Page 9 of Rogue Royal
“Anything happened tonight?”
“Nope. All is well. Although I may have jinxed us.”
Douglas chuckled. “I’ll take my chances. See you later.”
He stepped down and strode towards one of the back hallways. There were two hallways on either side of where Henry was standing, each leading to different rooms. The hallway on the right led to private rooms, and the hallway on the left, which was where he was, led to themed rooms and areas.
As soon as he entered the hallway, he opened the door to his right. This was where the sensation play area was based and decorated in the same dark wood furniture with emerald-green walls and cream fabrics as the rest of the club. In the centre on the farthest wall rested a comfortable bed covered with silk sheets. To his left was a hospital-style bed, which had restraints attached to the sides. To his right stood a set of shelves and a wooden trunk containing several unique items.
Douglas had been telling the truth when he’d told Henry he didn’t want to limit himself. He loved all aspects of BDSM, but there was something about sensation play that called to him. The idea of making someone feel such intensity from something so soft and innocent was powerful. When he had to do his teaching, he enjoyed talking and explaining the uses of sensation play within all areas of the BDSM lifestyle. Many thought it was limited to temperature play, but there were many ways it could be used to overwhelm someone in a good way.
Douglas stepped further into the room, leaving the door ajar—this was to let members know there was no scene, but someone could request one. Next to the door he came through was a large window. Although the door would be closed when the scene was in progress, it didn’t stop members from being able to watch what happened. A cover was available if the recipient didn’t want to be observed.
A knock sounded, and Douglas glanced over his shoulder to see a red-haired, slender man standing in the doorway. He was wearing nothing except a pair of black briefs.
“Good evening. How can I help?” Douglas faced the newcomer, offering his complete attention.
“Good evening, Master Douglas. I wondered if I could request to play tonight, sir?”
“Such manners. You’re welcome. Please, come in.” He waited until the submissive had entered and closed the door behind him, head lowered. “Would you like to be watched?”
A flush entered the man’s cheeks and flowed down his neck to his bare chest. “Yes, please, sir.” His voice was shaky, though not with fear. With excitement.
Douglas’s mouth twitched. “Very good. Please lay down on the bed.”
This was going to be fun.
****
Chapter 4
Maverick
Mav hated bloody migraines. He’d suffered with them since he was a teen, though, at that time of his life, they hadn’t been as incapacitating as they were these days. He suffered from daily headaches, but the migraines happened once a week or so. It was more than he wanted to have them but better than daily.
At that moment, his head felt like it would explode if he didn’t do something about it. Unfortunately, nothing except a dark room and sleep would help, and he didn’t have time to do it now. He was working his ass off to make certain the alley-job—as the media had nicknamed the event—was being thwarted by good news reviews instead. It wasn’t always possible, but soon a new story would show up.
Mav held a hand over his mouth and breathed through his nose to ease the nausea accompanying the pickaxe in his head. The aura from his migraine had lasted around twenty minutes, and it had left him with a hammering behind his eyes and at the base of his neck. At least he could see again, which was beneficial, as he was on his way to meet with Douglas.
As far as Mav could tell, Douglas had behaved himself for the past forty-eight hours. Mav couldn’t ask for more, in all honesty, and at eight o’clock in the morning, he was glad.
He knocked on Douglas’s door, waiting for the command to enter, then stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
“Good morning, Your Highness.”
“Are you ever going to call me Douglas?”
“No, Your Highness.”
Douglas tilted his head from where he was sitting at the window. “I could order you to call me it.”
“You could.” Mav knew he was walking a fine line and let out a soft sigh when Douglas laughed. He had no problem thinking of the man as Douglas, but he couldn’t say it.
“What duties do I have spread across my hours today?” Douglas stood and crossed the room to where his tea was, always filled and hot.
Mav hadn’t realised how much tea Douglas drank until a few months into his job and they had spent several hours together. Douglas must have drunk ten cups in those few hours. Mav preferred decaf coffee.
He cleared his throat and brought the tablet higher. “At eleven o’clock, you have a visit to a library to meet some children and parents who are trying to get funding to keep the library open. You have a lunch meeting here at two o’clock. Then you have a meeting with Prince Frederick at five and the club at eight.”
