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Juliette

A mask was a heavy burden, especially when it was my only way into New York’s hottest queer BDSM club.

It had taken a good portion of my bus money to get a car to the place. They chose an out-of-the-way, quiet house with an unassuming neighborhood. It’s better for privacy that way.

After all, they catered to some of the most high-level and sensitive people—or at least that was the rumor.

They boasted about how good their privacy and security were in the club, and it did seem that way. I didn’t even get the address to the place until an hour before I was supposed to arrive.

I wouldn’t be surprised if there were some super-secret government officials inside . Or maybe they veered to the more illegal side of things.

Either way, the promise of privacy was a plus for me.

From the outside, you’d never know the devious things that took place inside.

The cool air brushed across my skin, reminding me that I was just there, motionless, looking up at the place with a wide gaping mouth. Could I make it any more obvious I’d never been here before? I pulled my coat closer, debating whether or not it was a good idea to go in. I still had time.

Maybe I could just turn back. Forget I’d ever come. But that would be a waste of the money I spent to get here. And who knew if the auction was the real deal? Or if anyone would even want me?

I took it all in. The night sky, glittering with stars. The carefully trimmed lawn. The gold gate surrounding the entire property. The house itself reaching high up into the sky, looking more like some rich tycoon’s mansion than a sex club.

There were lights shining from the inside, but they seemed dim. Either that or they had special films to block out any prying eyes. The latter seemed more likely.

There wasn’t anyone outside besides the guard at the door and myself. Only then did I realize he’d been staring at me. Probably as long as I’d been standing there.

Cars were parked on the road leading up to the house, but they were all empty.

What I was here for was all too obvious. If the black studded mask wasn’t enough, then my five-year-old bright-red pumps and lacy black dress would paint the full picture.

I didn’t have anything appropriate to wear to the club—or the funds to purchase it—so I put together what I had and hoped it would be enough.

Hell, if the auction didn’t work out, coming to Club Pétale would be one of the worst financial decisions I made. But for once in my life, I wanted to do something for me . Auction and possible money aside, there was another reason I decided to partake in this auction. I wanted to be selfish.

That’s what this night was for. Me. I had been working too long for other people. For everyone else. But not tonight.

I walked the rest of the way to the entrance with my shoulders back, pausing to look up at the guard with my best smile.

He just stared at me, looking me up and down before motioning for me to try the door.

Phase one: done.

“Thank you,” I said earnestly and pushed open the door.

My jaw dropped at what was inside. The whole place reeked of money and elegance, but in a twisted, sexy way.

The large blown-up pictures on the walls of various depraved sexual acts had my skin flushing immediately.

And just beyond, the people were dressed—or I should say in various forms of undress —in sensual blacks, reds, feathers, leather, and everything else you could think of.

There was tasteful music playing in the background and light chatter, but everything was very behaved. Not a rager or a dark dungeon like my spiraling mind had told me it’d be like.

“Holy shit,” I whispered, unable to fully comprehend what I was seeing. Immediately, I felt at home. All the nerves from before melting away.

“It’s great, isn’t it?”

My eyes fell to a girl dressed in an all-red latex suit that went all the way from her neck to her fingers and toes. She had a small mask on her face, her dark hair falling to her waist.

Then I saw the iPad in her hands.

“I don’t know what I imagined, but this is better,” I said, unable to keep the nervous excitement out of my voice. My decision was cemented then.

I’m doing this. No going back. I was meant to be here tonight.

I would walk home if I needed to. This was going to be a good night. My night.

“Wait until you see the private rooms. Name?” she asked, then tacked on. “Alias. Not your real name.”

I flushed. She already knew how unprepared I was. Maybe she saw me waiting outside.

“Julie H.” It was the only name I could think of when filling out the form and it was similar to mine. I assumed it would be easy to get used to it, but even hearing me say it out loud made me feel weird.

“No matches,” she said as she used a stylus to type in my name. She looked me up and down, and I could see the moment of realization on her face. “Oh! You’re here for the auction!”

My fingers grasped at the lace, suddenly nervous. Not too sexy for an auction, but I guess fitting for something more… elegant?

“Am I… dressed okay for it?” I asked.

She gave me a warm smile. “You’re perfect.”

I floundered for a response.

