Chapter 5

I hit Save on my midterm project, then closed it so I could focus on the evening ahead.

I’d designed a social media marketing campaign for coloring books, just like I’d promised.

Except with a little twist.

I’d decided to make them adult coloring books instead of children’s coloring books.

That probably took away a few maturity points, but I no longer cared. Not after the way Pierce had spoken to me on Monday after class.

He’d been astonished that I might be having sex. What the hell did he expect? A twenty-two-year-old virgin?

Oh, wait, but he saw me as twelve years old. So of course he thought I was untouched.

I rolled my eyes for the millionth time this week and shoved my computer away. I only had one other midterm assignment to wrap up, which was on my agenda for tomorrow. Then I would submit all my projects and have a relaxing week of no classes.

Tonight, however, was reserved for sin.

My roommate, Adalyn, had scored tickets to a masquerade party tonight, one that involved strong erotic undertones, which was exactly what my “virgin body” needed to blow off some steam.

It was at a sex club that she enjoyed. I’d never been, but I understood enough about it to know it was the perfect place to find a man who would take my mind off of Logan Pierce for a night. Or at least a scene to observe and distract myself from thoughts of him, anyway.

Adalyn was sexually explorative by nature. And a submissive.

I knew enough about her lifestyle to know it intrigued me.

And tonight, she was inviting me into her world as a spectator.

She belonged to the sex club we were heading to, which was how she’d acquired the masquerade tickets. Apparently, members were allowed to bring a guest tonight. Which meant a lot of the activities would be more restricted than normal since outsiders would be wandering around.

I didn’t know a lot about what that meant, but Adalyn had said it would provide me with a healthy introduction without overwhelming me.

As this seemed like a good way to kick off Operation Forget Pierce, I’d agreed.

It was that or call Carver and ask for his help to distract me.

Which would never actually happen. While Carver and I liked to flirt, we were just friends. Something we’d agreed on ages ago after trying and failing to go on a date together.

Of course, that didn’t stop him from teasing me about going on a second one.

But whenever we actually went out, it was as friends.

Yet, apparently, I wore that dress for him in class, I thought sourly, recalling Pierce’s words from the other night. Asshole.

Shoving him from my mind, I started the ritual of preparing myself for a night out.

Shower.

Shaving.

Blow-drying my hair.

Trading my glasses for my contacts.

Light makeup.

Barely there lingerie.

A pair of lacy, elbow-length gloves to match the lingerie beneath.

Flirty black dress—not the same one from my presentation, although the temptation to wear it in spite of Pierce was absolutely there—and strappy black heels.

Fortunately, I wouldn’t be outside for long, as I was absolutely going to freeze in this.

Adalyn met me in our shared living area, her curvy figure dressed similarly to mine. She was about four inches shorter than me, though. Something she compensated for with her killer shoes. Which meant we’d be the same height if I traded my heels for flats.

“I don’t know how you walk in those,” I said, eyeing her feet. “Anything over three inches is dangerous.”

She grinned, her teeth a perfect slash of white set against her olive skin. “I personally prefer eight or nine.”

It took me a second to follow her dirty mind, my laugh leaving me on a puff of air. “I’m sure you’ll find a few tonight that meet that requirement.”

She shrugged. “We’ll see. But I’m more interested in what they can do with their hands and tongues.” She waggled her brows suggestively. Then she handed me a black mask with crystal-like beads embedded into the rim. “This says you’re a visiting submissive so that the Doms in attendance know to go easy on you.”

I wasn’t sure how I felt about the term submissive, but it was the latter part of her statement that gave me pause.

“Go easy on me,” I repeated. “Meaning?”

“Meaning no one will touch you without a lot of conversation first. It’s a good place to explore. Or, you can just watch.” Her dark gaze met and held mine. “I won’t leave you unattended unless you ask me to. And if you’re uncomfortable, we can go.”

I nodded, trusting her.

She visited this club almost every weekend, and she’d invited me to attend a few times as her guest.

This was the first time I’d agreed, mostly because I needed something new in my life. A way to move on. An experience to chase away my past.

Because nothing I’d tried in the last few years had worked.

So why not try this?

“All right,” I said, taking the mask from her. “What color are you wearing?”

She pulled a black mask with red jewels from her bag. “This says I’m a member looking for a playmate. Yellow stones say you’re a member, but not yet ready to play. And black ones mean you’re a member and already taken.”

“What do the Doms wear?” I wondered aloud as she started toward the door.

“The Doms and Dommes won’t be in masks,” she said. “Most of them will be in suits, too.” She paused in the foyer, glancing back at me. “You may see a few submissives with collars as well. That means they’re into Master/slave play. If there’s a lock around their throat, they’re taken. If the lock is unfastened, they’re open.”

