Page 4 of What Alex Wants…He Gets

Chapter Three

Harper

I stoodoutside the Glass Kat and stared at the front door. I’d had all the time and opportunity in the world to change my mind. When I went home to change I could have deserted this mess of an idea. Or on the train ride uptown I could have gone anywhere my heart desired. Or even when I got off the train, I could have gone left instead of right and spent the evening at my favorite hole in the wall with a beer and a slice to keep me company.

Instead I stood here, my heart beating a rapid staccato in my chest, far above its normal rate. Fortunately, between the bulky coat and gloves no one would notice the trembling in my arms or hands. That at least remained my personal humiliation.

Screw it. I deserved some fun, right? Why should I stand outside and act like I don’t deserve one night of fun?

With one last breath to steel my nerves I pushed my way through the revolving door and into the small luxurious lobby of one of the most elegant establishments I’d had the privilege to step into. With no other people lingering in the entry I crossed to the front desk, my heels clicking on the marble floors like a ticking time bomb to a fate I hoped wouldn’t be a disaster. The trim middle-aged man at the concierge desk stepped out from behind the counter to greet me.

“Good evening, mademoiselle. May I take your coat?” His smile and easy manner relaxed me a fraction as I pulled off my gloves and shoved them in my pockets. I began to shrug the coat from my shoulders and the kind man stepped behind me and helped me remove it.

A subtle waft of his cologne drifted to my nose, reminding me of the money that went into a place like this. However, despite all the opulence, I still knew that behind the elegant furnishings and decor lay in wait some of the most extreme sexual pleasures to be found anywhere in the city.

I’d heard the rumors, experienced a small thrill when I’d been here last week as an outside observer, and now I was poised to experience it for myself.

If I could go through with it.

During the cab ride over, I’d repeatedly reminded myself that I deserved a night of pleasure. A one-night stand if you will, might be just the thing I needed to get my head back into the game of dating. God knows, my libido certainly agreed with that chain of thought. Having gone more than a year and a half without sex did strange things to my mind.

When the concierge disappeared into the walk-in closet, I smoothed down the front of my new dress. I had to admit that I liked the way the luxurious red silk caressed my body in all the right places even if the length stopped shockingly high. What had Zia been thinking when she’d purchased this? Fortunately the black tassel fringe rimming the bottom of the dress gave an illusion of another two inches of coverage to almost mid-thigh. Hopefully that made my not so slender thighs less noticeable.

It wasn’t easy in my line of work to stay on a diet. But I did my best and I got a lot of exercise walking nearly everywhere I went. Not needing a car was one of my favorite things about the city. Walking helped, but it wasn’t some sort of miracle cure. Some bodies just weren’t meant to be stick thin. Some of us were born to be curvy no matter what we did.

“Can I get your name, please?” The concierge had returned to his station behind the desk while I’d been single mindedly focusing on the state of my dress.

“Yes,” I cleared my throat. “Harper Allison.”

“Ah, yes, Ms. Allison. I’ve been expecting you. I have your evening’s itinerary all set, however there are a few electronic forms for you to look over before you can be escorted to the private areas of the club.”

“Great. Can you tell me who I will be meeting?”

The concierge lifted his brow and frowned. “I’m afraid that is not part of the instructions I’ve been given.” He handed me a leather portfolio. “If you’ll read through this and then sign where indicated, you’ll be all set.”

It was my turn to frown. Not part of the instructions? Apparently my mystery date for the evening was going to play this out all the way to the end. I reluctantly accepted the folder and headed for one of the plush chairs in the corner where I could read through whatever my anonymous date had in store for me.

I opened the crisp cover and found an electronic tablet inside. With the swipe of my finger, the screen lit up and I read through the brief document. Unfortunately, I saw nothing specific to me or what I might expect. Instead I read what looked like boilerplate language detailing the rules of the club and all that entailed.

There were however, specific details about the safety precautions and screenings required of members along with notations regarding guests. Members were limited to a certain number of guests per year and while I was here I was to choose a safeword that could be uttered or signaled in any or all rooms of the club. These safeguards were in place to ensure a discreet and pleasurable experience for all members and guests alike.

I took this as a gentle reminder that every room would be monitored in some way. I would be protected, but it also wouldn’t be exactly private.

I took my time and reread the safety information and rules three times, ensuring I understood every word. I’d taken a pretty big leap by coming here to meet a stranger but it didn’t mean I’d go in uneducated.

Fortunately for me, it seemed the Glass Kat Supper Club took their patrons discretion and safety very seriously with attention to detail and some pretty high standards. After some of the dives I’d seen years ago when I’d first explored my darker desires, this was a nice change. It was amazing what money could buy even when it came to sexual deviance.

At the end of the document I scribbled in my safeword and signed my full name with the plastic wand provided. I then walked back to the desk and handed the portfolio back to the concierge.

“Do you have any questions?”

“Only the one.” I reminded him.

He nodded his head. “I’ll escort you to the dining room then.” He stepped in front of me and waved to indicate I was to follow him down the corridor.

The opulence surrounding us was not lost on me as we walked. The place smelled so expensive the walls might as well have been papered with money. And I wondered if the gold fixtures were actually made with real gold. It sounded ridiculous, but nothing would surprise me at this point. Rich people spent their money on the strangest things.

When they passed the dining room I’d worked the other night I hesitated. “Aren’t we…”

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