by John Corwin
I watched the vehicle vanish into traffic. "I wonder what is going through his mind right now."
"Probably finding a parking space." Tyler took my hand. "Shall we begin?"
Steeling myself with a deep breath, I nodded. It's for a worthy cause. "I'm ready."
We stepped inside.
I expected a dingy, smelly room filled with whips and chains to greet me. Instead, I faced a well-lit shop with white walls, glass shelves, and a sterile feel. Indeed, there was a wall displaying a variety of whips, and shelves with every size vibrator and dildo I could imagine, plus some designs that boggled the mind. A young couple cast furtive looks at us as if they didn't wish to be seen in such a place.
Tyler stopped next to a normal sized vibrator. "Hmm, we should get some toys to play with."
I smiled sweetly. "I already have a shoebox full of them. Would you like me to demonstrate their use sometime?"
He paused, mouth open in a priceless look.
"Tyler, dear, you look positively ready to drool if you don't close your mouth."
He barked a laugh, which sent the young couple in the lube section jumping back as if a ghost had appeared. That only made him laugh louder.
I jerked on his sleeve and murmured, "You're scaring the other shoppers."
We made our way to the back where an assortment of questionable attire hung from racks. Tyler mused over a fishnet bodysuit.
"Don't even think about it," I warned. "I will not display my lady parts for everyone to see."
"I was thinking about it for home."
This brought a warm flush to my face. "Perhaps after I've had several drinks."
He ran a finger over the material. "That won't be a problem." Tyler rubbed his hands together. "For tonight, I think something like this would work." A leather dress seemed to have caught his attention.
I held it up to myself and grimaced at the length. "It barely comes down to my thighs."
He winked. "That's the point."
I removed a larger version of the same dress from the rack, but its length still left something to be desired. The rest of the "clothing" was made of similar material—leather or a disgusting rubber-like substance. We browsed for a while longer and finally settled on a leather skirt and matching top with buttons and a collar. I wasn't delighted, but at least the skirt came down a little above my knees.
Tyler chose tight pants, a shirt of the same material, and a ridiculous pair of large, tinted glasses. "To disguise my face," he explained. "She might have my description."
"Just as long as I don't have to wear a pair." I examined the pants. "Hmm, I thought the buttless chaps were far more becoming on you."
"If you'd like—"
I cut off the thought with a firm look. "I will not have your well-defined ass hanging in the breeze for all to see."
On the way out, he stopped by plastic-wrapped packages of anal plugs. I grabbed his arm and showed him firmly to the cashier.
"Those would require considerably more than alcohol for me to consider."
Tyler chuckled. "Wait, one more thing." He went to the wall of whips and chose a leather one. "Can't have a master without one of these."
"You are the master, I presume?"
He shrugged. "We'll figure that out."
We paid for the merchandise and hid the dreadful items in a brown bag. I did not want Joe to see them. As we climbed into the SUV, I received a text from Isabel.
Can't wait to see you for drinks tonight!
I put a hand to my forehead and showed Tyler the text. "I completely forgot. Do you think we can drop by and visit them for a bit?"
Tyler checked his watch. "Sure. Things won't get lively at the club until later anyway."
I didn't want to consider what lively entailed, but visions of leather-clad people whipping bound companions still flashed through my mind.
We went to Tyler's place, ate, and then had Joe drop us at Gronsky's, Isabel's and my favorite bar. A cold chill shivered up my spine as we walked past the alley where a vampire by the name of Stephen had assaulted Isabel and me.
Tyler seemed to know what I was thinking and rubbed my arm. "He's a mortal now. Won't be hurting anyone else."
"A man like that could still do harm."
"He's probably sitting home in his underwear, eating cheesy poofs and regretting the day he ever met you."
I pressed my head to his chest. "I certainly hope so. May he grow fat and bald so no other woman has to deal with his disgusting ass."
Isabel and Jack waved from the bar when we entered. The sight of her so happy melted my fears in a warm wave of joy. I rushed over and gave her a hug.
