Chapter Two

Friday – Washington D.C.

Melody

“Summer? What is this place?” We are standing outside of a club called The Den. We just left the concert where we had front row tickets and spent the night swooning over a hot country singer while we had a few drinks. I was looking forward to relaxing and having some nachos. Cheese smothered, extra jalapenos, chili, olives, the works, but I can tell that the place we are standing in front of is not the kind of bar I had planned on for the night. “I thought you said we were going to go to a bar to grab some dinner after the concert?” My tone is annoyed.

“Come on, Mel. I had to treat you to the biggest birthday surprise I could,” Summer says with a grin, “and I know you are totally into this stuff, so let’s go in and give it a try.”

“Summer, what exactly is The Den? I’m thinking I have a pretty damn good idea where you’ve brought me. But I don’t think we’re dressed for this place, and I do not think this is a good idea at all.” I finish with a huff. Turning, I bite my lip and look up at the building again.

“Come on, Mel. You think that I don’t know you’re wearing a hot and skimpy cami under that flannel shirt? All you have to do is slip the flannel off, and then we’re golden, see!” Summer starts unbuttoning the buttons on her flannel shirt and keeps signaling for me to do the same.

“Hurry up! It’s freezing out here! I have cash for the cover. Now get that damn flannel shirt off so we can get inside. You’ll see what this whole BDSM club scene, that you have been wanting to try out, is actually about.” Wiggling her eyebrows at me, she ties her flannel shirt around her hips, exposing the top of a very tiny strapless dress. I roll my eyes at her but do the same, finishing up the knot at my waist. I look down at my now exposed cleavage in my dark-gray lace camisole, the silky fabric clinging suggestively to my skin.

“Happy birthday to me, I guess.” I’m terrified as hell, but she is right. This is what I have been looking for. I have wanted to try out the BDSM world for a few years now, giving up control to a Dom. Being spanked, flogged, all of the impact gear really excites me. This is as good a place to start as any. The second she opens the door, we can hear the music, the pounding bass, and deep rumbles that vibrate the floor under our feet. I also listen to snaps of leather whips as they meet flesh, and my pussy is drenched already. I can feel adrenaline rush through my body, and the tips of my fingers go numb.

“Summer, are you sure about this?” But I am only asking to buy myself some time. I know Summer is into this, and she has been here before. She is part of the BDSM community, and she and her Dom probably frequent this club. That’s why I was willing to open up to her about experimenting with this.

“Melody, yes, I’m sure. And you’re sure too. You know you are. Now come on, Donnie is inside waiting for us.” She spins back around and strides confidently to the red curtain at the end of the dimly lit hall.

When we reach the curtain and Summer pulls it aside for me, I look in and see a large room with a bar off to the right-hand side. The concrete walls are painted black, and all the furniture is red with black accents. You can tell the building was previously some type of warehouse, and they have kept that same industrial look. There is a big wooden cross to the room's left with a dark-haired woman tied to it. Her back is facing me. She is naked except for a black thong accenting her perfectly round, heart-shaped bottom. Across her back, ass, and tops of her thighs, I can see her skin is bright pink and marked with darker red welts from the whip the Dom standing behind her has been using. Oh god, yes! Yes, sir! I scream in my mind as he pulls his arm back over his head and brings it down on her bare ass, sending ripples across her cheeks and thighs from the impact and the pleasured moan heaved from her is throaty and hoarse.

A large area on the other side of the room, between the cross and the bar, has couches and chairs. Couples were spread out on them, some talking and having drinks, others kissing. Some are gathered around watching those involved in scenes on different pieces of equipment I don’t know the names of. A sub kneels with her hands, palms up, resting on her thighs, next to a man seated on one couch. A black leather studded collar around her neck is attached to a leash he is holding in his hand nonchalantly. Aside from the collar, she is completely naked. If only I could be her. With Finn?

“Come on.” Summer grabs my arm. “I see Donnie at the bar. Let’s go.”

We pass a table with a woman on her hands and knees. Leather cuffs around her wrists and ankles attach her to the top of the table with chains. One man stands behind her, violently ramming her asshole, as she screams around the cock of another man fucking her mouth. I pause to stare.

“Wanna try that out? I’m sure we could find you a couple of Doms to volunteer,” Summer says with a wink. I blush and ignore her comment as we continue across the club.

