Devastated (The New Orleans Temptation Series Book 1) Read online

  Karen elbows her hard to stop her from carrying on so much and gives me a gentle smile with a confirming nod to let me know Samantha is correct. She then puts her hand over mine, “Can I take a wild guess at number two? Let me guess, is it anal sex?”

  “Holy fucking shit! Have I really been living under a rock? I guess you all know number three is in public, right?” Samantha smiles and nods her head yes in confirmation.

  “You do know it has to be daylight outside, right?” Of course, I did not know that! I look at them with fear in my eyes. “What in the hell am I supposed to do about this?”

  Samantha looks at me seriously. “If you ever decide you want to do number one, I know a woman who does that.”

  “What? Are you nuts? You know a hooker that you want me to sleep with?” I am thinking I shouldn’t have started this conversation with these two. Actually, I shouldn’t have started this conversation with Samantha. I knew she was always a little looser than the rest of us, but I chalked it up to her being younger. Now, she is looking at me with her lips pressed tightly together in a straight line and her arms crossed as if I have offended her, because I think she just suggested I give my husband a freaking hooker for his anniversary.

  “No, no, no, Shelby, she’s not a hooker. Hookers sleep with men who can’t get it elsewhere. This woman is a marriage counselor.” She uses her fingers to put quotes around marriage counselor. “She is a sex therapist. which is legal, anything you do or say to her is confidential. It’s not for everyone; she will determine if that particular scene is what the two of you need. But get this, Shelby, it’s covered by your insurance. Everything is protected by the patient privacy act; no one knows what you’re doing in there. While her practice may not be conventional, it works well in certain cases.”

  Karen and I sit and stare at her; we are speechless. I slowly look over to Karen to see if she’s still breathing. She’s just shaking her head back and forth before she says a word. “Samantha, you are crazy to believe that something like that exists! Do you actually know someone who claims to have seen this doctor?” For the first time in six years, I see Samantha blush. “Oh no, you didn’t, did you?”

  She still looks flushed as she leans into Karen. “Oh yes, I did, and it was one of the best sexual experiences I have ever had. I can’t say I would do it again, but I don’t regret it.”

  “Why would you do that? What would make you want to do that? You have never had issues with Phillip like Grant and I, right?”

  We are now whispering to each other in a tight circle. “After the Internet thing with my first husband, I vowed I would never ignore my new husband’s fantasies. Every now and then, we get a little freaky and try something different. That was one of those times.”

  The men have walked over to our end of the table. Grant comes up behind my chair and puts his hands on my shoulders, massaging them as he stands there. Poor Phillip. He has no idea what he is in for when he opens his mouth and asks, “What ya’ll talking about over here? It sounds like a lot of fun.”

  Samantha pipes up, “Just gossiping about you sexy hunks, you know, comparing shoes sizes.” That throws them off. They don’t have a response, nor do they want to touch Samantha’s comment with a ten-foot pole. We further distract them by asking them to go get us to-go cups for the margaritas we have not finished. This is one thing I miss when I visit other places—my to-go cup. I love living in the New Orleans area! We all say our goodbyes. Grant drives us home as he is the designated driver.

  Chapter 11

  The weekend flies by with laundry, grocery shopping, and cooking for the week taking up most of my daytime hours. Grant and I had another wonderful weekend of lovemaking once the lights were out. But today is Monday, and it’s our anniversary. I woke to a beautifully wrapped gift box sitting on Grant’s empty pillow. I sit up to unwrap my gift, finding three very skimpy thongs. I can’t stop smiling as I remember his promise to buy me new panties the day he ripped mine off in the bathroom. I open the card.

  “To the love of my life. Thanks for the best twenty years of my life, looking forward to many more.”

  I’m now at my desk, but I can’t stop thinking about what Samantha said Friday night. Was she drunk? Could she have been really telling the truth? Almost as if she has ESP, my cell beeps with a text from her.

  Samantha 9:50 a.m.

