Indulgence (Taking Chances #1)

by Jeanne McDonald

  Someone walking along behind us moaned softly. I glanced over my shoulder to catch the sight of a tall, broad shouldered man, dressed in a black tuxedo, eyeing us from behind a masculine black mask. His jet-black hair, peppered with specks of gray, was styled with perfection. His tongue darted out over his smooth lips as he formed a devilish smile. “Please tell me that you two beautiful ladies will make an appearance in the Ménage à trois room tonight?”

  I looked back at Amber. “Ménage à trois?” I mouthed to her in disbelief.

  The corner of her mouth lifted as a mischievous twinkle brightened her eyes. “Threesome,” she whispered.

  Well, duh. As if I didn’t know that already.

  My stomach clenched. A couple of years back, Amber and I may have kissed once, but that was it. We did it on a drunken dare made by Jacoby. It was for a laugh, and after that it was forgotten. It was bad enough that she’d suggested I be eaten out by a girl. Nothing against the lesbian population. There have been many women I thought were fucking hot, but I was the type of girl who wanted a rock hard body and a warm dick to ride. Now this guy was suggesting that I fuck my best friend with him. Yepper, it was time to run.

  Amber slowed her step, allowing the man to join us. “It’s a possibility,” she purred.

  He smirked, brushing up beside her. “Save me a space on your card then.”

  Space on her card. I damn near snorted. What was this? Jane Austen Gone Wild?

  “Gladly,” she agreed, batting her long eyelashes. “I’m Amber and this is Addison.”

  “David,” he said; his voice smooth as silk. His soft lips twitched as he extended his large hand toward Amber. She accepted, only to be greeted by a delicate kiss to the back of her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Yeah, this guy was smooth.

  “That remains to be determined,” Amber flirted.

  I groaned and rolled my eyes, wrapping my silk shawl tighter around me. We were nearly to the door and I couldn’t get inside fast enough. Not only because I was freezing—I was pretty much a popsicle—but also because I hoped we could lose Mr. Smooth Moves.

  “Indeed.” David glanced around Amber and extended his hand to me. “Addison, yes?”

  I reached out, to be greeted with a gentleman's kiss to the back of my own hand. The warmth of his lips burned against my cold skin. “That’s correct.”

  “A beautiful name for a beautiful lady,” he murmured.

  Typically, I wasn’t a shy sort of woman, but for some reason this man made me feel that way. He stared at Amber and me as if he already knew what we looked like naked. “Thank you,” I breathed.

  “Is this your first time?”

  “Yeah.”

  He rubbed his thumb along the top of my hand, then released it just as we reached the front door.

  “There’s always something magical about virgins,” David declared, extending his hand out in front of us, allowing us to enter first. “An innocence, if you will.”

  I stopped dead in my tracks, staring at the doors then back to David. “No, wait! I’m not a virgin. I’ve had sex. Lots and lots of sex.”

  Amber snickered. David smirked, his eyes dancing with amusement. “I was talking about an Indulgence virgin, but it’s good to know you’re so experienced. That will make this evening all the more enjoyable.”

  My mouth dropped. I stepped right into that one. This night was going to be the death of me.

  Amber and David laughed and started toward the door, neither realizing that I was still frozen in place. This was it. The moment of truth. Could I indeed go through with tonight, or would I forever remain an Indulgence virgin? Once inside, all bets were off. No clothes to cover me. Only a mask to protect me. People vying to have sex with me.

  My head was spinning. My anxiety level skyrocketed. What was I thinking? I had to get away. It was stupid to think I could do something so open and so out of character for me. I was the good girl. I didn’t sleep around. Hell, I usually made a guy wait until the third date before even letting him get to the second base. This was ridiculous. Me, at a sex party.

  “Amber,” I hissed. “I can’t do this.” I took a step backward, ready to run. “I’ll pick you up in the morning.”

  I hated myself for being this way. I felt like such a candy ass. My curiosity was piqued, but my morality had the better of me. Damn me and my wholesome upbringing.

