Well, he sure as hell wasn’t bored anymore.
* * * * *
For more than an hour, Lori drove around listlessly. With the window down and Aerosmith blaring, she tried to figure out how long this had been going on. Dirk hadn’t been acting any differently, so either he was a hell of a liar—or this had not been going on long.
She ended up parked in the parking lot of Exposè.
The club had opened six months ago, and Lori had told Dirk repeatedly that she wanted to go. It’s not your kind of club, honey.
Lori knew what kind of club it was.
One of her friends from work was a regular there.
Exposè was a sex club.
She’d heard that damn near any kind of fantasy, no matter how kinky, could be acted out inside those walls. And Lori had a lot of fantasies she wanted to try, but Dirk hadn’t ever listened.
Not because he wasn’t into it, though. From what she had seen just a little while ago, Dirk was more than into kink. Damn him to hell and back, he knew she’d wanted to try…something. Anything. Hell, with him, nearly everything. She had tried being subtle, then not so subtle and he hadn’t ever listened.
Lori had an image of Dirk pumping against Sara, his cock shuttling back and forth inside the woman’s ass. Her stomach twisted, knotting so hard it actually hurt.
He gave it to Sara.
The hot humiliation of it twisted her stomach into such a hard knot that Lori almost doubled over from the pain.
“Not worth it,” she told herself. Sooner or later, she’d believe it.
Tears burned her eyes and she dashed them away impatiently, still staring at the discreet lettering of the sign just above the door. The line seemed to be a mile long and as she watched, several couples were turned away. Exposè was a private club. Nonmembers were admitted, but it was at the bouncer’s discretion who he let in and who he turned aside.
There was a second entrance, this one with no line.
A man wearing a simple white shirt with a pair of jeans sauntered up to it, his arm wrapped around the waist of a petite brunette. She was wearing a short black, strapless sheath and a pair of heeled sandals that laced up over her knees. They nodded at the guy watching the second door and walked right in.
The members’ entrance.
They’ll never let you in.
Even as Lori reached for the handle, she heard those insidious words inside her head. They circled around, repeating themselves over and over as she climbed from the car and started for the line. She doubted her white T-shirt and jeans were what the women usually wore in there, but still, she didn’t turn around.
She headed for the back of the line, her hands tucked inside her back pockets. She tuned out the murmur of voices and the hard, steady beat of music pouring from the club as she tried very hard to think of absolutely nothing.
Taking her place in line, she stood there and waited.
When a hand touched her arm, she jumped and spun around, her heart pounding in her chest.
“Grace.”
Her friend was grinning, but as she stared at Lori’s face, her grin faded. “Honey, what’s wrong?”
Lori blinked and shook her head. “Nothing. Just…nothing.”
Grace rolled her eyes and said, “Uh-huh. Come on, let’s go get a drink and you can tell me all about it.”
Resigned, Lori followed Grace into the club. She really didn’t want to talk about it but Grace wouldn’t take no for an answer. Besides, she could sit at the bar and get a drink. And just the thought of doing something that Dirk wouldn’t like was enough to make her smile. Even if it lasted only a few seconds.
Chapter Two
While they waited for class to start, Lori and Grace took turns working the heavy bag. The impact of her fist against the leather sent a jolt singing up her arm and set her blood to pumping hot and fast. She wore a bandana around her head to hold her hair back.
The day after she’d kicked Dirk out, she’d gone to the salon and had four inches chopped off her hair. The thinner, layered cut was a hell of a lot cooler and curled a lot better. With every snip of the scissors, she had smiled.
“You look a lot happier.” Grace drew up one leg and pivoted, striking the heavy bag.
After Grace had finished her roundhouse, Lori took a turn. After she’d kicked the heavy bag, Lori looked at Grace with a smile. “I hadn’t realized how much I missed class.”
“There’s something very therapeutic about butt kicking.” The door opened and a short, rotund little guy walked inside. As he did, the senior student got up from the floor and clapped his hands together. “Or getting your butt kicked.”
