But as they walked into the large room in the basement of Club Decadence, the uneasiness riding him seemed to dissipate.
In the center of the large dungeon, a few Doms and Dommes stood around the bar, chatting to each other. One of the Domme’s had a female sub at her feet. The sub was dressed in a cat suit, complete with a tail that was attached to a plug settled firmly between her ass cheeks.
Kinley winced a little, but it didn’t seem to faze the kitten, who smiled up at her Domme. Around them the sounds and smells of the club filtered through to her. She always found it slightly intimidating coming here. She hadn’t known much about dominance and submission before meeting Sloan. He’d introduced her to this world and he’d always been there to guide and protect her. Otherwise she’d never have had the guts to come here.
A moaning sound had her turning her gaze to a sub who was lying on her back on a spanking bench. Her legs were widely spread and strapped down, her pussy was on display to anyone who wanted to look, the folds glistening with her pleasure as her Dom held a small bullet to her clit. Her cries grew faster and deeper until he drew the bullet away. Then she let out a deep groan, filled with frustration. Her Dom just stared down at her intently, no hint of guilt, no sign he would relent. He waited a few moments, letting her calm down, before placing the bullet back against her clit. She started keening again.
Kinley felt a pang of sympathy. That was one of Sloan’s favorite punishments. Especially as he didn’t like to bruise her. The few times he had he’d felt so guilty, despite her telling him numerous times that she bruised easily. She’d pointed out that she’d had worse bruises on her legs from bumping into his dresser on her way to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
The next time they’d played, he’d taken much more care. He’d also moved the dresser so there was no chance she could bump into it. Crazy man.
He seemed to be under the illusion she was fragile. He was the only person who’d ever think that.
He drew her towards the bar, where the bartender silently handed over his bag.
Sloan opened it and drew something out. A collar. She raised her hand up to her throat. Shit. She was messing up all over the place today.
“It’s in my bag in my car,” she said, taking a step away as though she thought he might let her go and retrieve it.
Sloan just reached out and grabbed her wrist. “You stay here.”
He fastened the collar around her neck. It was the thick leather one she hated. So different than the pretty necklace he’d bought her when they first started coming to the club to play. That necklace made her feel special.
This one made her feel like a dog. As he pulled out a leash she almost groaned. At the last moment, she remembered to drop her gaze.
Someone moved up next to her, his expensive shoes coming into her line of vision. She wanted to look up, but she was hoping if she acted repentant enough Sloan would take pity on her and forget the leash. She hated the leash.
Which was why the damn man had chosen to use it, of course. He knew all too well how much she disliked it. But it wasn’t a hard limit, and she still had her safe word. Not that she’d ever use it over something like this. All she was going to feel was a bit of humiliation and embarrassment.
The owner of those expensive shoes snorted. “Doesn’t want that leash, does she?”
She recognized Alex’s voice. He and Sloan were friends. Alex used to manage the staff, who were mostly subs. That job had fallen to another Dom once he’d taken a sub of his own. Alex and Tara were now married and ridiculously happy.
“No, she certainly doesn’t.” Sloan placed two fingers under her chin and raised them. “Hmm, as I thought, that was more about trying to hide your true feelings rather than any real sense of submissiveness.”
Rats.
Alex chuckled softly. “I’m sure the leash is going to be the least of her worries.”
Okay, she really didn’t like the sound of that.
Alex turned that dark gaze on her. “And it should be, considering the way you worried your Dom. I had to convince him to wait another twenty minutes before he started calling the hospitals.”
Shame filled her, and she dropped her gaze.
Sloan growled. “She knows what she did was wrong. She won’t make that mistake again, will you, darlin’?”
She could always rely on him to stick up for her. Even when she was in the wrong. Sloan was almost ferocious in his loyalty.
She nodded. “No, I won’t make that mistake again.”
Alex raised an eyebrow.
“Sir,” she said hastily, knowing the other Dom was stricter.
Sloan whirled to glare at Alex. “Stop trying to intimidate my sub. She’s mine to take care of . . . and to discipline.”
“Of course, I apologize.” Alex looked a little appalled. “Even though I haven’t been in charge of the trainee subs in a while, it seems old instincts die hard.”