Page 47

We got to The Hearth early. It was only eight at night, but we never stayed until closing at four in the morning — all of us got way too sleepy, even me, though I'd never admit that. So we needed to get there early to make the most of it. The place was already fuller than it used to be, though not as packed as it had been during the open house. We'd gained a bunch of new members since then.

When I walked in, I got a little nervous because I didn't spot Max right away. I didn't know why it mattered so much to me that he'd shown up, but I thought it might be a pride thing — I'd been his host the first time, and if he hadn't had a good time, part of me would always wonder if that had been my fault. The Hearth mattered so much to me and my family, so I always wanted everyone to like it and feel good there.

Around the room I saw the usual crowd. Gustav was rushing around as always. Henry was, unbelievably, flirting with some new guy. Jeffrey was there, along with Elizabeth and Lucy, Sawyer's friends, and two other girls I was friends with too, Fiona and Cibele. I also spotted Carlos and Breno, two guys I knew and didn't really like because they were always talking trash about me, but I never went near them. Daddy had directly ordered me not to cause any drama with them — and honestly, if they messed with me, I'd probably get really upset and have trouble following that order.

Dominic wasn't there yet, and I looked at Daddy. Just from looking at me, he already knew.

"They'll be here, baby," he said.

I pouted. He gave a little laugh and kissed the top of my head. "Why don't you go play some video games with Sawyer for a bit?"

"Ugh, no, I don't want to babysit my brother," Sawyer complained.

But Daddy raised an eyebrow at him. "So you're not playing, then."

"Sorry, Daddy," he said, resigned, realizing that hadn't been great behavior at all.

"Good. Now go do what I told you."

I went with Sawyer to where his friends already were, in front of the video game setup in the corner of the club. That corner always felt more like somebody's living room than part of a club. His friend Larissa was already there, controller in hand, going up against John.

"Hey, JJ," she said. I smiled at her. We didn't talk much, but she'd never been mean to me.

"Right off the bat Daddy said I have to babysit him," Sawyer said, grumbling.

"He didn't say that," I said, pouting.

Sawyer broke into a grin. "I'm just messing with you. It's fine, you can hang with us."

I sat down in the recliner next to the couch. I'd taken a few naps in it before when it got late and my energy started dipping.

"The coffee shop girl texted me back," I said, checking my phone, which I'd originally pulled out to see if Max had said anything else.

"Coffee shop girl?" Sawyer asked, glancing at the screen while picking his character. They were playing some first-person shooter. I didn't find those very fun, but Sawyer loved video games in general and seemed perfectly happy.

I told him about Bella.

"We've been texting back and forth. She kept staring at my collar because she's actually a professional Domme," I told him.

"Whoa," Larissa said.

"Did you invite her to come here?" John asked. "I bet she'd like it here."

Sawyer, on the other hand, made a face. "You did that without asking Daddy?" he asked.

My stomach dropped. He was using that older-brother voice that meant I'd gotten myself into trouble without realizing it.

"What's the problem?" I said. "She's just a friend."

"That's not the point, dummy," he said, and this time he even paused the game. He was looking straight at me. "What if she wants to come here just to scout clients? You know that's not allowed."

It was true — nobody was allowed to use The Hearth to promote their work or solicit clients. And that was exactly how it should be. We went there to make real friends and real connections, not to be advertised to.

"You didn't think of that, did you?" he kept going, and I got defensive, and without even realizing it I was pouting.

"She's not like that," I said.

"You don't even really know her. You've been talking to her for a week."