“Not really,” she confessed. “He only told me they were meetings. I didn’t know about them being at a club until I took a call from a man who needed to change his session to another day.”

  Ty nodded. “And you want to know what kind of session?”

  “What kind of club.”

  Ty leaned forward and caught her gaze. “What type of club might he belong to that he wouldn’t feel comfortable telling you, his employee, about?”

  A shiver ran through her, but she hoped she hid it from Ty. “I figured it had something to do with sex. Is he gay or bi?”

  “What?”

  “It was a man who cancelled, so it stands to reason…” She didn’t continue, thinking it was fairly obvious where she was headed.

  Ty shook his head. “It’s not like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “He’s not gay or bi. Think about it, Maggie. What else could it possibly be? Does it involve sex? Maybe. Maybe not. What else?” He continued watching her. It wasn’t sexual. It was intense. And it piqued her interest, but not down deep the way it would have if it’d been Isaac looking at her like that. Her eyes fluttered and closed. “You’re thinking of him now, aren’t you?” Ty asked.

  “Yes,” she answered, but didn’t open her eyes. One, because she was a little embarrassed, and two, because if she kept them closed she could pretend it was Isaac looking at her like that.

  “You’re heading in the right direction,” Ty’s voice was melodic, she supposed it was due to the slight accent he’d picked up living overseas. “Keep walking down that path and you’ll find the answer you’re looking for.” A chair scraped on the cement. “I'm afraid I can't say anything else about it.”

  Maggie didn’t exhale until the door behind her closed, signaling Ty had returned inside. She took several deep breaths even as her mind raced. Was Isaac a Dom? Was there anything else Ty could have meant other than Isaac’s after-hours activities involved kink?

  Even as she told herself it didn’t matter because Isaac was her boss and there was no way she’d get involved with him, she couldn’t stop the image in her head of him towering over her as he commanded her to strip.

  A siren sounded from the streets below, preventing her from playing that fantasy out any further in her head. She collected her things, discarded her trash, and stopped by Ty’s office before heading to her own.

  His office door was cracked enough so those walking by could see him sitting at his desk. He lifted his head at her knock and smiled. “Yes?”

  Maggie took a step into his office. The door was open, and she didn’t want to blurt out what she was thinking so that anyone walking by could overhear. “Um.” She looked over her shoulder. The hallway was empty, but still…

  “Close the door and come have a seat.” He waved to the chairs in front of his desk. “If you feel comfortable doing so.”

  She closed the door and took a seat in one of the offered chairs. Ty didn’t say anything further, and she saw no reason to beat around the bush. “I know you said you couldn't talk about it, but can you confirm if I'm right and Isaac is a Dom?”

  Ty watched her for a long minute before answering. “Yes, he is.” And something else clicked in her head as soon as he confirmed her suspicions.

  “You are, too.”

  “Yes, but I haven’t been active for a long time. Not since the divorce.”

  “Are you part of the same club?”

  “Yes,” he said. “Why?”

  "I mentioned Isaac had a meeting Thursday night at the club?" At his nod, she continued. "Can you get me in?"

  She never wanted to play poker with Ty. He covered any surprise he had at her bold request.

  "I'm considered an inactive member," he finally answered.

  Her heart sank. "And you don't want to change that?"

  "I had planned to go by sometime soon and reactivate my membership.” He kept his tone even so she couldn't get a feel for his thoughts.

  "Can you do it before Thursday so I can get in with you then?"

  He didn't reply immediately.

  "Please?" She added.

  He watched her for another long minute before replying. “I can stop by the club tomorrow and you can go with me as a guest. It’ll get you in the door and allow you to observe. We’ll set the goal of tomorrow to be making you as comfortable as possible in the space. Then on Thursday we’ll return and you can watch Isaac. See if you’re still interested.”

  “Interested in Isaac, or kink?”

  “Either, both, whatever.”

