Page 3 of Sunrise (Monarch Club #3)

Sophie

“That didn’t go according to plan.” I lean against the doorjamb to Vault’s office with my arms crossed. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

He’s lying. Neither he nor Knox are fine right now. “I tried calling him, but it went to voicemail.”

“I fucked up,” Vault says quietly. “I shouldn’t have done any of this. I thought I…” He buries his head in his hands and sighs.

“You didn’t fuck up at all.” Wanting to comfort him, I make my way over to his chair and get on my knees beside it. Running my hand over his thigh, I talk softly. “Both of you were brave tonight.”

“He hates me.”

“He could never hate you.”

“No, Sophie. He fucking hates me. You don’t understand.”

“Then try explaining it.” I know there’s a lot to these men I still don’t know. And what I have uncovered is basically a broken mess. Healing, sure, but still very broken. “Look, he was uncomfortable. That’s all. You did nothing wrong.”

“I called you—” He shakes his head and won’t say the rest .

“I can’t help if I don’t know the full story.” When he doesn’t respond, I shake his thigh a little. “What did you call me?” Vault calls me lots of things, depending on his mood.

He leans back in his chair and closes his eyes. “Sunrise.”

Oh yeah. He did. “And that’s what upset Knox?”

Vault nods. “It’s a long story.”

“I have nothing but time.”

He shakes his head. “I’m not ready.”

“Okay.”

I’ve never pushed for information, and I won’t start now. Vault got his nickname because his mind is a steel trap. The guys say he remembers everything, because he has a photographic memory. I’d say it’s because he keeps too many secrets.

But who am I to judge? I have secrets of my own that no one, including Vault, knows, and I keep it that way for my safety.

“What can I do to help?” If he doesn’t want to talk, we can certainly do other things. “Would you like to grab a bite somewhere? Go for a ride?”

“I need to get back to work,” he grumbles, shutting me out.

“Okay.” I stand and give him a kiss on the cheek, then leave as quietly as I can.

Perhaps I should be annoyed or frustrated by his rebuff, but I understand.

Vault buries himself in work, or in me, when he’s upset.

As long as one or the other works for him, I don’t care which he chooses.

Besides, tonight is an open house, which means we all need to do our job.

Ryker meets me halfway down the hall, clearly heading straight to Vault. “Everything okay? ”

I shrug. What happens between Vault, Knox, and I will stay between us until we all agree otherwise. “He’s back to work.”

Ryker’s jaw clenches, but he doesn’t dig. “You did great tonight.”

“Thanks.” I’m the odd man out in this circle of friends. The late comer. It’s times like this when it sucks because I want to know what “sunrise” means, and I bet Ryker knows. “Where do you need me tonight?”

He dives right into business, too. “There’s a couple looking for a Femme Domme in room sixteen. They’re new. He just wants to watch while you pleasure his partner.”

“Perfect.”

Sauntering down the hall, I lock in on being Mistress. I’ve always loved being a Domme and never plan on stopping. This lifestyle is fun. Rewarding. Constantly educational.

It’s wild to see the range of people who want to be dominated by a woman. And it’s not in a way that a lot of people assume—which is usually whipping some man while making him crawl across the floor, although sometimes it can be.

Dominating is much deeper than that, though.

It’s letting someone relinquish control and taking care of them in ways that don’t always include sex.

It heals them. Soothes them. Quiets their chaotic minds or scratches an itch they rarely let themselves touch.

Watching someone enjoy their kinks is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever experienced.

To accept and encourage them to enjoy who they are, down to their last molecule, is a beautiful thing.

I’m not a golden shower girl, but I’ll piss on someone if that’s what makes them happy.

The joy of giving someone what they want is as potent to me as the happiness they feel while getting what they desire.

And I rarely fuck the members I dominate anymore. After discussing it with Ryker, he didn’t hesitate to say, “You only do what you’re comfortable with, and nothing more. Your safety and well-being are my priority. The members are second tier.”

