Chapter 1

Tyson

I still couldn't figure out how I'd ended up at the surprise wedding, but the one thing I was confident about was that I wasn't answering any more calls from that neurotic fucking omega.

"We're so glad you could make it." Austin beamed but I wasn't sure who the we were. It could've been in the royal sense or he could've meant the people in his head. "Did you have a chance to talk to the happy couple?"

He raised one eyebrow challengingly, even though his smile was still firmly in place.

"Yes." That wasn't good enough for the dramatic omega, and in other social situations I'd have been a dick, but it was a wedding.

And I wanted something from the crazy man.

Maybe.

"I spoke with them not long after the ceremony and managed to surprise them with a little something." Weddings weren't supposed to be something that was sprung on everyone at the last minute, but I was adaptable and it would take more than Austin Johnson throwing a wedding for Tanner and Shane to frustrate me.

It'd take talking to him about his fucking club to frustrate me.

Studying me like I'd suddenly become more interesting—which was always a dangerous expression on him—he nodded slowly. "I'm glad you were able to talk to them before they left on their honeymoon. I know they rushed off kind of quickly but we had to get them out before their families found out."

Since I was familiar with both families in question, I had to agree. "I think that was a sound plan. It also keeps the paparazzi at bay."

All hell was going to break loose when Shane's family figured out what happened, though.

They looked great on the surface but they were mostly batshit nuts.

"Yes." Austin perked up, probably loving the challenge. "The press thought it was a garden party."

"I know." Working in information, I had my fingers in a lot of different pots. "It was very well done."

And almost completely believable, which was why I'd already been planning the gift.

"Thank you." Giving me a very regal nod, Austin took the praise as his due. "And I appreciate you making the time to come."

His slightly veiled threats about what he'd do if I didn't show up had made me curious enough to actually show up.

Not that I knew why I'd been invited to begin with.

The guests had been a mix of friends and business associates, but every single person invited was also a member of their BDSM club…everyone but me.

Austin was up to something.

"It was a beautiful ceremony and perfect for them." Mostly traditional with a hint of the personal side of their relationship. I thought it had been very well done and there hadn't been a single guest who was shocked. "You did a wonderful job putting everything together."

Tanner would have a completely appropriate story to tell, and he could just leave out the slender necklace with the lock pendant that his husband and Dom had put around his neck. He'd also been able to enjoy every second of it because he hadn't fought with anyone.

"Thank you." Giving another imperial incline of his head, Austin definitely saw the praise as his due. "I think it came together quite well."

If Austin could do anything, it was throw a party.

"It did and I appreciate the invitation." No matter why I'd been allowed to come. "Of course, I'll keep the fact that I was here as discreet as you'd like. Just let me know what the official version of events will be."

I dealt in information but I didn't have to share anything I didn't want to.

That was the power of being in charge.

"Thank you. I'll let you know any specific details that need to come out, but the basics are garden wedding and close group of family and friends in attendance." Flashing me a grin, he waved his hand around the yard. "And if how beautiful it was happens to get mentioned, I will gladly take the credit."

Now that was something I could believe.

"I think that is a detail that will have to come out." He'd done an amazing job and there was no reason to downplay that. "It wouldn't be a believable story otherwise."

Austin didn't do anything ugly…now dramatic and ridiculous, well, that was to be expected.

"It's Tanner and Shane's day…but yes…it's probably a necessary detail." The best part of his slightly dry delivery was that I couldn't figure out if he was joking or not.

"Agreed." As I tried to find the best way to excuse myself from the conversation and the party, he stepped forward and took my arm, lacing his through mine. "Are we…"

"Walking. Yes." It looked like I was in charge, but he was definitely the one steering us around the elegantly decorated yard.

Politely nodding at the people who were still hanging around and chatting, it took me a couple of awkward encounters before I realized he was moving us toward somewhere private.

Yep, he had a motive.

I wasn't going to poke at it until we had as much privacy as possible, though. Knowing Austin, he could've wanted it for a variety of conversations and I wasn't going to push my luck. If he wanted our privacy to end up looking completely accidental, I wasn't going to argue.

After entirely too much small talk, we ended up on the other side of the yard where a quick walk around some large bushes completely obscured us from the rest of the party. It looked like a dead end, but there was a side door I thought led to a laundry or mud room.

"Silas is on watch and he'll let me know if anyone comes close enough to hear us." His shift into all business mode would've been startling if I hadn't seen it countless times before. "Do you understand that I've done as much as I can to give us complete privacy for this conversation? Unless we wish it, no one outside the community will even know we met at all."

Damn it.

"Yes." Refusing to snap at him, I gestured around us. "The meandering route. The bushes. Not going inside because there are too many places to hide. Silas keeping watch."

Inviting me to something as private as the wedding to begin with.

Yes, everything was making more sense.

Austin gave another regal nod as he took all that as praise for how smart he was. "And if anyone asks, he's going to tell them that I'm showing you the updates to the media system I had installed. You're curious about the speakers I had put out here for the wedding."

Austin had everything planned as best he could, so I could only nod, which got a pride-filled smile from the insane and insanely smart omega. "Good."

I could hear it coming, whatever his crazy was going to be, but I wasn't sure what to expect.

Had he bought another country?

Had he found another mate?

Had they inadvertently made a sex tape?

"I need to know why you want to join the club."

Fuck it all.

It was about me.

"I explained my interest in BDSM in the application." It'd been very well-written and I'd answered every question, even the stupid ones.

"You left something out." Studying me, he frowned. "I can't put my finger on it, but I need to know what you didn't say before I can let you in."

