Page 37 of Possess

“Consequences happen in the right circles. I wouldn’t give up control if I didn’t feel safe.”

“The club makes you feel safe?”

“Oh yes. I’ve never felt unsafe there, even when I first joined.” Dani ran her fingers over her cheek. “How much time do you have before you have to go back to work?”

“I took the afternoon off.” She didn’t want to worry about how long of a lunch she took with Dani.

“Good. I know a place we can go and get you some great information on the lifestyle.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. And you’ve been there before.” Allyson frowned, and Dani laughed. “Finish up lunch and we’ll go.”

“All right.” They finished quickly, and Dani drove her van back to her small office, where Allyson picked her up. Dani gave her directions, and when Allyson saw the bookstore, she laughed. “Yes, of course I’ve been to Kleinman’s before. You made me come with you to the opening of the bookstore.”

“I did, but today, we’re starting in the bookstore, then we’ll move on the adult side.” Dani jumped out of Allyson’s truck. The note on the bookstore doors said to enter through Kleinman’s, so Dani pulled her to the door and opened it.

Allyson wasn’t sure. She’d never been inside an adult store before. She was pretty sure it was partly from a misplaced sense of embarrassment attached to her parents conduct when she was young.

“Hey, Destiny,” Dani said as she entered. “This is my friend, Allyson. We’re going to go look around in the bookstore and then come back in here.”

“Sure,” the young lady with purple hair said. “Be careful. I haven’t had a chance to unload some of the new books yet, so there are boxes on the floor.”

“Will do.” Dani took Allyson by the arm and led her down the aisle and through the doorway into the bookstore.

Allyson relaxed. The bookstore she could handle. Besides they’d already been here. Dani pulled her down three aisles until they stopped in the alternative lifestyle section. So many books. She’d thought the same thing when Zeke showed her around when the bookstore held its grand opening.

“Okay, let’s start you off with some simple stuff, but also educational.” Dani plucked a book off the shelf, moved to the next bookcase, pulled another one off, and then a third. “I also think some different romances are called for. I know you usually read on your e-reader, but let’s start you off with a new series that depicts the lifestyle a little more realistically.”

Allyson followed Dani as she moved into the romance section. She plucked two books off the shelf. “Come on.” Dani made her way back into the adult store. Allyson paused in the doorway between the two stores and looked around.

There was lots of light and openness to the adult side, and her muscles relaxed. No dim lighting. She didn’t see any dark corners or booths in the back with old men coming out of them. She wasn’t expecting something this… What? Elegant. No, that wasn’t quite the word, but close.

Dani was halfway down another aisle, and she looked back to Allyson. “Come on.”

Allyson caught up with Dani, who was standing in front of a display of restraints. Allyson’s heart skipped several beats.

“You’ve told me you like to be lightly restrained.” Dani juggled the books in one arm and picked up a box. “This should work.”

“I don’t need restraints.” What was Dani thinking?

“Think of them as research while you read.” Dani headed for the register with Allyson trailing after her. She had to admit her heart sped up as she spied toys and other things as she made her way to the front of the store.

“All done?” Destiny asked.

“Yep.” Dani placed everything on the counter. “You still the sole employee?”

“Yes.” Destiny began ringing up the purchases. “Damon is interviewing employees for this side. I’ve got a couple lined up for the bookstore side.”

“Great,” Dani said.

“It will be nice once we can get the place staffed. And that’s $85.92.”

Allyson reached for her wallet.

“Nope. This is on me.” Dani handed over her credit card.

“Dani,” Allyson started to protest.

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