The Raven Room Read online

  “Come for me,” Julian said against her ear, breaking the silence inside of the cab. Hearing him speak, Meredith turned to face him and saw that he had again returned to look through his window. She wondered how he could be so close and at the same time so far away.

  He moved his fingers in and out of her and Meredith stared at the passing store signs glowing in the night. It was warm in the cab and the familiar scent of Julian’s cologne aroused her. Suddenly it all became too much. The relentless pressure inside her, the heavy silence full of unspoken words, her increasing desire. The outside world became blurry and the violence of her orgasm made her sway. She blinked, tears rolling down her face.

  Meredith realized that, at some point, Julian had moved his hand away. He continued to sit beside her but no part of his body touched hers. He was not looking at her. Feeling more tears roll down her face, she didn’t know why she was crying.

  “Please drop us off at the corner of Madison Street,” Julian said to the driver.

  Gracefully, she dried the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand. Standing on the sidewalk, as she waited for him to pay the driver, she wondered if The Raven Room was in the Loop neighborhood, the downtown business district.

  “Is it around here?” she asked as Julian draped his long, wool winter coat over her shoulders.

  “I told you to wear a dress and no underwear. I will keep in mind that I need to tell you to wear a jacket as well.” He was trying not to smile. “There’s a car parked on the other side of the street. We’re driving.”

  Meredith frowned but didn’t say anything. She was contemplating how she was going to walk through the snow with her high heels.

  “Come here.” Julian extended his hand to her. As soon as she took it, he scooped her up in his arms without effort and started walking.

  “Aren’t you a gentleman?” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Sometimes you do manage to impress me.”

  Julian felt Meredith rest her face against the side of his neck. He could smell her fragrant hair amidst the cold air. It was Meredith’s signature scent, a mixture of rose, fresh citrus, and sensual vanilla. It would linger on his bed sheets and pillowcases and, even though he had been bothered by it at the beginning, over time the scent had become comforting to him.

  When they reached the parked SUV, Julian put her down and unlocked the doors. Meredith was fast to curl up on the passenger seat. As he turned the heat on full blast, she noticed the vehicle they were in looked brand new.

  “Who owns this car?” she asked with curiosity as he merged into traffic. “Is it yours? I have never seen it before.”

  “Just borrowing. Consider this your private car and me your driver.”

  “A driver who also provides sexual services? I’m afraid to ask how much all this is costing me.”

  Julian looked at her from the corner of his eye and winked. “It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement.”

  “Is sex our currency?” she asked, laughing.

  “No, Meredith. Not sex.”

  “Then what is it?”

  “You’re a smart young woman. Sooner or later you’ll figure out.”

  Meredith glanced at the dashboard clock. It was almost two in the morning and they were still moving south.

  “What area of town are we going to?” she finally asked.

  “Chinatown. We’re almost there.”

  It had started to snow and Meredith moved her face closer to the window. She had heard the reports warning of another winter storm but she had hoped they had been wrong. It now looked like they were in for a rough night.

  “The Raven Room’s in Chinatown?” There was disbelief in her voice.

  Julian turned into what looked like a back alley and stopped the car.

  “Let’s go,” he said, killing the engine and jumping out of the SUV. He opened her door and helped her out. Meredith tried to look around but the snow was falling harder and it was dark. They made their way through a large, metal door and down a poorly lit, narrow set of stairs, the loud sound of her stilettos on the steps echoing through the small space.

  “We’re not allowed to take our phones inside,” Julian said as they reached the bottom of the stairs. He opened the door and they entered an even darker area. Only after he took her phone and his coat did Meredith see the man in a black suit standing behind a tall counter. As Julian passed the items to him he also included a card. She leaned closer, trying to get a glimpse of it, but the man was quick to give it back to Julian, who put it in his pocket. Meredith almost groaned with disappointment.

  He opened what looked like a warehouse sliding door. She felt him rest his hand on her lower back and gently direct her to walk through it. “After you.”

