Indulgence (Taking Chances #1) (6 page)

Heat flooded the large foyer and warmed my chilled body.  The grandeur of the entrance foyer alone was more than I’d realized at first glance.  The marble flooring and the enormous chandelier were only the tip of the iceberg.  Deep red and rustic brown stained the walls, giving a comforting vibe to the room.  The warm scent of cinnamon drifted through the air.  Soft music,
Berlioz
, I thought, weaved its melodic tones around the room.  Candlelight flickered in the breeze of the doors opening and closing.

Every time someone was admitted into the main room, I strained my eyes to see in.  Curiosity had taken over my good girl inhibitions.  Just being inside the house had me wired.  From what I could tell, there was a full bar in service located toward the back of the room.  A large, extravagant staircase wound in beautiful circles, leading to God-only-knew how many floors above us.  People mingled around the room, lost in conversation like any other New Year’s Eve party I’d ever been to.  And much to my amazement, everyone was still clothed.

I leaned into Amber, who was lost in conversation with our new companion.  “When does everyone get naked?” I inquired as we moved closer to one of the large oak desks, blocking our entrance into the main hall.

“Anxious now, are we?” she chuckled, never taking her gaze from David.  I couldn’t pinpoint what had her so intrigued.  He wasn’t her usual type.  Amber liked men she could master and control.  David seemed very much in control of himself.  But again, who was I to judge?  Maybe she wanted something different for a night.  

“No,” I sang in annoyance.  “Just confused.  That’s all.”

Amber shooed me away with a flick of her hand.  “Stop worrying.  It’ll happen soon enough,” she hissed.

“Whatever,” I miffed, pulling my cloak tighter.  I should’ve known better than to ask a silly question when she was engrossed in a man.

“So, I take it you’ve been to an
Indulgence
party before?” Amber asked.  She placed her hand on his coiled arm in a demure manner.  My lips twitched in amusement as I watched her attempt to seduce a man who was pretty much a sure thing.  

David stepped closer to her, closing any distance between them.  His finger trailed across the exposed skin of her upper arm.  “This is my third year, but I must say, I think this will be the best year yet.”

“Wow.  Three years.  That’s amazing.  Have you met the Grand Master?”

Grand Master?  
That term piqued my curiosity.

“Grand Master?” I probed.

David glanced in my direction, a sly smile curving his lips.  “Ah, yes, my beautiful
Indulgence
virgin,” he chortled.  “The Grand Master is an
Indulgence
term for Sebastian Hawk.  For one night he is the master of our universe, and therefore we tend to treat him with a sort of god-like reverence.”

“And how were you aware of this term?” I requested of Amber.

Amber gave me a nonchalant shrug.  “I told you when I got the initial packets, I know people.  You spend your time in enough BDSM and sex clubs, you get to know the right people and pick up on particular lingo.”  Her eyes cut to David, almost as if she were inviting him to ask her about her experience.  

“Ah, yeah,” I responded, filling in the immediate silence.  “So, I guess that means he’s not some pompous guy who dubbed himself as the Grand Master,” I teased.

“Not at all,” noted David, almost offended by my little joke.

I waved my hand from under my wrap.  “Sorry, I was teasing.  I’m just a little confused.”

“About?” Amber asked.

I glanced around the room, hearing the buzz of excitement, and took another step toward the check-in desk.  “I thought Sebastian Hawk never participated in these things.”

Amber turned an inquisitive glance to David.  “She’s right.”

“Actually, she’s not.  While it’s believed that he doesn’t participate, he does make an opening appearance where he welcomes us before we undress.”  David lowered his head, looking around us before adding, “Want to hear a little secret?”

Amber rubbed her hands together, giggling with devious excitement.  “Absolutely!”

David flicked his fingers, signaling for us to move in closer.  As silly as it seemed, my curiosity had the better of me.  I leaned in, hanging on his every word.  If there was even a possibility I could meet Sebastian Hawk, my night was officially worth the fear of going outside my norm.  It was freaking awesome enough that I would have a chance to be in the same room as Sebastian, breathing the same air.  

Get a grip, Addison!

“I’ve actually met him,” David whispered.

“No way!” Amber and I chimed in unison.

“Yeah.  It was my first year here.  He,” David’s eyes shifted around, looking to see if anyone was listening to our conversation before continuing, “watched me indulge in a foursome.”

Amber gasped.  “Did he say anything to you?”

“Not a word.  He only watched a few moments and then he was gone.”

“So, then, technically you didn’t meet him,” I pointed out.

Amber and David gasped as if I’d just told them that the Bible was written by a bunch of old farts and there really wasn’t a God.  “What?” I deflected.

David stood straight up, puffing out his chest.  “The point is, he doesn’t just disappear after he greets us.  He sticks around, which says a lot.  He’s a very powerful man who could have anyone he wants.  I could only imagine what sex with him must be like.”

I nearly swallowed my own tongue.  I hadn’t taken David to be gay, but then again, I didn’t realize Jacoby was gay either.  Damn, I needed to develop a gaydar.  I sucked at this.

A languid grin appeared on his face.  “I’m not gay, if that’s what you’re thinking.  But know that sexual preference isn’t pertinent in
Indulgence
.  It’s all about letting yourself explore the realms of your body.  So, yes, I’ve been with men before, but let it be known I prefer women.”  He reached out and tucked a loose strand of Amber’s hair behind her ear.  “And when you see the Grand Master in person, you’ll understand why I’m curious.  He’s so much more than he seems in his pictures.”

I already understood.  My little fan girl heart was thumping like a rabbit in heat against my chest.  This was crazy.  I was in the same building as
the
Sebastian Hawk.  Heat flooded between my thighs, and I looked down at the ground trying to control the sudden desire that was coursing through my veins.  Hearing David talk like that was pretty hot, and the mental image of Sebastian Hawk watching me have sex was even more alluring.

