An Unlocked Mind (Secrets #2)(6)

Hard to think that it had been twelve years since he’d first walked through Whispers’ door, nervous as hell about what lay in store for him. He’d read an article in a gay magazine that had… called to him. The idea of attending a bondage exhibition at his first BDSM club had sent a thrill through Vic, because he’d often seen himself as a dominant kind of guy. In fact, two of his former boyfriends had broken up with him because they’d claimed he was too butch for them.

Vic smiled at that. In the years that followed, he’d mellowed. When he first started training, he wanted to know about everything—whips, chains, floggers, you name it—but nowadays his interests lay more in taking a sub out of his head. Vic’s primary goal was to help them reach heights they couldn’t attain on their own. He was well-respected, even sought-after, and became a commanding presence at the club. As time went on, however, he found himself growing more and more picky about the subs he did scenes with.

Except that was becoming a difficult task. He might have changed, but so had the subs. The guys who’d frequented the club before it had closed had been less about submission and more about rough sex with a bit of bondage thrown in.

Maybe the new management will change all that. Vic hoped they’d be more choosy about who they let in, because most of the subs there no longer held his interest. He knew there was more to it than the changing nature of submissives. He was six months away from his thirty-fourth birthday, and maybe it was that thought that was giving him pause. Yes, the sex was great, but there had to be more than that, right?

He’d seen several relationships take root and blossom between members. Some lasted for years, other for only a short season, but the guys seemed happy. Vic reflected on his friends Sam and Aaron. They’d found their third, and for the longest time, Vic thought they’d been perfect together. That changed overnight, though.

Relationships can be so fragile. Knowing that didn’t deter Vic, however. He wanted what his friends had, the chance of happiness with someone who reacted to him not just in a sexual way, but whose mind and body could be Vic’s playground.

Their mind….

Vic loved sex, because, duh. But there was more to life—to a relationship—than what happened in the bedroom. Or on the couch. Or bent over the kitchen table. Vic wanted someone who challenged him, made him think, pushed his limits.

Sam and Aaron were still in his thoughts when he pulled out his phone and dialed Sam’s number. “Hey there, big guy.”

“Vic! Are you home?” Sam sounded pleased to hear him.

“I am. Thank you both for picking up the mail. I really appreciate your help.”

“Glad to do it,” Sam replied promptly.

“I got the invite to the new club. Did you guys go?”

Sam was quiet for a few moments. “No. Aaron and I aren’t… we just aren’t ready yet.”

Vic’s chest tightened. He’d hoped things would have improved, but no joy. The day their sub told them he wanted to break the contract that bound them together had come as a complete shock to both Doms, as they thought they’d been happy. Now, the two of them refused to go out, even though they needed a third again.

“You need to get back into the game,” Vic said softly. “You’ll never find the person who completes you if you don’t.” Silently he willed Sam to hear him, to be open to the suggestion.

A heavy sigh on the other end. “We thought we had. Guess not. So, listen, not to change the subject or anything—”

Vic chuckled. “Oh no. Of course not.” He knew it was time to back off anyway.

“Smartarse. Did you have a good time up in the cold, frozen north?”

“Aha. Spoken like a man who’s been there. Yeah, I did. Met up with an old friend, but you know what? Dorothy was right. There really is no place like home.”

Sam let out a snort. “I promise never to tell anyone you were quoting The Wizard of Oz. All your Dom points would go up in smoke.”

“Now who’s being the smartarse? You know as well as I do that my spot in Dom sainthood is well established.”

That brought a laugh from his friend. “I’ll talk to Aaron,” he said. “See if I can get him to go back to the club. Just not sure it will happen. Neither of us has been keen to return to where we met Seb.”

Vic could understand that. Dom or not, no one wanted to be reminded of painful memories. “You will or you won’t. As long as the two of you have each other—”

Another derisive snort. “Yeah, you try being here when no one wants to bottom.”

Vic laughed at that. “You don’t tell anyone about me quoting from The Wizard of Oz, and I won’t tell Aaron you said that.”

“You’ve got a deal. Listen, I’ve got to go. I’m supposed to be making pizza, and I need to roll out the dough.”

“All right. Tell Aaron I said hi and let him know how much I appreciate what you guys did for me.” Vic would surprise them with the present when they next met.

“Will do. Glad to have you back. Maybe we can have a barbecue one night. Once the weather warms up a little, that is.”

“If memory serves, it’s my turn to host. As soon as I’m sure my work calendar is clear, we’ll set something up. And yes to the weather. I do not intend freezing my arse off in Arctic winds. It needs to be at least spring before I even consider taking the cover off the grill.”