Chapter 18
Eighteen
When Alfie said he could distract me, he’d certainly meant it. It was very hard to worry about anything else when I had a certain something in a certain place that nothing had ever been before.
‘I want to try something new with you tonight. I want to claim a part of your body you haven’t given to me yet. Do you trust me?’
I’d told him that I did and I’d meant it when I said it, I just hadn’t planned on him presenting me with a type of toy that was meant for a part of the body that I’d never explored before.
I’d been scared, but he’d been so gentle, so patient with me and I…I was curious. I wanted to explore every part of myself with him and every part of him too. I wanted to watch him show off what he could do.
I felt each bump in the road as we drove down the long driveway to the club. I felt Alfie’s eyes on me too, checking I was still okay.
I stepped out of the car as carefully as I could. He’d assured me it wouldn’t fall out but that didn’t stop me worrying.
Club members were milling around and of course, their eyes were drawn to their club’s namesake. I found myself worrying about bumping into Julia even though Alife had already told me that her membership had been revoked. Damien didn’t fuck around about security I guess.
Alfie snaked his arm around my waist as Elliot drove away.
“Before we go in, how do you feel about us having some company?” My eyes widened.
We absolutely hadn’t agreed to anything like that.
Alfie laughed at the look on my face. “I don’t mean like that.
I mean, my Tellers are here, they want to see you.
Would you be happy to have a drink with them first? ”
First. Before he took me down to the Onyx rooms and did things to my body that I couldn't even begin to imagine. He’d said that I was ready now and I was trying to trust that he was right.
My first instinct was to say no, I was already nervous enough, but from the look in his eye, he wanted me to say yes. He wanted them to know me and he wanted to see his friends.
“Um okay. I should…go to the bathroom first?”
He cocked his head, a playful grin curving his beautiful mouth. “Why?”
I was going to kill him.
He dipped his head, lowering his voice so his breath tickled my neck.
“They won’t see anything, Lo. I would never allow it.
I know you’re not an exhibitionist but you do like an element of danger.
You came so hard the last time we were here and that couple were fucking on the other side of the wall.
” He straightened, giving me a second to breathe.
“It’s up to you, I’m just trying to open you up to yourself. ”
“Okay,” I said, gathering my courage. He raised his eyebrows. “Okay, let's go.”
Inside, he led me to a room on the third floor. I entered a darkened room and felt like I’d stepped back in time to a 1920’s speakeasy. It smelled of patchouli and whiskey and expensive perfume. On stage were a group of ladies performing a fan dance to an entranced audience.
At the back of the room, in a roped off area, were Alfie’s friends.
The four of them sprawled around a table like a renaissance painting.
I imagined them as younger, arrogant playboys enjoying everything that this playland they’d built had to offer.
Now, these men were older, more established, more skilled and this was where they came to unwind from their daily life.
Cas, the man I knew the least, was watching the dancers with a blissful smile on his face. He adored women, you could tell.
Damien wasn’t handsome so much as he had a raw sex appeal. I understood why Keira was attracted to him.
Eli was deep in conversation with Damien about something. I wasn’t sure that I’d ever seen him without a scowl on his face. Well, except for the few times I’d seen him look at Maia.
Kal was watching the dancers as if his mind was somewhere else. For once there was a darkness behind his watery blue eyes. I’d never seen him look sad before, though he broke into a smile when he saw me.
I let Alfie go so he could greet his friends. It warmed me seeing him act so almost normal. Kal kissed both my cheeks, whispering in my ear that he liked my dress. Cas kissed me too and Eli shook my hand.
“You’re becoming a regular,” Damien commented as he kissed my cheek.
“Don’t get used to it…uh, no offence.” As much as I couldn’t imagine making too much of a habit out of coming here, I didn’t want to insult Damien’s lifestyle.
“None taken.” He gave me a toothy grin.
I took the seat offered to me and found myself sandwiched between Kal and Alfie. Cas smirked at the seating arrangement. I wondered how much the three of them knew about what had transpired between Kal and I. Probably everything. I couldn’t imagine they kept many secrets from each other.
“How's that spankable friend of yours?” Damien asked, distracting me from my thoughts, and from the sensations caused by a certain object pressing against me as I sat.
“You should ask her yourself.”
