Page 191 of Dagger in the Sea

“Yes. Consensual sexual entertainment in a private, exclusive setting.”

“Like what we saw on Evgeny Berezin’s boat?”

“No. That was a gaudy circus. I’m interested in creating an experience.”

“An experience,” she murmured. “Which includes a high-class escort service?”

“That would be one part of it, yes. Women and men who are not only attractive but well-dressed, educated, can hold a conversation and listen—to accompany a client on a vacation, a business trip, any kind of social event. A companion tailored to your tastes and interests.”

“Not just a fuck,” she said.

“That’s right. Everybody’s busy multitasking now, mobile phones are everywhere, gaming, online gambling, porn. People are forgetting how to touch, how to feel, connect.”

“But their bodies haven’t. Their bodies crave,” she said, her cheeks reddening.

I brushed my thumb along her lip. My baby had hungered and craved and didn’t know how to reconnect until me. My inner caveman roared.

“The spirit craves too,” she said.

“It does.” I kissed the side of her face.

“And what’s the other part?”

“A private club, but not at one location. Members from all over the world, small numbers, keeping it exclusive, a surprise even. We have special parties on private properties, leased yachts all over the Mediterranean. Luxury all the way. Alessio told me about this new friend of his whose family owns their own island. That got me thinking, and it pulled together all these ideas I’ve been having for a while now.”

“That island this Sheik owns is in the Ionian Sea, part of a chain of a few tiny islets. It’s quite impressive what he’s created. The original owners had been trying to sell it for years, the taxes—” she made a face “—you can imagine. He built this incredible mansion there. It’s well guarded, supremely private. Naturally, you can only get there by boat. He arrives with his yacht, it makes the national news.”

“To rent a place like that for a week, ten days…” I said.

“Maybe Alessio could talk to him about renting or even sponsoring an event. The Sheik has two wives, but he has four sons and two bachelor brothers who are all notorious players. They and their circle might very well be interested in such a club.”

“Let’s get Alessio in on this.”

“That would be smart. He lives that lifestyle of riding the taboo, and he’s able to combine this underground aesthetic with luxury cachet.”

“You played a huge role in creating that.”

“I did.” She smiled. “And it’s what you need. What happens at this club over the weeklong stay?”

“Organized activities either with the escorts or members’ own partners to experiment with, reconnect, to swing. We provide something for every taste and desire: straight, gay, menage, orgy, bondage, whatever the hell it is, it’s on the menu.”

“Maybe a different menu or theme for every occasion,” she said. “Really special, very extravagant. A compelling experience. And how often? Two sessions a year? And at extremely different locations. Create that buzz and they will feel they must be a part of it.”

My insides tightened like a drum. “You like this?”

“You said, ‘We’ and I like that.”

I cupped her chin. “You like the illicit too, baby.”

“I like it with you.” Her tongue flared across her lip and my breath snagged in my throat. “Your excitement is infectious. Now, would you only want experienced people as members or novices as well? A mix?”

“A mix. You’d want to make this good for first timers. That’s key. They may react anxiously. They’ll need time to warm up to the reality, and then they’ll get into it. I’ve seen it in Chicago, especially with the celebrities or politicians. Once they feel comfortable that their privacy is ensured and they have one good experience, they take off. They keep coming back, they spend, they get comfortable, they stretch their wings. Knowing they can afford this sort of thing is a high for them.”

“The unique factor of the setting will make them feel theyneedmore, that there’s always another level for them to experience, something other.”

I grinned.“Exactly.”

“I say a big initiation fee plus a yearly membership fee. Every member signs a contract ensuring privacy, making them feel safe to express themselves freely and to enjoy without fear of exposure. They’ll play by the rules as there would be too much for them to lose personally and professionally. A bond of secrecy wrapped up in privilege.” She picked up her wine glass and polished off the last of it. “Rather delicious.”

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