AllFreeNovel
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Chapter 1
Well that was…utterly insane.
Autumn followed the other subs away from the large barn the overseers of the club ostentatiously called the Conclave. Though the phrasing was far more accurate than referring to the building as an actual barn.
Before the Las Palmas property—named for the palm trees that lined the driveway—had been secretly converted into LA’s most exclusive BDSM club, and christened Las Palmas Oscuras, it had been an equestrian estate. The barn, covered arena, and various outbuildings were a reminder that it had once been used to stable and train expensive horses, owned and ridden by the uber-wealthy who lived in and around Malibu and the canyons.
She still didn’t think of herself as one of them.
Not horse people, nor pretentious Malibu Hills people.
But she was now one of the uber-wealthy.
When she was at work she owned it, but times like this the label didn’t sound right, or feel right. Imposter syndrome was real. People who were used to having money acted, and reacted, different. Since her high personal net worth was a relatively recent development, she didn’t always react like a rich person.
And right now, she was the only one who seemed flabbergasted by what had just happened.
She was fighting the urge to shout, “What theactualfuck just happened?”
There weren’t even what-the-fuck expressions on the other subs’ faces. The few low-voiced conversations she could hear lacked the outraged tone she would be using if she opened her mouth.
Autumn hiked up the top of her corset, though that was more out of habit than because it needed adjusting. Scarlet satin with black lace might be a bit obvious for sexy apparel, but she liked bold colors, and this particular corset had industrial-level boning in the front which kept her boobs in place.
She shivered. It was just before sunset, and the walk from the Conclave back to the main building complex over the well-landscaped grounds of the estate was a little chilly. It wasn’t cold out, but the location wasn’t tropical either, so wandering around in a corset and a teeny, stretchy skirt left a lot of skin exposed to the cooling air of late afternoon.
She’d be warm as soon as they were back in the main complex. Most of the club was kept heated, including the outdoor courtyards.
“Autumn?”
She stopped in her tracks, shocked to hear her name. The speaker had a smooth, masculine voice.
Luckily, she was at the back of the crowd, and the woman directly behind her changed course in time to avoid a crash.
Turning on her heel, Autumn faced the speaker.
Brown-haired with light colored eyes—in this light they could have been blue or gray—he was good looking in the generic way that made her think of East Coast Ivy League men who came from old money and denied their own privilege. He was taller than her by an inch or two, and wore a well-tailored suit. That was hardly unexpected among the Doms at Las Palmas. With monthly dues in the five figures, only very financially successful or independently wealthy people could afford to be members.
Plus, you had to be kinky as fuck.
Autumn gave him a second once over, her blood heating as she contemplated just what sort of kinks the suit and solid veneer of respectability were hiding.
“That’s me.” She raised both hands in a little “ta da” gesture.
He smiled, and ohhh baby. That was some smile.
The man held up a large envelope. “I recognized you from the picture.”
“Picture? Wait, is that from this bat-shit insane game?” She pointed first at the envelope he held aloft and then back at the Conclave.
“It is, and we’re partners.” The smile grew. He had two perfect smile lines that bracketed his mouth.
“I just got a weird flashback to high school and having to talk to someone I didn’t know because we’d been assigned as lab partners.”
He laughed, a good, genuine sound, and then held out a hand. “I’m Daniel.”
His hand was warm compared to her cold fingers.
“I’m Autumn. Though you obviously already know that.”
