Page 20 of Coming Home

When they arrived at the club, the porch lights were on and it felt cozy and inviting. They walked up the stairs and the door opened before they got to the top.

“It’s about damn time you came home, David Eastman.”

As Dakota Hylander stepped onto the porch and held her arms open, Emily left his side and took the hug she was offering.

“I’ve missed you,” Emily breathed as Dakota hugged her tight.

“I’ve missed you, lady. We were beginning to wonder if we would ever see you again. I hear we’ll have to call you Doctor in a few years.”

Emily blushed as she stepped away, and David hugged Dakota as well.

“Good to see you, Dakota. Sorry I’ve kept her away for so long. It’s been a crazy year.”

Dakota grinned. “Tell me about it. It’s been one thing after another here. Hopefully we can all have a nice quiet Christmas party together without too much excitement.

“Hey Dr. Mallincoat, I hear you needed an escape too.”

Tamara turned on David and frowned. “Just how much did you tell everyone?”

David held up his hands in mock surrender. “Nothing of substance. Just that you needed a break for a few days, calm down woman.”

Stepping into the lobby, David looked around with pride. The old Lodge had been a cozy place when he bought it, but the people he’d tasked with making this place into a luxury BDSM club had outdone themselves. Now, someone had set up a table along one wall and it was brimming with Christmas decorations.

“We asked everyone who plans to help us decorate to bring things that fit our red and silver color scheme, and we got more than we bargained for. Jasmine went a little overboard, but tomorrow is going to be fun.”

“Tomorrow?” Emily questioned.

“David didn’t tell you? We’re having a decorating party to get the club ready for the Christmas party on Saturday. We’ll break for our regular Friday play party tomorrow, but we’ll mostly be drinking spiked hot chocolate and stringing lights. It’s going to be a blast.”

“I figured I would let you talk her into it. My Emily is not as into the Christmas spirit as the rest of us,” he teased. “But I also have to drag her into town for some Christmas shopping at some point.”

“I think a decorating party sounds fun. We can do our shopping on Saturday morning if we want,” Emily said with a shy smile.

“Oh sure, you’ll decorate with Dakota, but not with me.”

Emily giggled. “Sorry. I’m a sucker for a group project.”

“And now we know why she’s staying in college for a few more years,” Dakota said with a wink.

“I should let y’all get to your room. Everyone else is either on their way in or already asleep, I think. Doc, you’re in my room tonight so just follow me.”

David took Emily’s hand and led her up the stairs after Dakota gave him the key to Matthew’s purple suite.

It was a gorgeous room decorated in deep purple hues with black and silver accents. Emily stripped off her dress without waiting for David to tell her to and headed for the bathroom. “Mind if I shower?” she asked.

“Mind if I join you?” he asked with a grin.

She shook her head, and he reached for the top button on his shirt as he stalked toward her.

At the bathroom door, he toed off his shoes and shucked the rest of his clothes. Water was already streaming down her naked body by the time he opened the door to join her.

11

“I got Dakota the martini glass, and we took care of Holly and Elijah already. What do we get for Lance and Marissa? I don’t feel like I know her very well.”

Emily was tired of shopping, but David still seemed to be having a good time, and she had to admit it was fun watching him. And she did like the idea of getting her friends some fun gifts.

“They had just broken up when I met Lance, so I don’t actually know her all that well either,” David was saying as they walked the corridor of a shopping mall. “But I’m sure we’ll find just the right thing. And don’t forget, we have to find something fun for our dirty santa gifts as well.”

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