by Livia Grant
She felt like an outsider. “What the hell are you guys talking about?”
Jaxson’s, “Nothing,” coincided with Chase’s, “A Valentine’s Day party we’re throwing.”
Khloe snorted. “I don’t think I’ll be celebrating Valentine’s this year. I’d rather stay in and eat a tub of ice cream.”
Chase wouldn’t let it drop, only he was talking to Jaxson about it as if she wasn’t even there. It kinda pissed her off.
“Think about it. Security is tight. She’ll have privacy from the press and I really think she could benefit from a bit of exploration.”
She wasn’t sure why Jaxson seemed so pissed off, but he was. “Since when does she need our help finding men? She burns through them faster than the ink in magazines can dry.”
The press was never kind to ambitious women like Khloe, but she wasn’t used to having people be hostile to her face. “What the hell is your problem, Jax?”
“Chase may be nice and try to forget how you used him, but I have a better memory than he does.”
Chase leaned in closer, reaching out to hold Jaxson’s hand. “You’re making too big of an issue about this, baby. It was years ago.”
Jaxson tore his eyes away from her to look at Chase. Time stood still as the two men leaned closer, locking lips in a heated kiss that went on so long it felt like the temperature of the room was heating up. Khloe sat transfixed, shocked at the passion between the men.
When they separated, she blurted, “Wait a minute. You mean… the tabloids… that public kiss… you two really are together?”
Chase turned to look her way, his lips slightly swollen from his kiss. “No.” He paused before adding. “Us three really are together.”
It blew her mind.
Before she could recover Emma spoke to the men from her couch. “Now that we’ve shocked her, I’m going to agree with Chase. I think her attending is a good idea.”
Chase globbed on. “It would give her the protection from the press she needs. Privacy to explore.”
Emma added, “I saw the list of participants and I think she’d fit right in.” Chase and Jaxson were both listening to her every word.
“Well, thanks Emma, but I don’t think I need a blind date to a lame Valentine’s Day party,” Khloe protested.
All four of them started chuckling at her description of the event just as the house lights started to dim. Intro music had begun and someone announced the Crushing Stones were about to begin their show.
Jaxson closed the topic. “I’ll think about it and we can talk about it more after the concert. I think it’s time we head over to the railing so we can see Cash and the boys better. “
Khloe had the distinct feeling they were hiding something big from her, but she didn’t have a chance to press them for answers before the first sounds of the Crushing Stones opening song pounded through the club. Khloe joined them at the railing, grateful for the fun distraction to help her forget about how messed up her life felt.
Chapter 4
“Are you sure this is the right address?” The same Hyatt driver from last Saturday night was dropping her off at a Georgetown psychic shop just around the corner from Runway.
She didn’t think it was possible, but she was even more nervous tonight than she had been three days earlier. That was because now she was privy to the details of exactly what she’d signed up for.
Not for the first time did she chastise herself for being so reckless.
“Yes, this is the right place. I’ll text you when I’m ready to leave.” She waited while the driver got out and came around to her side of the luxury car, opening the door and holding out his hand to help her avoid falling on the icy sidewalk. As she was ready to walk into the shop, she turned and added nervously. “I’ll either be ready to leave just after eleven or in fifteen minutes if it’s a disaster.”
The older driver smiled indulgently. “I’ll come back for you whenever you need me, ma’am.”
Khloe pushed through the door before she could second-guess her decision. The jingling bell on the entry announced her arrival in the dimly lit space. A gypsy looking woman moved to greet her with a smile.
“Hello, may I help you this evening?”
Khloe fumbled with her petite purse, pulling out a sheet of paper with a QR code on it.
“Ah, you’re looking for Luis. He’s right through the curtain at the back of the shop.” She motioned her arm in a sweeping welcome.
“Thanks,” she answered robotically. She felt like she was in a trance, inside someone else’s body. She was going through the motions, determined to live dangerously despite the anxiety nipping at her.
