Chapter Eleven

A primal beat thrummed in the background of the club, making Kristen’s body pulse in time to the music. She glanced around the waiting room where she and Cameron stood. It held sofas, chairs, and a fridge. On one wall was a counter with two coffee pots and hot water on warming plates. A stack of paper cups were next to the drinks along with a pile of napkins and some small paper plates. A couple of trays of fruit and veggies were spread out on the counter.

“Hey, Cameron, I didn’t expect to see you tonight.” Jack’s voice was happy. He wore a pair of black leather pants, and his chest was bare.

“Hey, Jack.” The two men embraced. Kristen glanced down. Jack’s feet were bare, and she wondered why. Plus, he wore black and yellow arm bands on his bicep and a black band on his wrist.

When they pulled apart, Jack’s brown eyes focused in on her. She shifted from one foot to the other. “Hello, Kristen.”

“Hello,” she said, unsure what to call him. Jack? Sir?

“Out here, you can call me Jack, but inside the club, it’s Sir.” He took her hand and brought it to his lips, placing a kiss on her knuckles.

“Quit making eyes at her.” Cameron punched Jack in the arm.

Jack released her hand with a laugh and a wink. “We’ve got a pretty light group tonight.”

“Good. We’re going to sit out here for a while and give Kristen a chance to acclimate to the club.”

“I’m sure you won’t lack for company. I’m glad you’re back.” Jack nodded in her direction then disappeared into the other room.

“Let’s go sit down.” Cameron gestured to one of the unoccupied sofas. There were only two other people in the room, and they were at the other end of the area on a sofa, kissing.

Kristen lowered herself onto the cream-colored sofa. Cameron sat down next to her, his thigh resting solidly against hers. “So this is like a waiting area?” she asked.

“Sort of.” He picked up her hand and entwined their fingers. “Many come out here to have a little alone time or to settle down after a scene. In some cases, to talk.”

“Talk about what?”

“There are unattached subs and Doms, and they will come out here to negotiate their scene before they actually play.”

“That makes sense.”

“Since it’s Friday night, it means the club is open to members, their guests, and new members.”

“So?”

“It’s easier to talk out here rather than in the club itself. Plus it allows people who aren’t sure about entering the club time to feel comfortable without being pressured.”

“Oh.” She hadn’t seen that before. “What do the bands on Jack’s arm mean?”

“Each band has a special meaning.” He lifted his arm, showing her the black one around his bicep. “Black means Master in the club.”

“Master?”

“You read the book I gave you?”

“I did.” She pressed her lips together as she tried to remember everything she’d read. “But you said Master, not Dom.”

“Correct.” He grinned. “When Jack started the club, he wanted to focus more on education about BDSM and the community.” Cameron moved closer to her. “But he also wanted a place where people could play. Where they would be safe to play.”

“Is that why I had to fill out the application? Show my driver’s license and answer the questions on the application, such as if I’d ever been arrested?” She was starting to understand more about safe, sane, and consensual.

“Yes. While we do allow guests, we have to limit liability for the safety of our guests.”

“Okay, so a Dom is also a Master?” She might get the hang of this.

He shook his head, and she scrunched up her nose. “A Master in this context is a Master in the club only. The position holder is usually a Dom as well, but a Master is here to keep the peace. If he has a yellow band on his bicep, like Jack does, he is also a dungeon monitor, who will watch the scenes, make sure nothing gets out of hand, and will take care of any problems before they become extreme.”

“So the Dungeon Masters are like monitors?” This was so different from what she’d experienced before and made her feel safer.

“Sort of, although there are a few monitors as well. They will have yellow bands on their biceps. On nights when the club is really full, we need the help.”

“How many Masters are there?”

“Let’s see…Jack, me, my brothers and—”

“Your bothers are into this as well?” She winced as her voice rose. Glancing around, she was glad to see there wasn’t anyone close to them. Holy crap. Was his whole family into it? What about Skye?

“Yes, but we don’t discuss it over the dinner table.” He grinned at her, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “Remember our conversation about how being part of the lifestyle is being discreet.” He touched her cheek. “And before you ask, yes, our parents are well aware of our activities. We have their approval.”

“Your family is so open and supportive.” She hated the wishful tone in her voice. Her parents had only cared about her when it had benefited them.

“They are. So, this means that a Master’s word in the club is law.”

“Do you…” She didn’t know how to ask the question, so instead, she held up her wrist. “I have a white band.”

“It signifies you are a guest of an attending club member.” He glanced up as a couple walked into the room, and he gave a nod in greeting before turning his attention back to her. “Wrist bands are like this—black is a Dom or Domme. Green with red means the sub likes pain. Green with blue means the sub likes a little pain. Just green is a sub.”

“I’m never going to remember all this.” Her brain was already overflowing.

“You don’t need to tonight. I want you to understand what happens in the club before we go in.”

“You don’t expect me to…” Kristen swallowed, her gaze landing on a woman who walked into the lounge area from the club, wearing only a thong.

Cameron glanced up then turned his attention back to her. “You can stay as dressed or get as undressed as you want. You’ll see everything in the club.”

Kristen nodded, her brain swirling with questions and fears. “No sex in the club, right?”

“Correct. Only in the private rooms. Those rooms have to be negotiated ahead of time. No cell phones, no cameras, and no recording devices.”

“How do you enforce all that?”

“Remember when you filled out the form, I had asked you to give me your purse?”

“Yes.” She thought it was odd at the time, but she hadn’t questioned him.

“Behind the desk there is a set of small lockers. You have to surrender all personal items. They’re put in there.”

“How do they know what belongs to who?”

“Each locker has a slot, and your name is slipped into the slot.”

“That makes sense, but…” There was a loud, sharp snap, and Kristen jumped. A moan followed. It didn’t sound like a moan of pain, but she wasn’t sure.

Cameron’s blood heated at the sound of a flogger hitting skin. “Someone is being flogged,” Cameron explained. He hoped bringing Kristen here wouldn’t set her training back. The club could be intense at times. He’d watch her carefully to make sure she wasn’t overwhelmed.

“And that moan?”

“It sounded like Amber.” He grinned as Kristen frowned. “As a Master, I know the subs and their sounds.” It amazed him that after being gone for six months, he could still identify them. “Are you okay?”

“Fine. This is very different.” Her eyes were wide, but her body was relaxed.

“From what?” He wanted to know what she was thinking.

“The club I was taken to was dark, the music loud, and there was nothing wrong with having sex out in the open.”

He remembered her telling him about the club. He wanted her to know Decadence was different and she was safe here. “Our lighting is subdued, but not dark. Music is used to enhance the mood, and I’ve already stated no sex. But you may see other things.”

“Like what?” She tilted her head.

“Varying amounts of nudity, toys being used, and bondage.” He stood and pulled her to her feet. “Let’s go walk around. I want you to experience things.” If she couldn’t handle the club, then he would have to adjust his plans about them playing there in the future.

“One more question.” She tugged on his hand.

“Yes.” He gazed at her.

Her face was flushed, her breathing a little rapid, and her eyes held questions. “What was the yellow band around Jack’s arm?”

“You are very observant. All monitors wear them.” He ran a finger down her hot cheek. “Safe, sane, consensual. You are safe.”

She nodded and let out a breath. “I’m ready.”

Cameron leaned down and brushed a light kiss over her lips. “If you get overwhelmed or frightened, tell me, and we’ll come out here to sit.”

“I will.” She gazed up at him. “I trust you.”

He stared at her as his heart beat in his ears. “I won’t violate that trust.” He took her hand and led her into the club.