Page 136 of Theirs to Desire (Club M: Boxed Set)

KIERA

Y ou know how time seems to slow to a crawl when you’re eagerly anticipating something?

Yeah. It takes forever for Saturday evening to roll around. I cast furtive glances at the clock all through my shift. Farid notices my restlessness. “Something the matter?”

“Umm, I guess?” I don’t know how Farid’s going to react, but as much as I’m a private person, I’m not going to hide what I’m doing with Caleb and Nolan either. “I’m scening with Caleb Reeves and Nolan Wolanski tonight.”

I brace myself for judgment, but Farid doesn’t look shocked. In fact, he’s got a wide grin on his face. “What?” I ask him.

“It’s about time,” he says, moving past me to reach for a bottle of mescal.

My mouth falls open. “It’s about time? That’s your reaction? I thought you don’t believe in fraternizing with the members.”

“I don’t,” he replies. “I’ve only seen it lead to one conclusion. Heartbreak and hurt feelings. Club M’s members are the one-percenters, Kiera. It isn’t their hearts that get broken, and even if that were the case, money can soothe a lot of pain.”

His face is serious. “We, on the other hand, still have to show up to work. Still have to face the person that broke our hearts and pretend like nothing’s wrong. Pour them drinks with a smile on our faces, while they move on to the next person that catches their eye.”

Is he speaking from experience? What I know about Farid is what he chooses to reveal. He likes architecture. He likes to travel. But those are surface things. What lies underneath?

“However,” he continues, his tone lightening. “There are always exceptions to every rule. Caleb Reeves hasn’t been able to take his eyes off you since you started working here. I don’t know very much about Nolan Wolanski, but according to Henri, he rarely scenes at the club.”

“I think it’s the real thing.” It feels surreal to say that out loud. Even more surreal to really believe it. To finally let it sink in.

He pours the mezcal into a cocktail shaker, along with grapefruit juice, simple syrup, and a dash of cardamom-bitters.

“I’m happy for you,” he says, shaking the drink before pouring it into an iced coupe glass and garnishing it with a wedge of grapefruit and a sprig of mint.

The orange-hued cocktail looks delicious, but the woman who’s waiting for it isn’t looking at the drink. She can’t take her eyes off Farid.

“Your guys are here, by the way.”

“What?” My heartbeat accelerates. “It’s already nine?”

Farid laughs, not unkindly. “Go have fun,” he says. “Kelli’s not here yet, but it isn’t busy. I can handle things until she gets here.”

Thanking him, I take off my apron with shaking fingers, hang it up, and then finally turn to Nolan and Caleb. “Hi.”

Nolan winks at me. Caleb pushes a key card across the bar. “We’ve booked Room 203 for the night. Join us?”

It’s a different room than the one we were in the last time we tried this. Thank heavens. Back then, I didn’t trust Caleb and Nolan, and the night had turned into a disaster.

Things are so very different now.

I pocket the card. “Okay. Give me five minutes to freshen up, and I’ll meet you there?”

I knock on the door of the private playroom and wait for it to open. My blood races with anticipation. I’m nervous, but it’s a good, excited kind of nervous, the way you feel at the start of a roller-coaster ride.

Nolan opens it. He’s taken off his jacket and tie, and his white shirt is open at the neck. His sleeves are rolled up to the elbows. “Come on in.”

I take a step into the room, and my eyes widen.

The walls are mirrored. Bathed in spotlights, a Y-frame dominates the middle of the room, the Y of the frame horizontal, parallel to the floor.

A narrow dresser is tucked away in an alcove, and there’s a refrigerator next to it.

To my right is a black leather couch. Caleb’s seated on it, his legs propped on a highly polished ebony coffee table.

When he sees me, he gets to his feet, a smile on his face.

“I’ve missed you,” he says, pulling me into his arms.

“I saw you Thursday morning.”

“Mmm.”

He kisses me, deep and passionate. My knees almost buckle when he’s done. “Umm, I’m flattered?”

Nolan chuckles at my expression. “Caleb is a little bit on edge,” he says in explanation. “As am I. Neither of us enjoys waiting.”

“Waiting for this?” I point to the Y-frame. “Or waiting for Mr. Lockhart and Mr. Payne to make their move?”

“Both.” Nolan’s lips twitch at my formality, and then his voice deepens. His stare pins me in place. “Are you going to call me Mr. Wolanski when I’m fucking you tonight, Kiera?”

Arousal prickles through me. “What would you like me to call you, Sir?”

He likes that. His eyes flare in appreciation. “Very nice,” he purrs.

Caleb pats the seat next to him. “Come sit,” he invites. “Let’s talk before we get going. I screwed up the last time we tried this. I don’t want to get it wrong this time around.”