Behind the curtain a large Hispanic man stood guard. The only thing more remarkable than his bulging muscles was the long scar on his cheek.
“Invitation paperwork please, miss.” She held out the slip of paper with the QR code. He reviewed her paperwork, before speaking. “Welcome, Miss Monroe. At your request, once you are inside the club, you’ll be referred to as The Princess.” He opened a door and motioned to her. “Please step down these stairs and follow the tunnel until you get to the next door. Danny will be there to assist you.”
She felt wobbly on her high-heels. The steps were concrete and the walls of the tunnel were lit with the occasional lamp that cast eerie shadows. The space was cold and creepy, reminding her of the over-the-top activities she might be asked to participate in tonight.
She was a novice at best in the BDSM lifestyle, having dabbled with a boyfriend or two over the years. Going online to sign up for the event had been an eye opener for her. She’d had to Google several times to even figure out what activities would be offered. Then, she’d found there weren’t nearly enough opportunities to put hard limits in the sign-up process. There was a very good possibility she’d be using her safeword tonight. She’d listed blood, needle, and fire play on her absolutely no-fucking-way list, but there had been at least six more kinks she’d wanted to list, but finally settled on putting cell popping, knowing she couldn’t have someone mark her body, even temporarily. She needed to be back on set the following Sunday and the hard-ass director wouldn’t take kindly to her having visible marks on her body that he’d have to shoot around.
She was grateful to finally get to a heavy, nondescript door. A welcome rush of warm air greeted her as she pulled the door open to find herself in a large room lit with glowing recessed lights. More than one wall was covered with small lockers. A cute guy stood in the center of the room behind a tall counter.
“Good evening. May I help you?”
“Em, I think so.” Khloe handed him the now crumpled paper she’d been clutching nervously on her walk.
The guard scanned her paper. “Welcome to Black Light, Miss Monroe. I’m afraid I’ll need to see a photo identification, please.”
His request caught her off guard. Sure the website had warned her to bring her ID, but as a celebrity, most people tended to let her pass. Still, she presented her New York driver’s license.
“Thank you.” After he assured himself she was indeed Khloe Monroe, he reached to an iPad and within seconds she heard a locker to her left pop as it sprung open. “Please take off your coat and leave it here in your locker along with your purse and all electronics including your cell phone. No cameras or recording devices are allowed on the floor.”
She didn’t like being separated from her cell phone. It was her lifeline out of here if she needed to bug out.
“I’m sure Chase and Jaxson won’t mind if I…”
He held up his hand like a stop sign. “No exceptions. Not even for Mr. Cartwright and Mr. Davidson.”
Khloe hesitated, briefly considering leaving, but knowing she’d regret not going in to at least check out the club, even if she did leave before the event started.
After she reluctantly had everything secured, she headed towards the door marked Black Light. She was about to enter when two handsome men arrived and were greeted by the security guy.
/> “Welcome back Congressman Masterson. Senator Kane.”
Chase had assured her there would be many high-profile members in attendance and that she wouldn’t stand out. She was relieved to find it might be the truth. Still, when she caught the men staring at her, she fled through the door, too nervous to strike up a conversation.
By the time she was ten feet inside the club, though, she knew she’d just jumped from the frying pan into the fire.
Everywhere she looked, debauchery greeted her. She stood rooted to her spot, gawking at the sexy environment so long that the two politicians entered and caught up to her.
“Well, look what we have here. I sure hope you were waiting for me to join you, darling.” The two men wore business suits as if they’d just come from starring in a C-span special. The younger of the two dared touch her arm, attaching himself to her without her permission.
She felt the heat creeping up her neck. Before she could react to send them on their way, a roving server stopped to offer champagne. “Hello, sir. Happy to have you back at Black Light.”
“Thanks, darling.” He grabbed a flute and handed it to Khloe who wasted no time in downing the drink. She’d finished before he brought his own flute to his lips. She yanked free with enough velocity that his bubbly sloshed down onto his boring grey tie. “Shit.” He pulled his arm free of her elbow to swish at the spill.
