Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 87629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
At least in my mind he does.
After a long Uber ride in traffic, I’m a few minutes late. I rush out of the car and into the building.
I walk into the bar, scan the room, but nowhere do I see anyone who might be Mr. Dark and Sexy. Would I even recognize him if I did see him? Between the black-and-white photo and the mask, I’m not sure.
No matter. He may not even be here. After all, I’m supposed to sit at the bar and find someone named Alfred.
Alfred. Is he Mr. Dark and Sexy?
No. Mr. Dark and Sexy would have a name like Rock or Talon or Dante. Certainly not Alfred.
I find an empty seat at the bar and sit down.
“What can I get you?” a handsome bartender asks me. He’s tall, blond, and muscular. Definitely not an Alfred.
“Nothing.”
A sidecar would take the edge off, but I have to be in charge of my faculties. This is a blind date. Anything could happen, and I need to take care of myself. Keep myself safe.
“Then I’ll need you to give the seat to someone else,” the bartender says. “Nothing personal, just the rules.”
“Then give me…a Virgin Mary.”
He smiles. “Coming right up.”
A Virgin Mary. I have to laugh at myself. I’m not a virgin, but I may as well be.
Then again, isn’t that why I’m here? To get experience? To find a teacher?
He slides the Virgin Mary in front of me. “Tell me,” he says. “Are you Mandy?”
“Depends on who’s asking.” I take a sip of the spicy tomato juice and try to ignore the warmth of a flush on my cheeks. I’m seriously trying to flirt with this sexy barkeep? I’m way out of my league.
“Mr. Dark is asking.”
My pulse races. “Are you… Are you Alfred?”
“Guilty as charged.”
“I guess I just expected…” Damn the heat in my face! “I…you know…”
“I’m afraid I don’t know. But it doesn’t matter. I’m supposed to give you some information before Mr. Dark finds you.”
“Oh?” My pulse races.
“First things first,” Alfred says. “I’ve known Mr. Dark for years. You will be completely safe with him.”
“Okay.” Just those words make me feel completely not safe with him.
I gaze over my shoulder. The exit is near. I can jet out of here right now and go home, delete my Lustr profile, and continue with my mundane life.
My life… My existence…
Damn, my existence.
I’m sick of simply existing. I want to live. I want to have sex. I want to learn to please a man and be pleased in return.
“At any time,” Alfred continues, “you may leave.”
What the hell? Of course I can leave at any time. It’s a blind date. That’s it. However, I don’t reply.
Alfred slides a folder in front of me. “Take a look at these.”
I open it. Inside is a nondisclosure agreement for a place called Black Rose Underground.
“I’m afraid I’m not understanding.”
“It’s a private club. In this building. Read through the agreement. Make sure everything’s okay.”
“I’m sure everything’s fine, but—”
“Look, it’s my understanding that you’re meeting Mr. Dark for…you know.”
“What do you—” I stop abruptly.
I’m the one who wrote that bio. I’m the one who asked for a teacher, asked to be someone’s protégé. How did I think that would happen? In a freaking nursery?
Sure, I know how to keep myself safe. But if I want a teacher, I’m going to have to be alone with the guy. I’m going to have to let him…do things with me.
I read through the document. I’m no legal expert, but it seems like a standard nondisclosure agreement. I can’t tell anyone about the club, who I may see in the club, what I may see anyone doing in the club. If at any time I feel unsafe, I may leave the club with the help of one of their security people.
Etcetera, etcetera…
“Do you have any questions?” Alfred asks.
Yeah. What is the quickest way to hightail it out of here?
But I stay seated.
Damn it! I’ve taken the safe route my entire life. Didn’t I say I was done existing? Didn’t I say I wanted to live?
Yes, I’m frightened. But I’m also intrigued.
Anyone who wants to rape me isn’t going to ask me to sign something agreeing that I’m allowed to leave at any time with the help of security.
“Your safety is guaranteed,” Alfred says. “Above everything else.”
“How can anyone guarantee my safety?”
“Mr. Dark will explain.”
As usual, I’m overthinking.
This is what I asked for. This is what I joined Lustr for. This is what I wrote that bio for.
I want experience.
With experience, maybe I can get Jackson to see me as something more than just Mandy Cake. And if not? With experience, I’ll be able to move on.
I hastily scribble my signature at the bottom, close the folder, and push it back toward Alfred. “Now what?”
“Now…you wait.”
All righty, then. I take another long drink of my Virgin Mary and then munch on the celery stalk. I grab my phone out of my pocket, check my email. Nothing important.