But it hadn’t happened. Instead, Ruby had spent every night replaying in her mind the moment Yvonne came to her door. Ruby had lain awake, fantasizing about all the things Yvonne could do with her, imagining Yvonne ordering her into that bedroom next to hers and using all those toys on her…

Ruby heard the front door open. She snapped out of her daydream and sat upright. Moments later, Yvonne strode into the room.

“Good evening, Ruby,” she said. “You’ve looked over the contract?”

Ruby nodded. “I’ve added in my limits and a safeword. There’s nothing else I want to discuss.” The contract was thorough, covering every detail of their arrangement. Nothing was left unclear.

“Good.” Yvonne sat next to Ruby and held out her hand. “Show me.”

Ruby handed Yvonne the contract. Yvonne flipped through it, silently examining the sections where Ruby had written things in.

Finally, Yvonne reached the bottom of the final page. She placed the contract on the coffee table. “That all seems to be in order. Do you have any questions or concerns?”

Ruby hesitated. She had zero reservations about what she was agreeing to. However, there was something niggling in the back of her mind. Something she hadn’t told Yvonne about.

“Ruby, if there’s anything you want to say, now is the time to bring it up,” Yvonne said.

Ruby thought for a moment. It wasn’t that she’d lied, not really. She’d simply let Yvonne believe something that wasn’t quite true about her. And she hadn’t told Yvonne about him. Ruby knew she should speak up, but she didn’t want it to risk their arrangement.

Ruby shook her head. “No. There’s nothing I want to say.”

Yvonne studied Ruby, her lips pursed. Ruby’s heart thudded against her chest. Could Yvonne see through her lie?

“All right,” Yvonne finally said. “I’ll type up the amendments and print copies for us both. We can sign them after dinner.”

Ruby nodded, relief washing over her. It was like their other contract all over again. Yvonne certainly took everything seriously, and this was no exception.

“Once we’ve taken care of the contract, there’s somewhere I want to take you. Are you free tonight?”

“Yes.” It wasn’t like Ruby ever had plans. She was still no closer to figuring out what to do with herself and her time.

“Good. We’re going out.”

Ruby frowned. “Where to?”

“I’m taking you to a private club. It’s a place where people go to live out their darkest desires.”

What did that mean? Ruby had been to private clubs plenty of times before, but something told her this club wasn’t the kind of place where people simply sat around drinking expensive champagne.

“My friends will be there, so we’ll get to kill two birds with one stone,” Yvonne said. “I get to introduce my new ‘wife’ to those closest to me, and you’ll get a taste of what you so desperately desire.”

Ruby nodded. “Okay.”

“Wonderful.” Yvonne’s eyes slid down Ruby’s body. “I took the liberty of finding you something to wear. Something appropriate for the venue.”