Category One Ch. 04

Choosing to open the gallery early, Seph engrossed herself into the day to day operations of owning a small business. As long as she kept herself busy, she could avoid fixating on the lingering memories of her dream. A dream better left forgotten, if she had her way. Nothing good would come of a dinner with an alpha male while she reminisced over being whipped within an inch of her sanity. Even if the fantasy of said whipping made her heart race and her clitoris ache to be touched. But that's all it would ever be, a fantasy. The reality of being left at someone's mercy, quite frankly, scared the hell out of her.

She would meet Lincoln for dinner as she promised and get the evening over with. If it wouldn't be inexcusably rude to cancel their dinner she would have called and cancelled hours ago. But unfortunately, she owed him for last night. Not for him driving her into a lust fogged state. No, she owed him for helping her find her sister. A wayward sister who, thankfully, found her way back home this morning. Thank the heavens for small favors. Seph knew her baby sister was a grown woman capable of making her own decisions but Sera had a penchant for making all the wrong ones. This sex club, for instance, wasn't exactly one of more intelligent choices.

Common sense told Seph that a club catered to sex held a plethora of risks. Her sister's health not being the least concern. And then there was the matter of Sera's safety. What if one of these sex enthusiasts took their play too far and seriously harmed her sister? What boundaries were in place to insure her sister didn't get hurt?

A migraine started to build in her temple. "Ugh" She groaned out.

Rubbing her temple Seph decided she should direct these concerns to Lincoln. Maybe he could help her convince Sera that there were more healthy ways to fulfill her need for adventure. For the first time since she woke up, she didn't feel a sense of foreboding for tonight. Driving away her migraine with two aspirins she fished out from her purse, Seph poured herself into her work. As she trudged her way through paperwork, Seph fell into a steady rhythm of productivity.

Unaware of her surroundings, she was startled by the greeting, "Hey bitch." Jerking her head up in surprise, Seph was excited to see her star artist and best friend Bella Revay.

"Hey B! What are you doing here?"

"Just checking to make sure you're moving product" Bella snapped her fingers for emphasis. "Time is money, time is money."

Seph felt all her tension of the day ease as she laughed at Bella's antics. "Come on B. Why are you here?"

Bella shrugged. "I was in the neighborhood. What? I can't surprise my girl at work?"

Seph gave her an unconvinced stare.

"Okay, fine." Bella gave an exaggerated sigh. "I came to see if you'd come out dancing with me tonight. I met this guy and he wants me to bring a friend for his friend."

"Nuh-uh. I don't do set ups B. You know that."

"Come on bitch! You need to get laid! When was the last time you got some anyway? Nine months ago? Ten?" Bella stared hard at Seph, her eyes proclaiming she wouldn't take any prisoners.

Grabbing onto the nearest life preserver Seph said, "I've got plans tonight! Can't B."

Nonplussed, Bella replied, "What plans?"

"Just dinner with this guy I met. Don't get excited, I owed him a favor."

Bella grinned, "Oh! You owed him a favor, huh?" Her eyebrows wagged in an exaggerated fasion. "Are you going to repay him that favor all night long?" She winked at Seph.

"Belladonna Cecilea Revay! What the hell!" Despite her raised voice, Seph couldn't control the laughter that filtered into her words. "I'm not going to sleep with him. Chill B."

"So, who's the guy?" Bella had entered full best friend mode. Seph knew she would have to appease her friend's curiosity or Bella would hassle her all day.

"His name is Lincoln. I met him last night when I was dancing with Sera."

Bella quickly interjected, "Wait! You bitches went out last night and you didn't invite me? What the hell?"

"Chill B. We just went out the other night. I can go out with Sera and still be your friend you know."

Bella lifted her head and affected an exaggerated sniff. "Fine. Fuck you."

The two locked eyes and stared each other down for a few seconds before breaking into a fit of giggles.

Through a fit of laughter Seph forced out, "To hell with you."

"Love you too." Bella chuckled.

