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“It’s not nearly as blatant as I made it sound,” Alana added. “The people who go there are normal. Really. They’re just like you and me, with a few more quirks.”
Kelly let out a laugh. “Not sure I’m that kind of normal.”
“You’re just repressed is all.”
Kelly fingered her necklace. “I don’t know, Lan. Maybe I’m getting too old for this stuff. According to you, I should be excited about going to Kink. And I’m not.”
The only prospect that excited her anymore was wrapping herself in the comforting familiarity of The Book Nook. And seeing Spencer, even though most of the time he was so uptight she wondered what she possibly saw in him.
Alana plopped down next to her on the bed. “How about this? We’ll pour you into this dress and go play for an hour. If you’re not feeling it, we’ll leave.”
“The last time you said that I had to catch a ride home with Freddy Fingers, the guy with the hairy knuckles that kept finding their way into my bra.”
“That won’t happen tonight. Promise. I won’t abandon you for sex—group or otherwise.” Alana’s eyes sparkled. “Heck, you might even like it and want to stay.”
“Don’t think so. Besides, I have to be up at—”
“Five a.m. for work. Yeah, yeah, I know your spiel. C’mon then. Let’s get you out of those granny clothes.” Alana bounced to her feet, still clutching the dress. She turned back, lips pursed. “Oh, and seriously, Kel? Skip the underwear. Easier access.”
* * * * *
Two games of racquetball, a long cold shower and a quick dinner of Chinese takeout later, Spencer headed to Kink. He kept a change of clothes in his locker at the gym, though he rarely skipped a trip home to get dressed. Wrinkled khakis and a gray T-shirt wasn’t exactly his outfit of choice but he didn’t have the patience to make the twenty-minute drive to his apartment.
His needs hadn’t been entirely sated by the hard bout of exercise, but it had taken the edge off. Time to move to phase two.
It was already pushing 9 p.m. and he had to be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow. Not only was there all of today’s work he hadn’t finished, name
ly the stacks of P&Ls he had to evaluate and the dozen phone calls and emails he needed to return, but the first order of business would be talking to his staff.All of his staff. Everyone needed a reminder that The Book Nook was a business. He had no intention of tolerating anything that diluted anyone’s focus on the job at hand.
Including his own.
He hadn’t yet figured out how he would handle Kelly, since she technically hadn’t done anything wrong other than exercising her sharp tongue. Even that hadn’t been much of an infraction. She was certainly allowed to pursue recreational activities outside work. He hadn’t gotten a single report that she wasn’t doing her job. Even Marcia had admitted grudgingly that she’d never seen anyone more committed to The Book Nook, other than him.
It wasn’t as if he could write her up for having the gall to rank him dead last on her stupid list. He almost wished he could.
Spencer blew out a breath as he considered the small purple contraption lodged in the bottom of his briefcase, currently stationed in the trunk of his Acura. Somehow he’d have to keep his cool when he returned the damn thing. She’d know he saw her list and she’d probably be embarrassed, humiliated even. He didn’t want her to feel bad—okay, yeah he did, but only because she had such lousy taste in other men—and he also didn’t want her to freak out when she discovered the PDA was missing. Even so, the conversation between them would have to wait.
Right now the only screwing he had in mind didn’t involve lists. Or Kelly. Whomever he met up with at Kink was going to reap the benefits of how much he wanted to drum Kelly right the fuck out of his head.
The club was situated on the outskirts of Ely, or at least this incarnation of it was. Kink had been shut down more than once so people had gotten smarter about bragging about their exploits. The place wasn’t only about sex, despite its reputation. Some people only went there to dance or take advantage of the on-site massage services. Legit massage services too, unless the client had a “special need.”
He’d never partaken of the massages or the BDSM room with its spanking bench and numerous contraptions on the wall that doubled as erotic art when the owners were questioned by the police. Not his thing. His particular kink was watching and between the lounge, with its soft couches and mood lighting, and the steam room, there were plenty of opportunities to indulge.
He didn’t have sex every time he went to Kink. Or even most times. He enjoyed voyeurism for its own sake and as often as not, cruised through to soak up the atmosphere. Beautiful, sensual women roamed the premises and nothing turned him on more than seeing a couple engaged in the physical expression of their desire.
Sometimes watching was more than enough. And sometimes it wasn’t. Tonight would definitely fall into the second category.
He parked and shut off the ignition. Maybe Marcia was right about his low standards. She had a thing for young guys but at least she was a serial monogamist. He agreed with the serial part of the equation, but monogamy? Not so much.
It had been over a year since he’d had a regular girlfriend. Nina had actually been the one to introduce him to the club. He worked too much, she’d claimed, and this was a low-pressure way to have some fun. He’d been reluctant at first but he’d returned even after they’d broken up.
For a guy who didn’t unwind easily, Kink was a freaking gift. It was the only place he felt comfortable being exactly who he was. More than that, no one there frowned upon his urge to watch. In fact, it was encouraged. He still saw Nina there once in a while. They’d even had a semi-reunion in the steam room a few months ago. She didn’t ask for much. A couple of orgasms and they parted mutually satisfied with no messy feelings to get in the way.
He sucked in one last breath in his air-conditioned car and stepped out into nature’s own steam bath. He’d barely made it to the short line waiting to enter before he felt a trickle between his shoulder blades. It was only May and the entire long hot summer loomed ahead.
Good thing he liked to sweat.
He paid the cover charge and strode inside, blood already humming. Luckily the interior was nice and crisp. He stepped up to the bar to order his usual neat whiskey. The liquor cooled his throat all the way down. The burn in his gut afterward was a bonus.
