He ground his erection against her center. “Do I feel soft to you?”

  She gasped. “No, Sir.”

  “That’s right, sweetheart. Not soft at all.”

  He didn’t draw it out. Within a matter of minutes, he had her out of her clothes and his cock buried inside her. He fucked her hard and fast as he held her down on the bed.

  Ali took what he gave her, exploding in a climax that had her toes curling against the backs of his thighs. He swallowed her cries and emptied himself inside her, as his own orgasm hit him with equal force.

  As he came down from his high, realization struck him. He’d not used a condom. And while he knew Ali was on birth control, it didn’t change the fact that he’d not even thought about suiting up.

  She noticed him stiffen. “What’s wrong, Sir?”

  Hearing her use his title made him feel even worse. It was his job to take care of her. She’d put her trust in him and he’d let her down. At the very least, they should have discussed it first.

  His gaze met hers and he knew the moment she realized. “I didn’t use a condom.”

  CHAPTER 18

  Ali looked up at him, still trying to clear the fog from her brain after coming. As her breathing slowed, what he said finally registered. “I’m on birth control.”

  “I know, but that’s no excuse. We should have discussed it.”

  While this was true, Ali wasn’t concerned. She wasn’t playing or having sex with anyone else, and neither was he. “It’s oaky.” Then, when she saw he was still beating himself up over it, she added, “I like knowing your cum is inside me.” She hesitated, not sure if she should say more, but he was still intimately connected to her. “It’s like you’re marking me as yours.”

  His cock pulsed inside her, letting her know how much he liked that idea as well.

  Daniel pressed his lips to hers. “I’m going to clean up. Stay here.”

  Before she could say anything, he was pulling out, leaving her feeling the loss. She turned her head to follow his movement into the connecting bathroom. He was gone for less than a minute before returning with a damp cloth.

  “Spread your legs for me, sweetheart.”

  She did as he asked and sighed as he used the warm cloth to clean her. It felt good and more intimate than the sex had been. “Thank you, Sir.”

  He smiled down at her. “Take your time getting dressed. I’ll make us some dinner before we head to the club.” After giving her another light kiss and returning the wet cloth to the bathroom, he left her alone in her room.

  Ali dragged herself off the bed and into the bathroom. She jumped in the shower to rinse off and redressed in the same clothes she’d had one earlier. It took all of five minutes for her to pack her bag with the outfit she’d wear that night at the club, and then she was ready to go.

  Slinging the bag over her shoulder, she turned off the light in her room and made her way into the kitchen. Daniel was standing at one of the islands, spreading sauce onto a pizza crust. She snuck up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

  He gave her arm a little squeeze, pressing it against his side. “What do you like on your pizza?”

  “Do you have pineapple?”

  He shot her a look of horror over his shoulder.

  She laughed. “I’m kidding.” Kind of. She did like a good Hawaiian pizza every now and then. “I’m fine with just about anything except anchovies.”

  Daniel nodded and went back to what he was doing.

  “Did you need me to do anything?”

  “You could set the table.”

  She gave him a squeeze, and then went to the cabinet to find what she needed.

  While the pizza was in the oven, Daniel whipped up a salad faster than she thought possible. He carried it to the table as the timer went off, letting them know the pizza was ready.

  They polished off their dinner and headed into the city. Normally when Ali worked at the club, she had to be at the club early. Since she’d covered for Bridget the day before, tonight Bridget was returning the favor.

  Halfway to the club, Daniel’s received a text. Five minutes later, his phone dinged with another incoming message. He ignored both until they reached the club.

  She couldn’t see what either text said, but he didn’t appear bothered by whatever the messages were. After typing a quick reply, he tucked the phone in his pocket.

  He went to get her bag from the back, then came to the passenger side and opened her door. She took his offered hand and let him guide her into the brick building that housed Serpent’s Kiss.

  Bridget was in place in front of the coat check when they entered the lobby at six thirty on the dot. She greeted them both with a knowing smile but kept her comments to herself. For now. Ali knew that would change once they were alone.

  Daniel handed Ali her bag, gave her a lingering kiss that had her head spinning, then disappeared into the main part of the club, leaving her heart racing and her feeling a little dizzy.

  When Ali finally turned around, Bridget was fanning herself. “Now I know why everyone was talking about your scene last night.”

  Ali felt her cheeks heat.

  Bridget laughed. “Go get changed. I’ll watch the front for you.”

  Not arguing, and needing a few minutes to collect herself, Ali ducked into the club and made a beeline for the locker room. Daniel was at the bar, getting a drink. He looked up as she passed, and she could feel his gaze follow her as she traversed the main floor of the club.

  The dress she’d chosen for tonight was black with sheer long sleeves and reached mid-thigh. She’d worn it many times before. In fact, it was one of her favorite club outfits. No doubt, Daniel would prefer her in something a little more revealing.

  Changed, she made her way out of the locker room and was halfway to the door leading to the lobby when she spotted Daniel talking to Shara. Ali didn’t know the other submissive that well, but she did know that Daniel had played with her before.

