Chapter 1
S even and a half years later
Indie slipped her arm around Maggie’s, tugging her friend back as she tried to move to the end of the long line.
Instead, she led her to where the bouncers stood in front of the entrance to the hottest nightclub in London.
“What are you doing?” Maggie asked, limping slightly. “We need to line up. I don’t even know why we’re here. We’re not going to get in. This line goes on for days.”
A year ago, Maggie had been in a car accident that shattered her hip and ended her ice-skating career.
Indie knew her friend was still struggling to come to terms with the changes in her life. And her family weren’t being very helpful.
Indie should be at home studying for her exams. But Maggie needed this.
And you do too.
You want to see them .
Urgh. Her crush on Slade and his friends hadn’t eased over the years. She’d thought once they left to go to university she’d move on.
Nope.
It didn’t help that they’d continued to make an effort to be in her life. They’d come home to visit on the weekends. Or when it was the holidays.
Now she was attending university thanks to a couple of scholarships and some help from Edward. She was determined to do well, get a good job, and support herself so she never had to rely on anyone.
“Hi,” she said to the large bouncer.
He frowned down at her. “You don’t get in for being cute. Go to the back of the line.”
“Indie,” Maggie said, tugging at her arm.
“Oh, I don’t need to line up.” She drew a card out of her wallet. “I’m here as a guest of Spencer Hensley. My name is Indie Madden. I should be on the list.” She held out her ID.
The bouncer immediately checked a list and then her ID. After checking Maggie’s too, he waved them through.
“What . . . what is happening right now?” Maggie asked in shock as Indie led her inside.
Indie giggled.
“How did you get on a VIP list for the hottest club in town?” Maggie demanded.
“Because she begged me until I gave in.”
Turning, she saw Spencer standing there. He looked so freaking hot that it was unfair. He wore a pink shirt with a pair of black slacks. And damned if he didn’t fill both out nicely.
His hair was still sandy-blond and a bit long. There were dark smudges under his eyes which didn’t detract from how hot he looked.
But they worried her. Her Spencer never worried about shit. She knew that the guys were working hard to build their high-end construction empire. And that they owned this nightclub along with a couple of others.
She was still working on getting into Club Slade. Their BDSM club.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. “You look tired.”
Spencer raised his eyebrow. “So do you, Princess.”
Indie wasn’t an idiot.
“What are the two of you doing here? Don’t you have exams to study for?” Spencer asked, running his gaze over Maggie.
Thankfully, he didn’t show any real interest in her.
“I needed a break.” She shrugged. “Thought I’d come check out the hottest club in London.”
Spencer groaned. “Your brother is going to kill me.”
Stepbrother.
And the jury was out on whether they’d be that for much longer. Her mother and Edward’s relationship seemed to be fraying.
Honestly, she was surprised it had lasted this long.
Maybe her mum just hadn’t found anyone to replace him with yet.
“My stepbrother is in Dubai,” Indie replied. “And he has no say over what I do. If you need me, I’ll be inside. Having fun.”
“Ahh, not too much fun.” Spencer reached out and wrapped his hand around her wrist. “There are rules.”
Indie sighed. Rules? Was he serious?
“I’m twenty-two, Spencer!”
“So?”
“So, I’m an adult. I don’t need rules.”
“Think again. You’re under my protection while you’re here and that means you follow my rules.”
Honestly. This was something she’d expect from Slade or Quaid, not Spencer.
She narrowed her eyes at him, putting her hands on her hips. “Like what, Daddy?”
She didn’t know why those words made him take a sharp breath in. Did he . . . did he like her calling him Daddy? The way that Maggie tensed next to her told her that she noticed his reaction too.
“Don’t start sassing me. I might be the most easygoing most of the time, but that doesn’t mean I won’t do what’s necessary to keep you safe.
” He stepped forward, looming over her. “No accepting drinks from anyone. You stick to the VIP area. You stay together. And when you want to leave you have one of the bouncers call my car service.”
