by Jen Talty
But worse was finding a woman who didn’t have much of a presence at all.
Dixie Gaynor barely made a dent on the internet. About all she had was a professional photo plastered on a website regarding her business. Turned out Dixie was a relationship expert. That explained the comment in her voicemail about seeing patients.
Zane couldn’t help but wonder what kind of kink Dixie was looking to satisfy. He’d seen it all during his years at the club, and the one thing he’d learned was that most realized sex and love always went hand in hand. He just wondered when his ship would arrive.
He dropped her face into an image search, but since it was black and white, he found nothing. Of course, Dixie could be a nickname. She could have a different name elsewhere on the internet. Wouldn’t be the first time.
But very few ladies under the age of thirty-five didn’t have an Instagram account. Then again, Dixie dealt with couples and their struggles both in and out of the bedroom. He suspected that she needed to keep a safe distance, and being easily accessible through social media might be a recipe for disaster.
But Zane’s job was to protect the club and everyone involved. Therefore, he needed to find out as much as he could about Dixie. Although, Nic had referred her, and Nic’s husband happened to be a cop.
That should be enough.
“Yo, Zane. Some chick by the name of Dixie is here for you,” Erik, one of the security men, said. “She said Nic sent her?”
“She’s right on time,” Zane said. “What’s she like?”
Erik leaned against the doorjamb and fiddled with his wedding ring. They’d come to an understanding, but working together still had its awkward moments. “She’s a knockout for one. And as usual with anyone new, she seems a little nervous.” Erik handed Zane the interview forms.
“Did she say anything revealing? Anything that might help me guide her to what she really wants?” Most people who came to Club Temptation had no idea the sexual desires that hid in the corners of their minds.
Erik shook his head. “I trust my instincts, and I think she’s a tough one to crack. I doubt she even understands her wants and desires, and I suspect she’s searching for someone to guide her in the right direction.”
“Good to know,” Zane said. “And welcome back. I hope you and Lenny had an awesome honeymoon. I mean that.”
“I know you do.”
Zane nodded. “Send her back.” He smoothed down the front of his slacks and did a quick check in the mirror, tucking one side of his long, wavy hair behind an ear. Not that it mattered, but he always liked to dress to kill. And even though he’d only seen one black and white picture of Dixie, he more than liked what he saw.
He glanced down the hall, and the air in his lungs escaped. He tried to take in a deep breath, but he couldn’t. He gasped. His heart dropped to his gut like a ton of bricks as the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen strolled down the plum-colored carpet with her head held high. Her long, brilliant copper-red hair bounced over her shoulders with just the right amount of curl to drive a man wild.
Her hips swayed back and forth like one of those momentum ball things that his grandfather used to have on his desk. Like the rest of her body, her hips were round and voluptuous—like a lady’s form was supposed to be—with curves in all the right places.
And her plump, rosy lips?
Christ. All he could think about was how they’d feel pressed against his as he took them in a tender kiss.
Sweet temptation.
That’s what Dixie Gaynor was. And it would take all of his resolve not to talk her out of finding whatever it was she was looking for at the club.
“You must be Dixie,” he said, stretching out his arm. His blood raced through his body in anticipation of feeling her skin against his.
“I take it you’re Zane.” She blinked once, her long lashes fluttering over her bright teal-colored eyes that reminded him of the Caribbean Sea at sunset.
Tiny electric pulses tickled his fingertips and worked their way to his brain, sending him into momentary shock. He held her fingers for what he knew to be longer than appropriate.
Screw it.
He lifted her hand and kissed the back. “Welcome to Club Temptation.”
“Thank you.”
“What do you think so far?”
“I haven’t really seen much other than the entrance and the bar area. But I didn’t expect it to be so…large.”
“Would you like a tour of the place?”
God, how he loved the way her porcelain cheeks blushed with a hint of red, and how her green eyes widened with a combination of excitement, fear, and curiosity. A mixture that made him want to take her out of the club and to his bed.
“Can I ask a crazy question?” she asked.
“Of course.”
“What exactly am I going to see while on this tour?”
“Why don’t we start with a drink in the main bar, and we can go from there?” He placed his hand on the small of her back, resisting the urge to run his fingers up to her bare skin.
She wore a yellow dress with straps that fell off her shoulders. The material hugged her full-figured body in all the right places, and he couldn’t rip his gaze from her if he tried.
“How long have you worked here?” she asked.
“Going on five years.” He slipped into a booth in the main room. A few Doms entertained a couple of new young ladies while a dominatrix and her sub were having a drink with a couple who liked to have their fantasies played out in front of them. “My brother lives the lifestyle of a Dom and brought me on.” A few more members strolled in, and the excitement in the room built. Couples kissed and touched each other intimately as they waited for the fuel that would turn their fire into an inferno.
“Is your brother here?”
“His wife is pregnant. Due in two months. They haven’t been coming around lately.”
“Did they meet here?”
“No. A mutual friend of theirs introduced them.” Zane tapped his finger on the table and pointed toward a couple. “Those two are into being in the dominant role together, so they often find a submissive here for play. Is that something you’d be interested in?”
