Page 20 of Jackson
“You guys don’t mess around. It’s easier to get on a plane,” Paula joked as she signed the papers and Jackson paid the night’s fees.
Kate laughed. “If you want to join the club after tonight, you’ll have to provide identification so we can run a background check, as well as a recent medical report, but for now this is sufficient. Enjoy your evening.”
Paula thanked Kate and let Jackson guide her through a door into a hallway. Music from an opening ahead washed over them, and she recognized the song. “Judas Priest?”
“Do you like them?”
“Oh yeah. I’ve listened toScreaming for Vengeancefor years.Pain and Pleasureis one of my favorite tracks.” She smiled as she remembered. “I drove my mother nuts with my obsession for the head-to-toe, leather-and-studs look.”
Jackson laughed. “Okay, metalhead. It’s good to know we have some music taste in common, although I lean more to progressive metal and rock.” He placed a kiss on the tip of her nose, which felt oddly sweet given the kind of club they were in. “Let me show you the locker rooms. It’s time to change.”
Before she could formulate any questions, Jackson led her through a door and showed her where she could change. “Into what?”
Jackson grinned at her and handed her a black plastic bag. “This. Go ahead, I’ll wait for you out here.”
“Aren’t you going to change?” She gave his jeans and blue shirt the once over. She had to admit he looked great in every outfit she’d seen him wear, and the shirt highlighted his incredible eyes.
“I am.” He winked at her and strode away. She watched him go, hoping he wouldn’t look any sexier when he returned or she would be in serious trouble. She probably was already—here she was at a BDSM club with a colleague who was about a decade younger than she was.
What am I doing?
She turned toward the ladies’ locker room just as the door swung open and her friend Laura stepped out, followed by a petite Asian woman who barely looked legal.
“—I swear, Python runs rings around Java.” The younger woman gestured animatedly.
“You’ll have to prove that,” Laura replied before looking up. “Paula? Why didn’t you tell me you were coming to the club tonight? Who are you with? I thought you weren’t interested.”
Paula gave her friend a quick hug. “I wasn’t sure myself until about an hour ago. Jackson Cagney is my—um—escort.”Date, Dom, what should she call him?
The women stood somewhat awkwardly before Laura said, “Julie, this is Paula—she was my maid of honor. Paula, meet Julie, a longstanding member of the club and a total rope bunny.”
“Nice to meet you.” Paula shook hands with Julie, who wasn’t as young as she appeared now she’d taken a closer look. “What’s a rope bunny?”
Julie chuckled. “New to the scene, I see.” She added kindly, “It’s a name for a bottom who likes to be tied up, and I’m very lucky that one of the best riggers around likes to play with me.”
Laura laughed out loud. “Come on, Julie, I think Mitch more than likes to play with you. Since I’ve joined the club, I’ve never seen him with anyone else.”
“You’re right.” Julie shrugged. “At the club we’re perfect for each other.”
Paula thought she sounded somewhat sad, but she wasn’t sure.
Laura indicated the bag Paula was still holding. “What’s in there?”
Paula had almost forgotten about the order to change. “I don’t know. It’s what I’m supposed to wear tonight.”
“Wow! Surprise costume! Show us what you got?”
Her enthusiasm was infectious, and Paula smiled as she opened the bag, pulled shiny blue silk the color of her eyes from it, and looked in wonderment at the two-piece outfit.
“What a gorgeous Arabian Nights costume!” Julie bounced on the balls of her feet and clapped her hands together. “Come on, try it on.”
Paula studied the costume she was holding. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to enter the club looking like a harem girl.
Laura started to peel off her street clothes, giving Paula some semblance of privacy or at least one fewer pair of eyes on her.
“You know, if your Top thinks you’re taking too long, you might end up going through the club in your birthday suit,” Laura remarked, nonchalantly.
Her words rang true in Paula’s ears, and she kicked into action. Used to shifting gears, she had her clothes off and the costume on before Laura was finished undressing.
