Damn it, she missed him.
“I have to admit, this room has some interesting memories for me,” Sandra offered softly from beside her. “When Jake first escorted me in here and went to tell Brent I wished to speak with him, well, let’s just say I got a little too involved in watching, and didn’t pay attention to what was going on around me. Poor Jake came back to catch me masturbating right here in front of the glass.”
Kate sucked in a breath as she whipped her head to the side to see if Sandra was serious. When Kate saw her expression, tinged with remembered embarrassment, she couldn’t help the loud laugh that broke from her.
She immediately slapped her hand over her mouth as she stared between Sandra and the scene in front of her. “You must have been mortified.” She still fought back giggles at the thought of being caught in that situation—which could have easily happened had she been left in here alone to wait. “I’m not sure I could’ve looked Jake in the eye after that.”
It was Sandra’s turn to laugh. “Oh, believe me, it took a while. But in time, we became good friends, and now we can joke about it.” She shrugged. “It took even longer for Brent not to glare at Jake every time he teased me about catching the boss’s wife pleasuring herself in the waiting area. He used to say we should add it to the website as a selling point.”
Kate laughed again, unable to help herself. Sandra was someone she could see herself being good friends with.
“It’s probably a good thing you joined me in here, or I might’ve ended up in the same situation. Although it would be worse if there was a great flogging going on.” Kate gestured toward the glass and the scene beyond.
Sandra nodded. “I understand completely. I love to watch, and the impact play can be amazing around here.” She gestured toward the floor. “The alcoves on basements one and three are great places to watch, and those are private, or semiprivate, depending on the type of membership you have.”
Kate felt her mouth drop open and her eyes widen. “Basement levels? We’re on a mountain. That had to be ridiculously expensive.” She whistled long and low as she shook her head.
“It apparently was,” Sandra agreed. “Although Brent said there was another project started here that did a lot of the blasting and clearing before he acquired the site and started construction. That was before I came into the picture, but Dex could tell you all about that.”
“Dex?” Kate frowned. What did Dex have to do with the construction of this place? From his answer about Club Desire, she got the impression that while he was friends with Brent, he merely played here sometimes.
“Dex has been around since Brent came up with the idea for the club. They planned the place together.”
A spear of ice sliced into Kate, and she winced. Instinctively, she tried to put on a blank face and not let her reaction show. “Oh. I didn’t know he was that involved here. He said he played here, and that it was a great place I should check out if I came to Phoenix.” He had definitely lied, at least by omission, and while he might have his reasons, she felt betrayed nonetheless. “I’ll definitely ask him next time I see him.” She didn’t bother to hide the slight edge to her voice.
Sandra had fallen silent, and Kate had the impression she had censored what she’d been about to say.
“So what’s next on the tour?” Kate asked brightly, wanting to move on, and deal with her hurt and anger on her own, later.
“I’ll leave some of that up to you. On the main floor there’s the dungeon floor you see here, which is used mostly for sub and Dom training, or trying out new lower-to medium-level kinks. There are also locker rooms, and a larger waiting area, as well as aftercare.”
She smiled as Kate tried to map out everything inside her mind.
“On the floors above us are the kitchen, office space, the pool, and some living space. Rooms and suites members can rent out for a night or longer term.
“The only ones who live on-site right now are Jake, Brent, and I, but there are several members who stay here at least some of the time.”
Kate tried to picture living at The Dungeon in L.A., and couldn’t manage it.
Sandra continued in her sweet, melodic voice. “Below us are four dungeon levels. Dungeon Four is where the hard kink goes on. There’s a fully equipped dungeon with moveable walls, and props to meet pretty much any kink you can imagine. That’s also where we hold large events like orgies, collaring ceremonies, and parties. My wedding to Brent was held down there.” She smiled and absently touched her collar. The expression on her face was one of pure happiness and love.