I also didn’t call on my drive back to the club.

Now was now, and I was helping Sammy get the room ready for the VIPs. You know, the normal—towels in the warmer, lube, condoms, nipple clamps.

“These tumblers have spots,” Sammy said, holding a glass up to the light.

God forbid a tumbler had a water spot when there was probably leftover ejaculate somewhere in the room from a previous party.

“Listen, Sammy—”

“I’m fine.”

She was not fine. She’d been quiet and tense since we’d started setting up the room.

“Let me take your place.”

No sooner did the words come out of my mouth than Sammy’s laughter bounced around the room. I would swear the sound rattled the torture apparatuses hanging on the walls. She was no closer to settling down when I continued.

“Seriously, let me take your place?”

“Girl,” she sang.

Now I was getting offended. She either thought I was too weak to handle a solid paddling, or she thought I was a buttoned-up puritan.

“What?”

Sammy sobered and gave me a half grin. “I appreciate your offer. I really appreciate why you’re offering. It’s sweet. But, I’m fine. I admit I was shocked at first.” Sammy paused and her cheeks shaded pink. “I’ve done some of this. Never with a woman, but I’ve done it. After we’re done here I’m meeting with Mistress Adria to go over safe words and protocol.”

Safe words and protocol.

Jesus.

“Promise?”

“Promise,” Sammy parroted.

With nothing else to say, I sighed and gave up.

“Go and get ready. I’ll finish here and restock the glasses.”

“You sure?” she asked.

I glanced at the complicated shiny, pleather outfit Sammy still needed to change into crumpled on a chair and nodded.

“Yeah, girl. You’re gonna need a minute to strap into that thing.”

Plus, she had safe words to go over, and I was thinking those were pretty important.

“Thanks, Sloane. You’re the best.”

With that, she snatched up the outfit and rushed out.

I did not. I walked over to the built-in cabinet and took my time opening and closing all the drawers. All of them were empty. I ran my hand along the slatted wall, pushing and pulling, and did the same on the toy wall. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for—another hidden room, a lever that made the built-in swing open to a secret vault, anything.

Unsurprisingly I came up empty. I’d also wasted time playing amateur sleuth. In less than an hour, the VIPs would be coming down for their show. I grabbed the box of dirty tumblers and made my way out of the room but stopped midway down the hall when I heard voices.

“Tonight,” voice number one demanded.

“Patience,” the other man spat harshly.

I was getting ready to resume my steps when man number two spoke again and sent my world spiraling. “Do not push me on this. You fucked up with the other one. I told you, only the ones with no family. No one to miss them.”