by Faith Starr
Let’s see, which frozen entrée shall I have today? I chose the pizza, my cell suddenly ringing in the background.
“Hi, Jordin.”
Tasha’s sweet southern accent instantly brought a smile to my face. She didn’t even have to bother to say who it was. I already knew.
“Noah wanted me to inform you that the club is having a play party tonight. He thinks it would be beneficial for your research if you came on over to observe it.”
Sure he did.
“Tonight? It’s kind of short notice. Do you mind if I ask why Noah never calls me himself to request my presence at these events?”
“Noah call you? Don’t hold your breath, darlin’, and don’t take it personally. I make all Noah’s appointments for him.”
I could live with that.
Back in my bedroom, I fell onto my comfy queen-size bed and stared in awe at the elaborate knockdown texture on the ceiling. “What time should I be there?”
“Seven sharp.”
Shit. The clock on my nightstand said it was already five forty-five. That didn’t give me much time to get ready.
“And, Jordin?”
“Yes?”
“Dress to kill.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re the psychologist. Figure it out.”
Thinking…but still didn’t get it. Oh well. I pulled some hair forward and smelled it. Mmm, good. That would save me time getting dressed. I could wash it when I got home.
“I’m not interested in playing with anybody at this party, Tasha.” I wanted to clarify that my presence at the club was meant for work purposes only.
Yeah, right.
“That’s not what I’m referring to. The fact Noah has me inviting you to all these functions should speak for itself.”
Really? It was a good thing she couldn’t see how wide open my jaw was or hear my silent screams. Play it cool. I took a calming breath. “I think you’re mistaken. Noah’s helping me out with my dissertation. That’s all.”
“Sure. Anyway, it is a play party so you might want to reconsider wearing your usual work attire.”
“I am there to work, Tasha.”
“Just sayin’. See you later, darlin’.”
This research project was beginning to cross paths with my real life. If I didn’t start separating it from my incessant thoughts about Noah Dorian, I was headed straight for a brick wall, one that would hurt like hell. One I wouldn’t be able to recover from. Yet he had me under a spell I wasn’t ready to walk away from. Call it mesmerism, if you will.
So much for working on my computer. It was back into my boring old closet, which was filled with suits and button-down shirts. No matter how many times I browsed through the rack, the selections didn’t change. What did it matter anyway? It wasn’t like I was going to be playing with Noah. He probably viewed me as his own experiment. One in which he could convert me to the dark side to prove a point.
A pair of skinny jeans, not that I was by any means skinny, a white tank, and a simple cardigan were the winning combo. What I wasn’t crazy about with the lower half of my body I more than made up for with the upper half.
I adjusted and pushed the girls together. Perfect. I stood and studied my reflection. What are you trying to prove? Forget about answering. There were going to be naked women all over the place, and then there was going to be me, in ripped jeans, a tank top, and a sweater.
In the shower, I kept my hair wrapped in a Turbie Twist to keep it dry. Getting dressed afterward was a breeze. I made it to the club with ten minutes to spare.
“You look smoking hot.” Tasha gave me a once-over. I knew it was meant as a friendly compliment.
“I’m wearing jeans.” Why do I feel insecure every time I’m in this place? Duh, was I really asking myself that question? I twisted my fingers up in a knot. This behavior was so unlike me.
“The hair, the makeup, the cleavage, it’s all good.” She gestured at my appearance.
“I appreciate your promptness.”
There he was again. “Oh, hi, Noah, you have a way with sneaking up on me.”
“And you have a way with impressing me. I’m glad you were able to make it on such short notice.”
His perusal of my body didn’t go unnoticed.
Insert small button into slot. There, much better. I was glad I wore my cardigan. Closing it up partially was a great way to cover the body parts he seemed so fascinated with at the moment.
“See y’all later. I’m going to head out.” Tasha wore a devious grin. I didn’t understand why. She must’ve known something I didn’t. She gathered her belongings from behind her desk and took off.
Breathe.
“Hey Noah, I need a word.”
Derek was quite stealthy as well. I didn’t even see him enter the room.
“Derek, this is Jordin. I don’t think the two of you have officially met yet.”
“Ah yes, Jordin, the therapist, how nice to finally meet you.” His grin showed his pearly whites.
My self-consciousness was in high gear again. I tried to return his friendly gesture without my lips twitching. “Still training to be one, but yes, the therapist. It’s nice to meet you too.”
His hand was a little rougher than Noah’s, but the way he eyed me from top to bottom while shaking mine was identical to his brother’s. I wondered how stupid it would look to have my sweater completely buttoned.
“Jordin, please excuse me for a minute.” Noah sounded a bit perturbed.
“No problem.” Whew, a moment to breathe.
“I look forward to seeing you in the dungeon, Jordin.” Derek raised his brows in a flirtatious gesture. I found it a little awkward.
“Sorry, D, but that luxury will be all mine.”
Holy cow!
One… Two… Three…
“Good night, Jordin. Enjoy yourself tonight, but not too much.” Tasha winked as she walked past me and out the front door.