Bella wiped a tear from her eye and took a few deep breaths to compose herself. "So, who's this Lincoln guy?"

"He's no one, really. He helped me hunt down Sera while she was being, well, Sera." Seph stared knowingly at Bella.

Nodding in agreement Bella simply replied, "Gotcha."

Gaining a second wind in her curiosity, Bella inquired, "But is he hot?"

"He's alright." Seph attempted to undersell his looks in an effort to dissuade Bella's interrogation.

"Oh. If you get bored of your charity case then come out with me. I promise to find you a guy better than 'alright'." She raised her eyebrows suggestively at Seph.

Seph couldn't help but laugh at her ridiculous friend. "No promises. I'll text you if I need an adventure."

"'Kay girl, I'm gonna head home and paint my rent. Later bitch!" With a wave of farewell, she exited the gallery.

Still grinning, Seph checked the time on her phone. She still had time to grab a bite to eat for lunch, have a talk with her handful of a sister, and make herself slightly better than presentable. After going over the agenda for the day with her assistant, she finalized her paperwork and headed to her favorite deli. Once she had two turkey sandwiches on rye, Sera's favorite, she turned towards home.

Once she entered the apartment, the calming ambiance she experienced last night was overshadowed by a sense of foreboding. Facing Sera was akin to attempting to withstand category four hurricane force winds. The morning spent at the gallery had helped Seph achieve the sense of calm necessary to deal with her wind raged sister.

Sera wasn't hard to find. Just follow the sounds of her tapping her keyboard. Seph's ears led her to her sister's bedroom door. After a quick knock on the door, Sera's voice called out, "Yeah?"

Seph opened the door to find Sera sitting at her desk in her room. Colorful images flashed across the screen but she couldn't make heads or tails of what her baby sister was doing. Gaming most likely. Maybe even watching cartoons. Ignoring the screen, Seph held up the two sandwiches in hopes to keep this exchange peaceful.

"Hungry?" Seph inquired.

Sera turned around in her chair to face her sister. Face brightening in excitement for all things food she replied, "Yeah!" She quickly ripped open the wrapper and began tearing into her sandwich with vigor.

After handing her the sandwich, Seph utilized the only other seat her sister's room offered, the bed. Settling in she unwrapped her sandwich, gaining herself a few extra seconds before awkward conversation filled the room.

"Between bites Seph inquired, "So, how're you doing?"

Sera donned a confused look. Barely swallowing the food she was chewing she choked out, "Um. I'm fine. Why?"

"Well I was worried about you."

Sandwich temporarily forgotten, Sera's confusion tilted to vaguely irritated. "Well, don't be. I'm fine. I was fine last night and I'm fine now. Don't worry about me so much."

"Well, that's the thing. I can't help but worry about you." Seph took a deep breath. "You're not exactly known for thinking things through. You could have gotten hurt. I needed to know you're okay."

Half a minute passed as Sera stared at her sister, letting her last statement sink in.

"Seph, what exactly do you think happened?"

"What happened? You went into a sex club and fucked a stranger."

"Yes, I did. And what is wrong with that? I am an adult and so was he. But you're missing the point of the club. It isn't just about sex at Category."

Seph raised her brow in consternation at Sera. Clearly, Seph didn't agree with her sister's statement.

"Well, yeah, there's sex. But Category is so much more. Sam introduced me to some of that last night. Sam showed me how much more sex can be and I absolutely loved every minute." Sera's eyes took on a faraway look. "You should see what that man can do with a rubber duck." A soft chuckle escaped Sera's lips at the memory.

Oh God, I'm going to be sick. "I so do not need to know." Seph fought back a shudder of revulsion. She took a beat to let the sickening concept clear from her consciousness. After a deep breath she tried a new tact with her sister. "Sera, what about your safety? Didn't you worry for a second that he could have hurt you. He got you onto a secret level of a club and behind a locked door and that didn't worry you? Not at all? What if he hurt you or worse?" Concern for her baby sister was evident on her face.

