Chapter Four
Daisy looked up at the man who could only be Nathan Carter
and placed her hand in his. Her breath had caught the minute she’d seen him,
and she’d been a freaking teenaged girl with a crush all over again.
She knew she should tell him who she was, but names were
optional tonight. If he’d wanted to get to know a woman, he would have come on
a night when they didn’t all wear masks.
Though the mask hadn’t helped her with Gabriel Lodge. He’d
moved in and started to ask her to play when he’d realized who she was.
Nate didn’t seem to have the same instincts. Of course he
hadn’t spent almost every Saturday night with her for the last couple of years.
“You can call me Sir. What should I call you, sweetheart?”
His hand enveloped hers.
That accent went straight to her pussy, or maybe it was how
heat sizzled along her skin where he touched her. He was so big and strong he
made the other men look like boys. “You can call me Dee.”
She wasn’t about to say Hey, I’m Daisy O’Donnell. You
remember the awkward kid who followed you around and wrote our names together
in notebooks with hearts and arrows? No way.
She wasn’t Daisy O’Donnell tonight. Tonight she was Dee, an
eager to please sub who might get an orgasm from the big bad Dom this evening.
Though Daisy was always an optimist, she had no delusions
Nate Carter would fall in love with her. He might be horrified if he ever put
two and two together, but after her talk with Carys tonight, this might be her
last hurrah at The Hideout. When Gabe had looked horrified to even see her,
she’d made the decision to change clubs. She needed somewhere people didn’t
view her as a joke.
So she had tonight, and she was going to make it count.
“How long have you been in the lifestyle, Dee?” Nate asked,
his eyes trailing over her.
It felt good to have someone look at her like she was
beautiful, like she was sexy and he couldn’t wait to get his hands on her. “A
few years now, but I’ve never had a permanent Dominant partner. I’ve taken all
the classes, but I haven’t played much. I usually hang out in the lounge.”
“Do the Doms here not have bloody eyes?” Nate muttered the
question under his breath but seemed to push the thought away. “Well, there’s
some luck for me then. I’ve been in the lifestyle for a long time, was raised
in it. My parents are a D/s couple. I know a lot of the members here grew up in
the lifestyle. My parents aren’t 24/7, but they do bring a bit of it into their
normal lives.”
“My parents pretty much keep it to the club and the
bedroom.” Her parents were an excellent example of true partners. Her mother
took care of the things her da wasn’t good at, and he shouldered the load she
was weaker on. “But that’s all a way of saying even though I haven’t practiced
a lot, I’m not a newbie. We don’t need a contract for tonight. I use the
stoplight system for safe words. I enjoy bondage and a pretty big bite of pain.
Humiliation play is a hard no for me.”
One hand moved up her arm, sending sparks through her. “I
enjoy tying a pretty sub up. How do you feel about getting naked at some point
in time?”
Shedding her clothes for this man wouldn’t be a hardship.
“I’m good with it. You should know I react well to praise. Despite what people
around here will tell you, I’m not a heinous brat. I would rather please you.”
A brow rose over seriously blue eyes. “Do you have a problem
with the Doms here? Am I getting involved with a sub with a reputation?”
Not the kind she wanted. She had to blink because emotion
welled inside her. She was going to miss this place, but maybe it had been too
much to think she could fit in at this club. She was always going to be Aidan’s
kid sister at The Hideout. Somehow it didn’t come into play with the others,
but the Doms couldn’t see past it when it came to her. “It hasn’t worked out
for me here. It’s a great club, but this is my last night. I’m moving to
another club. I was hoping to make some memories tonight.”
“I’m struggling to figure out why you didn’t have ten Doms
on top of you the minute you walked onto the dungeon floor.” He tugged her
closer, his hand going to her chin to tilt it up. “You’re a stunner, love.”
She wasn’t about to tell him why the Doms wouldn’t play with
her. The truth was she didn’t understand it herself. Devi didn’t have the same
trouble she did. She didn’t play, but there were always Doms trying to tempt
her to come out on the dungeon floor.
No one had ever asked her except the two cowboy Doms who
came in from time to time, and they’d changed their minds before she could have
a session with them.
“I think I’m trouble, Sir. But you can play with me for a
night and not get pulled into my drama. Are you planning on making this your
home club?”
“Yes. I’m new in town. I recently took a job at
McKay-Taggart,” he said, but the words felt absent since his eyes wouldn’t
leave their slow perusal of her body. “I know some of the board members here,
so I expect they’ll accept my membership.”
