Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
Kate looked around Club Indigo’s main room on Saturday night. The club hadn’t had this many people in weeks, and she enjoyed seeing many of her friends. Apparently, work and family lives kept them away. Instead of splitting up and playing, the attendees huddled together in the lounge.
They’d been discussing the club and its members when Mitch broached a subject that had bugged Kate for a while, too. “The munch is important for the club, since our goal is to help the kinksters in Kansas City experience BDSM in a safe environment.”
Mitch waited for Sonja and Derek, who had just arrived, to join the group before he continued.
“We need more club regulars at the munch or it’s going to die.
Last month it was just Kate, Julie and I, with ten new people.
That kind of balance won’t fly. It’s not a lot to ask the rest of you to turn up once in a while. ”
James rubbed his hand over his mouth. “You’re right, of course. We haven’t been since we got Josh. We owe that munch a lot. It’s how I found Laura again.”
Kate remembered that munch like it had been yesterday.
New to the lifestyle, Laura had avoided James rather than communicate, and it had taken much effort and patience from James to coax her into a conversation, let alone a relationship.
They had been through much, but it had only made them and their bond stronger.
Now they were married and had adopted a son.
Kate watched her friend closely, but Laura had only eyes for her husband Dom. She melted at Laura’s expression when James turned to her.
“What do you think, hon? Josh is old enough to be by himself for an evening, isn’t he?”
Laura said, “Count us in for next week.”
Jackson looked at his wife. “Have you ever been to the munch?”
Laura had needed time before she agreed to D/s.
Paula had needed even more before she agreed to twenty-four seven TPE.
Kate didn’t claim to understand the mechanics of love, but Jackson and Paula had found a shape that fit them.
Jackson looked more relaxed and more contented with his wife nearby—whether it was kneeling at his feet or cuddled into his side, like she was now—and Paula glowed with happiness.
“No, Sir. Sounds like fun, though.” Paula tried wiggle free but was hindered by the arm around her waist. She scowled but schooled her face into a respectful, pleasant expression when Jackson raised his eyebrow at her.
Interesting interaction! Will Chris, Yvonne, and I someday be able to speak without words?
“We’re in, too, barring a crime wave,” Jackson quipped, and Kate had to laugh—her wishful thinking to her mind’s backburner. With both Jackson and Paula working as detectives, a crime wave might put a stop to their plans, although they worked different departments.
Derek turned to Sonja. “Would you like to go?”
The voluptuous dark woman didn’t hesitate. “Sure. Munches are fun. Besides, I met Suzie at that munch.”
“We’ll be there, too, Mitch.” Derek stroked the back of Sonja’s neck.
“Excellent.” Mitch slapped his knees and relaxed in his chair. “I’m taking the night off. The six of you should be enough to cover for me. You won’t be completely on your own. Kate and Scott have already committed.”
“Don’t forget us,” Sandra added. “Ruby and I will be there, too.”
The thirty-something submissive bumped shoulders with her best friend, who bobbed her head vigorously. They looked like polar opposites—Ruby was covered in tattoos and piercings, her hair short and spiky with orange and black highlights, while Sandra’s looks practically screamed girl next door.
“That’s what I like to see—members coming forward once a need is made known.” The slightly accented voice came from behind Kate, and she half turned in her chair to notice a beautiful Latina she hadn’t seen in almost a year.
Mitch jumped from his chair to give his partner in the club a quick hug. “I’m not sure everyone here knows Elena, one of our founding members.”
Kate stood. “Elena, how good to see you.” She hugged the other Domme.
“And how nice to have another dominant female around.” Under the stage names Catalina, Romulus and Remus, Elena did a touring BDSM show with her two slaves.
In high demand, they weren’t in town often and had even performed in Europe and Asia.
After a round of greetings, Elena settled in with them.
“Where are your slaves, Elena?” Sonja hinted to Elena’s two submissive partners.
“I gave them the weekend off. We’ve been working hard on a new show, and we’re doing some classes and demos while we’re on tour.”
“What kind of classes?” Kate was curious if she could learn something new from Elena. The Domme had been paramount in Kate’s early years, and she hadn’t realized how she missed her former mentor.
“I’m going to do one on fire play and another on wax play, as well as being on a panel about performing at Kinky Kollege in Chicago next month.”
Ruby leaned forward with sparkling eyes. “I’ve always wanted to try wax play. Any chance you might do a workshop here before you leave again? I volunteer to bottom for you.”
Kate narrowed her eyes. Ruby was forward for a submissive, and Kate was curious how the Domme would react.
“I’ll think about it. Good to know there’s interest.” Elena sounded non-committal. “I did set up a demo for tonight, though. Is anyone interested in learning about fire cupping?”
“We are,” Derek affirmed.
Kate swept her gaze to the recently formed couple in surprise.
Sonja shook her head, and Elena looked right at her. “Are you, Sonja?”
Sonja hummed like she was contemplating the idea. “Actually, I think fire is for cooking.”
Laughter erupted at Sonja’s witty comeback. Derek tugged on her hair and murmured “Brat” in her ear before raising his voice, his tone serious. “Do you need to use your safeword?”
