Page 4

CHAPTER 4

Z achariah

“Hey, my man. You made it.” Even under the Zorro mask, it was easy to recognize my best friend Jacob’s face. He couldn’t hide the huge, thick mustache he’d been sporting since I’d met him years before. “Welcome to Wild Seduction night. Imagine the possibilities for all the kinky things we can become involved in.” His laugh boomed in the busy club.

Neither he nor my other buddies I’d agreed to meet for the evening’s festivities chose to stand, the stage drawing their full attention. Steve and Brant were hiking buddies, somehow convincing me to join the hiking club the year before. Much to my brothers’ amusement and continued ribbing.

I wasn’t the kind of man to join a club under any circumstances. Including any kink club. I didn’t need to pay to play for my sins. I could get them for free.

Not that I’d done so lately. In fact, it had been close to two years at this point.

“Sorry about the delay. I had a visitor I needed to check out prior to leaving.” I sat down on the fourth chair, taking a few seconds of my time to peruse the interior. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been to Sanity, a highly respected dance and kink club located in the heart of Chicago. Its claim to fame was that there was no secret society, no catering to the upper echelon.

If you had a pulse and could pay the entrance fee, you were in. As long as you didn’t cause trouble.

The ceilings and walls were painted black, a spectacular backdrop for the festive ever-changing light show, as the club owners referred to their mood-melding designs. The moment I’d stepped foot inside years before, I’d felt a kindred spirit in the wayward people frequenting the happening joint.

We were all a little fucked up.

“That sounds clandestine,” Steve said as he swirled his usual glass of whiskey. The man had particular and very dark tastes, something that had taken me months to ascertain. He was even more private than I was.

“Annoying but also amusing. Nothing to worry about.” The waitress was also dressed in costume, her female devil outfit catching my attention as much as her swaying. Since she wasn’t keeping time to the heady tribal beat of the drum, I had a feeling she’d had one too many before coming on shift.

“Kentucky bourbon. Neat.” I didn’t wait to hear her slur her words. I didn’t give a shit about her life story. I was simply here to have a good time.

She spun away, almost tripping on her feet. Only I caught her faux pas, the others too interested in the dancers on stage. The club catered to such a broad audience that they provided various types of entertainment to soothe the savage beasts. Hip-hop, disco, soul, metal music. Songs were choreographed with dance routines that could rival any episode of Dancing with the Stars .

“Wild Seduction night,” Brant repeated. “Are you taking a girl home tonight?”

He enjoyed tossing questions of that nature in my direction. Not one of them had any understanding that my needs couldn’t be secured by taking a stranger home for the night. “Doubtful.”

“No fun,” Brant teased.

No, I’d become a focused man as of the last few months.

“You coming on the hike next week?” Brant asked.

“It depends on my workload,” I admitted, which was the truth. It was looking like I’d be heading to LA for some clandestine meeting with a movie production company. I wanted to laugh at the thought of one of Blackwell Group’s virtual reality games coming to the big screen.

“All work and no play,” he added then leaned in. I knew the shit-eating grin on his face. He had something up his sleeve.

“Whatever it is, the answer is no.” I studied his fascinating superhero costume. The man had shitty tastes in attire, but knew the best hiking spots in the entire United States.

“Oh, come on. You haven’t heard the question yet,” he chided.

I gave him a stern look and waved my hand. I wasn’t going to keep him from asking whatever favor it was. The man’s parents had more money than God and he reaped the benefits of being one of only two children, but that had never stopped him from asking for favors.

“So, do you remember I told you I purchased a warehouse?”

“Oh, for Christ’s sake,” Jacob muttered while Steve just grinned.

“Why are you keeping that shithole?” Steve chortled. “Are you suddenly jumping into the manufacturing field?”

Brant acted incensed, slamming his fist against his heart. “I’m hurt.” When he hung his head low, I punched him in the arm. “And very funny. I’m opening a dance club.”

“Get over yourself; another club, huh?” I asked as if I cared. How many clubs were in town?

His parents held at least two dozen properties in their portfolio, three of which recently gifted to their son. Maybe he’d been forced to put some money up for a down payment, but that was about it. The place was huge, but from what I’d seen a year or so before, it would need a lot of work just to bring the ancient building up to code. Maybe it would work. The location was decent enough, but owning a club was a lot of work.

Brant finally chuckled, a wry grin crossing his face. “I’ll have you know I spent a fortune on the renovations. It’s going to call to A-list people.”

“A-list people, huh? Do you know what’s involved in running a bar?” Jacob asked. He winked at me and I resisted laughing.