Couples are usually my go-to. I’m popular around here. Men love to see me with their women, and if I touch him, it’s minimal. My methods are fail-proof when it comes to pleasure, and I don’t need to be in the middle to make that happen.

Although I do miss being in the middle…

There’s a young woman sitting on the edge of the bed when I enter the room. She looks as nervous as a mouse in a lion’s den. My plan to go full-on Mistress mode is tapered back immediately and I take a different approach.

“Hi.” I saunter over casually. “I’m Sophie.”

“Hello,” she says, her cheeks reddening immediately. “I’m—”

The man snaps his fingers, and she shuts up.

He’s wearing a mask over his face, which I recognize from the Monarch Club’s inventory.

We offer them as an incognito option for those who are shy during their first few visits here.

But the way he’s snapping his fingers shows confidence. Maybe he’s not new to this, and she is?

I can work with that.

“What are you two looking for this evening?” I grab her hands and lift her to her feet, then playfully slide my fingers up her right arm, across her chest, and down her left arm. “You don’t have to be afraid to say it.”

“I…” Her gaze flicks to her partner. “I’d like to um… I don’t even know. I just want…”

“It’s okay,” I say, coaching her through it. “Nothing happens without your consent. And we stop at any time.”

“Yes. I know. We had orientation already.”

“What would you like me to call you?”

Her eyes widen. “I… don’t know.”

“You look like a Princess. May I call you that?”

She smiles coyly. “Yes.”

This woman is not ready for a full dominatrix experience, so I soften up all the way.

“Good girl. Now we need to get you all loosened up.” I lock gazes with her.

“Let’s do some breathing exercises, okay?

” I blow out with her. “Inhale, one, two, three, four, five, hold it.” I keep our eye contact.

“Let it all out.” She exhales harshly in my face.

“Good girl. Again, two, three, four, five… hold it.” She does.

“Sneak a little more air in, Princess.” She sucks in a tiny, sharp inhale.

“Excellent. Now let it all out.” She’s an excellent listener. “Feel better?”

“Yes, actually.”

“Good.” Her silky hair glides around my fingers when I play with it. “Now, what do you enjoy?” I lean in a little, flirting. “There’s no wrong answer, Princess.”

She bites her bottom lip, seemingly too shy to say.

“Do you want to be spoiled?” I pull her over to the bed again and make her sit on my lap. We both face her partner. “Do you like being watched?”

“Yes.”

My gaze flicks to the security camera in the corner of the room. For a standard rendezvous, my gut is fluttery, and I think it’s because of the Shibari show. I’m worried about Vault and Knox. Being here feels wrong.

“I want you to touch me. No fucking, but maybe…” Princess takes my hand and places it on her breast. Her palm is clammy on my skin.

“No penetration,” I confirm, then glide my hands over her breast, circling her hardened nipple through the fabric of her dress. “You’re beautiful,” I purr against her ear.

Taking my time, caressing her slowly, I let her relax against me. Her partner leans back in his chair with his hands on his thighs and doesn’t make a peep.

“He looks at you like you’re a goddess.” I gather her red hair and pull it a little. “Do you know why that is?”

“W-why?”

“Because you are a fucking goddess.” Pulling the spaghetti straps of her dress down until her breasts are exposed, I kiss her neck. “You taste so fucking good, too.”

She moans, pressing back against me, her thighs parting a little. “Do… other parts of me taste good, too?”

My hands glide down her sides, meeting at her apex, and spread down her inner thighs. “Only one way to find out.” I turn her over, laying her flat on the bed and pull her dress off completely. Then I kiss my way across her belly and bite her nipple through the bra, making her breath catch.

For some reason, the instinct to look over my shoulder has me checking on her partner. His pants are tented from his erection, but that’s not what I focus on. He’s tapping his thumb against his thigh. Thump-tha-thump. Thump-tha-thump .

My stomach drops and I crawl off the woman instantly. I don’t even look at the camera to make a signal.

I smash the panic button.