Yet something nagged at me.  What kind of a man would host a party that he never partook in?  It made no sense how or why someone of his caliber would open his home for a bunch of sex fiends to take part in a huge orgy.  He was rich, famous, and gorgeous.  David had nailed it, pun totally intended, when he said that Sebastian Hawk could have anyone he wanted.  So, why do this?  My brain believed he was probably a porn freak, and since he could do it, he brought people in to appease his deviant appetite.  My heart, on the other hand, wondered if there was something more.  He was an erotic writer.  Maybe his publicist, agent, publisher, and Lord only knew who else he had to answer to, required him to do this.  

“Next,” came a nasally voice from the front desk.  

“That’s us,” Amber squealed.

We stepped forward, stopping in front of one of the massive oak desks that barred the entrance to the main room.  Behind each of the four desks sat four of the most refined women with the best posture I’d ever seen.  They wore the same black suits as the guards outside, and their faces were covered with plain black masks.  From their appearance, it was quite obvious that each of the women were gorgeous, but the vibe that rolled off of them left me feeling cold and almost frightened.  At our desk, a young blonde sat.  Her face was taut, without a single blemish or line, and her eyes darted quickly between each person who entered the door.  It was hard to tell much about her stature, seeing as how she was sitting behind a huge desk, but her boyish short hair and menacing scowl warned me she meant business.  As a matter of fact, I would’ve laid money that any of the women behind the desks could kick some serious ass.

“Welcome,” said the blonde, whose blue eyes froze me to the bone.  “License and invitation, please.”

The woman took both from me.  She stamped the invitation after running it under some sort of ultraviolet light, then flipped through a card box.  “George. George,” she muttered.  “Ah, yes.  Here we are.”  From the box, she pulled out a piece of paper.  Attached to the document was a folded card with a bright red string dangling from the corner.  She removed the card and pushed the form toward me.  “These are the guidelines you are to adhere to this evening,” she droned. “Read them carefully and sign the bottom.”

I obeyed, reading meticulously over the rules.  

1. Participants are allowed admittance by invitation only.

2. Medical records are to be provided by each participant.  Fraudulent records will ensure instant dismissal from current and future engagements.  Legal action can and will be taken in the event that fraudulent activity is discovered.

3. Rooms are segregated by selective indulgence.  A participant may take part in any or all of the indulgences available, as they so desire.  

4.Participants must partake in at least one delicacy in order to obtain a return invitation for future events.

5. If accident or injury happen to occur at anytime during
Indulgence
, the participant waives his or her rights for legal litigation.  Mr. Hawk insures all medical needs will be handled in a swift and appropriate manner, both during and after the event.

6. All participants have the right to refuse another participant without repercussion or bias.

7. All sexual partners must be documented on the participant’s partner card.  There are
no
exceptions to this rule.

8. The use of safe words is required by all participants.  A safe word is to be provided to a partner before intercourse occurs.

9. All cameras, cell phones, and any other recording devices are strictly prohibited.  If a participant is found with any such devices on their persons, they will be immediately ejected from the premises and their property will be retained and wiped clean before being returned to its owner.

10. All participants are to remain nude throughout the duration of the event.  If a need for early departure arises, the participants clothing will be returned immediately and they will be escorted from the premises.

Safe words.  Partner cards.  They really hadn’t been joking about all of that crap in the initiation package.  Holy wow!  I read and reread the document.  

“Please sign here,” scary lady’s long, manicured nail tapped the bottom line, “stating you have read and agree to follow the rules of
Indulgence
.”

For a moment, I hesitated.  I dealt with contracts for a living.  By signing this, I agreed to adhere to everything listed here, including any bylaws.  A contract was no laughing matter.  I’d signed pre-screening documents to attend, but this was binding.  “Just sign,” Amber hissed, pushing the ink pen toward me.  

David approached the table beside us.  He caught my eye and gave me a quick wink, handing over his documentation to a haughty brunette sitting at the desk.  I sighed and picked up the pen, following suit.

Before the ink was dry, the woman ripped the paper back up and placed it, along with my invitation and license, in the box.  I opened my mouth to object to her keeping my license, but was halted by her nasally voice.  “Since you’re left handed, I need your right arm, please.”

I extended my hand out to her, almost afraid she might bite it off.  She wrapped the red ribbon around my wrist, prepared to clasp it together with an adhesive strip.  “You are to wear your card at all times.  In each room, you will find plenty of writing, utensils along with protection.  For every partner you engage in activities with tonight, you’re required to notate their name on this card.  Tomorrow morning, you will hand this back in and we will return your license to you.  Is that clear?”

My jaw nearly hit the floor.  Not that I thought keeping track of our partners was a bad idea, because it was quite brilliant, but having some stranger sifting through my sex partners left me unsettled.  My crush on Sebastian Hawk was a moot point.  It was bad enough he had access to everything else, including my blood type.  This was my private affair, and I wanted it to remain that way.

I ripped my arm back before the clasp completely closed, leaving the card in scary lady’s hands.  “Excuse me, but I wish to keep my card.  It’s no one else’s business who I fuck but my own.”

“Addison,” Amber warned me.

I jerked my head up, looking at Amber.  “No.  This is ludicrous,” I argued.  “Who gives him the right to know who I fuck or not?”

“It’s no big deal.  Just take the card,” she hissed.

I might’ve been out my comfort zone, but I also wasn’t the type of person who’d back down when I felt something wasn’t right.  I had no qualms in speaking my mind.  It might’ve gotten me in trouble more times than not, but I figured if I didn’t defend myself, who would?