Chapter 1
Skye
Club Red has always felt like a second home to me in busy Chicago. I have missed being here, but at the end of the semester, I had to focus on studying and classes. Then, I had to work my butt off at the salon to make up for the lost hours at work.
Now I'm finally able to breathe, and Dante, a friend of mine who is a Dominant, connected me to a friend of his, thinking we'd be a good match. Neither of us is looking for anything permanent. I just wanted to have some fun over the summer break.
I've missed this place more than I expected. With Gemma deep in wedding planning with Carter, and Summer still in newlywed bliss with Knox, I've had more time to myself lately. Not that I mind, because I'm genuinely happy for them. Though I'd be lying if I said I didn't sometimes feel the sting of being left behind.
I step inside the lobby, which is bright white, almost like a clinically clean doctor's office. This contrasts starkly with the warehouse-like appearance outside.
"Skye! I'm so glad you're back!" Rita, the receptionist, greets me.
"Trust me, no one is more excited than I am! Finals are a bitch," I sigh.
I don't need to dive into how I didn't realize how much more work a master's degree was. I didn't really need a Master's in Business Administration to have my own spa. It was more of a fuck you to my dad, who was footing the bill.
Enough of that, Skye. I scold myself.
I am here to have fun and meet a possible new Dom. Thoughts of my father do not need to be mixed into this.
"Oh, I know it! I'm only going part-time, and I can barely keep up," Rita says as she swipes my card and reads the information on my account.
"Dante is already here." She smiles at me and hands me back my black membership card, which has the word "Member" in red and not much else on it.
Not only is Dante a friend, he was also my first Dom. He helped me learn everything there is to know about the BDSM lifestyle. So, I wouldn't be taken advantage of; he's kept me under his protection, and he also sponsored my membership at Club Red from the start.
Despite what I may have told my friends in the past, if it weren't for Dante, I wouldn't have been able to be here at all. Dante is also introducing me to Gage tonight. We will spend some time together to see if we are a good fit, and if so, we will talk about limits and set up a time to meet.
If not, then we go our separate ways, no harm, no foul. However, Dante has been spot on when he's matched me in the past. This time, I said I wanted to focus more on being tied up. He said he knew just the Dom, because it was his thing.
I tuck the card back into my wallet, turn toward the smaller door on the other side, and head toward the locker rooms. The locker room is clean and quiet as I stow my bag and check my appearance in the mirror. Tonight, I've opted for a simple black dress, something easy to remove but elegant enough to make me feel confident. My dark hair falls in loose waves past my shoulders, and I've put more effort into my makeup than usual.
I program the lock with my code and go out to the lobby through the large leather double doors, which are guarded by a guy who looks like he played as a linebacker in the NFL and could pick me up with one arm and think nothing of it.
The bass of the music thrums through the walls of Club Red, vibrating in my chest as I step inside for the first time in months. This place has always been an escape, a world where I can leave stress at the door and focus on pleasure, control, and trust.
The large, twenty-something-person leather couch is the centerpiece you first see when you walk into the main room. There are couples on the couch enjoying each other out in the open.
One woman is sitting on the couch, legs spread, with a man on his knees in front of her, eating her out like it's his last meal. Another man is on the couch with a woman bent over his knee and is issuing slap after slap on her bright red ass. These people want to be watched, and I love watching them.
I turn toward my right and head to the massive bar but don't quite make it before I hear my name.
"Skye!"
Turning, I see Pink flashing me a grin as she walks over to me. I took some classes from her when I first joined Club Red. She helps teach women who are new to the lifestyle, and she's been here as long as anyone can remember.
"Long time no see," she says, following me to the bar. "Thought you'd abandoned us."
"Finals," I say with an exaggerated groan. "It was hell, but I survived. Figured I deserved a night of fun."
"Damn right, you do." She eyes me knowingly. "Looking for anything in particular tonight?"
Hesitating, I shake my head, smirking. "I'm meeting with Dante, who is setting up a meeting for me with someone. Thinking I might have some summer fun, maybe try bondage play."
She smiles, giving me a wink. "That sounds like fun! Enjoy yourself."
Returning her wink, I settle in on a bar stool. Then I look around the room, so I’m always aware of who is around.
Jax, the bartender, is already pouring a drink when he turns back to the counter. "Look who finally decided to show up."
"You miss me, Jax?" I laugh.
"Like a hole in the head," he teases, sliding my usual toward me. "The usual?"
"You remembered."
"Coconut rum and pineapple juice for the lady who tips well and never causes trouble. How could I forget?"
I smile. "So, what's been happening while I've been buried in textbooks? Any good drama I missed?"
"Nothing major. That redhead on the St. Andrew Cross is on her third Dom this week. Rumor has it she has plans to work her way through the whole club just to say she can," Jax says.
I glance over in the direction he nods. I have seen her around but never really talked to her, and I don't even know her name.
"Couple of new members. Few suspensions for the usual reasons. That photo leak crap hit the news briefly, but Carter and the guys handled it." He lowers his voice. "Security's been tighter since then, but it's mostly behind the scenes. You waiting for Dante?"
"He's setting me up with a new Dom," I tell him.
"And who is this new Dom you're meeting?"
