Chapter 13
NICK
Riley seems to be in a state of shock as she takes my hand.
Those pretty hazel eyes devour every inch of my face, tracing over the lines of my mask and down the cut of my suit, lingering on the cobalt pocket square that matches her dress. She follows me wordlessly as I lead her back toward my table nestled in the back corner.
Even when we pass her friend—who turns away from where Thomas is flirting with her to shoot Riley an approving look and a double thumbs up—Riley hardly even reacts.
Her hand trembles slightly in mine, squeezing every few steps like she’s trying to prove to herself that I’m real.
I intend to give her plenty of proof in that regard.
She pauses when I stop at my usual table, watching as I sprawl out in the single armchair pressed against the wall.
I pat my thigh welcomingly; the blush that flares on her face is so unspeakably tempting that I want to bend her over the table right here and now.
Hesitantly, she perches on my thigh, squeaking in surprise when I tug her in closer, tipping her off balance so she has to prop herself up with her hands on my shoulders.
This is how I like her—off-kilter, nervous, looking up to me and waiting for me to make the decisions.
“Better,” I croon, squeezing her hip possessively. “Right where you belong.”
“I wasn’t sure you’d come,” she says breathlessly.
I grin, just the barest uptick of the corner of my mouth, but I know my ocean blue eyes sparkle with amusement. “I couldn’t just let you walk into the lion’s den alone. Besides, I’m the only one who deserves your time.”
Her hands squeeze over my shoulders as she settles comfortably in my lap, her pretty face flaring red as she glances away shyly.
“You didn’t have to pay for it,” she protests.
Like showing off for her wasn’t half the fun.
I like her knowing that she’s mine, but I like everyone else knowing even more. No one will dare to look twice at her without my permission now. The knowledge settles something primal in my chest.
“I know,” I say simply. “But you’re an excellent excuse to put money toward a good cause. You’re worth every last penny, Miss Morgan.”
“You spent way too much,” she tells me, laughing when I just shrug elegantly. “Thank you for saving me.” She leans over and presses a fluttering kiss to my exposed jawline, the movement nervous and testing as she peers up at me through her lashes. “So, um, what do we do now?”
I tuck my fingertip under her chin, tilting her face up to make her keep eye contact with me.
“I won a date with you,” I say firmly. “Nothing more. You don’t owe me anything you wouldn’t give me of your own accord.”
I want everything—and I’ll have everything eventually.
Regardless of how confident I was that I would claim her tonight, I won’t take what she won’t willingly give.
She’ll be mine, down to the very core of her bones, but if tonight isn’t the night that I lay a permanent claim on her, I can live with that.
I’ve already marked her as mine to everyone else here.
If she’s not ready to take that step with me, I can wait.
Not for long, but I can wait.
“But what if I want you?” she asks nervously, biting her lip. “Am I allowed to ask for that?”
My fingers flex around hers in an instinctive movement as the leash of my self-control pulls unbearably taut. God, she doesn’t even know what she does to me.
She’s so fucking perfect.
“You’re allowed to ask for anything you want, Princess,” I assure her. “And with manners like that, I’m inclined to give you everything you ask for.”
The sweetest smile spreads across her face, enthusiasm radiating out from her as she leans in, my cock twitching with demand at the sight.
“But,” I say, resting my finger over her glossy lips to stop her from asking for anything that will make me lose any semblance of restraint, “I’m going to show you around the rest of the club before you’re allowed to ask for anything else. Deal?”
She nods eagerly, pretty hazel eyes wide and excited. “Deal. I should let Taylor know where I’m going. I don’t want her to worry.”
My eyes flick to the table Taylor and Thomas are at; gold masks close as they chat, hands trailing lazy, teasing touches across fabric and bare skin alike. He’s always had a thing for curvy blondes in red, drawn like a moth to the flame.
“I think your friend is plenty busy,” I say with a grin, nodding at where she and Thomas are practically sitting on top of each other. “Tommy will tell her where we are if she asks.”
Riley glances over her shoulder and snickers softly at the sight.
“Is Tommy the friend you told me about?” she asks.
“The one and only,” I confirm with a playful roll of my eyes. “Your friend is in good hands, Princess. Do you want a tour of the back rooms?”