Nervously, I paced around the waiting room. There were pictures on the walls. Derek and Noah were together in all of them. There was only one with Mitch. I found that interesting. There was also a guest handbook on a marble table. I took a quick peek around to make sure nobody was watching me even though I was alone.
Doing my best Magnum PI, I carefully picked it up, taking one final glance around before opening it.
Hilltops Dues
Membership dues can be paid monthly or annually. There is a one-time non-refundable Initiation Fee required from all members. This includes all prescreening and background checks of both members and their guests, interview with Management, and Protocol, Guidelines, and Safety Instruction seminars.
Membership includes use of all facilities, some requiring prior reservations and/or additional fees.
One-Time Initiation Fee: $5,000
Annual Fee: $12,000
or
Monthly Fee: $1,200
Holy shit. This place was expensive. Dare I turn the page? You bet I did.
Hilltops Guidelines
All members must hold high standards of Respect, Integrity, and Honesty while on Hilltops premises and abide by all rules and rituals of said club.
No member will be discriminated against based on age, race, color, gender, religion, social status, or sexual orientation; however, Hilltops reserves the right to refuse membership to any potential member when it sees fit to protect the club and its members.
Hilltops respects the privacy of all individuals and is bound by all confidentiality agreements signed by its members.
Blah, blah, blah, typical stuff.
All play must be safe, sane, and consensual. Any guest who does not abide by Hilltops rules for safety will immediately be escorted out of the club and lose all membership privileges. No refunds or dues will be reimbursed if membership is terminated.
Offering money in exchange for any activity, sexual favor, or purpose is strictly forbidden.
All members play at their own risk. Hilltops w
ill not be held liable or responsible for any member whose behavior or action does not comply with the rules of the club. If any member feels any such threat, Management must be notified immediately.
Cool. The rules for safety were next. I was all about safety.
Hilltops Rules for Safety
Drugs are not permitted at Hilltops. Any member or guest found with possession of a legal/illegal substance will be asked to leave the premises immediately.
Alcohol intoxication is strictly prohibited at Hilltops. Any member who appears intoxicated will not be allowed to participate in activities in the club.
Nudity and/or vulgar acts in areas other than those designated for open play is strictly prohibited.
Really? I kind of considered the moaning woman with the gag placed in her mouth to be a little vulgar. Maybe it was just me.
For the privacy of our members, absolutely no cell phones, cameras, or audio/video recorders are permitted in the dungeon.
Superiority may only be practiced by Dominants on a consensual basis between themselves and their submissive or slave.
What in the hell was superiority? Weren’t Dominants supposed to act superior? Hmm. Something to Google later.
Hilltops provides condoms and gloves free of charge to its members. Both can be found at many stations located throughout the club. ALL play must be safe play.
That was reassuring.
All equipment must be used at own risk of members.
Members accept any and all responsibility for their actions.
Safe words and/or signs must be in place prior to all activities.
Hilltops accepts no responsibility whatsoever for any injury, damage, loss, or any other outcome caused by any means.
I bet Noah had some wild stories he could share with me. Not. Like that would ever happen.
Hilltops Restrictions
None of the following will be permitted at Hilltops and are grounds for immediate dismissal from the property.
No rape play
No fire play
No electrical play
No firearms
No urination/brown play
No male/female ejaculation
No blood play
No breath play
What the hell, brown play? You mean people actually played with shit while they had sex? How gross. My face agreed, scrunching up in repulsion. Yuck. I had read enough, the shit thing being the final straw.
Surveying the room, I tried to find something else to capture my attention. Something certainly did. It was none other than Noah Dorian coming out of his office with Derek in tow.
“Sorry for the interruption, Jordin. Is everything all right?”
I bet he had been watching me on surveillance, otherwise he wouldn’t have been eyeing me so suspiciously.
“Yes, of course. Everything’s fine.” Smile. Maybe I would ask him about the whole brown-play thing. Then again, maybe not.
Derek excused himself with a simple nod and left. I could almost bet Noah had said something to him in private about his flirtatious behavior toward me, because he was a totally different person coming out of the office than he was going into it.
“I see you’ve been browsing through the handbook.” He tilted his head in the direction of the marble table.
I knew it. He had been spying on me.
“I skimmed through it. It’s a lot to take in.” I would go with the professional response.
“Don’t worry. You won’t be tested on it. The rules and guidelines are set in place for the safety of our members.”
I nodded in silent understanding.
“Are you ready to go play?”
That smile of his was going to be the death of me. And so was his touch. He lifted his elbow for me to slide my hand through. Heart, take it easy. You’re young and still have a whole life ahead of you.
“Very funny.” I was starting to get his little jokes.
“I’m not kidding.” The humor was all but gone from his face and voice.
What?
His “I got you” smirk made me smile. Smartass.
8
Noah
We entered the dungeon, her arm looped through mine. How I would like that arm and the rest of her silky skin in other places on my body. I hated to admit how much her touch affected me. The taste of her lips still consumed me. I needed more, literally and figuratively.
