“Gosh,” Dahlia blurted, both shocked and thrilled.
Did she really want to get within a mile of such a place? While her brain attempted to dismiss the whole thing out of hand, her body had other ideas. There was a definite damp spot spreading in the crotch of her panties, and her nipples were so hard they almost hurt. And that secret, barely acknowledged part of her soul was melting with longing for something she’d never quite dared to articulate.
And this was Hayden she was talking to, not some creepy guy at a bar, or some unreliable source on the internet. Everything she knew about Hayden Pierce spoke to his integrity and goodness. If he was involved with this club, there had to be more to it.
“Gosh,” she repeated. “I never imagined such a place could exist, except in novels.”
“Novels you’ve read?” Hayden queried, fixing her with a curious gaze.
“Well, um, yes,” she admitted, her eyes flitting away from his. “Romance novels. They’re my escape. Well,” she amended, determined to be honest, “romance novels with a BDSM twist. And sometimes fantasy abduction stories.”
Hayden’s eyes hooded in a sexy way as he regarded her. Then, slowly, deliberately, he reached his hand across the small table and ran his finger lightly down her bare arm, his eyes on hers all the while.
His touch left a trail of heat in its wake, and her body responded with a shudder of desire she couldn’t suppress. She had a sudden insane desire to grab his hand and kiss his palm, right there in the staff cafeteria.
Instead, she pushed on. “So, you see? I’m not some totally clueless vanilla girl. I already know all about this stuff and I’m totally cool with it. I’d love a chance to see what it’s like in real life.”
Hayden’s smile was amused. “Sorry to burst your bubble, but reading fiction does not mean you know much of anything.” He chuckled. “Still, you’re nothing if not persistent, I’ll give you that.”
He paused while she held her breath. Finally, he said, “If we were to extend an invitation, you’d be required to sign a comprehensive non-disclosure agreement both about the club’s existence and anything you see there. As you might imagine, we guard our privacy very carefully, for obvious reasons.”
“Done,” she said promptly.
“Assuming we get that far,” Hayden countered, ”on this one night everyone attending the party is required to wear a masquerade mask at all times. You may remove the rest of your clothing, but the mask is to remain in place, no exceptions.”
You may remove the rest of your clothing…
Dahlia realized her mouth was hanging open, and she snapped it shut. Was this more than she could handle, academically or otherwise? Should she admit defeat and say thanks but no thanks?
Yet, even as she considered this option, her entire body thrummed with excitement. Her nipples continued to tent her top, while her panties were now soaked, her clit throbbing. As crazy as it was to admit, rather than scaring her away, he’d only stoked the fires of her curiosity and secret longing.
Hayden’s cell phone chirped in his pants pocket, startling Dahlia from her brief reverie. He pulled it out and examined the screen. “Uh oh,” he said, pushing back from the table. “I’m late for rounds. Gotta go.”
“Wait,” Dahlia cried, her mind suddenly made up. “You can’t just walk away without resolving this. Come on, Hayden. I’m cool with everything you’ve said, I swear it. I’ll sign whatever you want, and adhere to all the rules, I promise. I really, really want to go to that party. Please.”
She held her breath, willing him to agree.
He turned back, fixing her once more with his penetrating gaze. “I believe you actually mean it. Or think you do.”
“I do,” Dahlia asserted emphatically, ignoring the butterflies flitting wildly in her stomach.
“I’ll consider it,” he said lightly. “Have a great day, Dr. Simon.”
Chapter 2
Hayden bounced lightly on the balls of his feet as he waited in the lobby of Dahlia’s apartment building. He felt slightly off-balance, emotionally speaking. It was a new feeling for him. Both as a doctor and as a Head Master at the Masters Club, he was used to being in full control, not only of the situation, but of himself.
Had he let his growing attraction for the lovely Dahlia obscure his better judgment? After all, she had sent mixed messages about her actual interest in BDSM. Was she just curious, or was there genuine submissive desire lurking beneath her sassy exterior?
Tonight, he intended to find out.
It was Friday evening, the first moment since Monday morning they’d managed to find the time between their busy schedules to meet again. They had made arrangements to go for dinner at a bistro she liked near her apartment. He was looking very much forward to seeing her again, away from the hospital.