“I can’t believe you talked me into this,” she muttered while tugging on her northward migrating hem for the umpteenth time in the last hour. Cassie squirmed on the cool leather, not because it was uncomfortable against the backs of her thighs, but because it was a constant reminder of what she was about to do. She glared at Jules who sat grinning at her from the front seat.

“Quit fidgeting; you look fantastic.”

“What if someone recognizes me?”

“No one will know who you are in that red wig. Besides, who do you know in LA?”

“We’re not from LA!” she reminded her. “What if I run into someone from the base? I’ll have to quit.”

“Cass, in that get up, you are the farthest thing from the girl genius they work with from day-to-day. Besides, the club has nearly five hundred members. For an event such as tonight, almost all of them will be present. Add in the guests, and we’ll be lucky to find each other, let alone run into someone we know.” She turned to her husband for support of her claim. “Isn’t that right, honey?”

Quiet since they’d pick her up almost two hours ago, Colt looked at her in the rear-view mirror and agreed. “Even after knowing you for ten years, I wouldn’t have guessed it was you. What’s more, of the five thousand Navy personnel at Coronado, I can count on one hand how many are club members, including me. What are the odds of running into them?”

“Less than one percent.”

Jules laughed. “She’s a computer and math whiz, Colt; you had to ask.”

“Will it make you feel better if I tell you two of the five members are on assignment out of the country?”

It did, but only somewhat, as did the fact that in the past six months, working on the same base with Colt, she’d seen him once. Although her interaction with others was limited to those rotating through her lab, which was only a small fraction of the five thousand he’d mentioned. “Tell me how this works again.”

Despite having explained numerous times in the past few days, Jules didn’t complain, and answered, yet again. “The whole point of tonight is to bring in new members, mostly new submissives. Many of our long-time members have married and it’s thrown our available sub to Dom ratio out of whack.”

“Master Eric likes to keep the numbers fairly even,” Colt added.

“Master Eric?”

“The managing partner and the club’s Master Dom.”

“I used to think he was scary,” Jules remarked, “until he collared Val. Now he smiles more than he scowls. I think she has mellowed him a lot.”

Colt chuckled. “Don’t spread that around, either of you. He’ll kick us all to the curb. Being known as a mellow Master would be a major hit to his reputation.”

“I’m not the only one who’s noticed,” she told him as she turned to face forward.

“Let someone else mention it to him then.”

Cassie listened to this back and forth, but not knowing who they spoke of she tried to get them to refocus. “So, tonight, all potential new members are in designated costumes, right?”

“No,” Jules corrected her. “Only those looking for a partner. You’re supposed to find someone to play with who matches your theme for the night. There are four: doctor and nurse, sheik and harem girl, Tarzan and Jane, and yours, which is a pet for some lucky sub-seeking teacher. I was hoping you’d get carried off over some half-naked hunk’s shoulder, but Colt vetoed jungle girl because the outfit was too revealing.”

“I didn’t think you’d be comfortable with any of the other options,” he explained, “at least not on your first visit.”

“I appreciate you watching out for me, but I can’t imagine any of the others being worse than this,” she grumbled, once again pulling at the red and black plaid skirt.

Jules noticed, and issued another warning. “Cassie, stop fidgeting. If you keep that up, you’ll put a hole in it.”

And wouldn’t that be a shame? While shooting a scowl at the back of her friend’s head, she shifted once more, wincing as her movements peeled her thighs off the leather. “I’m sure Jane and the nurse at least get to have their asses covered.”

“Don’t bet on it,” Colt replied. “It’s private and exclusive, but it’s still a sex club, so naturally, the costumes chosen are both revealing and provocative. The nurse’s uniform consisted of a skimpy, figure-hugging white dress, lace garters, and stilettos, sans panties, of course. I saw a picture of it at the last Dom’s meeting. The neckline plunged so low you would have been lucky if the toy stethoscope that came with it covered your nipples. As for Jane of the Jungle, her fur dress was designed intentionally to entice Tarzan.”

