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The responsible thing would be to take care of it now, but I didn’t want to miss seeing my friends. I wasn’t hurt. The bike looked like it was salvageable. As long as I found somewhere safe to keep the bike while I played, I didn’t see any reason not to.

I might regret it later, but for now, I wanted to play.

Chapter Three

Galan

I hadn’t found time for a baseball league, yet, but I did manage to get away once or twice a week to visit Chained. Even if it was just for an hour or two to visit a friend and have a drink. The conversation area where we hung out was just off the main floor at Chained and designed to give those who hung out there a good view of all the action at the stations there.

Impact play was very popular with many club members, and a whole variety of furniture and equipment occupied pride of place. On this particular night, we were occupying the couches with the very best view, and although nothing going on out there was my particular kink, I could admire others at play. There were so many psychological factors behind the interactions, and I took great annoyance when I heard someone describing the actions of the members of our club as hitting someone.

Nobody here “hit” anyone. If they did, they’d be thrown out on their heads. Not literally, but they would not have their membership renewed. Another I appreciated was the art of Japanese rope tying, and on this particular night, a guest was showing everyone how it was done. We didn’t do many demos, but what had begun as a scene had drawn enough of a crowd that the Nawashi, or expert, had begun to explain his philosophy and technique.

“He’s really something, isn’t he?” Memphis, another daddy and good friend, leaned close and murmured. “It almost makes me want to go up there and give it a try.”

“Almost?”

“Yes. I did some bondage years ago, and my attempts were so pathetic, even with supervision, well, let’s say pity is not the expression a dom wants to see on a submissive’s face.”

“I suppose not.” It would make me feel like a failure, for sure. “I take it, this subbie was not Ridge.”

“It was long before we met, when I was exploring. He has no interest in that form of play, do you, sweet boy?”

“I like the kinds of games Ms. Lily sets up in the little room. And books.” He pushed himself to his feet, looking adorable in a onesie and sneakers with bells on them. “Can you walk me to the room now, Daddy? I don’t want to miss story time.”

“Of course, Ridge. We can go right away.” Memphis stood as well. “I’ll be back shortly, gentlemen.”

After they left, Rico came by, on duty again. “Hello, sir. What would you like to drink?”

“Tonic water with lime please.”

“Oh, I know what that means.” He tucked his tray under his arm and rested a hip on the sofa opposite me where Memphis had been seated. “Where this time?”

“You’d think, right? But it’s not quite as bad as that. I will not be catching a plane anywhere tonight. I get to sleep in my own bed.” Which happened way too infrequently lately.

“It’s too late for you to go back to the office, isn’t it? Wouldn’t it be closed?”

“You’d be surprised. I may be the one who does the most actual travel, but our international customers inhabit just about every time zone, meaning, we have to accommodate their schedules. So, more often than not, someone or other is at the office all night for online meetings or other types of communications. They’ve tried going home and just taking a meeting when the time comes, but it was not particularly successful for various reasons.”

“I didn’t realize. That must get tiring for all of you.”

“For me in particular, less than you would think because one of my deals is that if I have to spend so much time away, I want more regular hours when I’m home.”

“But tonight?”

“Is the exception. There’s a meeting with the whole team working on this particular contract at eleven tonight. I was on site a couple of weeks ago, and they apparently like me and requested I attend the online meeting.”

“And that means you have to go into the office to do it, right?”

“Because of the problems they had before, yes. Normally, I am the exception to having to be present and do actually handle it from home, but they want some kind of an image of all of us at the table with our laptops in front of us to show the client. Someone’s brilliant idea.

“I’ll be right back with your tonic and lime.” He headed for the bar, stopping along the way to pick up a couple more orders, but he was still back in just a few minutes with my glass and a plate of fries. “I thought you might be hungry, since you’re working so late, and this is the chef’s latest experiment he’s having the staff taste test this evening.”

The scent of garlic and chili and herbs made my stomach growl. Had I had dinner? No…I had not. “What are they?”

“Potato wedge fries tossed with chili crisp and topped with herbs and a secret sauce.”

“Wow. I’m probably going to have garlic breath, but so worth it