  Jealousy spiked inside her and she froze in place, unable to tear her eyes away. Daniel looked up and met her gaze. He said something to Shara and walked over to where Ali stood.

  He stopped in front of her, taking in her outfit. “Is something the matter?”

  Ali shook her head. “No, Sir. I was just going to relieve Bridget.”

  Daniel nodded and she made her exit.

  Bridget was chatting with Ryan when Ali emerged from the club. “There she is,” Bridget said.

  “Sorry I took so long.”

  “No worries.” Bridget nodded in Ryan’s direction. “I was picking Ryan’s brain.”

  Ali stepped behind the tall desk. “Are you having legal trouble?” Ryan was a lawyer at a large firm in the heart of downtown. She wasn’t sure what type of law he practiced.

  “Not me. My sister’s having some issues with her neighbor.”

  “Do you have something to write on?” Ryan said. “I’ll jot down my number. Have your sister call me and I’ll see if I can help.”

  Bridget handed him a notepad and he scribbled his number on the paper. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

  “Anytime.”

  Ryan slid the paper with his number on it across the desk to Bridget as the door leading to the club opened. It was unusual for people to be exiting the club this early in the evening—most members were arriving, not leaving—so everyone’s head turned to see who it was.

  Mistress Katrina stepped through the opening. She grinned at Ali and Bridget. “Good evening. Ladies.” She paused, her smile not quite as bright as she greeted Ryan. “Ryan.”

  Rumor had it that something went down between Katrina and Ryan months ago, but no one seemed to know what. They used to play together all the time, but they hadn’t since whatever happened, happened.

  They all returned the greeting, then Ryan took a step toward the door Katrina had entered from. “I should get inside.” He looked directly at Katrina, and he lowered his voice. “Excuse me, Mistress Katrina.”

  Katrina nodded, keeping her back to him as he left.

  “Was there a problem, Mistress Katrina?” Bridget asked.

  The club mistress smiled. “Not at all, but I was hoping to have a word with Ali.”

  “Oh, of course.” Bridget shot Ali a look, then scampered off into the club.

  Once they were alone, Katrina moved behind the desk and took a seat. Ali felt awkward standing when Katrina was sitting, but there was nowhere for her to go except on the floor and that didn’t feel right either. “What can I do for you, Mistress Katrina?”

  “I wanted to see how you’re doing?”

  Ali knew what she was referring to, but she asked anyway. “You’re talking about me and Daniel?”

  Katrina nodded.

  “Things are good.” She paused. “I mean, we’re still trying to figure things out, but that’s normal, right?”

  “Yes. Very.” Katrina crossed her legs and rested her hands on her knee. The new position pushed her breasts together, amplifying her already generous assets. “I witnessed some of your scene last night.”

  Ali lowered her gaze as heat once again crept up her cheeks.

  Katrina chuckled. “There’s no need to be embarrassed. No one here will judge you.”

  “I know. It’s not that.”

  Katrina waited for her to go on.

  “Whenever he and I are together it feels so...” She searched for the right word. “Private.”

  “I see.”

  Ali crossed her arms in front of her. “That sounds silly, doesn’t it?”

  Katrina’s response didn’t come as quickly as Ali expected. “No.”

  She waited for Katrina to elaborate, but she didn’t. “When I’m in the moment, I don’t think about anything but him. It’s only after when people talk to me about it that I want to bury my head in the sand.”

  “This thing between you and Daniel has been brewing for a long time.”

  Ali shook her head. That wasn’t true. Was it?

  “It has.”

  Ali didn’t argue.

  “Given the arrangement you two had prior to last night with him negotiating scenes for you, it’s bound to cause people to talk.”

  Ali nodded. Her arrangement with Daniel, if one could call it that, was somewhat odd, especially for someone who wasn’t new to the lifestyle. Before Daniel, she’d negotiated her own scenes. But the first time she’d approached him, he’d turned it around on her. He’d made it seem as if she was asking him to find her a Dom to play with rather than asking him to play with her. She hadn’t corrected him, and it had become a pattern.

  “Once the newness of it wears off, people will get used to it. You won’t be the topic of club gossip forever.”

  Ali groaned.

  Katrina stood and placed a hand on Ali’s arm as Beth entered the foyer. “If you need someone to talk to, I’m always here to listen.”

  “Thank you.”

  Making her way to the door leading to the club, Katrina swiped her card. “Good evening, Lady Beth.”

  “Good evening, Mistress Katrina.” Beth was alone tonight, which meant Drew was working. He had a crazy schedule as a captain with the St. Louis Fire Department and Ali could never keep track of when he was working and when he wasn’t.

  Beth handed Ali her jacket and purse, along with her membership card, as Katrina disappeared into the club.

  Ali moved without thinking, hanging Beth’s jacket up and placing her purse into one of the secured lockers. She entered Beth’s card, then handed it back to her.

  “Everything okay?” Beth asked.

  “Yeah. I’m good.” And she was. Sort of. But she couldn’t get her mind off Shara talking to Daniel. He said he wouldn’t play with anyone else, and she trusted him. She trusted him more than she’d trusted any other man. But that didn’t stop her from wanting to be inside the club, staking her claim. She’d never felt that way before.

