Prologue
Popcorn and sex.
It was those two scents that filled my nostrils as I walked into Southern Belle’s, my favourite bottle of white wine clutched in my hand. Southern Belles was a bring your own alcohol, members-only club.
I wasn’t a member but I was a regular. Or at least I had been until my live-in Dom boyfriend had upped and left a few months ago. I hadn’t missed having a live-in boyfriend as much as I thought I would but I did miss the domination.
I liked sex. I always had. I think most women did. Or at least they liked the idea of great sex. Of being taken and owned. Or maybe that was just me.
I had very specific tastes.
Tastes that the few guys I had hooked up with since I had been single hadn’t been able to deal with. Playing around with handcuffs and slapping my ass was all fun and games but not quite what I was looking for.
Not by a long shot.
I needed more than that.
That wasn’t to say that vanilla sex wasn’t enjoyable because it was, I loved sex. Even if it was bad I found a way to enjoy myself but you just couldn’t beat a man taking control, testing your limits and owning your body.
Which was why when Miss Belle, the owner of Southern Belle’s had phoned to personally invite me, I hadn’t been able to say no.
The truth was I had missed this place.
And being personally invited was a real honour. An hour I wasn’t sure would be given again. If this was going to be my last night here then I was going to make the most of it.
Letting my eyes sweep around the room, I smiled. A smile so wide I could feel it crinkle the corners of my eyes behind the simple black mask I was wearing over the top half of my face.
Tonight I would wear the mask, and move around the room without anyone knowing who I was. Or who I used to belong to.
Tonight was masquerade night.
And I couldn’t wait to play.