Her Cowboy Doms(31)

She could take off and go somewhere else. Anywhere else. But she didn’t want to leave Destin and Paul.

Which meant she was staying. It also meant she was working at the club.

Might as well get the first night going.

She stood, took another look at herself, then strode toward the door.

Here goes nothing.



* * * *



An hour later, she was glad that she’d gone to work. Everyone was very friendly, from the members to the waitstaff to the bartenders. The place was packed with music playing loud enough to dance to, yet not so loudly that she couldn’t hear when someone spoke.

With the help of the other waitstaff, which included both men and women, she picked up the job easily and had even started to enjoy it. It kept her busy so that she didn’t have time to think about the murder investigations going on without her.

She picked up her next drink order, then held the platter in front of her with two hands as she headed to table number five. Catching a glimpse of Destin out of the corner of her eye, she tried not to let on that she knew he was moving toward her.

“How’s it going, sugar?”

She placed the drinks in front of a woman and a man dressed entirely in leather, their riding crops resting on top of the table. So far, she’d seen members dressed in regular clothes as well as those wearing animal costumes. Others wore collars and almost nothing else. But it was what the members did with each other that had thrown her at first. From what she’d seen, her stripping in the club had been nothing unusual.

“I’m fine.” Why did she get wet as soon as either Paul or Destin came around her? They were both dressed in silk shirts with black jeans and boots. The silver belt buckles they wore shone under the lights flashing over the dance floor.

“Remember, you’re a sub, but if anyone gives you a hard time, you just let Paul or me know. Or any of the other Doms. All you have to do is say the safe word. Whoever is bothering you will stop, and if he doesn’t, someone will come running.”

She’d seen the men who stood apart from the crowd. They were big, powerfully built men, and aside from not participating in any of the activities, she doubted she would’ve known what they were if Barb, one of the other waitresses, hadn’t clued her in.

“I can handle myself, sir.” She’d almost said master, but stopped. She wasn’t ready to use that word yet.

He cleared his throat and leaned closer, flattening his hand against the small of her back. “I know you can. But wouldn’t it feel great to let someone else take care of you?” He kissed her cheek. “Paul and I and I want to be the ones to do that.”

Was he asking permission or outright telling her? It was difficult to tell. “Okay.”

Nonetheless, what he’d said along with the sweet kiss brought tears to her eyes. She hadn’t dated much, and not at all since the day that had changed her life, but when she had, she’d always felt like she was the stronger one in the relationship. Even the drill sergeant she’d dated two years earlier hadn’t taken the lead as she’d hoped he would.

Destin’s craving for her was apparent in the way he perused her body. “You look amazing. Really sexy. I can’t wait to get you into bed.”

She glanced around to see if anyone had overheard him. Judging by their smiles, a few had, but she found that she didn’t mind.

“You’re going to love it here, sub.” Paul had come up behind her without her noticing.

“If I stay, sir.” Was she calling him sir because she respected his authority as her boss? Or because of his strange power over her?

“Better make up your mind soon. It’ll be time for the initiation soon enough.”

“What is that, anyway?”

Paul took her hand and squeezed it. “We’ll tell you when we think you’re ready. And don’t question me again. Not here or in the bedroom. Do you understand?”

She dropped her gaze, suddenly shy. When had she ever been shy? “Yes, sir.”

“Good. Another Dom might give you a punishment for questioning him, but I don’t like punishments for newbies. You’re still learning and it’s our place to teach you.”

Destin shot a look at one of the members who was giving her hot, lustful glances. “Not all clubs do initiations, but our members like this kind of thing. We’re closer than other groups you might find in the big cities. That’s just the way it is in a small town like Pleasure.”

“That doesn’t tell me much, sir.”

Paul answered instead. “I’ll tell you this. You’ll either do what we tell you to do or you’ll leave. Better be sure you’re ready before the initiation begins.”