Page 42 of Spoil
As we walk the two blocks to The Club, I slide my hand into Nell’s. She squeezes it and rests her head against my shoulder. It had pained me earlier watching her sisters flirt shamelessly with me and watching Nell get increasingly irritated, but polite society and my upbringing meant I couldn’t call them out completely. And I know Nell values her sisters and keeping the peace more than anything, so I bit my tongue, even when everything in me wanted to shout at them.
“So, I know you’ve been to the club, but that’s after hours. I only want to go where you’re comfortable, okay? The green room is where everyone mingles, and clothes mostly stay on. The red room is usually a free for all. And then we have different themed rooms...” I trail off, because of course she knows that.
“And this is my payment for an awkward family dinner?” she asks, and the tease in her voice means that we’re going to be okay.
“Payment? Reward? Po-tay-to, po-tah-to?”
She gives me a small chuckle, and I squeeze her hand again. Really, I wanted more time with her tonight. I want to introduce her to my friends so she can see herself as a part of my world. And I want to make her so delirious with pleasure she agrees to anything I ask. Because I have a big question, I’m going to ask her tonight.
As we reach the doors, I hold one open for her and usher her into the foyer. I check out coats and hold the curtain open for her to enter the green room.
She stiffens, looking out at the crowd.
“What’s wrong?”
She tugs at the hem of her sweatshirt. “I think I’m underdressed,” she whispers, a pink creeping up her neck.
Oh. I’m a dick. I didn’t even let her change. I wasn’t thinking about what people normally wear to The Club.
“The most beautiful woman here, no matter what you’re wearing,” I say, tugging her to me and pressing my lips to hers. “Maybe Cass has an extra dress here you could borrow? Or I could send someone to pick one up?”
She smacks my chest; her face turning thunderous.
“Cass is a friend. A coworker. No coworkers, remember?”
Her blush deepens, and I can’t help myself. I drop chaste kisses to both of her rosy cheeks.
“What can I get you to drink?”
“Oh. I don’t know? I don’t usually drink.” She hesitates, looking at the long bars on both sides of the room. “Maybe some red wine?”
I spot our friends at our usual table. Not wanting to leave her alone, I guide us over to them.
“Guys, this is Nell. Nell, this is Declan, his fiancé Serenity, Harrison, and Cassidy,” I say, motioning to each in turn. Nell politely shakes Declan’s hand with a ‘hello’ but before she can shake Serenity’s hand, the small sprite of a woman envelopes Nell in a hug.
“I can’t believe it! You’re actually real,” Serenity says, holding Nell by her shoulders and running her gaze all over her. Feeling a little possessive, I wrap an arm around Nell’s waist and tug her back to me.
She gives Harrison and Cassidy a small wave in greeting.
“We had bets going if you were just a fever dream or a real human being,” Cassidy adds, digging into her clutch and passing Serenity a bill.
Nell chuckles. “Sorry. Real human being here,” she says, and Cassidy just shrugs.
“I’m really happy for you two,” she says, tugging Nell into the seat beside her. Safely surrounded by my friends, I touch hershoulder and make sure it’s okay for me to leave her alone. She gives me a soft smile and nods. Serenity and Cass are going to overwhelm her with questions, but it shouldn’t take long to fetch a few glasses of wine.
When I return to the group, however, I’m surprised to see that it’s Harrison she’s talking to. He’s our normally introverted, silent, grumpy COO of The Envelope, but the soft way he’s smiling at Nell makes my feet falter. I’ve never seen that look on him. Eager to figure out what she’s said to disarm our primal Dom in the time it took me to get a couple of drinks I set Nell’s down in front of her before taking the seat opposite Harrison.
“Shit on a shingle,” he says, matter-of-factly.
“Ohhh, that’s a good one. Still can’t beat buttered noodles, though.”
"Lies. At least shit on a shingle has meat in it," Harrison retorts.
Nell laughs, light and breezy. “If you can call that meat.”
Harrison smiles at her, completely enamored.
"What’s on a shingle?" I ask, loving how easy Nell feels with my friends, but also completely confused.
