Christmas Pet

He lowered me to the ground. “Remember what I said about being sassy?”

“I remember. Perhaps it’s time to punish me again?” I turned around, placed my hands on my knees, and wiggled my ass.

“You’re a brat.”

“And you’re a spoilsport, sir.”

“You don’t want to do this, pet. Trust me.”

“Fine,” I said with a sigh. I was goading him into responding, but he wasn’t taking the bait. My stomach roiled, and I made a face.

Concern crossed James’ face. “Are you okay?”

“I feel nauseous. I didn’t think I would be as nervous as I am.”

“Don’t worry. Everyone will take care of you.”

I placed a hand on my stomach, willing the butterflies to stop flapping their wings.

“Do you trust me?”

“You know I do, sir.”

“Then trust me when I say that everyone will welcome you with open arms tonight.” He took my hand and led me to the door.

Let kinky Christmas begin.Holiday music and laughter drifted up from the open space kitchen and living room. When we made it downstairs, I saw everyone for the first time. I shouldn’t have been so apprehensive. They were just like James and me—masters and their pets.

Some of the couples were guys, some were women, and one looked to be three men and one woman. My nerves dissipated. Everyone seemed normal. Or as normal as people who dressed in kinky leather and lace and went to sex parties could be.

An intimidating man with a shaved head covered in tattoos and who must’ve stood about six-five spotted us and loudly pronounced, “If it isn’t celebrity divorce attorney James Matthews.”

James laughed good-naturedly. “If it isn’t the asshole Caleb Simons.”

Caleb took a few long-legged strides our way and clapped James on the shoulder before pulling him into a back-slapping hug. The two men obviously held a lot of affection for one another. They released each other, and Caleb inspected me, happiness mixed with curiosity filling his eyes. I immediately liked him. “Permission to hug your sub, James?”

“Only if you promise not to try and steal her.”

“I’ll try, but I can’t promise anything.” Caleb pulled me into a bear hug and lifted me up. “It’s nice to meet the woman who may have finally tamed my best friend.” He lowered me to the ground, and I grinned. “I don’t think any woman can tame James.”

Caleb guffawed, then looked at me thoughtfully. “The right woman can. We can all be tamed. Come to the bar for a drink, and I’ll introduce you to Wendy. She can tell you all about taming men like us.”

I hadn’t paid too much attention to the other women or what they wore because I’d been too focused on myself. When I glanced around, I didn’t feel as self-conscious about my clothes or lack thereof.

The male Doms all wore clothes similar to James. The dominatrix wore leather from head to toe. She glowered at everyone in sight. Note to self—don’t get on the wrong side of her.

She wielded a whip and occasionally snapped it in her sub’s direction, who shrank back each time, then crawled to her boots and kissed them while gazing at his mistress adoringly. “He doesn’t look happy,” I whispered to James.

“Don’t be fooled. Peter is ex-military and can kill a man with his bare hands. His wife Linda is a pussycat when she’s not in the middle of a scene.”

“Does anyone live this way all day, every day?”

“Some but not many. If we all didn’t have jobs to do, then perhaps more of us would. I’m in control in all areas of my life, but it wouldn’t do if I ordered you around the office and called you pet all day, would it?”

I giggled. “Can you imagine?”

On the way to the bar, James introduced me to everyone we passed. Their names whirled around my head. I would never remember who anyone was.

At the bar, James ordered me a drink called mistletoe martini and a bourbon on the rocks for him. I took a sip of my drink and moaned appreciatively. “Yummy.”

“I’m glad you like it.” A petite blonde with mermaid green eyes and an obvious baby bump came up to us. A floor-length, sheer negligee floated behind her, giving her an ethereal appearance. “It’s my new Christmas recipe for the club.”

“There you are, sweet girl,” Caleb said and draped his arm around her. “This is Pearl. Pearl, this is the love of my life, Wendy. The one who tamed me.”

She smiled so sweetly I thought I might cry. She clasped my hands between both of hers. “I heard the rumors that James was bringing someone this year. You must be very special.”

“I don’t know about that,” I said, blushing.

“I do.”

This weekend, I would learn a lot about James. These people obviously adored him. He seemed more at ease and relaxed with these people than he had at the networking party.