Chapter 26
Xan Ravenwood lived in the West Hills when spending time in Portland.
As far as Nala knew, it was his primary residence ever since he decided the area was ripe for new business ventures.
Get him a quick drive to the airport, and it’s weekly meetings in Seattle for this guy.
Even though the sun had long set by the time they ascended the hills, Nala was still in awe over the lights illuminating large houses and even tiny, albeit adorable cottages.
“He lives way up here, huh?” They drove for several minutes, with the houses becoming sparser and the trees denser. It was hard to believe they were still in Portland.
“He’s one of the richest men on the coast. Of course he lives out here if he’s not living in a penthouse condo.”
“Oh, well, excuse me.”
“You’re excused.”
Nala almost smacked her shoulder until she realized that this was Varen’s dry humor striking again.
“We’re almost there.” Varen pulled down a marked lane, slowing down as she looked around for any guards. “You ready?”
Nala subconsciously touched the choker around her neck. The moment I step into Ravenwood’s mansion, I am Nightingale. I belong to Varen and have to do whatever she says. Nightingale was also a master spy and tonight would be the first real night of espionage.
“Good. Did you review the layout earlier today?”
“Of course.” Varen had sent her the public domain plans to Xan’s mansion.
She had it on Lucian’s authority that most of Ravenwood’s home parties were hosted on the second floor, east wing, which also happened to be where his main office was located.
They hoped that, as soon as the couples broke up for “playtime,” Nala could sneak into the office.
How would she get in? They still had yet to figure that out.
“Good.” Varen pulled into a roundabout and switched gears as they went up a dirt road lined with Christmas-lit trees.
At the end of the road was a baroque-style mansion with all the trimmings.
Gaudy as hell. Like Ravenwood. His business buildings and residences are all super modern, and then there’s his personal home.
“We’re here. Time to put Nala away, darling.”
Nala pulled her long hair around her face, framing it and her breasts as they pushed out of a black bustier.
She wore one of Varen’s blazers to keep out the chill until they got inside.
Otherwise, it was corsets and miniskirts…
and big black boots. I’m feeling more and more like a Nightingale as time goes on.
Excellent. She could get shit done that way.
“Welcome, madam.” The butler from The Raven came out to greet them the moment Varen pulled up. “Parking is around the corner. Please meet us inside the foyer. Master Ravenwood has asked everyone to gather there before heading upstairs.”
After Varen found a suitable parking spot, she helped Nala out of the car, leading her by the hand to the front steps. The butler waited at the double doors, already ushering in Josephine and Starling. When Varen approached, the butler bowed again, showing them to the far side of the grand foyer.
Nala felt like she was walking into a five-star hotel as opposed to someone’s home.
Here came those open spaces again. How can people stand to live like this?
She liked intimacy. She liked knowing where the walls were and that she could touch the ceiling if she had a ladder.
Then again, Xan Ravenwood was all about showing off what he had.
Four out of five couples were there, minus Ravenwood. A conservatively dressed maid offered Varen and Nala some champagne. The others were already halfway to tipsy town.
“Just think, Ven, you could live like this sometime soon!” Lucian clapped his hand on Varen’s shoulder, almost knocking the champagne glass out of her hand.
“I’m fine with my loft for now. It’s more my style.”
“I know what you mean! But, well, I’ve got a little woman who likes the finer things. You’re lucky. Yours seems like she’ll do whatever you desire. I know Robin loves her.”
I’m right here, you know. Robin also wasn’t that far away, although she was deep in a flippant conversation with Quail about shoe sales.
“If I may say,” Lucian continued, addressing Nala. “You are very beautiful tonight, Gale. A woman who can pull off a corset like that is one in a million.” He winked out of Varen’s view. Nala took a small step back, clutching Varen’s arm. Okay, then. Not happening, buddy.
“Thank you,” she said, nodding in appreciation. Nightingale was a thankful woman. She loved receiving compliments, especially if it would elevate her Mistress’s status.
Lucian wandered away after that, leaving Nala with Varen. “This is already a crazy party,” she muttered. “Try to keep that guy’s hands off me, if you would.”
“Don’t have to tell me twice. Remember, you belong to me tonight.”
Varen’s hand went to the small of Nala’s back.
Nala sucked in her breath. This was a far cry from the woman who tenderly held and caressed her last night.
Nala had woken up to Varen curled protectively around her, cloudy sunlight streaming through the nearby window and lighting up her sleeping face.
