The Braille Club (The Braille Club #1) (7 page)

Siena gave a little moan as she felt the heat of his body. She jumped when his fingers traced the outline of her lips. Over and over his touch teased and taunted her as she panted in response. When he slipped his finger into her mouth, she sucked ferociously, and he felt his control waver. He brought his mouth down onto hers then, no longer able to resist, and the connection was all consuming.

Pinning her arms, his mouth started to explore her. His tongue ran up and down her neck. She wriggled and arched her back in an attempt to free herself so she could touch him, but his grip was firm, it was time for payback. His lips were on her skin, kissing her neck, nipping it, sucking it…but he was careful not to mark her. His fingers grazed and teased her breasts, her hardened nipples tight under his touch.

He just couldn’t get enough of her as he suddenly let her arms go. His mouth moved to suck hard on first one hardened nipple before moving to the next as she screamed his name, begging him, bucking wildly. He pushed her legs apart and slipped his fingers inside.

He watched Siena, almost out of her mind with the need for release as her hips moved to the increasing rhythm of his fingers. At her peak, at last he plunged inside her. The sensation was exquisite as she thrust to meet him, their bodies totally in tune. Moving frantically, he pushed deeper and deeper inside until he felt his mind disconnect as his body exploded, and he was adrift…Their climax took them to heights neither of them had felt before…and they were both lost. Slippery with sweat, they lay entwined, and for that moment nothing else existed.

Chapter 9

THE BRAILLE CLUB

Braille Club, London, Present Day: Braille members mix with Harrison members within Caligo, which is not only a weekend night club; it also hosts numerous entertainment functions mid-week. London is a vibrant city that likes to party and the club is always busy. Members mingle with city bankers, whose companies provide them with Harrison’s Memberships as one of the many perks of their job. Deals are often struck with their prominent clients whilst playing the tables on their corporate casino nights. Being bankers, the money is not theirs; therefore the risk is only to their pride. Nevertheless, stakes are high with winnings being used later in the charity auction. Competition is fierce, and egos clash. Tension fills the room as the players outdo each other and bids become reckless. The manager with the most chips always takes the star prize for their client and their victory does not go unnoticed. Poor losers, their colleagues simmer as they lick their wounds, leaving them hungry for more…just like the Braille members waiting for their key to vibrate.

Abbey

Abbey’s motives for joining The Braille Club were mixed and bordered on desperation as her footballer husband’s string of affairs had left her broken and humiliated. She was attractive—gorgeous in fact—but when it came to her husband, it didn’t seem to matter how thin she was or how beautiful she looked. Remembering his most recent betrayal plastered all over the media, she felt hot tears on her cheeks and brushed them away angrily.

She had told Steve she needed time to think. She should have thrown him out, but just couldn’t muster up the energy. He was away with the team, and it was a blessing. Steve was contrite and pleading, promising her these women meant nothing to him, and in a way she believed him. He had no idea why he kept doing it, only that he loved her and would she give him yet another chance.

In turmoil, Abbey felt totally numb. Her friends had been so supportive the first time the news broke of an affair. They rallied around her, giving her a shoulder to cry on and making sure her wine glass was never empty. The second time affair allegations hit the papers they were more reserved, and gently recommended a good divorce lawyer, telling her he was a serial adulterer, and she should cut her losses.

When this final humiliation came, they had screamed, “Enough is enough!”

One by one, they started to distance themselves. Suddenly they were busy, unavailable, or just didn’t answer her calls or texts. That had hurt, and this time she didn’t stop the tears; clutching her stomach, she let out an anguished sob.

She needed something of her own. Successful in her own right, money was not a problem, but she did hesitate when she realised the cost of membership. Two hundred and fifty thousand pounds for a Key Holder’s membership was expensive. She was told about the club via a powerful friend who sympathised with her; one of the few who still did, and who had sponsored her application, telling her the membership offered her complete privacy. That swung it for her; she had hardly been out of the media over the last few months and she craved anonymity above all else.

