Chapter 3
Looking at the stack of mail on her desk, Brielle sighed. She was not only finishing her article for the BDSM clubs, but also taking over the crime beat. The normal girl, Faith, was having a baby. Of course, her boss was compensating her with some well needed extra pay, but it was a lot. Sitting in a courtroom the whole day before, had been boring. The first case, was interesting, front page news. The man accused of shooting a cop, on a busy street. But after that, it was boring lawsuits and legal mumbo jumbo. She collapsed into her chair, sorting through the envelopes. A large one slid into her lap, and she picked it up. The paper felt expensive, and thick. Gold trimmed the edges of it. Her name was written on across the front of it in black calligraphy. There was no address, no return address, nothing. Dropping the stack, she picked up her letter opener. Slicing through the paper, she pulled out an embossed paper. All of it looked high end, classy.
You’re cordially invited to a private evening at Club Luxe. 6pm this evening. Dress appropriately. Show this to the man at the door and you’ll be shown to your room. Master Marsh will be there to meet you.
That was it, no other information. She turned it over, the back was blank. Her heart immediately began racing. She hadn’t been able to get the man off her mind since that night. Three days had passed, she had barely slept, and was feeling worn down. His eyes haunted her dreams. His touch, tortured her. Bri’s skin tingled, longing to be touched by him again. It was confusing though, why he had rushed out, leaving her alone. Bri thought she had been bad, or not worth his time. But now this invite, and it just confused her more. Glancing at the clock, she realized that she needed to hurry if she was going to make it home in rush hour traffic, have time to get ready and arrive at the club on time. Dropping the rest of the mail on her desk, she shoved the invite into her purse and gathered her things. Rushing from her cubicle, she waved goodbye to her co-workers on her way out. The usual slow descent in the elevator was her time to unwind from the day. But today, she was in a frenzied hurry, excited for a chance to see Master Marsh again. Tapping her foot, she waited impatiently as the car stopped on what seemed like every floor between her office on the fifth and the lobby. On the way, she tried to decide what to wear. When it finally arrived, she pushed through the throngs of people and hurried to the subway.
***
As Bri shoved open the door to Club Luxe, the music greeted her immediately. She was surprised at how busy it was at such an early time of night. Several members clustered around the stage, some filled booths and a few hung out at the bar. She wondered if these people had jobs. Though, this was a high-end place. They could be trust fund babies or CEO’s even. Who knew. Handing over belongings over to the coat check clerk, she fidgeted with the mask. It struck her finally, that she had no idea how Master Marsh knew who she was. The mask made her think of it. How could he have known? The Club was supposedly based on privacy. Would someone here have told him her identity? They both had masks on. She had no idea who he was. Her heart raced as she slowly walked to the VIP door. The bouncer intimidated her. His posture stiff, thick arms crossed over his chest. He glared down at her. She immediately felt self-conscious as his eyes scanned her up and down. Her fingers glided over the small smooth black mini skirt. Unlike the one from the other night, this one was made of leather. She chose to pair it with a red corset this time and black stilettos. Was she dressed right? Did the private room and dinner invite require a different kind of outfit? Should she have dressed for a date?
“Can I help you?” he asked. His tone wasn’t harsh, and it shocked her. He somehow put her at ease, a little. Though she still felt like jumping out of her skin. Handing over the invite, she said nothing. “Twilight Room, it will be the third door on the right.” He held the VIP door open for her. When it shut, she was left in silence. With each step, she swore her heart skipped beats. At the third door, she stood facing it. Moments passed before she finally sucked in a shaky breath and knocked lightly. The door swung open immediately. Master Marsh stood there, in his tall, golden glory. Another tight black tee, well-fitting jeans and his simple black mask. He had shaved, giving his face a youthful look. If not for his eyes, which looked as if they held a lifetime of wisdom, she would doubt he was old enough to be at a place such as this.
“I wondered how long you would stand out there.” His voice was smooth and thick like honey. She was surprised at how quickly her body reacted to this man. Just a few simple words, and her pussy was already wet. Squeezing her thighs together, she shifted on her feet, hoping he didn’t notice.
“Sorry, this is all new to me,” she told him quietly. “You were right the other night, I hadn’t ever experienced this lifestyle. I’m not sure what to do, or how to act. And I don’t make it a habit to sleep with strange men.”