She hops up to kiss her boyfriend Donnie when we reach the bar. He smiles at her then greets me, “Hey! Happy Birthday, Mel! What can I get you to drink?”

“I’ll have a martini, and Mel will have a rum and Coke, right?” Summer answers before I can find my voice, still staring around amazedly at the women in the room pleasing their Doms and receiving what I am aching for. I'm hot and bothered. I can feel buzzing through my body, and I know now that this is where I am supposed to be, like an awakening.

“Yeah... rum and Coke. Thanks, Donnie,” my voice trails off as I continue to gape at my surroundings, awe-struck. I grab Summer’s arm and lean into her ear. “Thank you for bringing me here. I do think this is what I want. I just didn’t know how to go about finding this place or get the courage to come on my own.”

“Of course, Melody.” She hugs me affectionately. “I told you we could introduce you to some people in the scene. I’m sure one of Donnie’s buddies would be willing to take you on and help train you—she trails off for a second—or maybe… Don’t look now, Mel. But there is a guy at the other end of the bar who looks like he wants to eat you up.”

What is with my friends and that phrase? “What?” I ask. “Who?”

As I turn to look, I hear her say under her breath, “Like the Big Bad Wolf.”

That’s when I see him sitting about six stools away at the other end of the bar, with a drink in his hand, black t-shirt, sexy as hell. “Finn,” I breathe out almost inaudibly. Summer catches it.

“Finn! Ohmygod, Finn from your work? Finn who you have a date with next week? Where?” She is spinning on her stool, looking everywhere but behind me at Finn.

“The Big Bad Wolf is Finn,” I whisper loudly and frantically at her.

“No way!” Summer squeals just as Donnie comes back from the corner of the bar with our drinks.

“Fucking shit, this is fucking… Fuck!” I say loud enough that I’m sure the couples on the couch are turning to look. I hide my head under my hands as I stare fervently at the bar top, cringing.

“If you were my sub, I’d make sure you were punished properly for having a mouth like that,” a voice says to my right, and I know instantly it's Finn. The hair on the back of my neck stands up like it always does when he is nearby.

“Finn.” I say his name like a benediction, and I know right then I’ve got it bad. Turning to look, I see he is standing next to me. His brown eyes are almost black in the light of the club and, for a second, I think I see a gleam of amber. I thought I was in trouble before with this crush I’ve had for nearly a year. I know I’ve got it bad seeing him here in this club now.

“Melody, funny meeting you here,” he says, and I notice he’s added a bit of flair to his voice with a hint of an Irish accent for the first time.

I almost swoon right there at the bar.

Finn gently nudges my forearm with his fingertips, looking at me with a hint of concern. “But maybe you don’t feel the same?”

“Um, yeah. Sorry. You caught me off guard. My friends,” I say and throw my thumb to my left to indicate Summer and Donnie, “are members of the club. Summer thought this would be a good birthday present for me.”

“That’s right. Your birthday was last night, wasn’t it, lass?”

Lass? Where is this Irish accent coming from all of a sudden? I love it. Talk to me like Colin Farrell some more. He smiles as he takes a sip of his drink. I ponder over it for a second and ask him slyly, “You know I never noticed the accent before.” It’s not a question, but I let it hang between us as I take a sip of my drink for a little more courage. “What’s that about?” I demand when he doesn’t respond.

“Well, lass. I’ve been in the states nearly my whole life. It's when I’ve been drinking or am upset that it slips in, I guess,” he says with a wink. “Why? Doon’a ye be likin’ it?” He purposely thickens the accent on the last part, and my insides tighten. Muscles I didn’t realize I had tense in my pussy.

My cheeks are on fire when I finally look back up from the bar. “No, sir. That’s not what I meant at all. I think it’s sexy as hell – oh my god!” I cover my mouth with my hand when I realize I said the last part out loud and that I just called him ‘sir’. What is wrong with me tonight?

Finn chuckles and rests his hand on my knee. My skin feels like his hand is burning through my jeans, and I tense. “See, Melody, I knew I was right about you. I knew you were the sub I was looking for at that sandwich shop.” He leans in a bit closer. “Don't get me wrong, the ones you made were delicious, but I’m guessing that what I have in mind would taste much better.” He licks his lips at the last part.

