Second Time Lucky (Club Decadence Book 5) (16 page)

“And you don’t think they will if they see us playing? Mara, they’re all experienced dominants and submissives, and have been playing for years. Elena was collared by Dex a while ago and Rick collared Regan before they were married. The other guys will have experienced submissives with them who are familiar with the club scene and a play party. Nothing you and I do will be surprising to any of them, I promise. They won’t lose respect for you because you’re playing. Will you respect Cap less if he flogs his sub on the cross? Will watching Dex use his whip on Elena keep you from going to the mall with her to shop?”

“A whip?”

“Mm-hm, he’s an expert with a single-tail, although you won’t see it tonight. There isn’t enough room downstairs.” His arm around her waist pulled her hips against his, where the proof of his interest was unmistakable. “The point is these are like-minded people who enjoy the kinky play as much as we do. They also live normal lives, taking out the trash once a week, going to work each day and paying their taxes. If you’re too uncomfortable, we don’t have stay long, but I’d really like you to at least try.”

“So this is normal for you guys. Playing in front of each other and seeing each other’s girlfriends and wives?”

“I don’t know about normal, but it is common, especially with club play.”

“Do you ever, um… share, like in a threesome?”

“Groups and ménage aren’t unusual either, but that’s an individual choice.”

“Have you ever—?”

“We aren’t going there, remember?”

“You’re right. I shouldn’t have brought it up.” She shouldn’t have, but she had a burning desire to know, even if it crushed her.

Listening as he inhaled a deep breath before blowing it out, she knew he was battling for patience.

“Without getting into specifics, yes, I’ve participated in a ménage and group play.”

The next question naturally followed, though she asked it of his chin, uncertain she’d like the answer. “Is it something you’d want to do with me, to add a third or,” she swallowed, “play in a group?”

“That is something you sit down and discuss at length, Mara. Not on the fly an hour before our guests are due to arrive.”

She stiffened. If it had been a firm no, he would have said it right off, which was answer enough.

“You’re more than enough for me. If that’s something you want to try in the future, we’ll discuss it in detail. As far as tonight goes, say the word and we’ll slip upstairs just the two of us.”

“We’re the hosts. That would be rude.”

His head dropped to her forehead and he chuckled, although she didn’t think he found this conversation particularly funny. “Baby,” he murmured, “what do you want? You’re making my head spin.”

She bit her lip, trying to stop talking in circles. She wasn’t sure what she wanted, but she knew this was important to him. He called it a lifestyle, using the term several times. In D.C., they’d had a few nights at The Gilded Cage; otherwise, it was the two of them, intimate and private. In San Antonio, with his group of friends all being into it, playing together here in their home and later at their new club, it seemed like so much more. Everything he’d introduced her to so far had been enjoyable. He kept expanding on it, though, like tonight, for example. A knot formed in her gut as images whirled in her mind. What came next, and at what point did she draw the line?

Mentally shaking off her worries, she told herself to stop being such an infant. It was sex, plain as that. She needed to do as he asked and trust him.

“I want to be with you. So I’ll relax and go wherever you lead me tonight.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“You always have your safewords, Mara. And remember, you’re with me.”

“I’m a mess and you’re really being patient with me. I appreciate that.”

“I love you, Mara. How else would I be?”

The clock chimed in the hall. She checked the time, only thirty minutes before people would start arriving. “I’ve gotta get dressed.”

The doorbell rang then and she shrieked, “They’re early.”

“It’s the caterer. He was scheduled at 6:30. I’ll get the door while you go get ready. Wear something pretty for me.” He brushed her lips with his one last time before he released her.

“I’ve got a dress picked out already, but I’m warning you, it’s not pink.”

He grimaced as he headed for the door. “Sorry about that. I’m partial to you in pink, but I didn’t realize it had evolved into a fetish until I helped you unpack.” He paused in the doorway. “You realize it’s the color you were wearing the first time I saw you.”

She thought back. “I was wearing pink scrubs. They were too big, shapeless and baggy as I recall.”

“You didn’t see the view from behind. They hugged your spectacular ass like a second skin, which was the most beautiful sight in the world to a tired soldier’s eyes.” He winked at her. “Whatever the color of your dress, I know you’ll look amazing.”