“Lola!” Cas suddenly declared as a waiter approached with a bottle of champagne. “Congratulations! Many happy felicitations! You will be the most beautiful bride.” Cas, it seemed, was drunk.
I accepted the glass of champagne the waiter offered. Alfie promptly took it out of my hand and set it down away from me. The men shared a smirk. I felt like a doe at dinner with wolves. Friendly wolves that had promised not to bite, but still wolves nonetheless.
“Thank you. Perhaps I should hire these ladies for entertainment at the reception.” One by one the dancers removed their bras, keeping their breasts hidden by the fans.
Cas sighed. “Yes, they are rather perfect, aren’t they?”
They certainly were. I marvelled at their confidence.
Before I could reply, I heard Julia’s name and my head whipped around. Eli’s brow was furrowing as Damien and Alfie filled him in.
“Julia Whitmore?” he shook his head. “We’ve crossed paths a few times, I can’t say I know her too well.”
“She has a plaything,” Damien said. “Muffin, apparently.”
“Oh,” Cas tipped his glass, “she blushes that one.” I blushed myself, wondering what he could mean by that. “I thought I might try her again later but I think she’s spoken for tonight.”
“Muffin’s here?” I began to panic. “With Julia?”
“No, I saw her with somebody else.” Cas returned his gaze to the stage, his expression turning dreamy as the women began to spin in a circle.
“Don’t worry,” Alfie put a hand on my thigh, "you won’t have to see her.”
“What did she do to her?” Kal asked him as if I wasn’t there.
“Julia took a swipe at Lola while she was at work. More than once, actually.” Alfie said. “Apparently she decided that she doesn’t need to play by the rules anymore.”
“Is she being punished?” Eli seemed excited for once, or at least, intrigued.
“I think having her membership revoked is punishment enough. Unless she escalates, I’ll leave it there.”
“I’m sorry, Lola,” Eli said with all sincerity. “Not all of us forget how to play by the rules.” He frowned then and pulled his phone out of his pocket. It must have vibrated to alert him to a phone call because he immediately excused himself and put his phone to his ear as he walked away.
I watched him go, wondering if I would ever not be intimidated by him.
I wondered what Maia saw in him, then I remembered how intimidated most people were by Alfie.
I had been once too but not anymore. There was a side of him only I got to see.
Maybe that was why these men hung on to certain women so tightly, because it was rare to find one they could truly let their guard down with.
Damien engaged Alfie in club-related conversation, a discussion about remodelling the East wing or something. I had little to contribute to that subject and with Cas being seduced by five dancing women dressed in pink, I was left only with Kal.
The blonde angel smirked at me. “So, are you excited to visit the Onyx rooms? Officially I mean, with permission this time.” The last time I’d been down there it had been strictly without Alfie’s consent and Kal had had to sneak me in.
“How did you know?”
“I presumed you were going to play tonight. The Onyx rooms are the most secure if you want to do more than a little light bondage.”
“What made you think I’m here to…play?” I lowered my voice. I wondered if Alfie would be okay with us having this conversation. I wasn’t sure how much I trusted Kal not to step on Alfie’s toes.
“The toy.” He looked down the length of my body and I felt my skin turn bright red. “I’ve never seen your spine so straight. I’d know that posture anywhere.”
I looked away, the collar I had to wear that marked me as a guest felt suddenly very tight. “I don’t know how I feel about you knowing what we’re getting up to.”
He chuckled. “Lola, where do you think you are? What do you think everyone comes here for? Tea? The show? We’re all here for the same reason as you. To explore, to blow off steam. There’s no shame in it, especially when you’re in love.”
“Speaking from personal experience?” I asked and he paused, as if deciding whether to answer me honestly or not.
“Yes. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to keep mine.” He took a heavy swig of his whiskey. “I hear Eli is finally close to catching his girl though. Damien has a thing for your friend, she’s keeping him on his toes which is good for him. And Cas…Cas?”
Cas looked over, tearing his eyes away from the women.
“Have you got any plans to be in love anytime soon?” Kal asked him and Cas flashed a smile that could buckle knees.
“I’m always in love.” He returned his attention back to the women, leaving Kal and I once again to ourselves.
“What was her name? Your girl that you didn’t get to keep?” I don’t know where I found the nerve to ask him these questions. Maybe it was the club. It brought out the brazen in everybody.
“Lily.”