“Finn, sir. You’re… different tonight. I like it. But…”

“Hey, Mel. Why don’t you introduce us to your friend here?” Donnie says, putting his hand out towards Finn. “I’m Donnie, and this is Summer. We’re in charge of keeping an eye on Melody tonight, and I think that means we should be properly introduced.”

“Finn,” he says, shaking Donnie’s hand. “I know Mel from The Sub Shoppe. We’ve been acquaintances for a while now. But more recently, we have been hoping to become more. Haven’t we, Melody?” Finn drops Donnie’s hand as he squeezes my thigh with his other, and I can’t help but feel like I’m in the middle of some Dominant pissing match.

“WTF?” I mouth to Summer, and she rolls her eyes, then looks up at Donnie, checking to see if he noticed.

“Melody?” Donnie asks, and I jump. Feeling like we are a couple of kids who just got caught stealing cookies from the cookie jar. Summer and I giggle, then I look up at him.

“Yep, Donnie. This is Finn. He has been coming into my work for a while, and he asked me out a couple of days ago. We have a date for next Friday.” I twist a napkin in my hand, trying to keep myself calm. “I told him I couldn’t come out with him tonight because Summer and I had plans. This was a surprise running into him here.” I shrug and turn to Finn. “But Finn, I really should get back to my night with Summer. Since these are her plans, I don’t want to ruin her night.” I finish quickly before I start to ramble.

“Nonsense!” Donnie says, cutting me off. “Summer and I had plans for the night, and we were going to leave you with another couple of friends so you could get a tour of the scenes and the place. But if Finn is here then, by all means, he should be the one to show you around. If that’s okay with you?”

I’m not sure who he is asking, but at the same time, we both say, “Yes.”

“Great idea, sir!” Summer says, jumping up from her barstool. “Let’s go get started.”

“Excuse me?” Donnie asks her. “We will get started when I’m ready.” He smacks her on the ass, and they both laugh as she leads him down a hall that I assume goes to the private rooms I suspect are available for couples who want to scene on their own.

“And then there were two,” Finn says, and I turn back to him smiling.

“You know we have a lot more in common than I first thought we did. I couldn’t have imagined running into you here.” I continue to fidget with my napkin, pulling pieces off and dropping them onto the bar.

“I told you the other day, and a few minutes ago, Mel, what I was there for. I had a feeling we had a lot in common. This,” he motions around the room, “being one of the things I had a feeling about. But I also have a feeling this is the first time you've ever been to any place like this. It doesn't quite seem like you are a third for Donnie and Summer. If you want, we can take Donnie's advice, and I can show you around? But if you'd rather, we can sit and have a couple of drinks and get to know each other, lass."

His hand is still on my thigh, and I'm trying hard to focus on what he is saying and not the feeling spreading across my skin under the weight of it there. Instead, I just keep picturing us being the couple across the room. I’m tied to the cross and him with the whip in his hand. Holy shit.

Then I kind of have an out-of-body experience when I hear myself say, "Whatever you think is best, sir."

"Well, how about we finish these, then I can show you around?" That’s when I noticed two fresh drinks sitting next to us on the bar.

“You said you've been in the states most of your life. When did you and your family come here from Ireland?” I take his suggestion as a cue to start our first actual date and dive right in. Taking another sip of my rum and Coke, I realize that I'm much less nervous now than I thought I would be.

“My family and I moved here from Dublin when I was ten. I go back a few times a year. I wish I could go back more than that. Unfortunately, with work, I just don't have the time.”

“How long have you been a police officer?”

“I'm a Deputy Sheriff, not an officer,” he replies coolly, clearly unfazed by my unintentional third degree. Waiting for him to explain the difference, I raise an eyebrow hoping he will say more.

“And that means?” I finally ask, trying to prompt him to continue the conversation.

“It just means I work for the Sheriff's Department, not the police. If the police show up, someone called 911, and you might be in trouble. If we show up, you're going to jail, end of story." I raise my eyebrows at him. "I'm not trying to sound badass, but I work on the warrant fugitive squad, so what we do is play professional hide and seek with people who already have warrants for their arrest.”

"Oh. So your job is kind of dangerous then?"

"Well, most of the time, these people don't want to go to jail, so it can be, yes."

My Big Bad could get hurt? I chew on my lip nervously.

