Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
On Saturday night, Jackson escorted her to the entrance of an industrial-looking building. Paula’s heart was beating fast in anticipation. If she was honest, she was both dreading and looking forward to the evening.
Damn Jackson Cagney for making me feel this unbalanced.
She drew a fortifying breath and rubbed her damp palms on her jeans.
When she’d asked Jackson about the dress code, he’d told her he would take care of it, whatever that meant.
Maybe she was allowed to wear street clothes, since she was a guest. Before she could ponder further, the door opened to reveal a familiar face.
“Good evening, Kate.” Jackson kissed the beautiful redhead on the cheek.
Kate smiled at him and returned his greeting, before turning to her. “Paula? When Jackson told me he was bringing a guest, I didn’t think it would be you. Welcome to Club Indigo.”
Paula let herself be pulled into an embrace that she returned with warm affection. She might be apprehensive about the lifestyle, but she genuinely liked the people in it she had met thus far.
“A few things we need to go over. Since you’re here as a guest, you are not allowed to play.”
It turned out that she had to go over an extensive list of rules and had to sign a waiver and a non-disclosure agreement.
The rules were both reassuring and frightening.
She could understand rules about cameras not being allowed and condoms being mandatory.
Rules about sobriety, cleaning equipment—whatever that may include—and no interference made a lot of sense. But?—
“What are DMs?”
Kate was quick to answer. “DM is short for dungeon monitor. They’re volunteers who make sure everything is safe, sane, and consensual. We also assist with the scenes if the Dom asks, or”—Kate smiled and shot a glance at Jackson—“if the Top gets in over his or her head.”
“Top?”
“I keep forgetting how new you are to the lifestyle.” Kate smiled. “Dominants and submissives go by different names. A Top simply means someone who is exercising some sort of control over another person, whom we call the bottom.”
Paula nodded, although she didn’t really get this strange world she was about to enter.
She continued reading the rules until she came to a paragraph about extreme play, including blood, golden showers, and scat.
To her immense relief, all were prohibited in the club.
Drugs weren’t allowed, and although alcohol was, it was discouraged before play.
“You guys don’t mess around. It’s easier to get on a plane,” Paula joked as she signed the papers and Jackson paid the night’s fees.
Kate laughed. “If you want to join the club after tonight, you’ll have to provide identification so we can run a background check, as well as a recent medical report, but for now this is sufficient. Enjoy your evening.”
Paula thanked Kate and let Jackson guide her through a door into a hallway. Music from an opening ahead washed over them, and she recognized the song. “Judas Priest?”
“Do you like them?”
“Oh yeah. I’ve listened to Screaming for Vengeance for years. Pain and Pleasure is one of my favorite tracks.” She smiled as she remembered. “I drove my mother nuts with my obsession for the head-to-toe, leather-and-studs look.”
Jackson laughed. “Okay, metalhead. It’s good to know we have some music taste in common, although I lean more to progressive metal and rock.” He placed a kiss on the tip of her nose, which felt oddly sweet given the kind of club they were in. “Let me show you the locker rooms. It’s time to change.”
Before she could formulate any questions, Jackson led her through a door and showed her where she could change. “Into what?”
Jackson grinned at her and handed her a black plastic bag. “This. Go ahead, I’ll wait for you out here.”
“Aren’t you going to change?” She gave his jeans and blue shirt the once over. She had to admit he looked great in every outfit she’d seen him wear, and the shirt highlighted his incredible eyes.
“I am.” He winked at her and strode away. She watched him go, hoping he wouldn’t look any sexier when he returned or she would be in serious trouble. She probably was already—here she was at a BDSM club with a colleague who was about a decade younger than she was.
What am I doing?
She turned toward the ladies’ locker room just as the door swung open and her friend Laura stepped out, followed by a petite Asian woman who barely looked legal.
“—I swear, Python runs rings around Java.” The younger woman gestured animatedly.
“You’ll have to prove that,” Laura replied before looking up. “Paula? Why didn’t you tell me you were coming to the club tonight? Who are you with? I thought you weren’t interested.”
Paula gave her friend a quick hug. “I wasn’t sure myself until about an hour ago. Jackson Cagney is my—um—escort.” Date, Dom, what should she call him?