Lori smiled and fell in line with the other brown belts.
After they finished warmup, Lori and Grace fell in across from each other for sparring. “Heard anything from Dirk?” Grace asked as they started to circle each other.
Lori feinted and then kicked toward Grace’s padded head. “Nope. Don’t want to either.”
Grace’s hand plowed into her rib cage and Lori fell back with an “Ooomph”. She retaliated with a spinning heel kick and a punch. The kick didn’t land but the punch did and Grace recoiled, rubbing her belly with one gloved hand.
“Geez. Ask a simple question…” But she was grinning around the blue mouth guard.
Lori grinned back. “I sort of expected him to call, but nothing.”
They fell silent for a few minutes, trading blows until the whistle sounded. After shaking hands, they retreated to the sidelines and dropped to the mat to watch the other students. “Well, I’m still sort of disappointed you didn’t get to burn his clothes.”
Lori laughed. “Dirk isn’t going to risk his Armanis. I could have told you that. Would have been a fun bonfire, though.”
“Keep it down, ladies!”
Lori and Grace looked toward the instructor sheepishly. “Oops,” Lori muttered.
Grace just grinned. Waiting until the instructor started working with a couple of junior black belts, she leaned over and said, “So I hear you’ve been given a trial membership to Exposè. You coming this weekend?”
The whistle sounded. Lori and Grace climbed to their feet and headed back onto the floor. “Not sure yet.”
“Don’t tell me you’re getting chicken.”
Lori jabbed at Grace’s head. “Bite me.”
Grace kicked instead, first a front kick, followed by a side kick. Grace circled away before Lori could counter. “I don’t know. I’m just kind of…uh…”
“Ladies, are you here to chat or train?”
From the corner of her eye, Lori saw Master Leland approaching. “Sorry.”
They focused on the class, but afterward, Grace asked, “So you’re sort of…what?”
They sat in the sauna, stripped down to panties and sport bras. “Restless, maybe? Not sure what I’m looking for there.”
“It’s who.” Lori glanced toward Grace and the brunette shrugged. “You aren’t the kind of person who goes to Exposè just because you want to get some kinky sex. You’re looking for somebody there. Somebody who can give you what Dirk couldn’t. A lot of my friends, I’d tell them they need to accept some of the offers they’ve received. But you…well, you’ll know when you need to accept it. Casual sex just isn’t your thing.”
* * * * *
He was seeing things.
Mike convinced himself that was exactly what was going on. It had to be. Because there was no way in hell Lori was sitting at the bar while one of the local Romeos tried to coax her out on the dance floor at Exposè.
Lori was cute. Lori was sweet. He’d admit, privately, that he’d had a thing for her for years, but because she was cute and sweet, he’d never acted on it. Cute and sweet didn’t work very well when it came to the kind of things Mike liked from a woman.
Cute and sweet didn’t belong at Exposè.
Ergo, neither did Lori. But she sat at the bar, looking entirely too comfortable.
Lori rebuffed the guy, seemingly more
interested in her drink, and while Mike was glad she didn’t seem too impressed with the moves being made on her, he’d be even happier if she got up and walked out.
He hadn’t seen much of her over the past few weeks. Since she’d tossed Morrigan out on his ass, she hadn’t been home too much. The few times he’d looked for her, she’d been gone.
Here? He couldn’t help but wonder if this was where she’d been. Mike hadn’t been to the club in months so there was no way he’d know unless he asked her.
“I’ll do that,” he muttered. And then he’d get her the hell out of here.
The crowd moved between them and he lost sight of her head of sunny blonde curls for a second. Weaving through the throng of people, he moved closer, muttering under his breath.
He’d come here hoping to blow some steam and get laid if he could find some woman who didn’t bore the hell out of him. He hadn’t come so he could drag Lori Whitmore out of here before she bit off more than she could chew.
Damn it, the guys at the door were slipping. They were supposed to do a better job of keeping out those who just weren’t cut out for this kind of scene.
