Chapter Eleven

 

 

 

Claire looked over at the display as the text message notification chimed at her that afternoon.

 

See you in fifteen.

 

Matt was on his way. She sighed, staring at the website she’d updated with her new schedule. Staying the additional day could have been problematic if she had any appointments to show the condo, but that would have required that she have them. At this point, she had none. Not one all week. As it stood, she’d already checked out of her room to avoid any additional charges to her account. The drive back to Chicago after the party would be late, but she couldn’t justify the additional expense of staying another night. Luckily, the hotel had a small eating area and café that had allowed her to work in peace on the quiet Saturday.

Claire put her laptop in its case. Matt would likely insist on driving, so Claire carried her wardrobe out to the flashy little sports car she’d rented for the week. After stowing it all carefully in the trunk and returning to the hotel lobby, she settled on the bench Matt had reclined on the previous day. He entered shortly, his head bent to his phone. She smiled and stood, sure she was going to see a message from him any second. Her phone dinged as she stopped him in his tracks. He looked up and smiled as she made a show of pulling the phone from her purse and checked her message.

“Yeah, okay.” He chuckled. “You know I’m here.” He turned, tilting his head to the door. “Ready to go?”

“Sure,” Claire said, both thrilled and dismayed at the return of the warm glow she got whenever Matt was near. He cupped a hand under her elbow as they walked, a gesture that both scared and soothed her.

Settled in the truck beside him, Claire felt the conflict inside her increase. She furrowed her brow, wondering why the emotions that should be simple felt so jumbled. She liked Matt. That much she knew. Her body definitely wanted to be near his again, and she liked the feeling of his lips and hands on her skin. Among the contented, yearning feelings, though, she also felt a pit open inside her. As they drove out toward the neighborhood Jen and David lived in, Claire had to admit the fear she felt and the loss she knew would linger when she left.

“Jen is really looking forward to meeting you.”

The statement, the first since they’d started the short journey, took Claire’s attention back to the man at the wheel. “She’s met me already,” Claire recalled. “Holidays and stuff, before we graduated.”

“Yeah, that’s what I told her. She insists she doesn’t really know you, though. We were just kids then.”

Claire smiled. “I always forget. David’s so much older. How old was their son when I met them?”

Matt blew out a breath. “Gosh, Noah would have been…what? Nine? Maybe ten that year?” He shook his head. “The kid’s off at college now, out in California.”

Claire exhaled her own sigh. “Time sure does fly.”

“It sure does.” Matt’s tone was wistful, making Claire’s heart ache as she realized he wasn’t speaking of his nephew.

They pulled into the driveway of a pretty, modern house, surrounded by similar designs in a cookie-cutter neighborhood. Claire looked over at Matt’s quiet ‘harrumph’.

“Gets to you, doesn’t it?” she asked.

He smiled. “A little. I don’t like the idea that developers are buying up the area to turn it into this.”

“I know what you mean. The old neighborhoods had character. The houses were all different, and they all felt like a home. This is…” Claire trailed off, recalling the feeling of sameness and tedium that the condos and apartments made her feel.

“Boring.” Matt finished her thought, using the same word she’d been thinking.

The front door opened before they were entirely out of the truck, and Jen came out to greet them. “Claire! It’s so nice to see you again!”

Once again Claire was taken aback by the easy hug she received from the older woman. Jen continued on to hug Matt then direct him to the den where David was watching a sports game of some kind.

“Lets us girls go have some fun, shall we?” Jen grinned at Claire, hooking an arm through hers and leading her into the house.

Claire eyed her with a teasing dread as they passed an arch leading to the kitchen. “Should I be scared?”

“Only a little.” The comment came from Matt as he closed the refrigerator, holding a soda. “Jen’s a steamroller, but she won’t steer you wrong.”

“Hey!” Jen interjected. “I don’t steam roll. I nudge. Heavily.” The three shared a laugh and Jen invited Claire upstairs to the studio space.

Claire sat on a large cushion as directed by the older woman. The large upper room had been transformed from a bedroom to a photography studio, complete with backdrops and furnishings for portraits. Watching Jen flip through racks she had pulled from the closet that held outfits from slinky to scary, Claire tried to stay calm. “So you guys have been there a lot?”

