“Let’s go.” Roman tugged on my hand. I resisted, overwhelmed by my curiosity.
“Wait. What’s going on? What are they looking at?”
“It’s nothing. Come on.”
“No. I want to see.” As I spoke, a gap opened in front of me, giving a clear view of the scene. Stone walls and heavy wood beams mimicked a medieval dungeon. I recognized Nicky’s wavy brown hair and broad shoulders. He had his fist entwined in the long, auburn hair of a woman. Her hands were chained to an iron ring above her head. They were naked; his skin golden next to her creamy complexion. He ran his free hand down the smooth, pale groove of the woman’s spine, then spanked her ass, leaving a red handprint on her white skin. A shiver ran down the length of her body. She moaned in delicious approval. They made a spectacular couple, his athletic, hard body next to her curvy feminine one. He released her hair and gripped her round bottom with both hands, preparing to enter her. I gasped and slapped a hand over my mouth. On her right hip, above where his fingers carved grooves into her flesh, was the tattoo of a unicorn. Everly’s tattoo.
9
Rourke
The sight of my best friend with Roman’s younger brother brought a rush of heat into my face. I wanted to look away but was held captive by their wild beauty and the rawness of the scene. Despite his character flaws, Nicky was a gorgeous man. And no one would dispute Everly’s classic beauty. Together, they were mesmerizing. No wonder the crowd was enthralled.
“Did you know about this?” I asked my husband. A few members turned to frown at me. I didn’t care. I needed answers.
“Hold that thought.” He ushered me to the end of the hall and used my key to enter the last door. A staircase led to the next floor. At the top, we stepped onto skywalk made of clear plexiglass. I sucked in a shocked breath. From here, we could see each couple through the illuminated glass ceilings. “Okay. We’re alone. You can speak freely.”
“This is unbelievable,” I said, fighting through a mixture of awe and dismay. “You spy on people up here?”
“It’s for security. Cameras aren’t allowed in the building, so we have to keep an eye on the activities the old-fashioned way. We vet the members carefully, but you never know how someone might react in an environment like this, among such high-profile people. Safety is always our top priority.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Am I in trouble again?”
I frowned and gave him a playful but reprimanding shove. “Did you know Nicky and Everly were going to be here?”
“No, but I knew it was a possibility.” The dim light cast his face in shadow. “Guests have to be approved in advance by at least one other member,” he confessed. “I cleared her a few days ago.”
“I wish you had told me.” A simple warning might have prepared me for the shock.
He stroked a hand along the side of my face. “You never know who will show up here. Although I have the power to veto a membership, Achilles and Nicky screen the general applications. Now and then someone slips through that’s not a good fit. Most of the time, there’s no problem. I bet you had no idea that one of those women down there is a morning talk show host or that Prince Heinrich of Androvia is the man who approached you in the reception area.”
“Seriously? The blond guy?” No wonder his voice and demeanor had seemed familiar. The media had been obsessed with his numerous affairs and extravagant lifestyle since he came of age. “Should you be telling me this? You just booted Lavender from the club, and here you are revealing identities to me. It hardly seems fair.”
“You may discuss identities with me, Nicky, and Achilles. Never with anyone else and never inside the play area of the club.”
I trailed my fingers down the placket of his tuxedo shirt. “You have too many rules. Don’t you find it restrictive?”
“Rules are necessary. They protect the innocent from harm by those who are less scrupulous.” His touch lingered at the tender spot below my ear, making my blood sing. “If you’re going to come here, you need to open your mind and not judge others for pursuing their fantasies.”
As usual, he was right. I nodded and bit my lower lip. “I’m fine with the sexual fantasies. It’s watching your little brother defile my friend that makes me queasy.”
He tilted my chin, forcing my gaze to his. “Is this about Everly or Nicky? Are you jealous?”
“No. Of course not.” More than anything, I wanted Everly to be happy. “If Nicky can help her get over her divorce, then I’m all for it. But this—” I swept a hand through the air to encompass the sex-filled chambers. “Nothing about this is casual.”