“Fur doesn’t sound so bad, at least I’d be warm.”

“Yes, except for your bare feet, exposed legs, and barely covered bottom cheeks. And did I mention only one breast is covered thanks to the sleeveless, one-shoulder style?”

Cassie swallowed. She’d have chickened out if they told her she had to run around with one bared boob poking out her first night—or anything for that matter. “Do I dare ask about the harem girl?”

“Covered, but it pretty much consists of sheer veils, revealing more than they conceal. And they’re detachable, which would have left you ripe for the picking. I believe there were seven in all, and the rule is any Dom who plucks one gets to keep it as a souvenir.

Jules grinned. “I’m guessing there isn’t much left once the veils are plucked.”

“And you’d be right,” Colt smirked as he glanced over and took his wife’s hand. “I saw before and after pictures. There were some straps where the veils attach, but that’s it.”

“Which means within minutes of arrival, she would be—”

“Buck naked!” Cassie exclaimed. “Even the… um, naughty bits?”

“As I said, Decadence is a sex club, so especially the naughty bits,” he answered.

“Colt.” She met his gaze in the rearview mirror. “Thank you for my panties.”

“Don’t I have the most thoughtful Master ever?” Jules’ teasing sigh was somewhere between sarcastic and adoring.

He grunted. “I’m glad I packed the new Lexan paddle in my bag. I have a feeling one or both of you are gonna need it, tonight.”

“Promise?” she asked in a wistful tone, prompting a deep throated laugh from her Dom.

Despite the threat, Cassie knew her behind was safe. Colt never had and wouldn’t ever spank her. His subbie wife would get what she had asked for, however.

After leaning over to press a lingering kiss on his cheek, Jules twisted to look back at her again. “It really was sweet of him to pick out the only outfit that came with undies.”

“It was a preemptive measure,” he explained. “I didn’t want her bailing on us before she even got in the car.”

Cassie’s heavy sigh drew another chuckle from Colt and more giggles from Jules. Having friends in the lifestyle, one of them an experienced dominant, had its pros and cons. She hadn’t decided yet under which column tonight fell

She suddenly frowned. For an event targeting new members, submissives, in particular, she expected tame costumes, like her schoolgirl outfit, not bare boobs and equally bare asses hanging out. “I thought this was a mixer for new subs.”

“New to the club, not the lifestyle,” Colt explained.

“Oh.” She swallowed. Boy, had she gotten the wrong idea. “The Doms will think I’m experienced, won’t they?”

“Aren’t you?” he asked, meeting her eyes in the mirror once more.

Regretting her rash decision and the phone call to Jules agreeing to this for the hundredth time, she looked away. “It’s been a long time since college.”

And after so long, she was as nervous as though it was her first ever club visit. She wasn’t a novice, rather a very rusty submissive who wasn’t at all sure what she hoped to get out of tonight. Her emotions were still too raw over Flynn. Admittedly, she was lonely, tired of spending her evenings and weekends by herself or intruding on her friends. Wasn’t that pathetic? Although they never complained, and always went out of their way to include her. They loved her, yet she felt awkward continually horning in on their social calendar.

Turning her thoughts to tonight, she wondered what to expect if she did meet someone. Would he be understanding and be willing to take it slow? If he expected a sub with experience, and she hesitated or seemed reluctant, he might be disappointed, or angry.

She was curious about the exclusive club and had wanted a tour after hearing Jules’ countless stories. If she met someone she liked and felt comfortable with, she might be convinced to do a light scene. But she wasn’t one to jump into sex with a stranger, and she knew there would be other subs there who would. And she would need to negotiate, which she hated. She blew out a breath; it had been so long. What had she gotten herself into?