Dixie shook her head quickly.
Zane didn’t want to admit it, even to himself, but that made him ridiculously happy. He hoped that whatever this sexy young woman was into, he might be able to fulfill the desire. Only he couldn’t do it on company time.
Not if he wanted to keep his job.
“Do you like red wine?” he asked.
She nodded, glancing around the room. Her gaze landed on the center stage where demonstrations took place.
He glanced at his watch. One would begin in about ten minutes. He motioned to the bartender to bring over two glasses of his favorite blend. He looped his arm over the back of Dixie’s seat, letting his fingers toy with the soft strands of her hair.
He’d never wanted a woman as much as he wanted Dixie. And something told him that his desire would go beyond the physical hold she had on his mind, body, and soul. “Much of what goes on here is geared toward the Dominant and submissive. Whether it be a man in the Dom role or a woman, that is up to the individual and the couple, though we have a lot more men Doms, as you will see.”
“Do you have anyone who swings both ways?”
Zane laughed. “It doesn’t work that way in the club. You’ll see submissives kneeling for all Doms. It’s a sign of respect. They call them ‘Master.’ So, inside Club Temptation, once a submissive, always a submissive. But what people do behind closed doors outside of here, as long as it’s consensual and not illegal, that’s not for us to judge. You have to remember, this is a sexual appetite. A desire. It fills a void, fulfills a need.”
“What about you? What are you into?” she asked.
“We’re not here for me, now are we?” He handed her a glass of wine the waiter had brought over and tapped his against it. “Tonight is about you and finding out if the club has something to
offer you and your needs.” He pointed toward the center of the room. “Sit back and relax.”
“What’s happening?”
“A demonstration of what happens between a Dom and his submissive. How safe bondage is. How it doesn’t hurt. It shows how the submissive has power and control while letting the Dom have his way with her, all while maintaining mutual trust and respect.” Zane inched closer, feeling the heat from her skin clinging to his body. He’d sat with other women during demonstrations before, and while watching was always a turn-on, it was never something that excited him in a way where he found himself wanting to experience it sexually.
“We’re going to sit here and watch?” she asked.
He nodded. “It’s all part of Club Temptation. And it might give you a better understanding of what your true desires and fetishes are, and how best to fulfill them while in a safe environment.”
Her beautiful cheeks turned even redder.
He loved her innocence. Because, deep down, he knew there was nothing sexually innocent about Dixie. Being submissive might not be her thing, but when she found what she wanted, he knew there would be no stopping her.
He just hoped he would be able to find a way to be on the receiving end.
Fuck. How did one woman get under his skin in a matter of thirty minutes?
He didn’t get out enough.
She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table as she stared intently at the couple. The Dom ordered his submissive to kneel and put her hands behind her back, and she did just that.
Dixie flinched when the Dom used a flogger on his submissive.
Zane refrained from putting his hands on Dixie, even though he wanted to reassure her that the lady was enjoying every second with her Master.
However, instead of watching the demonstration, Zane kept his focus on the beauty sitting next to him.
Her tongue took a long, slow, broad stroke over her pink lips before she took a sip of her wine. Her chest rose and fell slowly, and under the fabric of her dress, he saw her nipples tighten and pucker.
He rubbed his thumb and forefinger together.
As things heated up onstage and got rougher, Zane found himself shifting uncomfortably in his seat. He’d seen just about everything in the club, and not once had he ended up with a full-on erection.
And it wasn’t because of the submissive and her Master that he was now.
Dixie glanced in his direction.
He swallowed.
Hard.
“Would you like to do that to a woman?” Dixie asked.
He had to shift his attention. “No. I’m not into whips and things like that, though I would never deny a woman her desires, so I’m open to it.” Shit. He shouldn’t be talking about himself. “Would you like to be on the receiving end? Because you can give it a try, tonight if you’d like. That Master is open to more than one submissive. He’s not exclusive, and demonstrations are also about experimenting.”
“God, no. If I’m going to do anything like that, it’s going to be with someone I know and trust.”
Zane leaned close, his lips only an inch from her ear. “Sometimes a stranger, or someone you just met, is the best person to try something new with.” Quickly, he leaned back and pointed at the couple. “Keep watching.” He downed half his beverage.
Talk about torture.
She bit down on her lower lip, and he imagined her doing that very thing in the throes of passion—with him.
He couldn’t stand it anymore. He had to touch her, if only to feel her skin on his fingertips. He rested his hand on her shoulder and gave a little squeeze. “Are you okay?”
She nodded; her breath came in short pants. If he weren’t mistaken, she moaned.
“You like this. You like watching them, don’t you?” He ran his fingertip across the side of her face, tucking her hair behind her ear.
“I’ve never been opposed to watching people have sex. I’ve just never seen a live show,” she said with a breathy, raspy voice. “Or with an audience.”
“Just pretend the rest of us aren’t here. That’s what everyone else does.” He massaged her neck, hoping to ease the tension that had slipped into her muscles.
