Page 7 of Sunrise

“You didn’t fuck up at all.” Wanting to comfort him, I make my way over to his chair and get on my knees beside it. Running my hand over his thigh, I talk softly. “Both of you were brave tonight.”

“He hates me.”

“He could never hate you.”

“No, Sophie. He fucking hates me. You don’t understand.”

“Then try explaining it.” I know there’s a lot to these men I still don’t know. And what I have uncovered is basically a broken mess. Healing, sure, but still very broken. “Look, he was uncomfortable. That’s all. You did nothing wrong.”

“I called you—” He shakes his head and won’t say the rest.

“I can’t help if I don’t know the full story.” When he doesn’t respond, I shake his thigh a little. “What did you call me?” Vault calls me lots of things, depending on his mood.

He leans back in his chair and closes his eyes. “Sunrise.”

Oh yeah. He did. “And that’s what upset Knox?”

Vault nods. “It’s a long story.”

“I have nothing but time.”

He shakes his head. “I’m not ready.”

“Okay.”

I’ve never pushed for information, and I won’t start now. Vault got his nickname because his mind is a steel trap. The guys say he remembers everything, because he has a photographic memory. I’d say it’s because he keeps too many secrets.

But who am I to judge? I have secrets of my own that no one, including Vault, knows, and I keep it that way for my safety.

“What can I do to help?” If he doesn’t want to talk, we can certainly do other things. “Would you like to grab a bite somewhere? Go for a ride?”

“I need to get back to work,” he grumbles, shutting me out.

“Okay.” I stand and give him a kiss on the cheek, then leave as quietly as I can. Perhaps I should be annoyed or frustrated by his rebuff, but I understand. Vault buries himself in work, or in me, when he’s upset. As long as one or the other works for him, I don’t care which he chooses. Besides, tonight is an open house, which means we all need to do our job.

Ryker meets me halfway down the hall, clearly heading straight to Vault. “Everything okay?”

I shrug. What happens between Vault, Knox, and I will stay between us until we all agree otherwise. “He’s back to work.”

Ryker’s jaw clenches, but he doesn’t dig. “You did great tonight.”

“Thanks.” I’m the odd man out in this circle of friends. The late comer. It’s times like this when it sucks because I want to know what “sunrise” means, and I bet Ryker knows. “Where do you need me tonight?”

He dives right into business, too. “There’s a couple looking for a Femme Domme in room sixteen. They’re new. He just wants to watch while you pleasure his partner.”

“Perfect.”

Sauntering down the hall, I lock in on being Mistress. I’ve always loved being a Domme and never plan on stopping. This lifestyle is fun. Rewarding. Constantly educational.

It’s wild to see the range of people who want to be dominated by a woman. And it’s not in a way that a lot of people assume—which is usually whipping some man while making him crawl across the floor, although sometimes it can be.

Dominating is much deeper than that, though. It’s letting someone relinquish control and taking care of them in ways that don’t always include sex. It heals them. Soothes them. Quiets their chaotic minds or scratches an itch they rarely let themselves touch. Watching someone enjoy their kinks is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever experienced. To accept and encourage them to enjoy who they are, down to their last molecule, is a beautiful thing. I’m not a golden shower girl, but I’ll piss on someone if that’s whatmakes them happy. The joy of giving someone what they want is as potent to me as the happiness they feel while getting what they desire.

And I rarely fuck the members I dominate anymore. After discussing it with Ryker, he didn’t hesitate to say, “You only do what you’re comfortable with, and nothing more. Your safety and well-being are my priority. The members are second tier.”

Couples are usually my go-to. I’m popular around here. Men love to see me with their women, and if I touch him, it’s minimal. My methods are fail-proof when it comes to pleasure, and I don’t need to be in the middle to make that happen.

Although I do miss being in the middle…

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