"Hey, Mel. It's fine. I'm good at my job, and I have one rule, I make sure I come home. No matter what. Okay? You look worried. Tell me what you're thinking. Is this a hard limit for you? My job, I mean?"

"Um, no. It's a lot, and I didn't think about it before. I mean, I knew what you did. I guess I just never put that much thought into it. Aside from the uniform, I mean... I've put a lot of thought into that." I look down, mortified, and hear Finn chuckle. Cheeks burning, I shift the subject. "Okay, then how long have you been a Deputy Sheriff?"

"It will be eight years in October. How long have you worked at The Sub Shoppe?"

"Well, I've been there for about two years. But I'm just doing this while I finish going to college."

We spend the next twenty minutes discussing our college degrees. I find out Finn graduated with an associate's in Criminal Justice before becoming a Deputy. I notice we have both finished our drinks. But I don't mention it.

"What’s your middle name? Mine is Catherine."

Finn smiles and says, "Looks like we finished our drinks. Why don't we go ahead and get started with that tour now?"

"No, answer my question first. You're avoiding the subject. What's your middle name?"

"Excuse me, did I pick up on some sass there, lass? Who do you think is in charge here?" Finn winks, then seriously says, "Danger"

"What?" My eyes go wide.

"Tis’ me middle name, lass."

He is slipping into the accent again, and all I can think is, Oh, Big Bad, you have no idea how much danger you are to me.

"I'm serious. I'm not going to go on a tour with you until you tell me your middle name."

"It's Danger,” Finn insists again, and I just glare at him. Then drum my fingers on the bar.

"Okay, lass. It's Edmund. Spelled E-d-m-u-n-d pronounced Danger."

"I like it. Finn Edmund Caomhanach. Sorry,” I quickly hold my hand up before correcting myself, “Finn Danger." I use air quotes to emphasize Danger, laughing. Finn stands and laces his fingers through mine, helping me up from the stool.

"So, what did your friend show you when you came in?"

"Um. Nothing,” I tell him nervously, shifting from foot to foot, “we came in and over to the bar to meet her boyfriend. That's the extent of what I've seen."

"Did you see anything that you have questions about?"

"Nope, no questions," I rush to say as I stumble over my own feet. We make our way away from the bar. Finn steadies me by the elbow, and I turn to look at him, directly into those chocolate brown eyes again. "So no, but uh, yes. The cross on the other side of the club?"

"The St. Andrews Cross. What about it, lass? You want to try it out?" he asks, raising an eyebrow and giving me a tooth-filled smile, looking one-hundred-percent Big Bad Wolf.

"Yes!" I breathe out the word. "No! I mean, not here. I don't think I could be comfortable here, with all these people. Maybe we should talk about that first?” I realize I’m rambling on, but don’t stop myself. “See, it’s like you said. I've never been to a BDSM club before. Summer brought me here tonight because it's something that I told her I was interested in and that I am interested in being a sub. But that's not,” I pause, “something I have any experience with." Holy shit, I can't believe I just told him that. Just shut up, Mel shut up, shut up, shut up!

Finn is still grinning. "There's nothing to be shy about, Mel. Understandably, you are nervous your first time in a BDSM club."

"So, you seem like you have a lot of experience, though. You seem to know a lot about this place," I say with more jealousy in my voice than I meant to convey.

"I have been here before, and I am experienced as a Dominant. But that doesn't mean you should be worried. I knew from the moment I saw you the first time, making my sandwich, that I wanted to see you strapped to a cross just like that while your behind turned pink under my hand."

Squeezing my hand and directing me further into the club, he continued, "The fact that I ran into you here tonight is just a great end to what I have been dreaming for the past eleven months. As I said, I suspected that we had a lot in common, but I wasn't positive. You do not have to worry that I'm going to rush you into anything you are not ready for, Melody. The most important part of a BDSM relationship starts with communication and ground rules. Deciding on safe words and hard limits are all things that take time, and that’s okay."

He gently squeezes my hand again, refusing to let me go like he's afraid I might bolt. My heart is racing, my cheeks are on fire, and I'm aware that my palms are overly sweaty. Especially the one in Finn's hand. That's when I realize I probably look like I might bolt.

"Breath, Mel," Finn says, mirroring my own thoughts, "If you feel like you're not ready to move forward with anything, tonight we can sit back down, have a couple more drinks, while we wait for your friends to finish and take you home."

