The car door opened and I reluctantly got out. Our driver grabbed my luggage and led us up the back rickety stairs of Diego’s club.
When we reached the top, I saw a dark silhouette standing in the doorway, waiting for us.
“Diego,” Jett said as he reached his hand out.
“Jett, good to see you.
“Thank you for helping me out,” Jett said quietly.
“Helping you out? Are you kidding me, I will be putting this little girl to work. Come in.” Diego winked at me and led the way into his club.
It was nothing compared to the grandiose-ness of the Lafayette Club. It was a step up from Kitten’s Castle but I for sure would be slumming it compared to what I was used to now which was ridiculous. I should be happy because Diego’s club was beautiful, it just wasn’t the Lafayette Club.
We walked down a long, dark hallway that had multiple rooms coming off it. The walls were a deep red with a chair railing halfway up the wall. On the bottom half of the wall, it was painted black and from what I could tell, the floors were black as well. I was really intrigued.
Lights started to ignite throughout the room through gas lanterns, were those allowed indoors? As the light filled the room, I took in my surroundings. We were standing in a circular room with tables lining the outside of it. To the back was a giant curved bar that lined the room and in the ceiling were circular apparatuses like we had at the Lafayette club but there were so many more.
“Welcome to Cirque du Diable,” Diego said as he held out his hands.
“Wow,” I breathed in as I took in everything.
Long, blood red velvet drapes were cascading down the walls and were tied together where there were doorways. We were standing on a dirt service which was interesting to see in an indoor environment but I was getting the whole vibe. It was like a vintage circus and at that moment, a little bit of excitement blossomed in me.
“Diego, you’ve really outdone yourself. The place looks amazing,” Jett complimented as he looked around.
“Thanks, I owe it all to you, man. Without your help and encouragement, I never would have been able to make this happen.”
Jett just nodded, once again passing off his helpfulness as if it was nothing.
“When do you open?” I asked, still taking everything in.
Along with the gas lamps, there were big-bulbed string lights hanging through the ceiling and there were old time typed posters that you would see at a vintage circus, decorating the tables. I wanted to hang out here, it seemed amazing.
“A few months, hopefully. I have to add a few touches with your skillful hand and then practice with the dancers.”
“Dancers?” I asked, feeling a little more comfortable.
“Not what you’re thinking,” Jett mumbled into my ear and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “Where will Goldie be staying?”
“This way,” Diego said, ignoring my question. What was with that? Dancers were dancers, right?
We walked up another flight of stairs which surprised me since the ceilings on the floor we were on were so tall but once we got to the top, I noticed it was an attic space that was converted into a small bedroom and bath. It was quite small but would do. I wasn’t going to be a brat about it.
“Where is your room?” Jett asked, looking around.
“On the first floor.” Diego chuckled. “Nothing to worry about and look, this door even has a lock so I won’t be able to flank her in the middle of the night like the thoughts that are running through your head.”
Jett turned to me and smiled. “Make sure to lock up every night.”
“I thought you would be staying with me,” I said in a whiny tone.
“Here,” Diego interrupted, handing Jett a key. “Here are two keys to the room, do what you want with them. I will let you two have a moment. I’m going back to bed. I will see you in the morning, Goldie, well later in the morning.”
With that, Diego shut the door and left me alone with Jett. I felt like crying, I didn’t want him to leave. Even though Diego was a nice guy and had a pretty cool place, I didn’t want to lose Jett. I depended on him and losing him like this, being separated was bringing up horrible feelings of when my parents were taken away from me.
“I hate this,” I admitted as I buried my head in his chest.
“I know, little one. I hate it too.”
“Then just let me stay with you…”
“You know that is not an option right now, Goldie. Please don’t ask again because it’s killing me to say no to you,” he said roughly.
“I’m sorry. It just seems like I’m losing you and it’s bringing up horrible past images of when my parents were taken away from me and I could do nothing about it.”
Taking a long, deep breath, Jett gripped me tighter and said, “I’m sorry. Fuck, I’m so sorry this is hurting you. It’s hurting me too but please trust me. You trust me right?”
He pulled away to look me in the eyes as I answered. I swallowed hard and nodded my head.
“I trust you, Jett.”
“Good.”
He grabbed my suitcase and opened it up.
“Wow, you could at least wait to unpack me,” I semi-joked.
“I wanted to give you this,” he said as he handed me a wrapped present.
“Hey, when did that get in there?” I looked over the suitcase, trying to see if there were any more hidden presents in there.
“Don’t worry about it and just open it.”
Like a little girl during Christmas, I ripped open the present and gasped when I saw what was inside.
In a green frame, was a picture of Jett and me at our first event together. His arm was wrapped around my waist and he was leaning into my ear, saying something while a giant smile lit up my face.”
“This picture was sent to me after the first event we went to. I have the same one on my desk and I wanted you to have one, to put on your nightstand. I want you to remember this moment. I want you to remember the way my arm felt wrapped around you, the way my breath caressed your skin as I whispered into your ear and the way pure elation flowed through your body from it. Memorize it, little one, and carry that around with you because once I leave here, things are going to become complicated and I want you to know that no matter what happens, I will always be yours, always.”