For fuck's sake.

"I answered every question in detail." I'd even listed out an interest in spankings and that stupid cross thing just to make sure I had legitimate topics to include.

"I know." Narrowing his eyes at me, he sighed. "It was beyond frustrating to read."

If anything was frustrating, it was Austin.

"But there wasn't a single thing honest on there. I can't prove it. I know that, but it's making me…" His voice trailed off before he took a deep breath. "Silas said it wasn't logical to do a deeper background check to find out what was going on since you'd figure out what I did."

Yes, I would.

I was probably one of the only people in the entire world who would've known what he'd done.

"BDSM is about trust and I trust everyone at the club." That seemed to be him talking to himself, so I just let him continue until his gaze met mine. "I have people to protect. You understand that."

I hated it when he manipulated me with logical arguments.

He was easier to deal with when he was irrationally scheming.

"I do understand that." I just wasn't sure how I was going to handle the situation yet.

"Then you have to agree with me that I can't admit anyone into the club that feels off." He waved his hand toward me. "Even you. It wouldn't be safe or setting a good precedent. We don't admit people who are off. No matter what."

From what I'd managed to find out, they'd done very well at weeding out potential problems, and when it'd looked like they hadn't noticed an issue, I'd been polite and put a clue in their path. When I got into the club, I wanted it to be a safe place for me to visit.

I hadn't planned on another level of interrogation, though.

"You could've outed the club from the start. I knew that from the beginning but you didn't. I'm pretty sure you've been helping things behind the scenes." His glare came back and he crossed his arms over his chest. "Not that I need help."

Drama queen.

I had every intention of calling him that too, but he kept going. "It was thoughtful of you, though. And in that same vein of helpfulness, I need you to share with me what you're looking for so that I can be confident about accepting your application."

Ugh.

He was much easier to handle when he was being a pain in the ass.

"So, what I'm hearing from you is that you won't admit me to the club, even though I know all about it, until I've explained myself in greater detail." His nod made my anger flare irrationally and I had to work at keeping myself under control.

Talk or get denied.

He wasn't wrong.

He shouldn't admit anyone in with secrets he didn't understand. I just hadn't expected his radar for trouble to ping me.

He was such a pain in the ass.

"You don't date. You're interested in BDSM—that was definitely genuine—but you haven't even casually scened with anyone that I can find." That seemed to confuse him more than anything. "What is going on?"

I hadn't been completely celibate, he was wrong about that, but I was very careful.

"Do you understand what I'll do to you if this comes out?" The simple question had his eyes going wide and I could see the wicked part of him that loved information as much as I did flare to life. "I won't just ruin you. I'll make you disappear online. No more photos. No more fame. No more buying sex toys from Third World countries. No more buying Third World countries. They won't know you exist."

Killing him would be too easy.

"You're evil." He glared at me. "It's actually kind of hot."

Maybe I did want to kill him.

"Is it illegal?" His question wasn't unexpected, so I didn't get offended as I shook my head. "Is it something that should be illegal?"

I wasn't sure where his imagination had gone, but I was able to deny that as well. "No."

He was quiet for several long moments before he nodded decisively. "Alright, whatever you say will stay between us as long as it doesn't affect me personally for some reason. Then I have to be able to tell Silas. He'll kill both of us if I don't."

He'd use something messy to do the job too.

"Fine. I don't think there is any reason this should end up involving you, though." Not unless my love life went spectacularly wrong.

"Alright." He paused and waited.

And waited.

Fuck it all.

I'd talked about it with doctors. I could talk about it with the crazy drama queen who knew more kinks than he did ways to make money.

"I lactate." When he just blinked, I kept going. "It's a hormonal imbalance that can't be easily corrected without unpleasant side effects."

Like erectile dysfunction and anger issues…neither of which I needed in my life.

"There are a few other medical issues it causes but that's the only thing that affects my ability to have a sexual relationship." Hormones affected a startling number of things, but the rest I could deal with easily. "It's not something I can hide from a partner."

"You're right." Nodding, he had a slightly distant look on his face like he was studying a new project he was trying to buy into. "Hiding it would only raise more questions. Shirts and compression gear would go a long way, but generally speaking, people think naked when they think sex."

"Yes." I could get away with being fully clothed in quick back room kind of activities, but nothing more than that. "So you see my problem?"

The way he shook his head was…unexpected.

"No, I see an opportunity." Blinking a few times, his head seemed to clear. "Unless you'd put it on your limits list as something you don't want to explore with a partner?"

What?

I wasn't sure I understood his question, so I went back to the beginning. "My goal is to find someone who could ignore it while I did my best to provide for their needs. I can spank and my general personality leans toward domination."

I'd been called an asshole alpha enough times to be confident about that.

"They don't need to pretend to like it. I'm aware of how unique it is." According to the doctors, it was literally a one in a hundred million chance that an alpha would be born with the right genetic fuckups to make it happen.

I'd have rather won the lottery.

"The internet really needs to catch up to kinks and explanations." Mumbling to himself, he shook his head. "I'll fix the internet later."

If anyone thought that was a reasonable goal, it was Austin.

"Back on track." He gave his head a little jerk that almost made me smile. Sometimes he had the attention span of a drug-addled squirrel. "I have members of the club right now who would be highly accepting of your uniqueness."

There was a fucking kink for everything.

Someone had definitely dropped the ball on research if he was right.

Me.

I was someone.

"I'm going to need you to explain what you mean." Because I had no idea what was going through his head.

His reply didn't help.

"What do you know about age play?"