EXCERPT
Prologue
The Foyer of The Black Iris Club, in the Penthouse of the JDB Building, Downtown Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Saturday evening, January 23, 2016
Emma’s eyes widened as she followed her best friend, Ben Orsini, and his Dom and boss, Leigh Braxton, into The Black Iris Club’s foyer. They were on the twentieth floor of the JDB Building on the corner of Broward Boulevard and Federal Highway. It was a beautiful, tall white building that she had driven by a million times. Who knew that there was a luxurious, private BDSM club in the penthouse? Leigh had offered to ask his friend and the owner of The Black Iris Club, Jack Dalton Brown, if she could come into the club to observe in the hope of giving her erotic romance books, written under the pen name of Skye Mathews, a more authentic flavor. Jack had approved the visit and now she was about to sign her confidentiality documents.
“Close your mouth, girlie, before you start catching flies.” Ben was such a smartass. Emma retaliated with a sharp elbow to his midsection as Leigh stood back and laughed at them.
“You two are like a couple of rowdy siblings.”
The good-looking receptionist standing behind the elegant mahogany reception desk had a manila folder of documents ready for Emma to sign. “Good evening, Dr. Braxton, Ben. Ms. Johnson, I have your paperwork here.”
Emma looked through the documents briefly. “Glad to see there’s no bill of sale for my first born in here.”
“Don’t worry. It’s in the fine print. Sign already so we can go and have some fun.” Ben was almost vibrating with excitement.
“Why don’t we have a drink at the bar so Emma can take a look around the dungeon? Only one drink for you, subbie, since we’ll be taking a tour of the Dungeon theme room later tonight.”
“The dungeon, Master?” Ben sounded a little nervous.
“Yes, the dungeon. I think it’s time for you to broaden your horizons.” Leigh had an evil grin on his handsome face. That made Emma smile. The tall, blond, blue-eyed, gorgeous Leigh was the kindest man, a top-notch plastic surgeon who did a lot of pro bono work on children with cleft lips and palates. She had to admire that. If he occasionally spanked Ben’s butt, oh well. Ben, Leigh’s head surgical nurse, had wavy dark hair and dark brown eyes. Ben was the most beautiful man Emma had ever seen. They had been best friends since middle school.
Once in the main dungeon, Emma turned full circle and checked out the various stations lit by recessed spots in the high, industrial ceiling. After they were seated on comfortable leather bar stools next to the beautifully polished, hammered-brass bar and drinks had been ordered, she said, “God, Ben, this place is gorgeous. I had a slightly tackier picture in my mind.”
“Don’t forget this is a very high-end private club open to members and their guests only. You won’t find places like this everywhere.” Leigh nodded his thanks to the bartender and took a small sip of his scotch on the rocks.
Leigh had explained that the club was owned by the well-known Fort Lauderdale entrepreneur, Jack Dalton Brown. His wedding to Broward Sheriff’s Department homicide detective, Kaylin Gallagher, at the newly renovated Black Dahlia Hotel on Christmas Eve had been widely covered by local media. What had not been covered was the super luxurious private BDSM club on the top floor of the hotel.
Brown and his wife stepped up to the bar and were handed cold bottles of water. Jack turned to Leigh and both shook hands and clasped each other in a bro hug. “Good to see you, Leigh. It’s been too long. Kaylin, you may greet our guests.” Kaylin stepped up and gave a small bow from the waist, to Leigh first, and then to Ben and Emma. “We’ve been working on her protocol. Kaylin is a homicide cop, and believe me, submission does not come naturally. But subbie is trying. Unfortunately, I don’t have to smack her butt for infractions nearly as often as I used to.” Kaylin gave him a smoldering glare. “That look will earn you three when we retire to the theme room later, subbie. In the meantime, why don’t you show Emma around?”
“Yes, Master. Come along, Emma. There’s lots to show you.”
* * * *
Emma slipped off the bar stool and followed Kaylin as she moved off on a circuit of the main dungeon. “Will he really punish you for just a look?”
“Oh, don’t let Jack scare you. He’s more bluster than bite, although I have gotten more than what I think is my fair share of spankings since we became a couple.” Kaylin grinned. “I use the glare to keep him in line. He has no idea that I really like the feel of a smart smack on the ass every now and then. If he knew, he’d be doing it constantly, and it wouldn’t be as much fun. He very rarely really punishes me—only if he thinks I’m not being careful with what he says belongs to him. Namely, myself.”
“I’m a writer. Although I’ve written several BDSM books, attended conferences and seminars, and done tons of reading, I’ve never actually participated. I feel that I should experience some of the stuff I write about at least once.”
“Well, if you have a good imagination and a dirty mind, you should be able to figure it out. But if you want to have some hands-on experience, I’m sure there are a few Doms here who would like to take you out for a spin. You are a submissive, right? I wouldn’t want to make an incorrect assumption.”
“Yes, I guess I would be a sub. I can’t imagine being a Domme. Maybe I could give it a try…I’m a little scared, as well as excited.” Actually, Emma felt as though her insides had turned to jelly.
“That’s only normal. When I started out, I was scared to death. I was very attracted to Jack, but he was still a possible suspect in a serial murder case. Although I was sure, almost from the beginning, that he wasn’t involved, Del, my partner, was sure it was him. My BDSM experience started out as part of an undercover assignment on that case, and I ended up married to Jack.”