The Open Door: A Found Duet Novella Read online

  The Open Door

  A Found Duet Novella

  By Laurelin Paige

  1001 Dark Nights

  The Open Door

  A Found Duet Novella

  By Laurelin Paige

  1001 Dark Nights

  Copyright 2019 Laurelin Paige

  ISBN: 978-1-948050-98-2

  Foreword: Copyright 2014 M. J. Rose

  Published by Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.

  Book Description

  The Open Door by Laurelin Paige

  A Found Duet Novella

  From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Laurelin Paige comes a new story in her Found Duet series…

  I knew JC was trouble the minute I laid eyes on him.

  Breaking every rule in my club. I never forget how he made me feel that night. With all the women in that room, all those bodies on display, but his eyes were only on me.

  Of course I married him. Now years have passed. Kids have been born. We’re still in love as always, and the sex is still fantastic...

  And yet, it’s also not. Like many who’ve been married for a while, I long for the high intensity of those days of the past.

  I’ve heard rumors for years about the Open Door. An ultra-exclusive voyeur’s paradise. A place to participate in—or watch—any kind of display you can imagine.

  My husband’s eyes would still be on me. And maybe other eyes too. If that’s what we want.

  So when an invitation to come play arrives, how could we turn it down?

  **Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

  About Laurelin Paige

  With millions of books sold, Laurelin Paige is the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Fixed Trilogy. She's a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn't seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Killing Eve and the Walking Dead, or dreaming of Michael Fassbender. She’s also a proud member of Mensa International though she doesn't do anything with the organization except use it as material for her bio.

  You can connect with Laurelin on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LaurelinPaige or on twitter @laurelinpaige. You can also visit her website, www.laurelinpaige.com, to sign up for e-mails about new releases.

  Also From Laurelin Paige

  Click to purchase

  Slay Series

  Slay One: Rivalry

  Slay Two: Ruin

  Slay Three: Revenge – coming soon

  Slay Four: Rising – coming soon

  The Fixed Series

  Fixed on You

  Found in You

  Forever with You

  Hudson

  Falling Under You: A Fixed Trilogy Novella (1001 Dark Nights)

  Chandler

  Dirty, Filthy Fix: A Fixed Trilogy Novella (1001 Dark Nights)

  Fixed Forever

  Dirty Universe

  Dirty Filthy Rich Boys

  Dirty Filthy Rich Men

  Dirty Filthy Rich Love

  Dirty, Sexy Player

  Dirty Sexy Games

  Sweet Liar

  Sweet Fate

  Found Duet

  Free Me

  Find Me

  First and Last

  First Touch

  Last Kiss

  Hollywood Heat

  Sex Symbol

  Star Struck

  One More Time

  Close

  Co-Written Works:

  Written with Sierra Simone:

  Porn Star

  Hot Cop

  Written with Kayti McGee:

  Miss Match

  Love Struck

  MisTaken: A Novella

  Dedication

  Dedicated to all those kinky women who are still madly in love after being married for more than a minute.

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights

  Click here to explore

  COLLECTION ONE

  FOREVER WICKED by Shayla Black

  CRIMSON TWILIGHT by Heather Graham

  CAPTURED IN SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  SILENT BITE: A SCANGUARDS WEDDING by Tina Folsom

  DUNGEON GAMES by Lexi Blake

  AZAGOTH by Larissa Ione

  NEED YOU NOW by Lisa Renee Jones

  SHOW ME, BABY by Cherise Sinclair

  ROPED IN by Lorelei James

  TEMPTED BY MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian

  THE FLAME by Christopher Rice

  CARESS OF DARKNESS by Julie Kenner

  COLLECTION TWO

  WICKED WOLF by Carrie Ann Ryan

  WHEN IRISH EYES ARE HAUNTING by Heather Graham

  EASY WITH YOU by Kristen Proby

  MASTER OF FREEDOM by Cherise Sinclair

  CARESS OF PLEASURE by Julie Kenner

  ADORED by Lexi Blake

  HADES by Larissa Ione

  RAVAGED by Elisabeth Naughton

  DREAM OF YOU by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  STRIPPED DOWN by Lorelei James

  RAGE/KILLIAN by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright

  DRAGON KING by Donna Grant

  PURE WICKED by Shayla Black

  HARD AS STEEL by Laura Kaye

  STROKE OF MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian

  ALL HALLOWS EVE by Heather Graham

  KISS THE FLAME by Christopher Rice

  DARING HER LOVE by Melissa Foster

  TEASED by Rebecca Zanetti

  THE PROMISE OF SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  COLLECTION THREE

