Page 41 of Waiting for Him
Scanning the area, Kat loved how the gray carpet and burgundy walls gave the club a warm atmosphere. Lighting consisted of wrought iron chandeliers and sconces, and there were numerous seating areas with couches, chaise lounges, winged-back chairs, and dark wood tables. Across from the bar was a grand staircase to the floor below. Brass railings ran down the side of the steps and around the balcony. More seating, in the form of pub tables and stools, allowed members to sit and observe the activities in the pit from above.
Two men, one of whom looked eerily similar to Ian and Devon, approached the group, and she guessed this was their cousin Mitch. He was a little shorter than the brothers, and his blue eyes weren’t as striking, but his hair and facial features were definitely from Sawyer DNA. Wearing black dress pants and a snug black T-shirt, he carried himself confidently.
The other man was slender and, with his salt and pepper hair and goatee, she assumed he was in his fifties. With his black leather pants and dress shirt, an image of Dracula popped into her mind. All he was missing was a cape and some fangs. The way he eyed her up and down made her shiver and step closer to Benny. Studying the two men, the first word that came to mind was dominant, and Kat realized she could categorize most of the club patrons by their dress and/or manner.
Next to her, Benny put his arm around her shoulders and gestured to the two newcomers. “Kat, this is Master Mitch, co-owner and manager of the club. And this is Master Carl, who better be nice if he wants to remain standing.”
Master Carl ignored Benny’s warning as he took Kat’s hand and kissed her knuckles. “So, this is the little kitten Master Carter was talking about. He didn’t lie when he said you were one mighty fine-looking feline. Me-ow. You’re welcome to use my scratching post anytime you want, my little pussy . . . cat.”
While Benny growled and plucked her hand from the other man’s grasp, Kat blushed awkwardly. The group laughed, and Ian tugged on Master Carl’s arm, forcing him to step back out of her personal space. “You’ll have to forgive Master Carl, Kat. We’ve been trying to housetrain him for a while now. One of these days, he'll piss in the wrong sandbox. Aside from being a sadist, he’s harmless.”
“Um . . . okay.” Kat wasn’t sure what else to say to that.
Kristen put her hand on Kat’s arm. “Don’t worry. He comes off as a shark, but he’s actually a big teddy bear. But if he offers to show you his bullwhip, run in the other direction.”
Master Carl tried to frown but wasn’t successful. “Everyone ruins all my fun. However, it is a pleasure to meet you, little one, and I welcome you to our club.”
Before anyone could say more, Tiny rushed over and addressed Ian. “The front gate has three unknown males in a vehicle demanding entry to the club. The guards have them at gunpoint.”
As Tiny and Devon took off for the door, Ian turned to his cousin. “The women don’t leave your sight, and no one goes out to the parking lot until we clear this.”
“Got it. I’ll post extra security at the doors.” Mitch waved over two men in red button-down shirts and began to bark out orders.
Meanwhile, Benny pointed at the manager, but his eyes were on Kat. “You stay with Mitch, no matter what, and do exactly what he says. I’ll be right back.”
Kat felt the blood drain from her face, but she managed to nod. “O-okay. But be careful.”
She wasn’t sure if he’d heard her because he and Ian were already running out the double doors to the lobby. Angie put her arm around Kat’s shoulder as Kristen stepped in front of her, drawing her attention. “It’s going to be fine, Kat. This is what they do, and they’re the best-trained men out there.”
Mitch rejoined them and suggested they move Kat to one of the empty seating areas. “She’s very pale, and I don’t want her to faint.” As the women sat, he signaled one of the waitresses to bring over some water bottles. Moments later, he said, “Drink, Kat.”
At Mitch’s words, she blinked several times, having no idea how an uncapped water bottle had gotten into her hand—she’d been too busy concentrating on the doors leading to the lobby. When Mitch repeated his order, she took a few swallows and then glanced at a pretty blonde waitress standing nearby and smiling at her.
“Hi, do you remember me? We met at the store the other day. I’m Cassandra. It’s nice to see you again.”
Recognition dawned. Now Kat had two things running through her mind. One, was Benny okay outside? And two, had he had sex with the petite woman? She tried to be polite despite the waves of jealousy coursing through her. “Oh, yes. Hello. It’s nice to see you too.”
Cassandra handed water bottles to Kristen and Angie, who thanked her. She turned back to Kat. “I had a feeling I’d see you here soon. It looks like Master Ben is off the market, and I’m happy for you both. He’s a great guy and deserves someone special. Anyway, if you need anything else, just let me know.”
Watching the friendly waitress walk away, Kat felt Angie’s hand on her arm. “I know what you’re thinking, Kat. You have to get past the fact that Boomer had a life while he thought you were gone. The point is, he’s with you now, and I can tell by how he looks at you that he doesn’t want anyone else.”
Kat nodded, then took a sip of water, knowing the other woman was right. Sitting near the koi pond earlier in the day, the subject of her walking back into Benny’s life and right into his arms was the main topic of conversation. Angie and Kristen hadn’t talked much about the club in front of Jenn and Eileen Michaelson, but they had while finding something for Kat to wear. They explained how some of BDSM interactions were just physical, without the emotional entanglements and drama that came with traditional relationships. And whether she liked it or not, there were women at the club whom Benny had played with.
She knew they were trying to put her mind at ease. It wasn’t as if she’d expected him to be a celibate monk for twelve years when he thought she was dead. But the few men she had dated over the years had never given her a reason to be jealous, so it was a new emotion for her. One she would have to get past if she wanted this to work between them—and she wanted that more than anything else in the world.
It was a good ten minutes before the men came back into the club, and Mitch visibly relaxed. Kat could tell by how they were joking and laughing that nothing serious had happened. The three women began to stand as their men approached, and Ian waved for them to sit back down. “Nothing to worry about. Just a few barely-legal, drunken jackasses looking for some slap and tickle. Somehow, they heard about the club and thought it was a combination strip show and whorehouse. The idiotic driver pulled out a knife when the guards wouldn’t let them in, then wet his pants when faced with a full arsenal. The cops arrived and are taking care of them.”
The group broke out into chuckles and comments about stupidity as Benny took Kat’s hand and pulled her into his arms. “You okay? I’m sorry we had to scare you.”
She melted into him. “It wasn’t your fault. I’m just glad no one got hurt. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if they did.”
“Hey.” His hand went under her chin and tilted her head back so she could see his face. “I keep telling you, none of this is your fault, Kitten. I know it’s hard for you to believe, but the bad guys and your dad are to blame. Although I doubt he realized he was putting you in danger by taking the money, but he should have.”
Leaning down, he lowered his voice, his lips touching her ear. “Now, since the excitement is over, how about I give you a tour and get you excited in another way? A way that will get you wet and begging me to do wicked things to you.”
Blushing at his suggestion, Kat shivered and let him lead her to the grand staircase. He handed a club card to one of the security guards, who scanned it through a hand-held computer. It showed Benny had two or fewer alcoholic beverages served to him, and they were allowed to enter the pit. Kat’s yellow wristband indicated she wasn’t allowed to play as a guest, so they didn’t need to know if she’d had anything to drink.
Descending into the pit, Kat’s butterflies were back, and she shuddered. Benny must’ve felt her reaction because he stopped and pulled her to the side of the stairs out of traffic. “Are you okay? Are you sure you want to do this? If you don’t, we can leave now, Kitten. This is a part of my life, but I want you in my life more than anything. I can give it up if I have to.”
