Page 40 of Serving the CEO
Twenty minutes later, we arrived, and I smiled at the look of disbelief on Jessica’s face as I helped her out of the car. The club was in one of New York City’s quiet, genteel-looking brownstones, the basement and all three floors catering to kinks from the mild to the very perverse. The most perverse of them all played out in the lowest level, the aptly named Dungeon of Delights.
I usually kept my dealings to the first and second floors, not into the more extreme nature of the lifestyle. The entertainment on those floors featured shows on several stages scattered around the main room and also housed private rooms which could be booked for exclusive use by elite members.
“You aren’t expected to do anything, and nobody is allowed to touch you without your permission.” Holding out my arm, I added, “That includes me. If anybody makes you uncomfortable, the house staff will deal with it.” Assuming I didn’t maim someone first. “All you have to do is let them know. But they’re good at catching problems before they start. They’ll likely notice anybody close to crossing your personal boundaries before you even have a chance to say anything.”
“Okay.” She looked like she was either nervous or excited as she took my arm. “You seem pretty familiar with all of this.”
I stroked my thumb over the back of her hand and said, “It’s part of my life. And anybody I’m with needs to be aware of it.”
She shot me a sidelong look as we stepped up to the VIP entrance but said nothing until we were seated in my private booth nearly fifteen minutes later.
“Is this your subtle way of telling me I need to be prepared to be your…” She frowned, her cheeks still a vivid pink.
“No.” She didn’t need to finish for me to know what she was asking. “This world doesn’t work like that. Consent comes first—always. And it’s not consent if I’mtellingyou what you have to do or be. But…” I let my gaze dip to her lips and linger. “I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about you naked, bound hand and foot, on your knees in front of me while I fucked that pretty mouth of yours with my dick. And that’s just for starters.”
Her lips parted, a shaky breath escaping her.
“But I won’t push you.” I picked up my glass and took a sip. The scotch wasn’t quite as good as what we’d had in the car, but it wasn’t bad either. “We can just have a drink, eat some food. Watch the shows if you’d like. We can talk more about the possibilities of this later if you want.”
“Alright.” Her voice was steadier than I expected, and she picked up the water the server had left for her and eyed my scotch. “I’d like something stronger than water.”
I pushed a button on the wall, and a panel slid up, revealing a tablet computer. “Order whatever you wish. This is my standing order, so it’s brought out as soon as I arrive.”
“Top-notch service for one of the richest men in the city?” she said with a hint of a smile.
“No, I replied. “For one of theeliteclub members who pay well for the service.” Smiling back, I shrugged. “I’m an impatient asshole, and I’m willing to pay up for what I want. It makes life easier.”
Her eyes flicked to me, then fell away, her expression closing off.
I clenched my jaw, realizing how it sounded, then cursed. I knew she wanted me. She didn’t seem to mind spending time with me or the simpler physical affections.
But she hadn’t slept with me yet. And she’d made it clear that it wouldn’t be because of the money if she did. Hell, I might have had an easier time getting in her pants if this deal hadn’t been made.
“I haven’t been able to buy you, though, have I?” I said quietly.
She didn’t reply at first, swiping a finger over the tablet’s screen as she read through the options. She made her choice, then leaned back to study me.
“I’m not for sale,” she said finally. “You can pay me for my time. That’s a job. Even what we’re doing now…it’s part of the job. But if I choose to give you any part ofme, it will be because Ichooseit. Money won’t do a damn thing to sway my decision.” Then, as if she’d heard the echo of my thoughts, she added, “Honestly, I think I’d like you more if you had less money.”
“If I was just a regular, average everyday Joe?” I drawled, laying on thick with sarcasm. “So many women arethrilledwith the prospect of men like that, aren’t they?”
“My mother married a regular, average, everyday guy, and they’re still so happy together, it can give you a cavity to watch them.” Her eyes chilled as she stared at me. “I’m a regular, average, everyday person, Derrick. And yet hereyouare, paying me to spend time with you.” She shook her head. “I know you half-expected your money and a nice date or two to convince me to fall back and spread my legs, but unlike the women you usually encounter, I don’t give a damn about your money.”
She picked up her water and deliberately turned her attention away from me, her eyes moving to the kinbaku display taking place on the stage closest to us.
I might as well not have existed for her at that moment.
Just as well, because I was still trying to pick my jaw up from the floor two minutes later as a server, dressed in slinky silver, brought Jessica a drink.
After the server walked away, I asked, “How is it that you always manage to make me feel like I’ve had my legs cut out from under me?”
“Do I?” Jessica blinked, looking startled, as if I’d pulled her attention away from something she’d been absorbed in. Her cheeks were flushed, her breathing ragged.
The rope show was arousing her, I realized. I filed that away for later, but now that her attention was back on me, I wanted to keep it that way.
“You can’t tell?” I tossed back the rest of my scotch and picked up the bottle that’d been brought out along with her drink. “I’m an arrogant prick, and I know that, but you make me feel like I’m an awkward high school kid dealing with his first crush.”
She ran her tongue along her bottom lip as she considered her glass. Finally, she looked at me, her gray eyes calm. “How often do you have honest conversations with people, Derrick?”
