Into The Woods (Dark Fairy tales), page 2
“I’m not as innocent as you would think,” Sutton said in a deep purr.
Fiona turned and snickered. “Oh, what a dear, sweet girl you are. It’s okay to be innocent. It’s a quality that many women can’t say they have. Be proud of it.”
Sutton stood and walked over to Fiona. “I’m not innocent. I’m far from innocent. I don’t know what the job is, but I can tell you that I’m more than capable of handling it,” she retorted boldly.
Fiona turned and looked at the nervous but unwavering young girl. “So, you got your big girl panties on, huh?” Fiona teased, as she took another sip of her wine.
“I’m not a girl, I’m a woman.”
Fiona ran her hand down Sutton’s cheek, then in a brash move planted her lips on Sutton’s. Sutton wanted to pull away, but found she couldn’t. She didn’t want her facade of being a woman who could handle anything ruined by her fear. She gave in to the kiss, not touching Fiona, but not refusing her probing mouth. Was this what she meant? Did she want Sutton to be some lesbian lover? Sutton was suddenly regretting taking the bait. Curiosity: one, Sutton: zero, she thought, as Fiona pulled her lips away.
“You’re a good kisser. Still very green, but a good kisser nonetheless. They will like that about you.”
“They?” Sutton breathlessly questioned, still recovering from her girl-on-girl kiss.
“My clients. They will love the sweet girl next-door thing you’ve got going. You put on a brave front, little girl.”
“I’m not a little girl.”
“Yes, you are, but I’m willing to chance it. See, Sutton, I run a very exclusive club. I try to meet the members’ every need. When I say every need, I do mean every need,” Fiona said, with a devilish grin.
“I think now I understand why you asked if I was a virgin,” Sutton replied, no longer hiding her apprehension.
“Although some like virgins, they do me no good. Virgins are simple and have a romantic notion about sex. I would much rather have a girl like you, if I were going for green.”
“A girl like me?”
“A girl who’s had sex but hasn’t had a lot of sex. This club is set up around the notion that you’re free to explore yourself in any way you choose. I employ women and men who are able to give the members just that experience.”
It was all becoming very clear in Sutton’s head. This woman was running a brothel. Sutton’s stomach turned at the thought. Did this woman think that she was a hooker? That she could be a hooker in her high-priced club? A bolt of anger rushed through Sutton’s body.
“Do you think I’m a hooker?” Sutton shouted, disgust filling her face.
“Heavens, no. Hookers are women who walk the street. I would never demean you by calling you a hooker.”
“Isn’t that basically what you’re implying? That in some shape or form I would be a prostitute?”
“It would really be more like a high-class call girl, if you had to give it a title,” Fiona remarked snippily. “Don’t judge it Sutton. In a way, everyone exchanges sex for something they want.”
“What?” Sutton stared at Fiona, completely dumbfounded.
“I know what you’re thinking. Hell, I used to think that too. I was once just like you. Then I realized that we are all trading something for sex. Affection, emotions, pleasure. At some point you’re giving an exchange for sex. I just give you a way to make that exchange very lucrative.”
“I’m not a hook…call girl. I don’t believe in having sex for money.”
“Let me play you a scenario. Let’s say you meet a very successful man. He takes you out on a romantic date—you know: the whole vanilla fantasy, expensive dinner, a play, all ending with a moonlit stroll on the beach. Then he takes you back to your place. At that point you make the choice to either invite him in or say good night. If you invite him in don’t you think that you’ve just exchanged sex for a romantic evening?”
“That’s different. That was a date. There were no intentions of sex in the beginning. That was something you chose to do after the date. You didn’t have to have sex with that person, and there was no upfront cash exchange.”
“No, but a woman who’s in charge of her sexuality knows what she wants. So whether you’re a gold-digger exchanging your time and sex for fancy cars and condos, or you’re a call girl cutting to the chase and doing what you both want to do, either way there will be an exchange. The only catch is that a gold-digger or a regular woman dating has to work ten times harder and sometimes for no rewards. What I’m offering here is guaranteed. Not to mention all the perks.”
“Perks?”
“That’s something we’ll go into further at another time. First things first, dear. I want to show you my place. Let you get a real understanding of what I’m offering.” Fiona reached for Sutton’s hand, but she pulled away from the woman’s grasp.
“Wait. I never said that I wanted to be one of your call girls,” Sutton barked, as she backed away from Fiona.
“Tell me, Sutton, do you like making minimum wage and living with your grandmother?”
“No, but I don’t think selling my body is the way to change it.”
“Okay, take the whole call girl title out of your head. That’s really a bad example to explain what you’ll be doing here.” Fiona paused as she searched for the right words. “Tell me Sutton. What’s the wildest thing you’ve ever done sexually?”