  Shared Contact - Dr. Love

  Just in case you need this

  If you have the guts girl u wont regret it

  Shelby 9:55 a.m.

  Thanks for the info

  Not sure this is for us

  Samantha 9:56 a.m.

  If u want to talk abt it let me know

  If not I will never say another word

  Code word u will need IF you call

  "Devastated"

  Shelby 9:57

  Thanks

  That girl is nuts. The reality is this is too much, too soon for me. I’m thinking we start backward with number three. I can handle outside in the hot tub after the kids go to sleep; I can do that. Shit, they said it had to be daylight. I will have to do this my way. Baby steps.

  Today is our twentieth wedding anniversary, and I have put off getting Grant something, so I have to do it today. I will take my lunch hour to hit the lingerie/sex toyshop. I get back to work answering e-mails and daily reports. Noon arrives before I have time to talk myself out of my trip to Mandy's Romantic Boutique. I drive over with a nervous stomach; I have never been inside a place like this before so I don’t know what to expect. I pull into the parking lot to see that I’m the only car there. Damn it, I will have the salesperson’s full attention. I hate an overbearing salesperson, just leave me alone so I can be on my way.

  The bell above the door rings as I walk in. There are two women standing at the counter to greet me. One is an elderly lady in her mid-seventies with heavy makeup, and she is dressed conservatively in a suit. The other is a young woman in her early twenties with lots of cleavage pushed up over her corset top, a very short skirt, fishnet stockings, and army boots. Her hair is dyed turquoise blue with almost everything on her face pierced, and most exposed skin is tattooed. The younger woman walks around the counter and asks if she can help me find anything specific. As I mentally will my face not blush, I tell her I am looking for a blindfold and silk restraint set.

  The young girl smiles widely and pushes past the elderly lady. “Oh fun. I love that stuff; follow me to the fun section.” Walking behind her, I take in the items of the store. Sexy nighties, corsets, stockings, masquerade-style masks, and club wear. Meanwhile, she introduces herself as Candy. Candy pushes back a curtain, and we enter another room sectioned off from the rest of the store. She lets it close behind us, and we are in a twelve-foot-by-twelve-foot room filled with sex toys.

  Again, I’m trying not to blush, trying to maintain my composure as she gives me the rundown of what’s on the wall. “This is the restraint section; there is a wide variety of items here. For starters, we have this simple set of hand restraints and a blindfold. For more advanced sets, this one has four full restraints for each limb and a ball gag.” Yes, this is what she is telling me; nobody can make this shit up. “So, ya'll are beginners, right? Do you need the ball gag?”

  “The beginner set is exactly what I was looking for, thank you.”

  “Oh, I got ya, beginners. You may want to buy a whip or a crop if restraints are being used. This will enhance the experience, I promise.”

  I am not even sure how to respond to this girl, as she stands there nonchalantly popping bubbles with her gum.

  “Thanks, Candy, but I think the beginner restraint set will work well for now. I work right up the street. I can pass by another day if I need any additional items. But thanks for the suggestion.”

  She proceeds to ask me some very personal questions. I am not sure why I’m even answering her, but I do.

  “Look, don’t be embarrassed; this is my job. I see all kinds of people come in and out of that door. I like to help.
It’s my job to know all of these products in order to help my customers. And let me tell ya, I KNOW all of these products, very well. How long have you been married?”

  “Today is our twentieth anniversary; I’m just looking to try something a little different.”

  “Oh, I see you read that book too? I figured this kind of stuff is not the norm for you, so let me help. I want you to be the sex goddess I know you can be.”

  Yea, the blushing is out the window now; this is just weird at this point. Candy does not miss a beat.

  “Sorry, I don’t mean to offend you; sex talk is a part of my everyday work life. If I am being too intrusive, just tell me to shut the fuck up," she says with a grin.

  I decide to just go with it because she really does seem sincere. “No, Candy, you are fine. I obviously need help, so why not take it from the woman at the sex store who is willing to give it to me for free? My mother taught me never to kick a gift horse in the mouth; what do you suggest?”

