Page 33 of Isabela

“Hello, everyone. Can I have your attention, please?” he asks as he addresses the room with a mic in his hands.

Everyone looks over to the stage, and I breathe a sigh of relief. At least I don’t need to deal with Gael anymore. God, it feels so odd to call him that, even in my head, but the name suits him.

“We are very much not done yet,” Gael murmurs before he gives the man his full attention.

“Welcome, everyone, to the first Wicked Temptation Key Party. We are glad you all have decided to join us tonight for what we hope will turn into an annual event. I’m Damien and your MC for the night.

“A few housekeeping issues to get out of the way before we get to the real reason you’re all here. Everyone here was medically checked for any transmittable diseases and pregnancy. While we’ve been given the all-clear, I still want to mention there are condoms in the bag you will be given once your key number is called. Using them or not is on you. Next, you all signed a waiver and an NDA to attend tonight; so as the old saying goes, what happens here stays here. Lastly, in the same bag with the contraceptives, there will be some fun little toys you’re welcome to keep and a list of your partner’s hard and soft limits. These limits are to be respected at all costs. Security is posted around the inside of the club, so if there are any issues, please reach out and it will be handled immediately.

“Please remember that tonight is supposed to be fun, not some shit you’d see in a bad porno. Okay, so without further ado, let’s get me off the stage and see who’s playing with whom tonight shall we?

“Men who are picking keys please line up and when I call your name, please step onto the stage, you’ll draw a keycard and I will announce the name and number of who you drew. The rest is all up to you guys. Have fun and be safe!”

Gael follows the other men who will be pulling a key to stand in line, and Aria steps closer to me.

“Are you upset with me?” she asks worriedly. My eyes widen as I glance at her, shaking my head.

“You’ve done nothing wrong,” I remind her. “I’m just a girl you’ve chatted with here and there. Why?”

“Isabela, names escape me at times, because they just don’t stick all of the time,” Aria says softly as she watches as people are called up to pull a key. “It doesn’t help that you’re so beautiful, I have a hard time focusing at times when you speak to me.”

My lips curve into a genuine smile at her words. The entire time I sat next to her under the damn tree a few days ago, I kept hoping she’d touch me again.

“I wasn’t in the least bit upset when I figured out you couldn't remember my name,” I chuckle. “You’re seriously adorable when you’re thinking really hard about something. It’s even better now that I know you were trying to remember my damn name.”

Aria and I giggle at how silly it truly is. My name hasn’t been called yet, and they’re about midway through. People are starting to pair off, but I’m unbothered. I’m in that little black bag somewhere.

I watch as Gael’s name is called and he lumbers up on stage. The man seems to command the attention of the entire room as he reaches into the drawstring bag.

Gael hands the key to Damien, who smiles as he sees the number.

“Isabela, can you please come up on stage for me?” he asks.

“Did that seriously just happen?” I ask. I think I meant it to stay inside of my head, but I’m a little in shock. “Holy fuck…”

“It did,” Aria says slowly. “Are you okay with this? We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do…”

“No, it’s okay,” I rasp, reaching out and squeezing her fingers. “I think I’m kind of shocked.”

“Me too, girl,” she says with a grin. “Get your gorgeous ass on stage. Gael’s hand gets a little twitchy when he has to wait too long.”

Aria shifts carefully at exactly that moment, and my eyes widen. Is she trying to tell me that he spanks her?!

Worrying the inside of my lip, I force myself to keep my head up high as I cross the room and walk onto the stage.

Gael looks as if he’s processing himself, as I come to stand beside him. His hand moves to my back, rubbing it almost absently as Damien hands back the key to Gael.

“The number on your key will also be your designated room for the night,” he explains with a wide smile. He doesn’t feel anything amiss as he runs through things, so I must be faking it well. “Here is the bag filled with fun goodies, your partner’s soft and hard limits, and contraceptives. Any questions?”

I shake my head in denial, because the questions running through my mind aren’t ones that Damien can answer. Gael takes the bag from him with an incline of his head, and the pressure of his large hand at my back moves me into motion.

As we move down the stairs, he holds me closer to him, leaning toward me to talk to me. He’s still taller than I am even in my heels.

“I’m going to read over your paper in a moment, Isa,” Gael says, his low, sexy voice rumbling over me. I can’t bring myself to tell him not to call me that, because in the circle of his arm, I find that I like it too much. “Aria and I came here to share a woman together. It’s something we’ve been wanting to do for a long time.”

I look up into his eyes as I walk, and his hand tightens around my waist as he realizes I’m not paying attention to the stairs.

“Is there a question in there somewhere, Gael?” I ask him. My foot clears the last step safely and his hand loosens slightly.

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