  “It hardly seems fair to you,” she couldn’t stop herself from saying.

  “Why is that?”

  “I would think if you’re reactivating a membership to a BDSM club, that you’d want to be an active part of the experience. Probably play with somebody.” Maybe she shouldn’t have said that last part. She didn’t want him to think she was offering to play with him.

  But as it turned out, she didn’t need to worry at all. He gave her a sad smile. “There’s only one woman I want to play with, and from what I understand, she won’t be there.”

  * * *

  The next evening, Maggie waited for Ty in a café close to their office. It was her idea, because she didn’t want Isaac to see them leaving together. Although for once, he had left before she did. It bugged her she didn’t know where he was going. He had nothing on his calendar, and when he left, he’d only stuck his head in her office to tell her he'd see her the next day.

  Either way, it was for the best. Maggie didn’t want people in the office to see her and Ty together, either. That’s how rumors started.

  She’d never been to a BDSM club before and wasn’t sure exactly what to wear. After a panicked text to Ty the night before, she went with a short black skirt and a halter top she hadn’t worn in ages. It must have been the right thing to do because when Ty walked into the cafe and saw her, he nodded his approval.

  “You look perfect Maggie,” he said. “Are you ready?”

  At her soft ‘yes,’ he led her outside and into a waiting car. It took awhile to get to the club, and when they pulled to a stop, the building was so nondescript, she’d never be able to find it on her own. She told Ty her thoughts, and he laughed and claimed that was the point.

  It made sense. After all, when a place was named "The Club" the owners really weren’t interested in drawing attention to themselves. But she kept that bit of information to herself.

  They were let inside by a man so big and tall he could have knocked her down with his sneeze. Fortunately, he didn’t suffer from any allergies and before she could have a decent chance to look around, Ty took her hand and led her toward an office down the hall.

  He’d mentioned earlier he’d called the night before to let the management know they were coming. She saw why when they stepped into the office and were met by a woman not much taller than Maggie with multicolored streaks in her hair and paperwork ready for them to complete.

  Maggie couldn’t get her heart to stop pounding while she read over the information she’d been handed. The thought kept running through her head that she was really here. In a BDSM club. It was something she’d wanted to do for a long time, but she’d given up hope years ago, not long after marrying Ellis.

  She shook her head. Ellis wasn’t here now. She was, and that was the only thing that mattered. Not only was she here, but she would make the most out whatever time she had. Ellis was long gone, and though it wasn’t her fault, she no longer had to live with his idea of ‘normal’ sex.

  She had to stop thinking about her late husband. She’d loved him but he belonged in her past. He’d want her to move on. Although, she thought with a snort, she wasn’t sure he’d want her to move on like this.

  It took longer than she’d expected to finish her paperwork. Mostly because she took forever to get through the checklist. She put her pen down after finishing the last question and hoped she looked more calm, cool, and collected, and not so much, “People do THAT?”

  At her side, Ty chuckled. Apparently, she hadn’t pulled off the nonchalant look as well as she’d hoped.

  “First time filling out a checklist?” he asked.

  “That obvious?”

  “Yes, but don’t sweat it,” he said. “Just think, the next time won’t be near as scary.”

  “Next time.” She nodded. “Sure, maybe in three or four years.”

  Ty laughed softly, and she couldn’t help but do the same. Even though it had never been in her plans, she was glad she wasn’t doing this alone. Ty, while not her type, was a good guy, calm, and even tempered. Not at all the way she’d pictured a Dom to be. But then again, Isaac didn’t fit that mold either.

  “Have you two finished?” The woman with the hair walked over to where they sat. “If you have, I’ll take your paperwork. Since you’re reactivating, Mr. Bancroft, we don’t need to do a formal assessment. You can make use of the facilities today if you'd like.”

  “Thank you.” He gathered his papers and Maggie’s, stood up, and handed them to the club employee. “I think for tonight we’ll only walk around, but we plan on returning tomorrow night.”

