Page 27 of Double Down & Dirty

Epilogue

Swallowing hard, Abigail walked into the lobby of The Covenant with Remi and Gray. Her two appointed bodyguards had remained in their car outside the club. In addition to the flood of media attention, her men informed her that until the serial killer targeting submissives in and around Tampa was caught, she would have bodyguards whenever Remi and Gray deemed necessary.

After seeing the industrial warehouse exterior of the club she didn’t know what she expected but found the elegant, Victorian decor warm and inviting. There was a sitting area to her right, and on the left was a reception desk similar to what one would see in a hotel. A large, bald, black man with a friendly smile stood next to a set of huge wooden doors with iron accents.

A beautiful, nine-foot Christmas tree stood tall in a corner, and there were holiday lights and decorations tastefully spread around the room. A large painting of Santa, dressed in black leather, cracking a whip over nine, scantily dressed women wearing reindeer ears, sat on an easel near the front desk. The woman at the far end from Santa’s sleigh had a red nose, and the scene was both sensual and comical.

Several people were milling about, some in leather or lingerie, and others in everyday wear, carrying their club clothes in tote bags or duffels. A squeal caught her attention and she turned to see Kristen Anders-Sawyer running toward her with her arms wide open. She’d recognize her anywhere from photos on the author’s Facebook page and on the backs of her books. Kristen was one of the people currently wearing lingerie. The red and white teddy and matching underwear definitely fit in with the Christmas season.

Kristen threw her arms around her. “Oh, my, God! I’m so glad you’re here! When Masters Remi and Gray told me you were their submissive, I couldn’t wait to finally meet you. Whoops!” She let a shocked Abigail go, and with her gaze on their feet, she faced the Mann brothers. “Sorry, Masters. May I have permission to gush over your submissive, Sirs?”

Bending forward, Remi kissed the brunette on the cheek. “Merry Christmas, Kristen, and permission granted. That goes for you two as well.”

Abigail hadn’t noticed the other women who’d joined their small group, and Kristen introduced her. “Abigail Turner, this is Shelby Christiansen and the soon-to-be Colleen Helm. I think you met her Dom/fiancé, Reggie, yesterday. We’re the welcoming committee for you. If it’s okay with your Masters, we’ll take you to the women’s lounge so you can get changed.” She held up a yellow bracelet for the Doms to see. “I’ve already grabbed her a visitor’s band.”

Her mind spun. Kristen had always been so nice on social media, but the way she was acting, one would think Abigail was the celebrity. The warm smiles from the three submissives had her relaxing and getting into the festivities. Gray and Remi had told her they wouldn’t be able to play at the club until her background check and medical clearance had been completed. The yellow band made it clear to the members and staff so there were no misunderstandings.

Handing Abigail her tote bag he’d been carrying, Gray answered, “Thank you, ladies. We would appreciate you getting Abby settled. Master Remi and I will be at the bar waiting.”

Shelby, a petite woman wearing a green wig, which matched her skimpy club wear, linked her arm with Abigail’s, with a huge grin. “Thank you, Sirs. Our Masters are at the bar as well. We’ll take good care of your subbie and return her to you after we give her all the club gossip.”

Rolling his eyes, Remi chuckled. “Uh ... no. If you do that, we won’t see her again until next Friday. You have fifteen minutes.”

As they led her toward the double doors, it was clear the women would be cutting it as close to the set deadline as possible as they chatted and pointed things out to her. The huge doorman tipped his head when Kristen introduced him as “Tiny”—a name that belied his size. Shelby explained the head of security wasn’t a Dom, so he wasn’t addressed with a title. Tiny grinned at her. “It’s nice to meet you, Miss Abigail. Welcome to The Covenant.”

“Thank you, Tiny. It’s nice to meet you, too.”

He opened the door for them with a flourish, and her jaw dropped as she entered the main club. This second floor was in the same decor as the lobby, with deep reds, black, and gold being the primary colors. Brass and wrought iron accentuated the deep mahogany furniture and massive, curved bar. A grand staircase led down to the first floor, which Gray had told her earlier was dubbed “the pit,” and the balcony overlooked it on both sides of the open area. At the other side of the second floor, there was a small store on the left, and a double-wide hallway with a huge red ribbon blocking it off, taking up the space to the center and right.