"So good to see you, Iz!"
She giggled. "Someone's missed me."
"Very much so." I leaned away and looked her over. She positively glowed. "Things are going well, I see."
"Jack is the best." She leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially in my ear. "Just don't tell him I said so."
"Too late," he said with a smile. He shook Tyler's hand. "Any progress on our business trouble?"
Tyler waved away the topic. "Let's save that talk for work. I just want to relax."
"You got my vote on that."
I decided now was a good time to indulge in enough alcohol to soften my inhibitions about the adventurous night ahead. My fears were something of a mystery even to me. I wasn't a complete prude when it came to sex, nor was I a stranger to pornography. During the last few months of our relationship, my ex-fiancé, Peter, had convinced me to watch such videos while we had sex.
At first, I hadn't minded, until the videos grew more disturbing—some of them filled with fake violence. I'd put a stop to his new fetish, or so I'd thought. Then I'd discovered a hidden stash of sex videos he'd made with other women, some of them recorded while we were still together.
And yet, the foundation of my anxiety about the sex clubs had nothing to do with the negative associations of the past. I simply felt embarrassed about the ordeal, even it was for a good cause.
"You're not playing around tonight," Isabel said with a laugh as I downed my third shot.
Tyler seemed amused as usual, a smile playing about his lips. "Maybe we should pace ourselves," he said. "We've got work tomorrow."
"Ugh, don't remind me." Isabel threw up her hands. "I used to love my job until they sold out to a mega-corp."
I put my drink down. "You didn't tell me about that."
"It happened while you were on vacay." She sipped her Choco-Lava rum drink. "Some big-wigs visited the office, so I had to give them a tour. Can you believe they didn't even seem to know what we did to make money?"
I bit the inside of my lip and tried to remember. "Website design, right?"
"Yep." Isabel sighed. "I got the strangest feeling they were more interested in talking to me than they were about the company."
"Yeah, because you're hot." Jack winked at her.
"Shush, you." She made a tutting noise. "Everyone knows it's because of my stunning intellect."
I nodded in agreement. "Precisely." My pronunciation was rather slurred and imprecise which was no surprise since I felt very warm, pleasant, and a touch numb.
It didn't escape Isabel's notice. "Em, I'd have to say you just achieved buzz-vana."
"Just a teensy little bit." I pinched my thumb and forefinger together to illustrate and then reached for my glass.
Tyler's hand intercepted mine. He pressed my knuckles to his lips. "Perhaps you'd like some water." He raised a hand and got Alex's attention. "Two waters please."
The bartender had them to us a moment later. "Everyone else good?"
"We're great!" I assured him.
Isabel let me take a couple of sips of water and then took me by the wrist. "Potty break. We'll be back."
Before I could resist, she guided me through the sparse Monday night crowd and to the back hall with the restrooms. She stopped outside and narrowed her eyes suspiciously at me. "Is something wrong between you and Tyler? You don't usu
ally drink like this unless I need to kick someone's ass."
"I love you, sis." I squeezed her tight. "You've always got my back."
She extricated herself from my tight grip. "I love you too, Em. I'm worried, but I can't help if you don't tell me what's going on."
I blew a raspberry with my lips. "Demons."
She raised her eyebrows. "Demons? I thought vampires were the problem."
"Bloody fucking demons." I leaned against the wall. "Tyler's old buddies are back in this world, and we have to track one down tonight." I felt tears coming on and tried to keep them at bay. "Can you believe I have to wear a leather skirt and blouse to a sex club later?"
She snorted and covered her mouth. "You're going to a sex club?"
"It's not funny!"
"Is that where the demon will be?"
A woman exiting the bathroom gave Isabel a strange look.
"Supposedly." My insides knotted again despite the alcohol. "We're going try each place until we find her."
"Well, now your behavior makes complete sense." Isabel pretended to wipe sweat from her forehead. "Whew, I'm glad things are okay with you and Tyler."
