Forbidden (7 page)

His smile grew and he shook his head. “If I get my way, I might make it come true tonight.”

Curiosity filled her. “What is it?”

“You’ll just have to wait and see.”

Austin couldn’t fucking believe what Michaela had said. He still couldn’t believe it and that had been over an hour ago. She was in the shower, she’d offered for him to join her but he’d declined, claiming he had a phone call to make.

The excited light in her eyes when he’d said that had been unmistakable. He had a feeling she thought he might be calling Brad or whoever to arrange her just admitted darkest fantasy.

Shit. He didn’t think so. He couldn’t imagine having a threesome with another man and Michaela. What if the other man wanted to go down on her or worse, fuck her? Just the thought of it made him feel a little sick to his stomach.

You’re jealous. You want her all to yourself, you greedy bastard.

He couldn’t deny that. He did want her all to himself. With Michaela, he felt like he’d uncovered a hidden stone, polished it up and it was now shining like a diamond. His precious treasure he’d found, that’s what Michaela was.

But he’d seen it on her face, in her eyes. She’d meant every word she said. She wanted to watch him with another man. She wanted to participate too.

Jesus. He ran his hands over his eyes, pressed his palms hard against his brow. He’d been in threesomes before, a couple of times with all men, once just him and two women and a few times with another guy and a woman.

He’d enjoyed all of them. As a friend said once—a mouth is a mouth, a hole is a hole. And damn if that wasn’t the truth when you’re a horny bastard looking to fuck whatever stood in your way.

But he wasn’t that horny bastard anymore. Well, he was but for only one person. Michaela.

If someone had asked him three years ago if he believed he would feel serious about someone of the female variety he would’ve laughed in his face. Hell, three years ago he hadn’t even believed in serious commitment, let alone that he’d be interested in a woman. That was during his male slut phase. When he acted like the biggest man whore alive, flirting with every attractive man he ran across and bedding almost every one of them as well.

Then he’d met Brad. And he’d tried to work it out with him, he really had. They’d realized they were better as friends versus an actual relationship, with occasional benefits on the side.

Earlier Brad had called looking for those benefits, he hadn’t been lying to Michaela. The surprise in Brad’s voice when Austin told him they already had plans had been evident.

“You finally bagged her, hmm? Took you long enough.”

That had been it from Brad, thankfully. Austin expected a stronger reaction but he wasn’t complaining.

He wondered what Brad would say if he asked him to perform with him, so to speak, in front of Michaela. With the possibility she might join in. Would he be up for it? Austin knew for a fact Brad had never even had sex with a woman so that might make him the ideal candidate.

Meaning he would have no interest whatsoever in fucking Michaela which would leave her all to Austin.

Austin rubbed the back of his head. Yep, he was a selfish bastard. If he planned this right, it could work out for the both of them. She would get what she wanted, and he would get what he wanted.

But first, he needed to focus on his plans for tonight.

Chapter Seven

“I’m going to stand out, don’t you think?” Michaela smoothed a hand over her hair. “Of course, you won’t even tell me where we’re going so I have no clue if I’m going to stand out or not.”

The irritation in her voice made Austin smile, and he parked the car in the large downtown parking lot. “You’re definitely going to stand out. That was the reasoning behind your outfit.”

She wore a white silky knit halter dress that was the sexiest thing he could find in her closet. He had no clue where she had worn it before or for whom but he considered himself lucky to see her in it tonight.

The neckline was embellished with clear stones, as was the band of trim that rested just beneath her breasts. It had a cut out between her breasts as well as on the sides and her entire back was bare. The white only emphasized her peachy golden skin, the short skirt showed off the long length of her sexy legs. Scarlett had come over and made her up with pale, iridescent colors, using a heavy hand on her eyes. Her cheeks were flushed pink, her lips matching, and he thought she looked like an angel set out for a night of sin.

The exact look he’d been hoping for.

They exited the car and he took her hand, clasping it tight in his as they walked across the lot and toward the row of buildings in the distance. The lot was half full, the sidewalk abandoned, and she glanced about curiously, drinking everything in.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked for what felt like the fiftieth time.

He lifted their linked hands and kissed the back of hers. “You’ll see. We’re almost there.”

She looked like she wanted to squirm. She hated surprises, she always had and he was torturing her on purpose. He wanted to keep her on edge, keep her guessing. It added a certain sense of anticipation to the night.

“You look like the devil and here I am in all white.” The tone of her voice caused him to glance at her, and he saw the nervousness on her face. She looked uncomfortable, uncertain, and he didn’t want that. He didn’t understand why she was such a bundle of nerves, though. Didn’t she trust him to take care of her no matter what?

“Why do you say that?”

“You’re dressed completely in black and with your black hair, the way you tower over me, I don’t know.” She shook her head, a little smile curling her lips. “You look like you’re taking me to the lion’s den to corrupt me.”

“You don’t know how close your description is.” He stopped in front of a nondescript three-story building, the lights within the windows dim, the double doors huge and painted blood red. “We’re here.”