“I do.”
“Up, then.”
Her breath hitches in excitement as I guide her up off my lap, taking a moment to drink in the sight of her like this.
I rise up, not allowing her to step back, simply turning her and guiding her through the crowd toward the entrance to the back rooms. A few of the regulars who recognize me nod, raking their eyes over Riley and raising their glasses in a silent toast to my conquest.
I ignore them aside from a smug grin, leading Riley toward the velvet rope that separates the two sides of The Echelon. The guard there knows me, unclipping the rope and gesturing us through with a respectful nod.
I let Riley fall into step beside me now, pulling her tight to my side and wrapping my arm around her waist as we walk down the hallway. The noises reach us before the sights do, moans and slaps of leather and wood against skin, and pleas and gratitude floating through the air.
The room opens up in front of us, and I keep Riley moving even as she stumbles, her pretty mouth dropping open in surprise as she stares around with wide eyes.
Her cheeks go red under her mask as she watches the different displays of debauchery, hardly noticing when I pull her to a halt in the middle of the room.
She jumps at the strike of a paddle on someone’s ass, trembling slightly at the ragged moan of thanks that follows the hit.
A harsh swallow makes her throat throb when her eyes fall on the woman blindfolded and strapped to a St. Andrew’s cross, a group of people running their hands over her bare skin, offering pleasure and pain in equal measures.
She shifts, squeezing her thighs together at a young man writhing in bliss as his Domme works him over with a riding crop.
I wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her back against my chest as I hold her close, laying slow, meandering kisses up the length of her throat.
“What do you think?” I whisper against the shell of her ear.
She laughs breathlessly, arching everywhere I’m touching her like she’s desperate for it.
“It’s… a lot to take in at once,” she admits quietly.
There’s no hiding the desperate arousal in her voice.
It’s exactly what I wanted to hear.
“I know.” I guide her away from the thick of it all, toward the room I had Thomas set up. “You’ll do great when we get there, but there’s no need to worry about all that tonight. I got us a private room.”
She relaxes slightly as I lead her toward the back wall of the room, where a row of private suites awaits.
“Boy Scout, huh?” she teases.
I nip at her neck, just hard enough to make her gasp. “I’m always prepared for anything.”
She giggles as I tap in our access code and tug the door open, gesturing her inside.
The room isn’t huge, but it’s well-appointed.
A large, comfortable bed rests in the center, with nightstands stocked with lube, condoms, towels, and bottles of water on either side of it.
A small toy chest sits at the foot of the bed, holding a few select impact pieces that are favorites of mine, along with a couple vibrators.
I don’t intend to use anything but my hands and my cock tonight, but I’m always prepared.
A floor-to-ceiling mirror rests on the wall opposite the bed, just to the side of the door, and my blood rushes in anticipation. She doesn’t know it yet, but that mirror is one of the biggest parts of my plans for the night.
“Sit, Princess.”
I nod my head toward the edge of the bed right in front of the mirror, and she takes a seat without question, looking up at me as I crowd in beside her, tugging her face closer so she has no choice but to notice how hard I am for her.
Her mouth drops open in silent invitation.
If I didn’t have this planned out, I’d be tempted to bury my cock down her throat right now.
“Such a good girl for me already. Look in the mirror so you can see just how pretty you are.”
She glances up to meet my eyes before following my instruction, taking in the sight of the two of us in the mirror, side by side. Her arm is wrapped around my thigh, her shoulder pressed into my hip as I trace my fingertips over the bare skin of her neck and down toward her collarbone.
“Want to know a secret?” I murmur, sliding one of the straps of her dress down her shoulder.
She nods, enraptured at the sight.
“It’s a two-way mirror.” She stiffens, glancing up at me nervously, and I trail my hand down her jaw reassuringly. “There’s a curtain on the other side. No one can see anything right now.”
Her eyes flick back and forth between me and the mirror, nerves and excitement battling on her features.
“But you want them to,” she says hesitantly.
“I do. I want to show you off to everyone who can’t have you.
” My voice dips down into something possessive as I wrap my hand around her throat.
I don’t squeeze, don’t apply any pressure, just hold her there.
“I want to make you feel good, Princess. And I want everyone to see that I’m the only one who can handle you. ”