She hadn’t realized she’d stopped short and was just staring until Kristen tugged her arm. “You’ll get the tour in a little bit. Let’s get you changed.”

The women led her through a door where two staircases indicated the ladies’ and gentlemen’s lounges were below them. The elegant decor continued into the ladies’ locker room which also had a sitting area, along with toilets, showers, and changing rooms. As the women chatted around her, Abigail got changed into the royal blue, silk camisole and short set her Doms had gotten for her during a shopping trip this afternoon. She smiled as she recalled how the excursion had ended similarly to the one in Vegas. Apparently, the men sought out boutiques where naughty behavior in the dressing rooms wasn’t frowned upon.

“Love that color on you,” Colleen said to her. “Reggie got me that same set in hot pink.”

“I saw it in pink, but Remi loves blue.”

A gorgeous, willowy redhead, dressed in a black, leather pantsuit and red, thigh-high boots approached. “Pleasing your Doms already. You’ll do just fine, little newbie.”

Abigail might be new to the lifestyle but, thanks to the research her Doms had her do and Kristen’s books, among others, she knew without a doubt the woman was a Domme. A shorter, plump, dark blonde stood by her side, grinning. Kristen bowed her head slightly at the taller woman. “Mistress Roxy, this is Masters Remi and Gray’s new submissive, Abigail Turner. Abigail, this is Mistress Roxy and her bratty wife, Kayla.”

All of the women laughed except the Dominant, but it was clear she was fighting the urge. Gray and Remi had schooled Abigail in protocol for most of the day, but they’d also told her most Doms and Dommes understood how nerve-racking it could be for new submissives. As long as she was polite, addressed them before a submissive, and used their titles, she shouldn’t have a problem. She bowed her head as Kristen had done. “Good evening, Mistress Roxy. It’s a pleasure to meet you and Kayla.”

“Where is she?” A blonde whirlwind flew in from the entrance to the pit, wearing a sheer, green teddy that left nothing to the imagination except the little satin triangles between her legs and over her nipples. Her gaze went to the group and zoomed in on Abigail. She ran over and hugged her. “Yeah! You’re here. So glad, and don’t let that bitch Aurora rain on your parade. Sorry! I’m Angie, Master Ian’s wife and sub, and can you tell I hated her? We’ve heard all about how you kicked her scrawny ass when they canceled her contract. I’m glad those two—”

“Ahem.” Mistress Roxy cut her off and raised an eyebrow. “Whatever word you were about to use for Masters Gray and Remi, you might rethink using here in the club.”

A dark-haired Domme, also dressed in a black pantsuit that was paired with stilettos, joined them with a laugh. “Come on, Roxy. You know those two were idiots until they realized what was right under their noses. Hello, Abigail, I’m Mistress China. If you hadn’t noticed, the word of Remi and Gray’s pretty, new submissive has already made it around the club. Welcome.”

“Um ... thank you, Mistress China.”

Before anyone could say anything else, Remi’s voice bellowed down from the locker room stairwell. “Fifteen minutes is up! Where’s my subbie?”

They all laughed at Abigail’s jaw dropping. Rolling her eyes, Mistress China grasped her arm. “Come on. Let’s go soothe the savage beasts. I’ll tell them it was my fault so you’re not in trouble your first night here.”

Thankfully, the Domme convinced Remi and Gray not to hold her tardiness against Abigail. The next forty-five minutes went by quickly as she was introduced to many subs and Doms who all welcomed her to The Covenant. Remi had said they’d take her on a tour after the opening ceremony for the new wing was completed. Apparently, with the combination of the unveiling and it being the club’s Christmas party, most of the three-hundred-seventy-eight members were present.

Instrumental holiday music floated through the air until there was a squelch of a sound system and then someone tapped on a microphone. Loud conversations mellowed as everyone turned to face the hallway to the new wing on the second floor. Mitch Sawyer stood with the mic in his hand while Devon, Kristen, Ian, and Angie stood on either side of him.

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