"No, I want to take a tour, and I do have some questions." I finally find my resolve and turn to the center of the club. “But tell me, Finn, what makes you think that we might have any type of D/s relationship ahead of us?” I tilt my head to one side and bite my lip, trying not to laugh as he looks back at me. I quickly change the subject, not giving him time to answer.

"Tell me what you know about some of the subs in the center of the room, by the couches. When we came in, I noticed them. Can you tell me about the ones with the collars?" We come to a stop along the wall near the club's center. The table I saw the woman strapped to on her hands and knees earlier now has a different sub on it. I look over her toned body, imagining what it would be like to be her. She is chained spread eagle on her back, with her head hanging off the edge, while a Dom roughly fucks her mouth. I can feel myself staring, my panties are soaked through, and seeping into my jeans. I jerk my eyes back to Finn before I make a fool of myself and come from just watching the sub being face fucked.

He smiles, and I know he caught me staring, but he answers, "The collars are a form of submission that many D/s couples like to include in their scenes. Some even wear them in everyday life. It's common, but not something that everyone expects."

"What about you?" I asked softly, keeping my eyes downcast. Pulling me closer with his hand clasped over mine, he reaches up and brushes his fingers along the side of my face cupping my chin and lifting it, forcing me to meet his gaze. Oh, Big Bad.

"Lass, seeing you collared, just thinking about seeing you wearing my collar makes my cock so hard, it’s making me wish I had worn looser jeans tonight." This close to him, my legs are pressed up against the front of his, I can feel the hardness of him pushing against me. His hand still rests on the side of my face, and he whispers in my ear, "Breathe, Mel," before he nips my earlobe gently with his teeth and slowly steps back, dropping his hand from my face.

Fuck. I'm done for now, I admit to myself.

"Did you have any other questions?" Kicking back one booted foot and resting it on the wall. He crosses his arms over his chest, and I watch his biceps stretch the thin fabric of his shirt. After a minute, I catch my breath and turn to face the room again.

"I do have a lot of questions, but I don't know what questions I should be asking. I don't understand some of the equipment. It's not anything that I've seen before. All I know is what I've read and seen in some movies, and I don't know how real any of that is." I run my hands through my curls. Then I turn to face him, putting my back to the room because the sub who's spread on the table now has a wand pressed to her clit. Each time she moans, another Dom flogs her breasts while the first continues to fuck her throat. I can't focus on Finn when I feel like I'm about to come watching the scene.

And then I say something I never thought I would, "What I do know is how I feel, what I feel, what I need. And that is to be dominated, to surrender, and to give up all control to my Dom. To know he will take care of me and keep me safe."

While I was talking, Finn slowly grabbed my hands and brings them down to my sides, then he turns me around to face the room, and pulls me back against his body, one hand still holding mine, the other is around my waist.

"Well, that's all you see going on here with these couples. Both the Dominants and submissive are getting things they need from their relationship. Still, every relationship is different, and there's no expectation on what things should be like. It all comes down to what each couple decides.” Then, dropping his head to my ear, he says, "I think it's obvious that you like to watch others' scenes. Some couples, like the one at the cross, like to play out public scenes. While others, like your friends, prefer to have scenes in a private room. Who do you want to watch, Mel? You like the sub being whipped on the cross thanking her Dom for every strike?"

"Yes, sir," I answer.

"Good girl. But that's not it, is it?" Turning us to face the other side of the room by the bar, I watch the sub on the table. "This is what you want, too, isn't it? You want to be told when you can come, have your face fucked, be flogged?"

Fuck yes, sir! I can only nod.

"Say it," Finn says sternly in my ear. "I want to hear you say it, Melody."

I can feel his erection pushing against the cleft of my ass through our jeans and melt back into him further. I can smell his sandalwood soap, feel his warmth down the length of my back. The submissive on the table looks like she won't hold off her orgasm much longer. Neither will I. Each flogger strike on her chest is like electricity in my groin.

I moan. I can hear Finn take a deep breath behind me, his face at the base of my neck, taking in my scent.

"That's what you want? Say it, be a good sub and please your Master."

The word Master shoots through me like a bolt of lightning. Master? I think then Yes, Big Bad Wolf, Master, King, Alpha.

