Chapter 1
It'd been a while since Rey Johnson felt any excitement about going to The Swank Club. She'd been attending events a couple times a month to make friends, scene with a Dom or two, and have an active presence in the Lifestyle. Doms came and went, some good, some not-so-great, but Rey didn't find anyone she liked well enough to become exclusive. Indeed, she rarely had sex with any of them, often preferring to end the scene and march off without even stopping for aftercare. Much to her friends' dismay, she'd given up. Her best friend Rose had her Dom, Hux, and was happy as a clam. Gwen was a Domme and had her little subbie, Kay. Finn and Poe had each other. And Rey, well, Rey had a list of Doms with whom she scened on and off. She made a face when friends suggested she settle down with one of those guys. She'd never felt the desire.
The Swank needed some new blood. Fortunately, Poe talked a couple of his friends into visiting and a few of them also brought friends, some of whom decided to join the club. Rey had met some of the new members, but found them depressingly uninteresting. Perhaps she was jaded. That could be the real issue. Nothing excited her anymore.
Throughout the summer and early fall, the club had been closed on and off for renovations, since a silent partner bought out the old owner. No one knew who it was, though speculation ran rampant. As if by magic, rooms had been renovated, toys updated, and suddenly there were costume parties, theme parties, and specialty events. With holidays coming up, the club advertised a costume bash. The theme was "Spirits" of the holidays, including elves, Santas, reindeers, scrooges, ghosts of past, present, future, Krampus, and any other beings people wanted to embody. They were only limited by their imagination.
The party was held at the end of November, right after Thanksgiving. After consultation with Rose and Gwen, Rey decided on Elf, which was traditional for female submissives. Gwen pitched other ideas, but Rey had just sighed and pulled out her old elf costume from last year. Though tired of being an elf, she showed up at the club wearing the requisite green velour mini-dress, low cut and trimmed with white fur, sparkling silver and black thigh highs and soft black booties. Subs weren't allowed high heels, unless Doms gave permission.
Once inside with her open-to-scene sub wristbands, Rey looked around at the selection of people. She really didn't hold out much hope.
A guy eyed her from the milk and cookie bar. She remembered that he'd been boring and repetitive.
Another nodded from a table near the fireplace. That one had cut off her circulation because he didn't know enough about shibari to do it well.
The one across the room by the new water fridge, well, the less said about him, the better.
And then there were the Solo twins, holding court in the center of the Great Room, being complete goofballs again. Rey rolled her eyes. Those two were new, young studly Doms, who were full of energy and downright silly at times. Last weekend, one of them, she never could tell them apart, had made googly eyes at her. She'd stared him down, which she wasn't supposed to do as a submissive. He'd annoyed her, like some kind of giant puppy or a friendly gorilla with hands and feet a couple sizes too big.
He'd poked his twin. "That one." He'd pointed at her.
"No thank you," she'd said.
The other one looked over and raised his eyebrows. At that moment, Finn came up from behind her and called her away to defend his honor in an argument with Poe. Rey had breathed a sigh of relief. Yeah, they were cute with their dark wavy hair, plushy lips, and oversized bodies, but they were not the kind of Doms she usually connected with. Goofy was not appealing-or sexy-in her estimation.
Now, here those two were again, in a group of Santa Doms, reindeer subs, and other assorted characters. Rey scooted up to see what was happening. One of them, either Ben or Kylo (who knew?), wore a tall red hat, a red cloak, and what looked like a white nightgown. He had a fake beard hanging over his ears and a long stick with a curlicue on the end. The other had a big fur coat, some fake horns, vampire teeth, and a furry tail.
"Are you serious?" Rey's question burst out of her when she caught a glimpse of three big dildos, testicles and all, tied on with red ribbons, hanging around Red Hat's neck.
She shouldered her way to the front. "What the hell is this?"
Red Hat beamed at her, grinning with dimples and slightly crooked teeth.
"Submissive, you are out of order." His voice boomed out. "Fall on your knees before Krampus." He indicated his fur-covered twin. "And pay homage to St. Dick." He patted his dildos necklaces.
The cluster of club members, which seemed bigger than before, roared with laughter. Rey pressed her lips together. This was entirely ridiculous. Not at all what a Dom should be. By definition, Doms were large and in-charge, brooding, firm, resolute. These two doofuses acted like frat bros. She couldn't imagine a sub who would take either of them seriously.
Krampus growled, staring at her. His vampire teeth glowed in the low club lights.
"Ah, a bratty one," St. Dick stated. "Shall we punish her?"
"Sure, sure." Rey put her hands on her hips. "Punish me, big bad Doms. Go for it."
"You agree to scene with us?"
Dark amber eyes, like black honey, stared at her, waiting for an answer.
"Do it." That was Rose's voice from behind Rey. The rest of the crowd chanted the same.
Rey turned to glare at Rose. "No pressure from the peanut gallery." She stalked up to the twins. "I can't scene with you. We're supposed to negotiate beforehand and you don't know anything about me."
St. Dick waved a giant mitt of a hand. "We've read your profile, elf."
"I haven't read yours," Rey retorted.
Gwen stuck a paper in Rey's hand.
Rey turned to her. "Seriously?"
"Just read it." Gwen pinned her with a stern look. "They're great guys, come highly rec'd from Cashmere as experienced Doms. One's a Knight of Ren."
"Knights of Ren?" She glanced up to see the two of them, smugly grinning. Well, St. Dick was grinning. The vampire teeth in Krampus's mouth made it hard to tell what he was doing.
She'd heard about the Knights of Ren Doms. They were well trained and often offered specialties to interested submissives, like knife play, wax, branding, violet wands, fireplay. Some were dedicated whipmasters or riggers. Lots of fun stuff. She glanced briefly at the profiles but had already made her decision. Scening with a Knight of Ren. Yes, please. She wondered if she could have them both. Package deal, the paper said. All right.
"I'll do it," she said.
A small cheer rose from the crowd. Of course, the scene would be public and everyone there would be in attendance. Well, it was better than being bored, Rey figured.
"Good girl. Meet us in the Fire Dungeon." St. Dick winked at her as he and his brother left to get prepared.
The dude didn't wink like other guys. He gave a little flutter of his eyelid that went by so fast, Rey almost missed it. Fascinating. She stared at his retreating back for a moment, then slipped off to the dressing room.
Rose followed, fairly dancing in her darling white snowflake outfit. "I'm so excited. Two Doms. Oh my God, you're going to love it. And they are going to punish you good for being such a brat." Rose hugged herself.
Rey sighed. "I sure hope so. They're silly."
In the locker room, she handed Rose the profile while she went to the bathroom and then washed her hands.
