Daniel cracked one eye open. “That’s a sound no man wants to hear in bed.”

Feeling bolder, she pressed a kiss to his shoulder. “I was actually thinking about the way being around you makes me feel all wanton and wicked.”

“And that’s worthy of a giggle?”

“It’s just not like me.”

“Maybe it’s more like you than you realize.”

His words struck a chord within her. Maybe he was right and she had just needed the right man to show her the woman buried inside and longing to be free.

“Julie, I—,” he started, but stopped when a cell phone rang.

“Must be yours. That’s not my ringtone.”

“It is. I’m sorry. It’s my private line. Do you mind?”

She sat up, dragging the sheet with her and wrapping it around her chest. “No, go ahead.”

He rummaged through the pile of clothes, finally pulling the phone from his discarded pants. A frown crossed his face when he saw the display. “Tess?” he asked, answering the call. The frown changed into an expression of worry. “How long ago? Where’s she at now?” Silence followed as whoever he was talking with replied. He looked down at his watch. “I’ll be there in thirty minutes. No, I can’t get there any faster.”

He ended the call with a sigh and turned to her. “I’m sorry. My grandma’s had an episode. . . . She’s not in the best frame of mind sometimes. That was my sister.”

Julie swallowed her disappointment; she’d hoped he could stay longer. Selfish of her to feel that way with his grandmother ill, but there you go. She wasn’t just a seductress; she was a selfish seductress.

But she waved at him. “Don’t think twice about it—you need to be with your family.”

He shrugged his shirt on. “I feel like a jerk, leaving like this.”

“Don’t. You’d be a jerk if you didn’t go.”

His tuxedo pants were quickly donned and he haphazardly stuffed his shirt in. When he was dressed, he walked to the bed and cupped her face.

“You are an amazing woman and I promise I will make this up to you.” He leaned down for a soft kiss, promised to call, and then left.

With a sigh, Julie collapsed back onto the bed and snuggled into the downy comforter. She eventually fell asleep to one thought: she was willing to bet she would thoroughly enjoy Daniel making it up to her.

THREE

The week passed slowly. Daniel called twice and they sent a few texts back and forth, and even planned a date for Saturday, but he seemed distant. Julie remembered his words from the benefit, that there were things she didn’t know about him. Did that explain the distance? Or did he think her cheap and easy after the night in her hotel room?

On Thursday night, she sat in the shop, counting down the minutes until she could lock up. Then it would be back to her place for takeout and a good book. At least she had Saturday night to look forward to. Saturday night she’d keep her clothes on for the entire date. Or at least until they could talk about why he was so distant.

If there was a following week. Sasha had said she wouldn’t be compatible with Daniel. Maybe she was right. Earth-shattering sex aside, because they’d certainly seemed compatible in bed.

She drummed her fingers against the countertop. She’d had the dream again. The one that had started during college. Though it’d always been the same, last night it’d ended differently.

The room is dark. A single candle provides the only light. He’d told her to keep her eyes closed, but she risks a small peek to try and see him. Always he was cloaked in darkness. Always. Tonight is no different.

“Did you open your eyes?” His voice is thick with displeasure.

She whispers her apology, but it’s too late. One hand covers her mouth, while the other slips her panties down her hips.

“I’ll teach you to disobey a direct order.”

Somehow, she is on her stomach and he is spanking her. It doesn’t hurt, it simply turns her on more, and she wiggles in a desperate attempt to alleviate the needy ache between her legs.

“Look at you getting horny by being spanked.” He rains more slaps against her flesh. Harder. Harder. “The harder I spank you, the more desperate you are to come.”

He’s right. There’s no sense in even trying to deny it. He circles her cl*t and she comes with a yelp when he sweeps a finger across her hungry flesh.

“I didn’t give you permission.”

He flips her over, onto her back, and for the first time ever, she sees him clearly.

“Daniel!”

“Thinking about a certain banker again?” Sasha flipped the sign over the door to CLOSED.

Julie couldn’t believe she’d spoken aloud, but just remembering the dream had surprised her again. Now she blushed and tried to explain. “No, I just thought I saw someone who looked like him walking by out the front window.”

Sasha looked at her funny, but didn’t point out it was too dark outside to see anyone walking by. Julie decided to change the subject. “Time for me to curl up with a good book. What are you doing tonight?”

“It’s my monthly group meeting.” Sasha tilted her head and gave a sly smile. “Come with me?”

“What? No. I’m not like that.” She didn’t know why it was so difficult to admit her interest.

“I’ve seen the look in your eyes when I talk about it. I know you’re curious. Come check it out. Trust me. You won’t regret it.”

Julie was so tempted.

Sasha held out her hands as if weighing something. “Lonely Thursday night or meeting cool people? Romance novel or acting out your fantasy?”

She would never stop wondering what BDSM was all about until she learned more. Though she’d never admitted it to Sasha, she was extremely curious and the reoccurring dream had been at the forefront of her mind all day. She knew the meeting would be safe. And Sasha would know everyone. “Oh, okay. I’ll go.”

