Chapter 26 #2
“Your Mistress has done a fine job training you, sweetie, but there is always room for improvement. My subs are used to taking much harder spanks from me. Maybe one day you can join their ranks, hm?”
Starling did an admirable job controlling her reaction.
Although Nala could tell the young woman wanted to cry out, maybe say something testy to someone considered a Domme, she didn’t.
Instead, she expressed more gratitude, thanking Hawk for her kind words and kinder hand.
The only “tell” she had was a quick nod to Josephine, keeping her in place on the couch even though she looked ripe to jump up and pluck her girlfriend off the stage.
Yet as everyone assumed that part was over, Hawk raised her paddle and brought it down – hard – on Starling’s other cheek. The girl screamed so loudly that Nala’s seat shook. She grabbed Varen’s hand with both of hers and tried to hide her face. Even Varen’s wasn’t looking directly at the stage.
“This isn’t eroticism,” Nala hissed in her ear. “This is abuse.”
Varen squeezed her hand back. “I’m glad that isn’t you.” She then stood, excusing herself from the group so she could use the restroom down the hall.
Josephine heaved an audible sigh of relief when Starling was finally released from the stage, walking like a bow-legged fool to her girlfriend’s arms and lying askance on the couch so she wouldn’t have to sit on her bruised ass.
She somehow managed not to cry. Nala had half a mind to go up to the stage and ask Hawk what her fucking problem was.
The only person not frowning was Ravenwood, standing up to applaud both Hawk and Starling. Nala had to remain stiff in her seat so she wouldn’t smack him next.
“I don’t know about the rest of you,” he said, much too jovially, “but I’m starting to feel the mood of the evening. Why don’t we retire?”
Usually the “mood” was a lot less sinister than this. Nala could tell that most of the other couples – especially Josephine and Starling – were interested in doing anything but retiring to a bedroom and leaving the door open.
“Yes, indeed,” Hawk reiterated. She raised a glass of champagne. “Here’s to everyone having a fine time tonight.”
Everyone, including Nala, raised their glasses and chimed that they hoped to have fun too.
Where is Varen? Granted, it hadn’t been long since she went to the bathroom, but Nala wasn’t comfortable being in the middle of this foray without her “Mistress” to protect her.
Lucian winked at her again as he led a giggly Robin out of the salon.
Maggie flashed a stern look as she and Jay left the room as well.
The only person Nala willingly made eye contact with was Starling, who put on a brave face and tried to walk as if her ass wasn’t in serious pain.
Josephine led her carefully, their low voices discussing what they should do that night.
“Don’t touch me down there, please,” was all Nala heard on Starling’s end.
Soon, she was left alone with Ravenwood and Hawk, two of her least favorite people. When Xan saw her sitting alone, he came over, sending nauseous chills down Nala’s spine.
“Why, Nightingale, it appears that your Mistress is not back from her sojourn. You can stay here and wait for her if you want, but my butler will also show you to your assigned room.”
When she saw the way both he and Hawk leered at her, Nala was fast to get on her feet. “I’ll wait for her in our room,” she said, channeling her inner Nightingale so she would think of nothing but Varen. “I have to, um, get ready.”
Wrong thing to say. Both Hawk and Ravenwood looked at her as if she were suddenly a piece of food on a sampler plate. Run, girl! The last thing she wanted was for Hawk to make her the next victim while Ravenwood watched. Where the fuck was Varen?
The butler saved her by offering to escort her down the hall. Nala went immediately, following the spry old man and downing the last of her champagne. She hoped there was more alcohol in the room. She needed it.
Nala instantly tried to close the door as the butler walked away. However, she discovered that it didn’t shut all the way, let alone latch. Making sure the open-door policy remains in effect. Nala looked around the room, searching for cameras.
I guess this means Varen and I have to do something. Maybe she could convince Varen to bind her in bed with more artistic, elaborate designs. No actual sex, but by now people might start thinking they both got off on it. They don’t have to know the truth. The truth that Nala kinda did get off on it…
She sat on the edge of the bed, out of sight from the door.
Nala opened her satchel and checked the contents.