“You guys are true pains in the ass. I have a dual degree in business administration and marketing. Haven’t you seen the flyers or the commercials?” Brant was serious.

“Been a little busy,” I told him. I owned a single television set and it hadn’t been turned on in years.

The three of us weren’t entirely certain if Brant was kidding or not. We laughed, but I could easily tell the man was being serious.

“Look, it was an argument with my father. I told him I’d turn a profit in a single year and I plan on doing that.” Brant shook his head. “I hate my father and I really want to shove it in his face I have what it takes to operate his business when he retires. Or dies.”

We all hated our fathers, but from what Brant had told me, his was a pig and then some.

He was also giving me a knowing look, as if he’d discovered every aspect of my sometimes extracurricular activities. I sat back in my seat, studying his face while he leaned over.

“What?” I demanded.

“I’m having costume nights. Including for the opening. It’s going to be wild. I have some very special private rooms.”

“Again. So what?”

“Come on, buddy. I know all about the Obsidian Society. It’s not a big, dark secret any longer.” Brant was grinning as if he’d discovered a tomb of an ancient pharaoh.

I had no time to rebut before every light over the main floor faded to black.

“Thank God. A show,” Jacob breathed.

Club Sanity was well known for its showy, lavish, and very kinky shows on special nights. Within seconds, blue lights sparkled all throughout the audience as the music suddenly changed. The song blasting across the surround sound system was one I knew well. ‘Real Wild Child’ by Christopher Otcasek, made famous by its use in a highly profitable movie in the eighties.

My cock suddenly stiffened, my balls tightening. The last time I’d been at the club months before, the song had been played, the dancer on stage capturing my attention. I was curious if the entertainer would be the same girl. I couldn’t lie that I’d had some dark, wicked fantasies about her.

As the lights shimmered from the rays being shifted across the massive room, I realized I was holding my breath. When was the last time a single woman had grabbed my attention for longer than a few seconds?

“This should be good,” Brant stated while thumping his palm on the table.

I instantly felt jealous, which was a ridiculous emotion. I wasn’t the kind of man who needed to be and I had no clue who the woman had been before and I hadn’t attempted to figure that out.

What the hell was Brant getting at? Okay, so the society was no longer the city’s best kept secret, but the man was chomping at the bit to have me consider the place a useful tool.

A hint of anger rolled through me.

Yet the moment the lights lifted, revealing a sweet surprise, I wondered why I hadn’t pursued the mysterious temptress. I even found myself leaning forward in my chair, the location only feet from the elevated stage. Given my past, I was easily able to drown out all the noise behind me.

Tonight was no exception. Other than the lively music, I could hear nothing else.

The dancer floated across the stage as if she owned the club, completely comfortable in her own skin. Talented, her long legs reflected years of practice. So much about her spurred my desire, yet it wasn’t just the dance itself that maintained my rapt attention.

The mask covering her face in glowing shades of neon, including muted blotches indicating her eyes, nose, and mouth, dragged me into the darkest, most sadistic places in my devious mind. All I could think about was fucking her in the middle of the stage for all the onlookers to bask in and entertain jealousy.

The thought and longing became so strong, my erection grew painful as fuck. She undulated across the stage, dropping onto all fours and tossing her hair from side to side.

“Amazing.” I heard Jacob’s voice from beside me, although it sounded as if in a vacuum. I couldn’t care less what he was saying. All I could think about was this girl belonged to me.

As she began to crawl forward, I suddenly became painfully aware Brant had risen to his feet, inching closer to the stage. The beast I’d learned to harbor close inside of me was incensed. Before I knew what I was doing, I’d yanked him back onto his chair with enough force I almost tossed them both onto the floor.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Brant snarled, immediately getting in my face. However, almost instantly he backed down. While only Jacob knew what I was made of, the other two men had figured out I was a dangerous man, ignoring rules, orders, and anything decent.

Brant threw up his hands and adjusted his seat, even tugging on his shirt collar as if feeling suffocated. The man should consider himself lucky he hadn’t learned how my wrath could alter his life.

“What the fuck, man?” Jacob hissed under his breath as he crowded my space. “We’re just having fun.”

I slowly turned my head in his direction. Instead of cowering in my presence and dark mood like almost everyone did in my life, he burst into laughter and shook his head. “How long has it been since you got laid?”

“Too fucking long.” My admittance didn’t bother me. I had no need to keep score with anyone. My priorities often shifted depending on the situation.

And my ugly mood swings.