  HIDDEN INK by Carrie Ann Ryan

  BLOOD ON THE BAYOU by Heather Graham

  SEARCHING FOR MINE by Jennifer Probst

  DANCE OF DESIRE by Christopher Rice

  ROUGH RHYTHM by Tessa Bailey

  DEVOTED by Lexi Blake

  Z by Larissa Ione

  FALLING UNDER YOU by Laurelin Paige

  EASY FOR KEEPS by Kristen Proby

  UNCHAINED by Elisabeth Naughton

  HARD TO SERVE by Laura Kaye

  DRAGON FEVER by Donna Grant

  KAYDEN/SIMON by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright

  STRUNG UP by Lorelei James

  MIDNIGHT UNTAMED by Lara Adrian

  TRICKED by Rebecca Zanetti

  DIRTY WICKED by Shayla Black

  THE ONLY ONE by Lauren Blakely

  SWEET SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  COLLECTION FOUR

  ROCK CHICK REAWAKENING by Kristen Ashley

  ADORING INK by Carrie Ann Ryan

  SWEET RIVALRY by K. Bromberg

  SHADE'S LADY by Joanna Wylde

  RAZR by Larissa Ione

  ARRANGED by Lexi Blake

  TANGLED by Rebecca Zanetti

  HOLD ME by J. Kenner

  SOMEHOW, SOME WAY by Jennifer Probst

  TOO CLOSE TO CALL by Tessa Bailey

  HUNTED by Elisabeth Naughton

  EYES ON YOU by Laura Kaye

  BLADE by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright

  DRAGON BURN by Donna Grant

  TRIPPED
OUT by Lorelei James

  STUD FINDER by Lauren Blakely

  MIDNIGHT UNLEASHED by Lara Adrian

  HALLOW BE THE HAUNT by Heather Graham

  DIRTY FILTHY FIX by Laurelin Paige

  THE BED MATE by Kendall Ryan

  NIGHT GAMES by CD Reiss

  NO RESERVATIONS by Kristen Proby

  DAWN OF SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  COLLECTION FIVE

  BLAZE ERUPTING by Rebecca Zanetti

  ROUGH RIDE by Kristen Ashley

  HAWKYN by Larissa Ione

  RIDE DIRTY by Laura Kaye

  ROME’S CHANCE by Joanna Wylde

  THE MARRIAGE ARRANGEMENT by Jennifer Probst

  SURRENDER by Elisabeth Naughton

  INKED NIGHTS by Carrie Ann Ryan

  ENVY by Rachel Van Dyken

  PROTECTED by Lexi Blake

  THE PRINCE by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  PLEASE ME by J. Kenner

  WOUND TIGHT by Lorelei James

  STRONG by Kylie Scott

  DRAGON NIGHT by Donna Grant

  TEMPTING BROOKE by Kristen Proby

  HAUNTED BE THE HOLIDAYS by Heather Graham

  CONTROL by K. Bromberg

  HUNKY HEARTBREAKER by Kendall Ryan

  THE DARKEST CAPTIVE by Gena Showalter

  Also from 1001 Dark Nights:

  TAME ME by J. Kenner

  THE SURRENDER GATE By Christopher Rice

  SERVICING THE TARGET By Cherise Sinclair

  TEMPT ME by J. Kenner

  Sign up for the 1001 Dark Nights Newsletter

  and be entered to win a Tiffany Key necklace.

  There's a contest every month!

  Click here to subscribe.

  As a bonus, all subscribers can download FIVE FREE exclusive books!

  Table of Contents

  Book Description

  About Laurelin Paige

  Also from Laurelin Paige

  Dedication

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights

  Foreword

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Six

  Discover More Laurelin Paige

  An excerpt from Slay One by Laurelin Paige

  Discover the World of 1001 Dark Nights

  Special Thanks

  One Thousand and One Dark Nights

  Once upon a time, in the future…

  I was a student fascinated with stories and learning.

  I studied philosophy, poetry, history, the occult, and

  the art and science of love and magic. I had a vast

  library at my father’s home and collected thousands

  of volumes of fantastic tales.

  I learned all about ancient races and bygone

  times. About myths and legends and dreams of all

  people through the millennium. And the more I read

  the stronger my imagination grew until I discovered

  that I was able to travel into the stories... to actually

  become part of them.

  I wish I could say that I listened to my teacher

  and respected my gift, as I ought to have. If I had, I

  would not be telling you this tale now.

  But I was foolhardy and confused, showing off

  with bravery.

  One afternoon, curious about the myth of the

  Arabian Nights, I traveled back to ancient Persia to

  see for myself if it was true that every day Shahryar

  (Persian: شهريار, “king”) married a new virgin, and then

  sent yesterday's wife to be beheaded. It was written

  and I had read, that by the time he met Scheherazade,

  the vizier's daughter, he’d killed one thousand

  women.

