Page 7 of Room One Hundred and Five

Lavender slides an elegant gold pen across the polished bar top. All around me fully aroused men pleasure naked women. Moans and throaty gasps. The music. Damn. It reaches into a person and makes me want naughty things. My gaze flits around the dimly lit lounge. Nothing is off limits as long as everyone is consensual. No one is judging or shunning anyone for their kinks and tastes.

One second I’m sitting here worried about fitting in at a club packed with Seattle’s elite and in the next I’m mentally placing myself between any group of men here who so openly worship their lovers. Shadowed corners of the lounge and beyond hide other couples from view, but I know they are there—women living out their most secretive fantasies. Just like all my heroines with their heroes.

But this isn’t one of your novels, Stella.

This is my life. For a single night. Or it could be.

I put the picture of my dates down and grab the contract in front of me. I could read it and nitpick the details.

Or…

They say write what you know and it’s about damn time I do.

I take the pen and leave my signature on the last page.

“Good girl.” Lavender’s smile is contagious and her sassy wink tells me I’m in for more than I ever imagined possible.

“Don’t forget this.” Lavender hands me the picture of my dates for the evening. “When you are ready, I’ll see you to your room so that your night of pleasure can begin. No rush. The men haven’t arrived yet. As a special guest of Luna’s, I’ll introduce you to your dates for the evening. They’ve been specifically selected to take special care of you.”

I guess that makes sense. I mean, it’s better than walking into a room and saying, “okay I’m ready.”

Instead of saying all that, I offer a genuine, “Thank you, Lavender.”

“My pleasure. This is also for you.” Lavender slides a sleek cell phone across the bar top. “When you’re ready, I’ll escort you up. All you have to do is send me a message. My contact information is already programmed into the phone for you.”

Lavender pulls her hair off her shoulders, letting the fiery lengths play down the long spill of her elegant spine as she retreats.

“Your friend is beautiful,” I start. “Who put that sad look in her eyes?”

“Her father passed recently and her brother wants her to marry someone she hates.”

My heart hurts for her. “But she loves someone else?” I ask.

Luna lets out a heavy breath. “Yeah. It’s hard seeing her suffer.”

“There you are, jungle flower. Ready for our date night?”

Before I can turn to see the man behind the voice, I’m whisked off the stool and a set of warm lips press against the top of my head. “You’re looking particularly beautiful tonight, little moon.”

The nickname my sister’s men have for me isn’t the most glamorous, but they enjoy treating me like the sister they don’t have so I don’t say anything.

“Put her down, you big lugs. Do you know how long it took me to get her hair into that pretty French wrap!”

My laugh is soft as the room turns. “Thanks.” I kiss Voss on the cheek when he puts me back on my stool. Jasper and Shayne come in for their hugs next and then all their attention shifts to the raven haired Moone sister.

My sister’s betrothed men all share a chuckle before they encircle her—each one touching a part of her like they can’t be in the same room and not have contact. It’s sweet and special. I can only hope to have that some day. So far I have a shitty ex who tried to put me in the ground. Period. That’s it. My experience with men is pretty much all fictional after him.

But I keep my past tucked into the black corner of my mind and make sure the smile on my face doesn’t falter.

“We have the car waiting for you when you’re ready. Ladies.”

Another kiss on the cheek from Luna’s men and we alone.

The second their cologne fades, Luna is in my face. “Listen, will you be okay on your own? Do you want me to stay? I can get the men back and we will stay right here while you?—”

I can’t hold back a smile as I cut her off. “Yeah. I’m going to stop you right there, sis. I don’t need you and my soon-to-be three brother-in-laws waiting while I hook up with men you paid for.”

I throw my brain in reverse and mentally go back over what I just said. My mood shifts from semi-casual into what-the-fuck.

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