“You won’t,” I say confidently, sitting down on the couch. There are no more secrets between us, not anymore.

Nolan sits next to me. “Your confidence is flattering,” he says, taking my hand in his. “Let’s go over expectations anyway.”

“Okay.” A sudden thought strikes me. “Should I be kneeling?”

“No,” Caleb replies. “Not yet, anyway.” His lips lift in a sexy smile, and heat coils through my insides. I can’t wait to get started.

“You’re a novice,” Caleb continues. “We’re going to take things very slow.

Tonight is about exploring your desires.

About finding out what turns you on. The only thing I expect from you is communication.

If we do something you don’t like, tell us.

If we do something that makes you uneasy, please let us know. We’re not mind readers.”

“I don’t know what I like or don’t like.”

Nolan flashes me a reassuring smile. “Then we’ll learn together.

Caleb and I have come up with a plan, but if you hate it, we can improvise.

Don’t feel like you have to love everything we do, okay?

I’m not going to push your boundaries in today’s scene, no more than I’d throw someone who just started learning to swim into the deep end of the pool. ”

I nod.

“Now, limits,” Caleb says. “Here are mine.”

I’m momentarily startled, and then I realize that of course dominants would have limits too. They’re human, at the end of the day.

“Like you, I don’t like blood. Needle play is out for me. If you ever want to try that, you’ll have to explore with someone else.”

That’s a hard pass. “No blood for me,” I say promptly. “I’ve seen needle play, and it’s definitely outside my comfort zone.”

“I don’t do name-calling,” Nolan adds. “I’m not big on humiliation. If you want someone to call you a stupid bitch in session, that’s not me.”

“You call me a stupid bitch, and I’ll knee you in the groin.”

Nolan quirks a pointed eyebrow, and I wince. I’ve been here for less than five minutes, and I’m already breaking the rules. “I’ll knee you in the groin, Sir.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he says, his lips twitching. “Since it’s your first time, I’ll give you a choice. Do you want to know what we’ve got planned, or do you want to be surprised?”

I think about his question. “I want to be surprised.”

“Do you have any questions for us?” Caleb asks.

I don’t have a question as much as a concern. Part of me wants to swallow my insecurities, but then Caleb’s words echo in my ears. The only thing I expect from you is communication.

“I’m a complete novice,” I murmur, my face flaming. I can’t look at them. “You’re both experienced dominants. Is tonight going to be boring for you?”

Caleb gives me a stupefied look. “Boring? Kiera, I’m crazy about you. The fact that you trust us with your first time… it’s special.”

“I’m not very submissive,” I persist. I know I’m asking a lot of questions, but I don’t want to screw up either. Caleb and Nolan are too important to me.

“What does that even mean?” Nolan asks. “Neither of us are looking for a full-time submissive, is that what you’re talking about?”

“What if I hate… everything?” I guess I’m more nervous than I think I am.

Not because of what the session might hold—no, when I think of that, all I feel is heady anticipation.

I just don’t want to disappoint Caleb and Nolan.

“You obviously like and enjoy BDSM. You spend a lot of time in the club. If I hate it, what happens?”

Caleb wraps his arm around my shoulder. “I’ve spent a lot of time in the club since you started working here,” he corrects. “Okay, the BDSM thing. Let’s see if I can explain it.” His forehead furrows, and then his expression clears. “Let’s try this. Do you like Coke or Pepsi?”

Why are we talking about pop? “I don’t really care. I know most people have a preference, but I don’t. Either gives me the sugar fix I need.”

Caleb bites back a smile. “You already knew that, didn’t you?” I accuse him. “Sir,” I add as an afterthought.

“I did know, yes. You’ve just described my attitude toward BDSM.

I enjoy it. I also enjoy vanilla sex. Some people need one and not the other, but that’s not me.

There is nothing that could happen here tonight that’s going to change the way I feel about you.

” His eyes rest on me. “Any other questions?”

Stop stalling, Kiera. “No,” I reply. “No more questions. I’m ready.”

“Good.” The cadence of Caleb’s voice changes. It becomes smoother. Crisper. More self-assured. Dom voice. We’re in session now. When he says jump, I don’t stop to ask how high. I just jump. “Stand up.”

I get to my feet.

Caleb and Nolan rise as well. “Move over there,” Nolan says, pointing to a spot to the right of the Y-frame.

I teeter over on shaky feet.

“Tonight,” Nolan says, low and intent. “We own you, Kiera. When you moan, it’s for us. When your muscles clench with desire, it’s for us. Your orgasms belong to Caleb and me. Is that understood?”

I nod, my throat dry with anticipation. “Yes, Sir.”