More than a Dare (Masters Club 4)

Jess chuckled. “I can totally see him saying that. He’s famous for his blistering palm.”

Dahlia drew in a breath as it occurred to her there was a good chance Jess, during her brief tenure as a pleasure sub, had been intimately familiar with Hayden’s palm, among other things.

Not usually a jealous person, an unpleasant barb of possessiveness pierced her consciousness. If she became his full-fledged sub girl, would he still assume the right to scene with other women whenever he felt like? The thought was disconcerting, to say the least.

“So, then what?” Jess asked, drawing her back to the moment. “He brings up the whips and chains as a kind of joke, and you joke back that that sounds good to you?”

“Something like that.” Dahlia grinned. “As you say, it’s complicated. Before I met Hayden, the only experience I had with the lifestyle was what I learned reading erotic fiction. It’s always turned me on, but I never really had the opportunity or the courage to pursue it, until Hayden.”

Jess raised a brow. “I’m really surprised Hayden would get involved with a newbie, no offense. He’s a very hard-core player at the club. They all are.”

Again, Dahlia couldn’t help but visualize Hayden, whip in hand, a naked girl bound on a restraint rack before him, or kneeling in front of him, his cock in her mouth…

She shook aside the images, tucking away her concerns for another time. She would just be direct, and let Hayden know her feelings on the matter, as soon as she figured them out herself.

Returning her attention to the conversation, she replied, “He didn’t do it without plenty of coaxing on my part. We’d been kind of flirting at work ever since I took the job a few months back. That happy hour conversation opened a new door. To top it off, I overheard him on a phone call with what I know now was another Dom at the club. He was giving him some advice about training a submissive. It took me a while to work up the nerve, but I asked him about what I’d overheard. At first, he kind of blew me off, but I couldn’t leave it alone. I begged for a chance to go with him to his club and he explained how that wasn’t possible unless… When I pressed, he told me about the holiday party—the one time a year when non-members are allowed. I basically dared him to give me a chance.”

“Wow,” Jess replied. “He must have seen something in you. No way would he bring just anybody, no matter how curious. So, what, he just took you on your word that you’re a sub?”

Dahlia groaned. “Oh, my god. It was so embarrassing. But super sexy, too. He put me through this kind of audition. I don’t really know what else you’d call it. He said he needed to determine if I had submissive potential.”

“Well, clearly, you passed the audition,” Jess replied.

“Yeah,” Dahlia agreed happily. “And that party was really something, let me tell you. I had no idea such a place even existed. It kind of freaked me out, to tell you the truth. In a good way,” she added hastily, not wanting Jess to think she disapproved.

“I bet it did,” Jess replied with an easy laugh. “I still remember how terrified I was that first time when the club driver picked me up to take me for my club audition. I don’t know if you’ve ever read The Story of O, but it was like that.”

Dahlia had, in fact, read the novel. “Wow. That must have been intense.”

“You have no idea,” Jess agreed. “I was freaked out but determined not to blow it. The driver directed me to remove my panties and hand them to him,” Jess continued. “Then I had to lift my skirt and expose myself for the duration of the drive. I felt his eyes on me in the rearview mirror the whole time. I can’t tell you how vulnerable that made me feel. And that was nothing compared to the real club audition, let me tell you.”

“Oh, my god,” Dahlia breathed, hugging herself. “I can’t even imagine.”

“Well,” Jess said, placing a hand lightly on Dahlia’s arm. “If you’re going to be with Hayden, you won’t need to imagine. You’re going to find out firsthand.”

“There they are.”

At the sound of Hayden’s voice, both women turned to see the two men standing at the entrance to the smaller gallery. “Dahlia, you want to say hi to the artist? Rowan’s finally emerged from her cluster of admirers. I told her a little about you and she’d love to meet you.”

If you’re going to be with Hayden, you’re going to find out firsthand.

What the hell did that mean? Did he hope to induct her into the ranks of Masters Club pleasure subs? Or was Jess just referring to the intensity level all Doms at the Masters Club expected? Was she already in over her head? What would Hayden do when he figured that out for himself? Drop her like a hot potato? Or would she be the one to bail, not willing or able to give him what he needed in a sub?