Page 29 of His to Teach
I give it one last try. “Idohave a lot of work to do?—”
She jumps up from the couch arm then reaches down to grab my hands, hauling me to my feet. “Fine. I’ll do your laundry tomorrow so you have more time to study. Deal?”
I can’t help but grin at the expectant excitement in her eyes. It very nearly matches the excitement in my own chest. “Fine,” I tell her. “Let’s get ready.”
If I had expectedto feel more confident at my second foray into Club Wyld, I would have been wrong. As I wait with Emma in the sedate entryway, my heart is hammering just as hard as it had that first night. But this time, it isn’t the unknown that has my blood rushing in fear and excitement. It’s the memory of blue eyes, a raspy, commanding voice. The feel of Nate’s arms tight around me.
“This is so exciting,” Emma whispers, clutching my arm.
That brings a smile to my face, in spite of the fear flooding my belly. “It’s a lobby, Em.”
“I know,” she says, undeterred. “But it makes it feel so much more exclusive!”
Before I can respond to that, the door opens and Andres appears. “Miss Cain. So nice to see you again.” I’m taken aback that he remembers me after our one brief meeting. Then again, I suppose it’s his job to keep track of things like that. I smile at him, feeling shy, as he turns to Emma. “And Miss Stahl. Welcome.”
Emma slaps her hand over her mouth and I’m sure she’s trying to suppress a giggle. I step on her foot. “If you’ll both come this way.”
Andres leads us through the heavy mahogany doors and into the club.
Stepping foot in that room, I’m overwhelmed by the sense memory. I’m not sure what that scent is—something earthy and masculine—but it’s distinctly Club Wyld and I’m immediately hit over the head by memories of Nate and how he had found me so quickly. Of all the things he had showed me.
“You’re welcome to mingle and enjoy yourself here in the lounge,” Andres is explaining to Emma. It’s the same speech I heard the first night, and I tune him out while he goes through the list of rules, turning my attention to the room. I tell myself that I’m not looking for Nate as my eyes scan the faces.
Much like last time, there’s a gentle buzz of conversation in the room, soft music playing through the speakers, the occasional outburst of laughter. Like a regular club, there are couples talking, flirting. I know that deeper in the dim corners and shadows I’ll see more intimacies, but for now I keep my gaze on the more well-lit areas. I don’t want to think about Nate in one of those corners with someone else.
Andres says my name and I force my attention back to his conversation with Emma. “There will be several shows performed throughout the evening on the main stage here in the lounge. And, of course, the private rooms are through the back.”
Emma nods her understanding and Andres sends me a slight smile. “If you have any questions, I’m sure Miss Cain can help you, but should either of you need assistance, just ask the bartender to send for me.”
“Thank you, Andres,” I say.
He bows slightly. “You’re very welcome. Please enjoy.”
Then he’s gone and Emma’s clutching my hand. “Several performances?” she whisper-squeals in my ear. “What do you think that’s about?”
I have no real idea, having left the lounge so early last time. I didn’t even realize there was a stage, but now I’m assuming it’s hidden behind the heavy velvet draperies at the back of the room.
“Let’s get a drink.” I gesture over to the bar and Emma’s eyes light up even more.
“This is so exciting!”
I laugh. “It’s just a drink. You’ve gotten a drink before.”
She clutches my arm. “I know. But there are people over there! And they’re probably people who are into this kind of thing! I wonder what they’ll be like?”
I roll my eyes. “You’re not going to see whips and chains at the bar, Em.”
But when we slide onto our leather stools at the counter, I immediately notice that the man next to us in the smart wool suit is also wearing a heavy steel collar. Which appears to be attached, by a thin gold chain, to the bracelet of his partner. I look over at Emma, and see that she, too, is staring at the chain. Her gaze flips up to meet mine and she waggles her eyebrows. It’s my turn to slap a hand over my mouth to keep from giggling.
We order our drinks, not talking much as our eyes scan the room, Emma wide-eyed as she takes it all in. “Look at that couple over there,” she says in a hushed voice. “Is shekneeling?”
I glance at where she’s looking to see a woman kneeling at the feet of a man in a suit who appears to be deep in conversation with the man next to him, neither of them paying any attention to her.
“She’s probably his sub,” I tell Emma.
“Wow,” she whispers. I shake my head. If she thinks that’s shocking, she won’t last ten minutes in the back.
I’m distracted by the couple on my other side as the woman with the bracelet gives the man’s chain a tug, pulling him up to his feet. “I think it’s time I got my flogger on you,” she murmurs, and I don’t miss the gleam of excitement in his eye as he follows her away from the bar. I turn to watch them go, curious to see if they’re heading towards the steel door, but instead find myself face-to-face with a tall blond man. He’s standing close to me, too close, his eyes raking over my face, a slight smile tugging at his lips.
