But since conservative Molly had thrown caution to the wind, so did Fee. She chose a pair of electric-blue capris and paired it with a silk top hand-painted with vibrantly hued flowers. With butterfly sleeves and a high-necked collar, the shirt looked demure in the front, but it essentially had no back.
Katie called her ensemble “fet life meets whorehouse”—skintight red leather pants and a red-and-black-striped bustier with black lace edging.
Shiori’s look was old-school glam—a black and gold sequined miniskirt and a gold lamé tank top with a black blouse. She switched out her Fendi bag with her party purse, which was a small black pouch that held her ID, credit card, and phone. The chain circled her waist looking like a piece of jewelry and the pouch rested at her hip.
“Man, I want one of those,” Molly said. “Where’d you get it? Wait—don’t tell me. Japan.”
“Lucky for you, I know where to get more.” Her phone buzzed. She scrolled to the text message. “The car is here, Katie. What’s the gate code to get in?”
“Nine four nine seven.”
She texted that and slipped her phone into her pouch.
“Let’s hit it, ladies.”
Shiori grabbed her shopping bags and gym bag. She would leave them in the limo until it returned to take her home.
Next they all piled into the limo. Everyone voiced disappointment there wasn’t a bar, but Shiori figured they’d had enough to drink for a while.
A very tipsy Molly leaned her head on Shiori’s shoulder. “This is so much fun. We should do this every weekend.”
“I don’t know if my liver could take it,” Fee joked.
“So what’s the plan at the club?” Katie asked. “Are we ditching the ‘if we arrive together, we leave together’ rule?”
“Absolutely. If I get a chance to get me some . . . suckers, I’m gone,” Fee said. “Although I don’t think I’ll find a guy who trips my trigger at a fetish club.”
“Oh, I don’t know. What if you see a guy who has an obsession with Thor? If he’s built like that and dresses like that—”
“Then chances are he’s gay,” Shiori and Molly finished together on a laugh.
That started the whole gay, not-gay conversation, followed by what made a man sexy.
“Swagger,” Molly said. “If he owns his sexuality, then you know he’d own you in bed.”
Shiori bit her lip against saying, But what if I want to own him?
“I think fierceness is hot,” Fee said. “He wants you, he’ll have you, and then he’ll do everything he can to protect you.”
Now, that description fit Knox perfectly.
“What about you, Katie?” Molly asked. “You haven’t given us your usual laundry list of what’s sexy.”
“Tenderness,” she said softly. “A man who isn’t afraid to show you gentleness and sweetness as well as passion.”
Okay. She certainly hadn’t expected that from Katie. And she agreed with her, even when that quality was as rare as black pearls. But . . . she had witnessed that sweetness in Knox.
“Your turn, Shi. What’s your definition of sexy?”
“A man who’s not threatened by me calling the shots in the bedroom.”
They burst into laughter. Which forced her to play it off as a joke.
“Seriously. What’s sexy in a man?” Katie demanded.
“Since you laughed at my other one, I’m going with chest hair and a big cock.”
The limo stopped just as she finished speaking.
Perfect timing.
“We’re here!” Katie was so excited she flung open the door and hopped out.
Shiori left instructions with the driver before she joined her friends in line.
Katie had already draped herself over Ivan’s back and was whispering something in his ear that made him grin.
When they approached Katie and Ivan, Katie announced, “This little soiree is in honor of Ivan’s birthday!”
“Really? Happy birthday!” Molly said.
“Thanks.” He handed them each a lanyard. “Drinks on the house. Table is set up in the VIP section.”
“When are you done working so you can party with us?” Katie asked.
“Soon.”
“I’m holding you to that.” Katie kissed him square on the mouth. “Does this club have a spanking station? Because I’m thinking you need a few whacks on the butt, birthday boy. But you won’t need one to grow on; since I’m sure you’re big in all the right places.”