Liability (Suncoast Society #33)(24)

“Besides, I’m being a little selfish. I was thinking we could go to that place not too far from that used bookstore we haven’t gone to in a while.”

Ooh. That did sound good. They hadn’t had time to make it there in several months. Two stories and not too far from the main street in downtown Sarasota, it was in an old brick building and had a great atmosphere. They’d easily spend hours wandering through it.

He smiled. “I saw that look. You like that idea.”

Her face heated. “That’s spooky.”

“I know.” He grinned. “Get used to it.”





They had a wonderful morning together, returned to Cole’s place and grabbed showers and changed clothes, and got ready to go meet Mason at Venture. By the time they arrived at the club for the flogger class, Kim was glad Cole had made the suggestion about going to the bookstore.

Her nerves had fled her while they’d eaten, talked, browsed.

Not enough time to feel nervous.

Plenty of time to remember all the reasons she loved this man, though. They’d first met at the bookstore, and on that day had ended up in one of the quiet alcoves there, sitting in chairs and talking and in general hitting it off.

She’d noticed his blue eyes right away, and while it wasn’t something to base a full relationship on, the way he’d talked to her without pressuring her for another meeting, or for her contact information, she’d been willing to suggest they meet there again the next Saturday morning.

Four Saturday mornings later, she’d not only given him her info, but had gone on a couple of “real” dates with him.

Now, here she was, sitting outside a BDSM club with him.

She made no move to open her car door. “Do we just go in?”

Cole wore that amused little smirk he sometimes got. “I would guess so.”

“I mean, I wouldn’t want to just bust in there and break a rule or something.”

His smirk widened. “That’s Mason’s car over there.” He pointed. “And he told us to come in when we got here.”

“Oh.”

His smirk faded. “Second thoughts?”

She unfastened her seat belt. “Just…nervous.”

“How nervous?”

“Not nervous enough to cancel.” She looked over at him. “I’ll be okay. Just can’t believe we’re here, is all.”

“I would love a chance to punch Craige in the nose sometime,” he muttered.

“You’ve said that before.”

“I still mean it.”

They got out and walked into the office. A young woman behind the counter offered them a friendly smile. “Here for the class?”

“It’s our first time here,” Cole said, taking the lead. “Ever. We’re supposed to meet Mason.”

“Oh, sure. He told me you were coming.” She handed them forms to fill out after checking their driver’s licenses against something in the computer. “I’ll go get him while you fill those out.” She walked around the counter and out through another door.

Kim had kept her gaze focused mostly on Cole, but now that they were alone in there, she had a chance to really look around. Various things she’d read about, implements, paddles, collars—stuff from books and the Internet come to life—hung on the walls for sale.

“Wow,” she muttered. “I thought it’d be…smuttier.” Unlike an adult toy store, which she’d visited a few times with Cole, there wasn’t a naked boob or bare ass to be seen.

It was actually sort of…boring.

“Let’s get these filled out, sweetheart,” he said, pointing at the clipboard in front of her.

They were ready by the time the woman appeared with Mason. “Glad to see you guys,” he said, shaking hands and then hugging them.

“Can we just join now and not worry about it later?” Cole asked.

Kim looked up at him. They’d talked about joining, because it was only a dollar more than the Saturday night entrance fee, and they’d get the night for free, but they hadn’t settled the matter yet.

“Sure,” the volunteer said. “I’ll give you voucher cards in case I’m not at the counter when you come back later tonight.”

Cole pulled out his wallet. “Then let’s do that.” She started to reach for hers in her purse, but he stopped her. “No, I’m paying for this, sweetheart.”

She swallowed hard as she stared up into his intense blue gaze. “Yes, sir,” fell automatically from her lips.

“Good girl.”

Kim felt her panties instantly soak, and she was glad she had a couple of spare pairs in the duffel bag she’d brought with her.

Mason smiled. “See? It’s easy.”





This was the other reason Cole had wanted to skip a kinky breakfast. He didn’t want to end up wearing himself out by tonight, in addition to kinky burnout.

The surprise on Kim’s face when she realized exactly what words they’d just exchanged tweaked Cole’s cock, getting its interest.

Okay. That’s not so hard.

Well, okay, I’m getting hard.

He could step things up for her some when they were together, as long as she didn’t expect it all the time. They could even have kinky weekends.