EIGHT
Jace tilted back his root beer and watched as other members started to drift into the main room. It would probably be a busy weekend considering The Ranch had been shut down for a few days this week.
Andre flipped through the packet of papers he’d picked up for them at the door. “There are five new female subs tonight. Well, Tessa isn’t new. She apparently had a falling out with her boyfriend and wants a new master.”
Jace set his bottle on the table. “Are the other four guests or new members?”
“Two guests, two new members. So only two are going through the mandatory public display of submission,” Andre replied, still going through the pages. “Are you up for that tonight?”
Jace shrugged. “I’m not a big fan of demanding submission before I’ve even talked to the chick.”
Andre chuckled. “Conversation, then fucking. Got it. You’re such an old-fashioned guy, Jace.”
“Bite me.”
Andre cocked his head, his smile challenging. “That could be arranged. But only if you beg.”
“Uh-huh. Why don’t you hold your breath and wait for that to happen?” Jace had never been one for limits and labels, so he had no issue being sexual with Andre within the ménage dynamic. But after living a childhood with a father who dictated every damn thing in Jace’s life, he didn’t do submissive. “Just tell me about our two possibilities.”
Andre turned the page. “Okay, candidate number one has been in a D/s relationship twice before, but is currently single. She has very few limits and is really into pain play. Open to ménage. She’s hoping to find a long-term master but is fine with short-term things as well.”
Jace leaned back in his chair and grimaced. “Ooh, I don’t know.”
“Yeah, if she wants serious pain stuff, neither of us is the right kind of dom for that.”
“Plus, the open-to-relationship ones always have an agenda. Even if they say they don’t. I’m not here to spend the weekend cuddling and getting to know each other.” He didn’t come to The Ranch looking for relationships. He didn’t go anywhere looking for that.
Andre smirked. “You know, not every woman here is out to trap you with her white picket fence. You’re not that great of a catch, anyway. Now me, on the other hand . . .”
Jace flipped him off. He knew Andre was open to finding a steady relationship eventually, but his friend’s bisexuality and penchant for ménage tended to get in the way of any lasting plans. It was only a matter of time before Andre would figure out that the whole “till death do us part” thing wasn’t meant for people like them. Plus, why put your heart in someone else’s hands and give them the power to crush you?
Jace had learned his lesson on that one and didn’t need a refresher course. D/s would never again be anything more than fun and fucking for him. Period. “Just tell me about the other woman, smartass.”
Andre turned another page, reading for himself before saying anything. A smile crept to his lips. “Here we go. This woman is a D/s virgin. Shows tendencies toward the sub role and is looking to explore that. Grant wants her to have a master who has gone through the full training here—score one for you. She has a cop fantasy—score one for me. Not seeking anything permanent because she’s already in a committed relationship.”
“Uh-oh, is she married?”
He shook his head. “Engaged, but it says she’s here with her partner’s consent.”
Jace leaned back in his chair. “Yeah, sure she is.”
“What, you think she’s lying?”
“If she’d been married for a few years and was doing it with consent, I may be able to buy it. You know, getting bored, wanting to branch out. But engaged? That’s when people are shitfaced in love with each other. No dude willingly lets the girl he’s engaged to go fuck around on him on her own. Could you imagine Reid sending Brynn out here by herself to fool around?”
“Reid would burn the place down first. But you never know. I’ve heard some guys get off on that whole girl cheating on them thing. Cuckoldry or whatever it’s called.”
Jace sniffed. Maybe guys who’ve never actually had a woman step out on them could get off on that, but he knew there was nothing remotely sexy about the humiliation of the real thing.
Andre lifted his hand at someone behind Jace and waved him over. Jace turned in his seat to find Grant sauntering their way.
“Evening, fellas.” The owner shook each of their hands. “Good to see y’all out here. It’s been a while.”
“Yeah, things have been crazy,” Jace said. “But we figured we’ve earned a break.”
“So what can I do for ya?” Grant asked, turning to Andre.
“This new member, Sasha. Her bio says she’s engaged but is here with the guy’s permission. How do we know that’s true?”