Unbridled （unedited sneak peek）
Cara moved through the thick crowd bumping into people like a pinball. Her multitude of apologies probably went unheard due to the deep bass thumping from the loud dance music.
She had never been to a nightclub—it had never been her scene—but she could imagine this would be the same type of atmosphere.
The volume of One More Time by Daft Punk was deafening. Add in people trying to talk above the din as well as others singing along with every tune the DJ was spinning onstage, rocking down the house.
Or more like event hall.
Colorful lights ricocheted around the inside of the building named The Mane Event Hall. It tinted people different shades and occasionally blinded Cara as she worked her way around the large interior.
Drinks flowed freely. Resort guests danced without reserve, bumping and grinding, twirling and twisting. Laughing and shouting.
While everyone else was having a good time, Cara felt a little out of place.
Some attendees had dressed for tonight’s fantasy theme. Glitter, fairy wings, gossamer skirts and body paint. Costumes in vibrant blues, greens, pinks and purples, along with other colors of the spectrum.
Others ignored the party’s theme. They were naked or in risqué outfits. Men and women alike wore leather harnesses that exposed their breasts, as well as other parts.
When her elbow was knocked by two women making out along the wall, half of her lemon drop martini landed on the floor. The other half on her.
“Shit.” She looked at the now empty glass, the wet floor, then down at herself. That was a waste of a good martini.
She could head to the bathroom and try to clean up, or she could go back to her room and call it a night.
She’d only checked in a few hours ago and wasn’t quite sure why she decided to attend tonight’s special event. Her room looked more inviting by the second. As did the silence.
She came to Double D Ranch to dip her feet in this unknown world, not to jump in feet first. It might be better to expose herself to this lifestyle in small doses in order to see if she was even interested. To see if it was even for her.
She set her now empty glass on a nearby tray meant for dirty glassware and continued on her way. If she kept moving, no one might notice how out of place she looked. Or how awkward she felt.
This was not her scene.
She didn’t belong here.
Someone would spot her, see she was out of her element and call her out. She just knew it.
She glanced around to see if anyone was staring. Or pointing fingers.
Of course, they weren’t. She was being paranoid over nothing. Nobody cared she was there.
It was one reason she decided to book this trip. The website stated the guests weren’t pressured to do anything they weren’t comfortable with. They could do whatever they wanted with anyone willing to do the same. Or guests could do absolutely nothing.
Once she ran across their website, it took her five days until she was brave enough to call. She unreasonably thought someone would instantly know this world was not for her. Alarms would go off and red alerts sent out via text, phone and email.
It was silly, she knew.
Eventually she finally did phone because even after reading their FAQ page on their website, she had questions.
But then, she did tend to overthink things.
For some reason, she wasn’t expecting a man with a toe-curling voice to answer. But he was not only pleasant, but patient and helpful. Maybe he picked up on how intimidated and unsure Cara came across.
Her first question had her cheeks burning hot and she was glad it was a phone call, instead of a video chat. “Is this a… BDSM club?”
She had read plenty of erotica and erotic romance novels involving kinky clubs at the library where she worked. After the first one, she fell down a rabbit hole and couldn’t read them fast enough. That unquenchable interest was what made her find a similar place somewhere other than in her hometown. Where she might be recognized. Where she worked. Where she knew so many people.
“Not a club. A ranch resort. It’s really whatever you want to make of it. You can simply come for a getaway. Take a relaxing trail ride or a dip in the pool. Soak in the hot tub or get a massage. Ooooor … You can get spanked, choked and fucked by a masked stranger.” His tone came off as amused.
Fucked by a masked stranger?
What front desk employee talked like that? Was he screwing with her?
He finished with, “The sky’s the limit. The only limits will be of your own making.”
“Is it a working ranch?” she asked next.