  “Do you have a picture of your husband on your phone?” I thought it would be rude to refuse, so I show her a picture of us. “Wow, you two are a beautiful couple; what a sexy man you have there. What a perfect match you two are. Hey, a friend of mine is having a New Year’s Eve party in the French Quarter—it’s a private event. Actually, it’s a very exclusive party, by invitation only. I have five invitations to give out and only two of them left. He instructed me to only give them to attractive couples.” She grabs my arm lightly with a concerned look on her face. I assume she can tell I’m about to dart out of the room. “Please don’t freak out. I’m not coming on to you, and this is not a swingers only club, but if you are willing to share, it’s welcomed there.”

  I don’t respond to her immediately; my mouth can’t form words. I think I’m in a state of shock!

  “It’s like any other club, but sexier. Everyone is dressed for sex, if you know what I mean?” No, I have no idea what she means; the look on my face can tell her that.

  “You will love it. The first floor is a ballroom set up with a bar and a dance floor. Once you have had a few drinks, you make your way up to the second floor. But only if you’re okay with seeing people having sex everywhere! It’s crazy, in a good way. You don’t have to participate; you can just watch. As a married couple of twenty years, it will be fun for ya'll to observe. Or, you can find a bed, and do each other right there in front of everyone.”

  I start to laugh nervously, and she notices she is making me a bit uncomfortable.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed you would be comfortable with that stuff. Please do me a favor; please don’t make up your mind right now. I’m really good at picking out who will do well at these parties, and I know if you give it some thought, you and your husband will go and have a wild time.”

  Do I have “talk sex with me” written on my freaking forehead, and I don’t know it? What is the deal? Samantha tells me about her girl-on-girl doctor visit, and now, a total stranger at the sex store invites Grant and me to an exclusive sex party at a club in the French Quarter. And of all things, my stupid sex goddess is poking her little head out, jumping up and down, clapping her hands, and yelling at me, “Come on, Shelby, that sounds like fun; tell her we will go. She said you don’t have to be a swinger. Sex is everywhere; please, please, please, say yes, pretty please!” I mean, really, are you fucking kidding me? I am hearing this in my own head.

  I am lost in my head listening to my sex goddess when I hear Candy say, “I will leave you alone to make your final selection. I will also get that invitation for you.”

  “Thanks, Candy, I appreciate it, and I’m sorry for being freaked out, but you are right; this is not the norm for me.”

  “It’s okay. I’m used to it; it’s my job to push you to be the best sex goddess you can be.”

  With that, she leaves me alone in the room. OMG, there is some crazy shit in here. Never mind the stuff, I think I just agreed to take an invitation to a sex party. Yet, standing there looking at all of the items and thinking of the party is making me wet. I feel as if I have discovered something inside of myself that I never knew was there. Do I really want to know this new me? Shelby, focus on the task at hand, I tell myself as my mind is running wild. I see the simple gift set I want; the package contains a black eye mask and two royal purple silk ties. Purple is my favorite color. Grant is going to be so surprised when he opens this as an anniversary gift. I decide this is enough for today. I have already purchased some sexy lingerie online, not to mention, at some point, I will have to tell Grant about the sex party. If I decide I have enough nerve to attend.

  Candy rings me up at the register, and I head to the door with my purchase. She runs out from around the counter to give me a big hug which is not surprising; we are pretty touchy-feely here in the south. We hug everyone after meeting them as a greeting. She takes this opportunity to whisper in my ear, “The invitation and application are in your bag.” I give her a perplexed look as she walks me to the door away from the elderly lady watching us. “Shelby, not just anybody can show up at this type of event. This is a big deal to be invited if you’re not a member. You have paperwork to look over and sign. You know, confidential stuff promising you wont share what you see there. They will also need your identification information to make sure you’re not a criminal. You will get an access card in the mail a few days before the party. They will also have a form you and your husband need to get completed by their doctor if you plan on swapping anything with anyone. Now, get out of here, girl, and have a good time tonight with that hunk of a man you have.”

