Page 29 of The Facilitator, Part 3

Chapter Sixteen

I arrived home before Lauren and took my packages to the bedroom.

I opened the box and pulled out a dress.

I held it up. Usually, I’d buy her full-length or at least calf-length dresses but this one should end just above her knees.

I bought it for no reason other than I liked it.

It reminded me of a fifties pinup dress, fitted until the skirt which was, I was reliably informed, a skater flair .

That meant fuck all to me, I’d said. I placed the dress on the bed and a new pair of shoes to match beside it.

I admired the outfit and knew that the red dress would suit Lauren.

It had a V front with short sleeves and a belt that tied in a bow to the side.

I’d bought classic black patent leather Louboutins. Lauren probably owned enough of those shoes to open a museum, but she didn’t have patent black. I made a point of checking, of course. She had every color they offered; she liked her shoes, for sure.

Last, I rifled through her underwear. I found some crotchless panties that still had a tag and a matching bra that was an abuse of the word.

It was a scrap of material that, I imagined, sat under her breasts.

I chuckled as I laid them on the bed as well.

I was also very aware that if Lauren didn’t like them, she wouldn’t wear them.

I was rarely wrong in my choices, however.

I headed for a shower and then dressed in pants and a shirt.

When Lauren returned from work, I led her to the bedroom. “Oh, Mackenzie, that’s gorgeous,” she said, picking up the dress. “And the shoes!” She hugged one to her chest and laughed.

“And the rest?” I asked.

She picked up the scrap of material that called itself a bra. “I’ve been waiting for an occasion to wear this,” she said. “I’m guessing that’s tonight?”

I nodded. “I’m guessing so, as well. I’ll let you get ready,” I said.

An hour later, Lauren walked into the kitchen and I wanted to whistle. She had pinned up her hair and looked amazing. I smiled as I walked toward her.

“Jesus, you are stunning,” I said, and I handed her a glass of chilled wine .

She took the wine and did a slow twirl, I did whistle then. “I love the dress,” she said, laughing.

Her tanned and toned legs looked endless. It was an illusion considering she wasn’t tall, but the expanse of bare skin was arousing. I wanted to lick the back of her knees, run my tongue over her thighs.

“Erm,” Lauren said, bringing my gaze back to her face. She smirked at me.

“You can’t blame me,” I said, chuckling. We clinked our glasses and sipped on our wine.

Fifteen minutes later, we were off.

“Black, red, or silver?” I asked.

“Oh, the choices,” she said, placing her finger to her lips. “Black.”

“Well, that’s awkward because there are two black cars,” I said. “However…” I then thought about my plans. I picked up a key from the key box and pressed to unlock the car. “That one.”

Lauren chuckled as I helped her lower into the Aston Martin. “This is so you can see my crotchless knickers, isn’t it?” Her dress had risen and she tried to cover her ass.

“You know me so well,” I said, closing her door and running around the trunk of the car.

Lauren started to tell me about her day and an argument she’d had with one of the staff. She’d been speaking with HR about the possibility of discipline. “Do you need me to do anything?” I asked.

“No, I have it under control. I’m not sure what’s going on and I suspect there is something happening at home that we’re not being told about. Jake has been absent so much this year but won’t tell his supervisor why.”

I was glad that her mind was on work and not so much on the route we were taking, even though I tried to vary it. However, when we got close, she chuckled.

I punched in my code at the gate and waited for it to swing open. A valet was waiting to take my car and cell, Lauren left her handbag in the car, knowing it would be secure.

Veronica came to the door. “Lauren, it’s so good to see you.” she asked. She smiled and air-kissed me, but took Lauren’s arm and walked her into the bar while they chatted. I loved that they had a firm friendship.

I ordered a bottle of wine for when we dined and two glasses to sip on before we were called through. Veronica sat on a stool with us. Alex had told her the basics of what had happened and Lauren filled her in on the rest.

“And Lauren punched Addison,” I added.

“You did not!” Veronica said, laughing. Veronica could fight, she’d needed to in the past, but Lauren couldn’t swat a fly .

I laughed as Lauren nodded, very proud of herself. I kissed her temple, chuckling with her. As I looked over her shoulder, I saw someone who had me frowning.

“Is that—” I started.

“Yes, I’ve assured him all the privacy he needs. He isn’t a member, but here with Lord Warwick.”

“Okay. There’s a little unsavory press at the moment.”

