Broken by His Hand - Piper Stone Page 0,23
wine from the table. “Ignored a directive or two. Maybe said a few choice words where others could hear.”
“O-kay. Maybe that should tell you that you’re working too hard.” Clarissa leaned back as our salads arrived. “So, is this guy a doctor?”
“Hell, no. I’d never date a doctor,” I said, finally trying to relax. “They’re too stuffy.”
“I don’t know, girl. I’ve heard a few can be pretty kinky.”
“You’ve heard, huh?”
She wrinkled her nose, her eyes sparkling with laughter. “Well, I did date one for a couple months. He was one interesting man.”
Even hearing the word ‘kinky’ created a rush of butterflies in my stomach. Why did I have the feeling that Michael would attempt to make good on his words? Then again, maybe he’d simply found an easy conquest for the night. As I wiggled in my seat, an exaggerated sigh slipped past my lips before I could stop it.
“What’s all that about? You act like you’re in pain,” Clarissa pushed.
That was because I was in pain, but not entirely because of the spanking. I ached for the man. I could feel a warm flush creeping along my neck. “It’s not that.”
“Then what is it? You’re not acting like yourself.”
I doublechecked once again to make certain no one was paying attention to us in the crowded space. The last thing I needed was for anyone connected to the hospital to overhear the conversation. “Have you ever heard of Club Darkness?”
Clarissa narrowed her eyes, taking her time to chew on a bite of her salad before answering. “I’ve heard of it. A kink club. Why?”
“I was just curious.” I tried to concentrate on eating instead of squirming in my seat.
“Oh, no, you don’t. You’re being evasive. What does the club have to do with this guy you refuse to tell me about?”
“I didn’t refuse. There’s just nothing to talk about. I met him for a drink.”
She pushed her plate away, reaching for her wine. “Okay. What’s the deal? You mention the most exclusive men’s club likely in the entire United States a few seconds after you turned a bright shade of crimson. Don’t tell me you wrangled an invitation to the club. That would shock the hell out of me.”
“Maybe there’s a side to me that you don’t know about.” I tried to laugh, but the tone sounded fake as shit. Who was I kidding? Michael had all but demanded that I come to the club tonight. The worst part was that I’d considered going.
For about five seconds.
“You really don’t know about this club. Do you?”
“What I’ve read on the internet.”
“Yeah, well, I doubt whatever glossy bullshit they put on the website tells the real story.” Clarissa suddenly turned her focus on her salad, forking one bite after another. I rarely saw her nervous, especially given some of the difficult stories she’d reported on. She was definitely out of sorts about the conversation.
“Then why don’t you tell me what you know?”
Shrugging, she reached for her wine once again, the shimmer covering her face having nothing to do with the heat inside the restaurant. When she spoke, her words were whispered, forcing me to strain to hear them. “Club Darkness is notorious. It’s been around for decades. When I said that it’s exclusive, I’m talking about the fact very few men within the upper echelon of society are ever deemed worthy to be invited.”
“A membership club,” I said in a hushed voice.
“Absolutely. One with a hefty price tag.”
“That’s not the reason you’re sweating.”
“I’m not sweating,” she countered.
I tipped my head, giving her a look. “Right. Just spill it, Ms. Reporter. Have you done a story on the place?”
Clarissa laughed bitterly. “You have to be kidding me. The owners wouldn’t dare allow a woman to report on their powerful club. I wouldn’t be deemed good enough to enter their hallowed grounds.”
“Then why would you think I’d met someone there?”
“Well, because you would be allowed by invitation of a club member. If that’s the case, then this guy you met has to be wealthy, and I’m talking richy-rich. He’s also likely powerful, but don’t take that as you’ve found the right one. I’ll admit it just surprises me if you’d agree to meet someone at a club of that nature. You’re conservative and I don’t see you with some slick guy who drives a Mercedes. I see you with a handsome firefighter or maybe a Marine.”
I chewed on bites of my food, unsure if her representation of the kind of man I should be