“It’s not always about sex.” He backed up so she could enter the room. She stared ahead as he closed the door, and for a moment, she fought the urge to run. This wasn’t her, it was not how she acted. This man was a stranger. She could be in danger. But, the reputation of Club Luxe was safety first. She knew that the bouncer was not only at the end of the hall to keep people out, but to also keep members safe. She felt Master Marsh come up behind her, and her body stiffened. A hand brushed her hair aside.
“I’ve thought about you since our last encounter,” he whispered against her neck. His warm breath caressing her skin.
“That surprises me, Sir,” she told him, remembering to use address him properly. “You left so quickly, I hadn’t even realized you were gone. I sat up and was alone. Did I do something wrong?” She felt self-conscious. If she really was going to give this some sort of attempt, then she wanted it to be done right.
“You were perfect,” he told her, moving around to face her. “I apologize greatly for that. There were, personal circumstances. Let’s eat.” Finally focusing on her surroundings, she noticed the room was very different from the last one they had been in. She wondered if all the rooms back here were each different in their own way. A variety of choices. This one had a small table and two chairs off to the left, candles were lit, and two dishes were covered with silver domes. Beyond the table, the wall was covered with shelves. Each holding items that shocked and thrilled her at the same time. She knew what some of them were, paddles, chains, ropes, but others, she couldn’t name. A few, looked like items of torture. Looking to the right, there was a large bed, different than the last one, that took up most of the room. It was covered in a red satin sheet, with matching pillows piled at the head. There was a door in the wall next to it and she was curious as to what was behind it. Master Marsh took her hand, gingerly leading her to the table. He held out a chair for her, and she sat down. He moved to sit across from her. Taking both domes, he lifted them, revealing their meals. It smelled amazing, and she realized how hungry she was. A small steak, baked potato and grilled asparagus sat before her.
“This looks amazing,” she told him. He picked up his fork and began to eat, so she followed suit. After a few bites, she looked up as he grabbed a bottle of red wine and poured two glasses. Handing her one, he held his in the air.
“To experimentation and education,” he stated, and they clinked glasses. She took a small sip, watching the way his strong jaw moved, the muscles in his neck, the way he held himself. It was obvious that Master Marsh was a man of class.
“I have to ask,” she set her wine glass down. “How did you know who I was? It surely was a slight shock to receive the invitation at work today. I was under the impression that identities at this club were private. But you not only knew who I was, but where I worked. I almost didn’t want to come.” He cleared his throat, setting down his fork. Leaning in, he looked her in the eyes.
“Your mask came off that night. Which is why I left. I knew who you were immediately. It was sort of off unsettling to find out that the woman who was perfectly responsive under my touch, was a reporter. Were you here for work, or for personal reasons?” She hesitated, debating how to answer his question.
“I came for work, yes. My assignment was the rising popularity of the BDSM lifestyle. But, you opened my eyes to more. I want to see if it’s something I could enjoy.”
Master Marsh leaned back in his seat. He crossed his arms over his chest, accentuating the muscles in his arms.
“And that would be the problem. You’re a reporter. There are many high-profile members here. A reporter is dangerous.”
“I would never,” she told him loudly as she shifted in her seat. Lowering her voice, “Sorry, Sir. I would never betray any confidence. I understand the need for privacy here. And my curiosity and their personal needs, that’s not something I would use for my career. That’s not the type of person I am.”
“I’m sure you can understand why someone would be worried about it though.”
“You mean yourself? Obviously, I would understand if you wanted to stop now. But to be honest, I’ve thought of you touching me since that night. No one has ever coaxed an orgasm from me so quickly, or created the feelings inside of my body that you did. I want more, need more.” He studied her for a minute. Nervously, she fidgeted with her plate and fork, not feeling hungry anymore. At least, not for the food.
“Ok. Though I’m not completely convinced. I’ve seen many people, do and say things they said they would never do, when it came to advancing careers. Hell, I’ve seen worse for less. Unfortunately, I have too much to risk. So here, privately, with masks, if you want to, I’ll show you the way. Teach you a few things. You can decide if it’s something you wish to continue. At that time, I’ll make a decision.”
Nodding, she looked down at her plate, trying to hide the smile that broke out on her face.
“Ok,” she whispered.
“Look at me,” he commanded. She tilted her head up, staring into his eyes. They shimmered with passion and it sent tingles through her body. “I’m finished. How about you?”