She tried not to analyse her decision. Revenge on Steve was a major motive but empowering herself was more pressing. Was she like a drowning woman grasping at this membership to keep her life afloat? It was a lot of money, but she was intrigued and desperate to find someplace she would be protected. She felt her life and marriage had been laid bare by the media, her privacy invaded, and her dignity violated. They may not have assaulted her physically, but emotionally she had sustained horrific injuries.

She was a prisoner in her own home for weeks; paparazzi camped outside, watching her every move. Eventually they left and moved on to another poor bastard, and Abbey’s life had gradually become easier. Not the pain though; there was nothing like the pain of betrayal. It’s the sort of pain that eats you from the inside, your mind like a knife slashing viciously at your heart, not content until it’s cut it to ribbons.

As they had been splashed all over the papers, Abbey knew the other women in Steve’s life. She didn’t have to imagine what they had done together; it was all there in black and white. Once she’d read those words, it was even harder to forgive and impossible to forget.

The images tortured her. She couldn’t get them out of her mind and she couldn’t sleep or eat. Relentlessly she sought answers, and fighting exhaustion, hovered on the brink of losing her mind; she knew she needed to do something radical to break the cycle. Picking up the phone, she dialled the number and secured an appointment for the end of the week.

On her arrival at The Braille Club, she took a deep breath, smiled at the rather severe but attractive man opposite her, and placed her black Amex card on the desk. Becoming a member was a lengthy process, so that had been done several months ago, but she was assured the wait was worth it. Now she was going to her first in-house sensory lesson. Abbey would be in control and she could stop at any time. She wanted to be in control in her otherwise uncontrollable life. Not bothering to look at her reflection in the mirror, she no longer saw the beautiful face, the enormous brown eyes, high cheekbones, and adorable dimples. Instead, she saw a haunted woman, weak and needy. She didn’t want to be that woman anymore; she was desperate for a new identity and a new reflection.

Feeling her spirits lift for the first time in months, she picked up her membership card, which was blank except for a number of raised dots. She slipped it into her Gucci purse and called for a car; it was a company she was familiar with. They were trustworthy, with a private fleet of anonymous but comfortable cars. Hearing the toot of a horn, she checked her watch.
Right on time
, she thought, as her Louboutin heels clicked on the imported marble floor. Collecting her coat and bag, she set the alarm and closed the door, locking it securely.

Opening the car door, the driver greeted her politely and they set off into the London traffic. Abbey didn’t have to worry about Steve coming back tonight as he was away for three days training with the rest of the team. She didn’t trust him, and was seriously worried in case he was up to no good. The all too familiar knot tightened in her stomach as she thought of him. Sighing as she felt tears threatening, she vowed to put him out of her mind and enjoy her day. Her appointment was for twelve-thirty, but she needed to be there at eleven. Checking the time, she felt a twinge of panic; she hated to be late.

“I have to be at my club by eleven o’clock,” she said to the driver worriedly.

“I’ll do my best, traffic is a bit heavy at the moment,” said the driver, “but there’s plenty of time yet.”

Yet another thing she couldn’t control, she realised bitterly. Just like that, the car started moving as the congestion cleared. Abbey breathed a sigh of relief as they continued to make progress, arriving only a few minutes late.

She thanked the driver and walked purposely over to the club entrance, admiring the wonderful display of flowers. Inside she headed for the reception desk and asked for Guy. She didn’t need to wait long; he was beside her in seconds. Shaking her hand, he led her through a set of doors into a corridor. He stopped halfway down and indicated the light switch with a card slot. He inserted her card into the reader, and the door clicked open. Returning her card, he gestured to her to step inside.

“This is where I leave you.” He smiled warmly. “Do you have everything you need—the code for example?”

Abbey’s heart almost stopped as she started to search her large Gucci bag frantically. It had been a gift from Steve and she had always disliked it. She could feel the panic rising, and almost sobbed with relief when she found her mobile phone nestled in the zipped pouch of her bag. God, she really was a mess. She looked at the screen and saw she did indeed have a text.

“Sorry, yes. I’m sure I’ve got it.”