I swallowed. “Oh.”

Her dark eyes sparkled. “You’re about to enter a whole new world, Jen. And something tells me you may never want to leave it.”

“I’m glad you’re confident,” I said dryly, following her through the door and into the hallway. We both had little clutch purses for our money and keys. I slipped my mask inside mine, not wanting to wear it until we reached the club.

Adalyn’s long black hair swished along her back as she walked, the delicate strands having been pulled back into a ponytail.

I idly wondered if I should have done the same, but I preferred wearing my hair down, as it barely touched my shoulders.

A car waited for us outside, the ride one Adalyn had arranged. I slid onto the leather back seat beside her and listened as she made small talk with the driver.

She was always the outgoing one in our duo.

I didn’t mind speaking in groups, but I often preferred to stand on the sidelines and observe. Something told me tonight would be no exception.

The ride to the club was about twenty minutes, the area of Portland familiar to me as I exited the car. There was a donut shop around the corner that I liked and a bar I’d been to with Adalyn several times.

Which now made sense.

She would meet me there and come here afterward.

Although, she didn’t typically dress like this to go to the bar.

Maybe she took a change of clothes with her in her bag or something?

“We’ll start with a tour,” she told me as we ascended a set of stone stairs toward an unassuming door. It was so quick that I barely felt the cool air. Or maybe I was just too warm with excitement and nerves to sense the evening chill.

A pair of security guards opened the door before we could reach the handle, one of them greeting Adalyn by name. She smiled at him. “Hey, Gavin.”

His light eyes moved to me, his expression kind. “I see you brought a guest.”

“I did. This is Jen.” She always called me Jen instead of Jenica, something that didn’t bother me. Especially tonight, as it gave me some anonymity to stand behind a version of my name. “I’ve already given her a mask.”

I pulled it from my purse to show him, just in case.

He nodded. “Just need to check ID.”

Adalyn handed over her driver’s license, and I did the same with mine.

He reviewed them with a nod and handed them back to us with a pair of bracelets. They weren’t the standard plastic ones provided by a typical nightclub, but delicate silver chains with heart-shaped crystal charms hanging from the middle. I put mine on over my lacy gloves.

“Have a good night, ladies,” Gavin said. “And make sure you brief her on the rules, Adalyn.”

“Of course,” she replied, her tone playful.

“The real rules, Adalyn. Not everyone is a bratty sub.”

She feigned shock at that. “I would never break rules.”

“Hmm,” he hummed, causing his buddy to chuckle.

I glanced between them, but Adalyn was already pulling me inside before I could ask for whatever story lurked between them.

Bratty subseemed like a good way to define Adalyn. I only knew of her submissive tendencies because she’d shared some of them with me. Not in a seductive sort of a way, but in a confiding one. She’d been afraid of what some of her desires had meant at first—such as the fact that she enjoyed being spanked—and she’d asked me if I ever had similar yearnings.

I hadn’t been able to answer her because I didn’t really know.

The notion of Pierce bending me over and smacking my ass sounded enjoyable. But I couldn’t really think of anyone else I’d allow to do that.

Hell, I wasn’t even sure I’d let him do it.

Especially not after the last few weeks.

“Stop scowling,” Adalyn chastised. “Tonight is Operation Forget Pierce, right?”

She knew all about Pierce and my pining obsession and how badly taking his class had backfired. I’d told Pierce that no one in the course knew about him. What I hadn’t mentioned was how much I’d told Adalyn about him.

She was one of my closest friends at Mason U.

Naturally, she knew about my childhood crush.

And how I’d enrolled in his course with the hopes of proving myself to him.

What a great plan that was,I muttered to myself.

“Hey!” Adalyn snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Earth to Jen.”

I blinked at her.

“Operation Forget the Douche,” she said slowly. “Remember?”

“Yeah.” I shook my head trying to clear it. “Forget the Douche.”

“Exactly.” She grinned. “Now put on your mask unless you want to be mistaken for a Domme.”

My nose scrunched. The notion of making a male submit to me didn’t really appeal.

Except for maybe—

No. Not thinking about him again.

And even if I was, the notion of him submitting was laughable.

Logan Pierce did not seem like—

Stop.

I cleared my throat and donned my mask, deciding that tonight was about being Jen. Jen didn’t have a crush on anyone. Jen just wanted to have fun. Jen was curious about this world of submission and wanted to learn more. Jen needed some orgasms.

“That’s my girl,” Adalyn murmured, sliding on her own mask. “Let’s explore.”