Page 46 of The Silver Spider
He opened his mouth, probably to protest, then smiled, a gleam in his eyes. “You do want to look the part, don’t you?”
She eyed him, wondering what trashy, flesh baring getup he thought he’d be talking her into, and shrugged.
* * *
The getup wasa tasteful corseted gown in black with a choker of diamonds and pearls on a velvet band. Tasteful if she ignored the amount of cleavage spilling from the top, or the flash of thigh by the carefully constructed slits. She draped a sheer, beaded scarf over her shoulders.
“Shame,” Maddugh said. “I figured we could earn some extra coin while we were here.”
She couldn’t help but laugh at his exaggerated leer, before sobering on the thought that what he joked about Serephone might actually be doing.
“You don’t think Sere….”
His eyebrows shot up. “Not. At. All. Besides, it’s probably good for the girl. She’s a bit sheltered, and a little too uptight. A little raunch won’t hurt her.”
The conveyance pulled up outside the club. Kailigh stared at Maddugh. “Are you telling me that you think my daughter needs to work in an establishment that sexually exploits female bodies in order to loosen up a bit?”
He paused, ran his tongue around his teeth, and eyed his wife. “Well, what I meant was—” he paused. “Are you saying sex work isn’t a legitimate, honorable occupation?”
“Don’t you flip the tables on me. Hide your sexism behind—”
“You look so sexy when you’re mad.”
“You just proved my point with that asinine comment.”
Maddugh leaned forward and opened the door, stepping out. He reached in and grabbed Kailigh’s hand. “I’m a pig, my love, it’s just that I have wings. But you married me anyway.”
“I married you because you’re rich.”
He grinned at her acerbic tone. “Such a liar. You just wanted permanent access to this thick, hard—”
She strode past him, cheeks a bit pinker than the moment before. He hadn’t lowered his voice one iota, and this side of him was new. Not that he wasn’t adventurous, and lusty, in bed. But in public he tended to cap his roguishness off at a certain point. All the talk of gentlemen’s clubs was bringing out a new-to-her side of him.
An arm slid around her waist, her husband catching up with her as they reached the entrance. “I’ll make my poor behavior up to you inside,” he crooned in her ear, opening the black-stained door. Inlaid with what looked like black mother-of-pearl, Kailigh was impressed by building security—at home the precious bits never would have been safe from a passing thief. “I hear tell they have dark, semi-private booths. Would you like me to lick your pussy in public, dear?”
Her body clenched, breath catching violently. The rake. They were here to hunt down their errant children, not to make out like…newlyweds.
“Pity,” he said straightening when the hostess approached them.
“Sir, Madam,” the woman said with an elegant smile. Kailigh glanced at her husband, who watched the woman with interest. She couldn’t fault him. Tall, ebony skin and red lips, her chest spilled out of a white gown, waist nipped impossibly small. “You are new to our establishment.”
“We heard of your reputation for fine wine and entertainment,” Kailigh said, cutting off Maddugh before he could speak.
The woman’s brow rose and her smile changed, just a bit, edged with mischief. “We have delights for you both. Our membership fee….”
They spent a handful of minutes haggling over the entrance fee, Kailigh well aware they were being assessed for their wealth and social connections. When they settled on a short term introductory rate, Kailigh nudged Maddugh, who signed a discreetly presented slip, and they were escorted into the main room.
“We have private viewing lounges upstairs,” the hostess said. “Each lounge is attended by your own Pearl.”
“We’ll enjoy the ambience of a booth tonight,” Kailigh said. “I’m in the mood for the company of others.”
“A private booth, my love?” Maddugh asked.
“We’re here to work, Maddugh.”
“No reason not to mix business with pleasure.”
* * *
