Master of the Circle by Seraphina Donavan

 
     

     
     
     
     
     
    Jenna’s hands shook as she emerged from the elevator, clutching the invitation. Her heels clicked on the marble tiled floor as she walked towards the ornately carved door. Kamikaze butterflies nose-dived in her stomach. You want this, she admonished herself. Stop being a coward!
    The elite sex club was frequented by some of the most influential people in the city. Completely exclusive, the club ensured its invitations were all but impossible to get. For years, Jenna had thought it nothing more than an urban legend, titillating stories swapped at parties. Still, the idea had lingered, spurring dozens of erotic fantasies. Unable to stop thinking about it, she’d begun the arduous process of seeking out members. A few sly questions here and there at cocktail parties and events had eventually led her to a reliable source of information. Now, she was finally here, on the brink of exploring her darkest desires.
    Jenna didn’t truly fit the clientele, of course. She moved within society, but as a tolerated oddity. The illegitimate daughter of a wealthy businessman and a maid, Jenna couldn’t say that her father hadn’t supported her. She’d been given the best of educations as well as a job in a high-profile company. In the business world, she was powerful.
    But business only counted for part of it. In the social scene, she always felt petrified of saying or doing the wrong thing and embarrassing her father. She lived in fear of his disapproval when, in truth, he hardly paid any attention to her at all. The true sticklers in society much resembled her father. They merely tolerated her presence while waiting patiently for the day she’d commit the ultimate faux pas.
    Perhaps that was why she’d never been in a satisfying relationship. Her past sexual experiences had been tame and mundane at best. She’d been too afraid of being judged to let her deepest desires loose. But no one stood in judgment here. Instead, everyone had the same goal, the same motivation: pleasure. And, sweetest of all, it came with totally anonymity. The gilt-edged invitation had included a simple black mask as well as a black silk dress that barely covered her. Jenna donned the mask as she rang the doorbell to the penthouse in the city’s most luxurious high-rise.
    A tuxedoed butler opened the door and Jenna recognized immediately that he was not one of the hotel staff, but a private employee. She handed him her invitation and he indicated that she should follow. Music drifted through the large apartment. Its sensual, insistent beat made her body move in time without conscious thought.
    The butler paused before a set of double doors. “Once you enter, Miss, you must remain until dawn unless escorted out by a master.”
    Jenna’s heart pounded a bit faster. This was also part of her fantasy. She’d never been able to give up control before, not with people judging her every move. “I understand,” she replied.
    “You must remove your coat. It is not permitted.”
    Jenna blushed beneath the mask but untied the belt of her cashmere trench coat and slid it from her shoulders. The servant took it without glancing at her, though the silk dress was cut nearly to her navel and barely touched her thighs. He merely opened the door and stepped back to allow her to pass. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Jenna crossed into the room.
    Jenna paused just inside the doorway as her eyes adjusted to the dimness. The room was large, its walls lined with gilt mirrors. Music poured from speakers placed discreetly about the room, providing a low hum that allowed for intimate conversations without worry that others could listen. Not that overhearing appeared a likely problem.
    Only a few people were present, couples cozied up on luxuriously upholstered chaises and couches that were situated in small groupings throughout the room. The men wore black silk trousers while the women wore garments similar to her own. Everyone wore