Open Doors (Suncoast Society #27)(12)

Chapter Six


Derrick laid wide awake in bed early Saturday morning, just a little after seven o’clock.

What the f*ck have I gotten us into?

Maybe he’d end up filing this under the “seemed like a good idea at the time” heading, but now that the day of their first party was upon them, the last thing he could do was sleep late, even though Saturday mornings he was known to sleep until nearly noon.

Outside of tax season, of course.

The bad news was, Kaden had been called out of town on business, to their Atlanta office. At least he’d given Leah permission to still go. She would help Marcia handle the front door for them all night, taking in the money and verifying people were on the RSVP list. They’d included in the invites not to mention the party or the venue to anyone, that if there were people they wanted to invite they had to run it by Derrick and Marcia first.

Marcia rolled onto her side. “You’re awake, too, aren’t you?”

“Yep.”

“Beginning to have second thoughts?”

“Yep.”

“Not going to let that stop you, are you?”

“Nope.” He rolled onto his side to face her. “Since when have I ever?”

She leaned in and kissed him. “That would be never, dude. I know you too well.”

He let out a heavy sigh. “I hope everyone has fun tonight.”

“I’m sure fun will be had by most, if not all. I’m just concerned about not ending up on the news for throwing a sex party.”

“Then let’s not do that.”

She arched an eyebrow at him. “We didn’t tell them they couldn’t have sex.”

“We didn’t tell them they could, either.”

“I’m hoping that with the barren facilities the way they are, and not being very conducive to sex, that none will be had.”

“There will probably be a blowjob or two here and there.”

She sat up. “That’s not exactly sex.”

“I’m sure the sheriff’s office will disagree with you on that one.”

“You know what I mean. It won’t be an orgy.”

“It might be, depending from whose perspective you look at it.”

“Are you playing devil’s advocate, or just trying to piss me off before coffee?”

He grinned. “Yes.”

Rolling her eyes, she threw back the sheet and climbed out of bed. “You’re a Dom who loves to live dangerously, I’ll give you that. I’ll get the coffee going. I have a feeling we’ll need a lot of it today. All day long.” She snapped her fingers, stopped, and turned. “Dammit. A coffee pot for the club. We should have gotten one.”

“We can pick one up today on our way there.”

“How did we forget that? And what else did we forget? We need a list.”

“I’m sure there are plenty of things that will make the list that we haven’t thought about yet.”





Marcia started the list.

In fact, by the time they reached the club at seven o’clock that evening, a number of things they’d forgotten had been added to the list and picked up along the way. Leah arrived a few minutes later, as did Ross and Loren and Kel. Ed and Hope Payne rolled in a few minutes later, followed by Mike and Julie, who was waddling a little slow with her ever-growing baby belly.

“Sorry, I didn’t sleep well last night,” she said. “We might not stay very late.” She patted her tummy. “I’m apparently growing a soccer player.”

“Yikes,” Leah said. “I’m helping Marcia with the door, so you can take it easy. You really should relax tonight.”

“Thanks. I’m so tired, I’m not even sure I can count without taking off my shoes.” She looked down. “But I can’t even see my toes anymore.”

“You know,” Ross said, “we might want to build the office out sooner rather than later.”

Derrick pointed a finger at him. “You’re an instigator. You and Kaden, both.”

“Who, meee?” Ross grinned. “I’m innocent.”

“Bullshit,” Loren muttered, smiling.

Ross’ hand shot out and he grabbed her hair, pulling her in close and forcing her to tip her head back and expose her throat. “What was that, girl?”

“Um, nothing, Sir.”

He kissed her exposed flesh. “Uh huh.”

“In his absence, I can attest that Kaden is definitely an instigator,” Leah said.

“Are you guys going to play tonight?” Marcia asked Ross.

“Maybe. Let’s see how the night plays out,” Ross said. “I want to help DM for sure.”

Leah grinned. Tonight, she’d dressed in jeans and a black blouse, and a leather play collar. “My ass is safe tonight, at least.”

“Lucky you,” Loren snarked.

Marcia suspected that, had Kaden been home, they still wouldn’t have played tonight. Playing at home, or at a private party, was one thing. She couldn’t remember them ever going to a fetish event or another club with them where they did play. They just went and hung out with everyone.

She knew Leah had a traumatic past, although she didn’t know the details. Leah never played with anyone but Kaden when they did play, and it was always a very strictly choreographed scene that never failed to take her breath away.