  Something went wrong with my efforts. I arrived

  in the midst of the story and somehow exchanged

  places with Scheherazade – a phenomena that had

  never occurred before and that still to this day, I

  cannot explain.

  Now I am trapped in that ancient past. I have

  taken on Scheherazade’s life and the only way I can

  protect myself and stay alive is to do what she did to

  protect herself and stay alive.

  Every night the King calls for me and listens as I spin tales.

  And when the evening ends and dawn breaks, I stop at a

  point that leaves him breathless and yearning for more.

  And so the King spares my life for one more day, so that

  he might hear the rest of my dark tale.

  As soon as I finish a story... I begin a new

  one... like the one that you, dear reader, have before

  you now.

  Chapter One

  Interested?

  The subject line in the email my husband had forwarded was intriguing, to say the least. When the notification popped up on my phone, I felt the pull to read it right away.

  But Braden needed a diaper change, Jake was kicking at the door of his bedroom where he was currently in time out, and I’d just discovered Theo had found a black marker. The kid desperately needed a bath and my hallway now needed a new paint job.

  I pocketed my phone, balanced the baby on my hip, and let out a slow breath while I counted to ten before ushering Theo to the nursery with me.

  Motherhood wasn’t always this hectic, I reminded myself. Today was only chaotic because JC was out of town working on one of his investment projects, and the nanny didn’t work on Sundays. While both my husband and I worked full time, we were really hands-on with our parenting. Sundays and Mondays were our weekends. Neither of us worked on these days, for the most part, and we only brought the nanny in when absolutely necessary. When JC had told me on Saturday that he needed to extend his trip in Chicago for another day, I’d considered calling Ruth to help out but decided against it. I could handle three boys under six on my own for a little while, couldn’t I?

  The answer was yes. But it definitely took every last drop of my energy. Even running a summer Friday night shift at The Sky Launch, the night club I co-managed, was easier than this.

  “It’s worth it,” I told Braden as I laid him down on the changing table. I even meant it.

  Mostly.

  It was another two hours before I had the kids clean, fed, and settled enough to look at my phone. I shifted a sleeping Braden off my breast and into a position where I had a hand to use. Then I went to my notifications and opened the email JC had sent earlier.

  Besides the tantalizing subject line, all that was inside the message was a website link along with a username and password. I clicked on the link and awkwardly entered the information he’d provided with my free hand―my non-dominant hand, hence the awkward.

  I blinked at the bold red headline that popped up: Welcome to The Open Door.

  My breath hitched when I recognized what exactly The Open Door was. I’d heard of it before, it came up from time to time in social situations, especially ones that included the richest of the rich and the cream of the crop of socialites. Honestly, I’d thought the thing was a hoax, a lavish fantasy that sprung from the heads of bored housewives and restless entrepreneurs. A super hush-hush, organized, weekly sex party hosted by the elite of New York City? Total fairytale. Who wouldn’t want to believe that existed?

  But here seemed to be proof that it wasn’t just an elaborate rumor.

  A thrill ran down my spine, and my pulse sped up. This was sensational. Scandalous, even. With this email, I’d become privy to a secret society. Even if we never did anything with that information
―because, seriously, why would we―how could it not be exciting?

  But then I read through the rest of the information on my screen, a list of dates and locations as well as terms and instructions, and realized that this wasn’t just a cool bit of gossip that my husband had stumbled upon. It was an invitation. An invitation that JC had accepted when he set up an account. And based on what I was reading about the benefits of membership, the fees to join had been outrageous.

  Sure, we could afford it. JC was born of means and his passion for investing in promising start-up companies had paid off well. We weren’t big spenders, generally―our tastes and needs were more simple than extravagant―but the money was there when and if we wanted it. So it wasn’t the cost that was giving me anxiety.

  It was the simple fact that my husband, the man who had seemingly been happy with what happened in our bedroom for the last eight years, had signed us both up for a sex club.

  A sex club!

  A place for swingers and orgies and kink.

  I wasn’t a prude―not since I’d met JC, anyway―but I was a one-man kind of woman. And, while we sometimes used butt plugs and vibrators and handcuffs in the privacy of our own love nest, I’d never needed or wanted anything more extreme.

  When did JC start wanting it? And why hadn’t he ever said anything to me? Was he totally bored with me? Had breastfeeding and a C-section and not enough time in the gym destroyed my body? Was I no longer desirable?

  Was I not enough?

  After all I gave to the man, I better be e-fucking-nough. I worked hard, mothered his kids, put dinners on the table, put out on a very regular basis. Maybe not as regularly as when we’d been childless, but come on. What did he expect? We had three fucking kids. I barely had time to brush my teeth, let alone be sexy. He was lucky I ever had the energy to spread my legs. I was as good as reality gets.