“Well, it’s not like you’ll be chasing down and roping wayward cattle on horseback, but we do have livestock here. We have goats and cows for fresh milk and cheese, chickens for eggs, horses for trail rides…”
“Are there a lot of single guests?” She worried it would be painfully awkward if she went and no one interacted with her.
“If you can’t find a willing single guest during your stay, plenty of couples are looking for a third. And if three aren’t enough, sometimes random orgies break out. Nobody would notice or care if you joined in.”
Random orgies? Really? Nobody would care if she just… joined… in?
“We have standalone lakefront cabins that have private hot tubs. We also have plenty of rooms in the lodge itself. Would you like to make a reservation?”
Her heart was pounding so loudly, she almost missed that question. “ Umm .”
“Hold on. Our reservationist just returned from break. I’ll let her handle it. I look forward to you being our guest. I hope it’s everything you’re looking for.”
She did, too, but she had doubts. “I’m sorry, but before you go… What did you say your name was?”
Something about his low chuckle gave her goosebumps. Not because he was creepy or anything, but because she could imagine herself blindfolded and his warm honeyed voice enveloping her while murmuring naughty suggestions in her ear.
Possibly reenacting a panty-wetting scene from one of her favorite books.
She shook herself mentally.
She remembered his voice but never got his name. It was a shame, really, but as an employee he probably wasn’t allowed to fraternize with the guests, anyway. Not that it mattered. Simply trying to make her way through the crowded party proved plenty of actual guests were available to engage with. If they welcomed it, of course.
Another reason she picked this particular resort was how the website clearly stated multiple times that consent was not only important, but required. That alone made her feel more secure about booking since she’d be by herself. Anyone stepping out of line would be dealt with quickly since the management took their guests’ safety seriously. All guests also had to sign a document to that effect when they made a reservation.
Now, here she was. All stemming from a crazy idea that got stuck in her head. She had never been this impulsive in all her thirty-four years.
To make this experience successful, she really needed to lean into the resort’s motto: Unpack, unwind and get uninhibited. She already unpacked her bags, now she needed to follow through with the rest.
You can do this.
She just needed another drink. Or two…
Or twelve.
As she fought her way to the restroom to attempt to dry her blouse, she stopped short when her path was cut off by a man walking on his hands and knees, wearing a tight leather collar around his neck with a chained leash attached.
He was one of the attendees not wearing a costume per se, but a leather harness around his torso. She blinked and as he kept going, Cara followed the line of the leash up to the woman holding the other end. She was wearing a leather mini-skirt, a matching leather bra with holes exposing her pierced nipples, suede thigh-high, high-heeled boots and a wicked smile. Every once in a while, she would give the leash a sharp jerk and make him come to heel. In her other hand, she carried a long thin whip of some sort.
Cara leaned closer to the person standing next her. A woman wearing a red vinyl form-fitting one-piece outfit with a matching mask. “Is he supposed to be a dog?”
The dark-haired woman shook her head and shouted, “Slave,” over the music.
Slave? Was that term even acceptable? It seemed wrong. But then, maybe it wasn’t in this scenario?
“She walks him like a dog.” Of course, she just pointed out the obvious like an idiot.
The woman turned toward her, the eyes behind the mask slowly traveling from Cara’s head all the way to her toes and back. “You must be new.” Her bright red lips curled. “He has a humiliation kink.”
She wasn’t sure all the fiction she read prepared her for this reality. Not even close. “What’s that around his…”
“Cock?”
Cara nodded.
“It’s a cage.”
“It has a lock.” She silently groaned. She kept nervously mentioning the obvious!
“Yes.”
Cara frowned. “There’s not enough room for him to… grow.”
“That’s exactly the point. He needs to have enough discipline so he doesn’t get hard. If he does, then…” She shrugged.
Not that she should be staring, but… the colorful lights were catching something sparkling tucked between his bare ass cheeks. She narrowed her eyes. “Is that a jewel?”
The woman’s grin grew into a blinding smile and she laughed softly. “You are definitely new. That’s an anal plug.”