The women stood somewhat awkwardly before Laura said, “Julie, this is Paula—she was my maid of honor. Paula, meet Julie, a longstanding member of the club and a total rope bunny.”
“Nice to meet you.” Paula shook hands with Julie, who wasn’t as young as she appeared now she’d taken a closer look. “What’s a rope bunny?”
Julie chuckled. “New to the scene, I see.” She added kindly, “It’s a name for a bottom who likes to be tied up, and I’m very lucky that one of the best riggers around likes to play with me.”
Laura laughed out loud. “Come on, Julie, I think Mitch more than likes to play with you. Since I’ve joined the club, I’ve never seen him with anyone else.”
“You’re right.” Julie shrugged. “At the club we’re perfect for each other.”
Paula thought she sounded somewhat sad, but she wasn’t sure.
Laura indicated the bag Paula was still holding. “What’s in there?”
Paula had almost forgotten about the order to change. “I don’t know. It’s what I’m supposed to wear tonight.”
“Wow! Surprise costume! Show us what you got?”
Her enthusiasm was infectious, and Paula smiled as she opened the bag, pulled shiny blue silk the color of her eyes from it, and looked in wonderment at the two-piece outfit.
“What a gorgeous Arabian Nights costume!” Julie bounced on the balls of her feet and clapped her hands together. “Come on, try it on.”
Paula studied the costume she was holding. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to enter the club looking like a harem girl.
Laura started to peel off her street clothes, giving Paula some semblance of privacy or at least one fewer pair of eyes on her.
“You know, if your Top thinks you’re taking too long, you might end up going through the club in your birthday suit,” Laura remarked, nonchalantly.
Her words rang true in Paula’s ears, and she kicked into action. Used to shifting gears, she had her clothes off and the costume on before Laura was finished undressing.
“Whoa,” Julie whispered, and Paula looked down at her body. The top fit snugly around her breasts like a luxurious sports bra that left her midriff bare. The smooth, wide trousers accentuated her long legs, while the sewed-on coins jingled softly as she turned in an attempt to see her backside.
A knock on the door startled them, and as the only one dressed, Paula hurried over. “Hold on.” She opened the door a fraction and came face to face with Jackson.
“Don’t tell me you’re not ready yet,” he teased.
“I just have to get shoes on.” Paula felt compelled to explain, “I met Laura and Julie, and we talked a bit.”
Jackson smiled. “That’s okay. There are no shoes with the outfit, so you can come out now.”
“No shoes?” Paula didn’t believe he expected her to walk around barefoot.
“We’re not playing tonight, but I want you to experience a bit of the D/s dynamic.
” He reached through the opening between the door and the doorframe and pulled her out.
“First, I want you to use an honorific when you address a Dominant, Sir for a male and Mistress or Ma’am for a female.
Second, you’re allowed to ask as many questions as you want, but you may not question my actions or decisions.
In a regular relationship, the sub doesn’t question the Dominant’s decisions.
She or he understands that the Dom is acting in the sub’s best interests.
If you ever feel that I’m asking something that will cause you physical or emotional pain, you always have a safeword. ”
Paula tried to swallow, but her mouth was dry all of a sudden. They’d started, and she didn’t like it already. “I— I?—”
“Tell me what’s wrong.”
“I can’t ask about the shoes?” It came out more a question than a statement.
He tilted his head, as if waiting for something.
Oh right. “Don’t ask about the shoes, Sir.”
He fisted her hair and took her mouth in a languid kiss that had her panties dampening in seconds. Damn, his kisses were potent.
He pulled away from her mouth. “Nicely done.” He smiled down at her.
“You look stunning in this outfit. This time, I’ll answer you.
It’s club rule that subs are either barefoot or in high heels.
” The way he took in her body and lingered on the bare strip of skin between the top and the pantaloons made her nipples harden and tingle.
“Tonight I want you close to me. I want to be able to touch you at all times.” He tipped her head further back.
“Since you’re not allowed to play, I won’t punish you for infractions, but I will be disappointed if you don’t follow my orders.
” He kissed her exposed neck, and she thought her legs would give out if he hadn’t been holding her.
“You don’t want to disappoint me, do you, Paula? ”
“No, Sir.”
“Good, girl,” he whispered, and with a brief kiss, he turned them both so they were facing the door. “Let’s go.”