"Our relationship is wonderful, but the demons do put a crimp in matters."
Isabel's eyes brightened as if lit by a wonderful idea. "I could buy a leather outfit and come with you."
"No, as a matter of fact, you can't." I crossed my arms and gave her a stern look. "Tyler can protect me, and he needs my ability to track down his infernal acquaintance. You could get seriously hurt if something goes wrong."
"Yes, but—"
"No buts, Iz." I gripped her hand. "Besides, what would Jack think about you going to a sex club?"
"Well, I don't have to tell him."
"Do you really want to keep things from him?"
She shook her head. "No, but I still have to since I can't tell him your and Tyler's secrets."
"Well, keeping that from him is simply a matter of Overworld policy." I was, of course, talking out of my arse, but it seemed the best way to smooth away the double standard that there were some things she had to keep from Jack.
She blew out a breath. "It really pisses me off I can't help you, Em."
"Speaking of piss, I really do have to go now." I pushed open the bathroom door and went inside.
The men didn't seem the least bit surprised by how long it took us to return, and were deep in conversation about the workplace drama. Despite his earlier assertion of staying away from work talk, Tyler seemed to be enjoying the subject.
I checked the time and realized with chagrin it was getting close to ten. "Well, I suppose we have to be going."
Tyler looked at his watch. "Wow, time flies when you're having fun."
"Can we give you a lift back to the apartment building?" I asked Isabel.
She squeezed me in a hug. "No, thanks. I'm staying at Jack's tonight. I haven't been back to the apartment since Friday." She giggled.
I felt my eyes flare with surprise. Staying over the weekend was one thing, but the weeknights were taking it to a whole new level for Isabel. "It would seem we need to brunch again quite soon. My little girl is growing up so fast and I'm just missing out on everything."
"Definitely! Let's do it this weekend, okay?"
"It's a date."
Tyler and I walked the couple to Jack's car. Joe pulled up in the SUV a moment later. Tyler opened the back door for me and slid in. "Home, please, Joe."
"Yes, sir."
Back at the penthouse, we changed into our devilish attire. I slipped on a pair of modest polka-dotted panties, which considerably increased my comfort level. This amused Tyler to no end.
He reached under the skirt and pinched my bottom. "I like the slutty girl next door look you're going for."
I ran a hand over the bulge in his leather pants and felt it swell in response. "I know how sexual conundrums turn you on, dear."
"I want to bend you over—"
"Let me stop you right there and remind you that we're on a schedule tonight, darling."
Tyler chuckled. "Oh, irony, how you wound me."
"Thankfully, blue balls is not a fatal injury." I patted his crotch gently and tried not to giggle at the desperate look on his face. "Perhaps I'll tend to your wound later."
A growl rumbled in his chest. "Oh, I think you'll have to, or I might die."
I slipped into a pair of comfortable flats and picked up the "fuck me" stiletto heels I planned to wear inside the club. "Ready when you are."
He reached into his pants, adjusted himself, and nodded. "Let's be on our way then."
We took the lift to the underground parking garage. Tyler chose a sporty coupe over his Lamborghini.
"Don't want to stick out too much," he told me.
A moment later, we were off in search of a demon.
Chapter 8
My hands trembled as we walked to the back-alley entrance of Bondage, the first club on our list. A pretty, polite girl in a corset stood behind a counter.
"Hello, are you new to Bondage?"
In more ways than one, dear.
"Yep." Tyler flashed a smile.
She gave him a quick glance, but returned her gaze to me. "I'll need you to fill out a membership form." She handed me a tablet with the form on the screen. I knew for a fact I didn't want my real name on such a document, so I entered the name of Jack's ex-girlfriend, Ana and her new sugar daddy, Bernard Paulson, along with the address I remembered from the picture Jack had shown me.
The girl took the tablet from me, her fingers and eyes lingering on me as she did. "You are so pretty."
I gulped and felt very hot all of sudden. "Oh, th-thanks. You're very pretty too."
