Lounging comfortably in the padded booth, Valerian twirled the wine in her glass as her ceder irises perused the festivities beyond the scarlet organza curtains enclosing them within the space. The music that filled the sultry venue was seductive and primal. Percussion and string instruments played a tempo that was dangerously easy to sway your hips to. Tones and rhythm swirled like smoke, breathing it in, letting it fill you, was more than instinct, it was necessity.
Beyond the pillows, tapestries, and flickering candle light were other wixen eager for a good time. Several were dancing to the provocative beat, others were reclining in their own private booths, smoking cigars and schmoozing as inhibitions melted away under the establishment’s lurid ambience.
She loved this watering hole above most others for how downright risque it was. The women wore so little, the men even less, oils and incense spiced the air, and wine ran like water. None of the regulars would confess to being so beyond these walls, and the establishment’s legatee was so selective that most weren’t aware that such a place even existed.
Escorts, courtesans, chatelaines whose companionship all came at a price sauntered and flirted through the booths. The promise was that desires would be met, dreams made real, fantasies fulfilled and the number of Ministry officials, politicians, and societal pillars that purchased those promises was not at all surprising. So predictable, in fact, that it was exactly their purpose in attending tonight’s debauchery. They had a mark, and the more they baited the water the better likely they were to catch their fish.
Her rich brown gaze flitted over to Evan and the fullness of Valerian’s lips curled at the sight of him. The wizard really was a handsome male specimen. If rumor served, there was a good chance that their mark would have only a passing interest in her. Well, with the bangles, halter top, and Egyptian styled belly dancer’s skirt, she’d wager his interest to be marginally more than passing.
After a long sip from her wine, she mused, “How long do you think it’ll be before he’s begging you to fuck him.” Her smirk grew, wicked and amused, as her expression darkened with her eagerness to get to the night’s main event. “I wager it’ll be less than ten minutes.”