There was no sign indicating what lay within, no people hanging out in front, no indication whatsoever that it was a place of business, and Michaela tilted her head back, taking it all in. “What is it?”

He yanked her close so he could whisper in her ear. “It’s called Tom’s.”

She turned to look at him, a smirk on her face. “Sounds classy.”

He chuckled. “It is. It’s called Tom’s as in peeping. Get it?”

Realization dawned on her face. “Like peep shows?”

“Close. More like a voyeuristic club.”

Her delicate brows drew together in that look she got when she was a little confused. “What do you mean?”

“Let’s put it this way. There are the watchers and then there are the doers.” He leaned in closer, breathing in her scent, his lips touching her soft earlobe. “And I know how much you like to watch.”

“So we watch people, uh, do stuff?” She shivered.

“Uh, huh.” He squeezed her hand. “What do you think?”

“I think it’s crazy that you even know about this place.”

He shrugged. “I’ve never been here. A friend of mine told me about it.”

“Who?”

“You’ll never guess.”

“Brad?”

“Hell, no.” He moved away from her with a grimace. “Scarlett.”

Michaela’s mouth dropped open. “Scarlett? Really? Does she come here?”

“Yeah, though not as much lately.”

“Is she a, um, doer or a watcher?”

“I think she’s both.”

“Oh.” She shook her head as they started walking toward the double doors. “Wow. I’m surprised.”

“You shouldn’t be. You’re a watcher, too, you know.”

A pretty blush stained her cheeks. He loved that one moment she looked like a sweet innocent and the next he could have her begging for his cock. Such a contradiction. “You make me feel like a pervert.”

“Baby, I love your perverted ways.” He kissed her, a quick one, just to have that connection, and then he opened the door, allowing her to walk in before him.

The lobby was dark, dimly lit and the walls were covered in dark red, flocked velvet wallpaper. A tall man dressed in a tuxedo stood behind a counter, his expression neutral, almost bored. As they drew closer, Austin realized the guy’s tux looked straight out of the seventies with the big lapels and the powder blue ruffled shirt.

Bizarre.

“May I help you?” The man smiled though it didn’t reach his eyes, and Austin wondered how long it took to work there for a person to look so damn jaded.

“We’re here to see Tom.” That was the code term—Scarlett had given it to him when he called her earlier—and the man nodded, flipping open a black leather bound notebook.

“Stand or deliver?”

“Excuse me?”

The man rolled his eyes, the disdain on his face clear. “Will you be
standing
to watch the entertainment or will you be
delivering
it?”

Wasn’t that clever? “Standing.”

“Two stands.” The man jotted it down in his notebook, his gaze flicking from Austin to Michaela and then back to Austin. “You two make a pretty couple.”

“Thanks.” Austin really didn’t know what to say, and he noticed that Michaela was completely silent. He reached into his back pocket to pull out his wallet.

“Pretty enough to deliver sometime, if you get my drift.” With a smile, the man snapped his notebook shut. “First time here, I take it?”

Austin and Michaela both nodded and Austin reached across the top of the counter, handing the man a wad of cash. The man took it with a smile, his fingers tracing Austin’s palm.

They were barely in the place, and he was already getting hit on.

“You can stare all you want but you can’t participate unless you’re invited to, with the exception of the staged performers. If they’re up on a stage or even a dais, you’re not allowed to join them, no exceptions. Keep it clean. No chatting while observing, it’s rude. If you must, touch yourself or touch each other.” The man gave a little shudder. Drama queen all the way. “Please do so discreetly. It’s allowed, but we don’t want to see anything too blatant. That’s what the deliverers are for.”

“Okay.” Austin nodded again, as did Michaela. The rules were pretty straightforward.

“There are condoms everywhere. Please use them. There is nothing worse than unsafe sex.” The man wagged his finger at them like a strict schoolteacher, then straightened his too large black bowtie. It nudged against his Adam’s apple it was so tall. “And if you’re going to use those condoms, please do so in the designated rooms. No sex in the halls allowed.”

Strict place, Austin thought as the man walked them to a closed door on the opposite side of the lobby. He’d been to a few sex clubs before and they usually allowed sex in the halls. That was the point.

“Enjoy your evening.” The man turned the door handle, holding the door open for them. “And remember,” he said just as Austin passed him. “Anytime you’re interested in delivering, you just let me know.”

The door closed behind them with a final clang, the darkness embracing them, and Austin reached for Michaela’s hand again, guiding her through the narrow hallway until they entered what appeared to be the main room.

It was an open floor plan, the room large, the ceilings tall, and he glanced up, saw that the second floor balcony was visible above, as was the third. The layout of the building was designed as a circle with rooms surrounding the main floor. A tall, round stage was in the center of the room and it wasn’t empty.

A red velvet couch sat in the middle of the stage, and a couple wrapped around each other perched upon it. They were engrossed in a passionate kiss, their naked bodies entwined, hands everywhere, legs everywhere, the sound of their lips connecting echoing throughout the room.