“I know. I’m keeping a very close eye,” she said.

“Tell me so I don’t have to look around,” Lauren asked.

“Prince Emmanuel of Spain,” I replied.

“Oh, I thought he was being investigated for fraud?” Lauren said, and Veronica nodded.

“He’s in the UK on official business, so we’re told. On the run more like,” Veronica added and chuckled.

The last thing we wanted was unfavorable press. The club had suffered a short period where the gutter press had tried to infiltrate and wrote shit, back when it first opened. I didn’t want for that to happen again.

“The women?” I asked. They had two very well-dressed women with them.

“The brunette is Lady Warwick and the other is a friend. I have all her details and she checks out. I also gave my darling Hannah a call and she doesn’t know her, so I think we’re good.”

Darling Hannah , as Veronica called her, was her sometimes partner when she didn’t want dick today , but also supplied the high and mighty with some very expensive call girls.

That was something I wasn’t having in my club.

I thanked Veronica for vetting her. All guests had to be booked in advance and the details we wanted had to accompany photo ID.

Anyone trying to sneak in would be caught straightaway.

“Anyway, I can’t sit here and chat, as much as I’d love to. Do you have menus?”

I shook my head and she slid from her stool to grab some. She returned with two and then left again.

“Did you ever think you’d have a relationship with her?” Lauren asked, totally out of the blue.

“With Veronica?” I asked, surprised at her question.

“Yes,” she replied, smiling.

“No. It was never about that,” I said, frowning because I wasn’t sure where the question came from.

Lauren chuckled. “Sorry, it was something that just came to me. I’m not jealous, don’t panic, just nosy,” she said. She placed her hand on my thigh.

“Honestly, I don’t think Veronica does relationships at all. I think something awful happened to her in her youth.”

“You think ?”

“Yes, just something Alex said to me once. I can’t remember the exact words but suggested she’d been through something terrible once, and that was why she didn’t do relationships.”

“That’s a shame.”

Veronica, Lauren, and I had enjoyed an evening together one time and it was something I’d do again, if Lauren wanted.

Not because I wanted to be with Veronica, we didn’t touch each other at all, but Veronica knew—without a shadow of doubt—what turned women on, and seeing her do that to my wife was explosive to me.

I started to think about what was to come that evening. Veronica had arranged what I’d required, of course.

“What are you thinking?” Lauren asked, sipping her wine.

“Just about later,” I said, smirking at her.

“You’re wiggling on your stool,” she whispered.

“Wiggling?” I laughed at her term. Sure, I was already aroused and trying to get comfortable.

“Can I take your order, or would you like some more time?” I heard. I looked up to see a server.

Lauren smirked as she studied her menu.

“Oysters, and then the fish. For us both,” Lauren said. She closed her menu and handed it to the server. I did the same.

The server left. “You don’t like oysters,” I said.

“You do, and if they’re the aphrodisiac they’re meant to be, I want you to have a double portion,” she said, laughing.

“Lauren, I don’t need anything to keep aroused where you’re concerned.”

I pulled her stool closer to mine, her legs were between mine and I placed my hands on her bare thighs. I leaned forward a little, parting her legs.

“I can smell you,” I said quietly. My mouth watered and I licked my lips.

She swallowed hard. “You make my stomach flip when you do that,” she said.

“Do what?”

“Stare at me that way. You did that the first evening and every one since.”

“Because I want you, and I won’t stop wanting you,” I replied. “Ever.”

“Even when I’m old?”

“More so when you’re old.”

I leaned back and picked up our wine. I handed her the glass and caught a wave over her shoulder.

“Our table is ready,” I said, sliding from my stool. I held out my hand to assist her.

We walked into the dining room and to one of the alcoves.

I liked to sit to the side and face the door.

It gave me warning if anyone was to approach for a conversation.

Most people that joined the club knew I owned it, and occasionally, they wanted to talk.

I didn’t, especially when I was there with my wife.

I pulled out Lauren’s chair and was pleased to see the table had been set so we sat side by side and not opposite each other.

“I want you to try another oyster,” I said when a frame with a dish was placed in the center of the table.

Surrounding the oysters was a small pot of chili oil, a bottle of Tabasco, and cut lemons. I squeezed lemon over one and held it. Lauren reached to take it from me and I shook my head.

“I’m going to feed you,” I whispered. “Open your mouth. Remember, chew it just once.”