As soon as the bar traffic slows down a little, I excuse myself and head over to a far back booth in our VIP area, where I find Hayes deep in thought. “You okay, man?”
“Yeah, I’m just thinking about something I’d like to try in the club.”
“Is now really the time? It’s a little busy. Surely, you have more important things you could be doing.”
“That’s the point, Ryker. It’s busy, but we’re currently limiting club entry and everything practically runs itself these days,” he says while rubbing his clean-shaven jaw. “I think I want to add classes to the lineup.”
“What kind of classes?” I inquire, sliding up next to him.
Leaning back with his hands behind his head, he answers, “We should be doing classes. Think about it. We could offer everything from beginner safety to advanced rope or impact. The options are endless.”
It really is a good idea. He’s been in the lifestyle almost as long as I have and he’d make a great teacher. “By we, you mean you, right?” He’s the more patient of the two of us, that’s for sure. Teaching is the last thing I want to do. Things are so much easier when submissives have at leastsomeexperience.
“Yes, I mean myself. I wouldn’t let you teach a class if you begged me. No offense.”Some taken. “You would scare everyone away. You can’t even deny it.” The fucker hits me with a wide grin that makes me want to punch him in his pretty face, but he’s not wrong.
“You’re right. Teaching is not my thing. But I do think it’s a great idea and you should set it up. It could be a big deal for the club and would set us apart from others like us.”
“Hey now. There’s no one like us.” He’s right again.
When we built Gravity from the ground up five years ago, it was hard to imagine it being so successful, but we did it and now we’rethepremiere kink club in Chicago. I can honestly sayI’m proud of what we’ve built together. We each order a glass of bourbon and sit back to watch this well-oiled machine we’ve created. He’s so excited about this new adventure and it leaves me wondering what might be next for me.
7
Ryker
Hayes and I finish our drinks and I can’t help but wander toward the club entrance. The bar is hopping, but it’s running smoothly and they don’t need me. I’ve been so busy running the bar, I haven’t been on the club side of Gravity in quite a while, and I’m feeling the pull.
I push through the door, like I’m on a mission, and take the stairs to the basement, where I’m smacked in the face with debauchery of all kinds. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss the feeling it gives me to be down here. My dick twitches at the sound and smell of sex and sin within this space.
With no intention of participating, I head in the direction of one of our viewing rooms when I’m practically knocked off my feet after colliding with someone who clearly isn’t paying attention. Looking down, all I see is bunned up dirty blonde hair and black silk. She’s still not looking at me when she speaks. “Oh my god. I’m so sorry. It’s so fucking hot in here. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
With my hands in my pockets, I glare down at the careless woman and wait for her to look back at me. “You should look a person in the eye when you apologize. It’s more effective.”
She tilts her head up, looking me dead in the eye, “Listen. You don’t have to be a dick about it. I said I was sorry.”
Fuck my life.I’d know those green eyes anywhere. “Arabella.” My back stiffens and I do a double take. I have no clue what to say. Am I being punk’d?
She hasn’t registered who I am yet. Maybe she doesn’t remember me at all. It’s been about six years since I drove her to a date and then promptly broke up with her mother. I still wish I’d said goodbye, but I couldn’t stay.
“Listen, whatever your name is. I’m sorry if I didn’t call you back. It’s you, not me. No, that’s wrong. Or is it? Fuck me, why can’t I get that right?” Her words sound slightly slurred. It’s subtle, but still there. “It’s nothing personal, I just can’t be tied down. It’s called a one-night stand for a reason, you know. You have a great dick and all, but you should probably work on your execution. Wait… You look older than I remember.”
My face twists into a grimace as I process her drunken words.Who the fuck does she think I am?It would probably help if she was actually looking at me.
“Arabella, look at me. How much have you had to drink and how did you get down here?” I have so many questions, starting with where her fucking clothes are. Jesus fuck. My pulse is pounding between my ears as my confusion turns into rage. She shouldnotbe here at all, let alone in this part of the club.
“Wait… Ryker? As in, my mom’s old man-friend Ryker? What the fuck areyoudoinghere?” She’s looking at me cross-eyed now. It hasn’t beenthatlong since she’s seen me.
“I own this place. Now answer my question.”
She stumbles and lets out an exaggerated huff. “I’ll have you know, I’ve only hadtwodrinks since I’ve been here. See? Scanme.” Her hand nearly smacks me in the face as she shows me her wristband.
Where does she think I’m hiding a scanner?
Unfortunately, she’s giving herself away by holding upfourfingers, which still seems kind of low, considering her obviously drunken behavior.
It still doesn’t answer how she got down here. We have a system in place to prevent this and she’s not exactly subtle. Any of our employees should be able to see from a mile away that she’s too drunk to be let anywhere near the door, let alone through it.
Grabbing her arm, I pull her upstairs, back to the bar area and into the VIP booth. I need to have a conversation with the door handler responsible for letting her through, but I need answers from her now.