Lori sure as hell wasn’t and she didn’t need to be here.
She sure as hell didn’t need to be here alone.
A woman alone in here was considered up for grabs, and Mike doubted she wanted to know exactly how much trouble that could get her into. Lori was too sweet, too cute, too…holy hell.
Just as Mike broke free of the crowd, somebody tapped Lori on the shoulder, a girl who looked vaguely familiar to him. Lori spun around on her stool and Mike damn near swallowed his tongue as he took in what she was wearing.
No leather for her.
No, Lori was wearing wine red lace, nearly the same color she had slicked on her lips. The corset was designed to look as through she wore nothing under the lace, but as he moved a little closer, he realized it wasn’t pale, soft flesh he was seeing under the overlay of lace but some sort of silky cloth that was nearly the same color as her skin.
The teasing hint of what lay under the corset was enough to make him want to tear the lace and silk away, stripping her bare. He wasn’t the only one who had an appreciation for the picture she made. Just before he drew even with her, somebody who looked entirely too familiar slid up to her side and rested a hand on her shoulder.
It was Trask Boyett, one of the more serious club members. Unlike the Romeo from earlier, this one would know how to initiate somebody like Lori. And Mike wasn’t about to see it happen.
Hell, no.
“Lori.”
She looked away from Trask, her eyes meeting Mike’s and widening. A soft flush stained her cheeks but she didn’t look away. Her eyes were wide and round with surprise as she stared at him and Mike could only imagine the thoughts racing through her mind.
Looking over her shoulder at Trask, he cocked a brow.
Trask’s blond brows rose over his pale grey eyes and he smiled slightly. “You shouldn’t let her out alone in here, Mike. You know better.”
Lori scowled, looking back at Trask but he had already withdrawn, melting back into the crowd. She returned her gaze to Mike, her brows arching over her soft blue eyes as she demanded, “What in hell was he talking about?”
Mike ignored her, reaching out and closing a hand around her arm. “Come on. You and I are going to have a talk.”
She resisted, trying to tug her arm away. “I’m having a drink here.”
Mike reached behind her and grabbed the half empty tumbler. He tossed it back, grimacing at the overly sweet taste of rum and Coke. After he’d emptied it, he slammed the glass back on the gleaming mahogany bar. “No, you’re not. Come on.”
Still, Lori tried to tug away from him so he moved closer and bent low, murmuring into her ear, “You can either walk out of here with me or be carried. Believe me, not too many people will think much of it if I throw you over my shoulder.”
Her eyes narrowed and the soft curve of her lower lip poked out in a slight pout, but she fell in step alongside him.
Mike had two choices. He could take her upstairs to the private rooms. For three hundred bucks, he could rent one until the club closed at four a.m. Or he could take her out to the trellised patio. The patio led out into a maze of hedges that had dozens of little nooks and crannies where they could get some semblance of privacy.
The private rooms were tempting, but Mike didn’t want to be alone with her, not as edgy as he felt right now.
So the patio it was.
Exposè was hopping tonight. Most of the good spots in the maze were already taken. They passed three different couples who were in various stages of undress. As they walked past the third, Mike glanced over his shoulder and saw that Lori’s eyes were wide and her face was pink.
And she was staring at the three people to her left. The woman was on her hands and knees, her mouth full of one man’s cock. Another man was kneeling behind her. Her skirt was pushed up over her butt and the man was riding her slow and easy.
Just before they passed out of sight, the woman jumped as one of her partners spanked her—once, twice, three times—leaving the smooth skin of her ass a soft pink.
Mike finally found what he was looking for, an empty alcove set back a little from the path. It wasn’t completely hidden, but it was a little deeper than the other spots.
It was only the illusion of privacy. The maze was set up just for the express purpose of watching, being watched…listening to those nearby.
Somewhere behind them, a woman screamed in pleasure and Mike got his own little jolt of pleasure as Lori’s eyes widened. She hadn’t been to the club too often, he decided. And not out in the maze yet, he’d bet.