"Look, Sepphy, it's safe I swear. There are safe words between me and Sam. The club has built in security to keep track of guests. There are even cameras. I was safer there than his home, our home, or any hotel. It's not a big deal, really. So, I like to be a little extreme in the bedroom. So what? I'm not hurting anybody and I promise Sepphy, I'm being safe about it. Sam's a decent guy." Sera wasn't giving off any aggressive vibe. She was stating her case calmly which took her sister by surprise. Sera was showing a maturity she rarely let shine through. Seph had noticed her intelligent baby sister preferred to present the world with a carefree ditzy nature. The less society expected from her the more she could get away with.

"I don't like it Sera. I'm still worried about you. But I love you." Taking a deep breath, she said something she hoped she wouldn't regret, "If this makes you happy and as long as you're being safe, I guess I won't stand in your way."

A warm smile lit up the younger sister's face. "Love you too, Sephhy." The two embraced each other in a warm familial hug.

The two separated, Seph leaned against a near wall as Sera returned to seat herself in her chair and returned to her forgotten sandwich. "So, tell me about that guy you barged in on me with. Are you going to see him again? He was so hot." Sera inquired.

"Well, he's too alpha male for my tastes. But after he helped me to find you, I can't exactly avoid him." Seph rolled her eyes in disdain. "He asked me out."

Chuckling to herself Sera replied, "Oh Sepphy you never know, an alpha male might be exactly what you need."

Seph exhaled in exasperation, "Oh God Sera, don't start." Collecting her unfinished sandwich, she turned on her heel. Seph walked down the hall as her sister's laughter trailed after her.

Heading toward her bedroom, Seph decided to sort through her wardrobe to get a head start on her evening. What was appropriate evening attire when you didn't want a man to notice you too much and at the same time didn't want to be a social pariah? Would it be too much of a statement to wear a dress that didn't even hint at cleavage? Or would it come across as her being ashamed of her body? Forgetting the cut of the evening dress, what color would state she was available but not interested? Definitely not red or black. What about navy blue? No that won't suit. What about the green dress?

Green was a safe color. It would be suitably presentable but it wouldn't announce to the room as fishing for a sexual partner. With the color decided she grabbed one of her only green dresses. Lifting from the rack, Seph selected a dress with a low cut to present her ample bosom. To offset the low dip of the breasts, the hem reached mid-calf to claim an attempt at propriety for the dress as a whole. Confident with her choice, Seph knew she would have the upper hand of the evening. With this dress she would feel confident, beautiful, and powerful. But thankfully she wouldn't feel sexual. To feel sexual would put her at risk of sleeping with a man who would claim all her power for himself.

Checking her phone, she found she had a little over three hours before the lion arrived. Deciding to achieve the highest sense of calm possible, a mini at home spa day was in order. Utilizing the claw foot tub that Sera had demanded their apartment house, Seph drew a comforting bubble bath. The scent of jasmine filled her bathroom wrapping her in a sense of calm and beauty. Thanking the heavens that she didn't have to wash her hair again, she piled it atop her head in a messy clip. Under her sink she found a face mask that would give her skin a touch of luminescence. After applying the mask generously, she headed back toward the tub.

Immersing herself into the steaming water, Seph felt her previously unknown tension melt away. Each muscle relaxed as she felt the water lap at her breasts. The water kissed her nipples as it surged forward and in turn retreated from her breasts. A warmth began to build between her thighs that she couldn't blame on the steam rising from the water. Unconsciously, her hand whispered over her hip to the apex of her thighs. Gliding though her curls, her hand reached the pearl peeking from between her lips. As soon as her hand grazed her clitoris, her back gently arched in response. A soft moan escaped her lips. The sound reached her ears breaking her from the fog she had fallen into.

"Easy Noble." She panted for air as she brought her heart rate down. Getting all hot and bothered before meeting with a lion was asking for trouble. Knowing his level of perversion, she wagered he would be able to smell her arousal from a mile away. That was the talent of lions. They knew how to sniff out their prey.

