Chapter One #2
know. Like chairs. It wasn’t like Oliver spent a ton of time in the women’s
lounge. “Galen is lovely. You should have fun with him. I hear his play is
moving to Broadway next year, so you should know he’s not going to be a
clinging vine.”
“I didn’t think he would be,” Vivi said.
Lucy looked her up and down. “Girl, the way you look tonight
you should be worried. You look hot and sweet and perfect. Welcome to
Dominion.”
A little thrill went through her. She had a good life. Her
parents had built a wonderful family around her, but this felt like adventure.
Her parents were always there. Not in an overbearing way, but she knew they
were always close. She’d done her master’s work in Boston, and they came to see
her at least twice a month, and her brothers had shown up regularly. Her sweet,
loving, completely overprotective brothers.
She was sort of on her own here. Oh, she had Sophy to rely
on, but for the first time in her life her parents weren’t a couple of hours
away by company jet.
“Lucy’s right. You look dangerous tonight,” Sophy said.
“Not dangerous. Just ready. This feels like the start of
something. Something all mine.”
Sophy took her hand and squeezed it. “I know the feeling. I
love my mom and dad, but London has been freeing. Now go get a drink and relax.
I’m setting up your privacy room. There are three, and at least one of them is
completely vermin free. Fun. I already sent Galen your hard and soft limit
list. Do you want the file on him?”
She didn’t need it. “No, I trust you. I’m excited for a
session. It’s been a long time, and honestly, it’s hard to let go when your
brothers are around. The look on Hunter’s face the first time I walked by him
at the monitor station with a Dom…”
Sophy chuckled. “I have seen that look at The Hideout. I
know they try to keep strict schedules so the siblings don’t play on the same
nights, but that doesn’t always work. I’ve seen poor Seth Taggart go positively
green when his sister walked in with one of his friends. It was okay. She used
and abused him and moved right on. Though I hear Kenz is totally into this
Canadian guy now. That has to be fun. Uncle Ian will lose his mind.” She started
to walk toward the back of the building but turned. “Your playtime starts at
eleven in room three. The Master will expect you to be there on time. You have
the room for the rest of the night. Let a hot actor spank you or…something
more. I’ll expect a full report over breakfast. Have fun.”
It was nice that her bestie had planned a whole night of
debauchery. It took all the pressure off her. Sophy wouldn’t pair her with a
Dom who would hurt her. If he was Sophy approved, he was safe.
Vivian glanced at the clock over the bar. Thirty minutes and
she would meet the Dom of her dreams. For the night.
“Vivi, come over,” Sami called out. “I hear you’re playing
with Galen tonight.”
Vivian strode over and stopped at the bar, getting a glass
of Cab before joining Sami and Jenna. Both women looked stunning. “That’s what
Sophy says, and you know I do what she tells me to. She’s quite bossy. Always
has been.”
Jenna was in her mid-twenties, with long dark hair and a
ready smile. When they’d met yesterday, she’d explained she’d only been at MTK
for a few months and her family was from Manchester, which had made Oliver
groan because he was an Arsenal fan. “It’s good to see you, Vivian. I’m
jealous. Galen is gorgeous. Dark hair and broody eyes. And tall. Most men that
tall don’t have a lot of muscle, but Galen is hoping to move into the superhero
business after he gets to New York. See, this is why I moved to London. You
meet all the most interesting people.”
“Well, I’m excited to meet the mysterious Malcolm Mays,”
Sami admitted. “He’s supposed to be here tonight.”
“I thought you worked with him.” According to what Sophy had
said, the Special Forces soldier routinely went on missions with MI6. They
often gave intelligence teams military backup. Oliver and Sami’s jobs at MTK
were cover for their real jobs with British intelligence. If he worked with
Oliver, it would be surprising he didn’t know Oliver’s sister.
“Oh, no. Captain Mays is a man of mystery. It’s why I’m
surprised he agreed to come to the club. The way Ollie talks about him he’s a
bit rigid,” Sami said. “I was surprised he’s had training, but Ollie tells me
he’s been in the lifestyle for a long time. Apparently he’s divorced, but I
don’t have any real information about that. My brother respects the man and
listens to him, so I want to see what this paragon of virtue looks like. My
brother listens to no one. Certainly not our father.”
“He listens,” a deep voice said. “Ollie listens to Dad and
then does the opposite of what Dad tells him to do.” The man was lovely, with
dark hair and piercing blue eyes. He looked an awful lot like Oliver.
“Hello, Archie. It’s been a long time.” She gave the
Knight’s middle child a smile and held out her hand.