After imparting his fond memory, which turned her legs all rubbery and made her heart race, he disappeared down the hall. She stood remembering the night he’d come out of his drug induced haze and she’d sat holding his hand, thinking he was in too much pain to think of anything else. That he’d been ogling her ass was a pleasant surprise. It filled her with warmth knowing it had been lust at first sight for both of them and having that in common made her love him more.

Loud voices from the front hall spurred her into action. Instead of doing a happy dance, as she wanted, she settled for a giggle of joy and a wide smile as she rushed up the stairs to primp and preen before hosting her first sex party. Holy shit!

Chapter Ten

By eight o’clock, all the guests had arrived, the food was being enjoyed, every hand had a drink and the house was filled with chatter and laughter. Everyone appeared to be having a good time. Not having seen his fiancée in a bit, Sean went looking for her. Excusing himself from a conversation with Dex and Jonas, he checked the kitchen and the upstairs bedrooms. He considered the basement, but doubted she’d go downstairs without him, especially tonight. It didn’t leave many other places she could be. Their modest colonial wasn’t all that big. Only the garage remained, although he couldn’t imagine what reason she would have to go out there. He started that way. Mara had to be somewhere.

As he passed through the kitchen, a flash of green out the window caught his eye. She was in the backyard with one of the girls. Stepping closer, he saw she was chatting animatedly with Elena. He flipped off the kitchen light so he could observe unseen. She was so beautiful. Falling in loose waves around her shoulders and halfway down her back as he liked it, her pale blonde hair gleamed in the moonlight. He’d always known her as a blonde, but since moving to Texas, she’d considered going back to her natural brown. He’d told her she’d be beautiful with blue hair and to do it if she wanted. She hadn’t yet, not having time most likely.

She had found time to shop for a dress, and damn, what a dress it was. In a stunning emerald green—his second favorite color—the stretchy fabric hugged her curves beautifully, so much so that when he’d first seen her, he’d almost swallowed his tongue. It showed skin, though not enough to be tasteless. The sleeveless design left her toned arms bare and the low rounded neckline showed off a hint of cleavage. The top was formfitting with crisscrossed laces up the front that reminded him of a corset. From the snug waist, the layered skirt fell to right above her knees leaving the frothy material floating around her thighs as she moved. It was ultra-feminine and at the same time very sexy.

Completing her outfit was her shoes. The heels were at least five-inches. He knew because when he’d kissed her earlier, he barely had to bend to reach her lips. They were colorless or translucent, or some such shit; he didn’t know the term. He did know they were sparkly, strappy and the open toes showed off the crimson red of her toenails. They also made her long legs look even longer. Merely the thought of those legs wrapped around his hips, wearing those fucking fantastic shoes made his cock twitch, as did her shoes each time he got a glimpse of them.

Right now, she sat with her legs crossed on one of the outside benches, a shoe dangling from her toes as she bounced one leg gently.

“You’ve got it bad, man.”

Startled, Sean turned his head toward Dex who had slipped in unnoticed to stand next to him, also staring out the window at his own beautiful girlfriend. Sean chuckled, knowing he’d likely worn the same lovesick smile on his own dopey face.

“Look who’s talking. When are you going to make an honest woman of your girl? It’s been over a year.”

“I was hoping to take care of that tonight, actually.”

“Seriously?”

Dex patted his pocket. “Yep, I’ve got the hardware right here.”

“Damn, I’m glad to hear it. With you and me engaged, and Rick already married, we’re dropping like flies. The others will be running scared.”

“The youngsters, yes,” Dex agreed, referring to Jonas and Lil T, the youngest of their crew. “Cap is another story.” He carried on the conversation without taking his eyes off Elena through the glass. “That man’s clock is ticking. I’m predicting a year before he’s settled down and starting a family. He wants kids.”

“If that’s so, he’s not going to find what he’s searching for with Bambi, or is it Barbie? Whoever. She’s not it.”

“Nope,” Dex agreed. “She’s a one and done. He always makes it clear up front.”

“That shit gets old fast.”

