The Braille Club (The Braille Club #1) (15 page)

Chapter 29

THE BRAILLE CLUB

Braille Club, London, Present Day: Once booked in, Elysian guests are given a key to one of the E-Suites. They can choose to stay there until their keys start to vibrate, or they can mingle in Caligo. E keys are programmed with time slots and desired zones. Zones you wouldn’t usually associate that celebrity with…like the politician and his wife who arrive together but whose zone choices always keep them apart.

Abbey

Abbey could hardly contain her excitement; she was going to The Braille Club this Friday. Her first time at the club, she told Steve she was dining with her girlfriends and he was to meet her in the club later. She asked if he could be added to the guest list. As a Braille Club member, you had six complimentary guest passes to Caligo a year. Steve would still have to register to gain entry, but she had already completed the details for him. Nobody unauthorised could gain entry. All night pass guests had to leave credit card security as everything within the club linked in, and some members would have their guest pass denied.

Not everyone who was wealthy was clean and Benedict would not tolerate criminals, hence the background checks on all his members. There were numerous drug and vice barons in London out to impress, a whole underground society of hoods and in some cases, murderers with money and power. Benedict tried to ensure this element stayed out, but they often used clean associates with no record and big bank balances. Guy had to be thorough, using his contacts in the police force to identify any potential threats.

Abbey was in Mono Zone XX and XY and was delighted to learn she would be the Patron. It would be nice to be in control for a change and use all the skills Grace had taught her. The thought made her smile as she wondered what sensory equipment to choose, concerned she would not have the experience to work them properly. She decided to book an overnight room as a treat, and was headed to reception right now. Her time slot wasn’t till midnight and she was feeling a bit nervous. She worried she wouldn’t be any good at it, and the person would be unhappy…or even worse, that the bells wouldn’t ring.

Checking in, she asked for a suite, and was disappointed when she was told they were fully booked, however she cheered up when offered a room upgrade instead, and smiled happily as she headed to the elevators. The rooms were located on the upper floors; she found number five quickly, opening the ornate door with her room card. Pulling her small suitcase behind her, she gasped; the room was beautiful and huge. The twinkling lights looked magical wrapped around a large iron bed, which made you want to dive into it. The fireplace had a stove and the subtle tartan armchairs either side were incredibly inviting. Already charmed and delighted, Abbey was even more impressed as she stepped onto the impressive balcony. Exotic trees, luxurious couches, and decadent lighting gave it a magical feel. The scent of the room was Braille; it seemed to ooze out of everything with its unique and intoxicating presence.

Abbey sighed in pure pleasure, and moved into the cavernous bathroom to open the taps on the exquisite slipper bath. She noticed the music system in the main room, and when she clicked it on, the familiar music of her Braille Club sessions flooded through the room. She felt everything inside her tingle and tighten, surprised that just hearing the music could give her pleasure. Lifting the Caligo bath oil, she poured in a generous amount before lying in the bath and embracing the scent. Humming to the music, she shut out her complicated life, letting her fingers trace over her body. She groaned, she was so turned on. Her mind drifted to Steve. Physically he was a good lover, but she was beginning to see something was broken in her marriage that sex alone could not fix. Suddenly she was sobbing, all the hurt and betrayal she had endured over the last months finally bursting like a dam. It was almost an hour before her crying subsided, and she started to feel a little better. Climbing out of the bath, she wrapped herself in a towel and decided to lie down for a nap, feeling exhausted.

If it hadn’t been for the twenty-four hour notice required she would have cancelled, not feeling up to her Braille Club session anymore, but no-shows meant expulsion, therefore she would have to go tonight, whether she liked it or not. Her phone was set to wake her in a couple of hours’ time. She pulled back the duvet and slipped inside. Asleep in minutes, she didn’t stir until her alarm went off. She stared at her face ruefully, good job the person was going to be blindfolded; she looked scary. Her eyes were still swollen, her face red and puffy. She sighed as she reached for her cosmetics bag and got to work. She dressed carefully in a long white Grecian style dress which had a sexy split almost to the top of her thigh. As she piled her hair up she kept her makeup natural except for smoky eyes, which disguised her swollen lids. Fake extensions, lashes, tan, and nails were simply not her bag; she hated all that “wag” bling. With no need of enhancements, her natural beauty shone through. She made her way downstairs and turned down a long corridor until she saw the door, and was startled as her mobile buzzed with the incoming door code. Heart pounding, she punched in the numbers, and she was in. She breathed in the scent as she approached the high gloss desk where a pretty girl smiled at her and asked for her membership card and key. Her fingers were slippery with sweat as she placed the key inside the locket around her neck. On her orientation tour, Guy had shown her where the access was located to the Mono Zone of her choice. He had also shown her the other zones, should she wish to change.

Grateful for the glass of champagne as she entered the main club, she sipped nervously. She stood staring at the place, alive with famous people, and she felt awed and a little star struck. There was a pleasant noise of conversation and laughter; there was a young guy playing the piano and singing. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, sipping cocktails in the soft glowing light, the air heavy with scent. She didn’t see him at first; it was on her second sweep of the room that their eyes locked and Luke smiled at her.

As he started to move across the floor, panic overwhelmed Abbey and she gulped down the rest of her drink.

“Abbey, what a lovely surprise,” he said warmly, leaning over and softly kissing her cheek.

Abbey felt herself flush as at that moment her key started to vibrate and she just stood there panic-stricken for a few seconds before recovering her composure.

“Luke,” she said distractedly. “I’m meeting some of my girlfriends and I’m so late. Sorry, I’ve got to go,” she replied nervously.