Her friend applauded. “Good for you. Take charge. Come on, I’ll brief you in the car.”

During the drive to the community center that housed the meeting, Sasha chatted about what to expect. Namely, that everyone would have a bracelet on. As a first-time guest, Julie’s would be white. Sasha, a submissive, wore red. Switches wore green. Doms wore black.

When she entered, she’d be given paperwork to look over and complete if she would like to come back or attend the party the next day. After a brief meet and greet time, a senior member would lead the group in either a teaching session or a roundtable discussion.

“What’s the topic tonight?” she asked Sasha.

Sasha stared intently at the red light they were stopped at. “I’m not exactly sure.”

“I don’t know if I’m ready to talk sex with a roomful of strangers.”

“Only roundtables involve group discussion and even then, they won’t make you talk.”

Julie squirmed in her seat. She wasn’t a prude. Heaven knew, she had only to look back to last weekend to figure that out. She just wasn’t sure she was open-minded enough for the next few hours.

“You going to the play party tomorrow?” she asked Sasha.

“Yeah, Peter and I are doing a demo.” She turned and gave Julie a wicked smile. “Wanna come?”

“I’ll probably pass.”

“Invitation’s open.”

She loved Sasha as much as she loved her sister; she just didn’t know if she wanted to see her participating in whatever it was she was demoing with her latest fling.

They pulled into the parking lot and there were a lot more people present than she’d anticipated. Even though Sasha told her not to worry and that the group held confidentiality in the highest regard, she still feared running into someone she knew. Or running into someone next week that she’d met at the meeting.

A friendly-looking young guy wearing a green bracelet greeted Sasha warmly and handed Julie a stack of papers and a white bracelet.

After slipping the plastic band on her wrist, she flipped through the papers.

“Don’t let the checklist freak you out,” Sasha whispered.

Julie glanced at a few items on the list and decided it would be best to read through it later. In private. And with the Internet handy.

The forms she didn’t pay much attention to, since she wouldn’t be going to the party the next day. She’d take them home, too. If she ever decided to come back, she’d fill them out then.

Sasha introduced her to a few people and Julie began to relax. Everyone was open and friendly. There seemed to be an equal number of men and women present, representing a wide age range. Sasha addressed the people wearing black bracelets as either “sir” or “ma’am,” but since Julie was new, they insisted she use their first names.

Julie was standing with Sasha, talking to a group of women wearing red bands, when a familiar voice rang through the room.

“Sorry I’m late. Everyone go ahead and take a seat. We’ll get started right away.”

She spun around to find Daniel striding through the crowd. On his wrist was a thick black band.

“What the hell, Sasha?” Julie asked when her mind cleared somewhat and she found her voice.

Sasha sighed. “You needed to know.”

Holy f**k. Daniel was a Dom.

She couldn’t be more shocked. Clearly this was what her dream was trying to tell her, and she hadn’t been listening. She was certain if she thought about it, it would make sense. Maybe. But at the moment she was still dealing with the shock of seeing Daniel. At Sasha’s BDSM group meeting. Where he was a Dom.

“What?” Julie questioned. “So you thought dragging me here was the best way for me to find out?”

“You’re getting more and more involved with him and he obviously isn’t telling you. I know something happened last weekend—it was written all over your face on Monday. Don’t look at me like that. I’m not an idiot.”

Last weekend. Daniel’s insistence she needed to know more about him. Her lighthearted brush-off of that insistence.

The two of them were starting to draw attention. The group of submissives moved away to find seats. A black-bracelet-wearing man she’d been introduced to moments earlier came up to them.

“Is there a problem here, ladies?” He looked cold and hard. Julie guessed he didn’t smile often.

“No, sir,” Sasha replied. “No problem here.”

Julie wondered if she could slip out of the room without Daniel seeing her. But their little commotion had grabbed his attention. He caught her gaze and his eyes widened in shock.

“Julie?” Then he looked to the woman at her side and understanding crossed his face. “Sasha,” he said, his voice low and commanding, allowing no possibility of disobedience. “Side room. Now. Dena, run a roundtable discussion.”

Sasha straightened her shoulders and, looking like a condemned prisoner walking to meet her fate, followed Daniel out a side door. The man who had approached her and Sasha went with her.

A leggy blonde jumped up. “Um, since Master Covington has been detained, let’s have whoever wants to share tell one thing that can improve communication between Dominant and submissive.”

Not jumping their bones when they tell you there’s something you need to know.

Several heads turned in her direction.

Damn it all, did I say that out loud?

Luckily she hadn’t, and the conversation began to flow around her. She found she couldn’t concentrate on the words. Instead, she unsuccessfully tried to hear what was happening in the side room. There wasn’t any yelling or shouting that she could hear. Then again, Daniel didn’t seem like the yelling sort.

And why had the blonde called him “Master”? Didn’t that speak to a deeper intimacy?