“Jett, you’re scaring me.”
“I’m being honest.” He took a deep breath and caressed my cheek. “You’re my girl, Goldie. I don’t like titles but…” He paused for a second and then said, “You’re my girlfriend, you’re everything to me and I will do everything in my power to make sure it stays that way. Do you understand me?”
I nodded my head, so confused but understanding the gravity of the situation and having a heavy heart from his confession.
His fingers caressed the frame and he said, “Do you know what the color green means here in New Orleans?” I shook my head no so he continued, “It means faith. I put this picture in a green frame because I want you to have faith that everything is going to work out. Okay? Have faith in us, Goldie, and have faith in the fact that even though you might not like it, I know what I’m doing. I know what’s best for us.”
“Okay,” I responded as a tear dropped down my cheek.
Gently, he took the frame from me and placed it on the nightstand, next to a bouquet of green hydrangeas.
“Did you have Diego put those there?” I asked, trying to be brave and wiping my tears.
“I did. Hydrangeas are tricky flowers, they can mean a lot of things but there is an old saying that a bouquet of hydrangeas means that the giver is grateful of the recipient’s understanding.” He took a deep breath and continued, “I am grateful for you, Goldie, and for trusting in my decisions and having faith in the fact that I will be back and when I’m ready and everything has been fixed, you will be with me, fully. You will be back in my club not as a Jett Girl but as my girlfriend, as the one who has stolen my heart.”
Not being able to say muc
h from the tightness in my throat, I nodded my head and acknowledged him.
Faith and trust, I could do that. It seemed so simple.
Chapter Twenty Three
“As We Are”
Lo
The smell of coffee pulled me from my bed. Jett made me pack pajamas and made me swear that I would wear them when in Diego’s place. I couldn’t blame him; I was known to wake up in the middle of the night and venture out, forgetting that I was naked. Jett clearly didn’t mind but in someone else’s place, he would have none of that.
I tried getting away with packing light camisoles and boy shorts but Jett threatened to make me wear turtlenecks and sweats to bed so we compromised with leggings and a tank top…with a built in bra. The man could be infuriating.
I looked at my nightstand and smiled at the flowers and picture frame that Jett gave me. He had to leave after he settled me in my new room which broke my heart but I understood. I didn’t know what was going on and I knew it was dangerous and he didn’t want to get me wrapped up in it but I was a little hurt that he wouldn’t tell me, especially since I technically was involved now. This would all be so much easier if he let me in but he said the less I knew the better.
I pulled my phone off the nightstand and checked for any messages and was surprised to see one from Jett. Squealing like a girl, I quickly opened it and read it as I sighed to myself.
Jett: Little one, it tore me apart to leave you last night but I know it’s a first step to making everything right for us. Don’t forget to have faith and trust. When you miss me, hold on to your necklace. I will be in touch. - J
After reading his text about five times, I pulled myself away and walked downstairs. In the morning light, the club actually looked clean compared to what I thought last night. It was such a neat concept. I was excited to see what else Diego had in store and what the dancers were. I didn’t forget about that little comment last night. If I was going to be here, I at least was going to make the most of it.
Following the smell of coffee, I was able to find the kitchen. There was a swinging door that I pushed through and was instantly met with Diego’s bare chest.
“Whoa,” Diego said while holding his coffee and trying to balance the hot liquid from falling over the sides.
I was too distracted by his mocha-colored bare chest and the way that his shorts rode dangerously low on his hips, showing a very attractive line of hair from his belly button to his waistline and a deep V that would make any woman weak in the knees. Fuck, he was hot.
I gulped and looked back up at him. He was now smiling like a damn buffoon from my perusal.
“See something you like?” He wiggled his eyebrows at me.
“Get over yourself,” I childishly said as I walked past him and went straight for the coffee. I had no clue where the mugs were so I started sorting through his cupboards. His body pressed up against mine, making me go stiff as he opened a cupboard I hadn’t explored yet and pulled down a mug.
He leaned over my shoulder, handed it to me and spoke too close to my ear, “Here you go.”
“You’re awfully close, you know, especially for someone who gave Jett his word.”
Smiling and holding up his hands, he said, “I was just being helpful.”
“Too helpful,” I said while I pulled away and made myself some coffee. It wasn’t the smooth brew I got when I was at the Lafayette Club but it wasn’t dirt piss either.
Sitting down at the little kitchen table he had set up, I crossed my leg and said, “I like your place. It’s kind of neat. Where did you get the idea?”
He turned around to grab some more coffee and that was when I saw a giant tattoo caressing his back. I couldn’t tell what it was because it was covered up by scars and lashings.
“Oh my God, what happened to you?”
His shoulders tensed from my question but when he turned to face me, his face remained neutral.