"Yes, sir.” I'm pleading. I need his hands on me, his mouth on mine. I try to turn, but he holds me still tighter against him. “Please?"

"No. Watch. They're going to let her come soon."

Just then, the Dom in her mouth begins to buck harder before he stills, moaning his release. I know he is coming in her mouth, giving her all of him. I lick my lips, then bite my lower lip and swallow. I can almost taste the warm cum hitting my tongue as I watch him rub her throat. He uses her mouth to milk every last drop from his cock. "Now you can come, you dirty slut," the Dom with the flogger says as he hits one, then the other breast hard, and the sub starts to buck against the restraints moaning around the cock still in her mouth.

My moans match hers as I use Finn to hold myself up. In one instant, he spins us around and pushes me back against the wall. He is facing me, one hand in my hair, pulling my head back so my mouth meets his. He is taking me in a hard, hungry kiss. I kiss him back like I can't breathe without him. I can't stand without him, can't go on if I'm not kissing him.

Then the feeling builds in my belly, and the muscles that I have been feeling flutter all night explode along with my orgasm. I moan into Finn's mouth. I try to pull back, but he holds my lips to him through it, and I keep coming from his kiss. Fuck yes, sir. Thank you, sir. Yes, god, Yes. Finally, my orgasm slows. I finish what has been the strongest orgasm of my life just from kissing Finn. As he pulls back, hand still twisted in my hair, I gasp for air.

"Good girl," he says, resting his forehead on mine. Then I see that amber gleam in his eyes again. What the fuck is with the lights here?

"Finn," I say.

"God, yes, say my name like that any time, baby."

"I can't believe that just happened." I pant.

"Shh. Give me a minute, Mel, you're killin' me, woman. Bloody hell." He slides his hands down my sides to my wrists and pulls them above my head. The look in his eyes screams need, and I know he is holding himself back right now. Tempting fate and crazy as hell, I rub myself against his erection. Finn growls, literally fucking growls. All right, Big Bad. My bad. I push myself back against the wall trying to give him his space.

"What did I say?" he growls at me.

"I'm sorry, sir."

"Don't say that, damn it. You have no clue what you're doing to me.”

My arms are still pinned above my head, and I can feel his restraint. Just take me right here, please, sir, I wish silently. "You don't wish that, Melody.” I jerk. My eyes widen. "Don't worry, I can't read your mind. You just have it written all over your face. I will not take you here. No matter how much I might want to," he says, pressing himself into my hip.

"We… Finn. I need it," I whine. “Please, sir.”

"Me too, lass. But not here, not now. Come on." He drops my arms and turns around. I follow him across the club, and we head back to the bar.

Once we are seated next to each other at the bar, Finn orders us another round of drinks, and we spend a good majority of the night watching people, talking about the scenes in the room, and going over as much information I can pull from him about BDSM.

After what seems like hours, we make our way to a small seating area in a small room off of the main body of the club. The walls here are a deep purple, and there is an oversized gray chair in the corner with a small table in front of it. Finn sits down and motions for me to sit next to him. I fold my legs under myself and curl into his body, resting my head on his shoulder, listening to the steady beat of his heart. Slowly I drift off in his arms, unable to believe how the night has turned out.

***

Saturday – Washington D.C.

Melody

"Mel."

I hear Finn and freeze. It takes me a minute before I open my eyes to realize where I am. Then, a thousand-watt smile breaks across my face as I remember what I just did and who I’m with. I open my eyes, and Finn is holding me, his arms wrapped around me. I’m so warm. I'm facing his chest and slowly look up to meet his eyes.

"Hi,” I say shyly.

"Hey,” he responds back with a perfect grin.

I fall into a fit of hysterical giggles then move my hands to cover my face. “I’m sorry."

"What? What's so funny?" he asks, pulling my hands from my face, so I'm looking into his eyes again. I stop laughing long enough to say, "I'm sorry, it just hit me how ridiculous it is that after a year of seeing you every day at The Sub Shoppe, I ran into you here in a BDSM club and just spent the night with you. I can’t believe this is happening, Finn.”

"You're right," he says, planting a kiss on my forehead. “How'd you sleep?" Then he meets my smile with one just as big. I start to giggle hysterically again.

"I'm sorry!" I gasp through fits of laughter. "I don't know. What's wrong with me!” I sit up to grab my sides, nearly cackling now. "I cannot believe I am in this club with the Big Bad Wolf I have been crushing on for a year."