He rested a hip against the thin steel guard rail and studied me thoughtfully. “Their sex lives are not our business. If she wants to explore her sexual boundaries, wouldn’t you rather she experimented somewhere safe like the Playground?”
“I guess so.” I’d been telling myself the same thing but couldn’t stop worrying about my best friend. She was still raw from a high-profile, nasty divorce. Nicky could be very persuasive when he wanted. I didn’t want to see him exploit her vulnerability. We moved a few more paces down the skywalk. Below our feet, a man and woman luxuriated in a Roman bath, sloshing water over the sides of the pool with their lovemaking. Thank goodness Everly and Nicky weren’t visible from this spot.
“Don’t worry. You can’t see them from here.” Roman’s amused chuckle echoed in the quiet. He closed the distance between us until the front of his tuxedo brushed my breasts. My nipples stung, blood rushing into their tips, at the contact. “I understand if you’re not comfortable with them being here. Do you want to leave?”
“No.” I gripped the handrail tighter. “But he’d better not mess with her head, or I will personally castrate him.”
“I’ve already threatened him with bodily injury.” His confession kindled warmth in my heart, as did the flat of his hand against my lower back. “He swears they’re just having fun. If he does anything out of line, he’ll have to answer to me.” Roman’s reassurance put my misgivings to rest. He valued his word too much to break it. One more step put his knee between my thighs, demanding my attention. “Enough talk about them. I want to play.”
His mouth sank onto mine. I sighed at the heat of his body seeping through my thin dress, our breaths mingling. Through the open slit, he trailed his fingertips from my knee to my bottom. He pinched the left cheek, making me gasp.
“What was that for?” I asked, suppressing a shocked giggle.
“That’s to remind you who’s in charge,” he said. I smiled at the hint of humor in his voice.
“It’s ladies’ night, remember?” I nipped at his earlobe, taking in the scent of his cologne, spicy and masculine. I loved his smell, the way it clung to the pillows on our bed and his clothes when he undressed at night. I ran a hand over his chest, admiring the strong play of muscles beneath my palm.
“Ah, so it is. I stand corrected. What’s your choice, my lady?”
“Show me what you love about this place. I need to understand.”
The sparkle returned to his eyes. “I love the anonymity of it, the ability to live out one’s fantasies. The staff go above and beyond to meet the needs of our members.” He drew me closer and buried his nose in my hair. “I love the thrill of watching and being watched.” A frown creased my forehead. He tightened his grip, speaking into my hair. “But I have no desire to fuck anyone but you. Never doubt that, Rourke.”
His words comforted me. We were still learning about each other. The boundaries of our relationship had yet to be defined. I wanted to make him happy in and out of the bedroom without sacrificing my personal beliefs. However, I was willing to experiment and test my limits. In fact, I looked forward to it. “I like being watched too.” I let my hand drift lower to rub the hardness behind the fly of his trousers. His groan did crazy things to my insides.
“You asked about the significance of the colors red and white. Red means you’re spoken for, that you’re monogamous and off-limits.” Prince Heinrich’s
comment suddenly made sense. Someone has put his stamp on you. The ache between my legs began to escalate. “White means they’re unattached or in an open relationship.” With his free hand, he swept my hair to the side and pressed a kiss on the top of my shoulder. Gooseflesh erupted on my skin. “We also have staff who will handpick an appropriate partner for a member based on their specific needs. Tonight is a red-and-white event by invitation only, but there are open events where you’ll see other colors to signify sexual preference, membership status, among other things.”
I thought of the handsome blond prince and what it might be like to have him watch while Roman put his hands on me. “I’m open to anything that makes you happy.” I definitely couldn’t stomach another woman touching him. The hairs on the back of my neck bristled at the idea. I curled my fingers into the lapels of his jacket and pulled him toward me. “But no one touches you. You’re mine. Do you understand?”
