Yeah, she was his princess, just like I was Lucian’s. It was written all over his face, just as he was enough to set her on fire right back. So lovely to see it.
The limo was waiting outside for us, ready to go. My heart was still thumping, nerves and excitement and love a heady mash-up.
Lucian stroked my knuckles for the whole ride into the city while the Quentins told us all over again about the different performers and VIPs who’d be there with us. I was only half listening, too focused on London through the windows, burning bright.
Wow, the West End was thrumming with energy when we got there. I could feel it. People crowded around waiting to be let in. Paparazzi focused on the VIP entrance.
Here we were. This was it.
Songbirds in the Wind. The signs were bright and bold.
Everyone’s eyes were fixed on our car as it pulled up outside the VIP entrance, red carpet waiting as the attendants stepped forward to open our doors.
They looked very shocked as I stepped out, and shocked to a whole other level as Lucian stepped out and joined me. Yes. It was us. A Constantine and a Morelli standing together.
And that’s when it went crazy. Absolutely fucking crazy. Lights flashing, and cameras clicking and journalists racing forward to get shots of us up close.
Holy Jesus, I was proud. I held Lucian’s hand with my chin up high and my smile alight, posing for the press before we began our walk along the red carpet, along with the Quentins.
The press were calling out questions. Someone shoved a microphone right in my face.
“Elaine! Elaine! Were you kidnapped? Give us a statement!”
I gave them a statement. A very simple one, with a smile. “I wasn’t kidnapped, there has been a misunderstanding. I’ve been with Lucian Morelli and I’m very happy. He’s my partner now.”
All fear was lost under that pure burst of excitement. All thoughts of our families taking a swipe at us was lost under the bliss as the press went even more crazy with the camera flashes and questions. We ignored the rest of them, just kept on walking.
The red carpet steps lasted a lifetime and a heartbeat both at once. The theater was beautiful when we hit the entrance hall. We were guided to our VIP balcony and the view of the stage was incredible. I took my seat by the railing, leaning forward to check out the full scope of the place. It was everything I’d dreamed it would be.
“And here we are,” Lucian whispered to me. “A couple for the world to see. It’s an honor, Elaine. A true honor.”
“Ditto,” I said, with a grin. “Being anywhere with you is an honor, Lucian. I didn’t know it was possible to love anyone as much as I love you.”
His grin was amazing, nothing like his trademark smirk. “Ditto.”
The lights lowered to darkness, bursting to brightness again as the curtains pulled back and the show began. The music was so good. The orchestra was outstanding, and so were the performers on stage.
The story was about two birds separated by the bitter cold and wind, both of them believing the other was dead and not being able to live without them, searching desperately for the other even though they believed they were gone.
I was crying by the end, giving a standing ovation alongside Lucian and the Quentins with my hands in the air.
I only hoped we’d be able to do plenty more of these musicals, because they were magic. Magic.
Lucian knew I was crying with the emotion of the story when he took my hand and led me out onto the landing to make our descent.
“We’ll be doing plenty more of this,” he assured me, and wiped away my tears with his thumb.
“Thank you,” I said.
“There’s no thanks to give,” he replied. “The pleasure is all mine.”
The paparazzi were ready and waiting for us all over again when we left the theater. This time we dashed right past them, taking a dive into the limo before the Quentins slid in and joined us.
Devon let out a breath once we were back in our seats, letting out a guffaw of a laugh.
“Well, we’re all still alive. Thumbs-up for that.”
Lucian laughed along with him, and he gave him a thumbs-up. An actual thumbs-up, which made me laugh too.
Yeah, these were our friends now. I knew in my heart they always would be.
“Time for the after-party!” Francesca said with a grin, but Lucian shook his head, then smiled at me.
“Not for us. We have somewhere else to go.”
I had no idea what he was talking about, but Devon did. “Ah, yes. You’ll be taking the limo to Soho. Of course.”
I’d heard of Soho as a part of London, but our destination was a mystery to me. Lucian put a finger to my lips as I began to ask questions.
“Wait and see,” he told me, and I did as I was told, mind spinning as to where the hell we could be going. He looked…simmering. Intense. Excited in the very darkest of ways. Truly Lucian Morelli.
The limo dropped Devon and Francesca at some grand hotel a short way from the theater.
“See you later.” Francesca waved along with Devon, and we waved back but stayed in the back seat and kept on rolling.
“Tell me where we’re going,” I pleaded with a grin, but Lucian smirked.
“No,” he said. “Wait until you’re shown.”
The street we pulled into was almost empty. The limo dropped us off outside a set of unmarked doors with two security guards outside, big and gruff. I still had no idea where the hell we were stepping into as the driver let us out onto the sidewalk.
The security guys looked as taken aback as the West End paparazzi had as Lucian led me up to the doors.
“We’re expected,” he told them. “Your owner, Andy, told me to head right in.”
They looked at each other for a long second, then swung open the doors for us without question, letting us walk straight inside.
My eyes were shooting all over the place when they closed the doors behind us. We were standing in a red reception room with a woman with green hair and piercings sitting behind the counter.
She saw us and the recognition was clear all over her face. It took a few seconds for her to compose herself, clearly as surprised by our presence as everyone else we’d crossed paths with that evening.
“Um, hi,” she said, struggling for words. “Welcome to Club Explicit.”
It was when I saw the couple on the stairs ahead of us that I realized what Club Explicit was, but of course that made sense. Club Explicit. It was a dirty one. A BDSM club. I could see it by the crop in a guy’s hand as he made his way upstairs alongside a woman in nothing but a thong.
My heart was absolutely pounding when I saw the lust in Lucian’s eyes.
He gestured to the stairs. “Let’s go check out Club Explicit,” he said. “I hope you’re ready to show me what an obedient little doll you really are.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Lucian
I’d heard excellent things about Club Explicit. When I was setting up Violent Delights, my own BDSM club back home in NYC, it had been one of the places I’d investigated heavily online in my research. I’d been meaning to visit for quite some time, but I never expected to be doing so with such a delicious creature on my arm. Let alone a woman I was totally in love with.
The mural on the wall as we climbed the stairs was a marvel in itself, but that didn’t surprise me. I’d heard that one of London’s best street artists had been at work on it. Everything from the lighting and the booths in the main bar, right through to the grand stage and the opulence of the dance floor were testament to the quality and prestige of this venue.