Page 2

At the time, she had no idea a toe-curling, steamy romance about sex clubs would cause her to evaluate her own life. After the first one, she fell down a rabbit hole and couldn’t read them fast enough.

Those stories hammered home the fact that her past sex life had been lacking.

Big time.

That simple book recommendation took her down a path she never expected. She began to search for a similar place to those she had read about in those books. But somewhere other than in her hometown. Where she might be recognized. Where she worked. Where she knewso manypeople.

“Not a club. A ranch resort. But it’s really whatever you want to make of it. You can simply come for a getaway. Take a relaxing trail ride or a dip in the pool. Soak in the hot tub or get a massage.Ooooor…you can get spanked, choked, and fucked by a masked stranger.” His tone came off as amused.

Fucked by a masked stranger?

What front desk employee talked like that? Was he messing with her?

He finished with, “The sky’s the limit. The only limits will be of your own making.”

“Is it a working ranch?” she asked next, then groaned silently and bounced her fist against her forehead.

“Well, it’s not like you’ll be chasing down and roping wayward cattle on horseback, but we do have livestock here. We have goats and cows for fresh milk and cheese, chickens for eggs, horses for trail rides…”

“Are there a lot of single guests?” She worried it would be painfully awkward if she went and no one interacted with her.

“If you can’t find a willing single guest during your stay, plenty of couples are looking for a third. And if three aren’tenough, sometimes random orgies break out. Nobody would notice or care if you joined in.”

Random orgies? Really? Nobody would care if she just…joined…in?

“We have standalone lakefront cabins that have private hot tubs. We also have guest rooms in the lodge itself. Would you like to make a reservation?”

Her heart was pounding so loudly that she almost missed his question. “Umm.”

“Hold on. Our reservationist just returned from break. I’ll let her handle it. I look forward to you being our guest. I hope it’s everything you’re looking for.”

She did, too, but she had doubts. “I’m sorry, but before you go…what did you say your name was?”

Something about his low chuckle gave her goosebumps. Not because he was creepy or anything, but because she could imagine herself blindfolded and his warm honeyed voice enveloping her while murmuring naughty suggestions into her ear.

Possibly reenacting a panty-wetting scene from one of her favorite books.

She shook herself mentally.

Even tonight, she still remembered his voice but regretted never getting his name to at least thank him. It was a shame, really, but as an employee, he probably wasn’t allowed to fraternize with the guests, anyway. Not that it mattered. Simply trying to make her way through the crowded party proved plenty of actual guests were available to engage with. If they welcomed it, of course.

Another reason she picked this particular resort was how the website clearly stated multiple times that consent was not only important, but required. That alone made her feel more secure about booking since she’d be by herself.

The site also stated that anyone stepping out of line would be dealt with quickly since the management took their guests’ safety seriously. All guests also had to electronically sign a legal agreement to that effect, as well as an NDA, when they made a reservation.

Now, here she was. All stemming from a crazy idea that got stuck in her head. She had never been this impulsive in all her thirty-one years.

To make this experience successful, she really needed to lean into the resort’s motto:Unpack, unwind and get uninhibited.She already unpacked her bags, now she needed to follow through with the rest.

You can do this.

She might need another drink. Or two…

Or twelve.

As she fought her way to the restroom to attempt to dry her blouse, she stopped short when her path was cut off by a man walking on his hands and knees, wearing a tight leather collar around his neck with a chain leash attached.

He was one of the attendees not wearing a costume per se, but a leather harness around his torso. She blinked and as he kept going, Cara followed the line of the leash up to the woman holding the other end. She wore a black leather mini-skirt, a matching leather bra with holes exposing her pierced nipples, suede thigh-high, high-heeled boots, and a wicked smile. Every once in a while, she would give the leash a sharp jerk and make the man come to heel. In her other hand, she carried a long thin whip of some sort.