  Amber grabbed my shoulders, shaking them as she spoke. “Addison, listen to me. You can do this. You’re a smart, strong woman who has control of her body and her desires. You’re not required to do anything you don’t want to do.”

  “Yes, I know, but…”

  “No buts. I’ll make a deal with you, if after two hours you still feel this was a bad idea, we’ll leave. No questions asked. Okay?”

  “No,” I persisted. “You’ve been looking forward to this for months. I’m not going to make you miss it because of me. I’ll just leave now so you can enjoy your night.” David crossed his arms over his chest, appearing amused by my child-like abandonment. I tried to ignore his gaze and focus on Amber. She was the only person I cared about.

  “I’m not missing anything, but you will. You deserve to see what is out there. What’s fun and different. New and exciting. Don’t sell yourself short because you’re scared. I beg you, don’t let this pass you by. You’ll regret it if you do. Trust me.”

  “She’s right, you know,” David chimed in. “This is an experience so many dream of but only few get to achieve. It’d be a shame for you to leave without knowing what really awaits you inside.”

  Amber nodded, squeezing my shoulders tighter. “Please stay.”

  Licking my lips, I sighed. I was here and dressed to impress, even if only for a moment. What did I have to lose? Like Amber said, I didn’t have to do anything I didn’t want. I spent my days taking chances, making big deals worth loads of money. If I walked away from something like this, I would indeed regret it. God, I really was being a candy ass. I needed to grow a pair of lady balls and get my shit together. To walk away now would prove me to be a pussy, and I couldn’t have that. I resigned in myself that this was a New Year’s party, nothing more. Walking around in my birthday suit was more metaphorical than literal, no matter how literal it really was. I was being reborn. Shedding my past and letting go of Jacoby. I straightened my shoulders and nodded one strong nod. “Okay, let’s do this thing.”

  Amber pushed my hair away from my forehead and smiled. “You look beautiful and I’m so proud of you. Tonight is about freedom and pleasure. You do what you want, when you want. No one controls you,” she smirked, “unless you want them to.”

  I pursed my lips and wiggled my eyebrows. “Spank me, baby.”

  She smacked me across my ass, and that same moan that escaped David earlier rumbled through the air. Amber feigned a girlish laugh. Her chest jutted out as she gave David a flirtatious wink.

  “Next,” a deep voice hailed.

  Amber linked her fingers with mine, ensuring I couldn’t escape. She led me to the front door, where two very muscular men stood wearing tailored black suits. Both were holding electronic tablets in their sizable hands. I had to force myself not to stare at the man in front of me. His smooth chocolate skin and his plump lips were like candy begging to be tasted. Muscles rippled through the contours of his suit and his stern demeanor sent quivers down my spine. Maybe it had something to do with the knowledge of what was about to go on inside, but I could easily imagine riding this stallion until my body exploded in eternal bliss.

  “Invitation and identification, please?” he requested.

  I pulled the white card that had been attached to the acceptance letter and my driver’s license out of my clutch, handing them to the guard. He glanced over each item, then ran my license through a scanner attached to his tablet.

  “Welcome, Ms. George. Mr. Hawk is pleased that you’ve accepted his invitation and wishes you a pleasant evening.”

  “I, uh, thank you.”


  He handed back my license and invitation, gracing me with a sweet smile. “If you’ll step inside, they’ll present you with your partner card.”

  The front doors opened and a burst of heat expanded from the house. My freezing cold skin welcomed the warmth.

  People filed through the doors after being admitted into the house by the guards. From where we stood, I could see into the grand foyer, lined with tables in front of several doors, which appeared to lead into the main edifice. This was set up unlike any house I’d ever seen. It felt more like a concert hall than a home. Gray marble flooring and a crystal chandelier that looked as if it had come straight from the Paris Opera House in The Phantom of Opera, welcomed the excited guests of Mr. Sebastian Hawk.

  “C’mon,” Amber persisted. “Let’s get inside so we can warm up.”

