17. Rosa

Istared at the elegant invitation in my hands and frowned.

Reading it for the millionth time didn't help understand what the hell was going on.

I had been slightly taken back at the size of the box that had been sitting on the ground next to the couch that had a pull-out bed.

I'd been invited to one of the most exclusive sex clubs in the city. Club Sin was whispered about here and there. I'd heard about it during a girls" wine night my sister had invited me to when I first moved in. I had never actually met anyone who had been, but I'd looked up their website, and it turned out the rumored place was real.

Very real.I looked up at the building. It didn't look like a sex club from the outside. I had no idea what had come over me.

After taking a shower, helping my sister load the car, kissing my little monkeys goodbye, and making Elena promise she would text and send pics, I headed back inside.

When I had opened the box and seen the invitation inside and what was under it, my hands were shaking. I tugged on the coat I had on despite the warm summer temps that lingered in the night air.

Join us in Room One-Fourteen for a night none of us will ever forget. Let us take care of you and make your darkest fantasies come true.

The typed-out message had been short and concise.

Leaving nothing and everything to my imagination.

I had tossed and turned all night, and when I finally fell asleep, it was only to dream about the men I was pretty sure had sent the invite. But what if it wasn't from Jett, Casey, and Mal?

What if it was some weirdo or weirdos who had somehow hacked my search history when I watched porn from my phone in the privacy of my own bedroom? Who cares what you watch? a voice whispered, Go find out who it is! it urged.

I bravely took a step forward and then another until I found myself knocking at the side entrance the invitation had instructed me to go. The dark heavy-looking door creaked open, and I was surprised to find a pretty woman with a welcoming smile standing on the other side.

"Hi. You must be Room one-fourteen?"

"I am. How did you?—"

"I'm paid to know." She winked. "Come in."

I stepped forward and again was surprised to see myself stepping right into what looked like the woman's office. "First time, right?" she asked, making small talk. I cleared my throat.

"Am I that obvious?"

"No and yes," she teased cheerfully. "But don't worry. Cub Sin is safe, and if you change your mind about the whole thing, all you have to do is say so. Here, how about you take a seat?" She pointed at the empty chair across from her desk. "Did you bring everything the invitation asked for?"

"Umm, yes." I handed her the forms I had filled out. When I had seen them, I was positive I wouldn't, but then I found myself getting it all together before bed just in case I changed my mind.

"Thank you." She typed away at the computer and then checked my paperwork. "Everything looks great. Your hosts wanted me to give you this." She handed me another card. It was made from the same expensive-looking cardstock as the invitation. My hands shook when I grabbed it, and I had to swipe my sweaty palms against my coat-covered thigh.

"At anytime, if you don't feel comfortable, you have a safe word. It's on the card," she informed me. "I was told to instruct you to never hesitate to say it. You can use it as a way to slow things down, take a breather, or stop them completely."

"Okay." Holy shit. I just said okay to a safe word.

I was really doing this.

I was really about to walk into a sex club and meet someone or a couple of someones who might or might not be the bosses I was in love with.

"Alright." She smiled. "Do you want me to take your coat?" She stood up and extended her hand.

"Umm, what?"

"Your coat? I promise it will get back to your hosts long before you are done with your session," she reassured me. I swallowed.

"Session?"

"Playtime?" she corrected. My face felt so hot it could fry an egg. Wow, okay, I was actually doing this. Walking into a sex club, well, I'd done that, but heading inside where everything happened?

"Right." I stood up and carefully pulled the coat off my body. The cool air-conditioned air brushed against my overheated skin, and I shivered.

The box had included everything I wore. The instructions on the invitation had been clear. To wear what was in the box and only that. Which for some asinine reason I'd done. I'd talked myself in and out of it all night, but when morning came, I knew what I was going to do.

I'd showered first thing and had done my hair and makeup. Then I'd tried on the lingerie that had been sent. The expensive set felt like it had somehow been made to my exact measurements. It was soft and comfortable and ridiculously sexy. The sheer dotted top held my breasts, making them seem perkier. The sheer black material fell down my body like a very short babydoll dress.

The waiting for the rest of the day had been terrible.

The moment the clock struck seven, I called the number on the card to let my driver know I was ready. It has to be them, a voice whispered. I wasn't sure I knew anyone else who could afford to go to the measures they had.

The woman in front of me was unfazed by the way I was dressed as she took my coat. She walked to another door, one I guessed led out to the club, and stopped. "There is one more thing, and I'm sorry but…"

"What?" When she pulled out a blindfold, my lips parted.

They knew.

Somehow, they knew.

They had to.

"Your hosts would like for you to put this on, and I will lead the way to your room."

"Oh." I pressed my lips together. I was doing this. I was really going to do this. "Okay," I heard myself say. The woman put the blindfold on me and held my hand.

Darkness surrounded me. I hated the dark, but I pushed through the fear. The music and temperatures changed as we walked through the place. My mind ran wild from the sounds I heard. Gasps and moans. Soft deliciously dirty whispers. I could only imagine the writhing bodies I passed, the way they looked at me like I was a lamb being taken to be sacrificed.

Suddenly, the woman stopped, and she opened a door. "Almost there," she said softly, and I followed her.

Whatever space we entered was colder than the one we'd been in. Quieter, too. But then that changed. The sound of rain started, and I shivered. I opened my mouth to ask something, I just wasn't sure what, when she tapped my arm.

"What is your safe word?"

"Bowtie," I whispered.

"Good." I could hear the smile in her voice. "Don't forget, you can use it at anytime. And have a good time." Her hand left my arm, and I stood there. My ears strained to hear something. I heard her whispered voice say thank you before a door shut behind her. I had no idea how I knew that, but I did.

Just like I knew I wasn't alone in that room.