She had looked so peaceful, so easygoing that Nala had to fight the urge to kiss her awake.
Now she was clutching her ass, reminding Nala that deep down this woman was a stone-cold Domme who liked to tie her up and call her dirty things. Good thing Nightingale was into it.
The butler returned to the front doors to welcome Jay and Maggie.
Nala steeled herself. This was her first time seeing Maggie since their encounter in the women’s restroom in a fancy restaurant.
The one where she all but threatened poor, confused Nala.
Did she threaten me? With a woman as tight-lipped as Maggie, it was difficult to tell.
“How lovely to see you two so soon,” Maggie greeted, standing in front of Nala and sipping her champagne.
Jay came up behind and put a light hand on her shoulder.
It’s not the same as the other men. These two played at being a Dom/sub couple, but the more Nala got to know them, the more she realized something was incredibly amiss.
They make me nervous. She wondered if she made them nervous too.
“Lovely to see you, too,” Varen said, managing an amicable air. “You look particularly lovely this evening, Maggie.”
She batted her long eyelashes as her lips wrapped around the edge of her glass. “You’re such a lady, Mistress Lake. Like my gentlemanly Jay here.”
Were all of these conversations going to be so boring yet strange? Nala was almost grateful that Xan Ravenwood finally made his appearance at the top of the stairs to invite everyone up. Almost! Because he had a familiar guest with him.
Hawk. Wearing a feathery mask and carrying a cat o’ nine tails at her hip. She too wore a corset paired with fishnet stockings that didn’t do much to cover her tanned legs. The way she looked at the gathering felt like a tiger overlooking a herd of gazelles.
Everywhere Nala turned, someone was setting out to make her feel uncomfortable.
First, it was Lucian’s subtle sexual advances, then it was Maggie’s veiled threats, and now Hawk was about to turn her to mincemeat.
Ravenwood might be too busy to keep track of what his guests were doing or thinking…
especially as he got drunker. Hawk? She had gained her name for a reason.
She watched them all like a bird of prey.
Nala and Varen brought up the rear going upstairs. Nala made sure to cling to Varen’s arm, knowing she was the only person she could trust in this place. Every door was guarded by Ravenwood’s men. Every window watched. Every woman? Leered at like meat.
Nala was used to that last part. Even as they entered a spacious salon stocked with plenty of liquor and a small stage for “demonstrations.”
I hope we’re not expected to perform tonight.
Nala couldn’t handle being bound or spanked in Ravenwood’s place of residence.
It was bad enough that she and Varen would have to go into a bedroom and pretend to have sex.
Or really have sex. She was Nightingale. If Varen decided the time had come…
In the end, she wasn’t surprised when they were expected to sit and watch one of two demonstrations that night.
The first was Quail and Seba, the former’s subservience unparalleled even for that group.
Anything Seba told her to do, she did, including disrobing half her Mistress’s clothes – and her own.
Nala was getting used to this environment, but it still unnerved her to see such displays acted out right in front of her and other people.
How can they do that comfortably in front of Ravenwood?
Nala could never. It was bad enough when Varen tied her up for artistic purposes.
To be degraded, verbally and physically?
No way. Doesn’t help she looks like the happiest woman in the world.
Nala appreciated the rougher forms of loving Varen provided, but this was on a different plane of existence.
The second show was not much easier to handle. Hawk was formally introduced as Ravenwood’s “old friend,” a dominatrix who stopped by every few weeks for business. What kind of business? Wait, Nala didn’t want to know.
She was the guest demonstration that week, calling upon Starling to be her volunteer.
Nala thought that over once the demonstration was underway.
Why wasn’t she surprised that it was spanking?
Not any simple spanking, either. This was purely about erotic pleasure since Hawk and Starling did not know each other.
It wasn’t like watching a dominant spank their long-time sub.
No tenderness. No blooming love for one another.
Even na?ve Nala was learning the difference now.
“Ow!” The sound echoed in tandem with the smack on Starling’s bare ass. Her face was more pain than pleasure. Even Josephine uncrossed her legs and leaned forward, that easygoing smirk disappearing in favor of concern. “I mean… thank you!”
A large red splotch appeared on her skin. Nala shuddered, instinctively taking Varen’s hand and thanking any god out there that this wasn’t her. I’d kill her. Hawk wouldn’t live long enough to bring down another spank on Nala’s ass. Worth going to jail over.
“You have good resilience,” Hawk said with her grating voice.
She patted Starling’s ass, eliciting a hiss through the teeth.