Page 78 of Healing the Heart

“Absolutely,” he replied as he brought her upright then swayed with her, grinding a lot.

Her chest rose and fell faster, from the dancing and from his roaming hands that caressed her back, glided over her hips and bottom then came up under the hem of her dress to palm one cheek. It would have been scandalous behavior at a typical nightclub and might have gotten them escorted to the curb, but this was a special club where decadence and sex were on full display. The owners frowned on scenes in the bar and lounge, however. There were plenty of other places to play.

Noah’s hand twisted in her hair, his tongue licking along her bottom lip. “You don’t realize how beautiful you are. Your cheeks are flushed, your eyes are bright with excitement and passion, and your hair... It’s so soft and the light strands shine like gold under the lights. I can’t resist touching it. When I do, you get thismussed, just-fucked, sexy-as-hell look. I can’t take my eyes off you.”

His words sent a thrill through her, and she gave in to the passion of his lips. The world around them faded away as the kiss went on and on, through one tantalizing melody to another, until, in a sudden shift, the tempo went electric. Into it, the younger crowd around them cheered, but it didn’t at all match their mood.

Noah actually glared at the DJ, not that he noticed, before he led her from the floor, grumbling, “Who can dance to that bubblegum crap?”

“You could,” she exclaimed. “I really enjoyed that. Can we do it again soon?”

He slung an arm around her shoulders, pulling her in close as he steered her through the crowd. “Yes, but I’m giving a playlist to the DJ first. Are you ready for your next surprise?”

“Another one?”

“The birthday girl deserves the best, and I pulled some strings.”

“I can’t wait, sir.”

He veered away from the lounge and headed for the dungeon doors.

“Shouldn’t we excuse ourselves?” she asked.

Noah stopped and did a 180 with her, pointing to the empty champagne bottles turned upside down in the ice buckets on the tables being bussed. Everyone had gone, and her pink roses were nowhere in sight.

“Your flowers are most likely at the bar or in admin for safekeeping,” he told her, reading her thoughts. “As for our friends, half were grinding on the dance floor along with us. The others are inside, undoubtedly making excellent use of a station.”

“Oh. I didn’t get to say thank you.”

“We’ll see them again at the end of the night, if not inside.”

She made a face, thinking about seeing too much of them.

Noah laughed, again on track with what she was thinking. “It takes some getting used to, but it helps if you remember we’re all in this together.”

There were many polyamorous and nonmonogamous members, and she quipped, “With some enjoying more togetherness than others.”

With a grin curving his lips, he murmured, “Touché,” while effortlessly swinging open one of the heavy dungeon doors. “Speaking of which, I noticed Master Tristan is doing a shibari demo on the center stage tonight. He’s doing a double suspension.”

“Meaning?”

“He rigs two subs at once. His ties are creative and he always puts on a good show. We’ll have to miss it though.”

“We will?”

“Yep,” he said, extending his arm for her to grasp as she slid off her shoes and passed them to the attendant. “Since it’s a special occasion, I reserved a private room for us. It required cashing in a favor and some extra haggling, but for your birthday, it’s worth it.”

She clung to his hand at the top of the steps leading down into the playroom. “Which room, sir?”

“That’s the surprise. Are you ready to go up?”

Fiona hesitated. “Can I freshen up first?”

“Of course, but don’t you dare brush your hair.”

“Never,” she whispered, beaming up at him as she wondered what ajust fucked after being fuckedhairstyle would look like, and giddy because, very soon, she would find out.

He escorted her to the short hall leading to the locker rooms.“I’ll wait here.”

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