she wasn’t a fan?” Alfie said, sounding bored. He gave a small shrug. “I’ve tied her up before, I didn’t like it.” My stomach clenched at the memory of me tied by my wrists to Alfie’s bed as he stood over me, naked.
“Well, that’s a first.” Kal stared at him, genuinely surprised. “You didn’t like a woman tied up?”
“This woman specifically, no. Shouldn’t you get back to your blonde? The tension on that arm binder is looking a bit weak.”
“Fuck off, Tell,” Kal said, feigning offence. “What about the Marie?”
“Fuck the Marie. Lola’s right, it’s not important.”
Kal eyed his friend with a shrewd gaze. “What’s gotten into you?”
Alfie didn’t answer.
“Can you give us a minute?” I asked and Kal looked at me, surprised.
“Sure, I’ll be over there. Fixing my arm binder.” I watched him return to the stage to work on his blonde.
“So, this is one of your proclivities?”
“It was.”
I looked at the woman, admiring the intricate ropework encasing her body.