Time to put out…or get out.
Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 2
On the outside, Amy has the American dream. Two busy kids, a job she loves, a big house thanks to her husband’s climb up the corporate ladder. What she hasn’t had in a long time…is sex. Sure, she’s too exhausted at night to think about it, but maybe Will’s long hours at work aren’t the real reason he rarely touches her anymore.
Feeling her marriage teetering on the edge, she rents the voyeur room at Paolo’s Playhouse. Maybe bringing back the memory of the one wicked thing they used to do together will relight the sparks.
Will loves his wife, but she’s never been one to take chances—except for the time before kids, when they’d camp out in a club’s back booth, getting all worked up watching the dirty dancers. Their careers have seriously cut into their “us” time, and if she’s booked them a sexual playroom, it sounds like she’s serious about solving the problem.
When Will shows up way, way late, Amy wonders why she bothered, and if her plan to relight the flame has only made it painfully clear that it’s too late to try.
Product Warnings
Sparks flying, angry words flying, clothes flying, and a loving couple trying to find their way back to each other. Copyright © 2011 Natasha Moore
All rights reserved — a Samhain Publishing, Ltd. publication
The fancy door at the end of the room opened, startling her. A handsome young man with dark wavy hair and bright blue eyes stepped into the room. His smile was warm and charming. “Mrs. Carson? Welcome. I am Paolo.” He shook her hand and then held it between his large, warm palms. “It was wonderful to talk to you today. I hope you didn’t get too wet tonight.”
His sincere charm sucked her in. She smiled back at him. “No. I’m fine, thank you.”
He swept his gaze around the room. “Are you alone? I was under the impression your husband would be coming with you tonight.”
Amy cleared her throat and slid her hand from his. “He will be. He’s running a little late.”
Paolo held her gaze for a moment. “Of course. I’m certain this terrible weather is causing many delays this evening. Would you like me to escort you to the blue room now or would you rather wait for him here?”
Go to a sexual playroom by herself? Her heart stuttered in her chest and she felt her face grow warm. “I’ll wait here, thank you.”
Paolo nodded and shot her another one of his warm smiles. “As you wish. I’ll check back with you in a few minutes.”
He disappeared behind the ornate door and Amy sank into one of the plush chairs, her stomach nothing but a bunch of knots. She clutched her purse in her lap. Soft classical music drifted through the room, but it did nothing to calm her frazzled nerves. Where was he? She’d made all these plans, thinking that all they needed was a little change. Some time alone together. Something fun to add a little spark to their sex life.
A chance to save their marriage.
Oh God, had it really gone that far? Could she actually be considering divorce? She pressed a trembling hand to her mouth. No. She still loved her husband. She didn’t want to end their marriage. Icy fear slid down her spine. But maybe Will did. Maybe that was why he decided it wasn’t worth the trouble to meet her here tonight.
She tried to tell herself she was overreacting. Will had never said anything that would make her think he wanted a divorce.
When Paolo had mentioned during their phone conversation that there was a voyeur room, an old memory had popped into her head. When she and Will were first dating, they used to find a dark corner booth in one of the clubs downtown. Then they’d sit back and talk about the couples on the dance floor. They’d watch them. Their bodies rubbing. Their hands roaming. She and Will would whisper and touch each other. They’d be so hot. So horny. So happy. It was so long ago. Would he remember?
The door opened again. Paolo stepped into the room. “Your husband has not arrived?”
She took a deep, shaky breath. “No.”
He sat down in the chair beside her. “It is difficult to wait, isn’t it?” She nodded, looking down at her hands, clasped in her lap. “Especially for someone you care for so much.”
Amy nodded again. She thought she heard a touch of pain in his voice. Perhaps this handsome man had had his share of heartbreak. Maybe he did understand.
“I…um, I was really looking forward to this evening. We have two children and busy jobs, and we don’t get much time alone.”
