Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Fuck. He was in trouble, but he wasn’t sure why. He never suspected that Daphne would be the kind of person to judge the people around her for something consensual and private. “It’s a BDSM club. Heavy on the D/s part. It’s been around for almost twenty years.”
“Are you a member?”
“Daphne, can we talk about this inside? It feels weird to talk about it in the hall.” He glanced down and was happy there weren’t heads poking out of doors yet.
She stepped aside, allowing him in. “I want to know if you’re a member and why you never mentioned you have this whole secret lifestyle.”
He moved inside her apartment. On one level, he was feeling better because this obviously wasn’t about Lou, but now he realized she had some misconceptions. “Baby, I didn’t talk about it because I didn’t think it was something you would be interested in. Don’t get me wrong. It would have come up at some point because my friends don’t hide it, but it’s not something I need.”
“Are you a member?” She enunciated each word like he was having a hard time understanding her.
“Yes, but I don’t attend regularly.”
“And you have submissives? That’s what they call the women, right?”
“If the sub identifies as female, yes. There are plenty of male subs, too. And no, I’ve never had a submissive. I don’t even have Master rights because I didn’t like the class. I go and hang out with my friends from time to time. I have guest rights. If you are asking if I’ve ever had sex at Sanctum, then the answer is yes. However, that was before I met you. If you don’t ever want to go to Sanctum, that’s okay. It’s not something I need. If you want to explore, I’m up for that, too.”
Her hands fisted at her sides. “Boomer, this isn’t about sex. I’m not upset because you belong to a sex club. I’m angry because you didn’t bother to mention it to me, and that’s why I was surprised when a child protective agent told me all about it this afternoon.”
He was pretty sure he was the one who paled now. “What?”
Daphne paced. “I was finishing up the second wedding cake when I got a call from a woman named Susan Lively. She works at Child Protective Services. She asked me to meet her for coffee, said we needed to talk. Naturally I freaked out, but she wouldn’t talk to me over the phone. I met her, and she explained that she recognized your name on a report.”
“Then why didn’t she call me? I don’t know Susan Lively.”
“How about a woman named Karina Brighton?”
“Yes. She’s a friend of mine.”
“She wanted to give me a heads-up that I’m about to be investigated for putting my child in a dangerous environment, that environment being you and your friends.”
“My friends aren’t dangerous.”
“I know that,” Daphne replied. “I know that they are wonderful people. That was Susan’s point. She works with Karina at a youth shelter.”
“Yeah, I volunteer there.” He’d spent many a weekend working with Karina’s group.
Daphne took a deep breath, seeming to force herself to calm down. “I’m sure that’s how she knows your name. She definitely recognized Sanctum. She’s risking her job to give me a heads-up, but apparently there’s one case worker there who is willing to take cash in exchange for opening investigations that are iffy, to say the least.”
“It’s your in-laws.”
“I know. I was stupid to think she wouldn’t try to pull something like this. I thought she was happy just insulting me and being overbearing, but she wants me out of the picture entirely. Susan says they’re going to use you and the fact that you’re a member at Sanctum to prove I’m an unfit mother. Or at least they’re going to try. She wants me to talk to Karina so they can use my case as a sting operation.”
“No.” He wasn’t going to let anyone use Daphne. Even if it was for a good cause. “This isn’t a problem. We’re going to let Big Tag handle it.”
Big Tag would scorch the earth Amelia stood on. That mean old lady had no idea what was about to hit her, and if she survived the experience, she wouldn’t try this again.
“That’s what I told her. I told her I would talk to Karina, but I wouldn’t risk my daughter in any way. Do you understand what they could do? They could decide to listen to this caseworker, who my mother-in-law is clearly paying. They could take Lou away from me.”
He started to walk toward her, but she put out a hand, and Boomer felt his stomach drop. She didn’t want his comfort? Damn. He needed hers.
“I’m sorry. If you touch me, I’ll lose what little control I have left. I need to stay calm, and you hugging me is going to be too much,” she said quietly. “I’m not trying to hurt you. I just need to stay in control.”