“Vance.” Galen’s even voice snapped him out of the memory.

Vance rubbed his hands over his face, feeling the dampness of sweat. The cop had had a newborn. If I’d only been faster… With an effort, Vance kept himself in the present.

His partner—Mama Kouros—watched him for a second and took up the story, drawing Sally’s attention away. “After surgery, we ended up in the same hospital room. I’d caught a bullet in my leg.” Galen gave a rueful glance at his knee. “After we were released, I stayed in his place until I could get around and until he could use his arm. Between us, we made one whole person.”

And Galen had talked him into switching to the FBI. Turning away from everyone, Vance flipped a cheese sandwich and slid it onto a plate. Only a bit scorched. “Sally, can you dish up the soup?”

“Sure.” Face pale, she stopped next to him at the stove and squeezed his waist. She stayed, pressing her warm body to his chilled one. Softhearted little sub. “Did you guys stay together?”

“Nah. But we stayed friends. When we were both assigned to New York, Galen dragged me into my first BDSM club. Taught me how to top.”

“Really?” She set a bowl of soup in front of Galen and gave him a chiding look. “You corrupted an innocent youth?”

“Nah. I just bent him a bit,” Galen said in a dry voice, as if he were a decade older instead of three years. “He had the last laugh, because I realized it was fun to partner up to torture little submissives.” He fisted Sally’s hair and gave her a light kiss that quickly turned long and deep.

Fuck. Vance was getting hard just watching.

Sally looked thoroughly aroused when Galen let her go.

Maybe they should skip the meal. Or on second thought, he’d almost forgotten this was Friday. “Eat up, imp. Galen and I are supposed to fill in as dungeon monitors tonight. And Z said he’s missed seeing you.” He grinned at her bounce of glee and told his partner, “How about you beat on her for a while tonight.”

“I can do that.”

An enticing anxiety appeared her wide brown eyes.

Galen added, “It’ll be a good chance to break in that heavy flogger I bought last month.”

The little subbie pulled in her lips as if to restrain a laugh, and her dimples appeared.

Galen was reaching for a sandwich and didn’t notice.

Vance did. Might be an interesting evening ahead.

* * * *

Dressed in her favorite leather miniskirt and dark red bustier, Sally followed Galen into the Shadowlands with Vance behind her.

Ben, the security guard, stood behind his desk in the entry. His big-boned face split in a welcoming smile as he shook hands with Galen. “Little Sally. I thought you were back with us, but you disappeared again.”

At the welcoming boom of his voice, she felt her eyes burn, and she leaned over the desk to kiss his cheek.

His face turned red. He might appear like an evil giant from some barbarian world, but he was one of the nicest men in the world.

“Good to see you, Ben.” Vance slapped his shoulder.

The guys waited for her to stuff her shoes in a cubby before conducting her into the main club room.

Oh, it was good to be back. Music from Metallica mixed with the sounds of floggers and hands against bare flesh and moans. Yelps. Groans. The heady smell of leather. Even the air seemed to have a special weight and feel different from anywhere else in the world. She gave a loud sigh of happiness and noticed both Feds were smiling down at her.

“Come on, pet. Let’s see what Z has in mind for us.” Galen put his hand behind her to get her moving. Vance took her other side.

As they passed the dance floor, gazes turned toward them, and Sally felt rather like a sweet cocker spaniel between two massive guard dogs.

Uzuri was dancing, and her chocolate-brown eyes widened as she looked from the men to Sally. She gave Sally a thumbs-up.

Vance laughed.

“Glad we meet her approval,” Galen said in a dry voice. But a quick peek upward showed he was smiling.

Sally grinned at him. Returning to the Shadowlands after being with Frank, she’d felt as if she’d never reach a happy time, kind of like Sleeping Beauty’s prince trying to chop through the forest of thorns to find his love.

This time she could almost see the Yellow Brick Road. She glanced up at the men. What would they do if she linked arms with them and started chanting, Lions and tigers and bears. Oh my.

Galen’s razor-sharp gaze met hers. One eyebrow went up, and his hand moved from her back to her nape. “Whatever you’re thinking,” he said, “think again.”

