AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Until tomorrow, darlin’. If you have trouble sleeping tonight, call me and I’ll tell you a bedtime story.”
“Could you do that anyway?”
Sutter grinned. “Of course. I’ll call you at ten thirty. Good little girls should be asleep by eleven.”
Saoirse nodded. Although she’d been out of the life for a decade, she still kept an athlete’s hours.
With a final, soft brush of his lips over hers, Sutter released her and Saoirse ran into the Ranch’s main lodge on shaky legs.
Saoirse had flown internationallymany times before her injury, fewer times since it. Her impression of international travel was long lines that moved too slowly and the mind-fogging, muscle-dragging feeling of jet lag.
International travel with Sutter was, she discovered, completely different.
There were no lines. A lady in a tidy uniform met them before they even walked up to the ticket counter. She scanned their tickets and passports, took their bags and put them on a conveyor, and walked with them toward security. Saoirse had flown out of Orlando International many times and knew the drill. She’d dressed for the trip without a belt or jewelry, carrying only a small bag with her laptop and a change of clothes in case her checked luggage was lost or delayed. She got ready to take off her shoes as they approached security, but the uniformed lady walked them past the lines, to a single, large scanner on its own. A man in a uniform took her bag and ran it through the scanner. He waved Saoirse through, had her turn on her laptop, then waved her onward after scanning her ticket. Sutter received the same quick treatment and then he was through, catching her free hand and swinging their hands as they strolled down the airy, brightly lit concourse toward the departure gates.
“That was different,” Saoirse observed as Sutter steered them into the “Gift Corral,” where he picked up bottles of water, a pack of gum, and packets of crackers. He stopped at a display of candy and hovered his hand over a chocolate bar.
Saoirse shook her head. She wasn’t a big chocolate eater. But her downfall, cola gummies, were two rows down.
Sutter’s eyes followed hers. Grinning, he grabbed two bags and a bag of red licorice before sauntering over to the checkout and paying. When Saoirse pulled a ten-dollar bill from her bag, Sutter merely shook his head, loaded their loot into his backpack, and took her hand again.
“It doesn’t hurt to be your travel agent’s only son,” Sutter told her, responding to her earlier observation.
“She got you V.I.P. treatment.”
Sutter nodded. “Believe me, after a flight this long, you’ll appreciate it.”
“I already do,” Saoirse said. “Please tell her thank you from me.”
“She’ll be at the opening. If you want to come with me to the event, you can tell her yourself. But I don’t want to pressure you. If you want to relax in our room while I’m meeting and greeting, feel free.”
Saoirse squeezed his hand. “If I won’t be a distraction, I’d like to come with you.”
“I suspect I’ll be happy for any distraction. I’d also love your thoughts on the club. Is there anything it’s missing? Does it feel safe and welcoming?”
“I’m not any kind of expert on nightclubs,” Saoirse admitted.
“This is a different kind of nightclub. There’s a dungeon at the Ranch, right?” At Saoirse’s nod, he continued, “This is a dungeon that’s part of a nightclub the same way a dungeon is part of the Ranch.”
“Ah, I see,” Saoirse said. “Is it open to anyone or limited the way the Ranch is?”
“Very limited. Members only. Winterwyne is all about exclusivity.”
“Mmm, well, I’m still not an expert, but I worked at M Street in D.C. and Blunts in New York, if you’ve ever heard of those clubs.”
Sutter nodded sagely. “I’ve heard of both of them. If you’ve had an insider’s view of both of them, I’dreallylike to hear what you think.” He pulled her hand up to his face and kissed her knuckles. “My secret weapon.”
“Is this club welcoming to all types of players?” she asked, as they settled into comfortable chairs overlooking the runways through the lounge’s floor-to-ceiling windows. Sutter twisted off the cap of one of the bottles of water and offered it to her. Saoirse took a grateful sip.
“You mean sexual orientation?” Sutter responded.
Saoirse noticed he didn’t even glance around or lower his voice.He’s so assured, she thought.Just like the Doms at M Street and Blunts and the Ranch. They didn’t shy away from any topic of conversation, either.
“More like the types of play.” Saoirse lowered her voice. Even being brave, she wasn’t immune to embarrassment. “Ourtype of play.”
Sutter’s grin flashed. “Ourtype of play is welcome at Winter’s Sin.”
“It’s not everywhere.” Saoirse shrugged. “Or it wasn’t at Blunts.”
