I watched Kai deposit Lyra in front of her parents’ house with mild interest. It would take her a few months to get over me, sure, but after that, she’d be better off. When I had met her, she hadn’t even known she was kinky. I’d always have fond memories of extracting her first ‘Yes, Sir’ from those full, bee-stung lips.
But now, as she stumbled toward the house and Kai returned to the car, I was restless and bored. I wanted a new plaything, and I wanted her then and there.
Once my right-hand-man was next to me, the driver pulled away, leaving Lyra in front of her parents’ home. Kai seemed to sense my mood and left me in peace until we were almost at the penthouse.
“Sir, if I may,” he spoke up then. “Another auction will be happening soon at Couture House. I could get you a list of the girls. Perhaps you will find someone to your liking.”
“Another auction?” I repeated thoughtfully. “Get me the list, I’ll look it over. But tonight, I want to have some fun.”
“Certainly, Sir. May I suggest sending someone up to the penthouse? Perhaps the Sullivan twins tonight?”
“No.” My answer was firm. I got out of the car, waiting for the bellboy to run outside and hold an umbrella over my head as I made my way toward the building. Kai was right beside me as I pondered what to do. I was jaded and impatient, and I wanted to do something I’d remember for a long time to come. “How about a burlesque club?”
“Of course, Sir,” Kai replied without missing a beat. “I’ll find one you haven’t been at before.”
“Perfect.”
I was escorted to the lift, then took the elevator with Kai who was scrolling through his phone. We arrived at my penthouse. It was a modern, elegant bachelor pad that hadn’t seen the touch of a woman—yet. My urge to find a more permanent solution to my relationship problem had only intensified in the past year.
As I took off my coat and placed it in the walk-in wardrobe, Kai walked up behind me with his eyes lit up. “I may have found something, Sir. It’s called Le Cabaret and it’s on Berwick Street in Soho.”
“Get me the VIP booth,” I told him firmly as I regarded my reflection in the mirror.
My face stared back at me from the mirror. I looked younger than my thirty-eight years, but the silver hairs in my inky black hairstyle didn’t lie. I worked hard on my body, long hours exercising making me lean and muscular. The shadow of stubble was ever-present on my chiseled jaw.
I was going to turn thirty-nine soon. Too old for this.
“And make sure I won’t be bothered. By anyone.”
“Of course, Sir. Are you taking a guard with you?”
I contemplated his words before shaking my head. “No, not tonight, Kai. But I want a woman with me. Find me a date?”
“Of course, Sir.”
He withdrew from the room. I knew my answer hadn’t pleased him—Kai was always irrationally worried someone would realize who I was and try to force some cash out of me. But I was more worried about putting out shady business partners than some random junkie in Soho’s back alley. Besides, I could defend myself perfectly well. I’d only been made into a fool once. At the thought, my hands formed fists at my sides.
I couldn’t think about that failure now. I had a night at the burlesque show to get ready for. And I had a good feeling about Le Cabaret.
***
My date for the night was a gorgeous twenty-something socialite by the name of Addison Meyer.
She was a stunning chocolate-haired and green-eyed beauty I wanted to fucking devour, but I knew she was not kinky within ten minutes of our first conversation. I cursed inwardly as I led her to the car. She wouldn’t like where our first date was happening one bit. Usually, it would have made me excited to push a woman’s limits, but this one was barely a woman. She was still a girl—an innocent, darling girl who would make someone very happy one day, but that man would not be me.
As Addison chatted about her heiress lifestyle, I stared out of the window, already bored. She seemed to sense my mood and shut up. She’d seemed thrilled to be out with me at first. I supposed being pranced around town with London’s most eligible, dangerous bachelor was quite the feat. But as we pulled up in front of Le Cabaret, her eyes widened, and I could tell our destination was not a pleasurable surprise.
“Is this where we’re going?”
“Yes.” I left no room for her arguments, gallantly escorting her out of the car and into Le Cabaret. It wasn’t the classiest of establishments, but I had a feeling Kai had sent me there for a reason.