  “Very good, sir. Let me know if you would like to reserve a private room.”

  “No need for that,” Maggie jumped in, not even giving Ty a chance to answer. “We’re just friends.” Although ‘friends’ might push it, she thought it better than saying he was an owner in the office where she worked.

  “Come on, Maggie.” Ty walked to the office door. “Let me show you around. I’m assuming not much has changed since I’ve been gone.”

  Maggie attempted to act as if she did this sort of thing every day, but the truth was, she still couldn’t believe she was getting ready to enter a kink club. She fiddled with a loose string on her skirt pocket. Nervous energy, though why, she wasn’t sure. She wasn’t going to play tonight or anything.

  “The women's dressing rooms are over there.” Ty pointed out a set of dark wooden double doors. “The men’s are further down and to the right.”

  Maggie nodded as she tried to take in everything. She was such a dork. They hadn’t even made it into the main part of the club and she was already attempting to memorize everything she saw. To her left were a set of double doors, leading into the club.

  Ty raised an eyebrow in her direction, and she nodded. Now or never.

  He placed a hand on her upper back and opened the door with the other. Maggie took a deep breath, stepped into the room, and froze.

  Though she hadn’t known exactly what to expect, she’d thought she had a pretty good general idea of what she’d find on the other side of the doors. She could not have been more wrong.

  The room they walked into was decorated with white furnishings and a white marble floor covered with soft rugs. Several of the couches were round and a fair number had people on them. Though members were in various stages of undress, other than submissives kneeling on the floor, there was no noticeable play. A bar was neatly tucked in one of the back corners.

  “The welcome area,” Ty said. “It’s neutral.”

  “I’ll say.” She almost added that she’d never seen a room so devoid of color, but caught his meaning before she could embarrass herself. “I mean,” she nodded toward the closest couch, “everyone is talking.”

  “This is also the only room drinks other than water are allowed,” Ty said. “The bartenders are excellent.”

  “I might have to test that one out for myself in a minute.” Maybe a drink would calm her nerves a bit.

  “You’re doing great.” He assured her. “The hallway to the right is how you get to the private rooms. They’re down a staircase. The public play areas are through those back doors by the bar.” He glanced at her. “Maybe we’ll sit in here and wait a few minutes before touring?”

  “That would be great.” Maggie all but plopped on a couch. “I could use a few minutes to convince myself I’m really here.”

  She’d expected Ty to laugh or at least sit down, but he remained standing, all the color drained from his face.

  “Ty?” Maggie asked. “Are you okay?”

  “Lillian,” he said with a pained voice, eyes glued to the back door. “I think I saw her, and she just walked into the public play space.”

  His ex-wife? Here? Surely, Lillian hadn’t seen them and assumed Ty was with Maggie. The very thought of it was ridiculous. But what if she did? Lillian didn’t know her. Maggie could easily be someone Ty picked up for an evening of play.

  Damn it.

  “If you want to go after her,” Maggie said. “I’m fine sitting here by myself.”

  “The hell you are,” a stern voice said. She looked up to find a furious Isaac standing to the side of Ty. “And even if he thought about going after her, he’s not going anywhere until he tells me why the fuck you’re here with him.”

  Chapter Eight

  “Excuse me?” Maggie asked, shocking the hell out of him, and standing up, fitting her small body between him and Ty. “If you want to know why I’m here, you can damn well ask me yourself. I don’t need Ty to answer for me.”

  Isaac forced himself to take even breaths to calm down before speaking again. It’s what he should have done before walking over, but one look at Maggie standing beside Ty and he’d jumped into his business partner’s face with no thought beforehand.

  Well, there had been a few thoughts floating around his brain. However, most of them had not been constructive at all. Most of the constructive ones dealt with how to dismember his business partner’s worthless ass. Though Maggie had a point, he should listen to what she had to say before ripping into Ty.