"What? What did you call me?" he laughs. "The Big Bad Wolf? I'll show you, big and bad," he says as he grabs my waist and pulls me on top of himself. Face to face, he presses his nose to mine and growls. Then he snaps at me with one big chomp like he will bite me. I snort and bury my face, instantly red hot with blush into his chest.

"Did you just snort, lass?" Finn asks, trying to shift me so he can see my face.

"Shut up," I say into his chest, embarrassment oozing through me "Shit! What time is it?" I say, trying to jump up off of his lap, but Finn has his arms wrapped around my waist, and I don't even budge.

"It's just after three. Don't worry. Donnie and Summer know you're with me."

"What? I can't believe we fell asleep. How do they know? I have to go." I try to jump up again.

"Hush, it's okay, baby," Finn says in my ear and rubs my back gently. "Management keeps track of who goes into these rooms and if and when they leave. Donnie and Summer know they left you with me and would have just had to ask after you at the bar to find out we are still here. I'm sure they don't mind waiting for you. Relax." He buries his nose at the base of my neck, where it meets my shoulder, and inhales deeply. "You smell amazing, just let me hold you a minute longer, and we will go find your friends. I’ll make sure you get home safely."

I stay straddling his lap, settle my head onto his shoulder and snuggle into him. Wrapping my arms behind his back, realizing for the first time how large this man actually is. His shoulders are massive, and he is at least a whole foot taller than me. Muscular arms close around me, and I fight off the urge to fall back asleep in the warm safety of Finn's arms. A few moments later, I feel the deep rumble of his voice in his chest as he asks, "Mel, are you happy?" Perplexed for a second, I think about the question before I answer.

"Of course, sir." But I still can't seem to wrap my mind around his question. Am I happy? "Why?" I ask finally. "Are you? I mean, happy with me? I'm sorry about last night when we were in the club watching. I didn't mean to…" I trail off.

"No reason to apologize, love. I didn't mean that. I just wanted to make sure you're happy with what’s happening between us and that I’m not pushing you into anything. I had a plan for our date next week, and this is not what I had planned at all!"

Love? Be still my beating heart. “No. You aren’t. I’m the one who got all crazy out there watching that couple scene. But yes, I’m happy.” I look into Finn’s eyes. “I think I need to get ready to head out and find Summer so we can head home.”

“Of course.” He runs his knuckles down my cheek and kisses my forehead again. “Let’s go.”

We get up and head back out to the central part of the club. I can hear the music still, but it is turned down to a lower level, and the lights seem a bit brighter, either because they’ve been turned up to indicate closing time or because my eyes have adjusted to the dimmer lights of the smaller room we just emerged from.

Suddenly I’m exhausted and ready to be home in my own bed dreaming about the fantastic night I just had with my dream guy. I see Summer and Donnie sitting on one of the couches in the lounge area in the main club, and we head over to them. Finn leads the way, with my hand clasped in his. As we get closer to them, I notice that he stands up straighter and puffs his chest out a bit. “Pfft,” I scoff, Alpha to the core. He turns to look at me with one eyebrow raised, and I realize I made a noise out loud but just shake my head, indicating he let it go.

“Hey, guys!” Summer says, singing the words. “Whatcha been up to?” She winks at me, and I roll my eyes at her. “Are you ready to head home, hun? We will drop you off on the way.”

“Let’s go, girls,” Donnie says as he stands abruptly, catching both Summer and me off guard.

“Oh, okay, sir. Let’s just let Melody and Finn say goodbye,” Summer looks as puzzled as I feel about his abrupt rudeness.

“We’ll meet you out front, Melody. Let’s go, Summer,” Donnie grabs her by the elbow and throws Finn a look over his shoulder as they head for the door.

“I’m sorry, Finn. I don’t know what’s with him,” I say, turning around to face him. “Um, so I guess this is goodbye then? Are we still on for next week?”

“Of course, lass. I’ll pick you up at five on Friday, just like we planned. But I’m still going to see you before then at work, right?” He winks at me. “I'm texting you now, so you have my number. I want you to text me and let me know when you make it home safely, okay?” My phone chirps in my back pocket as he bends down and looks into my eyes, his lips almost touching mine. “Okay?” he asks again.