“Cap will be thirty-eight next year. Believe me, he knows.”

“Since he’s in the one night stand M.O., I might put money on your prediction. He’s got a lot of work to do before he gets someone to the altar.”

“You might be right, although I’ve suspected there’s been someone special for a while. He won’t admit it though.”

“If that’s true, why is he dicking around with Barbie?”

“You know how tight lipped Cap can be. It’s obviously not the right time.”

“The poor bastard, I hope if he’s waiting for the right moment to make his move, it’s not too late when he finally gets off his ass and does it.”

Dex grunted in agreement, glancing at him for the first time. “If anyone knows you have to live for the day, it’s you, BM.”

“Fuck, I’m gonna kill T for that idiotic nickname.”

His best friend laughed while Sean bristled, easy for him, he didn’t have a ridiculous nickname. He determined to change the subject.

“So you and Elena... I’m thinking the back yard is the perfect spot. It’s warm, the moon is full and Mara hung white lights in the trees.”

“I was thinking the same thing, bud.”

“Let me help by clearing everyone out and keeping the curious otherwise occupied inside.”

“Thanks.”

Sean clapped him on the back. “Are you ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.” He nodded.

“Great, afterward, I’ll open up the dungeon and we can try out the new equipment.”

“Don’t wait on us. If all goes as planned, we’ll stick with outdoor activities tonight.”

“Understood. Fortunately, with everyone else downstairs, you’ll have lots of privacy to celebrate. Before you pop the question, let me tell you about some of the special features of the garden bench. It came with the dungeon delivery…”

* * * * *

Although Mara had been to the basement several times, she hadn’t been since Sean had discarded the tarps, tools and boxes, and added the last few finishing touches. Wide-eyed, she stood gaping at the transformation of her once Spartan basement.

As Sean spoke to the group who were already moving around the room exploring, he explained that Master’s Crafts, not only specialized in dungeon furniture, but they made hand tooled wood and leather goods as well, and had recently branched out into wrought iron. As she surveyed the room, Mara saw the equipment she’d helped him put together along with several other pieces, including a leather swing that hung suspended from hooks in the ceiling and a wrought iron cage the size of a crate, big enough for a large sized dog or an average sized submissive. Unlike the one’s they’d seen at the club in D.C., this one was multi-purpose with a thickly padded top and, as Sean proceeded to demonstrate, a convenient fold down kneeler on one end, also padded.

“In case the subbie requires more punishment than the cage alone can provide, or immediate fucking, either way.”

His comment was met with chuckles and ribald comments. Sean then moved on to the other new piece that stood tall and ominous in the middle of the room. It was obviously a whipping post, except with a twist. Sean demonstrated the unique function by spinning the upside down Y-shaped device on its center axis. With a half turn, it stood downside up, allowing inversion.

Along the far wall, a table was set up with a variety of wood and leather implements: paddles, straps, whips, restraints, blindfolds. Name it. If it could be made of leather or wood, Master’s Crafts created it, and had provided samples.

“This is it, only because I couldn’t squeeze in anything else. The bondage table is still boxed up in the garage.” Chuckles broke out from the guests. “Next time, we’ll swap it out with another piece. Enjoy, play safe and let the games begin.”

Couples immediately moved to claim a station. From where she’d planted herself at the bottom of his stairs, she saw Sean turn and look for her. When he spotted her trying to become part of the wall, he shook his head, while extending his hand. As good as an order, she walked forward and placed her cold fingers in his warm, larger ones. He gripped her and with a tug, pulled her against his body.

“Are you doing okay, baby?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Ah, my good subbie remembered.” His praise coincided with a kiss to her temple. “Is there anything you’d like to try?”

“The Y thing is a bit scary, I’m not sure about being upside down, and the metal crate kind of freaks me out, but everything else is like at The Cage.”

“Not quite,” he countered, his lips curving into a grin. “They didn’t have a swing.” Without asking, he turned and pulled her along to where the leather sling hung from heavy ceiling-mounted chains. Despite her edgy nerves, her heart pounded with excitement. She could do this. The swing was in the farthest corner of the room where it was dark and semi-private unlike the spinning post standing dead center in the middle of the room.