Turning away, she almost ran towards the restrooms, fumbling for her key in the locket, her heart hammering in her chest. God, he had smelled so good, but this timer system was making her a nervous wreck, although it was strangely exciting. There were other people around her. She smiled politely at them as she approached the vast row of ultra-chic cubicles and stopped when she felt her key vibrate violently; she turned towards the door and clicked the key fob. The door popped open, and she slipped inside quickly. Minutes later she had changed into the clothes provided, and slipped the silk mask over her face as she waited for the bells to ring.

She was shaking now, almost screaming in fright as her key vibrated indicating the fifteen-minute deadline. Several minutes later she heard the bells and saw the rear of the changing room slide open. She moved into the zone and stopped in front of the chair, trying to calm her nerves. She could do this; she could do this; she kept repeating under her breath. Again the scent of Braille surrounded her, and the sensuous music began to soothe her tense nerves. She stood, trying to get her breathing under control and stop herself shaking. The hood and sensory suit made it difficult to recognise the person in the chair, but the charge in the room was unmistakable. A collision of emotions including anticipation, fear, curiosity and suspense seemed to vibrate through Abbey as she made her way towards the hooded figure.

She selected the weighted belt and gently placed it around his lap. Conscious of the time, she secured the cuffs next and heard him murmur softly as she did. She picked up the tablet from the back of the chair and clicked into the programme she needed before clipping it back in place. His breath quickened at her touch, and she felt a heady sense of power as she watched the clock count down.

So much to remember, and terrified of making a mistake, she kept glancing at her neighbours to ensure she hadn’t forgotten anything. When the bells ceased to ring she thought her heart would stop along with them. Her fingers shaking, she tapped the Assignee, then switched on the sensory suit. She started to slide her nails gently down the exposed sides of his face and chin again and again, gently repeating the motion as she felt him begin to respond. She traced the outline of his lips with the tips of her fingers on one hand while the nails of her other hand continued to pull softly on his neck.

His breathing was louder now as she moved her hands around his face and neck. Slowly she relaxed and got into a rhythm, wanting to explain to him it was her first time as a Patron, he must be patient with her, but of course, she couldn’t speak.

She could only communicate through touch, the whole essence of The Braille Club. She hoped he would forgive her lack of experience. Grace assured her that everyone had started the same way and to concentrate on enjoying herself. She should take control and make herself proud. Her fingers shook as she activated the belt and lifted the wand. He had chosen the original velvet cuffs with bells, although they all had motion sensors in them now. This surprised her, she had assumed the men would go for the hi-tech modern cuffs, but she had to admit she approved.

Directing the wand at the sensitive inner arm skin, she immediately felt him respond. Smiling to herself, she worked her way once again up and down his arms and neck. She could feel his tension building with every repetition, the slow rhythmic music heightening the experience, the songs well-known but slowed down and changed somehow to fit the mood of The Braille Club perfectly. She pressed the auto switch for the suit and clicked the wand onto the chair, increasing the rhythms in the belt. When she eventually nibbled his ear she was rewarded with a gasp. Encouraged by this, she put her lips on his skin and slowly placed feather light kisses along the side of his neck. The aromatic spiced scent from his neck was familiar and it almost stopped her in her tracks. Had she not just met him, she would never have known, but she was sure it was the same scent she noticed when Luke bent over and kissed her cheek.

She knew they all wore Caligo, but his had a slight overtone of what…she couldn’t place it. Was it Luke? It was hard to tell, and she felt completely unnerved. She wasn’t sure if she felt pleased or not. Her fingers moved to activate the chair, and it connected to the suit. As the slow pulses vibrated beneath her, she felt her breath quicken. When she started to run her hands over his face once again, she sensed his heightened tension, her touch igniting a response in both of them. She began to push him harder, her tongue now slipped into his ear before her teeth pulled on his lobe. The belt increased and his whole body shivered, her nails returning to his lips and neck, careful not to mark his skin.

Hot now, her breathing fast, she desperately wanted to kiss him but thought that would cross the line. Instead, she increased the vibrations of the chair, rewarded by a choked groan but still no bells, and she realised her pride would be dented if she were unsuccessful.

Renewing her efforts, they were now agonisingly slow, her lips barely touching his sensitised skin, the veins straining in his neck. She saw now she needed that bell to ring because she wanted out of this room before she wanted more.

Losing herself in the moment, the vibrations now coursing through her body, she hit the circle button which released the central pulse which pushed upwards in the seat. Now nipping his skin gently while running her hands over his upper torso, she sensed he was close. She changed the locations of the pulses in both the chair and belt but still he hung on. He had left her with no alternative; equally aroused, she bent over him and kissed him hard.

His body jerked towards her as she heard the bells ring and enclosed in the locket around her neck, the key vibrated between her breasts. Everything seemed to be in slow motion as the equipment fell still. She immediately withdrew and walked through the door which had slid open when her key had vibrated. Dripping in sweat and completely exhilarated, she stripped the suit off and stepped into the shower cubicle, her body on fire and tingling with excitement. She wondered if it had been Luke as she hurried; only having a twenty minute period to shower and re-dress. Her key buzzed to indicate she had five minutes remaining before the door would be unlocked, and she would be expected to leave.

No one took any notice of her as she left the cubicle and walked towards the mirror to touch up her makeup, her breathing still erratic and her heart thumping in case someone should say something to her. She thought everyone would know what she’d been doing. She had never felt more self-conscious stepping back into the main club.

The first person she met as she left the ladies was her favourite music producer, and he stopped to embrace her. Again she inhaled that aromatic spiced scent. Was it different than Luke’s? Yes, she was sure of it; if only she could meet him again she would know for sure. She was wearing the same scent; it was unisex and yet it seemed to smell different on each individual.