Once again, I sat back in my seat, staring at what my instinct screamed was a beautiful woman as she crawled toward the edge of the stage. And toward me. With her long hair continuously swinging and the lights creating a warm glow, the shimmer highlighted her wild strands of fuchsia hair. While obviously a wig, I longed to have the sultry strands fisted in my hand.

The dance continued, the crowd of mostly men going wild. She backed completely off, racing toward a metal pole positioned in the middle of the stage. I remained mesmerized by the way her powerful legs easily maneuvered the slender pole, no use of her arms needed. I envisioned having those legs wrapped around my hips as I drove my cock deep into her sweet little pussy.

I allowed myself to smile as the image almost clouded the moment. It was just another reminder I was a vile man with only seductive, controlling intentions in mind. My needs certainly didn’t bode well for normal relationship activity.

As the crescendo reached a provocative ending, she dropped to the stage once again, her momentum allowing her to slide forward right to the edge of the raised platform.

And within snatching distance.

I considered it for a split second, finally ignoring the vast darkness that had eclipsed my soul decades before. The last thing I needed was additional trouble on my hands. The recent threats were enough.

So I sat back once again in my chair, not allowing myself to engage in my usual possessive behavior.

Even though the mystery woman who left me hard and excited reached for me, her eyes locking with mine. I’d be damned if she wasn’t doing her best to tempt the darkness.

“She likes you,” Brant threw across the table, breaking the beautiful, lingering moment of rare peace.

The ugliest part of me wanted to pummel his face for the interruption. At least the sane portion of me, however small, knew that wouldn’t present well in mixed company.

“She likes every man, dude,” Steve corrected, which was likely true. The statement brought another round of possessiveness to the forefront. While a part of me wondered why this girl enticed me so much, the answer was easy to ascertain. Any woman who felt comfortable enough to flourish behind a mask was far more intriguing than the typical female.

As quickly as the erotic dance had begun, it ended with the lights going dim, only a hint of blacklights shining from somewhere behind us.

“Would you look at the mask?” Jacob breathed.

“Amazing,” Brant chimed in. “See how popular these costume nights are?”

I rolled my eyes. He wasn’t letting this go.

Brant and Jacob ogled together as the Wild One, as she was called, did her best to lock eyes with every man standing closest to the stage. When she shifted her attention in my direction, I took a deep breath, holding it for a few seconds. I could tell by the flash in her eyes and the shift in her gaze as she allowed it to fall down the length of my body that she was as interested as I was.

The attraction was all about intense, carnal needs.

As anticipated, our mutual admiration was interrupted as rowdy men crowded the stage, their behavior forcing three bodyguards to pounce.

I chuckled with amusement.

Worthless fucks who couldn’t control themselves.

My instincts told me that the Wild One was the only beautiful creature who stood a chance of ripping away the portion of the darkness threatening to destroy all that I savored.

Wealth beyond imagination.

More power than almost anyone in the country.

Being able to enjoy the fruits of years of labor, including acts of debauchery and pure evil.

The truth was toxic and disturbing.

I was unraveling from the core out.

Soon, I would fall prey to the monster dwelling inside of me, the one who’d once fed on the blood, death, and souls of all those I considered reprehensible. If my control finally broke free, there would be no recourse.

I would become the very beast I’d fought to contain.

After that?

There’d be no chance at redemption.

There was something telling in the way she reached for me, as if begging me to touch and taste her.

I lifted my glass, my heart thudding in my chest. The woman was far too much of a draw, increasing a need that I’d pushed into the darkest locked locations of my soul.

But I knew at that moment our paths would cross again. Perhaps tonight. Perhaps in a week or a month.

As soon as they did, I would invite her into my world. Once inside, she would never be free, chained by the satisfaction only I could provide.

My Wild One had no idea she’d already been chosen.

The thought should be revolting, but instead, I was electrified, hunger refusing to be denied until completely satisfied.

As my phone rang, I jerked my thoughts from the ridiculous abyss. This was one call I’d need to take.

“I’ll be right back. I need to take this outside,” I told the group absently as I stood. Why was it that I was immediately searching for the mystery girl, finding her seconds later?

“All work and no play,” Brant chimed in a second time.

I lifted my middle finger.

A smile crossed my face the moment I sensed she became aware I’d caught her. She was searching for me as well. As I headed for the exit, I’d all but convinced myself to begin the hunt.

Little did she know soon her entire life would be on display, putty in my hands. I couldn’t wait to mold her into everything she’d longed to be.

The mystery woman was the perfect prey.

And in my mind, she was already the perfect candidate.

Now my cock was at full attention. She was indeed the one and I couldn’t wait to begin.