Page 58 of Masked

Reva swallowed. “Where was this apartment?” Though she suspected she already had the answer.

“It was on twenty-second, near Dupont Circle. Top floor, she was the only one up there. Why?”

Reva closed her eyes, again not sure how much to share. “Part of the predicament I was in when I got in touch with Noah was not having a place to live. He put me in a hotel and said he had an apartment. I got the sense he didn’t actually want me in the apartment, and he kept extending my hotel stay. Then when I agreed to his… terms… he said it was ready, and I moved in.”

Darci winced. “Oh honey. I’m sorry he didn’t tell you. That’s a little fucked up.”

“What do I do? I’m having so much fun with him. It seems silly to upset things because he didn’t tell me about the apartment being his… fuck pad.”

Darci laughed. “You don’t have to end things unless you want to. But you have to insist that he’s as honest with you as I’m sure he’s demanding that you be. And it’s possible he thinks he is. Or there’s still some grief there and at first, he wasn’t sure about you staying in the place. My gut says it’s been empty since she moved in with him.”

“Thank you. I’m so sorry to be dumping all this on you during our first lunch.”

Darci grabbed her hand. “Don’t be sorry. This is what friends are for. It’s always nice to have a new friend.”

At the restaurant, they were quickly seated in a quiet corner away from windows or doors, and a server brought a carafe of water and a wine list.

They ordered a bottle, and Darci grinned. “It’s so good to be able to drink again.”

Reva raised her glass. “To tipsy lunches with new friends.”

They clinked glasses and drank before Darci picked up the conversation.

“So, tell me all the dirty details of you and Noah. He’s always so quiet, but something tells me there’s a really sinful man under all that reserve.”

Reva’s face blushed. “You have no idea. I was shocked when he first told me what his kinks are.”

“You’re not obligated to share, but I would love to hear whatever you want to tell me. When I ran the blog, I used to get people writing to me with so many juicy stories. I miss that.”

Reva grinned. “I probably need to ask him what he’s comfortable with me sharing. But he’s very thoughtful. The other night when we walked in the club, I was in a rather… interesting predicament and he spotted you and backed us out and made sure I was OK with seeing you at the club in the… state I was in.”

“Aww, that is so thoughtful. And what happens at the club never has to leave it. I would never look at you differently or second guess hiring you just because I saw you getting your kink on. But I understand if you need to draw a line for our relationship to feel better at work.”

Reva smiled. “I appreciate that. But I think once I got over the initial shock, it was fine. Especially after I saw you and Carrie together.”

“Good, then spill. What’s he like? When he would play with Elise at the club, it was always pretty reserved.”

“I cannot imagine Noah being reserved. His mouth is filthy. And he’s teaching me all about humiliation and degradation. I never thought I would be into those things, but I absolutely am.”

Darci clapped her hands together. “I knew he was a kinky fucker. He might be kinkier than any of the others from the sounds of it. Except for maybe Ripley. He’s… intense.”

Reva laughed. “Another name I’ve heard. It sounds like you’re all really close.”

“We are. Of course, there are some members of the club we don’t know as well, but the core group of us are a big family. Next time you’re at the club I’ll make sure you’re properly introduced.”

For the rest of lunch, Darci peppered Reva with questions about Noah, and Reva asked about the club, and the ACSL. By the time they finished the bottle of wine, she knew she had a friend for life and for the first time in a long time she was confident she was right where she belonged.

At home that night, she sat at the desk in the apartment’s office and marked up three articles for her dissertation and sent the notes to her adviser while she waited for Noah to call.

But Noah didn’t call.

It was the first time she’d truly been alone in this apartment, and she didn’t like it. She needed to make more friends so she could invite them over or go out when she didn’t have anything to do. Hopefully, Leslie could visit soon.

At ten that night, she sent him a text saying goodnight and her phone finally lit up.

“Hey,” she said with a sleepy voice.

“Hey, little siren. I only have about five minutes. But I didn’t forget about you. It’s been a hectic day, and I had to fly to California. I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon though, and I’ll bring dinner over.”

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