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“I…” I swallow. “Emmy’s at Sarah’s for the night,” I whisper, nervous anticipation weaving through me. My belly dips and I’m a little lightheaded. I swoon, and he reaches for me.
“You okay?”
“I’m nervous,” I say honestly, my voice trembling. “I’m so nervous, Ricco.”
“Just trust me, Dani,” he whispers in my ear. “Can you trust me?”
I think before I answer. Of course I trust him. “If I didn’t trust you, I wouldn’t be here,” I tell him. Not in this getup. Not ready to do a demonstration. Nope.
I try to reel my mind back from the purpose of my visit to Bella Notte to begin with. I have to blend in as one of them, and if I do, I’ll be more certain to get the answers that I need.
Another familiar thrill of anticipation runs through me as Ricco leads me through the swanky, stunning club, my hand engulfed in his as if we’re meant to be together. I wobble a bit on the chunky wedges, but he effortlessly steadies me.
“You’re new,” he says in a stern voice I’ve only heard a touch of before now. “If you weren’t, I’d punish you for being late.”
Okay, so that’s a thing here, I guess?
“Oh really?” I ask, curiosity flooding me. “I’m usually on time, but I am curious what that’s all about…”
I’ve heard stories of wild things that happen at sex clubs, and the thought of me being one of the people doing them makes my heart quicken. Ricco, however, is cool and confident, totally in control, and his composure helps me maintain my own.
“We’re heading to a VIP demo room.”
VIP.
“I’ve never been a VIP,” I say nervously.
I stare at the decadent room when we enter. It’s wrapped in opulence, lavish and intimate. The room is designed with meticulous attention to detail, a mix of contemporary luxury and classic sophistication. The subdued lighting casts the room in soft, warm light, although a few spotlights, strategically placed in a few notable places, remind me that we’ll be on display. The walls are a deep, velvety shade of maroon. Mirrored panels in intricate frames line the walls, and even though I’m immediately uneasy about my reflection staring back at me from every angle, it helps that the mirrors allow me to see Ricco as well. His hand on the small of my back. His warm reassurance beside me.
There’s seating around us that doesn’t obscure the demonstration area, but it’s vacant.
The focal point of the room is absolutely the demo area. A leather couch. A bench of sorts. Upholstered armchairs. Clearly this is a space that can accommodate a variety of demonstrations. I swallow nervously and lick my lips when I notice a bed in the furthest corner of the room, partially hidden behind velvety drapes. Oh. My. God.
When he steps further into the room, my pulse races.
We’re alone.
“We’re… doing a demonstration alone?” I ask, my voice sounding distant because of the pounding of my pulse in my ears.
Ricco turns to face me. “You’re so nervous, baby,” he says gently, stroking his finger along my chin.
Is that part of the act?
I lick my lips and swallow. I can only nod.
His gaze is heavy and intense. “We don’t have to do this.”
But I do. I can’t step into this place where I’ve never been and back off now.
I have to be one of them.
I must fit in.
But more than anything, I need to know I faced this and survived. No, not survived—thrived.
“I want to. I want to do this.”
Ricco holds my gaze for a few seconds before he bends his mouth to mine. His lips brush mine with tenderness, a warm reminder of his near-proximity and the attraction between us.
“Good girl,” he says warmly. “You’re a good girl, Daniella.”
It’s the first time he’s used my full name. I can’t help melting against him.
“To answer your question, yes. We’ll be alone here in this room, but beyond those mirrored walls, we have onlookers. That way we have the illusion of privacy, and we’ll feel comfortable being ourselves, but with the knowledge that we’re being watched at the back of our minds. You can do this," he says, his voice low and soothing.
I take a deep breath and nod. His confidence and encouragement make me feel as if a weight’s been lifted. When he leans in again, this time he presses his lips to my forehead. I close my eyes and sigh, the tension in my body melting away.
Ricco steps back. "Let's begin.”
We haven’t begun yet?
I love that I don’t know when the demonstration begins and how much of this is real. I can frame any of my reactions in the context of the demo.
Hand in hand, he leads me to the demo area in the center of the room.
“I’m going to demonstrate your submission to me," he says. "But first, I want to make sure you understand exactly what I expect from you." Ricco’s using his authoritative voice, the one that exudes confidence. His Dom voice.
