Zac handed her the consent forms and a pen. “Is it still snowing?”
She bit back her response and stole another glance at Shane and Corey.
They both gave her a nod.
She felt her shoulders relax. “It’s really coming down.”
Her guys clearly hadn’t been oblivious when she’d spoken without their approval. Would she be punished because of it? Wasn’t the structure of this lifestyle one that appealed to her? Outside these walls, this life, things weren’t always black and white.
“I bet we have snow on the ground until April.” Corey put his arm around her, pulling her in tight.
She knew he loved her, but believed his current hold was also his way of demonstrating his possession of her. Not a problem, since she couldn’t get enough of his touch.
“Snow until April, you say?” Gold asked. “The O’Learys will be happy about that, especially Sam. I’m sure he’d love to give sleigh rides in Santa’s sled for the kids until Easter if he could.”
“No doubt about that, Gold.” Shane took the form she’d signed and inked his name above hers.
Corey followed suit. “It’s official. We can take our sub inside.”
Our sub. God, I love the sound of that.
“You’re all set up, fellas.”
“Which stage is ours, Gold?” Corey asked.
“Stage two. I’m sure you’re going to give quite the show. Enjoy.”
Her heart seized in her chest. Stage two? Were they going to put her on display her first night at the club? She told herself to breathe, but that was easier said than done. According to her sister, her guys didn’t put Amber on display for their first several trips to the club. Did Shane and Corey mean to break Belle into the big league her very first night at Phase Four? Anxiety cramped her stomach.
Just put one stiletto in front of the other, Belle.
Shane and Corey led her through the door. The space was bigger than it looked from the outside. She’d driven by it a hundred times, but her dreams of the place paled in comparison to the reality.
Phase Four reminded her in part of the theatrical playhouses she’d attended back in Chicago. The sides of the large, expansive room had stages for the actors, Doms and subs. Chairs for the patrons, members in the life to watch. The other part of the space was like a giant nightclub. In the center of Phase Four was a dance floor, filled with couples, triples, and even quads gyrating sensually to the beat of the rhythmic music. Sofas in little alcoves held lovers who kissed, touched, and fondled each other without even the hint of shame.
She gasped, seeing two men paddling a naked woman on one of the platforms with about twenty members watching. The whole scene wreaked havoc with her insides. Her heart skipped several beats. Her breathing became shallow. Her pulse burned hot in her veins. Imagining what it would feel like to be in the woman’s position, she was both turned on and jittery at the same time.
“Our stage is over here, sub.” Shane led her to the platform.
She thought about calling out the word that would bring her two Doms to a screeching stop.
Freeze.
So simple really. Like the children’s game, only without touch. My safe word. She had other words, also temperature related that were to be used to communicate her state. “Chilly” meant they were pushing her to a line she wasn’t ready to cross. “Warm” told them she liked what they were doing. And so on.
Shane jumped up on the platform and held out his hands to her.
Corey grabbed her by the waist. “Breathe, baby.”
“Yes, Master,” she responded as they’d instructed her to do.
He lifted her up and Shane grabbed her. With her feet on the stage, she looked up into Shane’s eyes.
“Damn, you are beautiful.”
She glanced at the items on the platform. There was an odd-looking table, which she could see was adjustable. It looked as if it could be raised, lowered and tilted easily. Attached to it on all sides were leather restraints for wrists and ankles. There were shelves near the table that were filled with every sex toy imaginable and some unimaginable. Vibrators, paddles, whips, ropes, and so many things she didn’t even recognize. A shiver ran up and down her spine.
Corey came up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Time to turn around and take a really good look at Phase Four, sub.”