Open Doors (Suncoast Society #27)(13)

Marcia suspected that, unlike herself and many others, Leah actually needed the level of play Kaden did with her. It wasn’t just for funsies. It was something to help soothe and ground Leah. She wouldn’t be the first—or the last—person to need it for more than just play.

The men got coolers of ice brought in and positioned in the kitchen area while Leah and Marcia prepared their entry zone. Marcia had picked up a locking cash box for tonight, along with some change. Even though everyone had been asked to bring exact change, it wouldn’t surprise her to have one or two people who couldn’t read and follow instructions to the letter.

By the time eight o’clock arrived, their scheduled start time, they had a line of people out the door waiting their turn to be checked in, show their IDs to verify they were at least eighteen years of age, sign a basic boilerplate liability waiver, and pay their fee. Their kinky friend who’d brought his DJ equipment had the place filled with music, and the lights that they’d put up, in addition to temporary lighting courtesy of Kaden’s Christmas lights, filled the space with the right atmosphere.

It actually felt like a dungeon. Marcia had thought it might take them a couple of parties to tweak things before they really got the vibe right, but no, it felt good.

Almost immediately, people started playing on the equipment. And still, she and Leah were checking people in.

At one point, Derrick had wandered over to check on them and she waved him away, too busy to deal with his curiosity.

Yes, they were making money. So far, they looked to be on track to have every last person on the RSVP list show up, which was unheard of for any party.

By the time ten o’clock rolled around, they’d locked the front door so Leah and Marcia could go eat. Everyone who had RSVPd had arrived before the ten o’clock cut-off time for entry.

“Wristbands,” Leah said. “That, or an inkpad and hand stamp.” She pointed at Tony, who was monitoring the front door and playing gatekeeper for people going outside to smoke. “It’ll make it easier to tell who’s paid and who hasn’t.”

Marcia added it to her list. “I like the idea of wristbands. I end up washing my hands so much that I’m afraid the ink will come off.”

“We should have nametags for the DMs and volunteers,” Leah added.

Marcia added that to the list, too. “Think I can get the guys to wear those orange safety vests? I saw them at a dollar-store booth at the flea market last weekend.”

“Not a chance in hell,” Leah said.

“Dammit. Oh, well.”

Marcia stared around. One guy was currently getting a blow job from his submissive, who was tied down to a bench. In one hand, he had a paddle and kept reaching down her body to smack her ass. One woman was bound face-out to one of the St. Andrew’s crosses. Blindfolded and gagged, her Dominant was inviting people to reach in and grope her while he kept her coming with a vibrator.

Another couple, the man was the one bound to a bench while his wife reddened his ass with a cane.

And…more. All over, people were playing, talking, watching. Two naked women were kissing and fondling each other on one of the couches while their Dominants stood there, watching them.

Marcia added another item to her list so she wouldn’t forget.

Wipe couches down every night.

She was working on an opening and closing procedures list to make it easier on all of them. Less worrying about forgetting to do something.

Derrick walked over and sat down, a red plastic cup in hand. “Well?”

Marcia patted the cash box sitting in front of her on the table. “I haven’t counted it yet, but yes, we covered basic monthly expenses for the night. Everyone showed up.”

He looked shocked. “Everyone?”

“Yep. Seventy-two people.”

“Holy f*ck,” he whispered before he took another sip from his cup.

“Exactly.” She pointed around the room. “Imagine doing this twice a month.We could actually have it support itself once we finish doing improvements.”

She could tell her husband was still processing that.

Leah looked amused. “Kaden’s going to be really sorry he missed this. One of the partners up in Atlanta had a family emergency and it couldn’t be helped.”

“No, work and family has to come first,” Marcia assured her. “We had enough help. But we really appreciate you still coming out for this. I definitely couldn’t have managed this without you.”

“We’re happy to help. I feel a little responsible since Kaden sort of egged him on.”

Marcia stared at Derrick, whose eyes peeked over the top of his cup. “Whut?” he asked.

She poked him in the chest. “Don’t whut me, Mister Master.” She smiled. “You did good.”

He lowered the cup. “Hey, I’m no idiot. I couldn’t have done this without all of you helping.”

“I suspect the next guest list will be even larger,” Leah said. “Especially once word of this gets out. The people who didn’t RSVP, they’re going to wish they had.”

“Yeah, well, there were a hundred on the original list,” Marcia said. “Thank god they didn’t all reply. That would have been too many at once.”





Derrick still felt stunned. Yes, it would have been too many people. Hell, he hadn’t been expecting this many people. And so far, nearly everyone he’d talked to asked when the next party was scheduled, and had asked to be notified and included on the invite list.