“She’s a friend of yours, isn’t she? You’ve never talked about club stuff outside of the club?”
“We’re friendly but we’re not friends. As for ‘club stuff’, I don’t tend to discuss what I do with others.”
We moved to the front door, waiting for Elliot to bring the car around.
“You wouldn’t even discuss it with me?”
“Not even you. Other women are in my past. Talking about the things we did would just make you uncertain of yourself.”
I frowned. “Try me.”
“No. I’ve thought about it. A lot of the things I did with them I will never do with you. I don’t want the thought that you’re not enough to enter your mind for even a second.”
I understood his point. It already made me insecure that our experience levels were so far apart. “You had all your firsts with other women. I’ll admit it makes me jealous.”
Alfie turned to me and cupped my face. “It’s true that you won’t be the first woman I’ve tied up, toyed with, or fucked anally. Don’t worry, I’ll build up to that last one. You’re bashful about nipple clamps which is adorable to me. But you are the first woman I ever made love to. That part of me is entirely yours.”
I closed my eyes, melting into his touch. “How do you always know how to say the right thing?”
He gave an un-Alfie-like snort. “Trial and error. I’ve had years of fucking things up between us. I rarely know if I’m saying the right thing to you.” He held his hands out in front of me. They were trembling slightly. “Look what you do to me.”
I went up on my toes, wrapping my arms around his neck as we kissed. I wanted to stay here. To go back inside, fall back into bed where we’d spent most of the day and not look at another soul until Monday. But Alfie had big plans for me tonight and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious.
I heard the hum of an engine as Elliot pulled the car into the driveway. Alfie broke away from our kiss.
“Come.” He put his trembling hand in mine and I followed him out the door.
Nine
My hands twisted in my lap as we drove through the gates to the Never Tell Club. The gemstone peacocks were there to greet us, standing fifteen feet high on either side of the driveway. Alfie moved his hand from my thigh and slipped his fingers into my own, stilling my hands.
“Are you excited to be coming back here?” I asked him.
“I’d be excited to do this with you anywhere. The ‘here’ is immaterial.”
Elliot slowed, bringing the car to a stop. We stepped out and I looked up at the gothic-esque building. My heart beat a little faster. I heard a rush of laughter, flirtatious giggling coming from the gardens. I turned and saw a flash of pale silk, heard a flurry of footsteps followed by a gasp as whoever it was disappeared into the trees.
Alfie was unfazed. I clung on tight to his hand as we walked through the double doors. A live orchestra was playing somewhere, the music echoed through the house so much that it was hard to tell which direction it was coming from.
We stepped into the foyer and I immediately gasped. A naked woman was hanging from the ceiling. She was blindfolded, herarms and legs tied up behind her like an upside down spider. I stole my gaze away, embarrassed that I’d looked at her at all.
Everyone noticed us, of course they did. They ran their gaze over Alfie with hungry curiosity. The women wanted him badly and some of the men too. Their gazes turned from hungry to jealous when they looked at me. I squeezed Alfie’s hand tighter as we moved further into the house.
A waiter approached us with two glasses of champagne on a silver platter but Alfie whispered in his ear and sent him off without taking the glasses.
“Neither of us are drinking,” he explained to me. “Not alcohol anyway. We’re staying sharp tonight.”
“I guess that means no cocaine for me either.” The drug was dotted around the house. A marble flower sculpture nearby had a line neatly laid out on each petal.
He gave me a dark look. “Never.”
“Alfie!” called a booming voice. I looked around to see Kal making his way over. Alfie let go of my hand and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. “Wasn’t expecting you tonight. Oryouas a matter of fact,” he grinned at me. “How are you, Lola? I’ve missed you.”
“That your handiwork?” Alfie nodded at the naked girl hanging from the ceiling, not giving me the chance to reply.
“Mmmhmm. What do you think?”
“I think she looks bored.”