One thing was certain; she knew what she didn’t want. She wasn’t interested in becoming a slave, or in anything 24/7. Cassie liked being dominated, but not to the point of total control where she would lose herself. She wanted someone whose presence made her body tingle, who’s voice—when giving firm commands—made her ache, and would push her limits, without breaking them.

She’d always longed for someone nurturing, who would also call her on her crap. Like when she got obsessive about her work and didn’t get enough sleep, or when she became so involved in writing code for a software program she forgot to eat. Or, when she got deep in her head, and worried herself to a frazzle, as she was now, stressing over a no pressure, BDSM mixer at an exclusive, members-only club in LA, over two hours away from her home. And, when she became so upset about never finding someone, and winding up alone, she ate a whole tub of Moose Tracks ice cream.

Cassie was a mess, even though she hid it well, and needed someone who cared, who would give her a little loving guidance, not to mention the kinky pleasures she craved.

Steely gray-blue eyes and a dimpled smile flashed in her head as did the fear that after Flynn, no one else would measure up.

“That’s why you’ve got to put yourself out there.” Jules’ soft voice pulled her back to the present. “Hiding behind a computer screen isn’t doing a thing for your love life.”

“Club Decadence is the place to find the dominant you’re looking for, Cassie. It’s not like the public clubs, with posers and assholes looking for a cheap thrill or a hook-up. Our members are invested in the lifestyle. They have a wide variety of interests and backgrounds and everyone, including guests, are thoroughly vetted. The security is top-notch, with surveillance and plenty of dungeon monitors making rounds. If you get into an uncomfortable situation, help is only a safeword away. And since you’re under my protection, you’ll have me to fall back on if you get scared tonight.”

He was such a good friend; she was lucky to have them both. “Thank you for that, Colt.”

“Sir or Master Colt for tonight, Cassie.”

Jules winked at her. “They’re big on titles and respect. Violators can be assigned public punishment, so watch what you say tonight, honey. Okay?”

“Now you’re scaring me.”

“Don’t be,” her friend assured her. “It’s just a fun ice breaker event and a guaranteed way to meet new Doms.”

“Maybe you should go over the rules one more time.”

Her friends shared a look and a smile, but Jules indulged her, again.

“You will be given five ribbons at the start of the evening. Mingle, chat, or dance with whoever you like. As you do, pass out your ribbons to five members who match your costume. But do so before midnight, which is the time of the big reveal. Then, the masks come off, and you will choose a partner from those who hold one of your ribbons. That’s your ticket for a tour and a scene in the dungeon.”

“You can opt out,” Colt advised, his tone serious, “but that means you won’t get to go beyond the lounge and bar. The idea is that curiosity will add a little incentive for newbies to select a play partner. Though remember, you negotiate for only what you feel comfortable doing. If all you’re ready for is a tour and a chat, that’s fine. Or, if your limit is being tied to a cross while fully clothed, so be it. If you want to observe a scene upstairs, that’s also your call, as is going full out because you hit it off with someone. It is always up to you, Cassie. Understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I have one rule of my own.” His eyes briefly locked on hers in the rear-view then cut back to the road. “Since you’re my responsibility tonight, and because I care about you, I will ask that if you decide to play, you let me know who you’re with and where you’ll be. And, I have veto power. I know these people. Some are into edgy shit, which is fine for them, but I don’t think you’re ready for anything extreme after such a long break. Once you’ve been to the club a few times, played a bit, and gotten your feet wet, should you want to explore, the decision is yours. Understood?”

Eyes wide, she once again looked at Jules who peeked over the seat, nodding encouragingly. Now Cassie was really freaked out, especially about the “edgy shit” he hadn’t defined. Still, with a safeword, Colt’s veto, and the decision up to her over how far she wanted to go, she answered, “Yes, sir.”

“Good. We can expect smooth sailing, then.”

She wanted to ask if he knew her, or snap off something sarcastic like, “famous last words”, but she wisely held her tongue. Jules turned front without commenting while Colt lapsed into silence, focused on the road as he took one of the many LA exits off the 101.