Relentless (Starcrossed Lovers Trilogy 3)

It suited us.

This visit would kick the ass of any damn West End after-party, for sure.

Elaine was her usual wide-eyed self as we headed up to the bar. The girl behind it was a sweet little thing in pigtails, with a lip piercing that gave her a sweet little pout to match. As with everyone else, she stared in shock as we approached, stumbling over her words as she asked what we were drinking. Her shock didn’t get any less obvious when I replied.

“Two mineral waters.”

She served them up for us with shaking hands, a nervous smile on her pretty little face.

Under previous circumstances, I’d have had her over my knee taking a spanking in a heartbeat, but not anymore. Now it was only Elaine in my world.

We took seats at the bar, looking around the room. It was busy, but not heaving. People were clearly very well acquainted with each other, the atmosphere was tense, but in a magnificent way. I’d never have expected to admit it, but this club was actually better than mine back home in NYC. I’d never have expected to believe anything would be better than something of mine, but I had to give credit where it was due. Club Explicit was better than Violent Delights. It kicked its fucking ass.

One thing was for sure, we looked out of place amongst the host of hot-looking freaks in this place. There was nobody else in a tuxedo, and Elaine was shining like a beautiful beacon in her ballgown to the whole damn club. As people began to notice us, heads began to turn en masse, people checking us out with disbelief and a clear rush of excitement. Generally though, they kept their distance. All besides one cocky creature.

The very attractive woman took a seat at the bar next to us, dressed in a black latex catsuit with her jet-black hair swept back into a high ponytail. Her confidence was faultless.

“Hello,” she said, with a self-assured smile on her face.

It was Elaine who replied first, with a wave. “Hello.”

“I’m Raven,” the woman told us, and held out a hand.

My princess shook it with vigor.

“Elaine,” she said, and Raven smirked.

“Yes. You are easily recognizable as Elaine,” she replied, then turned her attention to me. “And you are also easily recognizable as Lucian. Nice to meet you both.”

People didn’t usually refer to me on first name terms in an initial meeting, but with her I didn’t seem to mind it. I liked her. I didn’t usually like people on first sight, or ever in fact, but with her there was a shine of authenticity. Yes. I liked her. I liked Raven a lot.

I liked her even more when a stunning blonde girl arrived to sit next to her, taking her hand.

“This is my girlfriend, Cara,” Raven told us, and the girl waved.

“Hi.”

“Hi,” Elaine said, and in that one single instant I knew these girls would be her friends. Instinct is a very powerful thing when it strikes.

“Your first time in Club Explicit,” Cara commented, stating the very obvious.

I found myself nodding and answering with no sarcasm whatsoever. At odds with my usual self.

“Yes, our first time in Club Explicit.”

“Won’t be your last,” Raven said, with a laugh. “I’m sure you’ll have a very good time here.”

I found myself nodding at that, too.

“Playrooms are over there,” Cara said, pointing to a corridor by the dance floor. “They’re great. You’ll want to check them out.”

But no. I wouldn’t.

I knew exactly what I would be checking out. I’d known it from the very instant we’d walked into the bar.

The stage.

I’d be checking out the damn stage.

“Here they come,” Raven said, gesturing up to the very stage I was thinking about.

Elaine sat forward on her stool to get a clearer view, and the lights dimmed down on the dance floor, lighting up the stage like the West End theater we’d seen earlier. Incredibly dramatic. Enough to make my pulse race.

I had no idea who they were who were coming, but I was very interested to find out.

Elaine asked Raven the question.

“Who’s coming up on stage?”

Cara was the one who answered, with a filthy grin on her face. “Masque and Cat. They are Explicit superstars. You’ll see why in a minute.”

The whole room’s attention was up there, which was also an unusual feeling, given that almost everywhere I went in the world, everyone’s attention was always on me.

It only took a moment as the figures appeared on stage to realize why.

The woman was beautiful. Beautiful, naked and proud of it, her dark hair cascading down her back as she raised her hands for the shackles coming down from the ceiling. But it wasn’t just her who was grabbing the attention, it was the hulk of a man who appeared behind her.

He was absolutely fucking huge. Huge, toned, and quite possibly the most confident guy I’d ever seen outside of myself. He reeked of it. Pure, unabashed confidence, without a hint of arrogance. He was in a leather mask that covered half of his face, and that made him look all the more intimidating. That combined with the fact that he had a huge dark tattoo on his chest. A two-headed dragon creature, its tail curling around his back.