Page 2 of Playing with Trouble

I found a nearby mirror and held the silky green dress up against myself, which was a very scant scrap of fabric, really.While Andrea had generous curves, mine were more…subdued, though I definitely knew how to highlight what attributes I did have.So, instead of something body-hugging, I wanted a dress that skimmed over my smaller breasts and showed off some skin.The hem ending at mid-thigh achieved that goal, along with the thin spaghetti straps that left most of my shoulders and arms bare and would display the colorful floral tattoo on my left arm.

“I think this might be the one,” I said, glancing at Andrea.I’d have to try it on to be sure, but I liked what I saw in the mirror.With my blonde hair worn up to expose even more skin, and the green dress matching the color of my eyes, it would definitely turn heads.

Andrea eyed me critically.“You’re not going to be able to wear a bra with that dress, and considering it’s about a yard of fabric, it leaves…nothing to the imagination.”

I rolled my eyes at her.“I’m okay with not leaving anything to the imagination and oh my God didn’t you wear a slinky black dress with no bra your first time there?It’s asexclub, after all, and you just told me that people walk around half naked in lingerie.”

“Say that a little louder, why don’t you?”Andrea hissed, her face flushing as another shopper close to us gave us judgy eyes before moving on.

“You and Chase are at the club like every week,” I said to my sister, amused at her response though I knew most of it was due to the fact that I had little to no filter.“You don’t get to blush about it.”

Andrea glanced around to make sure no one else was listening in on our conversation.“It’s a very upscale and exclusive club, Vi.”

“I know,” I said, giving her a sweet smile I knew she’d see right through.“Which is why I’m buying a very nice dress for the occasion and why I’mverythankful you were able to get me an invitation.”

The Players Clubwasa private and classy sex club on the outskirts of Vegas.Pure decadence according to Andrea, located in a large mansion that looked just like any other rich person’s retreat on the outside, but had been outfitted on the inside to fulfill your every sinful desire.

I could barely contain my excitement about going.A night of debauchery sounded like exactly what I needed to blow off some steam, especially after the previous night’s fiasco at work.And, it had been forever since I’d had a satisfying one night stand.

In all honesty, I’d never been able to quite get what I wanted from sex beyond the obvious orgasm and even that wasn’t always a guarantee.I was sure that there were men at The Players Club who could give me what I truly craved.Andrea had told me about her more dominant scenes with Chase and even though I personally wasn’t attracted to him in that way, it reassured me about the level of experience the club members had.

“You’re welcome for the invitation.”Andrea grinned at me, our gazes meeting in the mirror.“What are sisters for, right?”

“Getting each other laid, apparently.”I laughed, and so did she.

I headed for the changing room and tried on the dress.Just as I hoped, it showed a lot of skin and I was okay with that.The material was slinky and shimmered in the light whenever I shifted, and the thin fabric brushed against my bare nipples, making them furl into tight peaks.It was the kind of dress a woman wore when she wanted to turn heads and get lucky.I just hoped it worked for me.

I stepped out to let Andrea see, feeling, surprisingly, a little self-conscious.I didn’t want to appear too eager, or too slutty.“It’s not too much?”I asked her.

“As you said, it’s a sex club, after all,” she quipped back, though her tone was much quieter than mine had been.

I shifted, checking out my ass and the backside of the dress.“Right, but I want to look classy, and maybe a little femme fatale, too.I don’t want just anyone approaching me.”

“So, basically you want this dress to be a warning label.”Andrea’s eyes glinted playfully.“Maybe you should sew some spikes on it so men know to approach at their own risk, and only the brave will persevere.”

I laughed, because she wasn’t wrong.

I knew I had a tough attitude.It wasn’t a flighty quirk.For me, it was armor.Carefully built and honed from the life I’d lived, watching my mother open the door to man after man who never stayed.Not one of them thought she was worth sticking around for.

So I learned young not to expect anything from anyone.

I taught myself how to survive, how to depend on no one but myself.No expectations meant no disappointment when people—friends, boyfriends, even my own damn father—drifted in for a season and disappeared or moved on like I never mattered.I could still remember, as a kid, how much that indifference had hurt.

Most people never made it past my walls.Hell, barely anyone tried.My younger brother Christopher—same mother, different father—had been the exception, the one person I’d trusted without question.Until Andrea and Madison came into my life after discovering we were related through DNA on one of those ancestry sites.

Even then, it had taken me time to really let them in.I’d waited for the novelty of having a half-sister wear off, but instead Andrea had relocated from San Diego to Las Vegas to get to know me better.After living together for almost two years as roommates, we’d decided to invest in a townhome together, and it had honestly beenthatcommitment that finally allowed me to believe she wasn’t going to leave like everyone else in my life.

But most men?They took one look at my confident strut and got a taste of my sharp tongue and assumed I was the one who liked to be in control.And sure, I could be assertive.I could hold my own in most situations.But that didn’t make me a Domme.That wasn’t what I wanted.

What I craved—quietly, stubbornly—was a man who could meet me where I stood andnot flinch.Someone who saw the challenge andlikedit.A man who wasn’t scared of my snarky comebacks, wasn’t offended by my prickly disposition, or turned off by my independence.One who didn’t feel the need to tame me or tear me down just to feel stronger and better about himself.

I didn’t want to be conquered.I didn’t want to be softened or turned into someone’s idea of demure.That would never be me.

But a man who could handle me, attitude and all and wasn’t threatened by my assertive temperament?One who didn’t just play with the fire but stepped into the flames like he belonged there?Yeah, that was next to impossible to find.

“I think you look great,” Andrea assured me, bringing me back to the present moment.“Sexy enough to get a man’s attention, but intimidating enough that only the most fearless and confident will dare to express their interest.And from there, it’s up to you who you choose to play with for the night.”

“Perfect,” I said with a succinct nod.“Then I’ll take it.”