Guy waited patiently until she confirmed she had the door code, then told her to make her way down the corridor as he turned to leave. Abbey’s hands were sweating as she opened the text message. She stopped outside a large cream door and punched the numbers into the keypad, butterflies in her stomach, her body trembling in case she got it wrong. Seconds seemed like hours until she heard the door click open.

This is what Steve had reduced her to: a bundle of nerves and an emotional wreck. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of bells ringing and the splendour of the room. It was breath-taking, with an exquisite floral arrangement centre stage on a large round glass table. She approached the high gloss desk where an attractive young woman asked for her membership card. Locating her purse easily this time, she handed it to the young woman, who smiled at her encouragingly. Tentatively, she smiled back.

“Welcome to The Braille Club, Abbey. Please sign in and I’ll call Guy. He will see to your requirements today.”

“Thank you,” said Abbey, confused. Hadn’t she just met Guy?

She had specifically requested she be called by her first name, not her married name, and was pleased to see her instructions had been followed. It had given her a little thrill, made her feel a tiny bit stronger; in fact, she was still amazed she had applied for the membership, wondering where the inner strength had come from. Smoothing her skirt, she took Guy’s outstretched hand.

“We meet again.” He smiled. “All members must enter the same way using their unique code,” he explained.

“Oh right, I found it a bit nerve racking,” confessed Abbey.

“Well, you managed it beautifully.” He beamed. “Are you ready for your orientation tour?”

“Oh, I think so,” said Abbey, smiling.

She felt a flutter of excitement as she stood beside Guy in front of the gilded opaque doors, waiting for them to open.

Chapter 10

THE BRAILLE CLUB

Braille Club, London, Present Day: The Braille Club has six zones plus Elysian. Each zone contains ten people: five Patrons (the givers) and five Assignees (the receivers). Impatience hangs heavy in the air as members glance at the Braille clock on Caligo’s wall. Ignored by most, it is always counting down.

When the three dots appear indicating zero, the room seems to tighten collectively as five keys begin to vibrate. Assignees first, then five keys vibrate for the Patrons. The zone times are staggered as sixty people disappearing at the same time would be noticeable. Assignees and Patrons make their way to the unisex restrooms. Keys in hand as they approach the bank of closed doors, its violent shuddering indicates the correct one. They press the key; the door clicks open, and they move inside. They point their key at the infra-red sensor on the back wall as it too opens to reveal the inner chamber.

Marbella, 2012

Siena

Siena awakened
,
gasping from her dream, her face wet with tears as Benedict kissed them away, his blue eyes piercing her soul. She turned her head away.

She was confused for a second by his presence, her mind still in the grip of a nightmare. Why now? Underneath, she knew why but suppressed the thought.

“You were sobbing.” His voice was full of concern.

She closed her eyes, afraid the dream would return, but it’s better than having to talk. Taking his time, Benedict started to kiss her neck and felt her resistance as she pulled away.

“No,” she said. But he ignored her, his tongue now tracing down her slim tight body, his fingers on her breasts, stroking achingly slowly around her areola, his thumbs rubbing her tightening nipples repeatedly as her body quickly responded, greedy for more.

“No,” she gasped but with less conviction, the dream no longer in her mind as his tongue continued to travel down, his lips reaching her breasts, licking and teasing. Siena wound her hands in his hair as she tried to stop him, but her body arched as his fingers slipped into her wet centre, probing expertly.

She twisted violently now as he sucked and kissed his way down her body while his fingers worked deep inside her. She moaned incoherently, the sensations flowing through her, the need for release building as his head travelled further down. He kissed her inner thighs, inching his way up, his breathing ragged until finally, his tongue plunged into her core again and again until she exploded.

Her body convulsed, her mind was in free fall but suddenly reconnected as he pushed into her, making her gasp once again. His thrusts were strong, powerful, and she needed this, her body pushing back hard and they were like one, their body’s slick with moisture as they moved together, faster and faster until their release exploded, sending shock waves through them, they fell onto the bed and still they both wanted more…