“No, Sir, let’s talk first.” Sonja batted her eyelashes at Derek. She was a handful, but she seemed to get along well with the bearded social worker, and she deserved a relationship with a committed Dom.
Elena addressed the curvy submissive, coming across firm and friendly like the self-assured Domme she was, “I’m aware you aren’t a masochist, Sonja, but you will feel no heat. The fire won’t touch you, and you will only feel the suction.”
“But I’ve seen the marks on people. The cups leave big bruises,” Sonja interjected.
Elena’s pearly whites flashed in her tanned face, and her eyes sparkled.
“Oh yes, the cup will leave a mark, and depending on how long it stays on, it can last for days or even weeks.” Elena wasn’t as sadistic as Kate, but leaving a mark was a huge turn-on for Dominants.
“But it will not be painful. The marks are more like giant hickeys.”
Sonja’s shoulders almost touched her ears, but she addressed Derek. “Why do you want to try it?”
“Good question.” Derek cocked his head. “I want to try this to help you with your headaches, stiff shoulders, and sore back. It’s a two-thousand-year-old treatment, babygirl, and Elena has a lot of experience with it.”
Now Kate understood why Derek wanted Sonja to try it, she couldn’t approve more. Would Sonja dare, though?
Elena inclined her head. “I do, and your Dom is right. Actually, it’s like an inverse massage. You’ll feel the suction and some warmth from the rim of the cup but no pain or burning.”
Sonja chewed her bottom lip. “Okay, I’ll try it.”
Interesting! Sonja tended to be cautious, and Kate had rarely seen her try new things. Derek was having a good influence on her, and Kate liked what she saw.
The impromptu meeting ended abruptly with most of the crowd opting to watch the cupping demonstration.
As Kate was familiar with the technique, she looked around for Chris.
According to their contract, she had right to him during club time.
She had the later shift for DM duty, would like to torture him for a while beforehand, and had a sounding kit waiting for him.
Where had the man gone? She had seen him when she came in, and she was positive he hadn’t gone into the main room for the demo.
She halted James and Laura, who might know where her imp had gone. “Hi guys. Did y’all see Chris?”
“Hi” James had his wife and submissive firmly against his side. “Afraid not.” He studied Kate. “I heard you had quite the scene with him and that Dutch girl?”
“We did!” She stood taller. “And the three of us have a contract now.”
“That’s wonderful, Kate.” Laura stroked her collar in an unconscious but alluring gesture. “I’m so glad you two have finally acted on your mutual attraction.”
“I misunderstood things for a while.” She scanned the room as they talked and spotted him behind the bar. “There he is. I’ll have to catch up with you later. Enjoy the demo.”
Mealybugs! If he was bartending, he wouldn’t be free until she went on duty. They would need to talk to Mitch about coordinating their schedules. She expected to be able to play with her subs when they were at the club, even if they hadn’t planned a scene in advance.
She took a seat in the middle of the otherwise empty bar.
Chris stood stacking glasses directly across from her with his back to her, and she took a few moments to admire his tight, muscular ass.
When she had looked her fill, and he still hadn’t turned around, she considered throwing a pretzel at him but cleared her throat instead.
“Barkeep, could I get some service please?”
Chris jumped as if hit by her imaginary pretzel. “I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there.”
“It’s fine. I was enjoying the view.” She grinned at him. “The only things that would make it better would be if your ass were bare and marked. I was tempted to climb the bar and bite it; it looks so delectable.”
Would wonders never cease? She hadn’t imagined Chris could blush.
“Would you like something to drink, Mistress?”
“Sparkling water with lemon, please.”
Chris brought her drink and placed it in front of her. “Will that be all, Mistress?”
“Yes. You can hold the ‘mistress’ for the next little while. Don’t get me wrong, I like hearing it, but I’d like to have a conversation with you right now and all the mistress-ing gets in the way of that.”
“It seemed appropriate to me at the club, but it’s your call. What would you like to talk about?”
She took a long pull on her drink. “We need to coordinate our volunteer schedules. When do you come off the bar?”
“Ten pm.”
“That’s what I was afraid of. I’m DMing from ten to midnight.”
“I see what you mean about the schedules. Would you like me to take care of it?”
She loved how he went out of his ways to please her. “No, you’re stuck here for now. I can talk to Mitch. Uh, Chris, uh…” She paused. “I owe you an apology for calling you a liar after our first scene. I’m also sorry I called it ‘nice.’ It was insulting, and I did it deliberately.”
He braced on the bar top and dipped his head to look her in the eyes. “Why, Kate? Why did you say that?”
Kate sipped her drink as she searched for the right words. “I— I was afraid. The night meant a lot to me, and I was worried it didn’t to you. I lashed out to protect myself.”
“Oh, Kate.” Chris extended his long arm and touched her cheek. “Beautiful Mistress. I accept your apology. I hope you don’t doubt that it was important to me, now?”
“No, I know it mattered to you, too.” She reached for his hand. They remained there, quietly enjoying each other’s presence, until Julie bounced over to order a water. Kate excused herself and went to find Mitch.