Cut the bullshit.
I avoided relationships at all costs. I knew that as well as everyone else. Relationships meant trouble in all caps and boldface. But Jordin was so unlike other women I’d met, and that column had a lot of tally marks next to it. She was intelligent and confident one minute, then shy and almost untouchable the next. It was driving every inch of me absolutely crazy.
And her tank top? Fuck me. Thank God she buttoned her sweater, because my eyes I could control, but my cock? That was another story altogether. I’d never realized how stacked she was. She usually kept her breasts under wraps, but tonight they were on full display in the thin fabric covering them. Too bad she was wearing a bra.
Shit. I needed to stop torturing myself. And if I caught Derek sneaking another peak at her cleavage, he was going down for the count.
“Play here is similar to the collaring ceremony after-party, right?”
So much for fantasizing about her tits. Hopefully my dick would get on board with my brain and learn a little patience.
“Yes, it is. And this is also a private party. A few of our members rent this area once a month to play together. No outsiders are allowed inside the dungeon when it’s reserved.”
Think… Think… Mitch fucking Darla.
Success.
That was an even better defensive tactic than I thought it would be. My woodie returned to a resting position.
“Who’s the woman at the bar?”
“That’s Evie. She’s one of our servers and is responsible for making sure our members don’t drink too much. We have a strict policy regarding alcohol intoxication while on the premises.”
She nodded. “I remember reading about that in the handbook.”
“Ah yes. You did say you browsed through it. I’m impressed with your recall. There’s a lot of information in it.” Information I would love to teach her about on a personal level. Didn’t she realize her shyness only made things worse for me? Fuck. Not again. Mitch fucking Darla…Mitch fucking Darla… “Evie also helps out if members need assistance gathering supplies or safety equipment.” As well as when I have a scratch I can’t itch.
“Safety equipment?”
“Condoms, Jordin. We’re all about safe sex.”
“Oh yeah.” She giggled, covering her mouth, obviously embarrassed by her naivety. I fucking loved it. “I remember reading about that as well. That’s reassuring.”
“Is it now?” I was interested in her stance on the subject, clearly one she didn’t like discussing seeing that her cheeks turned a beautiful shade of red. “Would you like a cold bottle of water?” She was so easy to have fun with and tease. And the best part was she didn’t take everything I said personally. It was so refreshing. A true sign of confidence.
“Water sounds great. No alcohol for me tonight. I wouldn’t want you to get the wrong impression of me, Mr. Dorian.”
I, on the other hand, wanted to take her teasing personally. This was a side of her I hadn’t seen before.
Mitch fucking Darla.
“Trust me, when I think about you, my ideas are anything but wrong.” Two could play at her game. Her baby-soft hand in mine had me practically salivating. I think I needed a cold drink as well. My dick needed a cold shower.
“I’ll be right back. Are you okay standing here by yourself for a minute?” She smiled and nodded, but I wasn’t buying it. “I’ll be back in a flash.”
There was no need for Jordin and Evie to meet, so I hustled to the bar solo to get two bottles of water.
“What’ll it be?”
Evie flashed me a warm smile, leaning
her elbows on the bar and giving me a sneak peek down her low-cut top. The crazy part was I had no interest in looking. Now if it were Jordin leaning over the bar like that, it would be a completely different story. Shit, I had to stop thinking this way.
“Two bottles of water, please.” I shifted my focus toward Jordin to make sure she was holding her own while Evie got the drinks.
“Who’s your friend?” She placed the two bottles in front of me and nodded in Jordin’s direction.
“She’s a psychology student doing research. I’m assisting her.”
“I thought we kept things private here?”
Evie’s tone sounded anything but protective over the privacy of our members. I would even go out on a limb and say she sounded a bit jealous, which I found odd, because she and I had a mutual understanding. Even though I was her employer, we fucked on the side. It had never been an issue before. But I didn’t like the eyes she gave Jordin. Mine narrowed from unease.
“Don’t worry. The rules that apply to all guests apply to her as well. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to work.” I grabbed the two bottles and headed back to Jordin. I unscrewed the cap on hers and handed it to her. The other one was for me. I too needed a cold drink about now. She smiled in thanks—a fucking smile so captivating, I almost choked on the water I was drinking.
It was time to reel in my thoughts and get back to business. “So, as you can see, members here are extremely comfortable with one another.”
She observed the different scenes taking place. One woman was affixed to a St. Andrew’s Cross while her Dom teased her naked body, another was strapped to a table, two men playing with her on both sides, and yet another had control of a bound man.
There was a bit of everything for her to see tonight. All the guests were happy doing their own thing. I glanced at Jordin to see if she shared my appreciation when I noticed her hands trembling.
“Are you okay?”
“I don’t know.” Her face was flushed. She began fanning herself. “I’m suddenly feeling lightheaded. Would you mind if we stepped outside for some fresh air?”
“No, of course not.” I put my arm around her and led her out of the dungeon, my heartbeat suddenly picking up speed.