He tilted his head to one side, contemplating her. “I bet you make a cute kitten.”
“She does.” Gabi slid onto the adjacent stool. “Welcome back, Murphy. I’m here to apologize for what happened in the pet playroom.”
Murphy frowned. “Apologize for what? Did you bark at me too hard?”
“Right, that was it.” Snickering, Gabi bumped her shoulder. “No, Saxon said you were upset with him because he spanked me so hard I cried.”
“Dammit.” Murphy scowled at her drink. “He shouldn’t have told you anything.”
“Masters are total buttinskis, girl.” Gabi shook her head. “I am sorry my problems meant I went all drama queen, and you were upset with Saxon for punishing me. The pet room is the wrong place to act out. I think of it as a safe area. Innocent, you know?”
“It feels innocent.” Just the thought made Murphy smile. “I loved bouncing around and purring and, I don’t know, just…being.”
A clink caught her attention. The giant bartender was mixing a drink…and staying within hearing distance.
Gabi laughed. “See? Master Cullen is like all the other Nosy-McNosies. C’mon, let’s find a Domless area.”
“But what if the little submissive wants a Dom?” Master Cullen leaned an arm on the bar top and smiled down at Murphy. “Would you like me to find you a nice Dominant to play with, love?”
Why did that seem as if it would be even more disastrous than getting set up with blind dates in college? “Thank you, but I’m good. Honestly.”
Laughter danced in his green eyes. “So be it. Come back if you change your mind.”
Carrying her drink, Murphy followed Gabi toward the back. They detoured around a roped-off spanking bench scene. A pretty brunette was getting paddled by two Doms.
Two. Ow, that didn’t seem fair at all.
But the brunette couldn’t do anything about it, not with her forearms and lower legs strapped to the padded boards on each side of the higher center. Her butt was totally a target.
Pure erotic desire shot up Murphy’s spine and trapped her there, staring for far too long.
“Master Cullen might be right. I need to find you a Top to beat on your ass.” Gabi tucked an arm around Murphy’s waist and guided her away.
“What? Oh, no. I was”—mesmerized?—“interested but nothing more.”
“Mmmhmm. Did I mention I do a lot of counseling? That was more than interest there.”
At a small sitting area near a cupping scene, Gabi plopped down into a dark leather chair. Murphy curled up in a corner of the adjacent couch. Tall planters filled with lush peace lilies divided up the space, letting people be secluded or watch nearby sessions.
“So, about the spanking you saw.” Gabi sighed. “Sometimes I get trapped in my head and feel like I can’t tell my husband what’s bothering me, so—”
“Marcus is your husband?” Murphy checked Gabi’s left hand. “I thought you called him Master Marcus.”
Gabi snorted. “He’s both. But we don’t have a Master-slave dynamic. It’s more dominant-submissive and mostly in the bedroom and here”—she grinned— “or whenever and wherever he feels like it. Or when I brat enough that he knows I want to play.”
“You want him to go all dominant?”
“Absolutely.” Gabi smiled slightly. “Obviously. We’re in a BDSM club for a reason.”
“Oh. Duh. So did you get things sorted out with him?”
“Not…precisely. After letting me cry all over him, he started asking questions, and I’m still not ready to talk about it. But he’s okay with waiting. He’s amazing that way.”
“That’s nice you have someone like him.” Murphy would not, ever, admit how envious she felt. Yet wasn’t it wonderful that someone as sweet as Gabi had such a good man?
“I’m still sorry you were upset with Saxon, especially since I pushed him into it.” Gabi snickered. “Now I know how hard he spanks, so I’m sure not going to do that again.”
“Probably a wise decision.” Murphy studied the redhead.
Gabi was smiling, not radiating stress like she had been last time. Saxon had been correct about the rightness of his actions.
He’d been honest with her. That was…really nice.
“Now we have the past dealt with, what are your plans for tonight?” Gabi asked.
“Good question!” A short, curvy blonde hugged Gabi from behind. “Can we join you or are you needing private time?”
“Join us. I want you to meet Murphy. She’s doing that three guest visits plan—and is a writer doing research.”
“How fun.” The blonde was accompanied by another woman, maybe five-four with rich brown hair in a thick braid and big blue eyes. They both wore figure-hugging corsets and short skirts.
Plopping down on the facing couch, the blonde smiled. “Hi, Murphy. I’m Jessica, and this is Kari. What kind of books?”
The brunette leaned forward. “And what do you need to research? Can we help?”
Murphy blinked. Jessica was maybe a few years older. Would Murphy ever be so sociable or comfortable jumping into a conversation?
Kari seemed quieter, but also like a people person. As was Gabi.
Great. Being the focus of attention wasn’t scary…exactly…but uncomfortable? Oh, yes. She straightened. “I write historical mystery thrillers set in 1800s London.”
Kari’s eyes narrowed. “Like when the Bridgerton series was set?”
“Exactly. It was the oddest time, a mix of super formal in public and astonishingly decadent in the shadows.”
“Oooh, and so the adorable chemise and corset?” Kari asked.
“They were called stays, but yes.” Murphy smiled. “I’m trying to get in the right mood.”
“I love the look.” Jessica cocked her head. “Cotton and white—it’s, like, almost virginal only sexy as hell.”
A man walked over and stopped. Tall, lean, black hair with silver at the sides. He wore all black, but rather than leather or latex, his clothing was a finely tailored silk shirt and pants. “Kari, Master Dan seems to think he misplaced you.”