Page 35 of Worth the Risk

“Yes. I started here about two weeks ago,” Bella replied as she took it. There was something surreal about their polite conversation in the lobby of a sex club with them both dressed in lingerie.

“And Dan scooped you up already. You work fast, bud,” Tony remarked.

“I’ve learned the hard way that if you snooze you lose around here.”

“I got back into town late today and haven’t had an update. Did everything go as planned yesterday?”

“Yes. He wasn’t happy, but we convinced him cooperation was the best course of action.”

The big man nodded, and Dan offered nothing else, which had her confused. Had they had trouble with a club member? There had been a few skirmishes on her shifts, but nothing that a typical bar didn’t have on a typical night.

Dan passed him the pen he was using to sign in because the lobby behind the registration desk was filling up and was no place for chatting.

Instead of using the gothic door directly to the dungeon or to the bar, he led her behind the counter and entered the administrative suite.

“Before we can play, you have papers to sign, and Dex wants to speak with you.”

Her feet came to a halt, but Dan kept walking, jerking both their arms. His momentum propelled her forward, and she fell against him.

“What’s wrong?” he asked as he steadied her.

“Why would the master dom want to talk to me?”

“When you walk through the doors to the playroom tonight, you’ll no longer be an uncontracted employee. You’ll be a submissive playing at his club. He likes to get to know all the members, especially the newbies.”

“Come on back,” a deep voice echoed down the hall.

Dan looked down at her. “Do you remember what I told you?”

She nodded and repeated, “It’s my choice.”

His hand cupped her jaw, fingers lacing in the hair at her temple. “Always,” he affirmed. “And you have safewords. The biggest reason you should feel safe here, though, Bella, is that you’re with me.”

“You’d never do anything I didn’t want.”

“Absolutely. Dex will probably only confirm these very basic rules with you. And there’s the matter of paperwork. He’s a stickler for that.”

“I’m being silly, aren’t I?”

“No. You’re nervous. Everyone is on their first night.” His other hand rose to her face, framing it between his palms, his gray-blue eyes intense. “But I hope there is some excitement brewing inside as well.”

“There is. For the same reason, I know I shouldn’t worry. Because I’m with you.”

His response was a tender kiss on her lips. “Ready to do this, then?”

“Yeah,” she breathed.

Dex rose when they entered his office and his bright-blue eyes focused on Dan. “Problems?”

“We’re good,” he replied, as he guided Bella to one of the two high-backed chairs angled in front of the master dom’s massive desk.

It was immaculate, with only one item, a clipboard with a stack of papers, on the gleaming mahogany top. He’d been expecting them and being the sole focus of his attention was rather intimidating.

When she sat with the two big men standing, she felt at a disadvantage, but she would need to get used to that. It was a dominance and submission club, and she wasn’t the one with the power, or making any of the rules. Bella folded her hands nervously, and Dan had to sense her unease. He didn’t take the other seat. Instead, he stood next to her, his arm draped across the back of her chair, his fingers tangling in her hair. The possessive gesture was strangely comforting, which she felt certain was his goal.

Dex’s shrewd gaze took this all in. She didn’t know him, and wouldn’t call his expression a smile, more like approving.

“Ben tells me you’ve signed up for our beginner’s class, Bella.”

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