Khloe jumped at the chance to scurry away from the men, ignoring his cursing as she pushed forward into the crowd. Only when she was away from them did it occur to her that the man she’d just pissed off might be playing Roulette tonight.
My luck he’ll roll me and take out his anger on my ass.
It took all her bravery to keep putting one foot in front of the other, weaving through the provocative scenes and socializing couples towards the main stage across the room. Snippets of tantalizing interludes already in progress were the sound track to the salacious event about to be underway.
If she’d been horrified or even frightened, she would have spun and left, but there was no denying the atmosphere had her heart pounding hard enough to make her feel light headed. A nameless need pulsed inside her, partly centered in her panties, but if she were honest with herself, it went deeper than that. She didn’t know what to call this longing and she had absolutely no clue how to quench it. All she knew was it had been building for months, and spending the last few days holed up in her hotel room, researching all of the diabolical activities that would be on the roulette wheel that night, the need had magnified until she could think of little else.
Like it or not, Black Light was like a homing beacon, drawing her deeper like a magnetic pull. She just prayed she’d be brave enough to see it through.
Three hours. You can do anything for three hours.
Khloe took a couple of deep breaths as she approached the stage and caught her first peek of Chase. He looked amazing in his tuxedo. Happy. Relaxed. She also couldn’t miss the love shining from him as he leaned in to talk privately to Jaxson, the two men sharing a private moment in the otherwise crowded room.
“Good evening, Princess. Please make your way to stage right near the steps to the stage. All of the submissives are congregating there.” It was a man full of muscles wearing a staff T-shirt directing participants.
She managed to nod, catching sight of a group of nervous looking women, and suspecting she looked as anxious as they did. While a few chatted with friends, the majority stood silently as Chase climbed the set of stairs on the opposite side of the stage, knowing Roulette was about to begin. Khloe said a small prayer that she didn’t end up being a pawn in the game about to begin, easily sacrificed by a dominant too impatient to put up with her inexperience.
A woman yelling profanity had everyone spinning towards the exit where she saw the congressman who’d tried to talk with her physically dragging the screaming woman out of the club. Two employees stepped in to arbitrate the scene. More interested in the internal turmoil happening, Khloe tried to focus on Chase and the coming event. Only when the very woman who’d been screaming stepped into the middle of the group of submissives, still cursing her ex-husband, did she start to understand the dynamics at play.
A few seconds later, Chase was center stage as the lights in the room dimmed and spotlights lit up the portion of the stage they would be using for roulette.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Black Light. I’d like to introduce myself first. I’m Chase Cartwright, and I’m one of the owners here. Jaxson, Emma, and I would like to wish you all a very happy Valentine’s Day, and to thank you for choosing to spend the night here with us — enjoying the first of what we hope will become an annual event, Valentine Roulette.”
The room that had hushed as his introduction began broke out into a round of excited applause. When the clapping ebbed, Chase continued. “I would like to start by thanking those of you who have come here tonight as participants. I’m sure it must be a bit nerve wracking signing up to play a game where you don’t know exactly who you’ll be playing with or even what activities you’ll be asked to participate in.”
She tried to pay attention to his words, but she was too nervous. Bits and pieces of his instructions of when to come forward and how to roll got through, but the majority of her attention was on the group of men gathered at the other set of stairs, trying to read them.
One of the dominants she was watching called out, “What about time for aftercare? Do we have any time between scenes for that?”
She liked that he was concerned for the submissive’s safety and made a mental note to be relieved if he rolled her as his partner.
Too soon, Chase called the men to the stage, motioning for them to join him via the stairs. Her heart rate went up with each minute that passed as her ex-boyfriend had the men first line up and then draw numbers to decide the order of the game.