“And… You’re sure I’ll get the money? Like, this is not some type of trafficking scheme?” I don’t know why it came out as a whisper, but it had the hostess giggling.

“Yes. We get a cut, of course, but most will be yours. Don’t be so nervous,” she said. “It’s a single night with you. You fill out your preferences and hard noes and then you get bid on. Super easy.”

Something akin to hope had its claws around my heart. I needed money more than I needed food at the moment. Between the debt from my parents’ accident and my brother’s tuition money, I was drowning. I had yet to be assigned a new family to nanny, but I knew it wouldn’t pay much.

I just need enough to get by until then and maybe a bit extra to cover the hospital bills.

“How much do you think I can get?”

A part of me still wanted to run. Turn back and forget I ever came. But I needed this. And the thought of someone worshipping me and me alone tonight had my skin tingling.

She shrugged.

“Up to them, but bidding starts at a hundred thousand.”

I almost fainted right there on the spot.

I came here for a reason and was secretly hoping to meet someone to have a good night with. In other words, I came to get fucked. Thoroughly. But getting some money on top of that? It was almost too good to be true.

“Please show me the way.”

* * *

I looked up at the empty stage and a nervous shudder went up my back.

It was empty, but I could hear the buzz of excitement working its way through the people behind the thick velvet curtain.

The room hadn’t filled up with patrons yet, so they were giving us time to look around and get a feel of the place before just putting us in the spotlight.

The girls who had signed up were sitting in the seats and rows next to me.

Less than ten, most of them looking just as nervous as I felt, but I tried not to let it show.

I forced the well-worn smile on my face, no matter how I felt inside.

“Is this your first time here?” I asked the brunette girl beside me. She was wearing a pink mask, her bangs popping out above it.

She jumped slightly, as if she wasn’t prepared for me to talk to her.

“Oh, um… Yeah, is it that obvious?” I could hear the anxiety weaved into her voice and immediately regretted it.

“Me too,” I said quickly, shooting her another smile. “Juliette.” I extended my hand but flinched when I realized I’d given her my real name.

She looked around and dropped her voice to a whisper.

“Pearl.”

I let out a sigh of relief. The last thing I wanted was to be kicked out of the auction for breaking the rules.

“I’m nervous,” I admitted. “I’m afraid no one will buy me.” I let out a laugh, but it sounded a bit manic even to my ears.

This got a real smile from Pearl. “Me too. How humiliating would it be to just stand up there with no bids?”

“Now, now, relax. Club Pétale would never let that happen,” a girl said as she walked across the stage and sat down right on the edge of it to speak to us. “After all, we have a reputation to uphold, don’t we?”

She had silver-dyed hair that was slicked back and shaven on the sides.

Her face glittered with multiple piercings and her skin was covered in tattoos.

They peeked out of her deep purple silk button-up that had the first few buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up.

I could see a few leather straps underneath that were mostly hidden by the clothing.

She gave us a sultry grin.

“I’m Sloan,” she said, looking each one of us in the eyes. “I’m in charge of memberships here, but since this auction was my idea, my hard-ass of a boss decided to put me in charge of it?—”

There was a throat clearing off to the side of the stage. My eyes shot to the sound and my breath caught in my throat as an older woman with honey eyes and matching hair stared at the girl in front of us with a hardened look.

It had fear racing up my spine. She looked like she was going to kill someone.

“Speak of the devil,” Sloan muttered, never losing her smile.

“I don’t pay you to bad-mouth me.”

“You pay me?” Sloan asked, her gaze shifting to her boss, whose edges of her lips tilted before she turned.

“Finish up. Bidders are getting antsy.”

“That’s Ax,” Sloan explained as the other woman disappeared behind the curtain. “She’s the boss, and though she seems like she has a stick up her ass, we promise your experience here is of the utmost importance.”

Another girl with dark, curly hair and light umber skin pulled up to my side.

“This is my insanely beautiful wife, Lillian. She, along with Nyx, who’s waiting for you backstage, is going to make sure you’re comfortable. Lil will be in charge of taking pictures, so if you’re not okay with that, please tell her so.”

I looked up at her and she automatically gave me a warm smile.

“Let’s get everyone back before it starts, hm? I think Ax wants to say a few words.”

Ax. The scary one.