“I’m so lucky to have you, and I’ll try to come to your mom’s birthday, okay?” His eyes darkened as he kissed her again, and when he let go, Ivy’s head spun. She hadn’t eaten much during dinner.
At the entrance desk, Gabe turned her towards the dressing room, swatting her on the behind. “I’ll see you in fifteen minutes.”
Ivy sighed, walking into the dressing room. She wasn’t sure this was the right night for this scene.
“Hi Ivy, haven’t seen you for a while.” Clara smiled at her.
“Hi, Clara!” Ivy returned her hug, her stomach a mess of nerves. She went into a stall and quickly got changed.
“Wow! You look amazing. Something special planned for tonight?” Clara said.
Ivy styled her hair in the mirror and glanced at Clara. Clara looked stunning in her leather halter and matching boy shorts.
Ivy buttoned the lacy see-thru shirt that showed off her black lacy bra and her short leather burgundy skirt.
“Kind of. It’s a return to Club Bandit for Gabe and me.”
“You’ve been missed,” Clara said, putting on lip gloss.
“I don’t know about that.” Ivy frowned, pulling her hair out of the clips and shaking it loose.
“I didn’t know what happened and didn't want to pry. I should have called you.” Clara hugged her.
“I could have called you,” Ivy said.
“And Gabe has barely smiled. He seems so down, sometimes.”
The words boomeranged into her chest, and Ivy’s hands stilled. She didn’t like thinking of Gabe being unhappy, and she knew ever since the summer he had been. But she felt she was the only one who noticed.
“Are you all right?”
“Just nervous about being on stage.”
“You’ll do fine,” Clara said. “Just focus on your Dom. Its member’s night, so only founding members and their guests.”
“And founding subs,” Ivy grinned.
“Yes,” Clara said. “Ready?”
Ivy squared her shoulders back and nodded. “Yes.”
In the main room of Club Bandit, she relaxed a little. It wasn’t too crowded tonight, with a few scenes going on throughout the place. Ivy noticed the staircase going up to the newly opened third floor.
“We can go up after if you want.” Gabe wrapped his arms around her waist. Ivy closed her eyes, breathing in his familiar spicy cologne.
She missed his arms around her, missed hearing the uncensored cries only found at Club Bandit, missed seeing the subs and Doms in their interplays.
“Thanks for bringing me here.” She turned in his arms and kissed him, hoping to soothe some of his frustrations from earlier.
“I’ve missed having you here, Princess. Shall we start?” His eyes scanned the room.
Ivy’s stomach pulled tight in a knot of tension. Gabe didn’t seem connected, but she nodded, and Gabe took her hand and led her through the stage. He stepped up the three steps behind the black curtain.
“I’m going to make you earn it.” Gabe gestured to the wooden cross in the centre of the stage.
“I don’t think that will hold me.” Her voice wobbled.
“Of course, it will. Come on over.” He patted the cross.
