The Ranks

* * * Welcome back to St. Abigail, the city of enchantment. I am so excited to share the unconventional love story of Jewel and Stefan with you. I’m never would have guessed I had a story like this inside of me, and I worried that it might be a bit too much…but I know you all are going to love it. Be prepared for an alpha male with a female Dom, and lots of deep, dark secrets. Lore For content info and possible trigger warnings, please visit my website. Connect with me for secrets on your Carte Blanche journey and download a free spicy novella: Join Lore’s Lair Chapter One * * * Jewel “Looking to get spanked?” Jewel certainly dressed to play tonight. Against the advice of her friends, she was wearing a curve hugging latex mini dress in a dark shade of purple with silver spiked studs running along the hem and the low-cut neckline. Even taller than usual in her three-inch spiked heels, and with her expertly applied cat-eye makeup, she was sure to draw some attention. ‘It’s just a party,’ they told her, but Jewel had other plans for the evening. She didn’t know how or why or who, but she knew that this event would be an opportunity for her. Jewel was desperate for an opportunity. The man considered her for a long moment, his hand still resting on his cheek, covering the place the waitress just slapped him for his rough handling. Jewel took the opportunity to get a good look at him. He was tall and broad shouldered, tan in a freshly vacationed kind of way, with short dark curls and the slightest hint of a widow’s peak. Clean shaven even at this late hour, his suit looked freshly pressed and his shoes shined. He looked like walking money. She knew exactly who he was, of course. There wasn’t a soul in that club who didn’t. Only, Jewel wasn’t afraid of him like everyone else seemed to be. Maybe that gave him pause. It should… “You certainly look like my kind of evening, angel. You sure about this?” The soft growl in his voice held a longing that Jewel could feel in her bones. She didn’t miss a beat. “You’re the one who needs to be sure. And I think you meant to say ma’am.” A smile ticked the corner of his mouth, lighting up his navy blue eyes. “Yes, ma’am,” he whispered. Oh, shit. Okay. Get it together. You got this. You were born for this. “Let’s see if we can find an open room, shall we?” The words rolled easily out of her mouth, exuding the confidence Jewel tried hard to live up to. “Any room is open if I want it.” And god, wasn’t that the truth. Jewel imagined that was how life was in general for Stefan McNamara. Any door opened at his command, and the people inside did his bidding. They were too scared not to. “Well, I’ll allow you to lead the way, then.” Stefan snaked an arm around her waist, setting Jewel’s entire body on fire. She was a pool of liquid purple latex, somehow held together by sheer force of will. He led her toward the stairs that would take them to the private rooms without so much as a glance back at his companions. Jewel tried not to notice all the eyes on her as she made her way through the crowd on Stefan’s arm. When they reached the beginning of the hallway that held the doors to the private rooms, a Ropes employee greeted them with a smile. “We would like a room,” Stefan said in a voice that commanded respect, and made it clear that he always got what he wanted. “Right this way,” the employee replied with a smile. He led the couple down the hall to the third door on the left and pulled the two large sliding doors open to reveal a midsized square room, painted a deep gray and outfitted with racks of toys and restraints. The room contained one rectangular platform with a thick pad and a couple of waist height tables, as well as a large chair in the corner. So much privacy. “If you need anything, I’ll be right outside.” The attendant started to exit but Stefan’s voice stopped them. “A bottle of Rosé Dom Pérignon. And two glasses.” Jewel’s anxiety level raised about a hundred notches at the words, but she kept her composure. She could handle this. The opportunity of a lifetime stood in front of her. If she got in good with this guy, she would be set for life. Or dead. She shook the thought away. Anything you did could end up killing you—driving your car, walking down the street, or even swallowing your dinner incorrectly alone in your apartment. She couldn’t let fear of death stop her from doing this. And being with this man—what a way to go. “Doors open or closed?” Stefan asked her after the attendant placed the bottle and glasses on a table just inside the room and exited. “Closed.” Jewel watched him slide the heavy door shut and then step to the side table, where he lifted the dripping bottle from its ice bucket. Her eyes could not look away as his fingers twisted the wire of the cage slowly until it was loose. He tossed it to the side. Noticing her watching, he held the bottle out to her, with a hand covering the still tightly lodged cork. “Would you like to do the honors?” Smart man to ask. But Jewel declined. She shook her head. “You go ahead. Just don’t make a mess.” Stefan smirked at her again and Jewel saw him beginning to show signs of arousal in his expensive looking suit pants. Oh lord. This is really happening right now. She was about to scene with Stefan McNamara, head of the McNamara family, the most powerful and dangerous man in