Page 34 of Dancing With Lies

Now wasn’t the time to think about those days, not at all, she thought with a grim smile. Soon, Lincoln would bring a woman in here and Roxie knew it had to be a woman experienced with sex. Would he want a dom or a sub? She wondered, realizing for the first time that she didn’t have a clue.

Lincoln was always in control of himself, which could go either way. Yeah, he was cocky and sure of himself in most situations, and he wasn’t willing to give over control of most things at work, but in his personal life, he was more flexible. He might like humiliation and licking a woman’s boots deep, deep down.

That made her grin, thinking of him like that, but it wasn’t an ugly thought. She just kind of liked the idea.

She was used to men that knew exactly what they wanted and weren’t afraid of taking it from a woman. As long as she gave it willingly, that is. She’d had a few iffy moments in her time at Elmo’s, a few instances where she’d almost used the agreed safe word, but it had never actually come to it.

Roxie could switch to either role and be happy in it. She’d had men on their knees before, begging to pleasure her with tears of deep need in their eyes and she’d been in that same position. She could also imagine herself in either role for Lincoln. If she didn’t have a boyfriend, she thought with a curt nod before she walked to the door of the playroom. She did have a boyfriend, however, so this was not her room and never would be.

Roxie left the room, hitting the light switch on the way out. A set of stairs took her down to the first floor and she looked around to check that the scene was set perfectly. He’d wanted to see her world; she’d let him have a glimpse of it, but she’d do it right.

On the first floor, Kitty and River had helped her decorate the rooms with red silk draped over lamps to give them the right ambiance, and candles were placed around the living room, his study, and even in the bathrooms. Large fishbowls placed strategically contained packets of lubricant and condoms. Sex was great, but safe sex was the best option.

People were already arriving and she found a couple talking quietly over drinks in the dining room where a single candle gleamed out of the darkness. Roxie smiled and left the couple to it as she walked down the hallway, ready to watch whatever took her fancy, but eager to be there when Lincoln arrived.

Dylan, Kai, and Emily had immediately got on board with inviting the right kind of men to the party while Roxie got together some of the ladies who’d formerly worked for Elmo’s that were willing to be around for the night. As the invitations all explained when she sent them out a week ago, the men were not to ask the ladies if they wanted to play, they were not to offer money for sexual services, and if the lady in question didn’t show interest, too bad. The playtime here would all be at the lady’s request, not the other way around.

River was there, even though she had a protector, more as security than anything. She was a beautiful woman, and her protectors were willing to let her play, if she wanted. It was up to her, Roxie thought, whether she took part in the night’s activities or not. Her main role was to keep things safe and in control.

Roxie’s black stiletto ankle boots tapped against the floor as she walked to check the bathroom one last time. The clack of her heels was always a sound that brought Roxie to life, rather than annoyed her. Dressed in the pure silk kimono from Agent Provocateur that she’d bought online with a gift card Emily gave her last Christmas, she felt sexy, beautiful, desirable. Even if her boyfriend had disappeared on her.

Music started to play through the house and Roxie knew Kitty had arrived. She made the best music choices, always sensual, fun, and just a little bit dark. Roxie swallowed down a niggle of worry about how the night would go. She was dressed to seduce, and she’d caught Lincoln watching her more than once. She wasn’t for him, though. She’d find him someone tonight. Even if the thought hurt more than it should.

Roxie went to the playroom upstairs again, the room filled with everything the man might need to wring every ounce of pleasure out of the woman he chose, or vice versa if that was how he rolled, and gave a satisfied nod. It was all in order.

She left the bathroom and found Wendy sitting with Kitty. Emily and Dylan were in the living room, waiting for Lincoln to come home. He knew there was a party that evening, but he hadn’t been told exactly which kind. They were all talking about what his reaction would be.

“He’ll be fine, ladies,” Roxie said to Wendy and Kitty, nodding at River when she walked in but turned to look at Wendy. “It’s you I’m worried about, Wendy.”

“I know you are, but I’ll be fine. And I have my ‘find my phone’ app on if it comes down to it.” Wendy pointed at her phone. “I know this isn’t going to be like the movies, you’ve told me enough about it to know there can be danger, but I feel safe knowing that everyone here was handpicked for the night.”

Roxie narrowed her eyes, still uncertain. Wendy’s parents would kill her if they found out their precious daughter was at this kind of party and that Roxie had brought her.

“I know you’ve been dying to dive right in, but you have to be careful, Wendy, even with the people we’ve invited. Things can get out of hand if you don’t know how to take control.” Roxie warned, staring into her friend’s dark brown eyes.

Wendy was beautiful every day of her life, even if she didn’t think so, and she’d made an effort with her makeup tonight. Roxie had helped her with it earlier, blending her eye shadow a little more to give her the perfect smokey eye she wanted. Gone was the fun-loving comic who’d been Roxie’s friend for years now. This was a sultry vixen who knew what she wanted. Maybe she’d be alright. Roxie hoped so. She’d stab anybody to protect the other woman if they hurt her, but then she felt like that about all the women here tonight.

Kai showed up and broke up the conversation when he zeroed in on Kitty. Roxie had no worries about whether Kitty could handle herself and left her to it. Trevon walked into the kitchen, earning a backward glance from Wendy as she followed Roxie out of the kitchen when Roxie left. “He’s about as boring as watching wallpaper peel off a wall, Wen, or so Kai told me.”

“Then what’s he doing here?” Wendy asked, her forehead wrinkled in question.

“The same as you I expect, exploring.” Roxie shrugged and checked the outfit Wendy had on, one of Roxie’s tamer outfits. A black silk and red lace strappy dress that fit her like a glove. Roxie smiled when Wendy hitched up the straps to hide the expanse of her cleavage. “Don’t fidget, honey. You look great and you shouldn’t be ashamed of your body.”

“I’m not, I’m just not used to showing so much of it at once.”

“How is that any different to a bikini?” Roxie laughed and put an arm around her friend’s waist.

“I guess it’s not really.” Wendy smiled up at Roxie, her cheeks a little pink now.

“Exactly. So, strut when you walk, babe.” Roxie patted Wendy’s waist under her hand and pulled her arm away.

The sound of a car pulling up caught Roxie’s attention because it sounded like Lincoln’s car. She met him at the door with her smile in place, her makeup perfect, and a hand on her hip. She posed for him and knew it had worked when he stopped dead in his tracks as soon as he opened the front door.

“Wow.” He mouthed and looked at her with knotted eyebrows and an open mouth. His eyes traveled intently down her body and then back up.

“Welcome home, Lincoln.” She held her hand out and smiled when he took it. “Let me show you around.”

She went through the house and introduced him to the people he didn’t know, noting that his eyes traveled over every person with curiosity but no real interest. Hmm, maybe she was too much of a distraction.