Saved them paying for an Uber.
“Drinks are free in the VIP area, right?” she asked.
“Right.”
Oh good. Her budget was tight.
“But you two are on a four drink limit,” he added.
What? He had to be kidding her!
“Behave.”
Turning, he walked off before she could argue with him.
“Behave?” she muttered as Maggie wrapped an arm around hers. “Why would we want to do that?”
She watched Spencer walk away glad he couldn’t see the way she stared at his ass.
That butt was a thing of beauty.
Bad Indie.
Spencer was off-limits and she knew it. Just like the other guys.
Besides, they’d never once shown any interest in her and it was time she moved on. She’d never really dated. She’d only been kissed a few times.
Yep, it was time to look elsewhere.
It wasn’t like they hadn’t been with other women. They’d all had girlfriends over the years. They were hardly pining away for her.
“What just happened?” Maggie asked as Spencer disappeared.
“That’s Spencer, he owns this club with my stepbrother and two more of their friends. Which means that we get free drinks and VIP access. So let’s go party! ”
She wasn’t really feeling it as she stepped into the nightclub. But she put on an act for Maggie.
After a bit of dancing, Maggie’s hip started hurting her and they headed into the VIP area to have some drinks and people watch.
“He sure was hot,” Maggie said.
“Who?” she asked, looking around.
Maggie dug her elbow into Indie’s side. “Spencer.”
“Oh yeah? You think so?” Indie shrugged. “He’s okay.”
Liar, liar.
“Uh-huh, sure. Okay,” Maggie teased.
“Are you interested in him?” Indie tried to convince herself that using the ninja moves Rock had taught her on her best friend was not a good idea.
All right, they weren’t ninja moves exactly, but she liked to pretend they were.
“Oh no!” Maggie held up her hands. “I do not have time in my life for men. It was interesting the way he reacted when you called him Daddy, though.”
“Yeah? You noticed that, huh? What do you think it means?”
Maggie eyed her nervously.
“What? What is it?” Indie asked.
“You’ve heard about BDSM, right?”
Indie went on high alert and she swallowed nervously. At the moment, BDSM romance books were her guilty pleasure. AEver since she’d heard the guys owned a BDSM club she’d been on a reading binge. “Yeah. What do you know about it?”
“I know that I’ve been reading about Littles and age play and I’m wondering if I . . . if I might be one. A Little.” Maggie wouldn’t look at her and Indie knew her friend was stressed that she might make fun of her.
Reject her.
But Maggie was her ride or die. They were in this together.
“Yeah? Well, if you are, maybe I am too.” Indie slipped her hand into her friend’s. “Got any good book recommendations about Littles? ”
Maggie sent her a grateful smile. “Yes! I’ll send them to you. You’re not horrified?”
“Of course not. You’re my best friend, Maggie. Even if I’m not into it, I’ll do whatever it takes to support you. I haven’t read anything about Littles, but I have read lots of BDSM romances. Some of those guys are so . . .”
“Dominant? Protective? Bossy? Sexy?” Maggie suggested.
“All of the above,” Indie said.
A throat clearing made them both jump. Indie stared up at the cute guy standing there with a shy look on his face. He was dressed in a blue shirt and dark pants. He didn’t quite fill them out the same way Spencer did his . . . but no, she wasn’t supposed to be thinking about Spencer like that.
“Hi, I was wondering if one of you wanted to dance?” he asked.
It was clear that it took some guts for him to come ask them and she glanced at Maggie who shook her head.
Indie shrugged. To hell with it. She was only young once and she’d decided to live a little.
“Sure, I’ll dance with you.” She slid out of the booth and took his hand. It was a bit clammy but he was probably just nervous.
“I’m Indie, what’s your name?”
“Hi, Indie. I’m Billy Moray.”
Something shifted in the air. She wasn’t quite sure what it was . . . it kind of felt like an omen.
A warning of bad things to come.
Unfortunately, she ignored it.
Something she’d come to deeply regret.