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“Whoa there. Not your good girl,” she corrected.

Peter chuckled. “You’re right. I apologize.”

“You came,” A feminine voice said behind her.

A slow smile spread across her face as she turned to find Darci standing with her arms open for a hug.

She stepped into the woman’s arms and laid her head against her chest. “Hey sweetie. It’s good to see you. I’ve missed these parties.”

Darci’s embrace tightened and the two women stood that way for a long time. When she lifted her head, Darci ducked her head and brushed her lips across Carrie’s.

Peter cleared his throat, and Darci blushed. “Oh my goodness. I’m so sorry. You’re here with a date.” She stuck her hand out to Peter then paused.

“Wait, a minute. You’re the hunky security guy. I didn’t know you were dating Carrie.”

Carrie laughed. “Hardly. We’re not here together. Not exactly, anyway. And what do you mean by hunky security guy?”

Darci held up a hand. “No need to explain. And he was coming into the warehouse last week just as you were leaving. I introduced myself after you got in the cab.”

Carrie’s mouth fell open, and she turned to stare at Peter. “You’re the security expert Gage was bringing in?”

Peter stared at her. “The purple wig. That was you. Now your eyeshadow the day I met you makes so much more sense.”

Carrie groaned. She would never live down the eyeshadow. “This town is too damn small. Are we sure a club is a good idea?”

Darci squeezed Carrie’s hand. “I think it’s exactly what we need. A place we can call our own where we can bond. People will be safer about things this way, I swear. Now tell me how you two know each other.”

Carrie had no idea what to say. It wasn’t like she could say hey Darci, I’m staying with Peter right now because someone tried to kidnap me and set my apartment on fire. Though if she could tell anyone, it would have been Darci.

Peter draped an arm around Carrie. “I met her by chance through work and we both just showed up here tonight. We’re both a little shocked still.”

Darci grinned at Carrie. “Small world indeed. Did you get to use any of the stuff I sent you on that bill?”

Carrie nodded. “I did. Your name might even wind up in my story and one of the anchors might want to have you on their show if I can talk any of them into running the piece.”

Three other party-goers came into the kitchen, and Carrie clamped her mouth shut. She didn’t hide her profession at these parties, but she also didn’t talk openly about it.

Peter leaned closer to both women. “I hear Gage is about to do something fun with whoever the girl of the month is. I’m going to go find a seat and watch. Why don’t you ladies join me?”

Carrie chuckled. “He’s always got a different girl at Edith’s house, too.”

Peter closed his eyes. “OK. I lied. This is awkward. I’ve known Gage and Reggie for over a decade. It’s weird that you know them.”

Carrie shrugged. “Sorry. We’ll join you in a few minutes. I want to catch up with hot stuff here.”

Darci giggled. “Let’s go watch. We can cuddle. I could use a cuddle right now.”

Carrie grinned and held out her hand to Darci, and they followed Peter into the living room.

They settled on a couch for the show Gage was about to put on. The scene turned out to be a Florentine flogging. It took skill to pull off, and Carrie enjoyed watching anyone who could do it well. The ability to get both floggers going in a rhythmic patter across his bottom’s back wasn’t easy. Gage turned out to be very good at it.

She had let Gage work her over a time or two at Edith’s parties, but they had found they didn’t have a lot of chemistry for intense play. Now, he usually only used Carrie as a demo bottom when he was teaching a class.

After the initial awkwardness had worn off, Carrie relaxed. Having Darci there made things easier. Once Gage was done with his scene, he, came over to their couch and perched on the arm. Edith join them and the group spent the rest of the night talking and laughing until Peter said it was getting late. He stood and leaned down and whispered in her ear. “I’ll let you say goodnight to Darci and meet you out front.”

Carrie stood and held her hand out for Darci to join her and ran her fingers through her hair. “Peter is my ride home. I’ll explain later. Walk me out?”

Darci nodded, and they walked through the house to the front door with their fingers laced together.

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