Page 5 of Bound By Desire (Club Desire 1)

"Is this about you? Are you feeling left out, Denise?"

"Yes—and—no. What I mean is if you did this to anyone else I would have to say something, because by leaving that one person out, it would make them feel ostracized. Personally, I have been hardened enough to not care, but to someone else it could really hurt their feelings.” Denise's eyes caught on the off white card that he slipped out of his pocket. “I didn't ask to speak with you to force an invitation. I just wanted to help make you a little more aware of other people."

"Are you finished?"

"Yes."

"Who told you about this party?"

"It doesn't matter."

"It actually does matter, but since you won't tell me, I will figure it out on my own. Did they tell you what goes on at my parties?"

"All she said was it was the special kind.” But her legal assistant Sarah did seem to like remembering the party. That was before she became uncomfortable from having brought attention to Denise's lack of an invitation.

"She?” he repeated, smiling at her. She winced at her disclosure. She had not meant to give out too much information. And she probably just narrowed his suspects down by half. Well, in this office, it was over half. More like down to three people.

He walked the invitation over to her and laid it on her desk. “My parties are very special. I just didn't think you were into that lifestyle, Denise."

He was regarding her with a wary expression, scrutinizing her reaction. She noted his set face, his clamped mouth and fixed eyes.

"What kind of lifestyle? Is this one of those swinger parties? A kinky sex party?” As she asked that question, she became aware of another kind of excitement overcome her body.

The corners of his mouth twitched in response. “You might call it kinky. It's where people can be free to express themselves and doms and subs can hook up and pleasure each other. It is not always about the sex, either."

"Doms?” she questioned, searching her mind for what the word meant, what it could be an abbreviation for. It sounded foreign and nothing clicked in her mind at the word. So her expression remained blank.

"Dominant,” he answered her, letting her put the clues together. At the exact moment she registered what he was talking about, she blushed furiously, her face turned scarlet. He enjoyed watching her expression change to surprise as she registered what he was talking about.

"Oh ... You mean like giving pain?” She never did have a good poker face. She could feel the heat in her cheeks at the thought.

"Pain can heighten pleasure."

"Oh my...” Her voice drifted off key at the end. She felt an erotic thrill sweep over her body, at the way he said that. His eyes locked with hers, and his words stuck in her mind. As if he was not just answering her question, but giving her a personal invitation to play.

With him.

"I didn't think you would want to come, Denise, which is why I didn't give you an invitation earlier, but if you change your mind feel free to come.” Victor's grin spread wide across his face before he exited her office and closed the door behind him.

She swallowed hard, chastising herself for her stupidity. He wasn't that uncaring. She had to have known there was a real reason he didn't invite her, not ignorance. She fingered the invitation in her hands before opening it. She couldn't imagine what it would be like. She had always been a dominating, successful woman in a career that wouldn't allow her to be anything but aggressive. The men that were attracted to her always wanted her to be just as aggressive in the bedroom. Here was an opportunity to live out a fantasy she had always dreamed of.

Her darkest and most secret fantasies could come true. But did she have the courage to make it happen?

Chapter Six

Denise checked her blonde wig for what seemed the hundredth time that night. She reapplied her lipstick and checked her makeup as well. She had stayed away from her usual colors to help change her appearance in every way she could think of. She even added a beauty mark just outside her lips. She could be a dead ringer for Marilyn Monroe tonight.

She bought a white dress just for the occasion. Nothing like her usual wardrobe. This dress pulled tight on her bodice, pushing her breasts forward and showing off her legs. It flowed softly around her, heightening that soft feminine look. Tonight her clothes said, “Come and get me.” Her usual clothing screamed out power and control, giving no quarter for anyone that would challenge her. Whether it was in the streets or at the office, she was always in control.

She knew she intimidated most men, and the few that were drawn to her wanted to be controlled. For once, she wanted a man that wasn't afraid of what or who she was. She wanted to feel thoroughly conquered. To feel what it felt like to be completely dominated by a man. Just once. This is why she chose to wear white tonight. The instructions in the invitation were quite clear. Doms identified themselves by wearing black and subs wore white.

So she naturally chose white.

No one would ever recognize her tonight, and that was her goal. Not be recognized. To live for the moment, with no consequences for what tomorrow would bring.

Denise approached Victor's house with her heart pounding in her chest. The windows were lit up in the night by the interior lights. The house was huge, much bigger than her condo, but he was the director. The outside of the house had elaborate landscaping, with white rocks running under a bridge. The Tudor style house was lit up with spotlights, lending to its magnificence. It held an old world charm to it. Even the driveway was authentic looking, lined with cobblestones.

She was greeted by the door by a gentleman dressed in a suit. Denise didn't recognize him as an agent, he must have worked for Victor in some other way, perhaps as his butler. “May I have your invitation, please?"

"Yes, here it is.” She pulled out the invitation nervously from her purse and handed it to the man.

He took the invitation from her and led her inside by her arm. “Right this way, madam."

Denise smiled nervously, trying to look confident, when she didn't feel that way in the slightest. She scanned the sea of men and women dressed in black and white, trying to steady her breathing and analyze her next move. I can do this, she assured herself, I just have to make a plan of attack and go from there.

Denise worked her way over to the bar and ordered herself a drink. She took a seat there to assess the men in the room. She sat nervously watching the other men, assessing faces and watching them interact with the women. Just how did you do this? Would it be all right to approach a man and say this is what I want from you? Was there some kind of protocol in this world, where the subs would never consider approaching the man. Maybe she wasn't cut out for this. Maybe she should just go home right now.

She took the glass of bourbon and tossed it back to raise her courage.

She had never done this before. There were going to be a lot of firsts tonight. She had never been submissive in sex before. She had also never picked out a man by his physical attributes. Never looked at a man like a piece of meat, just able to give her pleasure, but that was exactly what she set out to do now. She was determined to make t

his a night to remember. To find a man who made her heart beat a little faster. A man who could make her melt with one look. A man who rocked her world.

A man like ... Her eyes were frozen on the man approaching her.

She should have known Victor would be the first to see her. He was already wrecking her plans, and making his way over to her. He was dressed in solid black, and she had to admit he looked damn sexy in that outfit. He approached her with a single minded purpose that made her look away nervously. She hoped he did not recognize her. Her heart sped up, it had to be beating a hundred times a minute right now.

"You're new, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"And talkative I see?” He peered at her curiously, arching an eyebrow. “Do I know you?"

"No—You can just call me Dee."

"Ah, a lady of mystery. Well, we will let you keep your secrets for now, Dee.” He emphasized the name with a throaty purr that brought goose bumps up on her flesh. Nervously she fingered her glass. She wasn't sure if he knew her secret or not, but he wasn't calling her by name.

"Thank you."

"Is this your first time, Dee?"

"Of course.” She blushed in response.

"Beautiful and shy."

"Thank you.” She felt the heat rise to her face again. Was he flirting with her?

"Then perhaps you are looking for a strong hand to guide you?” Victor's hand covered hers on the counter, eliciting an immediate response from her body. She wasn't sure if she liked it or not. This was her boss. He was sexy, and he was one hell of a looker, but how could she continue to work with him if he ever knew?

"Yes,” she replied, not wanting to remove her hand from his.

"What are you looking for tonight, Dee?"

Denise just blinked up at him. Too afraid to put her fantasies into words. And to experience it with Victor? She would never have crossed that line, if he hadn't offered first. But now...

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