She leaned a little closer, dropping her hand to his thigh.
He groaned.
He was crossing every line.
And he didn’t care.
Letting his fingers glide down her back to the side of her dress, he found the swell of her full breast. He studied her expression as she arched her back, shifting her body and giving him better access.
He traced a path on her skin as she heaved in air. His finger got caught in her cleavage. He wiggled farther inside her dress until he found the object of his desire.
Her eyelids fluttered shut as he flicked his finger over her hard nipple.
He glanced around the room. No one was looking in his direction. They were either having their own fun or immersed in the demonstration.
The sweet temptation he felt to lower her dress and take her nipple into his mouth nearly overtook him.
Until her hand slid up his thigh and squeezed.
He groaned as he leaned back in the booth. He gripped her breast a little harder than he probably should have, but she didn’t seem to mind.
Her deft fingers worked the button at the top of his slacks, and before he had a chance to even blink, she had his shaft in her hand, her thumb running across his sensitive tip.
He tried to find his voice, but even if he did, he wasn’t about to ask her to stop—though he should.
His lungs burned with every breath he took. His toes curled as he tried to maintain control, but Dixie didn’t seem as if she’d let him as she gripped harder and stroked faster. He placed his hand on her hip, sliding his fingers over her round ass. He gritted his teeth. He shouldn’t be letting her take him like this, in a booth, at Club Temptation.
But he wasn’t about to stop. He loved every second of it.
“Dixie,” he whispered. “I can’t hold off any longer.”
“Good,” she said, not turning her head, her gaze still intent on the couple on stage, now demonstrating the finer points of bondage. She cupped him, squeezing even harder.
“Jesus,” he said under his breath. He reached under the table and curled his fingers over her hand, guiding her, if only to put himself out of this torturous, glorious misery. His climax came hard and fast, and he did his best to keep his guttural groan as quiet as possible.
He inhaled sharply, trying to regain his composure.
Dixie slipped her hand from his and raised her fingers to her lips. Her tongue darted out of her mouth and licked.
“Good Lord, woman. You’re going to be the death of me.”
She jerked her head and stared at him with a slackened jaw. Her green eyes grew wide with the kind of shock that came with fear.
And maybe regret.
Fuck.
“I’ve got to go,” she said as she stumbled from the table. “Sorry.”
“Wait.” He went to stand up and then remembered that wouldn’t be a good idea. “Dixie. Don’t leave like this.” He fumbled with his pants as the beautiful redhead in the yellow dress raced out of the room. “Dixie,” he called as he jumped from the table and made a beeline for the entrance.
But by the time he got to the parking lot, all he saw was brake lights.
Shit.
Not only would his boss have his head, but Nic would probably give him an earful, too.
Worse, he’d just freaked out the woman of his dreams.
Chapter 3
Dixie sat on her back patio that overlooked Lake Washington outside of Seattle with a tall glass of white wine and a low-calorie snack. She’d been really good with food all week, and she wouldn’t ruin it now. Still, she wasn’t about to give up alcohol.
Not tonight.
She’d spent the last five days avoiding the texts on her phone and the three voice messages from Zane.
She knew she needed to respond. His
messages were sweet and kind, and he seemed concerned about her feelings.
She topped off her wine and took a few more sips before lifting her cell and finding the string of texts from Zane.
Zane: I got your number from your interview paperwork. Call me. Please.
Zane: Why did you run out? We should talk. Please call me.
Zane: I don’t like how we left things. Please. I just want to talk.
Zane: Dixie. I just want to talk. That’s all.
Zane: Call me. Please. I’m begging. I can’t stand how you ran out.
Zane: I just called and left you a long-winded message. I feel really bad about you leaving the way you did. Call me. Or text. Just let me know you’re okay.
She didn’t bother reading the rest of the messages since they were more of the same, nor did she re-listen to the voicemails Zane had left. She owed him an explanation and it would be better in person.
Dixie: Sorry I’ve been ignoring you. I have no excuse. You didn’t deserve that. Are you available tonight to meet and talk?
Bubbles appeared immediately.
Zane: Yes. I’m not working this evening. Where would you like to meet and when? I’m free now and for the rest of the night. Name the place and time and I will be there.
Wow. She wasn’t sure if that seemed desperate…
Or insanely sweet.
She glanced at her glass of wine and realized that it wouldn’t be smart to drive, and she had no desire to get in a Lyft.
Shit. She hadn’t thought this through well enough.
Dixie: Come to my place. Give me forty-five minutes to deal with some things, and if you don’t mind, bring some dinner. I’ve got white wine open. So anything that goes with that. I’m easy.
Shit. Too late. She’d already hit send.
Zane: Do you have a grill? I’ve got steaks that I was going to cook. Doesn’t go with white, but I’ve got a bottle of red I’ll bring. You good with that?
Dixie: Sounds perfect. See you soon.
She sent one last text with her address.
Now, she had to finish her blog.
And she needed to come clean with her readers about a lot of things. In an authentic way that wouldn’t come off as if she were seeking sympathy or looking for attention.
