Page 1 of Claiming Rose

Chapter One

Rose Green took a deep breath and walked into Wicked Sanctuary. The familiar sight of Ralph behind the desk.

“Nice to see you, Miss Rose,” Ralph said.

“It’s great to be back.” Rose signed in and then made her way to the ladies room. As she walked by the doors to the club, the beat of the music instantly calmed her nerves. She’d missed this.

Inside the bathroom, she took off her street clothes to reveal her outfit for the night. Closing the locker and hearing two beeps she stood in front of the full-length mirror. She ran her hands over the boy shorts that showed off her ass. An ass that missed being spanked.

A laugh escaped her lips. Yeah, she needed this. Rose made her way out of the bathroom and into the club. The music became louder when she walked through the club doors, but the beat made her relax.

“Rose.” Regina, one of the club subs came running up to her and enveloped her in a big hug. “I’ve missed you.”

“I missed you, too.” Rose hugged her back. She hadn’t intended so much time to pass. After the argument with Thomas, she thought it was easier to stay away until he was gone. But was he? “What’s this?” She pointed to Regina’s purple and white wrist band, which Rose knew meant Regina had a Dom in her life.

“Happened while you were gone. I met the most wonderful man.”

Rose smiled as they walked into the green area meant for subs and Regina told her all about Dane. She was happy for her friend. Rose glanced down at her own wrist. Pink and white meant unattached. She sighed. No going back. Thomas was history.

“Welcome back, Rose,” a male voice said.

She looked up to see Master Max standing next to the sofa she sat on. “Thank you, Master Max.”

“I’ll be right back.” Regina looked at Max who nodded, then stood up and left. Master Max took her place on the sofa.

“Are you doing all right?” he asked.

“I’m fine.” Master Max had been there the night of the blow up. She was still a little embarrassed she’d lost her cool.

Master Max stared at her.

“Really, I’m good.”

“I believe you. I want you to know Thomas has been made well aware that he is not welcome here.”

“You didn’t have to do that.” Rose figured Master Max would ban him, but she wasn’t positive Thomas, one of the club Doms, couldn’t talk his way out of it.

“I did. He lied, not only to you but all of us. We don’t tolerate that.”

Rose nodded, not allowing the tears that threated to fill her eyes. She had friends here. Many had called and checked in on her. “Thank you, Sir.” Max was right, Thomas lied to all of them by claiming he was single and didn’t have a care in the world.

“I’m glad you’re back. I’m sure Sierra will be over to chat, along with the other subs. Take your time and don’t feel rushed to jump back into a scene.” Master Max stood.

“I won’t, Sir.” That was another reason she’d taken time away from the club. Rose needed to decide if she really needed kink in her life. Sure it relaxed her to have decisions made for her by someone else. But the club scenes went much deeper for her. Trusting someone with her heart and her body, holding the ultimate control of the safe word, but not using it, there was a dichotomy there that thrilled her. A month ago, her Dom had stolen that from her, and Rose was very afraid she’d never get the feeling back.

Master Max smile then walked away. The next thing Rose knew she was surrounded by the subs of Wicked Sanctuary. Sierra, Crystal, Tessa, Lara, Allyson, Dani and Regina. The woman pulled chairs and sofas closer so they could talk. And before long they were laughing and chatting like the friends they’d been for years.

* * * *

Oliver Nelson kept his gaze on Rose, his heart lightened. She was back. He’d missed her throaty laugh, the way she’d sashayed across the floor, and most of all the way her blue eyes twinkled when she was happy.

Should he approach her tonight? To play? No, it was too soon to ask her to play, but he could talk with her. Oliver had kept his distance because she was committed to Thomas in the club, but then he betrayed her.

Oliver had been angry on Rose’s behalf, but not only that. Thomas had taken Rose’s trust and threw it away because he wasn’t honest. Oliver wasn’t sure how far outside the club Thomas and Rose’s relationship went, but that didn’t matter. His betrayal affected all of them.

The shock of him being engaged had rippled through the club like a rogue wave. Thomas always claimed he didn’t have relationships and was a free man. And Rose? Oliver had never seen her lose her temper like she’d done that night. Not that she wasn’t justified in doing so. She was. The man she’d been steadily playing with in the club, a man she trusted, had lied.

“Thinking of claiming her?” Noah, one of the other Doms asked him.

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