Bonus Epilogue
There was only one thing better than spending my entire life with Liz.
Spending a night at a sex club with Liz.
As promised, when Club Pétale opened their newest location, we were among the first people in line. Deep within the heart of the city and a floor or two below ground lay a dark and sexy queer BDSM club.
It was even better than the one we’d gone to for research. It had the luxury of the Club Pétale brand but all the darkness and danger that came with an underground dungeon type of club.
Instead of multiple stages throughout the middle of the club, it had one large stage in the back and then overhangs with dancers and various sexual performances on the first floor.
Liz was dressed in a flirty, red short dress with her hair up, showing off her bare back, while I had donned a vest and pinstripe pants.
Ax and Sloan greeted us as we got to the back of the club. They were overseeing the first performance of the night, and we had come to offer our congratulations.
They were in similar but not quite matching suits, while both Lillian and Nyx had skin-tight black sparkly dresses. It made me wonder if they were going to be part of some type of performance.
“It looks great!” Liz said as we came up.
Sloan, Lillian, and Nyx all smiled while Ax looked like her usual reserved self.
“Thank you,” Sloan said. “But I can't take all the credit. I may have had the general idea, but Ax was the one who made it look… well, like this.”
I could tell it was closer to Ax’s taste. She had that expensive, everything-had-to-be-imported, leather-or-granite type of personality.
“The compliment stands. This is probably going to be one of you guys' most popular places,” I said, pulling Liz closer.
For a second, I swore I saw Ax smile, but it disappeared as fast as it came.
What a chilling personality.
“Thank you,” Nyx said for her.
We were all pulled to look at the stage by the strum of an electric guitar.
“Oh, it’s starting!” Lillian squealed excitedly.
The stage curtains opened, and I swear I almost had a heart attack when I saw the very same band we’d seen together on our first date.
“Is that…?” Liz asked, and I could hear the excitement growing in her voice.
She might not admit to it, but after that concert, she had become a full-blown fan.
“Club Pétale, let’s get this party started!”
The crowd behind us went crazy, and everyone rushed toward the stage. I guessed we weren't the only fans in the house.
They jumped into their music, and the crowd started dancing. I grabbed Liz and moved with her, holding her in my arms. She laughed and started swaying with me.
But I wasn’t ready to see someone very familiar being pulled onto the stage by the lead singer.
“Is that Claire?”
Claire, done up in a short denim skirt and tank top, was being hauled across the stage. We both looked at Sloan, who was already looking at us as if she were a deer stuck in the headlights.
“I swear I didn't know she was going—”
“Oh my God!” Liz exclaimed, and I looked back at the stage to see the lead singer pull my stepdaughter into a kiss.
“Did you know about them?” I asked in a panic.
I covered Liz’s eyes so she wouldn't see what was about to happen on stage.
“I knew that they were together, but—”
“Oh shit!”
I turned Liz around and started moving her toward the exit.
“She was not supposed to be here!” she yelled.
“She’s an adult, baby,” I reminded her, laughing as I pushed her out.
As soon as we were outside, she turned on me. “Were you the one who introduced her to this?”
I raised my hands. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't lie to her.
“I may have gotten her in for free.”
The look on Liz's face was pure shock as she slapped my arm.
“Jax! I can't believe you!”
She walked up the stairs, pushing past the waiting line that was already wrapping down the block, and I had to run after her and take her hands so she would look at me.
“What can I do to make it up to you?” I asked.
When she turned to me, her brows were raised, and I fell to my knees. People were watching us, and I was pretty sure taking pictures too, but I didn't care.
“Punish me? For old times’ sake?”
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth.
“You know I cannot resist a punishment.”
“I was counting on that,” I said with a smile.
She rolled her eyes as I got up. “I'm still not forgiving you. This is too much.”
I put an arm over her shoulder, walking her to our awaiting car.
“We can discuss that another day. For now, let’s focus on punishment.”
She let out a sigh. “Fine. But I don't know if I'll ever be able to get over this.”
I laughed and held her tight.
“That's okay. Maybe now we will finally know how Claire feels.”
She let out a groan.
“But it’s a rockstar! Claire's with a rock star! You know what they’re like.”
I paused in our walk and forced her to look at me. “Are you jealous you didn't get with a rock star?”
That earned me a slap to the arm again.
“Extra punishment this time. We're getting out the collar.” She turned and walked toward the car by herself.
I was practically skipping behind her.
“Yes, Mommy.”
The PéTALE AUCTION is not over yet!