“I guess I feel dumb.”She was feeling beyond dumb.She feltuseless.“I’ll be better tomorrow, I’m sure.”
Though maybe she was being overly optimistic since tomorrowshe would wake up at her brother’s place and start the new job her father hadbasically forced her into.Forced her upon everyone else.
She’d overheard the deep discussion between Uncle Ian andUncle Alex about how much more insurance they would need and whether or not shewould find a way to burn down the building.
She wouldn’t.Not intentionally at least.
Carys was a gorgeous young woman who looked so much like hermother, Grace Taggart.Carys was everything Daisy wished she could be.Smart.Successful.A doctor.Carys knew what she wanted to do with her life, what shewas good at.She reached out and put her hand over Daisy’s.“You are anythingbut dumb.You are a light in the world, Daisy O’Donnell, and don’t let anyonetell you otherwise.What you did yesterday was brave.”
“That’s not what my da says.Or my brother.”She’d gotten ahearty lecture from her brother and pleading from her da not to kill herself,thereby destroying his soul or something.
“Your father has issues when it comes to you.He was raisedwith a brother.His mother was significantly tougher than you or your mother.Imean that in a physical sense,” Carys said.“You’re tough and so is your mom,but what your da sees is his sweet girl getting eaten up by the world.”
“So I don’t ever get eaten up by anyone at all?”Shesniffled, feeling sorry for herself.It wasn’t her usual mood, which wasprobably why it hit her so hard.
“Ah, I do see where the two are connected.You haven’t foundthe right guy yet,” Carys said with a sigh.“I know it’s easy for me to say.Ifound the right ones… I found your brother when I was very young.You have togive it some time.”
Daisy turned so she could look Carys in the eyes.“I’m notlooking for the right one.I’m looking for anyone at this point.I want to askyou a question, and I need you to be honest.Is there something wrong with me?”
A brow rose over Carys’s eyes.“Why would you say that?”
“Because this is literally a sex club, and I can’t getlaid.”It was the saddest part of her world.She had great friends, a wonderfulfamily, a wide-open world career wise.Mostly.But on the romantic front shecouldn’t seem to find a groove.She wasn’t looking for anything serious.Notright now.She wanted to play, and no one would play with her here.It was hardwatching other subs get picked night after night while she sat in the lounge.
She’d taken all the classes, but even her training Dom hadtreated her like a kid sister.While her classmates were indulging indiscovering the pleasures of D/s, she’d get lectures about how dangerous theworld could be.
She’d thought it would change when she graduated, but it wasmore of the same.Even the new guys—the ones she hadn’t grown up with—avoidedher.
Carys seemed to think for a moment.“The problem might bethat you already know everyone here.We’re bringing in new members next month.People you didn’t grow up with.”
“I didn’t grow up with the guys from The Club,” Daisypointed out.The Hideout had been started by the group of friends they weresupposed to pretend didn’t work for the Central Intelligence Agency, and JulianLodge’s kids.The Lodge gang had brought in a group of their friends, and Daisyliked them all.
Not a one of them would play with her.
It made a girl think.
Carys frowned.“None of this seems right.I’m sorry.I’vebeen caught up in my own drama and I haven’t been checking in with the peoplewho are important to me.I know how my brother and cousins view you.”
Daisy did, too.“As a kid sister.”
Carys nodded.“Sorry, they can’t help it.But the othersshouldn’t.Are you telling me you haven’t had a single D/s encounter since youbecame a member here?”
“I had a couple of scenes in the beginning, but I know Aidanasked the Doms to run them with me.They didn’t have any interest in mephysically.”It bugged her and quite frankly brought down her body positivity.“It’s weird because I ran through some dick in college, if you know what Imean.I’m so not a virgin.Despite what my da thinks.But I suspect I wouldlike it even more if it was D/s sex.”
Carys’s head shook.“Seriously?You haven’t had sex in theclub?I thought everyone had sex in the club.”
“Brianna doesn’t because she never took the class.Devidoesn’t because she’s pining after someone.”That wasn’t her story to tell.“Doyou think it’s because my best friends are all sexless and stuff?Does everyonesee me and think I don’t want sex?I mean, I’m not terrible to look at.”
“You’re freaking gorgeous, Dais,” Carys said and seemedgenuinely stumped at her predicament.“You are what the older generation wouldcall a bombshell.I need to think about this.It might be time to look foranother club for you.Sanctum runs a bit older, but they have new people comingin.Some of the new staff at Top are taking the training class right now.Andone of the bodyguards at MT.I only know him because his dad has run Top FortWorth for years.I don’t think you’ve met Landon Vail yet.He’s cute.Is thiswhy you hide out in the locker room?”
“It feels better than sitting in the lounge knowing everyoneis looking at me and wondering why I bother.”It was better than sitting homealone, and at least then she had her friends around her.Devi and Bri weren’there tonight, so it would be super lonely all the way around.Everyone would beout partying and exploring, and she would be watching crap videos on her tabletwaiting for her brother to be done.
Only one thing about staying the night at Aidan’s placesparked her interest.
Nate Carter was living there now.He’d been there for aweek, and she was finally going to get to see him.
“No one thinks that way.No one.I assure you, you belonghere, but if it’s not what you need, then we’ll find a new place.Or importsome tops who didn’t watch you grow up.”Carys had her “I’m plotting”expression on her face.Carys was a good plotter.“You know we’ve got a coupleof visitors tonight and a new member.”
“I didn’t know anyone had taken the class recently.”
