Page 1 of Daddy's Heart

Chapter 1

Ryder Welding chucked his duffel bag over his shoulder and hiked up two floors of stairs. The summer heat followed him into the stairwell, entangling with the stale air. He made a note to tell George to talk to the building maintenance people again.

Gallant Domination belonged to George, a longtime friend. Ryder volunteered, helping man the dungeon parties and do light equipment repair in exchange for free membership. The club wasn’t exclusive, but it wasn’t cheap, and on Ryder’s construction salary, it would be hard, but not impossible. He worked enough overtime to keep the accounts full, but he preferred to stash as much away as he could for when his muscles finally gave out and he couldn’t depend on the forklifts to do the work for him anymore.

“Ryder, thanks for coming in today,” George greeted him at the entrance.

“No problem.” Ryder slid his duffel off his shoulder and dropped it on the bar top. The lounge setup was like any other club. Bar, high tables, a few leather couches sprinkled in, and two armchairs made it all a relaxing atmosphere.

“I have the painters coming to paint the purple and black rooms, so we need to move out the equipment. We can put one cross and one spanking bench in the main room, and the other stuff we’ll have to move into the meeting room and close it off until we can move everything back into the private rooms,” George explained as they walked down the hall to the private rooms he rented out to the members.

Private play didn’t need special rentals, but groups often wanted the room for a full night, and they didn’t mind renting out the space since George wasn’t one to overcharge.

“Got it.” Ryder entered the purple room and surveyed the equipment to be moved. “Is it just the two of us?”

“Yeah, Barry had to take his girl to the doctor this morning. She’s been having some spotting.” George raised his eyebrows and scrunched his lips.

Ryder laughed. “He told you that?”

“Yeah. He’s worried something’s wrong with the baby.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Ryder said, having no idea if spotting at seven months was normal.

“Hope not. That man’s been waiting long enough to find the right girl and start a family. Hate to see something bad happen now.” George made his way to a spanking bench and motioned for Ryder to grab the other end.

“He got lucky, that’s for sure.” Ryder picked up the bench with George and walked backward toward the door.

Barry had gotten lucky. Not everyone would find a woman well-suited to them. Normal life compatibility was hard enough to find, but to add kink to it? Ryder didn’t hold much hope of finding it. Some fun at the dungeon and a few short relationships was fine for him. He’d adjusted to it.

“Luck has nothing to do with it.” George grunted as he maneuvered the bench through the doorjamb and turned down the hall to the main playroom.

“I’m not having this discussion again. It’s not like you’ve settled down either.” Ryder backed into the main space and found a cleared area to put the bench.

They set the hulking equipment down and walked back to the purple room to get the St. Andrew’s cross.

“When’s the last time you even played here?” George pressed as he motioned Ryder toward the cross.

“A few weeks ago with Sara.”

“And?” George hoisted his side of the cross.

Ryder lifted his part with ease, but used the excuse of carrying the cross to keep his mouth closed. Playing with Sara had been fun, a night of kinky excitement, but that’s all it was—all it could be.

“It was fun.” Ryder pushed the cross into the corner, moving the angle until he was happy with the placement. “There are stocks in there. You want them in here or the main room?”

“Main room,” George said. “That reminds me, I put in an order for another stock set for the lounge area. I’m going to put it up on a platform—like a punishment corner.” George grinned.

Ryder chuckled. “I like it.” He could think of plenty of willing participants, and a few who would be less joyful about it.

“I’m looking into hiring a general manager around here.” George talked while he pointed to the next item to be moved.

“Oh yeah? Finally realized the tower of papers and mail on your desk was going to crash down and kill you?” Ryder laughed.

George shot him a quick glare. “I handle shit fine around here, but I’m tired of chasing invoices and all that garbage. I want to be out here more, with the guests—”

“With the women, you mean,” Ryder shot back, positioning the last large piece that needed two men to move. He could do the rest on his on his own.

“Them too.” George winked.

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