“Um, yes. How did you…”
“You’re in the system. Our cameras at the front picked you up through facial recognition. Wrist, please.”
I went through the process of checking in, which couldn’t be more fluid, and walked in. The check-in area was silent but as soon as the door opened, I was hit with a barrage of sights, sounds, and smells.
The music was loud but not enough to be jarring or annoying. The walls and floors were a shiny black, like marble. I didn’t envy the person who had to shine them.
To my left was the bar. The bartenders zipped from left to right, tending to their customers and the waiters at the same time. All the employees were dressed in black, as Evander was, although not chef’s style but with the crown on the chest. I probably should’ve gotten a drink to calm my nerves but without Evander here, I didn’t want to get tipsy and stumble into something I didn’t want to experience.
All of this would’ve been way more fun with my alpha here.Thealpha. My wolf was sure about him but not me. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to step into another relationship at all.
I noticed, to my right, that a bunch of people were gathering around a room with all glass walls. As I approached, I saw what was going on inside. There was a couple moving toward the center of the room. Another man was already strapped to an X-shaped wooden object. Evander had told me the name of it but it eluded me now. The other two men approached and whispered something in the bound man’s ear. Something that made him squirm but not for long.
I wanted to watch but, at the same time, there were levels and many other displays to see.
I wished to see it all. Find out what I liked and what didn’t appeal to me.
This went on for an hour. I made my way through crowds. My wolf picked up all kinds of sensory triggers. People smelled differently, always, but those scents were heightened in the club. Bodies pressed together. Sweat and lust lingered in the air.Whispers ranging from normal, everyday talk to more naughty things. Things that would only be murmured in the dark, between lovers.
But not here. Here, bedroom talk was regular conversation.
Plus, I was officially lost. I was sure I was on the second floor, but where the stairs or elevators were, I couldn’t decipher.
“Excuse me, Hudson?”
I turned to see an employee with his hands behind his back. My first thought was that I’d done something wrong. Gone against one of the unspoken rules of this kind of club.
“I’m Hudson,” I answered with a shaky voice.
“I was asked to escort you to the kitchen. Would you come with me, please?”
“To the kitchen?” I asked.
“Yes.”
My tummy erupted in a thousand butterflies. Evander sent someone through the club to find me and bring me to the kitchen.
Even in a busy club, he was making time for me. I couldn’t help but find it endearing. The alpha was getting under my skin, and while I promised not to fall in love again, it was happening with or without my permission.
Chapter Nine
Evander
The omega arrived shortly after I sent for him. He wore the all-black outfit we’d picked out together and looked a little stunned. His gaze cast around the room, seeking me out. Or maybe just absorbing the lack of kink. I’d told him we just cooked in here, but after his first walk through the club with all the shenanigans going on, he would have questions.
“There you are.” I raised a hand so Hudson could find me and started toward him. Reaching his side, I pressed a kiss to his cheek. “So glad you came. I hope I didn’t pull you away from anything fun.” A lie. If this omega was going to be having any “fun” at Crowned, it should be with me.
“No.” He brushed my cheek with his lips in return. “Not fun precisely. More like, umm…interesting.”
I couldn’t suppress a grin. Because he hadn’t run screaming as well as the fact he hadn’t played with anyone else. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t have, given time. A little early to be congratulating myself. “It is that. I thought I’d check and see whether you wanted to continue on out on the main floor or if you might like to hang out here in the kitchen. I’m busy, but I like looking at your face.”
A face that reddened at my words. “If I won’t be too much underfoot, I’ll stay here. Maybe I can sit in a corner somewhere and then one night, when you’re free, we can explore the rest?”
“Perfect.” I took his hand and led him over to my desk. “You can just sit right here, and I’ll have someone bring you whatever you’d like to drink from the bar.”
“It’s not too much trouble?” He had no idea what I’d do for my mate. Having a server bring a drink? Small potatoes. “Maybe a Coke?”
“All right.” I sent a message to the bar and got the omega settled in my office chair. My wolf and I liked seeing him there. “And I have something else for you, if you don’t mind lending a hand?”