Jen smiled, pulling out a black catsuit in a shiny rubbery material. “Not so much lately.” Claire picked up on a slight hitch in Jen’s voice, but she didn’t want to interrupt. “I love when someone gets to experience the Sanctuary for the first time, though. I got Marcy all dressed up for her first time too.”

“I’m sure it’ll be unforgettable,” Claire observed. “The thought of people I knew back in school getting their freak on is a little…scary?” She and Jen shared another laugh. “I mean, I haven’t been to any real kink parties, but the idea of seeing Kayla strapped to a cross or Evie getting tied up or something just completely throws me for a loop.”

This time Jen’s laugh was harder and lasted far longer, confusing Claire. “What did I say?”

“Oh, honey,” Jen wiped her watering eyes. “You just picked the perfect people for those examples.” Once she composed herself, Jen explained, “Kayla and Evie are both Tops.”

“Oh!” Claire hardly felt versed in BDSM, but she was pretty sure she understood that concept. “So they would be more likely to do those things to someone else, huh? Like…” Claire thought for a moment. “Oh, Taryn, right? And Marcy? But, wait. Does that mean Chas…?”

Jen nodded, pulling another outfit from the rack and smoothing the marabou feathers on its collar. “Taryn and Marcy, yes. Chas, though, is a little different. He and Kayla have a fun arrangement, or so I’ve seen.” Turning to Claire, Jen gave her an assessing look. “What about you?”

Claire lifted her shoulders in a shrug. “I think I’m just going to watch. I don’t know much about it.”

Jen smiled. “Good. That’s the perfect way to go into it.” She handed Claire a pile of items. “So, what do you think?”

Looking down at the options, Claire thought hard. She hated to turn them all down, but each one scared her more than the last, leaving precious bits of skin bare. “Well, none of these really seem like me. Maybe if I knew what sort of event it is?”

“Sure. It’s a collaring ceremony, which can be sort of a big deal. It’s a little more private than the last one I attended, invite only, so I understand there will only be about thirty people there, and those I’ve talked to are less inclined to very flashy or risqué outfits.” Jen tapped her finger on her cheek. “Actually, I might have just the thing.”

Claire hung the items in her hands back on the rack as Jen hurried from the room. When she returned and held up her find, Claire grinned. “I like it.”

 

* * * *

 

The two women walked down the stairs, catching the attention of the two men where they watched the oversize television. Claire noted David’s slight smile as he looked at his wife and wondered at the hint of regret she saw there. Her attention was stolen when Matt stood.

His expression was honest awe. She felt the heat return to her core and rise to her cheeks at the frank admiration on his face. She turned her gaze to Jen, who had joined her husband to watch Claire descend the stairs.

“I’m so glad it fit you,” she gushed. “I was afraid it would never get worn after—” She threw a leading look at her husband then she continued. “Well…I’m glad.” The older couple left the room, muttering about shoes and purses and things, leaving Claire facing Matt.

Claire felt the blush intensify as he stared. “I’m just glad I wore the right shoes,” she mumbled, wanting to break the silence.

He speared his fingers into the hair at the base of her skull and his other hand yanked her hips to his just before he crashed his lips down on hers. Claire clung to his shoulders, shocked at the passion behind the sudden kiss. He released a shaky breath against her lips as he broke it.

“How am I supposed to keep my hands off you tonight now?” he growled. “You look perfect, Claire.” His hands loosened and she saw him look down at her body.

The outfit was simple, yet elegant. The deep blue tunic was a light cotton, which Jen had implied would be forgiving in air conditioning and the night air, even with the elbow-length sleeves. The black leggings underneath were just as simple. Claire had once again worn the black Manolo Blahnik pumps that Marcy had complimented. The concession to the event came in the simple black waist-cincher that Claire wore over the tunic. Jen had tightened it slightly, but not enough to make it uncomfortable or painful. The women had agreed that the outfit would be completely appropriate for something akin to a BDSM wedding.

“Thank you,” she whispered, shaken at his fervent reaction. The golden glow she had been fighting to contain was now a full-blown flame that she was suddenly worried would burn out of control and consume her completely.