“People like you and your husband are the very reason the Playhouse was started,” he said smoothly. “There are not many safe places for people to indulge in a private fantasy. Or to try something new. To take a risk.”
Sometimes risks didn’t pay off. Paolo must be an expert at this fantasy thing, must see tons of people come and go. As he calmly sat there beside her, not judging but supporting, she found herself pouring out her troubled thoughts.
“It’s not that I don’t like sex. I do. But why can’t he understand that I get so tired? I work all day and come home to the kids and dinner and homework and laundry, and by the time I fall into bed, sex is the last thing on my mind!” Her hand flew to her mouth, as if she could take back that outpouring of words. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to go off like that.”
“It’s all right. But you know, of course, that you must make time for each other.”
“But he’s just as bad. He’s been working all these long hours lately and comes home just in time to go to bed and then expects a quickie before he rolls over and goes to sleep.” Like last night. “What am I supposed to do?”
“My answer is the same. You must make your time together as important as your careers or your children or your laundry.”
Easier said than done. But… “I love him.”
“Of course you do. And you’re here to make things better, right? This playroom, the blue room, it has a special meaning for you both?”
“I thought it did, but it looks like I’ve been stood up.” Obviously, this night alone together didn’t mean anything to Will.
Paolo took her hand. “I’m certain your husband wanted to be here.” He glanced at his watch. “Perhaps you would like to reschedule?”
“No.” Why couldn’t they wait a little longer? “Oh, I suppose the other couple has…”
“Yes, they’ve already started.”
She rose to her feet. The hell with Will anyway. Postponing it until another night wasn’t going to make any difference. She flashed Paolo a shaky smile. “Well, I don’t want to miss that. Could you take me to the playroom now, please?”
“Of course. Right this way.” He ushered her through the door.
She stopped in the doorway and looked into his sympathetic eyes. “If my husband should show up…”
Paolo placed his hand on the small of her back as he guided her down the long hallway. “When he gets here, I’ll bring him to you myself. I’m sure he’s very disappointed to be kept away from his beautiful wife and your exciting fantasy tonight.”
She didn’t reply. There was no point. She didn’t want to tell this charming young man that she was afraid her husband was using his long hours at work as an excuse to keep away from his wife and any fantasies they might be able to share.
There was a quiet hush as they continued along the soft carpet. Soon they stopped in front of one of the many doors. When Paolo opened the door to the room she’d booked with such high hopes, she took a deep breath and stepped ahead of him into a small room with deep blue walls and plush carpet. There was nothing bordello or dungeon-like about it. Thick, colorful pillows were piled here and there on the floor. There was a wide bed sitting along the wall to her left, while a sofa and two ottomans faced the opposite wall.
She gasped when she saw the huge window that took up the entire wall to her right. The room on the other side of the window was brightly lit and she could easily see an attractive young couple standing in front of the glass. They looked so real, so close, as if she could reach out and touch them. As if they could jump out at her at any time.
“It’s a two-way mirror,” Paolo explained. “They can’t see you at all. You won’t be able to hear what they say, but you should have a clear view of anything that happens in that room through this window. The couple does have the option of closing their curtain at any time, but since they’ve chosen that room, I assume they want to be seen as much as you want to watch.”
But she hadn’t planned on watching alone. Still, Amy gave Paolo a small smile. “Thank you.”
“Is there anything more I can do for you before I leave?” he asked.
Stay here with me? But that wasn’t what Amy really wanted. She didn’t want to be there alone, but she didn’t want another man, even one as sexy as Paolo. She wanted her husband. She wanted Will. Amy crossed her arms over her chest. “No. Thank you. I’m fine.”
“I hope you enjoy your stay here.” Paolo began to turn away then stopped and took her hand. Kissed it. “Just because your husband has been delayed doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourself to the fullest while you are here.” He spoke the words slowly, carefully. “We all have to satisfy ourselves sometimes, don’t we?”
She swallowed.
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[5 of 5 Stars!]