  Once I get to my car, I’m a bit overwhelmed. My hands are shaking so much I have a hard time getting the keys into the ignition. Am I really going to tell Grant about this party? I feel the continued throbbing between my legs and take that as a sigh that says yes. I can’t focus on that; I have to focus on our anniversary first. I head to the local drugstore for giftwrap. I wrap the gift in my car, and I pull out the invitation Candy put in the bag. The invitation is very elaborate. On thick lavender stock paper, there is beautiful writing in raised silver lettering:

  You have been invited to the most

  Exclusive Party of the Year.

  We want to ring in the New Year with YOU!

  9:00 P.M.

  Savannah’s Closet

  Corner of St. Ann & Bourbon Street

  Details to follow after verification process has been completed. See the required info attached. Looking forward to seeing you there!

  I sit there and stare at it. Am I really interested in doing this? I’m not sure this is something I’m interested in, even though I just told myself two seconds ago that I was. I need time to think about it, but I only have a month to decide. We are now in mid-October, and evaluations have to be completed by the end of November. I shake my head and put the paperwork in my bag for later. When I finally get back to my desk, the phone is ringing with a call from the front desk. “Hey, Shelby, it's Sue; there is a customer up front to see you. Can you come up here please?”

  “Sure, Sue, I’ll be right up.” I wonder who that could be; I don’t have any scheduled appointments today.

  I walk up to the front entrance to find a lady standing there with a very large arrangement of red roses. “Hi, are you Ms. Chauvin?” I nod my head in confirmation. “There is no way you can carry this massive arrangement back to your desk, but I can roll them back there if you like.”

  “Thanks, I would really appreciate that. Follow me; I’ll show you the way.”

  “I have never delivered twenty roses before—such an odd number—is it a special number for you?”

  “Actually, it’s my twentieth wedding anniversary.” We are finally at my desk, and Ms. Nosey Rosie checks out all the pictures on my desk as she waits for me to lift the heavy vase onto my desk. Her eyes find a picture of Grant and me.

  “No way. Twenty years? Ya’ll barely look thirty-five, how can you be married twenty years?” With a sigh, I tip her for the compli
ment as I did the heavy lifting. I smile politely at her. “We married young, and I am much older than you suspect.” Taking her tip, she smiles back and is on her way.

  ***

  I pick up the phone and dial Grant to thank him for the flowers and the panties from this morning. I snap a photo of them and text him a picture.

  “Hey, Bossy Girl,” he answers.

  “Thank you so much for the beautiful flowers; they are exquisite. I am the envy of the office. And thanks for replacing my unmentionables that you damaged the other day.” I smile and hear him chuckle on the other end.

  “I am glad you like the flowers, but nothing is as beautiful as you are. I love you so much. Happy Anniversary.”

  “That melts my heart. I love you too, and Happy Anniversary, babe.”

  “And those panties—don’t get too attached to them; I plan on ripping them off every chance I get. If I have to buy a pair every payday just to rip them off, I will do that. I plan on giving you everything you need for the next twenty years. I love you, Shelby.”

  “I love you too. I have to go, but do me a favor and check the bathroom closet when you get home. That’s where I left your gift.” Before he has a chance to ask any questions, I hang up with a sly smile.

  Chapter 12

  I hope to get home before Grant does so I have time to hide his gift in the bathroom closet. I don't want to have to explain to the kids what I bought for Dad! Thankfully, I make it home thirty minutes before he does. When Grant walks in from work, I am standing at the stove cooking. The kids are at the table doing homework. It looks like any other day of the week. He puts his arms around my waist and kisses me gently on my neck. Oh, how I love when he kisses the back of my neck like that; it always sends shivers down my spine.

  I feel something cold run down my neck and in between my breasts. When I look down, I see a silver-and-diamond heart necklace. He whispers in my ear, “Happy Anniversary, babe.”