Chapter 7
Ravenwood’s current party was held in a luxury hotel suite boasting four bedrooms and a large Jacuzzi. Nala stood in the middle of the brightly lit gallery in absolute awe, ignoring the comings and goings of more guests behind her. Xan Ravenwood had not yet arrived.
“You can see all of Portland from here.”
An arm looped through Nala’s, startling her as she was pulled up onto a platform near the sliding door.
Beyond the window were a million twinkling city lights on display, with trees – so many beautiful, evergreen trees – dotting hillsides and lining streets.
“See? There’s the Willamette. The bridge is gorgeous.”
Nala sipped the champagne she picked up on her way in. It was only then that she recognized Robin standing beside her, scaring her more than Varen had yet to accomplish. “It is a lovely view.”
“What was your name again?” Robin finally released Nala’s arm and looked her straight in the eye, as if she could see beyond the lacy black mask. I sure can’t see past her silk-red one. “Sorry, I’m terrible at remembering names.”
Nala ran her tongue over her lip before letting a single word pass it. “Nightingale.”
“That’s lovely! Who picked it out? You or your Mistress?”
My what? Nala caught a glimpse of Varen talking to a man in a three-piece suit, their glasses of brandy nearly empty. My Mistress? She’s nuts, right? “She picked it out for me.” Like hell Nala was going to say the word Mistress!
“Oh, she must know you so well. It totally suits you! Is it okay if I call you Gale, though? It will be easier to remember.”
“Sure.” Whatever this fool wanted.
“Do you know the other girls yet?” Robin pointed an excited finger across the room, where the three other submissive women of The Aviary gathered to talk shop, or whatever it was Nala was expected to participate in.
“They’re dying to meet you. Especially Starling. She was the new girl these past few months before you arrived!”
“I’m afraid that I have not yet met them.”
“Well, come on!”
Nala was hauled to the bevy of beauties in masks, each of whom looked up with a smile as they waved down their new friends. Robin stuck Nala behind the nearest couch, stroking her bare arms and cooing at what a beautiful code name she had.
“This is Quail,” she said, pointing to the girl with bold red lipstick and a pair of shoes ready to dance the Charleston. “You probably remember her from Tuesday.”
Nala couldn’t help but blush as the young woman shook hands with her.
“Pleasure to meet you, Nightingale.” She had an even, airy voice that spoke of a submissive fun Nala never considered before.
Confident, but deferring. “I hope you like this group. We do have a lot of fun.”
She winked. “Sometimes with the other Doms.”
“Oh, hush. Don’t scare her off.” Robin flicked her friend’s pearl headband while Nala took another step back.
“She’ll have to get used to it,” said the buxom blonde, Starling.
“That Mistress of hers is quite the punch for those of us who swing both ways. Hi.”
She extended her delicate hand to Nala. “Starling. That stud in the bold blue suit is mine, but you can have her if you give me yours for a night.”
She winked. Nala shuddered. I don’t even want to sleep with “my” woman. Let alone yours!
The third woman, who until now had been quiet, took her chance to lean forward and introduce herself.
Nala was instantly captivated by her strong jaw, prominent lips, and shaved head.
Yet she was extremely feminine, wearing a gold dress over her smooth and dark skin with a figure to die for.
Her breasts alone caught Nala’s wayward eye more than once.
“Magpie,” she said. Then, smiling wider, “Charmed.”
She had the strongest grip of all the women.
While Nala was used to women having firm handshakes, for some reason she did not expect it in this submissive bunch.
Then again, not much about Magpie seemed demure.
Maybe her Dom was only in this for the business connections and, like Nala, Magpie was lying about being a submissive flower.
“We hope you aren’t too nervous about being here,” Quail said, catching Nala’s attention again. “The new couple aren’t expected to do anything for a while. Starling didn’t put on her first show for us until a month in.”
“Oh, and what a show,” Robin said, sitting on the arm of someone’s chair.
“I got so bothered watching her Mistress play with her that I begged for mine to fuck me in the other room. Door open, of course.”
She giggled. Nala paled. “The open-door policy at these things is weird at first, but we’re all a bunch of exhibitionists and voyeurs at the heart of it.”
Starling shrugged. “I don’t mind if my friends peek in at me having sex with my soulmate. It’s a beautiful thing, isn’t it?”
“Uh…” Nala caught herself looking at Varen, who happened to look over her way at the same time. They instantly broke eye contact again, Nala’s cheeks bursting in flames.