  “Fine,” he said, though he didn’t feel fine at all. “Tell me, Maggie why the hell are you here, and with Ty?”

  She lifted her chin in that determined way she had about her. “Let him go after Lillian.”

  “Maggie,” he said in warning, but she didn’t budge.

  “Let him go.”

  Isaac had fought enough battles to recognize one he’d never win. “Fine. Ty, go after Lillian, but if you break her heart again, your ass is mine.”

  Without waiting for Ty to leave, Maggie focused her attention back on Isaac. “You keep saying fine, but I don’t think you are fine.”

  “How very astute.” He wasn’t fine. He hadn’t been fine since an old friend and fellow Dom stopped him in the dressing room to say how nice it was to see Ty again and who was the lovely submissive with the curly hair with him tonight?

  Isaac hadn’t replied to the man. He’d spun around and made it to the lounge area as quickly as possible. His blood boiled with the first sight of Ty sitting in their BDSM club with Maggie of all people by his side.

  “Did they have you fill out paperwork before you came in here?” he asked her.

  “It was my understanding you weren’t allowed in otherwise.”

  He nodded, but didn’t add that Ty was known for getting around rules he didn’t like. “I’d like to talk with you in a quieter environment. Will you go with me downstairs to a private room? To talk?”

  “Just to talk?” she asked, and he knew he didn’t imagine the longing in her eyes.

  But even though he wanted to tell her the opposite, he replied with, “Yes. Just to talk.”

  She nodded.

  “I need a verbal answer,” he told her. “If you’re going to enter a BDSM club, you can follow the rules, and one of them is all questions must be answered verbally.”

  “I didn’t see that listed as a rule.”

  “It should be. But in this case, it’s one of mine.”

  “Yes, Sir. Mr. Gregory. Sir. I will go with you downstairs to a private room.”

  Cheeky sub. She’d be a lot of fun to play with, but at the moment there were too many things in their way to think about that. “No need for the ‘sir,’” he said.

  She didn’t reply, and he looked over his shoulder to make sure she followed. She did, but lagged behind a bit. No wonder. She looked this way and that, trying to take everything in. Her gaze met his and, hell yes, she was interested in this place. More than a little, if he had to guess.

  She’s not yours.

  Yet.

  He had to stop thinking like that. The first thing he needed to do was find an empty and appropriate room. The first empty room they passed was not appropriate. Decorated to fulfill any harem fantasy, the fluffy pillows and soft blankets scattered across the floor might be more of a temptation than he could resist.

  The second empty room was set up like an office. Vetoed for obvious reasons. That left only one. Not his preference, but he could make do. Pushing the door open, he gave her what he hoped was a comforting smile. “This way, Ms. Warren. The doctor will see you now.”

  Her eyes widened, and she pushed past him. “No way. Really?”

  Fucking hell, was she trying to kill him, because he was almost there. He closed the door behind them and motioned for her to have a seat on the doctor’s stool. There was one thing he needed to get out of the way before anything else was said or done.

  “Are you interested in playing with Ty?” he asked.

  “What?” She looked away from the stirrups on the nearby examination table. “No.”

  One of the tension knots in his back relaxed, but he wasn’t in the clear yet. “Why are you here with him?”

  “Yesterday, when you had that lunch meeting, I ate outside on the patio. Ty ended up out there as well, and we talked. I brought up the meetings you’ve had after hours and asked him if he knew where you were going.”

  “Did he tell you?” He couldn’t see Ty breaking protocol like that, but he had to ask the question. After all, she was here.

  “No,” she said, with that smile trouble always seemed to follow. “He told me to figure it out myself. And I did. So I’m here.” Her forehead wrinkled. “I have one question for you.”

  “Yes?” It surprised him she only had one, if asked, he’d have assumed she had at least a dozen.

  “Who the hell named it The Club? I mean, seriously? That’s the best they could come up with? The Club? It’s the most unoriginal name, ever.”