She knew what an anal plug was. She read about them, just never saw one. In person, anyway.
She should’ve watched tons of porn before she came. For educational purposes, of course. At least she might have the basics under her belt instead of feeling like such a novice.
With a quick thank you to the very sexy lady in red, she continued toward the sign at the back, and above the crowd, that said restrooms .
She wondered what she’d find in there.
She was so out of her element. Once again she had gut feeling this “vacation” might have been a mistake. Maybe she should check out and drive?—
No. She would not wimp out. She spent a fortune on the reservation and the website clearly stated they didn’t give refunds to guests ending their stay early.
She saved up for this and not taking advantage of what she already paid for would be a financial hit. Plus, after what she paid, she certainly couldn’t afford to stay anywhere else.
She would need to drive back home and take the loss.
You don’t have to do anything with anyone , she reminded herself.
She could do what Mr. Sexy Voice said on the phone… Simply relax, take advantage of their spa—since the pampering was included—or lounge by the pool, enjoying a complimentary cocktail.
She could eat until she was as stuffed as a Thanksgiving turkey. Some of the online reviews—which she scoured before making her reservation—mentioned how delicious and fresh the food was. It was far from cafeteria or diner quality.
She could also be active and head out on a trail ride. Hike. Paddle around the serene lake. Sit around the bonfire. Take one of the ATVs out to explore. Feed the goats…
Damn it. None of that was the reason she came. None.
Once she entered the restroom, she breathed in relief when she found nothing kinky going on. Just two women chatting while they washed their hands.
After a quick nod in greeting, she stopped in front of the large mirror to take in the damage. Snagging a few paper towels, she blotted the large wet spot. It wasn’t helping.
“Looks like someone got wet,” came from the woman remaining at the sink next to her.
“Yes, I…” Wait. She blushed. Damn it , she needed to stop that! “Someone knocked into my drink.”
With a smile, her sink mate said, “I promise you, you can get messier than that here. Don’t worry about the spot. Unless you’re worried about it ruining your blouse?”
“No…” She only wore washable clothes. She leaned toward being more practical, and that included her wardrobe.
“Or you could simply take it off. Going topless is encouraged around here.”
Fire licked at her cheeks at the idea of walking around with her breasts hanging out. She was certainly not ready for that and she might never be.
The woman squeezed her arm. “Look. Don’t stress over it. You won’t be judged on anything you do. You could walk completely naked around this ranch for a week and no one will blink an eye. They might give you an appreciative glance, maybe invite you to join them for a session or two and then move on.”
“A session?”
“Yes, in their room or cabin. Out along a riding trail. In one of the kayaks. Or in one of the playrooms. If you keep yourself open-minded, the opportunities are endless. Do as much or as little as you’d like.”
The voice over the phone whispered through her mind. The only limits will be of your own making.
“Enjoy your stay.”
“Thank you. Same to you.”
As the woman met Cara’s eyes in the mirror, she purred, “I always do. This is my third time here already. I’ve visited a lot of clubs and resorts all over the world and I have to say, this place is now my favorite.” With a last smile and a tip of her head, she walked out of the bathroom, leaving Cara alone.
Cara stared at the woman in the mirror.
Who are you?
What are you doing here?
Did you really think this was for you?
When have you ever done something so irresponsible?
She sighed. Then, with a last glance at the wet spot on her royal blue blouse, she pulled in a bolstering breath, gave herself a nod and headed back out to the party. One more lap around the room and another martini wouldn’t hurt.
The second she stepped out of the restroom, the loud music and crazy lights bombarded her again. Was it possible that the crowd managed to swell even more? Where were all these people coming from?
Once her anxiety with the situation began to spike again, she realized it was time to go. It was all too much for her first night.
Like a quality wine, she needed to take small sips instead of guzzling down the whole bottle at once.
She searched for the closest exit since she didn’t want to fight the crowd to escape.