SERAPHINA
As we stepped into Jackâs private club, the music wrapped around us like a warm blanket, pushing away the icy chill of the Alaskan night. Evelyn clutched the velvet box Iâd asked her to keep closed as we made our way toward the back rooms.
I couldnât help but notice that the club was less crowded than usual. Considering the months leading up to the harsh Alaskan winter were typically bustling, it made sense, though, given the long periods of darkness and unpredictable weather that forced most Alaskans to hibernate.
Jack had arranged an exclusive party in another wing of the club, which had already kicked off. The main stage was due to be cleared out, but the amount of vehicles seemed scarce.
This made me wonder how powerful magic had to be to cure cancerânot that I was anywhere strong enough to even participate beyond sexually charging a room.
Jack, as usual, was a master of all trades, especially when it came to maximizing income and exclusivity. The room was already undergoing a transformation, with furniture being moved and lingering patrons being ushered out. The VIP section boasted twenty-five seats. Seven of which were usually reserved for exclusive clientele, were gone.
It was odd to see them replaced with twelve private suites, each comfortably furnished with their own private televisions for a better view. I paid particular attention to this area, as these were the seats I would be able to see from the stage, even though the lighting and anonymity would mask their faces.
There was one exception, thoughâthe one who would pay to witness the grand climax and decide when to end it. The one who could even come up on stage for a closer look.
That thought made me swallow hard as we walked by. My knees were already feeling weak. The man who would dominate the evening, as well as another manâs wife. In front of everyone, it was as wicked as it was somewhat thrilling.
While the club was usually filled with dancers and performers, nights like this were what made Jackâs club so exclusive. Unlike other clubs, Jackâs catered to a variety of sexual tastes and kinks. Many of the Umbra Aurorae used this to their advantage for their spell work in the private room, and ever so rarely in the room of the main stage.
Even though I wasnât having direct sex with anyone tonight, it seemed rich men still enjoyed watching a womanâ¦enjoy herself. Especially when it was someone as exclusive as Jack Blairâs bride, or as he had so eloquently put it in tonightâs directory, the beautiful shut-in. A title I was less than thrilled with, but I swallowed my distaste to please him.
I didnât consider myself a shut-in, just not well enough to travel far outside of home without company with the amount of fainting spells I endured.
âYouâre early. Did you like it?â Jack asked as Evelyn tossed the box onto the counter next to him. He was dressed in black and red, his shirt unbuttoned to reveal his oiled chest. My heart pounded in my ears as I looked at him, a mix of excitement and fear.
âYour wife hasnât even bothered to look at it yet,â Evelyn said, her tone dripping with disgust. âI went all that way and for what?â
Jack rolled his eyes at Evelyn. He flicked open the clasp of the box and revealed its contents as he walked over to me. The jewelry inside sparkled in the vanity mirrors, making it hard to miss from the amount of twinkling under the lights.
My breath hitched as I took in the cluster of emeralds and thousands of dark water pearls that matched the deep sea tones of our matching rings, both of which were embedded with the same dark pearls and a large diamond on mine. The pieces looked like they were designed to drape over my body.
Knowing Jack, they were probably replicas of the same deep water pearls, making the piece incredibly valuable. I felt like I couldnât breathe, my eyes wide as I froze in place. I wondered how something like that would ever grace my body, its worth with one of the sleeves more than the value than a lifetime of wealth.
Jackâs smile was slow and devilish as he tilted my chin up to meet his gaze. âYou knew I would delight in your immediate reaction, didnât you?â
I blushed, my eyes darting to the floor before he rewarded me with a deep, passionate kiss. He pulled me into his arms, his tongue exploring my mouth slowly as his hands began to massage, showing his appreciation as well as the warmth through our intimacy as the kiss continued into something a bit more heated.
I suppressed a moan as I pulled back slightly, remembering my promise to him. âNo sex, remember?â I reminded him, dancing out of his reach with a coy smile as he tried to grab for me. He bit his lower lip, his breath coming in short gasps as he watched me with hungry eyes.
His hand moved up and down my arm as he fought with himself, a silly grin on his face. âDid that really mean I couldnât touch my wife?â His hand was on my ass, squeezing me as he pulled me forward for another deep-seated kiss. My body easily molded to his as I gave into the kiss, groaning with frustration into his mouth before I began to push him away once more.
