Page 7 of Harvest

“Sounds good. Do you want to change first or have that drink?”

“I think I’ll change first.”

“Annabeth? Would you show our guest to the ladies lounge?”

“Sure boss. Come on,” she said, turning back the way she’d come.

They walked into the submissives’ lounge and Annabeth showed her to an empty locker.

“This place is a lot like Dante’s…” said Stephanie.

“In Florence? The Dante’s in Italy?”

“The one and only, but Torch Light reminds me of it. Nice place?”

“The best. I had to save up to join, but it’s so worth it. Now I work to pay for my membership. I work three nights a week and get to keep the tips. I make more here than working at my aunt’s nursery. Subs are treated really well, and you always feel safe although sometimes, they’re a bit much.”

“How so?” questioned Stephanie as she began to undress.

One of the things she’d loved about BDSM clubs from the beginning was the acceptance of different body shapes and sizes. From the moment she had discovered them, she had begun to accept her body and soon lost any sense of modesty. In fact, she had become a bit of an exhibitionist.

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s kind of sweet, but unless you’re leaving here with a Dom, you’re expected to call back to the club when you get home. Failure to do so gets you a discipline session with Master Alex.”

“Sounds a little like Dante’s. Part of you thinks it’s overkill and another part thinks it’s kind of nice.”

Annabeth laughed. “And the part that gets spanked reminds you never to do it again. Your corset is gorgeous. Need some help with the laces?”

“That would be great. Who is Master Alex?”

“He’s one of the Resident Doms of the Club. There are two others, Nic being one of them. The Managing Dom is Lincoln Steele. At least one Resident Dom or Linc is here whenever the club is open.”

Stephanie slipped out of her clothes and into her corset and thong.Lincoln Steele? Was he kin to Damian or was that just Damian using a different name as his club persona? Annabeth proved to have a deft hand with the laces and soon she was cinched in and ready to go. They walked back to the lounge where Nic waited and Annabeth slipped behind the bar.

“What are you drinking, Stephanie?” asked Nic.

“I used to live in Italy, and I loved it, but I swear to God the bartenders there can’t make a peach margarita on the rocks to save their lives.”

Annabeth laughed. “Girlfriend, you came to the right place. I make the best flavored margaritas on the planet and on the rocks is my specialty. Salt, sugar, or naked?”

“Naked.”

“Come on, let’s get comfortable. Master Alex is here. There are few as good with a flogger as Alex. Annabeth will bring you your drink.”

The leather club chairs were large and comfortable. Stephanie imagined they had been acquired for the comfort of a Dom to hold a sub in his/her lap. She settled back and sipped her margarita. Annabeth hadn’t lied, her drink was perfection. She began to relax until the feeling of a thousand bees or more assailed her.

She’d heard the feeling explained, but never thought to feel it… a kind of wildfire surging through her veins… the recognition of her fated mate.

CHAPTER 2

As he held the phone to his face, Xander glanced around the city, exhausted from his meeting with an alpha from south of their territory. “Damian, looks like we aren’t the only ones seeing signs that the Hunters are getting bolder. The rumors about their increased activities are running rampant.”

Damian sighed long and deep. “Not what I wanted to hear, but it was expected. Was Rhodes on board for a summit of the alphas along the coast?”

“He was. He didn’t strike me as much of a team player, but I think the fact that they got to his people on their own beach rattled him a bit. I offered our condolences on their loss and also our support.”

“No doubt that was turned down. Rhodes has always been one to take care of his own. I’m just not sure that’s going to work if we want to keep our people hidden and the Hunters continue to escalate.”

“Interestingly enough, he said almost the same thing.”

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