Dex walked into The Dungeon and winced against the thumping rock music that was playing too loudly through the overhead speakers. For some reason, Master Ralston liked The Dungeon to resemble a hip-hop club.
Dex shook his head. He was imposing his own views and experience. L.A. had an entirely different clientele than he was used to, and the members probably preferred the way this place was set up. Otherwise, Master Ralston would have an empty dungeon.
Ignoring the curious gazes cast his way by those crowding the plush front waiting area where he had first seen Kate yesterday morning, he made his way toward the back hallway to Ed Ralston’s office. The man had asked to see him again. Dex had spent quite a bit of time earlier talking with Ralston. It seemed there was even more he wanted to discuss. Usually fishing for details around Dex’s case, which Dex sidestepped easily.
He wanted to get this done so he could try to contact Kate again. She hadn’t answered texts or his call this morning. Not that he would be surprised if she were still sound asleep, with Rusty purring contentedly either beside or on top of her.
Hell, he wasn’t so sure he wouldn’t be content to be lying beside or on top of Kate right now.
His cock hardened at the thought, reminding him he had things to accomplish before he could let his thoughts roam in that direction.
“Dex Alexander?”
He stopped short at the unfamiliar male voice, and slowly turned to see a man only a handful of inches shorter than Dex’s own six feet eight inches, who looked like the all-American boy grown into the all-American badass.
Even the blond hair, blue eyes, and clean-shaven jaw couldn’t hide the shadows lurking in the man’s eyes, and the hardened look about him that told Dex he had seen and successfully navigated some pretty intense situations in his life. Not to mention the white puckered scar that ran from the side of his mouth down over his chin. As well as a few other imperfections that only backed up Dex’s first impression.
“Yes?”
The man’s lips quirked into a lopsided grin, most likely due to whatever injury had caused the scar. The women probably went wild over the tough look it gave him.
“I’m Merrick Caldwell. Jason Tanner said if I saw you here, to introduce myself and tell you he couldn’t get Camren or Logan.”
Dex schooled his expression. Tanner had called him on the way here to tell him the timing and logistics didn’t work to get either of those men to run interference for him. But Jason had said he was looking into some local L.A. contacts who might be able to help.
“Nice to meet you, Merrick. Are you a member here?”
Merrick gave a negative shake of his head as one blond brow rose, giving Dex the impression the man had much the same opinion of The Dungeon that he, himself, had. “I’m here to ask Master Ralston for temporary membership privileges to see if I’m interested in a more permanent arrangement.”
Dex got the underlying message. Jason’s L.A. contacts had come through. He only hoped Merrick was a strong enough Dom that he could both run interference and do justice to the subs here. But there wasn’t a good, discreet way to question the man here in the hallway to find out. “Very nice to meet you, Merrick. Maybe after both of us have had a few minutes to touch base with Ed Ralston, we can talk.”
Merrick nodded. “Jason gave me your number. I’ll text you when I’m done.” He took out his cell, and a few seconds later, Dex’s phone vibrated. He fished it out of his front pocket to see an unknown number with the text Merrick Caldwell.
Dex quickly saved the information to his address book, and had just slipped his phone back into his pocket when Ed Ralston opened his office door.
Caldwell stepped away. “I’ll be in the waiting area. It was nice to meet you.”
Dex nodded, not sure if Merrick had been speaking to him or Master Ralston.
“Please come in.” Ralston stepped back, holding the door wide so he could walk past him. When Ralston closed the door and gestured to the chairs in front of his large desk, Dex sat.
Ralston cleared his throat as he lowered himself into his opulent leather office chair. He looked out of place in his dress slacks, button-down shirt, and tightly tied tie. More like a used car salesman than the owner of a BDSM club.
Brent from Club Desire wore dress clothes when he was conducting club business, but he always managed to look cool and professional. Ralston seemed like he was trying on a persona that didn’t quite fit.
Dex mentally shrugged. Ralston’s comfort as a club owner wasn’t his problem to fix.
The expensive leather chair creaked as Ralston leaned back farther in it. “The reason I asked you here, Dex, is that I wanted to discuss the altercations with Balkins and Stanton yesterday.”