Page 14 of Shadowing Charlotte
"Going to Tarot. You finally going to give up on cradle robbing and come out with us?" I could practically hear him holding back his laughter. My father's sudden call had left me on edge. The last thing I wanted was to listen to Zane's smart-ass comments.
"Fuck it," I finally replied, anger and bitterness still pumping through my veins. "You're paying."
"Fuck yes!" he exclaimed, "Be here at ten." I didn't bother to agree, ending the call and setting the phone on the table. The high of the moment didn't take long to dissipate, replaced by an overwhelming feeling of regret. Tarot wasn't really somewhere I wanted to be caught hanging out, and I couldn't help but feel like I was betraying Charlotte.
She has a fucking boyfriend…I reminded myself.There's nothing between us to betray.
"Knight of cups," Zane said as the little square of the metal door slid open.
The entrance of Tarot was in a seedy looking alley, hardly a place that looked like a club, but Zane had been here enough times to know the ins and outs of getting inside.
As the door opened to reveal a mass of a man, I tried to act like I wasn't anxious, like this wasn't something new for me.
"Zane…" the giant greeted with a nod, "Non-members are—"
"I know. I'll go see Daphne right now," Zane interruptedsmoothly, undeterred.
At the bar, Zane ordered us whiskey and began talking in a soft murmur to the woman who poured the drinks. A stack of papers was dropped in front of me, and I raised an eyebrow at her.
"You know what this place is?" she asked in response to my look of curiosity.
"Of course."
"Then you know that you need to read through the rules and sign an NDA," she replied firmly, "You can't go downstairs until you've signed everything."
I took a few minutes to pour through the legal jargon and the club rules. Safe words, masks, intoxication policy, protection. Simple rules to protect member's identities and safety.
"When were you last tested?"
I blinked at her blunt question. "About a year ago, but I haven't been sexually active for a couple years," I replied, my cheeks burning as Zane grinned at me.
Once I'd signed and Zane had paid, we were free to go downstairs.
"You're good for a month, after that you have to pay for yourself," he informed me with a crooked grin, handing me a mask to tie around my eyes. I didn't imagine making this a regular routine, but I nodded anyway.
"Sure," I agreed automatically, wondering how anyone could like this place enough to keep coming back, to keep paying five hundred bucks a fucking month.
The door at the end of the room was pulled open for us, the faint music that could be heard through the bar before, dark and pulsing, was suddenly overriding any other sound.
"Ready to go play?" Zane asked with a mischievous grin, descending into the darkness in front of me. I really didn't want to be there, but I'd already agreed; Zane had already paid.
"The Dungeon" as Zane aptly called it, was dimly lit with red lights. It consisted of a long, wide walkway with alcoves on both sides. Some of them were filled with couches and seats, others had small stages, set up with varying furniture and toys. A horse, a fucking pillory, and other instruments I couldn't name.
I sank into one of the leather seats, sipping my whiskey as Zane wandered off to find someone to occupy his time. It was overwhelming. People being guided by leashes, a slew of women who were half naked. A few feet away, on the sofa, a woman sat, wearing nothing but a thick leather collar. Her long brown hair was pulled into a high ponytail, her face only concealed by the tiny lace mask that had been tied around her eyes. She was still as stone, her back rigid, hands clasped together like she was praying.
"You good?" I couldn't help but ask.
"Yes, sir," she murmured.
"How long have you been sitting like that…?" I asked, noting how she was trembling, struggling to stay still.
"Mina," she offered her name, likely not her real one. "Maybe an hour, sir," she added softly. "I'm not allowed to move until Daddy comes back."Oh…
"I see… Where is your Dom?" I asked. Her eyes flicked across the room to a man with two naked women in his lap, both of them with their tongues stuffed down the other one's throat.
"Are you being punished or just playing?" I asked.
"Playing…" she murmured, her eyes fixed on the two women, her chest heaving as she sucked in panting breaths. Although the pair were practically fucking in his lap, the guy wasn't watching them. He was watching Mina, his eyes shining with amusement.