She was absolutely certain of it, and now that she’d seen
him it was probably for the best she changed clubs. He thought she was hot
right now because he didn’t know her. When he got to know her, he would likely
put her right back in the sister bin and pant after the twins or her ex-bosses.
Harlow and Ruby played here from time to time. Precisely how she’d gotten the
job. They were elegant and competent, and chaos didn’t seem to follow them.
“You’ll like it here. I take it you’ve had a tour?”
“I have, but I will admit I didn’t spend nearly enough time
in the privacy suites.”
That sounded promising. Privacy would suit her purposes
quite nicely. The last thing she needed was one of the Doms seeing her sceneing
with this gorgeous man. They might feel the need to warn him. “What are you up
for, Sir? The night’s young, so most of the rooms should still be open. I
happen to know the spanking room is open. And the bondage playroom. I think the
medical playroom is occupied.”
His nose wrinkled. “I’ll pass on the whole doctor-patient
thing. My roommate talks way too much about his profession. Even more than my
mum. I’d like to tie you up, Dee. I agree to use the stoplight system. I
propose we run a bondage scene. I prefer rope. When I have you tied up, I’d
like to do some edging play, and can we both agree we’re open to the idea of
actual sex? I have condoms.”
Her whole body tightened at the thought. She knew she should
play this cooler but damn it, she didn’t want to. The day had been awful, and
she was looking at having her freedom curtailed for weeks. She had to find a
new club, and the prospect was equal parts scary and depressing. Why couldn’t
she have one night? One night to indulge. One night to pretend. The next time
she saw him she would be Aidan’s little sister again, and he wouldn’t look at
her the same way. “I agree to your terms, Sir.”
“Then lead the way, sub.” He stepped back, but his hand was
on hers again.
She led the way through the back of the lounge to where a
bank of privacy rooms were located. And also a dungeon monitor. A
familiar-looking Dom.
Hunter McKay was dressed for the party, but it was obvious
he was working. He gave her a once-over. The same one Gabriel Lodge had given.
Hunter was six foot four and built like a linebacker, so it was odd to see how
small he was in comparison to Nate Carter.
“Hello, gorgeous,” he began and then seemed to recognize
her. “Whoa. Sorry about that. Hey, does A…”
She let go of Nate’s hand and moved in closer. “I would like
to remind you what night it is,” she said quietly. “The rules are in play,
Hunter. Are you going to break them? Why does my brother need to know what his
adult sister is doing in a club she holds a membership to? Should I have a talk
with your mother? I’m feeling the need for a session or two about how the men
in my life treat me.”
Even in the low light she could see the way Hunter paled.
His mother was Eve McKay, and she would be pissed if she thought her son was
infantilizing the perfectly capable adult women around him. The aunties in her
life were pretty kick ass, and she would invoke their names now to get what she
wanted.
One hot night with the Dom of her dreams.
“Which room were you thinking of?” Hunter asked politely.
“They’re all open except four.”
“We’re going to use room two, thank you,” she said, and
stepped back to allow Nate to take the key from Hunter.
Hunter put the key in Nate’s hands. “Go with god, man.”
Daisy tugged him toward the room.
“Okay, that was weird,” Nate said, following along.
“He likes to joke.” She stopped at the door, turning his
way. “Everyone’s sarcastic around here.” Her heart fell as she realized he was
glancing back at Hunter, a wary look on his face. Had Nate heard her threaten
Hunter with Aunt Eve? Probably not the sexiest thing she could have done. “It’s
okay if you changed your mind.”
He turned back to her. “I haven’t changed my mind. Not about
you, but I’m starting to wonder about the club. I feel like there’s something
going on I don’t understand. I don’t like how they’re treating you.”
“They’re joking,” she said quietly. “But if it bothers you,
we don’t have to go any further. I will understand, Sir. This night is supposed
to be easy. No names if you don’t want them. No expectations. No drama. One
night of pleasure. You don’t have to worry about anything except pleasing me,
and I’ll do the same for you. But if you’re worried I’ll drag you into some
kind of…”
She wasn’t even sure what she would call it, but he stopped
her.
“I’m not worried about getting dragged into something. I’m
rather worried I won’t be. But you’re right. It’s one night, and I want to
spend it with you. I don’t think you understand how much.” He got into her
space again, his body brushing hers. “I’m getting in my head, and I’m pretty
sure overthinking could fuck me over tonight.”