Jack grinned, holding onto me for a moment before finally letting me step back. âAlright, fine, fine. Better not to disappoint the guests. Dress for me?â
âFast. Showâs supposed to start in thirty,â Evelyn drawled from the corner of the room. Her voice made me jump, reminding me of her presence.
âIâll be quick,â I promised Jack, glancing at the clock to check the time.
âIâll be waiting,â he replied, kissing my forehead before gesturing for Evelyn to follow him out.
She gave the jewelry one last longing look before gracefully striding after him, patting my head as she passed. I vaguely wondered if she planned to be among the spectators for the night, the thought only slightly unsettling.
Evelynâs sexual preferences were questionable, but I was fairly certain she would look at my reactions purely from an intellectual standpoint if she were assisting in the ritual tonight. Or at least participating in its formation and creation, since she wasnât exactly touched by the magical herself.
It was her brain Jack wanted, her long-lost scripts and ancient lores that might lead him to the Orb Vasiliev had accused him of having.
Once they were gone, I took a few deep breaths, taking a moment to compose myself before getting to work. I tried to ignore the anticipation of what was about to happen. Despite my nerves, I wasnât exactly reluctant.
Just timid as I pulled out my phone to text Lilith.
Seraphina
Almost show time. Iâm nervous.
Lilith
Just donât think about it.
I chuckled, tucking my phone on the vanity as I stared back at the jewels, biting my lower lip. âDonât think about it,â I muttered, reminding myself. I was excited, as well as curious about where this new experience might take me.
Sexual gratification was one of the few things that made me feel alive when the rest of the world seemed dull and meaningless. It wasnât something I tended to do in public, though.
Even though I was prone to fainting spells when things got too intense, it was also one of the few times I felt like I could almost touch the magic that saturated our world. This made me wonder, as well as worried, about tonightâs adventures.
I hoped that my body would be able to handle the attention, let alone what I might feel from beyond.
Magic was always just out of reach, like the end of a thread I was always trying to catch. It felt like chasing a magical high each time Jack and I had longer sessions.
It was a confession I hadnât shared with anyone, especially not Jack or Marcus. If Jack knew he might have married an addict, or even suspected I was after his magic, it would be the end of us. Our fantasy would shatter in an instant.
I clung to his love, no matter how misguided it might be, for as long as I could. I loved him, completely and utterly, for all the things he had done for me and all the times he had stood by my side. I tried to do my best to meet his needs in return.
Sure, he had some personality traits that others might find off-putting, but his wealth and privilege seemed to amplify those traits. This made Jack ruthless when it came to managing said wealth.
Deep down, I believed there was something inherently good and kind about him. That was what I loved most about himâthe sweet side others rarely saw, the face saved for only me.
Getting dressed was easier than I had anticipated as I thought about this. The outfit unfolded gracefully despite my trembling fingers and the soft clinking of beads and gems.
It was like a blanket of rhinestones, emeralds, and pearlsâthe back of it was nothing but strings of pearls covering my nakedness and resembling a harness. It made me understand why Jack had chosen a table to strap me to for the show instead of other restraints.
The phrase ~aesthetically pleasing~ came to mind at the thought about the lighting. As I let down my dark brunette hair, often mistaken for black, I found myself taking a second look in the mirror.
My makeup complemented my new outfit perfectly, as if I had known that the shades of green would make my eyes look cat-like and striking. I had only the color Jack had noted in mind.
It wasnât often that I saw myself naked, let alone from so many angles, wearing something so revealing. Deciding whether I actually liked my reflection was a challenge. A decision that wasnât helped by my past experiences with mirrors.
With one last look and a confident nod that I didnât truly feel, I left the dressing room. My legs carried me to my destination despite the rubbery feeling in my knees.
The darkness and heat enveloped me as I waited just off-stage behind the door. The black silk robe felt like water on my bare skin, a sensation that was only enhanced by the cool, heavy stones that still hadnât warmed to my skin.
The pearls, however, felt uncomfortably hot. I found myself wondering if it was me, or the lights just on the other side.
My heart pounded in my ears as the seconds seemed to stretch into hours.