  The first thing Meredith noticed was the gentle crimson lighting. And the scent, rich and smooth. The underlying notes of burning wood reminded her of the small library in her grandparents’ New England cottage where, as a child during Christmas vacation, she would sit looking at beautiful picture books as the damp, gloomy afternoons morphed into cold nights. There was a dark and sweet base to the scent that made her remember her grandfather smoking his favorite tobacco pipe while enjoying a glass of bourbon. The Raven Room’s atmosphere was mellow, luscious, welcoming. Meredith felt right at home.

  “What can I get you to drink?” Julian asked, taking her hand and leisurely moving toward the bar area.

  “The usual.” She enjoyed the feeling of his warm hand on hers. The music wasn’t loud and she could hear the other people near them chatting softly. Everyone was dressed like they would be at any sophisticated city club and Meredith noticed she wasn’t the target of any curious looks. That pleased her. The man standing behind the bar, probably in his mid-fifties, wore a grey vest over a black dress shirt that he had rolled up to his elbows. He shared a friendly hug with Julian.

  “My buddy tells me this is your first time at our club,” the man said, giving her one of the most handsome smiles she had seen in a while. He wasn’t what she would call good looking, but he had more sex appeal than most men his age. “I’m Ben and,” he glanced at the large collection of alcohol covering the wall behind him, “it’ll always be my pleasure to serve you.”

  “Thanks, Ben. I’m Meredith.”

  “No matter how busy we are at the bar, Meredith, just come to me and I’ll put a drink in your hand before you can look at me twice with those beautiful eyes of yours.”

  She winked at him. “As long as you’re smiling I don’t mind waiting.”

  After more casual banter, Meredith and Julian moved toward the middle of the room.

  “So, how does it work?” she asked as he handed her a Bulleit Bourbon on the rocks. “Besides the fact that we took a cab, then jumped in a car that doesn’t belong to you, and are now in the basement of a building in the heart of Chinatown, this place seems pretty normal.”

  “Surprised we weren’t greeted by naked women walking around with silver trays offering glasses of champagne?” He looked at her with mischief as he took a mouthful of his Sazerac. “Now that I think about it, me too.”

  “Yes, that’s exactly what I was thinking.”

  “The members like discretion. A club that operates out in the open attracts a different type of individual.”

  Julian was standing close to her and her eyes fell to his chest. He was wearing a pristine white shirt under a midnight black blazer. As the color of the blazer matched his hair, the white shirt heightened his bronze skin tone, which in turn complemented his Eastern European features. Meredith thought it was a great look on him.

  “Is it legal?” she asked, resting her hand on the middle of his chest. She could feel his body heat through the shirt’s fabric.

  “Meredith, your curiosity will be your downfall.”

  By the look on his face she knew Julian wasn’t going to give her a straight answer. “How does the club work?”

  “Like any other sex club.”

  “Be more specific.”

  Juli
an wrapped his arm around her waist and brought her closer to him. Lowering his head, he rubbed his lips against her forehead and continued down her temple, kissing her jawline. He took her lower lip between his and bit down. She gasped, not expecting to feel his teeth on her, and kissed him back. Meredith moved her free hand to touch his hair. Julian pressed her to him and the fact that he wasn’t being gentle only made her want him more. Feeling his arousal against her body, she leaned on him.

  “I could fuck you right here and no one would blink,” Julian whispered, his breath mingling with hers. “Does that answer your question?”

  Meredith caressed the back of his neck with her long nails. “How big is this place?” She wished she wasn’t holding a drink. She wanted to fondle him.

  “This is just the bar and lounge.” He felt her shift and now he was nested between her slightly parted legs. “Not much happens down here. Upstairs is where you’ll find most of the activity.” He ran his hand along her back, until he touched her below the waistline. Cupping her flesh, he undulated her hips, making sure the movement guaranteed him a good stroke.

