Chapter One
Heads n Tails was packed. Forest was glad. He wouldn’t draw much notice with so many people around. This was his first foray into a BDSM club and he didn’t want to screw it up. As it was, he’d almost changed his mind about coming in, but since his car had decided to crap out on him in the parking lot, it’d seemed like fate was sending him a message to proceed with his plan.
Not that he’d ever been a believer in fate before then, and he probably wouldn’t put any faith in it after tonight, either.
He stood with his back to a wall. All the tables were taken, but he’d found himself a spot where he didn’t think he’d be in anyone’s way.
And he could see all of the open area of the club. He tried not to stare at anyone.
It was hard not to gawk, though. There weremen and women naked or close to it here and there. Lots of leather, not just on the Doms and Dommes. He spotted a sub wearing white leather chaps and a thong kneeling by his Dom.
Forest was wearing sort of tight jeans and aRogue OneT-shirt. Not the height of fashion, but it was what he was comfortable in. As nervous as he was tonight, he needed whatever comfort he could find.
BDSM was somethinghe felt pulled to as a sub. He’d fantasized about being put over a Dom’s knees and being spanked ever since he’d accidentally discovered his older brother’s porn stash. Of course, Mick’s porn had been straight BDSM stuff, but Forest had no problem using his imagination to fix that.
And he’d seen online BDSM porn, and read about it—the real versions, not the porn-fantasy kind. Forest had donehis research on the subject before he’d decided to dive into the scene. He’d thought that had prepared him, but he was nervous now that he was at Heads n Tails.
A sub cried out and Forest jerked his head toward the sound. He watched as a Dom spanked the sub with a paddle. A half-dozen or so people were moving closer to observe the pair. Forest assumed there was nothing wrong with him doing thesame. He left his spot against the wall and walked a few steps closer.
“Like what you see?” someone rumbled from behind Forest.
Forest jolted and spun around to find himself nose to chest with a man wearing black leather. “Uh.”
“Answer me, boy.”
All the articles Forest had read on BDSM, all the advice he’d studied for newcomers, vanished right out of his head.
“You need to learn somemanners, boy,” the man said as he reached for Forest. “Bet a whip can teach you those.”
“A-a w-whip?” Forest started to shake, and not with excitement. “I d-don’t—”
“That’s for me to decide—”
“J.D., back off.” The voice delivering that order sent a shiver down Forest’s spine.
He turned toward the Dom and sub he’d been watching a moment earlier, and found the owner of that magnificent voicestaring at him.Oh, dang. He’s handsome!Not model-perfect, but rough-hewn and masculine.
“Quar, I saw him first,” J.D. snapped.
“He’s not a prize, J.D. I’m sure if this gentleman wants your attention, he’ll say so,” Quar—what kind of name is that?—replied. “No terrifying unwilling subs, you know the rules, and if you can’t follow them, you also know where the door is.”
“Think you’re hot shitbecause you’re one of the owners,” J.D. muttered. “You ain’t even a cold turd. You don’t control me.”
Forest bit the inside of his cheek and wondered if he should make a run for the door Quar had mentioned. He took a step back so he could keep an eye on both men.
“No, but Idocontrol what happens in my club,” Quar countered. “And if we’re playing a game of I saw him first, what’s he driving?”
J.D. scowled. “What’re you talking about? I’ve been watching him in here.”
“Okay. ThenIsaw him first. I was in the parking lot when he pulled up. Following your logic, I’d have first dibs.” Quar gestured at Forest. “But again, that would be up to…” He arched an eyebrow at Forest.
“Forest, sir,” Forest mumbled. The ‘sir’ slipped out before he could think about it.
“It’d be up to Forestwho he wanted to talk to or do anything else with,” Quar said with a nod to Forest. “I could be wrong, but from observing you, Forest, I’m guessing this is your first time at a BDSM club?”
“Yes, sir, it is,” Forest replied. “Um. I don’t know the rules.” He darted a glance at J.D. then back at Quar. “I just wanted to check it out.”
Quar nodded. “And would you like to have J.D. show you around?I hate to put you on the spot, but you’ll have to be upfront with him.”
