The low, sensual moans and ecstatic screams were better than any Christmas music. The scent of feminine arousal that permeated the air brought on a satisfaction that was more than sexual. Surrounded by my kinky little family, I was in my element.

I wasn’t much for warm fuzzies, but the corners of my lips curled up as I regarded the members of my unit. I had chosen each of them for their D/s proclivities, even when some of them weren’t aware of their tendencies. If the director of the FBI ever suspected my recruiting methods, he would probably disapprove. But I understood the people who surrounded me; their minds worked like mine. Honesty – with oneself as well as with a partner – was essential in BDSM. The agents on my team knew themselves and each other better than most. It made for a more cohesive, trusting group.

“Derek went all out on the decorations,” my protégé said with approval, gesturing at our surroundings. Of course Smith James was pleased with the festive atmosphere in the BDSM club. The formerly brooding bastard seemed to be pleased with everything these days. It would have been a bit sickening if I weren’t so happy for him. Smith had been through hell – as had his fiancé, Lydia Chase. They deserved the happiness they had found together.

“What decorations?” I asked. “You’re too busy mooning over your sub to look at anything else.” Even though Lydia was chatting with Rose at the bar while we gathered on the edge of the dance floor, he wouldn’t stop staring at her.

That earned me a punch on the arm. My face hardened to my signature forbidding expression. Smith just shrugged. He was the only one who seemed to be impervious to my glare. I shouldn’t have coddled him so much.

“That goes for you too, Clayton,” I barked at the token frat boy of the group. I swore the man slept in his suits. He couldn’t even change out of one into appropriate leathers for the club. “We’re having a conversation here. Stop staring at Rose and pay attention.”

His bright blue eyes turned on me, and he shot me a wide smile that wasn’t in the least bit apologetic. “Sorry, boss.”

The man was getting as arrogant as Smith ever since he had joined the lifestyle. I really should figure out a way to nip that in the bud. He used to be my poster boy for good behavior. Now he ran ops without my permission and kept vital information from me. Like when two of my men were keeping women as slaves in truly unhealthy relationships. Things had turned out okay for Javier and Smith, but I would have kicked some asses at the time if I had known.

“You could at least try to sound genuine when you apologize to me,” I drawled.

Clayton’s grin widened, and he gave me a sardonic salute. “Sorry, Sir.”

I let out a disapproving growl. Maybe I had made a mistake in recruiting too many Doms. They really were pains in my ass sometimes.

“Stop being so prickly, Kennedy. It’s Christmas in a few days. This is a party.”

Damn. Even the subs were being impertinent. I turned a hard stare on Sharon. She held my gaze for a few seconds before her dark eyes slid away from mine. Finally, some respect. Sharon was a smart woman. I was going to bury Smith and Clayton in paperwork until they were well and truly remorseful.

“I don’t know what you’re planning, Kennedy, but man am I glad I’m not in your unit anymore. Clayton, Smith, you’re in for some serious shit.” Reed Miller had always been too flippant for his own good.

“Count yourself lucky,” I told him. “I am glad you’re in town, though,” I admitted a bit grudgingly. “I want to talk to you all about what’s going on with Clara Peterson, and I know you’re friends with her, Reed.”

The kid frowned slightly. “I haven’t really had contact with her since I transferred to Chicago. I’ve been a little caught up in other things.”

“Caught up in other things.” More like “buried balls deep in Katherine Byrd.” I snorted my derision, but didn’t comment. I was secretly proud of him for his role in catching The Mentor. He was a rookie, but he had taken down one of the most heinous serial killers I had ever encountered. Not to mention he saw through the bullshit when the sadistic bastard had tried to frame me for his crimes. Even if he didn’t take things as seriously as I would like, Reed was loyal. And he was a damn good agent. I kind of hated that he had transferred out of my unit. Something else I wouldn’t admit aloud. I couldn’t have the guys thinking I was a soft sentimentalist.

“What about you, Sharon?” I turned my attention to the ball-busting sub on my team. “Have you had contact with Clara recently?”

She shook her head, her mass of curly black hair swaying. “Derek hasn’t let her come back to Decadence since it re-opened. He still hasn’t forgiven her for the mess she got Charlotte into. I don’t think he’ll ever be able to let go of what almost happened to his little sister.” Her lips turned down at the corners. “To be honest, I don’t know if I’ve forgiven her, either. I like Clara, but what she did was inexcusably reckless.” She turned her glare on Clayton and Reed. “And don’t think I’ve forgotten your role in the whole fiasco, guys. You’re lucky I was able to convince Derek to let you cross the threshold.”

