Poker Posse 1: Looking at Rose by Qwillia Rain Page A

didn’t know about him?
    Norah’s voice broke into her thoughts. “Isn’t that—”
    “Ibraham.” Rose sighed.
    Ari corrected, “Master V.”
    “What?” Rose and the other women turned to look at Ari.
    “He’s known as Master V here. If you address him, you must remember to call him that,” Ari explained. “It’s protocol.” She grinned at Norah and nodded toward the man on the other stage. He held a gleaming silver rod tipped with fire in one hand and stroked ribbons of flame along the quivering torso of the woman reclining on the alter, before he rolled his other hand along her skin, snuffing out the blaze without a single flinch. “He’s referred to as the Priest, or Father.”
    Norah groaned. “Oh God, not Mr. Bishop. I was hoping he wouldn’t be around tonight.”
    Rose ignored Norah’s mutterings about her boss and kept her entire focus on Ibraham as he examined the chains attached to the corners of the cage that connected to larger chains hanging down from the ceiling.
    Finally Ari’s voice broke through Rose’s fascination with her sexy neighbor, forcing her to pay attention.
    “Rose, you said you wanted a man unafraid of PDAs. Master V loves display.”
    It took everything Rose had to keep from running out of the club. She didn’t know if it was a good or bad thing that Ibraham was here, but she sure didn’t want to see him with another woman. Not after last night.
    Next, Ari pointed toward the Priest and looked at Ellie. “He’s the one you should watch. His fire-play techniques are sinful, and he can definitely light your fire.”
    Ellie laughed. “Ah, the irony. A fire chief’s daughter tempted by flames.” She looked at Mirrie and Norah, then Ari. “What about them and you?”
    Ari gestured to the second-floor balcony. “There’s a rope-play demonstration I think Mirrie will love. You know, tie you up and make you feel safe.”
    Norah spoke up, “The schedule says there’s a new dom showing ways to use a violet wand. Fortunately, it’s upstairs, so I don’t have to watch my boss while I check the demo out.”
    Rose couldn’t help but giggle. Ari’s last book had gone into great detail about electric play and the varied uses of a violet wand. “You should see if the new dom can make you tingle the way Jake always could.”
    She could see the shiver tremble through Norah before her friend asked, “What about you, Ari? Who are you going to check out?”
    Something in Norah’s expression told Rose that her friend knew exactly where Ari would be going. Rose noticed the color flushing Ari’s cheeks and chest.
    “Master Damian,” Ari said. “He owns the Omen.”
    Mirrie grew serious. “What will he be demonstrating?”
    Ari smiled, one of the rare smiles that lit up her green eyes. She practically glowed. “Impact play.” When Rose and Mirabeth gave her confused looks, she explained with a pleasure-filled sigh. “Floggers and whips.”
    The bliss suffusing Ari’s face compelled Rose’s gaze back to Ibraham. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all of them gained what they wanted most tonight? Even if it was only temporary.
    * * * *
    Viola tried not to smile at the stunned look on the young man’s face as Betty Jo requested copies of the rules for the club. As the man turned to open a drawer of the desk, Viola took notice of the sidelong glances and odd looks she and her friends drew from the people passing by them on their way into the Omen. Their pearls and Sunday best didn’t quite fit in with the abundance of leather everyone else wore.
    Two men stood beside the double doors leading into the BDSM club. They used handheld devices to scan the fingerprint of everyone entering. Twice she saw them shake their heads at someone and refuse them access. No arguments came from the people turned away, merely fulminating looks and hasty retreats when a comment about getting the owner was made.
    Mabel’s cool tone broke into her thoughts, drawing Viola’s attention back to the desk