Page 15 of Black Velvet

"The black room?" I question. "What's that all about? Like a dark room?"

She shakes her head. "You would think that, right? But no, the black room is not defined by its lack of light."

"But?"

Elene leans forward. It's the first time that she's the one who closes the distance between us.

"It's the lack ofeverything," she explains. "Color, furniture, toys, utensils of any kind. Unlike the other rooms, this one doesn't provide you with anything but a blank canvas. It becomes what you make it."

Her face is so close to mine that I can feel the heat from her glowing cheeks and smell the vermouth on her lips. Only an inch, maybe two, that's all that separates our lips. I could kiss her. I know she wouldn't pull away, rules or no rules. I could steal that one thing from her.

But I won't.

She will only taste better if I wait. If I wait until she lets me in.

Until she lets me take her up to that room. The black room. Void of anything. The perfect place to strip her naked. To take her bare and raw, with nothing between us.

Her eyes follow me when I distance myself from her, turning around to the bartender.

"Another one for me," I say, glancing over to the waif-like beauty next to me. "You?"

She looks guilty when she shakes her head. "Just a water."

"Right, you're working."

She nods. "The night is still young."

The drinks are placed in front of us with swift, nearly soundless motions, the bartender disappearing from our vicinity in an instant. Her long fingers close around the glass as if it were a lifeline, saving her from drowning in a conversation that's going nowhere. She's not the only one who's new to this. I have never spent time with a woman under these circumstances. A woman dressed in sinful innocence, surrounded by kink and pleasure, the promise of sex so close—but I'm not even allowed to touch her.

As my eyes scan the room around us, I realize that the area has pretty much emptied. We're the only ones at the bar, and only a handful of patrons is still scattered across the lounges. The angels and remaining devils are competing shamelessly for their attention, something the guests visibly enjoy.

The stage has remained empty ever since madam introduced the girls, but I know there is a performance scheduled for later tonight. From the looks of it, most of the clients couldn't wait to get a taste of the rooms upstairs—and the girls that come with it—before the public performance downstairs.

Should I follow suit? Isn't that what all of this is about? Am I wasting an opportunity by spending the evening with Elene, someone I can’t even touch?

The imposing questions bother me only for a moment.

No. I'm doing exactly what I want to do. Even if she were to excuse herself and rebuff me right now, I wouldn't be interested in pursuing any of the remaining devils. I'm not here for a lay, not like that.

It would be different if she were one of them. If she could lead me upstairs. If she could show me the black room instead of just talking about it.

It would be different, but I'm not entirely sure it would be better. The whole thing would certainly lose part of its allure.

"Can I ask you something?"

I was so lost in thought that I didn't even notice that I was staring at her. Her hands, to be precise. My eyes rested on her slim fingers as they trailed back and forth along the rim of her iced water glass.

"Of course," I reply, fully returning my attention to her. “What would you like to know?”

Chapter 11

Elene

"I've been wondering... and you don't have to answer this, but I'm curious," I say, still debating with myself. I shouldn't ask this, I know I shouldn't. It's too private and not the kind of question that Miss Barry would deem appropriate.

But Miss Barry isn't here. She's around, though, and may be watching me from afar, but she doesn't hear the words escaping my lips. He, on the other hand, asked me to be real, to stop acting as if I were working. And we were told to always do what pleases the customer, as long as no one gets hurt in any way.

"Curious about what?" he says, tilting his head to the side and smiling at me, a sense of calm expectation gracing his expression.

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