Page 51

stassi

We dropped off our things in the room Alex had booked for us, and to my surprise, it was a suite, one floor below the party. I didn’t bother changing since I had already dressed at the studio, and anything I needed to remove, I could do later.

“Tell me how it’ll go?” I asked Alex as we headed toward the private elevator bank when we got back to the ground floor.

The hotel lobby was stunning, with high ceilings, intricate chandeliers, and gleaming marble floors. Elegant seating areas and tasteful artwork added to its sophisticated charm.

As we approached the private elevator bank, discreetly separated by velvet ropes and guarded by a polite attendant, Alex turned to me. “This is a private elevator,” he explained. “It’ll take us straight up to the party without any stops.”

The elevator, sleek with polished brass accents, opened, and we stepped inside. As the doors closed behind us and the elevator ascended smoothly, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness.

“And then what?”

“You’ll drop your phone off with an attendant. I’ve already informed them we have a child at home, so if your phone or mine rings, he’ll interrupt us.”

I didn’t miss that he said we when describing Damien. My stomach was already roiling, but now my heart stuttered, too.

“You’ll hear some music.” He paused to look down at his phone. “By the time we get up there, the party should be in full swing. If you feel uncomfortable, use your safe word.”

“What should it be?” I stared at the numbers as we rode up higher.

“Hmm, what about cookies?”

I narrowed my eyes at his suggestion, unsure of how he got there.

“You used to bake me cookies, so I’ll know it’s time for us to get out of here.”

“Okay.” I giggled. “Cookies it is.”

The elevator was steadily approaching our stop at the top. I grabbed Alex’s arm, and he whipped toward me. “Wait,” I said frantically. “What are we going to do first?”

He huffed out a breath and then pulled me tight into his chest. He pressed a kiss to my ear before he whispered, “First, I kiss you.”

Then his lips crashed onto mine.

The moment the doors dinged open, I was not expecting what I saw. I think I had some sort of image of what a sex party looked like. I figured everyone was going to be completely naked, the room filled with loud, carnal noises, and a general sense of uncleanliness.

But what I walked into was an absolute dream. The apartment suite was massive. Huge windows covered the entire wall, but because we were so high up, it felt like we were somehow in the clouds.

The room was dripping with luxury. The furniture was a blend of modern elegance and classic charm, with plush velvet sofas, ornate coffee tables, and polished surfaces that gleamed under the soft lighting.

The music was subtle, a mix of soft top hits that filled the air without overwhelming it.

The occasional erotic noises blended seamlessly with the songs.

Behind the bar stood a bartender who looked like he belonged in a movie. He wore a crisp black vest over a white shirt, his sleeves rolled up enough to show his muscular forearms. His movements were smooth as he mixed drinks.

Scattered around the room were a few women lounging in satin robes, opened to expose their lingerie beneath. Their laughter and murmured conversations added to the relaxed, indulgent atmosphere. It was all unexpected—in the best possible way.

As we entered, a doorman in a perfectly tailored suit stopped us. He took our phones and handed us nondisclosure agreements to sign.

“It’s for everyone’s safety,” Alex said in encouragement, but I was so mesmerized by the whole thing that I didn’t need much convincing.

It felt like I had stepped into another world, and this was only the beginning.

“A drink?” Alex asked, and I nodded because although this was far more relaxed than I’d been expecting, I was still nervous.

We walked to the bar as he held my hand, and we looked out of place because of how overdressed we were. “Two vodkas.”

“A shot?” I whispered. If I talked normally, it was far too loud for the spa-like atmosphere.

“Sure. Why not?” He asked, and when the shots arrived, we clinked our glasses together.

“What’re we toasting to?” he asked, his eyes glued to mine.

Half-dressed women were everywhere, and still, Alex only had eyes for me.

“Us.” I gave him a soft smile before downing the alcohol. “Oh, man,” I laughed. “I haven’t taken a shot in years,” I admitted.

“Me, either,” he laughed. “Do you want to walk around?”

I nodded, and he grabbed my hand, guiding me down the narrow hallway. The first thing I noticed was that all the doors were open.

“Do we look in?” I hesitated.

Alex was still in his outfit from earlier, but he’d unbuttoned a few of the top buttons on his shirt and rolled up his sleeves. If I kept my focus on him, I’d end up wanting to fuck him on every surface of this fancy suite.

“We can.” His green eyes seemed to grow more intense as we walked down the dimly lit hallway.

Something about him felt so special, and I couldn’t believe I hadn’t noticed it when we were just friends. I chuckled softly to myself—were we really ever just friends?