Page 5 of Redemption

Chapter 4

Why in god’sname I agreed to attend some masquerade ball with Bryce, I had no idea. But the fucker had badgered me every day for a week straight before I finally gave in just to shut him up. I almost didn’t show up, but I knew I would never hear the end of it if I didn’t. It was best to make an appearance for a short time and then slip out the door before anyone noticed I was missing.

I followed the directions my GPS gave me and then looked around in puzzlement at the seemingly abandoned warehouse district. This didn’t seem like the right place. I closed out the GPS program and dialed Bryce’s number. After the third ring, he answered.

“Hey, where are you?”

“I think my GPS sent me to the wrong place. I’m sitting in front of a bunch of warehouses, all of which look like they haven’t been occupied in more years than I’ve been alive.”

“You’re at 1625 Division Street, right? Hang on, I’m heading outside.”

I waited a few minutes, scanning the buildings until I spotted a door opening, and Bryce stepped out. What the hell kind of club was located in such a run-down area? And why the fuck was Bryce wearing a trench coat in the middle of summer?

“I see you. I’m getting out of my car now.” I hung up without waiting on his response.

I jogged over to where Bryce stood, and it was then that I barely heard the thump thump of music coming from the building behind him.

“Glad you could make it. Here, put this on.” He held his hand out to me.

Reaching out for the piece of cloth, I inquired, “What kind of club is this anyway? I’ve never been here before. Hell, I had no idea there was even anything open in this area. Didn’t they shut this warehouse district down about a year ago after they discovered a drug smuggling ring operating out of here? And what the fuck is this?”

I held up the masquerade style mask.

“It’s a masquerade ball, hence the masquerade mask. Everyone inside is wearing one. It’s protocol on nights like this. You can take it off in a private room if you find someone to play with.”

“Play with? Private room? What the fuck are you talking about?”

An innocent expression crossed Bryce’s face. “Oh, didn’t I tell you? Eden is a BDSM club. Now, put on your big boy underwear and mask and get your ass inside. You’re making me miss out on all the fun.”

He turned around and walked back into the building forcing me to follow him. A BDSM club?

Immediately inside the door was a dimly lit foyer and standing guard was a stocky man with dirty blond hair that touched his shoulders. His dark blue jeans encased thighs that seemed to want to bust out of the seams. Over his bulging upper body lay a short-sleeved gray t-shirt, the sleeves digging into biceps bigger than my head. I could even see the outline of what I thought were nipple rings. In his ear rested a security earpiece with attached microphone.

Bryce, who by this time had also placed his mask on his face, greeted the man like an old friend. “Philip, my sweet boy, this is the guest I was speaking of. His name is Miles, and I promise to keep him in check.”

My eyes bugged when Bryce not only winked at the man, but when the man, Philip, blushed in response. I about choked on my own tongue when Bryce removed his trench coat and hung it up in a small coat closet on one side of the small room. He wore only a pair of leather pants that hung so low on his hips a hint of pubic hair was exposed. I quickly averted my eyes upward and couldn’t help staring at his chest when I noticed bars through both his nipples. Who was this person in front of me? Bryce turned back toward Philip and patted him on the ass as he continued on his way out the foyer and down a hall, again forcing me to follow or get left behind.

“Um, what is going on?” I had never seen Bryce behave this way. I mean I knew he was gay, but I’d never seen this flirty persona he was giving off. He maintained a high level of professionalism and decorum at work. It was as though I was meeting another person with Bryce’s face. It was only mildly freaking me out.

As I reluctantly tied on my mask, the thumping music I’d barely heard outside and in the entrance of the building grew louder the farther we got down the hall, until suddenly we were in a large room where music filled it. I tried not to stare, but it was proving to be a challenge.

I wouldn’t consider myself a prude by any means, but nothing in my life had prepared me for the sight in front of me. It was as though I’d entered an entirely new universe. One that had me instantly aroused. I knew vaguely that BDSM clubs existed. An old acquaintance I knew dabbled in swinging and had discussed some of the kinky things he enjoyed, but when it was now fully in front of me, it was a lot to take in.

Everywhere I looked was nakedness. Men and women. A scream I immediately recognized as one of ecstasy, had my eyes darting to my left where a huge stage graced the wall. A naked woman was strapped to a giant wooden cross on the stage and was being struck with something with a lot of— tails, I guess I would call them. She seemed to be thoroughly enjoying what was being done to her if the expression of arousal on her face was any indication.

“What do you mean, what’s going on? How many times do I have to tell you, this is a masquer—”

“Stop fucking saying masquerade ball. I mean, why would you bring me here? Why now? I’ve known you for years, and I had no idea you were into this kind of thing. So, I’m asking again, what’s going on?” My patience with Bryce intentionally misinterpreting my question had worn thin.

He sighed heavily in defeat. “Ever since… you know, I’ve noticed something different with you. I can’t place my finger on it, but I know it changed you. I wanted you to come tonight to see if you could find whatever it is that’s been missing. I wanted you to have a little fun.”

Damn. I thought I’d hidden my going crazy from everyone, but maybe I’d let something show I shouldn’t have. I needed to harness my emotions better. Even still. A BDSM club? How did Bryce expect me to find my sanity here? I wasn’t even sure I wanted to know what he defined as fun. I’m sure our definitions were vastly different. The thing was, now that I was here, my curiosity had been piqued. I opened my mouth to respond when I was suddenly struck dumb.

Across the room stood the sexiest woman I’d ever laid eyes on. I found myself swallowing hard, and without warning, my cock rose to attention. She confidently wore the tiniest scrap of black fabric that did more to showcase her pussy than if she’d been wearing nothing at all. Her breasts were barely covered by a royal blue band that wrapped behind her neck to then crisscrossed over her chest and looked like it tied behind her back. What drew my eye though, was the half-sleeve tattoo on her left arm. The colors were bright and brilliant, like her.

I couldn’t see her whole face because of the black half-mask she wore. I wanted to slip it off so I could see her clearly. Her eyes were hidden in shadow so I was unable to tell their color from this far away, but I instantly pictured them as being blue. Her long brown hair cascaded down her back with one loose strand curling around her right breast. She had the most adorable mole above the corner of her lip. I wanted to touch the tip of my tongue to it and see if it tasted like cinnamon.

As though feeling my gaze on her, she turned her head slightly in my direction, and our eyes met. Hers widened slightly, and a flash of recognition flared, but was gone so quickly I must have imagined it. A slight half-smile appeared on her full lips, and my cock jerked. Neither of us broke eye contact, and I had no idea how long we would have stared at each other if Bryce hadn’t bumped his shoulder against mine.

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