  “I see.” She took her glass to her lips, trying to remain coherent. It was almost impossible when Julian was all she could feel and smell. “Does anything go?”

  “Depends on your definition of anything.”

  “What’s not allowed?”

  “Everything is allowed,” Julian answered, staring into Meredith’s eyes. “As long as there’s the consent of all parties involved and no minors.”

  “I’m surprised no one asked to see my ID.”

  “You’re with me.”

  “So I’m your guest?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “Something like that.”

  “The card you showed when we arrived. What is it? Your membership card?”

  “It’s my key.”

  “Can I see it?” Meredith asked, smiling.

  Julian reached inside his pocket and passed it to her.

  He watched her flip the smooth, black card between her fingers a couple of times. He laughed when she frowned.

  “It’s blank. There’s nothing on it,” she said, confused. “No words, no pictures, no numbers, no magnetic strip. Nothing.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. There’s a lot on that key.”

  Meredith passed it back to him. “It has a chip inside?”

  “No chip. These keys have a special touch to them.”

  He didn’t continue and she lifted an eyebrow. “Which is?”

  “Curious and impatient.” Julian shook his head. “What am I going to do with you?”

  “Spank me?”

  “That wouldn’t accomplish anything.” He brought his lips to her ear and licked the contour of it. “Maybe I should have you volunteer at Lurie.”

  Meredith groaned. “I’d rather take it up the ass all night long.”

  Julian threw his head back and laughed out loud. He loved teasing her. “I’ll show you what’s special about the key. I promise.”

  “I’m holding you to that.”

  “I’d expect nothing less.”

  Meredith looked around. There were probably around fifty people by the bar, mostly socializing in small groups, men and woman of different ages. She was relieved she didn’t recognize any of them. As she assessed her surroundings, a couple stepped into the room, their entrance revealing a black door in the corner hidden behind a heavy red curtain.

  “Where does that door lead?”

  “That’s just another entrance.”

  Something in Julian’s voice made her turn to face him. He was lying. She was sure of it. He was holding back, showing her only some areas of the club. But at that moment calling him out on it wouldn’t accomplish anything. “I want to go upstairs.”

  He locked eyes with her as he drank the rest of his Sazerac. “Very good,” he finally said. There was an air of resignation in his expression.

  They rested their empty glasses on the bar counter and Meredith followed Julian to an impressive staircase at the opposite end of the room. As they walked up the stairs, Julian continued to hold her hand and that small gesture pleased her. It showed Meredith he wanted to make her feel safe. They had never held hands before.

  Meredith’s shoes sunk in the thick carpet runner, the same type of carpet her ex-boyfriend’s parents had in their Streeterville home, the kind that costs more than hardwood flooring. The amber glow shining from the wall sconces concealed flaws and enhanced the smallest hint of beauty in the people passing them. Not concerned if she was acting like an awestruck girl, Meredith traced the intricate geometrical patterns on the red wallpaper with her fingertips. It created the illusion that the walls were pulsating. She pressed her palm to the wall, almost expecting to feel the sanguine warmth of a living creature against her skin.

  When they reached the top of the stairs, she blinked a few times, trying to break free from the hypnotic state she found herself in. The lighting was now a deep red and the rich scent she had noticed when they entered the club was stronger here. It seeped into her pores and she tasted it in her mouth.

  “Is that perfume?” she asked Julian, taking a deep breath. “Where is that coming from?”

  “The story is that, during prohibition, this used to be a bourbon distillery.” He spun around, his arm around Meredith’s waist. “Have you ever been to a barrel aging warehouse?”

  Meredith glared at him. In response, Julian ran his hand down her back and ended the caress with a playful swat. “I’ll take that as a no. Barrel aging warehouses don’t smell like alcohol. If you ask anyone that has ever been to one what they remember the most, they’ll all say the same thing. How amazing they smell. A mix of oak, burnt-caramel, smoke, spices. The barrels have been gone for a long time but the scent stayed.”

