Page 6

Julian

Luck was on my side. I had my phone on all day expecting to be called into work. If I made plans, the goddess would intervene on most occasions but not today. Maybe she wanted me to go to this club.

I hung my outfit for the night on the outside of my closet.

All that was left to do was eat.

I sat down at the table for a BLT and some chips and an electrolyte drink. My nervousness built up as I showered and got ready to go. Once I had my clothes on, I checked myself out in the mirror. The man who’d helped me at the specialty shop told me that I looked hot. He was mated, he said, but he still had eyes.

I thought it was strange. I was sure that when I found my alpha, they would be the only one I’d have eyes for.

I put a coat on over my outfit and met the driver outside. I didn’t like to pay for a rideshare, but I also didn’t want to drive home in the middle of the night—assuming I stayed long enough.

My guest pass was in my phone. Of course, after tonight, it would expire but for now, it was my secret. By the time I arrived at Cuffed, my stomach was twisted. My breaths were shallow. Mind spiraling in a hundred ways.

“Gonna get out?” the driver grumbled after we’d been stopped in front of the building for over a minute. I didn’t know why I was stalling. I usually dove headfirst into new things.

Coming to Cuffed felt like a shift in my life.

“Thank you.” I completed the payment and got out. I’d barely shut the door when he drove away. Perhaps he wasn’t so happy about driving someone to a sex club. Didn’t matter. I was here now.

“Good evening, Mr. Alonso,” a man said as I walked in. He wore a leather vest over a white shirt and black pants.

“How did you know my name?” I asked.

“Ah, we receive a list of our new members and passholders. You filled out paperwork, correct?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“Excellent. May I see your visitor’s pass?” He held out his hand.

“If you know who I am, why do you need to see the code?”

“To scan it.” He accepted my phone, ran it over a scanner, and turned around, unlocking a cubby where he placed my device. “You’re all set.”

“My phone?” Unease prickled at the base of my spine. Was this some kind of scam?

“Did you read the information we sent?” He cast a severe glance my way.

“Yes…well, most…some…”

“If you’d read it all, you would know that all phones belonging to members and guests are locked up during your visit. For privacy reasons.”

My cheeks warmed then burned. What a way to make an impression. “Can I get my phone back long enough to read the attachment more carefully?” I didn’t want to make a gaffe that would have me out the door due to carelessness.

“Of course.” He retrieved it and handed it back to me. “Why don’t you go sit down on the chair in the corner there and I’ll wait in case you have any questions.”

I did as he suggested then stood up. “Thank you for your patience, sir.” Because one of the things I’d just read mentioned calling doms and/or alphas sir or maybe master so and so, if you knew their name. “I appreciate your consideration.

“Would you like a guided tour, or would you prefer to wander and explore on your own?”

He wasn’t flirting. All business.

“I think I’d like to explore on my own if that’s okay.”

“Absolutely.” His smile lit up. “I hope you have a wonderful night. Please don’t hesitate to find an employee or a dungeon monitor if you have any questions or concerns.”

I nodded and moved from the foyer into the club. Subtle lighting came from fixtures on the walls, and the music was loud around the bar. I didn’t do alcohol. Wouldn’t touch the stuff with a ten-foot pole. Not only had I grown up with one alcoholic father, but I watched my other one suffer the life of a husband of a drinker. Add that to the number of babies I saw at work who were born addicted or had issues caused by drinking during pregnancy and, to me, liquor was nothing but poison.

Taking a right, I entered a large open space. There were couches and low tables, booths and other seating, but I followed the flow of people past them. The first was a fire display. Interesting, but didn’t tickle my fancy. Then there were the spanking benches. This time, I was intrigued but felt like I wanted to move around more.

I sucked in a breath when I came to the St. Andrew’s cross, but I was soon distracted by the sounds of whimpers coming from a nearby corner. I followed the sounds to an omega without a shirt, crouched down and crying.

Nurse instincts kicking in, I crouched to be eye level. “Are you okay? What’s your name?”

He squinted at me, eyes red, tears streaming down his face. “Rhys. Do you work here?”

“No, but I saw you. Do you need help?”

He shrugged. “Right now, I…” He shook his head. “I said the safe word. I swear I did. He ignored me. He promised he would stop if I said the safe word.”

Some alphas were assholes. They were few and far between, but in instances like this, I was reminded they lurked in places that were supposed to be safe.

“How about some water? Maybe there’s a healer here who can look you over.”

“What I need is another cocktail and not to be attracted to assholes.” The first wouldn’t help. The last…yeah.

“Let’s get you a water and find a healer or a first aid station.”

“Thank you. What’s your name?” he asked.

“I’m Julian. I’m a nurse. I’ve got you.” I helped him up and, after he cried for a few minutes on my shoulder, I scanned the room for an employee but couldn’t find one. I sighed. “Did you come with friends or alone?”

“With my boyfriend.”

Oh, right. The asshole.

“Come on. We’ll find someone to help.”