  I could think of a dozen different meanings to the phrase warm-up. Considering they all had to deal with sex, I figured I was in the right frame of mind for the evening.

  Amber linked her arm in mine, still holding tight to my hand as she led me through the door to begin a night I was certain I would never forget.

  Chapter Five

  Heat flooded the large foyer and warmed my chilled body. The grandeur of the entrance foyer alone was more than I’d realized at first glance. The marble flooring and the enormous chandelier were only the tip of the iceberg. Deep red and rustic brown stained the walls, giving a comforting vibe to the room. The warm scent of cinnamon drifted through the air. Soft music, Berlioz, I thought, weaved its melodic tones around the room. Candlelight flickered in the breeze of the doors opening and closing.

  Every time someone was admitted into the main room, I strained my eyes to see in. Curiosity had taken over my good girl inhibitions. Just being inside the house had me wired. From what I could tell, there was a full bar in service located toward the back of the room. A large, extravagant staircase wound in beautiful circles, leading to God-only-knew how many floors above us. People mingled around the room, lost in conversation like any other New Year’s Eve party I’d ever been to. And much to my amazement, everyone was still clothed.

  I leaned into Amber, who was lost in conversation with our new companion. “When does everyone get naked?” I inquired as we moved closer to one of the large oak desks, blocking our entrance into the main hall.

  “Anxious now, are we?” she chuckled, never taking her gaze from David. I couldn’t pinpoint what had her so intrigued. He wasn’t her usual type. Amber liked men she could master and control. David seemed very much in control of himself. But again, who was I to judge? Maybe she wanted something different for a night.

  “No,” I sang in annoyance. “Just confused. That’s all.”

  Amber shooed me away with a flick of her hand. “Stop worrying. It’ll happen soon enough,” she hissed.

  “Whatever,” I miffed, pulling my cloak tighter. I should’ve known better than to ask a silly question when she was engrossed in a man.

  “So, I take it you’ve been to an Indulgence party before?” Amber asked. She placed her hand on his coiled arm in a demure manner. My lips twitched in amusement as I watched her attempt to seduce a man who was pretty much a sure thing.

  David stepped closer to her, closing any distance between them. His finger trailed across the exposed skin of her upper arm. “This is my third year, but I must say, I think this will be the best year yet.”

  “Wow. Three years. That’s amazing. Have you met the Grand Master?”

  Grand Master? That term piqued my curiosity.

  “Grand Master?” I probed.

  David glanced in my direction, a sly smile curving his lips. “Ah, yes, my beautiful Indulgence virgin,” he chortled. “The Grand Master is an Indulgence term for Sebastian Hawk. For one night he is the master of our universe, and therefore we tend to treat him with a sort of god-like reverence.”

  “And how were you aware of this term?” I requested of Amber.

  Amber gave me a nonchalant shrug. “I told you when I got the initial packets, I know people. You spend your time in enough BDSM and sex clubs, you get to know the right people and pick up on particular lingo.” Her eyes cut to David, almost as if she were inviting him to ask her about her experience.

  “Ah, yeah,” I responded, filling in the immediate silence. “So, I guess that means he’s not some pompous guy who dubbed himself as the Grand Master,” I teased.

  “Not at all,” noted David, almost offended by my little joke.

  I waved my hand from under my wrap. “Sorry, I was teasing. I’m just a little confused.”

  “About?” Amber asked.

  I glanced around the room, hearing the buzz of excitement, and took another step toward the check-in desk. “I thought Sebastian Hawk never participated in these things.”

  Amber turned an inquisitive glance to David. “She’s right.”

  “Actually, she’s not. While it’s believed that he doesn’t participate, he does make an opening appearance where he welcomes us before we undress.” David lowered his head, looking around us before adding, “Want to hear a little secret?”

  Amber rubbed her hands together, giggling with devious excitement. “Absolutely!”