  “Is that a true story? I have never smelled anything like it.” Meredith closed her eyes, taking it in.

  “That’s what they say, but it probably was just a yak-yak bourbon operation and what we now smell is nothing more than the scent of sex. Arousal,” Julian said. “A bunch of rich assholes fucking each other like the animals they pretend to not be.”

  She wrapped her arms around Julian’s waist. “I want to see everything. Show it to me.”

  “You won’t find anything here that you haven’t seen or done yourself.” He brushed his thumb over her lower lip. “It’s just sex.”

  “Show me your favorite area.”

  Julian took a while to respond and Meredith stared into his eyes. Julian was on the verge of telling her something but words never came. Instead, he led her to one of the rooms adjacent to the hall where they had been standing. Inside, there were people walking around, chatting, laughing. Some were naked, others wore black silk robes, and a few, just like her and Julian, were fully clothed. The atmosphere was of a lively party and when she saw smiles directed at her, Meredith smiled back.

  They sat in one of the shadowy corners on a large, comfortable leather couch. “This is my favorite spot,” Julian said, drawing imaginary circles on Meredith’s shoulder. The movement of his fingers was slow and rhythmic, soothing.

  Meredith was completely at ease.

  “Why is it your favorite?”

  “It’s cozy. We can sit here and see everything that’s happening, without being the center of attention.” Julian leaned back, pulling her toward him. “And this couch is heavenly.”

  Meredith took off her high heels and folded her legs under her. Julian was right. She felt like a pampered voyeur.

  “I can show you where the lockers are. There will be a brand new silk robe waiting for you. In fact,” he tilted his head to a woman wearing expensive looking lingerie, “you can wear anything you want. Or nothing at all. It’s completely up to you.”

  “Later. I’m enjoying just being here.”

  Meredith spent a few minutes admiring a very attractive, fit man, having what looked like a cheerful conversation with a couple, while he inserted a sex toy inside a man who was on his hands
and knees in front of him. Occasionally he would remove the toy from inside the prone man and bring it to the man’s lips, making him lick it before inserting it again. He was rewarded with loud, pleasurable moans from the target of his ministrations.

  “They’re very sexy together, aren’t they?” Julian said, watching the same two men she had her eyes on.

  “Are you turned on by them?”

  “I’m not indifferent to them but, as a woman, you have the ability to be turned on by everything. We men, unfortunately, have more limitations.”

  She chuckled. “Everything?”

  “Everything,” Julian emphasized. “If I showed you a video of a lion and a lioness mating, the chances of you getting wet are much higher than me getting a hard-on. Alas, one of the many beautiful things about female sexuality. I’m deeply envious.”

  Meredith watched two couples who were the most vocal in the room. They were moaning and whimpering, a pile of legs and arms, all moving with the intention of bringing pleasure to one another. She heard screams of sexual release coming from other rooms and her imagination ran wild. She wished she could be everywhere in The Raven Room at once.

  “You’ll like the dungeon,” Julian said with a smile. “It’s the only area of the club that, instead of being Art Deco, is completely Art Nouveau. You’ll feel like you you’re being gagged and tied up in Paris, your favorite city.”

  “I get to be a Parisian slut? My dreams have come true!” she chirped. “Isn’t that your favorite city as well?”

  “Stockholm is my favorite. I’m not as sophisticated as you.”

  Meredith rolled her eyes at his comment and they both laughed.

  Julian glanced at his watch. It was almost three-thirty in the morning. In around one hour the club would start to empty out and that was something of a relief to him. He wished he could share Meredith’s enthusiasm but nothing of what was taking place around them was new. The thrill of group sex, the anonymity of a sexual act with a stranger, the forbidden draw of kink—the appeal of what this area of the club had to offer him had faded a long time ago. What made him return to the club over and over again was hidden away, far from Meredith’s eyes, behind the black door.