“I’m going out with the girls.” That was Cora’s go-to answer. If someone asked who Cora felt guilty if she didn’t invite them to join her, she went with “Dinner with the family.” But Sandy-Lynn was in her forties with four children. After her evening, Cora suspected she wanted to go home and be with her family.
Everyone had their thing they did on their weekends to unwind. Cora’s was to go to a BDSM dungeon and orgasm until she couldn’t possibly orgasm anymore. She loved that she wore sexy lingerie under her clothes—her dirty little secret. That tonight she wouldn’t be looked at like an everyday woman who counseled teens, but that she was a woman to be admired.
“Enjoy,” Sandy-Lynn said with a genuine smile.
She was a good woman. Her arriving tonight only proved how thoughtful she was to her clients. She wanted to make sure she remembered every little detail to help the person later. “That client’s lucky to have you, Sandy-Lynn.”
She gave a sad smile. “Thanks, Cora.”
Cora supposed most people in her line of work had a natural nurturing part of them. How could they not and do this job without having a breakdown themselves? “Okay. Now go home to your kids. I’m sure they are missing you.”
“I’m sure they are making a mess.”
Cora laughed as Sandy-Lynn gave her a wave and left her office.
Too bad for Cora her mess wasn’t something so easily picked up and put back together. With thoughts of Aidan on her mind, she left the office and got back on the road. At a few minutes past nine o’clock, Cora drove through Club Sin’s wrought-iron gates and headed up the cobblestone driveway.
When she spotted Aidan’s motorcycle resting near the front entrance, she heaved a sigh and parked next to him. She cut the ignition and stared at Club Sin, which was also Dmitri and Presley’s home. The Georgian-style mansion with its red brick, black shutters, and white pillars stood proud on its large plot. Set back from the road, private from the lives of others, the club offered much consolation to many people.
After a deep, long breath, she exited the car. Her muscles twitched with each step as she approached the house. When she reached the dark hardwood front door, she swept her hand through her curled hair before she turned the door handle.
Her gaze settled on the huge balcony that curved the entire upper floor and the grand wooden staircase. Cora wrapped her arms around herself as she took it all in. From the art on the walls to the decorative pieces, the home exuded wealth.
Lucky Presley.
Cora wiped her feet on the mat in the foyer and inhaled the citrus scent coming from the kitchen. As she headed down the long, wide hallway, she strode by an oval-shaped dining room, and then continued on past Dmitri’s home office.
Her mind raced with thoughts of tonight and of Aidan. Would he be back to his normal self? Would he have forgotten about what he saw in her eyes? Her skin prickled as she reached the end of the hallway. She journeyed down the basement steps and her breath caught as the stone walls led her to the dungeon’s door.
She wrapped her hand around the handle, chewing on the side of her lip. He came to her house today—did that mean he was finally opening himself up to her? Did he finally see that all of this was simply because she loved him?
Did he finally want to move past Lily?
When she entered the dungeon, the sounds of erotic pleasure washed over her in seductive waves. Her muscles loosened and she shut her eyes, basking in the low hum coursing through her veins.
“Hi, you,” Presley said.
Cora snapped open her eyes, discovering Presley wearing a beautiful mauve-and-silver corset and dark silver boy-cut underwear. Her long, dirty-blond hair flowed over her shoulder with a slight curl at the ends. “Hi, sweets.”
Presley’s gaze searched Cora’s before her brow wrinkled. “Still doing okay?”
“Oh my God, stop asking that. I’m not dead or holed up in my house.” Cora squeezed Presley’s arm. “I’m fine.”
Presley gave a tight laugh with a crisp nod. “Okay, okay, I’ll stop asking.” Though her smooth, placating voice indicated she didn’t believe Cora.
Cora added, “Just so happens, I booked off Tuesday and Wednesday to veg on the couch, so life is great.”
“Lucky you, I’m jealous.” Presley grinned. “Well, I wanted to say hello, but I better get back to Master Dmitri. Come find me later, okay?”
“Okeydokey,” Cora replied, ignoring Presley’s concern.
Their worry will pass.
As Presley hurried away, Cora removed her jeans and blouse. She placed them on the bench by the door, leaving her in the lingerie she’d purchased earlier—black lace, boy-cut underwear, and matching shelf bra. The warm air brushed across her flesh, causing her nipples to pucker.
She scanned the dungeon, and in seconds she found Master Aidan leaning against the far wall, watching her every move. By the slight curve to his mouth, she was sure he’d seen her enter the club.
His hooded eyelids indicated he approved of her attire.