"All I know is his name is Gage?" I’m trying to get more information because Jax knows everyone.
Jax smirks. "Yeah. Good guy and he's into bondage."
Heat coils low in my belly. My last scene partner wasn't into bondage, not the way I craved it, anyway. That was fine at the time, but it left me wanting more.
We went our separate ways. I focused on school and finals. Now I'm free to play for a couple of months. When I thought about my next play partner, I knew exactly what I wanted. Thankfully, Dante could help. My other option was to ask Gemma to ask her fiancé, since he owns the club, but that would venture into the awkward category I've been trying to avoid with them.
"Shoulda known I'd catch ya gettin' all the gossip off Jax," Dante says in his strong Irish accent as he takes the bar stool next to me.
"Hey Dante," Jax says, heading off to make his drink.
"Well, I had finals, and I've been away longer than I'd like. Had to catch up somehow," I smile at him.
"Ah, sure, I'm just glad you're back. Hopefully yer not doin' a runner, 'cause look, here's Gage now," Date says, while Jax hands him his drink. "Why don't ya go have a look at the Voyeur Hall while he and I have a wee chat, yeah?"
I nod and sip my drink, trying to relax as I wander toward the Voyeur Hall. He didn't point out Gage, so I'm still not sure who he is, but I trust Dante, and I'm excited to meet him.
The lighting is dim down the hallway. Each room has a large glass window and a few chairs for viewing. I take a look into each room to see what catches my eye. The first room has a spanking scene. A woman on her knees, looking up at her Dom with pure submission written across her face. I pass by a room where a Dom is sharing his sub with another man. That has never been my thing.
I keep walking while thinking about the texts Gage and I exchanged once Dante introduced us via text the other day. We have been texting a little bit about our limits and what we like. Just to make sure we are a good fit before moving forward. Once we agreed to meet, Dante set it up.
The next room I walk to is the bondage room, and always a favorite of mine. The scene in front of me makes my pulse spike. The couple is mid-scene, the sub bound with perfect precision, each knot a work of art. I can almost feel the restraint, the pull against unyielding ties, the thrill of surrendering control. My fingers tighten around my glass, my pulse kicking up a notch.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
The deep voice startles me, and I turn to find a man standing beside me, also watching the scene. He's tall, with dark hair graying slightly at the temples, and a physique that speaks of regular workouts, lean but strong. His eyes are sharp and intelligent as they meet mine.
"The trust," he continues, "is what makes it art. Not just the rope."
I nod, turning back to watch. "I've always admired people who can do that. The patterns are incredible."
"Are you into rope play?" he asks, his voice casual but with an undercurrent of something that makes my skin tingle.
"I've experimented a little," I admit. "Never anything that elaborate, though."
He keeps a respectful distance, hands in his pockets as he watches the scene. "I'm Gage, by the way."
"Skye," I reply, offering a small smile.
I turn back to the scene, watching as the Dom drags a finger down his sub's bare spine, her body arching into his touch despite the restraints.
"Think you'd like to be in her place?"
His question is casual, but there's an edge to it, an unspoken challenge.
"In private, yes," I admit. No point in pretending otherwise.
There's something about him that intrigues me, a quiet confidence, a sense of control that he carries effortlessly. Unlike some Doms who strut around the club like they own the place, his dominance feels natural, understated, but unmistakable.
We watch the scene play out for several more minutes, occasionally commenting on the technique or the dynamics between the couple. It's surprisingly comfortable standing here with him, this stranger who clearly shares my appreciation for what we're witnessing.
He steps closer to me and drops his voice.
"I've been enjoying our conversation," he says.
When we started texting, it had been a while since I had enjoyed a conversation outside of Club Red with a Dom. He made me feel calm and at ease, even via text.
"Me too," I admit, which earns me a small smile.
"I'd like to talk more and see about moving forward," he says.
I let out a slow breath, the anticipation curling low in my belly. This man has an effect on me I wasn't expecting, and one I don't normally get from other Doms. Something in the back of my head tells me to be careful. That this could be dangerous, but I don't seem to be listening.
"And you think we'd be a good match?" I ask.
"I think," he murmurs, stepping just a fraction closer, "we should find out."
A slow smile spreads across my lips.
"Friday night," I say. "Same time?"
His eyes darken, approval flickering across his face. "Friday."
I drain the last of my drink, my body already buzzing with anticipation. This summer just got a whole lot more interesting.
As I’m turning to leave, his voice stops me. "One more thing," he says, his voice quieter now, almost intimate. "You should know I don't share if we do this."
I arch a brow. "Neither do I."
His smirk returns, full of promise. "Good."
Walking away, my heart is pounding, while the possibilities spin in my mind. Whatever Friday night holds, I know one thing for certain: it won't be anything like I've experienced before.
One of the guards walks me to my car. As we step outside, the night air cools my flushed skin. Getting in my car, I turn on my favorite playlist and head home. As I pull into my driveway, a text comes in.
Gage: Can't stop thinking about Friday night. Sweet dreams, Skye.
I bite my lip, excitement thrumming through me as I type back.
Me: Me neither. See you soon.
Gage: Did you make it home safe?
Me: Yes, Sir.