“Yes, sir.” I smile.

Then he kisses me softly and quickly leads me to the door. I watch him over my shoulder as Summer grabs my arm, and we head to Donnie’s truck.

Later on, as we are making the hour drive back to my house with Summer softly snoring in the passenger seat, I hear Donnie say, “I don’t like that guy, Mel. I’m sorry, but I don’t buy the running into you at The Den thing, hun. I don’t buy it for a second. You said this guy has been coming into The Sub Shoppe for a year to see you? You don’t think that's a bit odd?”

“Really, Donnie? Because someone couldn’t possibly be interested in coming to see me? Is that why it's so odd? I can’t believe this shit!” I yell, pissed off now, “You’re really going to lecture me on this? Why don’t you like Finn? What has he done to you?”

“Do not raise your voice at me, Melody. I won't have it!” he shouts back at me, waking Summer.

“Hey! What's going on, you two?” she asks, looking back and forth between us. “Mel?” Donnie doesn’t answer right away and keeps his eyes straight forward, watching the road.

“You’re not my Dominant, Donnie. I’m sorry I raised my voice at you, but I will not be spoken to that way by you. I have done nothing wrong here. My spending the night with Finn and our plan to see each other next week is none of your damn business, so back off!” I realize I’m getting more pissed off at him the longer I talk, and by the time I’m done, I’m leaning forward in the back seat, yelling at him. Donnie brings the car to a stop at a red light and calmly turns around to face me.

“I’m sorry, Mel, but I don’t like it. I don’t trust that he just showed up that way after you told him you had plans with Summer tonight. I’m just trying to look out for you.”

“All right, Donnie. Listen, I know what you’re saying,” Summer puts her hand on his arm, “but honestly, Mel’s right. He was in the club before we got there, so he couldn’t have followed us in, and no one but you and I knew I was bringing her tonight. So, no one could have told him where to find us.” She turns and gives me a sheepish smile. “I get how you feel about this but are you sure you’re not just being overprotective? You didn’t have an issue with leaving them alone earlier, so why are you freaking out now?” She finishes and throws me a sympathetic look over her shoulder again.

“Maybe you’re right. I’m sorry, Mel. But what do you know about this guy? He has been coming to see you at work, and now he shows up in other places to see you? What more do you know?” Now that we have calmed down, Donnie starts driving again, and I feel like I can rationally explain things.

“His name is Finn Caomhanach, he is a cop, Donnie. He’s been coming to The Sub Shoppe for eleven months or so, and we have been friendly. He has lived in the area for the past twenty years with his family, but he is originally from Dublin.” I don’t like that I have to explain all of this, but I still go on. “They moved here when he was ten. On Wednesday, he asked me to go out on a date with him next Friday. You know the rest. Summer and I went to the concert then met you at The Den and Finn was there. You can check out his story, obviously. I mean, you’re a cop, too. Is there anything else you need to know?” I’m aggravated and ready for the night to be over.

“All I need to know is that he is crazy about you, girly!” Summer chirps as she points at me from the front seat. Then she turns to Donnie. “See, honey. You can give us the all clear when you get to work on Monday, and you won't have to lose any more sleep over Mel and her new Dom.”

My new Dom? Big Bad Wolf Dom? I roll my eyes at Summer and myself, then flop back on the seat.

“Sure, Summer,” Donnie and I both say at the same time.

Ten minutes later, they drop me off at my front door and make sure I get inside safely. I pull my phone out of my back pocket right as it chirps, signaling me I have a new message. Checking it, I see it's from Finn.

Finn: Hey sexy lady, did you make it home safe?

Mel: Yep, I just got in and was about to text you to let you know. I made it safely.

Mel: Thank you again for tonight. I had an amazing time.

Finn: Of course, I can’t wait to do it again.

I smile as I head to the kitchen for a glass of water.

Finn: Now make sure you hydrate and get to bed, it’s late, and you need sleep. X

Good grief, I roll my eyes then type back my response.

Mel: Yes, sir.

Finn: Next time, don’t roll your eyes at me when you say that.

WTF? How did he… I look around the room.

Finn: Again, lass, I’m no physic. You’re just super predictable. Now seriously, get some sleep Love. X

I walk to my bedroom and swoon as I toss myself into bed and fall asleep, still tasting Finn's kiss on my lips.