His earthy chuckle reverberated through my chest. “Mmmm, I like it when you’re forceful.” When I palmed his erection, he hissed. “Is that your way of telling me to finish this tour?”
“Yes, please.” With our hands linked, we crossed the walkway, pausing now and then to admire one of the scenes below.
At the end he paused to lift my hand and press a kiss to my knuckles. “Once a month, all the rooms are changed out and given completely new decorations. If a member has a specific scene in mind, the room can be customized to his or her taste. We’ve found that a healthy mix of social class and economic status provides a more satisfying experience for everyone.” At the end of the hall, he swept a hand across my temple and looped a loose strand of hair behind my ear. The brush of his fingertips over my sensitive earlobe awakened parts of my body that I hadn’t known existed. I ached everywhere in the best possible way. With each step, the silky fabric of my dress tickled my thighs. When we fell silent, I could hear the moans of a woman from somewhere nearby.
“What kind of room do you have?” I asked.
“I don’t have a room anymore. Not since meeting you.” His gaze darkened. “But I’m willing to have one customized to your liking.”
“I may take you up on that.”
At the exit door, we descended the stairs and pushed through a panel in the wall, different from the one Achilles had used, and arrived in the reception area. Flickering candlelight replaced the glow of the lamps and chandelier. The softer lighting gave the space an eerie, ethereal quality. We halted near the grand piano. The orchestra had left, and the only sounds remaining were the splash of water from a nearby fountain and piped-in Bach. We ducked behind a screen of tall potted plants next to a magnificent Steinway.
“Are we leaving?” Disappointment tempered my earlier excitement. Surely, he wasn’t going to send me home, wanting and unfulfilled.
“Oh, princess, we’re far from done.” My focus snapped to his mouth, delighting in the glide of his tongue over the fullness of his lower lip. “Place your palms on the piano.” When I hesitated, he gave my bottom a light, stinging slap. The sound reverberated through the empty room.
My heart banged against my ribs. Someone could walk through at any moment. “Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more certain about anything. What about you?” He tossed the question back to me. Even while I debated, slickness grew between my legs.
“Yes.” I longed for his touch, to have him inside me, to ease the ache brought about by the playrooms in the long hallway.
“Excellent. Now look at me.”
I twisted to view my husband over my shoulder. He took my chin between thumb and forefinger and placed a lazy kiss on my mouth. The dry, fruity taste of red wine lingered on his lips. Our tongues teased each other. My pulse increased. The thrill of knowing we were in plain view of anyone who cared to look heightened my arousal. I moaned and ground my bottom against his pelvis. He was harder than before, his erection tenting the fabric of his pants.
“Good girl,” he whispered against my lips. His hands smoothed over my bare legs, lifting the hem of the dress higher until cool air caressed my sex. He’d bared me to him and anyone who cared to look.
“Roman.” I fought against the heady rush of panic and anticipation.
“Shhhh. Easy.” He spoke to me with the same soothing tone I’d heard him use on his polo ponies. The clink of his belt buckle fueled my anxiety. I wanted him to take me. Now. When the head of his cock nudged my entrance, I almost screamed in relief. The palm of his hand steadied my hip.
As he entered me, one of the doors opened. A couple walked into the room, holding hands, whispering, a post-coital glow evident on their faces. I bit my lower lip to keep from crying out against the delicious friction of Roman’s cock sliding through my wetness. My internal muscles clenched around him. The couple passed by us, less than a yard away. I held my breath to keep from drawing their attention.
“You’re perfect.” Roman trailed a hand over the groove of my spine, the same way Nicky had done to Everly. He withdrew and slid inside me again, teasing me with deliberate slowness. I loved the way he always knew what I needed before I did.
“More.” The single word was all I could manage. I tried to straighten. He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled my back to his front, still buried inside me. I burned for release. His thrusts became deeper and protracted as he gave me every single inch.