“How about we get to know each other first before we go diving into some serious stuff, eh?” he suggested while taking a sip of his coffee and sitting down at the table with me.
“Fair enough. Are you from the area?”
“Yup, born and raised, sweetheart. What about you?”
“Yes, I used to live over in the ninth ward until Hurricane Katrina came around.”
“That greedy bitch,” Diego said, shedding a little bit of humor on a horrific tragedy.
“You could say that. So, where did you get the idea for the club?”
Leaning back in his chair, he looked at me with those gray eyes of his that were not natural for a man of his color but it made him that much more intriguing.
“Well, as you can tell from my choice of club, I enjoy a kinky lifestyle and wanted to open a legit kink club in New Orleans, not one of those cheap knock-offs that bachelor parties go to. I wanted to respect the lifestyle, you know?”
“Sort of. I don’t know much about it, I just do what Jett asks and if I don’t like it I just say my safe word.”
Diego shook his head. “There is so much more to it, Goldie. Maybe while you’re here you will learn a thing or two.”
I snorted, feeling a little uncomfortable from his gaze. I knew he wouldn’t ever do anything because he respected Jett too much but the man had no problem denying his approval of my body that was for damn sure.
“Yeah, we’ll see about that.”
“I can teach you,” he said innocently.
“Ha! Yeah, that will happen the same day Jett Colby lets me tie him up and treat him as a whipping boy.”
“You never know.” Diego shrugged.
“Why don’t we just concentrate on the painting and leave my sex life out of this, okay?”
“Where’s the fun in that?” He smiled that sexy smile of his.
The man was one giant flirt, I should have known from when I first walked off with him at the event of “the incident.” He was a flirt then, and perused my body too much, like he was doing now, blatantly staring at my chest.
“Seriously, are you going to at least try to be subtle when trying to see through my shirt with the x-ray vision you don’t have?”
“How do you know I don’t have it? How do you know I can’t see your pink little nipples right now?”
Covering my chest and opening my mouth in shock, I turned away from him.
A bellow of a laugh escaped his mouth as he threw his head back and slapped the table.
“Kace was right, you’re a pistol.”
“Ugh, that explains it. You’re friends with Kace.”
“That explains what?” he asked while draining the rest of his coffee, intrigued by my statement.
“Why you’re an ass.”
“Aw, Goldie, you wound me,” he said while holding his heart and checking the non-existent watch on his wrist. “And it’s only been half an hour and you’re already making assumptions about me.”
“Well, when you’re poking your head in places it doesn’t belong and teasing me about my nipples, I’m allowed to make such assumptions.”
“Teasing you about your nipples? I don’t remember teasing you, I remember saying they were little and pink. That’s a compliment if you ask me.”
“God, you’re infuriating. Do you have a comeback for everything?”
“Pretty much,” he said with a smile as he got up and rinsed his cup out. I couldn’t help but stare at his back and the scars that laced him, along with the tattoo that seemed like it was pretty but now is deformed.
He must have caught my staring because he started to walk out of the kitchen and said, “We’re not that close yet, Goldie. Maybe someday you will hear my story, but not now.” He faced me and continued, “I’m going to hit the gym and then take a shower. The first room on the left down the long hallway has directions of what you need to do. You can start whenever you want. The place is yours so make yourself at home.”
After his instructions, he left me to wonder how lonely I was going to be. Yeah, Diego was here but he apparently had h
is own schedule which made sense but ever since I’ve been in the Lafayette Club, I’ve been used to having people around me all the time. Not being surrounded by someone was actually kind of sad.
I drank the rest of my coffee, rinsed my cup like Diego did and headed to the room that he was talking about. I pulled my hair up into a ponytail and walked into the room.
I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw the same long cloth-like ribbons hanging from the ceiling as the circular room that I saw last night.
“What the hell?” I muttered as I walked toward them and questioned their texture with my fingers. There were multiple drop downs with loops in all different heights. How did one person even try to begin to get into one of those things? That’s what I thought they did at least, get into them.
Taking a quick look around to make sure no one was watching me, I tested the strength of a rather large loop and noticed that it was bolted into the ceiling securely so I took a deep breath and launched myself into the loop. Like Peter Pan on steroids, I flew across the room, locked into the ribbon swing things and flew into the other hanging ribbons at the same time. My limbs flew about as I tried to catch my balance which only made me get tangled up in the other ones even more while I tried to gain my balance.
“Fucking Christ,” I muttered as I tried to get the swinging under control. “This was a bad idea.”
I wiggled my foot to find out where it was caught but couldn’t twist my body because my arms were stuck in multiple loops. Trying to gain any kind of stability to prop myself up was impossible since the damn things wouldn’t hold still so instead of fighting it, I stopped moving and finally came to a standstill. Looking around, I assessed the mess I put myself in and started to laugh. Only fucking me.
“You’re not even gone for a day and this is how I find you?”
I turned my head to see Pepper staring at me with a joyful look on her face. She was wearing normal clothes which threw my whole life off and she was carrying a small white bag.