“One of these days, you’re going to find a guy—the right guy for you.”
“Yeah, well, I wish he’d hurry up already. I’m not getting any younger.”
They both chuckled.
Ali pulled away, and Katrina let her go. “Thanks for listening to my problems. I should probably get out there.”
“I’ll come by and check on you later.”
Nodding, Ali exited the office, leaving Katrina alone again. One of the things she hadn’t anticipated about running a private club was the human drama—although, maybe, she should have. Some of her members were married. Others dated—sometimes seriously and sometimes not. Whenever people’s emotions were involved, there was drama. For the most part, she tried to stay out of it. Sometimes that was easier said than done.
One thing she didn’t tolerate was people who misrepresent themselves. The lifestyle was all about honesty. If all you wanted was someone to play with, that was fine as long as you were upfront about it. She’d had to revoke one man’s membership last year because he would come to the club, cozy up to a young submissive, and promise to give her the world. Then, after she played with him, he would move on to the next sub and act as if she didn’t exist. That wasn’t okay in Katrina’s book.
In Ali’s case, however, it sounded as though she’d pinned her hopes on someone who hadn’t promised her anything. Katrina remembered well enough what it was like to put yourself out there, hoping your affections would be returned, only to have those hopes dashed. It never got any easier, no matter how old you were. Ali was still young, though. She’d find someone eventually as long as she kept herself open to it.
Trying to put Ali’s man problems out of her mind, Katrina logged on to her computer and checked her email. After confirming she hadn’t received anything new, she made her way out into the club to socialize. One couple was already on the small dance floor. The few others who had arrived were either at the bar getting drinks or congregated in the various seating areas.
To the casual observer, the entire first floor looked like any other club. There were couches, chairs, and coffee tables on one side. On the other was a space for those who wanted to dance, a bar, and higher tables for members who preferred to stand and talk. Along the back wall was a raised platform that could be used as a stage, a set of stairs to the second floor, and a short hallway that led to the bathrooms, the locker rooms, and a storage room. There was a doorway near the front entrance that opened to a long hallway, which contained her office and rooms she was currently using as storage. One of these days, she was hoping to turn them into theme rooms, but so far, that hadn’t happened. They were too separated from the other areas to be convenient.
“And how is our club mistress this evening?”
She turned to find Daniel, a Dom in his fifties. “Thirsty, actually. I was heading over to the bar to get something. Care to join me?”
He followed her over and ordered a whisky, neat. She stuck with water.
They found an empty table not far from the bar and stood with their drinks.
“So, what’s on your mind?” she asked.
“Ah. You know me too well.”
“Yes, well. . . it’s not often that you seek me out. At least, not this early in the evening.” She took a sip of her water and waited for him to talk.
“Have you seen Ali tonight?”
So that was it. Was he the one who’d upset her? If he were, Katrina had been wrong earlier. Daniel wasn’t the Dom she’d seen Ali eyeing for the last few weeks. “She and Brandon prepped the club tonight.”
He nodded and took a drink of his whisky. “Something’s bothering her, but she wouldn’t tell me what. Did she say anything to you?”
“Daniel, you can’t make her tell you something she doesn’t want to.” Hopefully, he wouldn’t pick up on the fact that she hadn’t answered his question.
Katrina should have known
“Yeah, well, I wish he’d hurry up already. I’m not getting any younger.”
They both chuckled.
Ali pulled away, and Katrina let her go. “Thanks for listening to my problems. I should probably get out there.”
“I’ll come by and check on you later.”
Nodding, Ali exited the office, leaving Katrina alone again. One of the things she hadn’t anticipated about running a private club was the human drama—although, maybe, she should have. Some of her members were married. Others dated—sometimes seriously and sometimes not. Whenever people’s emotions were involved, there was drama. For the most part, she tried to stay out of it. Sometimes that was easier said than done.
One thing she didn’t tolerate was people who misrepresent themselves. The lifestyle was all about honesty. If all you wanted was someone to play with, that was fine as long as you were upfront about it. She’d had to revoke one man’s membership last year because he would come to the club, cozy up to a young submissive, and promise to give her the world. Then, after she played with him, he would move on to the next sub and act as if she didn’t exist. That wasn’t okay in Katrina’s book.
In Ali’s case, however, it sounded as though she’d pinned her hopes on someone who hadn’t promised her anything. Katrina remembered well enough what it was like to put yourself out there, hoping your affections would be returned, only to have those hopes dashed. It never got any easier, no matter how old you were. Ali was still young, though. She’d find someone eventually as long as she kept herself open to it.
Trying to put Ali’s man problems out of her mind, Katrina logged on to her computer and checked her email. After confirming she hadn’t received anything new, she made her way out into the club to socialize. One couple was already on the small dance floor. The few others who had arrived were either at the bar getting drinks or congregated in the various seating areas.
To the casual observer, the entire first floor looked like any other club. There were couches, chairs, and coffee tables on one side. On the other was a space for those who wanted to dance, a bar, and higher tables for members who preferred to stand and talk. Along the back wall was a raised platform that could be used as a stage, a set of stairs to the second floor, and a short hallway that led to the bathrooms, the locker rooms, and a storage room. There was a doorway near the front entrance that opened to a long hallway, which contained her office and rooms she was currently using as storage. One of these days, she was hoping to turn them into theme rooms, but so far, that hadn’t happened. They were too separated from the other areas to be convenient.
“And how is our club mistress this evening?”
She turned to find Daniel, a Dom in his fifties. “Thirsty, actually. I was heading over to the bar to get something. Care to join me?”
He followed her over and ordered a whisky, neat. She stuck with water.
They found an empty table not far from the bar and stood with their drinks.
“So, what’s on your mind?” she asked.
“Ah. You know me too well.”
“Yes, well. . . it’s not often that you seek me out. At least, not this early in the evening.” She took a sip of her water and waited for him to talk.
“Have you seen Ali tonight?”
So that was it. Was he the one who’d upset her? If he were, Katrina had been wrong earlier. Daniel wasn’t the Dom she’d seen Ali eyeing for the last few weeks. “She and Brandon prepped the club tonight.”
He nodded and took a drink of his whisky. “Something’s bothering her, but she wouldn’t tell me what. Did she say anything to you?”
“Daniel, you can’t make her tell you something she doesn’t want to.” Hopefully, he wouldn’t pick up on the fact that she hadn’t answered his question.
Katrina should have known
Similar Books
The Comfort of Black
Carter Wilson
Untamed Fire
Donna Fletcher
Bred by Her Cowboy
Jillian Cumming
Dreams of a Dark Warrior
Kresley Cole
Benighted
Kit Whitfield
Dangerous Visions
edited by Harlan Ellison
The Mime Order
Samantha Shannon
Reaper
Emily Goodwin
Rival Dreams (Rival Love #3)
Natalie Decker
Juicy
Pepper Pace