Bound (Mastered #1)(79)

"Bondage suspensions," she repeated. "As in hanging a person from the ceiling by a rope?"

"By a series of ropes."

"You'll tell me to direct my questions to Ronin, but what is he like in his public persona as rope master Ronin when people are watching his every move? Especially since he has the strict 'no observation' rule in the dojo?"

Knox looked uncomfortable. "Ronin is a fucking master with ropes. He's artistic and sensual, unlike some other so-called rope experts, who've turned shibari and kinbaku into weird performance art. He's in high demand as a teacher. So the nights he schedules a demo at the club, it's usually packed."

She wanted to ask if Ronin had sex with his models, or if he had sex with certain people at the club because . . . hello, it was a kinky sex club. Why would he be a member if he didn't want the free sex benefits? "Are you a master with ropes too?"

"I'm better than average because Ronin has mentored me. I don't teach but I do practice. My area of expertise in the club is different than his."

"What is your area of expertise?"

Hard blue eyes hooked hers. "Pain. Some members want it and they come to me to dish it out."

Yikes.

"Ronin asked me to ask you if you'll make time for him after the demonstration ends."

"Make time where? At the club?" In front of everyone?

"Either at the club or here, since you're leaving your things here."

"Can we see how it goes first?"

Knox frowned.

"I'm afraid to say yes because . . . what if I can't handle what I see? Not only Ronin's part, but the rest of the club stuff?" 

He studied her for a few moments. "Think of it this way. These members' choices are not your choices. What you see them doing is no reflection on you, or the type of sex you're comfortable with. As you're walking through, realize it is an exclusive club. You may never get to see anything like it again. And more likely than not, you'll end up aroused by what you see. That's the hardest part for most people to handle." He looked at his phone. "We need to get downstairs."

Amery upended her drink. "Do I need to bring a purse or money or my certificate of clean health or anything?"

Knox grinned. "Nope. Just an open mind."

• • •

THE driver parked in an underground garage and accompanied them into the building. He and Knox exchanged pleasantries about the packed house for the night, but it meant nothing to her.

The elevator stopped on an unmarked floor. She squinted at the panel. None of the buttons had numbers. The elevator doors opened to a small reception area. The guy behind the desk looked like a Broncos defensive lineman-an armed lineman.

He nodded at Knox and handed Amery a clipboard. "Privacy form. Read it. Sign it. Believe it. Understand if the privacy rules are violated, we will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. And yes, we have ways of knowing exactly who violates the contract and when. And yes, our legal team has dealt with such matters expediently and with the harshest penalties the legal system allows. Do I make myself clear, Ms. Hardwick?"

"Yes." Amery took the clipboard and sat on the lone chair in the room to read it. Nowhere on the form did it indicate who owned the business, but she did find the DBA listed as Twisted, so she knew the club had a name. The agreement prevented the signee from discussing the club, its location, its purpose with any persons who weren't members or on an active guest list status. No exceptions. Members of the club adhered to strict anonymity outside the club-members violating that stipulation would be removed from club membership rolls and prosecuted for breach of contract. No exceptions.

As much as the legal side of this scared her, she signed her name anyway. This would be her only visit to the club and she intended to leave as soon as Ronin finished his demonstration. She passed the clipboard back. Then to her surprise their chauffeur notarized it. Handy.

Then the supersized desk clerk addressed Knox. "You or Master Black can ensure that she will not be unattended at any time?"

Knox said, "I'm here strictly in escort capacity tonight, and as Ronin's fill-in."

Fill-in? What was that?

The clerk handed Amery a lanyard with a plastic card affixed to the clip. It read GUEST. He tied a black ribbon around Knox's biceps. Then he punched a code into a keypad and the chauffeur/notary guy/elevator operator opened the door for them.

Amery tried to act cool, but her heart raced as they stepped through the doorway.

Knox didn't take her arm. In fact, he hung back to see which direction she'd go. She opted to go right.

The open area looked like a dance floor at any club downtown. High ceilings. No windows. Conversation areas on the outskirts of the floor. She tried not to gawk at the people dancing naked. Or the people with collars on with leashes attached. No one paid attention to her, although a few nodded at Knox.