Good.
“Are you having fun?” he asked casually, letting go of her arm and dropping down onto the padded bench.
“Ahh…”
That was all she got out. A series of gasping screams, broken up by the words, “Yes…please…spank me…yes…please…Master…” filled the night air and her eyes widened even more.
“You’re at a sex club, sweetheart,” Mike drawled, stretching his legs out in front of him. “Why do you look so surprised?”
Lori made a face at him. “I know where I am, Mike.”
“Do you?” he murmured quietly. Then in a louder voice, he said, “What I’d like to know is what you are doing here.”
The blush that had been fading returned full force, staining her cheeks bright pink. But she didn’t stammer or try to change the subject. She pushed a hand through her hair and Mike’s attention was distracted for a minute as he watched the soft, pale strands float back down around her naked shoulders. He wanted to see her naked, stretched out on his bed, wearing nothing but that soft pink blush and those blonde curls. He could imagine those curls wrapped around his fist and that pretty pink mouth wrapped around his cock.
She spoke and Mike stifled a groan, shifting his legs, trying to ease the pressure against his throbbing cock. It took a minute for her words to make sense and when they finally did, his eyes narrowed. Shoving up off the bench, he closed the distance between them as he growled, “Say that again.”
She rolled her blue eyes and made a soft little harrumph under her breath. “I said, why do people usually go to sex clubs?” She cocked her head and gave him a challenging look. “I’m sort of surprised to see you here. I didn’t know this was your scene.”
“You never asked, darling,” he drawled. He ran his eyes over her soft, curving form, lingering on the low neckline of her corset. Then he raised his gaze, staring at her pretty, wine red-slicked mouth for a long moment before he drawled, “I don’t see the point in advertising where I like to spend my free time.”
“And I don’t see any reason to talk about where I want to spend mine,” Lori said archly. Then she gasped as Mike reached out and hooked his fingers under the lacings on her corset, drawing her closer to him.
He spread his legs as he drew her nearer, bringing her to stand between his
knees. Close enough that he could smell her skin and see her breasts rise and fall with each breath.
Mike said, “I wish I’d known you were such a curious little kitten, Lori. I’d be happy to help you out.” He reached up, trailing a finger down the smooth curve of her shoulder, lower, along the edge of her lace and silk corset.
She inhaled a deep, harsh breath. It made her breasts rise and fall and Mike let his finger linger in the deep valley between her breasts and murmured, “You don’t know what you’re getting into, Lori. Go home.”
Lori hissed and reached up, smacking his hand away from her. “Don’t tell me what to do, Mike. I had enough of somebody trying to control me with Dirk. I’m done with it.”
Smiling a little, Mike stood and circled around her, staying close enough that their bodies brushed together with each step. “Is that what this is about? Dirk? I can understand wanting to piss him off, but you shouldn’t do something you’ll regret just to do it.”
Lori whirled on her heel and glared at him. Although she was a good eight inches shorter, she still managed to look down her nose at him. “No, it’s not about pissing him off. I don’t give a damn about Dirk. I’m here because I’ve wanted to come since the club opened. I tried to get him to come with me.” A small, catlike smile curled her lips and she murmured, “Now I’m glad he didn’t.”
Mike decided he didn’t like that smile. He didn’t like the secrets that could be lying just behind that smile. “Lori—”
“Don’t presume to tell me what to do,” she snapped, spinning on her heel and heading back toward the maze. “You know me well enough to know how much that will piss me off.”
Mike reached out and closed both hands around her waist. He stroked downward, cupping his hands over her hips, holding her still as he moved up behind her. He pressed his cock against the soft, rounded curves of her butt, rocking against her. “Maybe I don’t know you as well as either of us thought.”
He lowered his head to nuzzle her neck. Her head fell to the side and Mike almost groaned against the smooth, pale flesh she exposed. “You come to a place like this, darlin’, you’re going to get told what to do, sooner or later. Isn’t that why you came here?”
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