Austin figured there was a mic on the couple so that everyone could hear them. They were attractive, the woman curvier than Michaela, the man very tall, very thin and very white. His hair was almost black, the thick hair on his chest just as dark, and the woman’s hand slid across the expanse, her fingers sinking into the curling hair.

Michaela stopped to watch, her entire body tense, and Austin released her hand to slip his arm around her shoulders. His fingers met bare, smooth skin and he stroked her there, already wishing he had her alone so he could give her the full attention she deserved.

“You like?”

She shook her head, wrinkling her nose. “They really don’t appeal to me.”

“Let’s wander around then.” Scarlett told him it was a place that had sexy little secrets hidden everywhere. Every room had a couple or multiple people inside putting on some sort of show. The rooms on the third floor were private, for those who couldn’t stand it any longer and needed to get away to fuck.

Austin hoped they’d visit those rooms before the night was finished.

Michaela couldn’t believe Austin had brought her to this club. She knew he’d been up to something, but she hadn’t imagined the something would be
this
.

She should be scandalized, if she was normal. But she wasn’t. She was thrilled, excited to be in such a place. It was like nothing she’d ever seen before and not what she expected from a sex club either.

Since she had no experience with a sex club she really didn’t know what to expect, but she’d watched a few movies, ahem, porn, and she’d read some books. She expected Tom’s to be a little dirtier, more blatant, the sounds of various people in the throes of sexual acts to be echoing throughout the building.

With the exception of the couple on the stage going at it when they’d first entered, she saw no evidence of sex whatsoever. Sensual music played in the background and the air was cool as it breezed against her bare skin. The lighting was low and warm, casting a golden hue within, and the same red wallpaper that lined the lobby covered these walls, making the place seem smaller, more intimate.

It reminded her of what a bordello would look like with the red and the many rooms. Curiosity made her want to explore and they wandered around as Austin suggested, passing both couples and singles doing the same thing.

Most of the men cast her appreciative glances, which made her look away in embarrassment. She hadn’t worn the white dress in a long time. It had been a gift from a former boyfriend and she’d only worn it once for him. It wasn’t her style, too flashy, too risqué, and she felt exposed with so much flesh showing.

Austin certainly seemed to enjoy it though. He was constantly touching her, his large hand splayed across her bare back, his fingers sliding lower as they walked past door after door. She slid a glance back at him, saw the way his lids were heavy, his full mouth curved in a secret smile.

 Oh, how she loved that smile. The innocent boyish charm mixed with the dominant, sexy man was such a turn on. The shirt he wore was black and tight, stretched across his broad shoulders and wide chest, and she realized he was earning more than his share of interested glances as well.

Pride surged through her, nearly overwhelming in its intensity, and she wanted to shout to every single person in the room that this man was hers and no one else’s.

He’s not really yours, the evil little voice inside her head whispered. You two are just fucking around—literally. When the novelty wears off, he’ll find someone else—like another man. Just watch.

She remembered what he’d said to her earlier, how he called her his. It made no sense. They’d been having sex for what, twenty-four hours? But they’d known each other for over a year, she considered Austin one of her closest friends.

It wouldn’t take much to tip her right over the edge and fall in love with him. Especially since he seemed to take pleasure in every one of her kinks that turned off past lovers.

Sobering thought. One she didn’t want to dwell on tonight when she was walking around a voyeur club watching strangers have sex.

She recalled the instructions from the man who had first greeted them. Would Austin want to participate? If a couple invited them to join in, would he be interested? Would she?

Oh, she was sick enough to consider it a possibility.

A woman sashayed in front of them, her butt twitching with her every step. She wore a knee-length black pencil skirt and black fishnet stockings and had an alluring walk, one even Michaela couldn’t help but watch, and she suddenly heard Austin suck in a startled breath.

“Scarlett?”

The woman whirled around and it was indeed Scarlett. She looked as shocked as Austin sounded, her painted ruby red lips parting though no sound came out. Her usually wild hair was tucked into a neat French twist, and she wore a crisp white button down shirt though it wasn’t buttoned very much. Michaela caught a rather generous glimpse of a black lacy bra playing peek-a-boo from beneath her shirt.

She seemed to be working the sexy yet stern look quite well. The appreciative stares from various passing men were more than obvious.

“I thought you weren’t coming here anymore,” Austin continued.

Scarlett shrugged, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment. “You caught me. I, uh, thought you two were coming later. I thought you might not build up the nerve to bring her here.”

“Don’t tell me you’re chasing Drake again.” Austin clearly ignored her remark, which Michaela found interesting. Had it really taken a lot for him to bring her to this club? He’d seemed all for it, excited even.

“I heard he’d be here tonight, yeah.”

Michaela watched the exchange with interest. Austin seemed to know so much about Scarlett’s love life. She knew they were friends but she didn’t realize they were that close.

Austin shook his head and drew Michaela closer to him. “Are you standing or delivering tonight?”