My Addiction (Club Desire #2)(48)
Samantha raked a gaze over Kate. “I was just thinking the same about yours. Where did you find it?”
Kate glanced down at the blue bustier, trying to remember. “I’ve had it for a few years, but I’m sure I got it online somewhere. I’ll send you a link to the site where I get most of my new ones. They’re always great quality, and reasonably priced.”
Samantha nodded. “Thanks.”
Kate licked her lips, wondering if the woman was really all right or if she was just putting on a brave face. Stanton had been an ass, but several subs truly loved him as their Dom, as the overreaching grief throughout The Dungeon showed. “I’m being nosey, but are you playing with anyone in particular tonight?”
Samantha blushed, and it stained her cheeks a pretty pink color. “The new Dom, Master Merrick.” She ducked her chin, shyly. “I had thought I might ask Master Dex, but from the way he looks at you, it’s clear he isn’t open to playing with anyone else.”
Kate sucked in a breath. Was she the only one who hadn’t seen that in Dex’s gaze? She saw appreciation, but she hadn’t seen the possessiveness that Samantha implied. She would have to look more carefully.
She squelched the small curl of hope that tried to blossom inside her.
“It’s hard to notice when you’re on the inside, but I’m not the only one who interpreted it that way.” The younger woman grinned. “He’s really into you. You’re lucky. I wouldn’t mind being the center of all his attention.”
Kate pushed the question of Master Dex out of the way and tried to remember if she had met the new Dom yet. “When did Master Merrick arrive? I don’t think I’ve ever seen or talked to him.”
Samantha smiled. “You’d remember him if you did. Think blond, hunky bad boy with an amazingly lickable body.”
Kate laughed at Samantha’s enthusiasm. She had no desire to play with anyone but Master Dex right now, but it wouldn’t hurt to take in the scenery out on the dungeon floor.
“I definitely haven’t seen him, then, but I’ll have to take a look.” She smiled at Samantha. “Sounds like a sight I just can’t miss.”
The woman tipped her head toward the door. “I’m headed out to meet him right now if you want to tag along and watch our scene.”
Kate loved watching scenes, as well as participating in them. Truth be told, voyeurism was half the fun of the lifestyle for her. Especially during the times when none of her Doms had been in town for a while.
She grinned. “Lead the way.”
—
Dex parked his car in the very full parking lot of The Dungeon and walked to the front doors. Merrick had warned him that the place was packed after the news of Stanton’s murder got out. Especially since the pictures of him taken here had been leaked onto social media, along with the address of The Dungeon.
The owners of those accounts had been picked up for questioning already, but the damage had been done.
From what he understood, nonmembers weren’t allowed on the dungeon floors, and Ralston had hired security teams to keep order, but many members who only rarely attended were showing up to see and be seen.
Proof that not everyone’s lives and careers would be tarnished by being associated with a BDSM club.
The outside of the building was showing some wear; it definitely needed a new coat of paint and some updated landscaping. He was sure that would be pointed out on the inevitable newscasts.
It was possible Ralston was in a hole financially, which would explain his recent attempt to get Dex to leave early rather than stand up to his two demanding Doms. Dex’s analyst team hadn’t turned anything up yet, but they were still digging. Ralston’s finances were a warren of shell companies and nonexistent investors.
Dex was sure Ralston would gain some new members from this ordeal, and he was glad he wouldn’t be around long term to watch the influx of people brand new to the lifestyle try to play “kinky.”
He pulled open one of the wide double doors and was immediately hit with a wall of cool air and near quiet. Or at least as quiet as he had heard here so far.
Every time he’d been inside The Dungeon before today, there had been loud music playing. He wondered if the quiet was Ralston’s way of paying tribute to Stanton. An odd tribute, to be sure, but then Stanton had been an odd man. And if the pictures he was found with were accurate, Stanton was also a sadistic, perverted pedophile and drug dealer. But those details were still being investigated.
Most likely, the quiet resulted from a request by the security Ralston had brought in. The lack of music would make it easier for them to do what they needed to do to keep order.
He paused. There were people everywhere he looked. The entrance area had been roped off and was staffed by security personnel, one of whom was checking IDs before allowing anyone through.
Several people pushed past him, heading outside, and he stepped aside to let them through. No one he recognized from his case, but several were high-profile names. From the grumbling, he guessed they weren’t members and had been turned away.
When the rest of the exiting group passed by, Dex stepped inside, letting the door close behind him. Now he just needed to get in and find Kate.
Merrick had said she was here, but that had been a few hours ago, and Dex wasn’t sure if she would have put up with the crowd.
He had tried several times earlier to break away, but he’d found some valuable information that might help the case, and he knew Merrick would alert him if anything was urgent.