Sutton squirmed at the intimate question. She really couldn’t say she’d done anything. “I don’t know.”
Fiona grabbed Sutton’s hand and pulled her closer. “That’s what I offer here. A place where inhibitions are left at the door and you’re free to explore yourself. You’re thinking along the lines of men sitting outside some room waiting to run a train. That’s not it at all.”
“Then what is it?” Sutton whispered, as Fiona’s overpowering presence invaded her confidence.
“I provide the atmosphere and you provide the fantasy. In short, I pay you to come and look beautiful, have free drinks, and have a good time. Anything else is completely up to you.”
“I still don’t understand.” Sutton looked at Fiona and wondered if she was for real. One minute she was saying she was a high price call girl, the next she was merely a partygoer.
“I think it’s easier to experience it for yourself.” Fiona led Sutton to the elevator and punched in a code. “I want you to walk around. Take in the sights. At the end of the night, if you’re interested, then we will go from there.” Fiona handed Sutton a black card with the words “Level Four” printed on it. “You can stick this card into the slot next to the key pad. This card will let you go onto every floor up to level four.”
“How many levels are there?” Sutton asked, as she studied the card.
“For you? Four. In time the others will be revealed.” Fiona took the card and inserted it into the slot, then punched in the number three. “You’ve been to level two. That is the basic club. That’s where my bottom tier and not-so-brave members come to party. It’s a cash cow, really. The higher the tier, the more exclusivity you meet.”
The elevator came to a stop and Fiona pulled out the black card. She handed it to Sutton and escorted her onto the floor. This level was much like the second level, but far less crowded. The music was a hypnotic thump, as people of all races moved to the beat. The walls were a deep purple, and black leather couches were centered in certain areas throughout the vast space.
“So, what’s so special about this floor? It seems just like the second floor.”
“It’s the next level of boldness,” Fiona replied with a smirk. “At the end of your night, hand the card to the doorman,” Fiona said, as she summoned the elevator.
“What? You aren’t staying?” Sutton asked, more anxious then she cared to give away. Even though Fiona was basically a high-class pimp, she felt safer exploring with her then going it alone.
“It’s better you see it for yourself. Once you take it in, you’ll see it’s not as scary as you think. At the end of the night you’ll have your answer.” Fiona gave Sutton a kiss on the cheek and walked through the elevator’s open doors.
Sutton watched the doors close and Fiona disappear. She turned back to the party and began her slow decent into the third level of The Woods.
Chapter Three
The first thing Sutton did was head to the bar. Since the drinks were free she was going to stock up on some liquid courage. The small bar was covered in glass, and was run by a tall, thin white man wearing all black. Sutton rushed to the bar as if it were a safe point in the midst of the unknown.
“What can I get you, miss?” the bartender asked in a smooth bass voice, as he gazed at Sutton.
Sutton looked at the handsome man and smiled. “Champagne,” she replied, in a childlike whisper.
The bartender poured the gold liquid into the glass and handed it to Sutton “Is there anything else you desire?” His deep voice purred the question, as his blue eyed gaze pierced hers.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course, miss.”
“What goes on here? I mean what’s the big deal?” Sutton asked innocently, as she sipped her drink.
The bartender laughed and gave Sutton a smile. “I take it you’re new to The Woods.”
“Green actually,” Sutton joked, remembering Fiona’s now very true statement.
“This floor is mostly fantasy and attraction. It’s not as tame as the second floor and nowhere near as wild as the fourth floor. This is normally the happy medium for people such as yourself.”
“How many floors are there?”
“If Fiona didn’t tell you, then I’m not at liberty to share.”
“Fantasy and attraction? What does that mean?”
“You will just have to see for yourself, miss. Everyone takes away something different from The Woods.”
Sutton looked at the puzzling bartender before she foraged deeper onto the floor. What was with the staff and their puzzling statements, she thought, as she made her way through the crowd. As she moved through the dancing throngs she noticed the change in the atmosphere. The second floor was filled to the brim with people dancing like they would in any other club; it was completely different on the third floor. The dancing on the third floor seemed almost too intimate. People were meshed together as the dark room hid their unusual closeness. As she passed through the corridor the room became darker, and the bartender’s words started to make sense.
This floor was fantasy and attraction. People on this part of the floor were engaged in their private, intimate conversations; others were involved in full-on passionate lip locks. This was something that in a normal club would draw stares, but here no one even glanced. As she moved among the couples, a faint but familiar sound caught her attention.
Sutton strolled to the back of the room where a small group of people were quickly gathering. Sneaking into the crowd she came to rest next to a tall black man. As the crowd began to move away she could see exactly what was drawing the crowd. There, sitting on the couch, was a white man and an Asian woman. The woman sat on the man’s lap; her legs were open as he passionately fingered her. The only person making a sound was the woman, as her cries grew from her lovers passionate caress on her body.