  David flicked his fingers, signaling for us to move in closer. As silly as it seemed, my curiosity had the better of me. I leaned in, hanging on his every word. If there was even a possibility I could meet Sebastian Hawk, my night was officially worth the fear of going outside my norm. It was freaking awesome enough that I would have a chance to be in the same room as Sebastian, breathing the same air.

  Get a grip, Addison!

  “I’ve actually met him,” David whispered.

  “No way!” Amber and I chimed in unison.

  “Yeah. It was my first year here. He,” David’s eyes shifted around, looking to see if anyone was listening to our conversation before continuing, “watched me indulge in a foursome.”

  Amber gasped. “Did he say anything to you?”

  “Not a word. He only watched a few moments and then he was gone.”

  “So, then, technically you didn’t meet him,” I pointed out.

  Amber and David gasped as if I’d just told them that the Bible was written by a bunch of old farts and there really wasn’t a God. “What?” I deflected.

  David stood straight up, puffing out his chest. “The point is, he doesn’t just disappear after he greets us. He sticks around, which says a lot. He’s a very powerful man who could have anyone he wants. I could only imagine what sex with him must be like.”

  I nearly swallowed my own tongue. I hadn’t taken David to be gay, but then again, I didn’t realize Jacoby was gay either. Damn, I needed to develop a gaydar. I sucked at this.

  A languid grin appeared on his face. “I’m not gay, if that’s what you’re thinking. But know that sexual preference isn’t pertinent in Indulgence. It’s all about letting yourself explore the realms of your body. So, yes, I’ve been with men before, but let it be known I prefer women.” He reached out and tucked a loose strand of Amber’s hair behind her ear. “And when you see the Grand Master in person, you’ll understand why I’m curious. He’s so much more than he seems in his pictures.”

  I already understood. My little fan girl heart was thumping like a rabbit in heat against my chest. This was crazy. I was in the same building as the Sebastian Hawk. Heat flooded between my thighs, and I looked down at the ground trying to control the sudden desire that was coursing through my veins. Hearing David talk like that was pretty hot, and the mental image of Sebastian Hawk watching me have sex was even more alluring.

  Yet something nagged at me. What kind of a man would host a party that he never partook in? It made no sense how or why someone of his caliber would open his home for a bunch of sex fiends to take part in a huge orgy. He was rich, famous, and gorgeous. David had nailed it, pun totally intended, when he said that Sebastian Hawk could have anyone he wanted. So, why do this? My brain believed he was probably a porn freak, and since he could do it,
he brought people in to appease his deviant appetite. My heart, on the other hand, wondered if there was something more. He was an erotic writer. Maybe his publicist, agent, publisher, and Lord only knew who else he had to answer to, required him to do this.

  “Next,” came a nasally voice from the front desk.

  “That’s us,” Amber squealed.

  We stepped forward, stopping in front of one of the massive oak desks that barred the entrance to the main room. Behind each of the four desks sat four of the most refined women with the best posture I’d ever seen. They wore the same black suits as the guards outside, and their faces were covered with plain black masks. From their appearance, it was quite obvious that each of the women were gorgeous, but the vibe that rolled off of them left me feeling cold and almost frightened. At our desk, a young blonde sat. Her face was taut, without a single blemish or line, and her eyes darted quickly between each person who entered the door. It was hard to tell much about her stature, seeing as how she was sitting behind a huge desk, but her boyish short hair and menacing scowl warned me she meant business. As a matter of fact, I would’ve laid money that any of the women behind the desks could kick some serious ass.

  “Welcome,” said the blonde, whose blue eyes froze me to the bone. “License and invitation, please.”

  The woman took both from me. She stamped the invitation after running it under some sort of ultraviolet light, then flipped through a card box. “George. George,” she muttered. “Ah, yes. Here we are.” From the box, she pulled out a piece of paper. Attached to the document was a folded card with a bright red string dangling from the corner. She removed the card and pushed the form toward me. “These are the guidelines you are to adhere to this evening,” she droned. “Read them carefully and sign the bottom.”