Significantly calmer, she laid back to enjoy her bath. Keeping her mind clear of distracting thoughts, she lathered her bath sponge and began to wash. Her eyes closed in bliss she let her head fall back and a sigh of contentment escaped her lips. The sponge gently eased over her arms, chest, stomach, and legs. The more skin the sponge touched the more she felt she was being caressed as opposed to being washed. The cleaner she got the hotter she felt. As the sponge ventured to her sex, her heart rate picked up. Short quick breaths hinted at her excited state. When she ran the sponge across her mound down her lips, she let out a gasp. The image of Lincoln in his suit from the night before flashed behind her eyelids. Rubbing the sponge against her labia she curled her toes in ecstasy. Lincoln's name crossed her lips amidst a low groan.

Her brain foggily registered the strange name but it was too late to gain her composure. She needed to orgasm or she would turn into a raging bitch. Using the sponge to apply friction to her clitoris she raced toward the edge. A mixture of splashing water, panting, and soft moaning filled her ears as she pictured Lincoln rubbing her clitoris with his large picturesque fingers. The image of Lincoln running his hands across her breasts filled her mind. One imaginary hand gripped her left breast firmly and squeezed whilst the other grasped her right nipple and twisted. Gasping for air in the throes of her excitement she used her free hand to agonizingly twist her nipple. Tossing her head side to side her pleasure gathered intensity. Water sloshed over the sides as her body thrashed in the water. Her fantasy progressed to him lifting her in his lap and thrusting his cock into her sex. The phantom cock thrusting inside her caused a hollow ache in her pussy. The hand twisting her nipple stopped its torture and traveled south. Thrusting two fingers into her aching pussy she let out a deep lust filled groan. Six pumps in synchronization to her fantasized Lincoln caused her orgasm to crash into her. A muffled keening filled the bathroom as the orgasm lasted on for elongated seconds. Her orgasm suddenly released her tense body from orgasm and she melted into the water.

A lazy bliss consumed her as she rested in the water. Staring at the soft grey wall her mind drifted. Lazy flashes of Lincoln staring down at her intently, the gallery's latest paintings, and the room of cases swirled through her head. Mind and body floating in unison, she began to come back to her senses. Oh God what have I done? Twice now her body had betrayed her in attraction to Lincoln Strickland. After quickly washing her body again for good measure she surged from the tub, quick to escape the water that lulled her into erotic betrayal of her own will.

"As if I wasn't dreading tonight enough." She grumbled. "Focus Noble. No more of this sleeping with the enemy crap."

After rinsing her face clean of her mask, she dried her body. Heading back to her bed where the dress for the night lay, she tried to regain her composure. Picking up her dress she gazed at its deep forest green hue. Laying it upon on the bed she turned toward her dresser. This dress would require a touch of magic. Her panty drawer housed the deadliest magic of the modern world: Spanx. After thrusting her spare tire inside she would then model a perfect hourglass figure.

She seated herself at the vanity which housed all manner of makeup paraphernalia. Unlike her whirlwind sister, Seph always had perfect skin. Small pores, minimal natural oils, and a bright complexion. Her skin allowed minimal to no foundation. All that was necessary was a little bronzer with a light application of base to her eyelids for long lasting eye shadow and she was set for an evening of frivolity. Opting to let her long chestnut hair to fall down her back in lengthy waves, the final touches were set. Upon stuffing herself into her dress and sliding into a pair of black heels, she was ready to take on the fiercest lion and live to tell the tale.

Checking her phone informed her she was ready with 20 minutes to spare. She glided to the window to peer at the street. It came as no surprise to her to find a sleek black Towncar waiting for her. With a quick word of goodbye to her sister she left her apartment and gave herself to her fate. She had every intention of besting the lion, but would the lion prove to be more than she could handle? The fates only knew and unfortunately only time would tell.