She scowled. “Only Master Z can read minds. How did you know I wanted to—”

His grin totally lifted her heart. God, he didn’t do that enough. He bent and whispered in her ear, “It’s a Dom secret.”

“Oh fine.” Maybe she’d decorate his canes and paddles too. Draw something girlie…pretty pink flowers.

Yeah.

At the bar, Vance lifted her onto a bar stool and stood at her right. Galen took her left.

She frowned. Did they always set themselves up that way? Were they protecting her or restraining her? Why did it make her feel so squishy inside?

Cullen spotted them and made his way down the bar, filling drink orders as he came. He paused to swat Andrea’s butt and nuzzle her cheek on the way. Sally smiled, pleased at how Andrea’s color heightened at his overt affection. Even though they’d been together for over a year, they still acted like new lovers.

“It’s good to see you, love,” Cullen said to Sally. He put his oversize hand under her chin, studying her face. “You look—”

She felt Vance put his arm around her waist.

Cullen’s hand dropped, and he straightened. He looked at the Fed. “Sorry, gents. I forgot she wasn’t still a trainee.”

Sally froze. She really wasn’t, was she? She remembered the thrill when the Masters had told her she’d be a trainee. How special it had been to belong somewhere and to have the Masters watching over her. The loss…hurt…like something had ripped away inside her.

Galen nodded; his face an unreadable mask. He set a hand on her shoulder, squeezed, and some warmth trickled back in.

“No problem,” Vance said easily to Cullen. His arm stayed around her, holding her even tighter against his side as if to tell her where she belonged. “What time did Z want us on duty?”

Cullen checked a paper on the low counter behind the bar and pulled two gold-trimmed black leather vests from the shelves. “Looks like you’re on now. Kouros gets the front of the room; you’re in the back.”

“Got it,” Vance said.

Sally gave herself a mental shake and turned her mind to lighter—shallower—thoughts.

Like watching her Doms. How would they look in the dungeon monitor vests?

Vance dragged on the vest over his tight T-shirt. Very nice. Somehow his shoulders looked even broader, and the curve of his biceps stretching the shirtsleeves was more obvious.

Yeah, shallow thoughts weren’t a problem at all—because she was having trouble not jumping his bones. With incredible control, she managed to keep her hands in her lap.

Galen turned to Sally. Somehow the vest over his dress shirt had a different effect, yet was equally amazing. His shirt was unbuttoned at the top, displaying just a hint of the steely, lean musculature. God, she just wanted to unbutton his shirt and lick her way down.

“We’re only doing monitor duty for an hour,” he said. “After that, we’ll have time to play. Will you be all right by yourself?”

She sniffed. “Of course.”

“Good.” Galen touched his finger to the tip of her nose. “Remember you’re no longer a free agent, pet. Stay here at the bar or sit with the other submissives.”

As he strolled away, her mouth formed sarcastic words even though his statement made her feel all happy inside. I’m not a free agent.

Vance tilted her chin up and took a blatantly possessive kiss before smiling into her eyes. “Be a good girl now.”

He headed off to the back before she finished sighing. As dungeon monitors, the two men would stroll through the room, checking each scene for safety, making sure the submissives were being treated well. Master Z was a great believer in the safe and sane practices, especially for the newer players. More experienced, hard-core players would practice RACK, and although “Risk Aware Consensual Kink” didn’t exactly mean safe or sane, everyone agreed on the consensual part.

“Want a drink, Sally?” Master Cullen asked.

She looked up, up, up at the craggy-faced bartender. He and Ben sure made a girl feel height challenged. “How about a diet…” No, on second thought, any drink that sent her bladder into overtime was a bad idea. She still had trouble asking for stuff, and unlike Vance, Galen would probably make her wait until she ended up with her legs so tight together that she wouldn’t be able to walk. “I’ll grab some water from the munchie tables.”

“You were told to stay—”

“Hey, Cullen, need a first-aid kit,” a Domme called from the end of the bar.

“Coming,” Cullen grabbed a white kit from under the bar and headed toward the Domme.

Galen had said to stay put. Sally sat for a second…considering. Doubtful that they’d notice if she visited the food tables.