The men wore matching expressions of guilt.

“That really was decent of him,” Clayton admitted. “I’m amazed Javier managed to forgive us, much less Charlotte’s brother.”

“It’s more like Derek tolerates you, and you have me to thank for that. Otherwise you would be banned from this awesome club. You’re welcome.”

“Aren’t hostesses supposed to be polite?” Reed griped.

“That’s Derek’s business,” I reminded him.

Sharon’s eyes widened. “You wouldn’t. Don’t you dare tell him I’m being impolite. He won’t like it.”

My brows rose. “Then I suggest you mind your manners.”

Rather than apologizing, she glowered at me. But she wisely held her tongue. I wouldn’t tattle on her to her Dom, anyway. She was part of my family, so I had her back. She didn’t have to know that, though.

Smith cleared his throat. “Getting back to the subject at hand, I think Clara’s gone rogue on us. I haven’t heard from her in weeks, so I looked into where she’s been. Apparently, she’s taken an extended hiatus from her job with the NYPD and has dropped off the face of the earth.” He grimaced. “Or rather, she’s left the country. She booked a one-way ticket to London and flew out a few days ago.”

“If you haven’t talked to her in a while, how do you know all this?” I asked with open curiosity.

“I pulled her financials and looked into her recent spending,” Smith said negligently, as though it was of no consequence that he had violated his friend’s privacy.

“Good work.” This was exactly why I had stood behind Smith and brought him into the Bureau. He didn’t mind bending the rules to get what he needed.

He nodded in acknowledgement of my approval. “I don’t think she’s on vacation,” he continued. “She’s become obsessed with hunting down Dimitri. The head of her department told me she’s been neglecting her work to investigate the Odessa Mafia.”

I cursed internally. This was exactly why I had been keeping her off the task force looking into the Odessa Mafia – the New York branch of the Russian Mafia. She was too close to the case, and that meant she might do something stupid.

As a Dominatrix, Clara was always coolly in control, but ever since her first encounter with Dimitri, she had completely lost it.

“I can’t believe you went behind her back and looked into her like that,” Sharon said, her voice dripping with disapproval. “She wants to set things right after fucking up. She deserves to redeem herself.”

“It’s for her own good,” Smith countered.

Sharon let out an exasperated huff. “You guys get so annoyingly overprotective when it comes to women in the lifestyle. It’s Clara’s business, and you shouldn’t be prying into her private affairs.”

“This has nothing to do with her being in the lifestyle,” I corrected her sharply. “If Clayton or Smith went off on a vigilante mission to Europe by themselves, you would follow them in and drag their asses back home.”

She opened her mouth to protest.

“Don’t lie to me, Sharon,” I warned, my voice deepening with the order.

Her teeth snapped closed, and she shifted uncomfortably.

“Is your sassiness causing trouble, sub?” Derek Carter came up behind his girlfriend and wrapped his arms around her waist. He bent to whisper low in her ear. “These are our guests. You’re supposed to be nice to them.”

“That’s what I said,” Reed pointed out.

The little sub’s eyes flared with anger. “You’re a goddamn traitor, Miller,” she accused him.

“Watch your language,” Derek warned, but his lips twitched with a smile. He was far too indulgent of Sharon. I cared about her a great deal, but I didn’t envy the man. I liked my submissive partners to be respectful and obedient.

“Come on,” Derek continued. “You have to help me with the decorations.”

Her forehead creased with her confusion. “What? We spent all day putting them up. I thought we were done.”

He nuzzled her neck, and she shivered. “Babe, you are the decorations.”

In one swift movement, he drew her arms behind her back and secured her with a pair of handcuffs. She didn’t even have time to protest before he lifted her up and threw her over his shoulder. She tried to kick out, but he held her legs firmly.

“Put me down!” She insisted hotly.

“That’s ‘put me down, Master,’” he corrected her as he carried her off.

I smothered a smile. Sharon still had trouble showing her submissive side around us. She needed to learn that it didn’t make us think less of her. In fact, I respected her enormously for finally accepting herself. I was sure Derek would help her with that. He was a good man and an excellent Dom, and he was the perfect partner for her.

Speaking of partners, I needed to find one for the evening. I glanced around the club, checking out the clientele. My eyes locked with a pretty blonde sub who sat at the bar. Her bottle green gaze dropped instantly in a show of respect.

Perfect.

“I’ll figure out what to do about Clara,” I told the rest of the group. “This is supposed to be a party. We should enjoy ourselves.”

A predatory grin spread across my face, and I began to prowl toward my conquest for the evening.