“Poppies,” he clarified. “Like… the flower. They’re red, like your hair. You even smell floral.”
I dug my fingernails into my palm, repeating, “Poppy.” He came up with that fast. Really fast. “You’ve never had another submissive with that nickname, right?”
He shook his head no, finger still twirled into my hair. “I’ve never had a redheaded submissive. Or anyone I’ve nicknamed Poppy.”
It wasn’t that I wanted a relationship with him—physical or otherwise. But the thought of being one of many made my skin crawl. I was unique. I deserved a nickname as unique as I was. “Poppy. I think I like it.”
“It’s important to you,” Jude said, dropping his hand from my hair. “Feeling special. Different than the others.”
I nodded, finding my voice despite my tight throat and dry mouth. “Yes.”
Cupping my jaw with both hands, he lifted my gaze to his. If someone saw us right now, standing like this, facing each other in a dark hallway, his hands holding my jaw… it would look like we were about to kiss.Werewe about to kiss? Would I let him kiss me? Involuntarily, I licked my lips, a shuddered breath tearing through my wet mouth.
“Marly, you are special.”
“I am?” I meant it to be a statement, but it came out a question.
“Even if what we’re doing here this week isn’t ‘real’,… it’s a huge step for me. I haven’t had a woman here with me since—”
“Since Layla?” I finished for him.
The rims of his eyes tightened, causing the small lines around them to deepen. “Actually, no—”
The door to the common area swung open and Chloe came barreling through. If she cared about us in the hallway, she didn’t show it. Not even for a second. She walked fast, barely giving us a second glance as she passed. And even though Jude stood firmly, I jumped like a freaking mouse was underfoot, wrenching away from Jude’s touch and putting a couple feet of space between us.
He gave a throaty chuckle. “You’ll be fine, Marly. This common room is a safe place. It’s casual… like playtime for most of the Doms and subs. We’re going to go in there and I’m going to treat you like you’re my submissive. What the others in the group do with their submissives may not be as playful… but what I do with you—it’ll be a light introduction. You might get a light spank. A bit of ordering you around, but nothing dramatic.” A light spank. In public. My face burned and I took a cool, calming breath. If I get the part of Holly, Jude will be spanking me fully nude. On camera. For everyone to see. If I can’t handle a small group watching, then maybe it’s not the role for me. “And,” Jude continued, “if anything I do is too much… what do you say?”
I closed my eyes and dragged a deep breath through my nose, letting it out through parted lips. “Planner for stop.” Probably the stupidest safe word in all of existence.
“Right. Or…”
“Sticker to slow down.”
“Good girl, Poppy.”
Good girl.Why were those two words so damn satisfying?
“And you have to trust me. Trust that when I demand something of you, it’s for your best interest.”
“Okay,” I nodded, “let’s go.”
Jude’s eyes flashed as he opened the door. Taking my hand, he pulled me into a lounge area. I blinked into the lights; it was much brighter than the dimly lit hallway. Around the edges of the room were a few kiosks. One, a fully stocked bar, complete with a bartender. Another was a Starbucks stand and barista. There was a fireplace and several circles of leather club chairs nested together for intimate conversations. But at this moment, the group was in one large circle in the center of the room.
I scanned the group. Holy crap. Was that—Yep, that was the creator of MediaShark, the number one fastest growing media share site to date. Across from him was Kari Baron, a bluesy singer who took home a Grammy this past year. Next to her, a dude who looked larger than life—like a Marine or something else. His right pant leg hung strangely. A prosthetic. He had a prosthetic leg. And seated at each of their feet was a partner. Well, a submissive.
Emotion seethed through me… the subs didn’t even get aseat? They had to sit on the floor at their Master’s feet, like some sort of… of…pet.
Sitting on the floor were two other film actors. Evan Reiks particularly took me by surprise. That guy was a sub? He was a Vin Diesel look-a-like, playing equally tough, gun-toting characters. Oh, God. I’m staring. I quickly averted my eyes. And that’s when my gaze collided with Ash sitting in the club chair right beside us. Heat burned in my cheeks as Ash glared at me. Like…seriouslyglared. What the hell was his problem? Sitting at his feet was the same stunning woman from the hall. She brushed long, blonde bangs that swept long across her forehead away from her coal-lined eyes.
But then quickly, her ice-cold stare flicked to Jude and narrowed, frosty pink lips curling in a smile so fleeting, it left me wondering if I even saw it. Ash tugged hard on a leash that was clipped to a collar. And just like that, the moment passed. Gone, as the girl’s eyes dropped back to the floor.
I glanced at Jude and his eyes were also on the girl, his expression completely unreadable. Stone-faced. “Who’s that?” I whispered.
“No one,” Jude said. His neck muscles roped and his teeth gnashed together so hard, I could see his jaw muscle working. Maybe now wasn’t the best time to ask about her.
I gulped and it went down heavily, as though I were swallowing a fistful of marbles. “So, what do we do now?”
“Have a seat,” he gestured to the floor beside one lone empty club chair. “Every night, whoever is in the club can choose to meet here at 11:30 p.m. nightly for a quick hello and drinks. It’s like an optional check in.”