Sutton felt naughty for watching but couldn’t turn away. She’d never seen anything like this, outside of bad cable porn. This woman wasn’t naked, or showing anything more than her thighs. Her lover’s hand cupped her sex, and the rest was pretty much implied. Sutton watched intently, becoming very aroused at the naughty scene. Her breath hitched in her throat as she watched the woman climax hard against her man’s hand.
The remaining crowd dispersed after the show came to a climactic end. Sutton hadn’t realized that she’d inadvertently clasped hands with the man next to her. She looked at the smiling gentleman still holding her hand. The gorgeous black man was tall, with a lean, muscular frame. His black suit was molded perfectly to his chiseled frame, and a sparkling white smile finished the exquisite package.
“I’m sorry,” Sutton whimpered as she pulled her hand away. I didn’t mean to…”
“It’s quite all right.” The handsome black man replied, as he gave Sutton a comforting smile. “What’s your name?”
“Sut..Sutton,” she stuttered, as she found herself becoming lost in the handsome man’s sparkling smile.
“Hi, I’m Maddox,” he greeted her, extending his hand to the frizzled girl. “I take it this is your first time here?”
“Why would you think that?” Sutton asked, coyly trying her best to gather her composure.
“A wild shot in the dark. That and I’ve never seen you before. I would like to think that I would remember a woman like you.”
Sutton flashed a shy smile at Maddox’s sweet words. “I guess you can say I’m trying the place out.”
“So, I’m guessing you’ve never seen anything like that at a club before?”
“I can honestly say I have not,” Sutton replied with a giggle.
“Would you like another drink?” he asked, taking her empty champagne glass. He grabbed her hand and led her back to the bar. “Glen, can I have another gin and tonic? And the lady will have a glass of champagne.”
The blonde bartender gave Maddox a nod and quickly prepared the drinks. “Here you are, Mr. Hunter.”
“Thank you, Glen.” Maddox handed the glass to Sutton and gave her another heart-stopping smile. “So, what is a sweet girl like you doing in a place like this?”
“What makes you think I’m so sweet?”
“Your eyes, for one. They have an innocent glow to them. Then there’s the look on your face as you watched the two playing.”
“That was just…unexpected. I didn’t think people were brave enough to just do something like that in public.”
Maddox let out a hearty laugh. “Then you certainly haven’t been to the fourth floor.”
“What’s on the fourth floor?”
“I don’t think you’re brave enough to take what’s on the fourth floor. A sweet girl like you really shouldn’t have gone past the second floor.”
Sutton grimaced at the remark. She was so tired of people telling her how sweet she was and calling her a girl. It felt like a sweetly phrased insult. It was as if they were implying that her innocent mind couldn’t handle the depravity of what was lying beyond the third floor. This only made Sutton want to know, if only to answer the burning question and make them see her as the woman she knew she was.
“Well, I’m going to the fourth floor. Would you like to be my guest?” Sutton challenged, in her most seductive voice.
Maddox tossed the idea around his head before letting out a smile. “Lead the way,” he replied, motioning toward the elevator.
Sutton led Maddox to the elevator, pushed the call-button on the keypad, and waited for the doors to open. They both entered the car, and Sutton shuffled through her clutch to find her black access card.
“Just a second, I have to find my card,” Sutton said as she dug through her purse.
“Don’t worry, I got it,” Maddox replied, pulling out a silver version of her card. He inserted it into the slot and punched four into the keypad.
“Why is your card silver?”
Maddox looked at Sutton and gave her a smirk. “Platinum. I’m a platinum member.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I spend way too much fucking money,” Maddox joked, as the elevator came to a stop and the doors opened. “Shall we?” he asked, extending his hand to Sutton.
Sutton studied the handsome man before taking his hand. Maddox led Sutton onto the floor, and she instantly knew what he meant about the floor being hard to take. If the third floor was fantasy and attraction, the fourth floor was sex on a platter. Sutton walked into the dark red room. It was larger than the other two floors and hosted woman and men dancing on large platforms wearing next to nothing.
Maddox clasped Sutton’s hand tightly, as he pulled her in closer. “So, what do you think?”
“This is nothing,” Sutton said cockily, trying her best to hide her true feelings. “I don’t see what the big deal is.”
“Oh, you will. Let me show you something.”
Maddox pulled Sutton in tight and led her through the bevy of dancers kissing and fondling on the dance floor. They approached a dark hallway set off from the main area. The long hallway was lined with red doors, each engraved with a gold number. Sutton watched as Maddox considered each door before deciding on the door marked seven. He opened the door and gestured for Sutton to enter first. The room was dark, and lined with theater seats in front of a large glass wall.
