Page 22

I stared out the window, at the line of scantily clad people, at the burly man at the door, at the deep purple sign above that readTantrain burnished gold lettering. Back to Wolfe. Yeah, I was nervous, but incredibly intrigued. I’d never get this chance again. “Let’s go.”
Oooh, the smile that curled his lips shot straight to my core. As usual, he came around to my side of the car, opened the door, and helped me out. I was very glad when he kept my hand in his as he led me past the waiting crowd and into the club. The entrance was a short, dimly lit, narrow corridor. It opened onto a vast room with polished concrete flooring, thirty-foot ceilings and soft purple lighting.
Still holding tight to Wolfe’s hand, I stopped short, trying to take it all in. It was a bit of sensory overload, not gonna lie. On the far wall was a stage, with two short runways coming off it, with poles at the end. There was already a woman dancing on one of the poles, while men and women stood around watching. The walls were lined with leather couches, with people in various states of undress sitting on them, making out and groping each other. A generous dance space took up the middle of the room, with a high-tech DJ booth at the edge.
There were more large, wide couches scattered across the open space and while I watched, a couple on the couch nearest me caught my eye. They were kissing passionately, with her in his lap, straddling him. Right in front of my eyes, he broke the kiss and pulled her lace top down, revealing her breasts. I swear I heard her moan with pleasure, even over the low pulsing beat of the music, when he cupped them, kneading them with his big hands. Threading her fingers through his hair, she pulled his head down, arching her back so he could suck one nipple into his mouth.
Oh Jesus, they were just going to go for it, right here in the main room? He pulled away, turning to a woman sitting near them, who had been watching the whole thing. With a smile on his face, he beckoned her closer, inviting her to join them. Which she did, sliding across the bench with a smile curving her lips, slipping her arm around the woman’s waist and bending her head to her breast. The woman’s head fell back as the other two sucked on her breasts, and her hips started an instinctive rocking motion. The man and woman paused to smile wickedly at each other.
I looked away after that, feeling a weird need to give them some privacy. Which, yeah, was dumb, I know, but oh well.
“What do you think?” Wolfe’s voice was low in my ear.
I took a few moments to seriously consider his question. I couldn’t say exactly what I’d been expecting. Maybe something more…pornographic? Rougher? Seedier? But this all seemed quite elegant, and people seemed happy and relaxed. It felt like a safe and inviting place. “I think it’s amazing.” Casting another look around, I finished with, “Although I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think I’m a little overdressed.”
“You’re fine,” he replied with a chuckle. “Drink?”
“Yes, please!”
On the wall nearest to me was a long bar, running the total length of the wall. It was made of black marble and was up lit with more of that soft, purple tinged lighting. I followed Wolfe, noting the way the crowd parted as we came through, everyone smiling and greeting him, shooting me curious looks. Hmm, not nearly as much quiet deference here as everywhere else we’d been today. Interesting.
Wolfe took me to the far end of the bar and guided me onto a bar stool.
“Thelma!”
The bartender turned, her face splitting into a grin of welcome when she saw Wolfe. She was tall and curvy, her boobs spilling over the top of her red leather corset, her bright red hair in a high ponytail, and her blue eyes heavily made up. “Hey! I wasn’t expecting you tonight!”
“Special occasion. This is Esme. It’s her birthday.”
Thelma’s gaze flicked to me, widening in surprise, before she quickly masked it. “Happy birthday! Have you had a good day?”
“Yes, thank you, I have!” Sitting by myself in the gazebo in the main square, crying my eyes out, seemed like a lifetime ago. And all thanks to Wolfe.
“Excellent. And what can I getcha to drink?”
I hesitated, because I wasn’t enough of a drinker to know what to ask for. The few times I’d had alcohol had been with Stef, it had been boxed wine in my trailer after the kids had gone to bed. Something told me that wasn’t on the menu here.
Wolfe’s hand was warm on my back. “How about a Pina colada?”
Oh, a cocktail. Yes, please. But, “Is it very strong?”
“Yeah, it’s made with rum, but you’ll like it. Make it half strength, Thelma. We don’t want her falling on her ass ten minutes in.”
“You got it.”
Moments later, a creamy, frothy, pale-yellow drink was placed on a square white napkin on the bar in front of me. I reached for it eagerly, letting out a little sigh of pleasure at how good it tasted. Looking up at Wolfe, ready to agree with him, I did like it; the words died on my lips at the way he was looking at me. Heat flickered in his eyes, bringing out the gold flecks and making my blood hum. Before I could think of anything to say to break the sudden tension between us, Thelma placed a whiskey glass on another napkin in front of us.
Wolfe dragged his eyes from mine, picked up the glass, and drank the contents straight down.
“Like that, is it?” Thelma asked, eyeing him with a raised brow.
“I have no idea what you mean. Give me another.”
She did, but he didn’t throw this one back straight away. Instead, he nursed it in his long fingers, swirling the contents so the ice clinked against the side. There was a frown on his face, and I wanted to ask what had upset him, but didn’t really know how, so I turned away too, taking another sip of my cocktail.
“I have to do the rounds for a bit. Will you be okay here by yourself?”
“Oh, um, sure.” I couldn’t hide my surprise. He was going to leave me all alone in a sex club?