“It’s okay if you and your Mistress don’t have sex tonight. It can be weird at first.”
“Weird? It’s hot!”
“Of course you think so. You always make sure your ass is pointed toward the door so everyone gets an eyeful of your pussy.”
“All right, ladies.” Magpie stood, her long legs bringing her to Nala in one step. The gold mask on her face glittered in the light like jewels. There’s something different about this woman. Beyond her commanding abilities. “We’re overwhelming the newbie. She’ll get the hang of things soon enough.”
She pressed her fingers upon Nala’s shoulder before sauntering to her partner on the other side of the room. He welcomed her with an open arm, kissing her forehead before introducing her to Varen.
Nala went off to get another drink and deposit the old glass on a counter.
More of those women in lingerie came in and out of the main gallery, taking away drinks, bringing out food, and whispering to someone to make sure they were “comfortable.”
When one went up to Varen and whispered into her ear, Nala experienced a tinge of something akin to… jealousy.
No way.
Varen stepped away from Magpie and her partner before heading straight for Nala. She regained her composure, intent on staying focused before making a fool of herself in front of these new “friends.”
“You should come over and meet the others, too,” she said, voice low. “Get all the facts before Xan makes his great appearance.”
Right. That man was still nowhere to be seen, and this was his party. He probably likes making grand, late entrances... Nala was sure to pick up a fresh glass of champagne before wrapping her arm around Varen’s and going to Magpie and a man named Jay – quite the birdlike accident, he promised.
A flurry of names flew by her that night.
When she wasn’t learning ones like “Starling” and “Quail,” Nala had to remember the names of all the dominants who were not Varen.
She wasn’t as bad as Robin claimed to be, at least.
She could remember them, in time, but she couldn’t say she was looking forward to it.
These people would never be her friends.
Their bright, fake smiles and constant flirting with one another unnerved her.
How many of them were there solely for the business aspect and had to fake the BDSM lifestyle?
How many were super into the lifestyle and could barely contain themselves at these gatherings?
What would be expected of Nala? Would she confide the lie she was already brewing?
That Varen wanted to further her business prospects with Ravenwood, and Nala, her “girlfriend,” was playing along with it for the sake of her lovely woman?
It was better to share that than the truth. God, the truth would get her killed, like Tasha!
“Someone in my life is gone because of that man.”
Nala gazed at Varen while the group talked about South Waterfront properties and the latest show at the opera.
Was someone in her family killed too? Nala wanted to ask.
She was getting to the point where she wanted to confide in someone again, but the last time she shared her suspicions, her mother threw a can of beer and told her to never bring it up again.
“Xan Ravenwood is a good man!” she had bawled. “He paid for your sister’s funeral!”
Because he was guilty. Nala was sure of it.
Sure enough, when the man of the hour arrived not five minutes later, Nala was more confident that she was not losing her mind.
There was something sinister lurking behind those old, playful eyes.
The other women, most of all Robin, were utterly smitten with the way Xan kissed their hands and asked them to “twirl around and let me get a look at you.”
They danced like music box figurines, blushing, giggling, and assuring the man who controlled their dominants’ business destinies that he was the most interesting man in the room.
What’s most interesting is that he hasn’t had a date yet. Xan either walked around alone, speaking to people here and there or flirted with one of the servers on duty. Those women did the bare minimum to be polite and somewhat flirtatious back. Anything to keep their jobs.
“Everyone!” he cried, holding a glass of champagne in the air.
Varen nudged Nala, forcing her to lift a glass in toast as well.
“Here’s to another night of fun and relaxation. No shows tonight, unless you want to.”
People laughed. “Eat, drink, converse, and be merry. Oh, and do make good use of the rooms in this suite. I’m paying a pretty price for us to make merry if you know what I mean.”
Even Nala knew what that meant. She forced a smile. Not acting. Lying.
Music came on a stereo. Lively orchestral tunes that would play in a fancy elevator or restaurant.
Music to soothe the soul, loins, and heart…
and easy to ignore, Nala noted. One moment she heard a song, and one shout from a man later, it was gone again.
Always in the background, but never too distracting from the party around the room.
“How are you holding up?” Varen’s voice was suddenly in her ear as she got a third glass of champagne. “Don’t get too tipsy. I know how you were the other night from that one drink.”
Nala drank it in front of her. “I don’t see any stairs to fall down around here.”
“I don’t need you losing your cool. I don’t know what you’re like when intoxicated.”