Page 126 of Masters of Secrets

There was something in his voice that made her wonder…

The only way to find out for sure was to walk through the door.

Chapter Fifteen

Connor

Stronghold looked like it always did inside, even though he felt different. The huge main room didn’t look much like a warehouse other than the size. A long wooden bar ran along one side of the room on the right, accompanied by high-top tables and chairs. To the left, before reaching the various doors for the main office and the locker rooms, was a small sitting section known as ‘the Lounge.’

The Lounge was where the unpartnered submissives hung out, or sometimes, they had a partner, but they were hanging out with their friends there. The bar was where the Doms hung out before and after a scene unless they were spending time with a sub. Couples—or polyam groups—usually took over the bar tables between the two spaces.

When he and Julie walked in, his gaze went to the tables because that’s where his friends were usually located. It only took him a moment to find Law, Asad, and Q—but it did take a moment because he was so used to looking for their partners with them. He didn’t see Morgan’s distinctive red or Sam’s honey blonde. Iris was shorter, and her darker hair didn’t stand out quite as much, but he was so used to seeing her by Law’s side, he didn’t see Law right away.

In fact, there were almost no submissives on that side of the room at all.

That was weird.

“One of us!”

Connor blinked and turned his head to the Lounge. It was full of the missing submissives, with Iris, Sam, and Morgan standing at the front of them, beaming at him. Beside them were more submissives he knew, some he’d scened with, some he hadn’t. Freddy was there along with an entire contingent of male submissives, including Luke—Mistress Olivia’s fiancé, who rarely came into Stronghold these days.

“One of us! One of us!”

He stood there, not knowing what to do as the entire crowd surged forward en masse. Despite the loud chanting, he could still hear Mistress Julie’s peal of laughter as she let go of his hand, letting the submissives surround him. The guys hung back a bit, but the others all wrapped him up in a hug, still chanting.

“One of us! One of us!”

Something was lodged in his throat. His eyes burned.

Fuck.

He was going to fucking cry.

Everything hurt, and he didn’t know why.

It shouldn’t hurt.

But he just hadn’t expected…

He hadn’t thought…

Now, he was surrounded by chanting submissives, all of them so damn happy for him, even though he’d been lying to them—lying to himself—and they accepted him completely. Fully.

Enthusiastically.

The sob lodged in his throat welled up, and he bowed his head, closing his eyes.

“Aw!” It was a big group ‘aw’ that echoed through the room.

“Okay, everyone, get back. Connor needs a minute. Thank you for the warm welcome.” Mistress Julie’s voice cut through the din, followed a moment later by the woman herself as she took her place at his side again. No longer hampered by hugging everyone, Connor was able to lift his hands to his face, covering it while he tried to compose himself.

He didn’t know why he was so choked up.

Memories pushed at him. The fearful looks he’d gotten in high school just walking down the hallways. The way he’d always been chosen first for dodgeball, and the other team had always been afraid. The weight of expectations that had hampered him from the moment of his first growth spurt in ninth grade when he’d shot up above the rest of his classmates, towering above even his teachers.

Always trying to make himself smaller. Always trying to make himself less intimidating. Always trying to make himself acceptable.

Here he was in Stronghold, showered with acceptance, and all he’d had to do was show up as fully himself.