She had a better look at the dominants now that they were in the light. She quickly put the men into three categories with River Trubach from the Crushing Stones and a handsome guy who looked a bit like a Greek god in her most hopeful play-partner pile. The vast majority of the men she couldn’t tell enough to know which end of the continuum they belonged in, but there were two men who absolutely scared the shit out of her. They didn’t break a smile. They didn’t look nervous. They simply looked like predators.
The scariest of them had actually started staring at her as if she would be his next meal. She made up her mind to safeword immediately if the wheel was cruel enough to pair them together.
“Alright, then. Let’s begin. Would the dominant with number one step forward?” Mr. Greek-god himself stepped forward. Khloe wasn’t crazy about the idea of being chosen first, but she held her breath, hoping Chase would call out ‘The Princess’ when the ball stopped on the wheel. She exhaled in disappointment when he announced, “Marty, the wheel has chosen you.”
The tallest among them separated herself from the women and started towards the stairs.
It’s okay. There are plenty others left for you.
Her hope renewed when River jumped forward to take the second roll of the night. When the wheel chose Daddy’s Girl instead of Princess, a real panic started to settle into Khloe’s chest. She forced herself to take deep breaths to stay calm.
Her resolve went out the window the second the scariest looking guy on the stage stepped forward to roll third. As he moved into the direct spotlight, she caught a glimpse of his steely eyes staring directly at her. His hair was cut short and the streaks of silver at his temples gave him a distinguished and authoritative aura.
Chase called him Mr. Helms as he thrust the marble into the Dom’s hand, giving the wheel a spin. Time seemed to stand still, until Chase started looking through the group of women, searching for someone. Her heart lurched when his gaze stopped on her. There was a buzz in her ears almost preventing her from hearing his announcement. “Mr. Helms has rolled The Princess.”
Khloe panicked. There had to be a mistake. She turned to the othe
r women, glancing around in shock. “Oh, come on. Surely one of you put The Princess as your name too, right? I mean, he couldn’t have rolled me. He just… couldn’t… have…” Her voice trailed off when it was clear every woman was staring at her with relief in their eyes that they hadn’t drawn the guy who could win the ‘scariest dom’ award for the night.
“I’d get on up here now, if you know what’s good for you, Miss Monroe.” His authoritative voice carried easily across the space between them, sounding as uncompromising as he looked.
She spun to face him, anger flaring. “Hey! He can’t use my real name!” she protested.
Chase sent him a dirty look, but didn’t come to her defense. She shot him a look that could kill a lesser man, shaking her head in disbelief, as she stood grounded, refusing to move forward.
The word ‘red’ sat at the end of her tongue, ready to fly out of her mouth. Before she used it, she instead demanded they re-roll to choose another submissive for the Dom. Chase shook his head apologetically, refusing to accommodate her wish.
When Mr. Helms stalked towards to the stairs as if he were going to drag her up on the stage with force, her feet finally moved. Khloe spun and started racing towards the exit, which was easier said than done. Cocktail tables full of spectators were in the walkway, slowing her down. She heard the commotion behind her and knew instinctively he was chasing after her. In a brief moment of clarity, she felt like Little Red Riding Hood, being chased by the big bad wolf through the dense woods.
She didn’t even make it half way to the door before muscular arms snatched her. One arm wrapped around her waist, yanking her to an abrupt stop. His other hand jammed into her long hair, snapping her head back so far it hurt. He squeezed her so hard that the last pockets of air left her, leaving her gasping while he ground his hips against her lower back, pressing his steely erection against her so hard she couldn’t have ignored it if she tried.
She’d expected him to yell at her, but he instead placed his lips against the shell of her left ear, his gravelly voice low enough for her ears only. “You’re not getting away from me, Miss Monroe. I won you fair and square. You may not know me, but believe me when I tell you you’ll be glad we met in three hours. I may not know why you’re here yet, but I’m gonna make it my mission to find out and give you exactly what you need before you leave here tonight.” He paused, releasing her slightly. “Take a deep breath.” When she didn’t comply he barked. “Now.”