They all laughed, the sound easy and genuine, and some of the tension in Sophie’s shoulders eased. This was what she needed. The camaraderie, the unspoken understanding that came from shared experience. They were all navigating the same complex, beautiful, terrifying world, just with different guides.
“Oh, this was left for you.”
Sophie turned to see Melody holding out a stiff, cream-colored envelope. It was expensive, heavy paper, with her name written on the front in a sharp, confident slant that she recognized instantly. Zack. Her heart gave a little lurch.
Her fingers felt clumsy as she took it. The other women’s eyes were on her, a collective, held breath. She slid a nail under the seal and pulled out a heavy card stock. The message was brief, typed, and utterly devoid of warmth.
Second floor. 8 sharp.
There was no signature. There didn’t need to be. The command was a signature in itself.
“The second floor is the private lounge,” Mia said quietly, her tone shifting from playful to serious.
“I’m not one for gossip,” Melody spoke up, her red ponytail swinging as she leaned in closer to Sophie and Mia. “I hear there’s a new Daddy in town.”
Sophie looked away, unable to hide her blush.
“Yes, this girl managed to bag a Daddy and a Sadist.” Claudia teased loudly.
“Don’t worry, Claudia, we’ll find you your Prince of Pain.”
“Okay, okay, but I need to know more.”
“Melody! What would your Daddy think?!”
The redhead stuck her tongue at Mia and pointed her finger. “WhatourDaddies don’t know won’t hurt our butts! And we’re being friendly. We don’t do spiteful things in this friend group.”Melody’s reasoning was enough to erupt in more laughter while the girls changed into their club gear to meet their partners at the pit.
“Bound between them is like nothing I’ve ever felt before. The noise is gone.”
“Nolan once said that pushing my limits keeps his boundaries in check. The rope work he does takes time.”
“Relax,” Violet said, though her own smile had tightened. “It’s just an invitation. A terrifyingly hot, non-negotiable invitation.”
Sophie took a deep, steadying breath. She could feel the flutter of nerves in her stomach, the familiar, thrilling precursor to the storm. Zack. This was Zack’s arena. Precise. Controlled. Unforgiving. And Aiden… Aiden was the calm eye in that hurricane. She needed to be ready for both.
Kneeling for him might have been the loudest thing she’d done to her body. But it was the quietest for her soul.
She found tranquility at his feet.
And safety in his arms.
*
True to their word, Zack and Aiden were waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs on the second floor. The bass from the club’s main floor was a distant, heartbeat thrumming through the walls as Sophie approached Zack and Aiden, her own heart beating a frantic rhythm against her ribs.
Sophie wrung her hands as she closed the gap. Excitement buzzed just beneath her skin, mixed with a familiar nervousness that made her fingers tremble. She raised her hands, feeling the confident strength of their dominance on their chests. She stretched up, first giving a soft, lingering kiss to Aiden’s lips, tasting his calm reassurance. Zack’s kiss was fueled with urgency and raw need, which he quickly took over, his tongue claiming hers with a possessive growl.
“You are beautiful.” The reverence in his tone reminded her of their quiet moment this morning.
“Thank you, Sir.”
Zack wrapped his arm around her waist and pressed his lips against her temple. “I can’t wait to watch you come undone.”
Aiden led her to the play area surrounding the pillory, his hand a steady guide on the small of her back. Zack went to a table laden with toys, his fingers trailing over the implements with appreciation.
“Wes outdid himself,” Zack said, testing the smooth glide of the pulley. “This’ll hold you up nice and pretty, Sophie. Let everyone see what we do to our good little toys.”
Aiden touched the crafted wood and allowed Sophie to inspect it closer. There were six holes in three pairs of varying sizes for wrists, ankles, and what she was nervous to think was appropriate for a submissive's neck.
