Page 10 of Daddy's Heart

“Oh, yeah.” George nodded. “She’s in the scene. She probably won’t come here, though. She’s uncomfortable around me in this setting. Since I’m friends with her older brother.”

She’s in the scene.Ryder tried to hide the surprise and hope bubbling up inside him.

“How do you know she’s in the scene?”

“We bumped into each other at a club in Indianapolis when I was visiting Paul. It was awkward, but she’s a great girl. We talked and ended up spending most of the night with each other in the lounge instead of playing. That’s when I told her about this place.”

“And her brother?”

“He knows. He and his wife don’t go to the clubs anymore, but they have more of a domestic discipline thing going.”

Ryder nodded along, his mind already wandering to Samantha. What sort of play did she like? Was she as timid in a scene as she was outside? Or did a wild cat come out to play?

“Is she a top?” Ryder asked, forcing his tone to remain casual.

George could see through it a mile away. “Why?”

“Just curious. Don’t want to assume she’s a sub just ’cause she’s a girl.”

“Right.” He squared off with Ryder. “She is a submissive.”

Ryder swept his gaze around the room again. Two more scenes to finish up, then he’d close the room down.

“You aren’t looking for a woman,” George pointed out.

“Still true,” Ryder agreed. “I was just curious, George. She’s a guest. And she’s your friend. I’m not going to overstep.”

“She had a rough time there at the end in Indiana. I doubt she’d even be looking for anything more than a friendship right now anyway,” George said, pushing off the wall.

“Bad breakup?” Ryder asked, his insides twisting at the idea. He’d only just met her, but she had such a softness, such an open, honest air, he could imagine the wrong people taking advantage of it.

George shook his head. “Ask her. It’s her story to tell.”

“George, if some crazy ex-boyfriend is going to show up on my doorstep, I’d like to know about it beforehand.” Ryder straightened his spine. He’d still let her stay with him, he’d keep her safe, but he needed to know from what.

“Nothing like that. No one’s coming looking for her. I wouldn’t have let her stay with you if that were the case,” George assured him.

Ryder let it drop. He’d ask her. If it wasn’t anything horrible, she’d tell him. And if she was hiding something, he’d draw it out. Somehow.

“Why don’t you head home? They’re done here. Wesley can close down the room. He’s in no hurry tonight. His girlfriend is away with friends.” George patted his shoulder.

“I’ll take care of it,” Ryder declined. He signed up for the shift, he’d finish it. It was nearing one in the morning, and Samantha should be asleep by now.

George left him to it, and Ryder got to work. Even though the members wiped down the equipment when they were done, he went over each piece once more with the cleaning formula. When he was satisfied with the room, he said his goodbyes and made his way down to his car.

The humidity made the air thick and hot. The summer was only beginning; there would be no escaping the heat until fall. If Chicago was granted a fall.

Ryder parked his truck next to Samantha’s green Beetle. He wondered what she’d done all night. Had she rented a movie and opened a bottle of wine? Read a book? Taken a long hot bath with bubbles covering the generous swell of her breasts?

He needed to stop, but every time he started down an innocent train of thought, it derailed right into the dirt. He’d only met her; she shouldn’t be having such a powerful impact on him. But there it was. The entire elevator ride up to his apartment, he wondered what she wore to sleep, if she slept on the right or left side of the bed.

By the time he’d gotten his key in the lock, she’d consumed every thought that popped into his head.

The apartment was lit up. He bolted the door and dropped his bag at the closet.

“Samantha?” he called.

He silenced his steps as he made his way down the hall toward the living room. Music played.

---