Tyler shook and broke into a coughing fit.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
He nodded, unable to speak. I suddenly realized he was holding in laughter and rolled my eyes. "I will get you back for this," I whispered.
Tyler paid the membership and entry fees and headed for the entrance to the main part of the club. The girl handed me a slip of paper. When I took it, she leaned over the counter and murmured in my ear. "I can't fuck you when I'm working, but give me a call sometime." She bit my earlobe and moaned. "Mm, you taste so sweet."
I nearly fell over backwards with surprise. "Oh, uh, yes. It must be the bath salts."
She licked her lips and looked me up and down like a hungry wolf. I gripped Tyler's arm for support and let him guide me into the main club. Music throbbed from overhead speakers. There was a small dance floor with an equally small crowd, and a hallway lined with doors.
"She seems really nice," he said in a serious tone. "We should invite her over sometime."
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?"
"Not really." He gave me a fierce kiss. "I don't want to share you with anyone."
I bit his lower lip a little harder than usual and smiled. "Good."
He looked at the hallway. "I guess we should just walk through and see if you pick up on anything."
"That should work well enough." I wanted to get out of this place as quickly as possible. The first room was unoccupied. A bed with vinyl mattress sat in the middle. I made note of the metal bars on the headboard and the pole in the far corner. "I somewhat expected chains hanging from the ceiling, or a colorful array of handcuffs."
"It must be BYOH." He pulled on the footboard. "Sturdy. I guess you could cuff someone to just about anything in here. Maybe use a ball gag and a whip." He smacked the whip he'd brought over the palm of his hand.
I raised an eyebrow. "If anyone is to be whipped tonight, it'll have to be you."
"Fair enough." Tyler winked.
The room across the hallway was empty, and the next two were locked. A whip cracked and someone moaned. We stopped outside an open door and saw a middle-aged man, naked but for a leather thong in his mouth, being flogged by a tall, busty brunette.
"You are my little piglet," she said in a commanding voice.
The man snorted. She w
hipped him again and he squealed like a real pig.
My mouth dropped open and my eyes flared wide. Tyler jerked me from the doorway and led me to a set of stairs. "They probably don't want you staring in open-mouthed horror at them."
"That was horrifying!" I looked back toward the open door. "How absolutely humiliating for that poor man."
"It's a thing, Em. Some people want to be completely dominated." He shrugged. "It's not my cup of tea, that's for sure."
"Nor mine." I shuddered. "I would never be able to dominate someone like that."
We took the stairs down into what could only be described as a dungeon. Every manner of torture device had its place in this room of horrors. I heard moans and cries of pleasure. We walked around a wooden wall lined with leather bindings and encountered a group of people indulging in an orgy on a large padded mat.
Tyler immediately pulled me in for a kiss. His lips brushed my ear. "Don't stare, Em, or if you do, act like you're enjoying it. We don't want to look out of place."
Eyes closed, I pressed my face against his chest and drew in his scent. His presence stabilized me and melted the knot of anxiety. As those feelings faded, another sensation took their place. There was most definitely another supernatural presence in here. Unfortunately, it was not that of a demon.
It took a matter of seconds for me to spot the lovely pale woman riding cowgirl atop an overweight man with more hair than a bear. She cried out in climax and leaned down to kiss the man who seemed absolutely exhausted despite her having done all the work.
Her gaze abruptly flicked to meet mine. I offered her what I hoped was sultry smile. Instead, her head tilted to the side. She slid off the man and walked toward us, her discerning gaze on me. Fear overwhelmed my unease with her unabashed nudity. The last thing I wanted was another fight with a vampire. Tyler had barely been able to fight off Stephen, despite his martial arts training.
The vampire touched Tyler. "As I thought." She took my hand in hers and gave Tyler a severe look. "What brings a possessed into this place?"
The other participants in the orgy seemed too involved in their decadent activities to hear what she said.
"How do you know?" I asked.
Quick as a cat, her head turned to me. "You're aware of this man's true state?"