Approaching footsteps tapped on the floor. Another couple entered the room. They stopped in the center to chat with the first couple. Beneath their voices and laughter, the fountain tinkled. Roman slipped a hand inside my dress and tweaked a nipple. I whimpered then bit my lower lip to stay quiet.
Two new couples entered through secret panels to our left. They stopped a few feet away. I recognized the blond man as Prince Heinrich. Shadow and light played across his face. Roman increased his rhythm. Tiny grunts of pleasure punctuated each of his thrusts. The fragrance of lilacs and roses hovered in the air. I dug my fingernails into the lacquered surface of the piano, fighting to remain steady as the room spun around us. We were going to get caught. The idea enhanced my excitement. A flutter of pre-orgasmic warning tightened the muscles in my belly.
I couldn’t take my eyes off Prince Heinrich and his companion, a petite brunette. My heart skipped a beat. Any second, the prince was going to look my way and see me staring at him. Risk heightened every sensation. Although there was no real penalty for getting caught, I’d never been this naughty before. As if drawn by my thoughts, the prince hesitated and turned his head in our direction. His gaze locked with mine. He tugged the brunette to his side, turning her to face us. Her pink mouth formed a circle then curved into a smile.
Aside from the raised hem of my dress, I was completely covered, but I’d never felt so exposed. The chatter in the room dropped to quiet whispers as more people discovered us in the corner. I closed my eyes, torn between embarrassment and the greatest arousal I’d ever known.
“Don’t close your eyes. Watch them.” Roman pulled me into a standing position, my back to his chest, and slid a finger between my folds, teasing me. Pleasure pulsed between my legs. The scratch of his beard abraded my neck. “Look how much they admire you, princess, how you turn them on.”
The reception area had grown silent. I opened my eyes. Everyone openly watched us. Hushed whispers filled the quiet. A woman in a red mask stood across from me, studying my face, admiring Roman. She lifted a hand to cup one of her breasts while her companion nibbled along the regal column of her neck. Were they married? Did they come here often? Random thoughts clouded my brain.
“Lovely,” a man murmured.
“So perfect,” said someone else.
The decadence of the scene drew me into another world—a world where pleasure and beauty collided. I pushed back against Roman, reveling in the admiration of the spectators, enjoying the caress of his linen trousers against my bare flesh. The burn of embarrassment receded as my need for release increased.
“I want to see her come,” said one of th
e men.
The request pushed Roman to a frenzy. His thrusts became wild, his fingers tight and possessive on my hip. “Let them see how amazing you are.” He tugged at my earlobe with his teeth. My orgasm hit me with unexpected force, spurred by his electric touch. Roman drove into me, harder, faster, his breathing uneven and harsh. Fire rushed down my legs as the most exquisite climax of my life consumed my body. Sighs of awe and appreciation tittered through the room.
Roman exhaled in my ear, the sound soft and satiated. We remained locked together. His arm circled my waist holding me up until my knees regained their strength. “This is why you’re perfect for me.” His confession elicited butterflies in the pit of my belly. “You’re my dirty princess.”
“Excuse me, sir.” Achilles approached from the closest doorway, eyes downcast. He stopped at the edge of the piano and stood with his back to me.
Roman zipped his fly while I adjusted the waistband of my gown. When I was situated, he gave me a soft kiss on the top of my head. “It’s alright, Achilles. You can turn around.”
Achilles avoided my gaze. “The police are here. They need to speak with you on urgent business. Lavender Cunningham is dead.”
10
Rourke
“What happened?” I asked as Roman ushered me from the warehouse and into a waiting SUV. He’d spent the past thirty minutes in his office with a pair of police detectives while I pulled myself together in the adjoining bathroom.
“I don’t know.” He slid into the backseat beside me. “They suspect suicide.”
“Why did they want to talk to you?” Lavender Cunningham hadn’t been one of my favorite people, but the thought of her death saddened my heart. She’d been too young and too successful to end her life prematurely.
The Exiled Prince Trilogy Page 27