“Look, I’ll be the first to admit that Nathaniel was a bit forward in his warning Simon away from you. Trust me when I tell you that I gave him an earful about what I thought when he told me. But keeping your identity from the man acting as your Dom? That’s never a good idea. It’s not going to end well, Lynne.”
Lynne couldn’t put a finger on the expression Abby gave her at first, but then she realized what it was—pity—and her body grew cold with fear. “Oh my God, you’re going to tell Nathaniel, aren’t you?”
Abby sighed. “I should. I really should. If for nothing else than I won’t be able to sit for a month if he finds out I knew and didn’t tell him. But I gave you my word I’d only involve him if what you were doing was dangerous. And while I think it’s not smart, it’s nothing that’s going to put you in harm’s way. At least not physically. So, no, I won’t tell him, but I strongly recommend you think about telling him and also come up with a plan for how to handle this.”
Come up with a plan. Yes. Lynne knew she could do that. She’d come up with a plan to tell Simon who she was after the demo weekend.
“I’m not going to like whatever thought you just had, am I?” Abby asked, a bit of her normal humor back in her voice.
“Probably not,” Lynne agreed, and then quickly changed the subject.
• • •
The West family left the next afternoon. Nathaniel’s aunt brought the kids to the penthouse that morning, and Lynne was delighted she was able to spend some time with Henry and Elizabeth. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed them until they’d left and she was once more alone.
She didn’t like the quiet. The weekend had been so much fun, spending time with everyone and feeling like she was part of a family again. It was stupid, since they weren’t her family. Her parents lived not too far from Wilmington, and she saw them often enough. Maybe it was that Nathaniel and Abby were such an integral part of her kinky family.
The thought of a kinky family made her smile. And even more than that, before Nathaniel had returned home the night before, Abby had taken her aside and showed her where the playroom key was. “Just in case you want to look around. You know, familiarize yourself again with things.”
Since her classwork was all caught up and she didn’t have any upcoming exams, that’s what she decided to do. She took the key and let herself into the locked room.
It was small. Smaller than she had envisioned it. But then again, the penthouse hadn’t been built with the intent of adding a BDSM play space. Abby and Nathaniel had renovated a closet and an extra bathroom into the room where she now stood.
Small, yes. But still large enough for two people. She ran her hand absentmindedly across a padded wooden and leather bench. She could picture Simon in this space. Maybe after she confessed who she was, she’d invite him over.
Or maybe that’s how she’d tell him.
She’d ask him if he wanted to come to her place, and once she gave him the address, he’d know. She bit her lip as she imagined it. Maybe she’d just tell him the building and she could meet him downstairs. If he knew it was her, he might not show up. Especially considering what Abby told her Nathaniel had said to him.
Damn, she’d gotten herself into a fine mess. But looking around the room, she was filled with a deep longing, and she knew if she could get back with Simon as his submissive, everything would be worth it.
• • •
Nathaniel called Lynne a few days later to tell her that Daniel could work with her on Saturday and that Luke had offered his club, late Saturday morning, before it opened to members. It sounded perfect, and she told him yes, not believing her good luck until she hung up.
It struck her that there was no way it was a coincidence that the session would take place at Luke’s club. Sure, that’s where Nathaniel was a member, but it was also where the man she’d admitted she’d been seeing was a member. Other than the playroom in the penthouse, both the Delaware house and the Hamptons estate had private play spaces. Not only that, but she was almost positive Daniel had his own room as well.
So, why hold the session at Luke’s?
She fingered the numbers on her phone, tempted to call Nathaniel back and say that wouldn’t work. But if she did that, he’d want to know why, and she couldn’t come up with a reason to tell him other than “I think you’re up to something.”
She could just imagine his response if she told him that. No doubt he would say, “Yes, I am, and what are you going to do about it?”
Nothing. There was nothing she could do about it. The best thing she could do was to go along with him and to be hyperaware of any snooping he did to try to find out Simon’s identity.
As it turned out, though, Nathaniel didn’t even show up at the club. She spent all week thinking up ways to keep him from finding out about Simon, and when she walked into the club, only Daniel and Julie were present.
“Hey, Lynne,” Julie said, coming up and giving her a hug. “How’s your summer going?”
“Busy. I’m in class most of the day.” Lynne had always liked Daniel’s submissive. She was friendly and funny, one of those people who made you smile by just being near.
“That’s what Abby said.” Julie leaned close and whispered, “Though it sounds like you’re not all work and no play.”
Lynne felt her face heat. “True enough.”
Daniel walked up to them. He was incredibly handsome, with dirty blond hair, blue eyes, and a smile that made everyone feel welcome. “Hello, Lynne.”
“Hello, Master Covington,” Lynne said. “Thank you so much for agreeing to work with me this morning.”
“Oh, it’s no trouble,” he said, his eyes dancing with mischief. “It’s been entirely too long since I’ve been able to take a whip to someone.”
Julie punched him on the shoulder. “Stop. You’ll scare her.”
“I’m fine,” Lynne said, but a twinge of fear had indeed started to worm its way around in her belly.
“He doesn’t get to use a single tail very often because it’s been a hard limit for me.” Julie took her by the arm and they started walking toward the play area. “I’ve only recently asked him to use one on me, and we’re taking it slow. Today’s the second scene I’ve witnessed since . . . well, for a long time.”
“Master West said he was the best.” It felt weird calling him that, but she knew that the house rules stated she call him that and not “Nathaniel” or “Mr. West.”
“He is,” Julie said. “Though I’m a bit biased. I think he’s good at everything.”
Julie’s love and respect for her Dominant were obvious not only in her words, but also in the way she looked at him. A look that was reciprocated every time Daniel’s gaze made its way to Julie. Lynne couldn’t help but feel a little jealous. Who wouldn’t want a man to treat her that way?
They entered the main room of the club, and Daniel motioned for them to sit down on one of the couches set up near the equipment. Julie sat by his side, and Lynne found a spot on the love seat across from him.
“I have a few things to go over before we start.” At Lynne’s nod, he continued. “Do you have any medical issues I should know about?”
“No, Sir.”
“What’s your safe word?”
“Red.”
“I’ll be using a flogger on you before the single tail. Do you have any concerns or issues with that?”
“No, Sir.” She was more excited than anything.
“Are you okay being topless?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“From what I’ve gathered from Nathaniel, you’ve never been in a single-tail scene?” Daniel asked.
“No.” Her eyes drifted over to where the play space waited.
“What types of floggers have you experienced?” he asked.
Lynne shifted uncomfortably in her seat. He would ask that. She’d known he would, but still, she was hesitant to tell him. “I’ve never had anyone use a flogger on me.”
Daniel frowned. Sur
ely Nathaniel had told him how relatively inexperienced she was. Or maybe not, judging from Daniel’s expression. It really wasn’t Nathaniel’s place to tell him, because when it came down to it, the only person who really knew about her experience level was Lynne herself.
She forced herself to look at him. “I have only a little bit of BDSM experience.”