Archie Knight smiled right back and took her hand between
his. “It has, indeed. It’s good to know there’s another intellectual around.
Didn’t you recently finish up your master’s?”
“I did,” she replied. “I heard you’re working on your
doctorate.”
Sami sighed. “Oh, the eggheads are going to start talking
about dissertations.”
Archie held a hand up. “No, tonight’s about play. But I did
want to congratulate you, and if you do ever choose to go the doctoral route, I
know a lot of people in Oxford’s psychology department.”
Archie was working on his PhD in criminology and had already
started collaborating with Scotland Yard on certain cases. He was a fascinating
man and one with connections. “I appreciate that, and I would love to talk
dissertations with you.”
And then they were off as Sami groaned and Jenna leaned in
as though fascinated.
At some point while Archie was describing his research into
the psychology of the narcissistic criminal, Vivi looked up and saw the most
gorgeous man she’d ever seen.
He was a bit older. Perhaps in his late thirties, with
golden brown hair and a jawline that belonged on a movie poster. His shoulders
were broad, and he had to be at least six four, maybe five. He was exactly her
type. She’d always preferred her men older.
Could that be Galen? He certainly matched a lot of Sophy’s
description, but she would know soon enough.
There was a thrill humming in her veins. One night with a
hot Dom. It was like London was welcoming her with a gift.
If the roof didn’t fall in first.
* * * *
Malcolm Mays nodded at the pretty brunette sub who
wasn’t acting particularly submissive. She was actually rather bossy. At one
point in time he would have called her a little brat and tried to get into her
thong.
But he’d had enough of women who played at being submissive
and then betrayed their top to their core.
“Oliver already let me know he’s had a change of plans,” he
said. “I thought about not coming, but I’m in town for the weekend, and sitting
in my hotel room held no appeal. I was hoping there would be a sub I could work
with.”
Sophy Weston was the heir to the Norsely
fortune. Oliver had serious connections to what Mal liked to call the useless
elite. Though he wouldn’t use that term to describe Oliver’s father, who was a
celebrated soldier and intelligence agent. And Oliver trusted this American
girl, so he was going to trust the man. Oliver loved this club, and he left it
in Sophy’s hands.
Her clear green eyes took him in. “I’ve read your file, and
I can certainly find a sub to pair you with. You prefer women?”
He nodded shortly. This was one of the things he enjoyed
about the lifestyle—the lack of judgment. No one assumed anything about his
sexuality. “I can work with a male sub, but I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t mind
having a shot at sex. I’m heterosexual, but you should understand that I don’t
want to be paired with any sub who’s looking for a permanent Dom.”
“Aren’t most subs looking for a Dom?” Sophy asked.
“Not any that I’m willing to sleep with,” he shot back. “I’m
not in the market for a sub for anything beyond one night. I join my squad in
two days, and the last thing I want is a clinging sub.”
She frowned at him, obviously not impressed. “Then perhaps
what you should find, Captain Mays, is a professional.”
Well, his friends all told him he was practically feral now.
Too many years in the field, or perhaps what happened with Andrea had ripped
all his civility away. He was going to get his arse
kicked out of the only club he felt comfortable going to. And what he’d said
was cold and not entirely true. “I’m sorry. I didn’t put that in a way I want
to represent myself. I am not in a position where I can handle a permanent sub.
Even for more than a night. I don’t particularly want to hurt anyone. I would
prefer to be upfront about my needs and what I’m willing to give.”
She stared at him, and for a moment he worried she was going
to call him a liar and toss him out anyway.
It was odd. He wanted this night. He hadn’t wanted anything
in years, and it should worry him. Wanting things meant people could control
you through your desires. He’d learned to stop wanting anything more than an
excellent whiskey or a nice roast a long time ago. Things he could buy. Things
that couldn’t betray him.
She sighed. “I think I can find someone who will enjoy you
on a physical level and nothing more. I’ll send her into room two in ten
minutes. She’s fairly new to the club, but I think she’ll be a good fit. What
should I tell her to call you?”
“Sir is fine, and I would prefer we don’t exchange names.”
Names made things real, and this was pure fantasy.
“Sounds like fun,” Sophy said, not attempting to hide her
sarcasm. “Ten minutes. No blood play and no breath play. Make sure you set your
safe words. If Ollie didn’t vouch for you, I wouldn’t send you into a privacy
room. You don’t seem like you like women very much. Please understand that if
you hurt a sub, I’ll handle you. I know I’m petite but I’m mean, and I’ll deal
with you from a distance. My father taught me the fine art of revenge and how