Makeup. Wallet. Notebook and cell phones.
The spare key Varen gave her to her loft.
Everything was still there. She wasn’t sure why she was so worried.
Who would have had the chance to steal from her so far?
“You here?”
Varen’s voice wafted into the room. Nala stood, alert, her satchel plopping to the bed behind her. “I’m in here. Hurry up before that crazy lady comes and breaks my ass too.”
Once Varen realized the door didn’t close, she turned around with a huff. “You okay?”
“Barely. Wasn’t that awful?”
Varen sat next to her on the bed, readjusting the buttons on her blouse. “It wasn’t pleasant. Definitely not arousing.”
“Blech.” Nala squished her legs together for emphasis. “Did you have fun in the bathroom? Thanks for getting up and leaving me there with that mess. I was almost afraid they would pick me next for mandatory volunteerism.”
“I didn’t go to the bathroom. That’s what I told them.”
“Then…?”
She leaned in, champagne-laden breath touching Nala’s ear.
“I went looking for Ravenwood’s office. I found it. Only a few doors down from here. Looks like a standard lock, which is low-key for a man of his standing. Here.”
Varen plucked a pin from Nala’s hair. It happened to be the one holding some of her hair back, so now it fell, obscuring her face and making it difficult to see Varen right next to her.
“I’m sure there are cameras in there, but if it’s like any other watched room, they probably focus on the center. Stick to the sides.”
“If I’m caught?” Nala held her pin between her fingers.
“Tell them you got lost and thought that was the salon.”
“Wow. Nobody is going to believe that.”
“I don’t know what else to tell you, Nala. This is one of our only chances. You want to go find evidence or not?”
When Nala fantasized about this moment, she always imagined her busting down the door and seeing a folder on Ravenwood’s desk labeled, “People I Had Killed.”
This was different. It was real, and it wasn’t anything like her fantasy.
Not the fantasy where Nala Nazarov was like those hot Russian spies everyone her age thought she should be.
Not even the fantasy where the Nightingale in her head could get her way with a bat of the eyelashes.
What would happen if Hawk caught me? Ravenwood would surely start making the rounds later, looking for couples to spy on as they did their thing.
“I want to go. I’ll be quick. I even brought these.” She pulled out the final items of her satchel – two gloves she picked up on her earlier shopping spree. “When I get back, Nightingale wants a kiss.”
“Do a good job and not get caught, and she might get more than a kiss.”
Nala sat back. “What are you saying?”
“You know what I mean.” Varen affectionately pulled Nala’s hair back from her face, letting a hand cup one of her cheeks.
“I don’t want you to get caught… not just because it would incriminate me too, but because I don’t want you in too much danger. I don’t want you in any danger, to tell you the truth, but it can’t be avoided. Do a good job and get out of there. Use the phone to take pictures of evidence,
if you find any, and if you don’t… well, we tried.”
Nala was a fool if she thought she could revel in this moment. Varen, concerned for her safety but still willing to let her do what she set out to do. Varen, touching her as if she were the most precious thing in life. What if I am? Nala couldn’t dwell on that. She needed to leave now.
She kissed Varen, head turning so she could taste both lips.
Varen froze beneath her touch before gradually lifting a hand and stroking the side of her head.
She really does care about me. This woman with her guarded heart, her inability to let go and move on…
she was graciously accepting Nala’s tender kiss and not expecting anything more in the moment.
Nala didn’t want to break away. She wished they were back in the loft, where she could take her time exploring this moment between them.
Don’t fall in love. That was the most dangerous thing that Nala could not afford to do.
Falling in love with Varen was more dangerous than attempting to break into Xan Ravenwood’s office.
As Nala was about to end their kiss, however, the bedroom door flung open and admitted two of the least – okay, most – likely people.
No, it wasn’t Ravenwood and Hawk, thank God, but it wasn’t much better. Because how did one react to two supposed friends stumbling in, tipsy off their asses, and declaring it was “group fun time?”
Both Nala and Varen stared before them, still wrapped in each other’s arms. Good thing, too, because Robin was halfway to falling over. Lucian wasn’t faring much better himself.
Oh, my God.