  Daniel spent most of the evening hanging out with friends. Two submissives he’d played with previously had approached him, asking to play, and he’d turned them down.

  In the past, he avoided playing with submissives when Ali was around. He’d wait until she was working the front desk. The club’s submissives soon figured out not to come to him asking to play if Ali was around.

  With Ali working the lobby tonight, some of the subsmissives figured he was still available. Apparently, his and Ali’s scene the night before hadn’t been a big enough signal things had changed.

  He glanced at the clock. Eleven thirty. He still had another thirty minutes to go before Ali was finished with her shift and he could take her home.

  Katrina ambled toward him.

  He tipped his head up in greeting.

  “I heard you had quite the night.”

  Daniel frowned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Breaking hearts left and right.” She turned to Brandon. “A Jack and Coke, please, Brandon.”

  “I’m not aware of any broken hearts,” Daniel said before taking a swig of his water.

  Katrina chuckled. “I’m told you made it clear tonight that you’re off the market for the foreseeable future. There are a lot of disappointed subs.”

  “They’ll get over it. There are other available Doms.”

  She smirked. “True.”

  Brandon set the Jack and Coke down in front of Katrina and she took a sip.

  The club had cleared out, leaving only a handful of members on the main floor. He and Katrina sat in silence, watching the group across the room. There were two couples and a submissive who, to his knowledge, was unattached to a Dom. The vibe coming off the group gave him an indication of what was coming.

  Sure enough, less than two minutes later, the unattached submissive had a Dom sitting on either side of her. One had his tongue down her throat while he played with her breast and the other had a hand up her dress. The other two other submissives kneeled in front of their Doms, taking their cocks into their mouths.

  It was rare to see a group scene like this on the main floor of the club, but given they were the only ones left besides Daniel and the club staff, it wasn’t as public as it could have been.

  As Daniel continued to watch the scene, his need for Ali grew. He wanted to sink his cock into her again. Heaven help him, he need to come in her again.

  Hearing her say she liked his cum inside her earlier had done something to him. He wanted that. He wanted to mark her as his. His woman.

  Needing a distraction, he tore his attention away from the action on the couch. “Do you know a Sarah Evans?”

  His question seemed to take Katrina off guard. “I don’t think so. Why? Should I know her?”

  Daniel shook his head. “She used to be active in the lifestyle several years go.”

  “May have been before my time.”

  Brandon moved toward them as he wiped down the bar.

  “You may want to ask Brandon. He may remember her.”

  Brandon perked up at hearing his name.

  Daniel figured it wouldn’t hurt. While Logan had texted him to explain he and Lily were going to have to pass on the invitation, he’d asked Daniel if he’d be willing to help a friend of his. “Do you know a Sarah Evans? She used to be active in the lifestyle several years ago.”

  The bartender stopped what he was doing. Daniel could see the wheels turning in his head. “I do recall a Sarah, but I don’t remember her last name. Do you know anything about her?”

  “No. Just that I’ve been asked if I could help her get back into the lifestyle again.”

  Brandon nodded. “Dominant or submissive?”

  “Submissive.”

  “Could be the same one.” Brandon began wiping the bar again. “Besides, we can always use more subs around here.”

  Katrina rolled her eyes. “If you decide to reach out to her and she’s interested in joining the club, let me know.”

  Cooper made his way downstairs, putting a rope across the stairs to let people know the playrooms were now closed. Daniel glanced at the couch to find only the two Doms, both with very pleased smiles on their faces.

  The club’s dungeon monitor strolled over to where he and Katrina were sitting. “Do you have a moment?”

  The tone in Cooper’s voice said it all. There’d been an issue tonight. It was hard to say if it was big or small, but either way Katrina would want to know about it.

  Katrina stood and handed her drink to Brandon. “Have a good evening, gentlemen.”

  The three submissives who’d been involved in the couch scene walked out of the locker room in their street clothes. As the group exited the club, Daniel downed the last of his water.

  “Waiting on Ali?” Brandon asked.

  “Yes.”

  The bartender smiled but didn’t comment.

  Ali walked into the club two minutes later. She found Daniel sitting at the bar and came directly to him. “I need to change and get my things, Sir.”

  He ran a finger down the front of her dress, tracing the outline of the material covering her breasts. Her outfit covered too much, in his opinion, but that didn’t mean she didn’t look sexy as hell in it. “Go get your things, but don’t bother changing.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Brandon had disappeared into the back, leaving him alone in the club. This wasn’t the first time he’d stayed late to wait on Ali. The only difference was this time she was going home with him.

  It didn’t take long for Ali to get her bag from her locker and make her way back to him. He helped her into her jacket and placed a hand at her back as they walked to his vehicle.

  Her eyes began to close as he veered onto the highway leading out of town. She’d had a long day, but it wasn’t over yet. He’d let her sleep on the drive home, then he was going to have fun getting her out of that dress.

  CHAPTER 19

  Ali stretched, glancing over at the empty space next to her. She was in Daniel’s bed as she’d been every night for over a week.