All Aboard (Anchored Book 3) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Epilogue

  Prologue

  All Aboard

  Anchored

  Sophie Stern

  Copyright © 2017 by Sophie Stern

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  For my readers

  Thank you for the reviews, the emails, and the Facebook messages!

  You mean the world to me.

  Macie has never read a dirty book.

  Or had a one-night stand.

  Or been to a sex club.

  When she loses a bet on girl's night, though, she has to go with her girlfriends to Anchored: one of the hottest sex clubs around.

  And it's nothing like she expected.

  Anchored isn't dirty or sleazy or dangerous. It's actually kind of nice. It's actually kind of relaxing.

  And when Macie meets Anthony, she realizes she can never go back to the way things were before.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Epilogue

  Abandon Ship

  Author

  Take Your Time

  1 Melody

  2 Melody

  The Saucy Devil

  Prologue

  1

  Chapter 1

  Macie

  “You lose,” Lily says with a grin. She shakes her head as she laughs. “You should have known you were going to lose.”

  “I don’t like playing with you guys,” I pout. “You tricked me.”

  “Trust me, honey,” Christina sips her whiskey. “Nobody gets tricked into doing anything they didn’t already want to do.”

  I glare at the Turntable app on my phone. Once again, technology has let me down. After an entire week of Turntable dates, I’ve decided there are no good men left in the world. There certainly aren’t any good men left in Westbrook.

  “You had a week,” Lily says. “You had one week to try using a dating app and to find someone you like. You didn’t, so now you have to come to Anchored.”

  “A deal is a deal,” Christina says.

  “Why do I feel like you’re ganging up on me?” I glare at the two women, but there are no hard feelings there.

  “Because we totally are,” Lily says.

  “It’s true,” Christina agrees. “But to be fair, it’s only because we’re so happy and in love,” she wiggles her eyebrows suggestively. “We just want you to find the same happiness.”

  I roll my eyes. “Yes, yes, I know you’re all very happy with your spankings.”

  “It’s about more than spankings,” Christina says.

  “I know.”

  “Do you?” She looks at me pointedly. “Because I don’t think you do.”

  She’s right. I haven’t even read a dirty book before, let alone been spanked. The last guy I had sex with was so boring I almost fell asleep. When he didn’t call me again, I wasn’t hurt. I didn’t even care. I was just completely uninterested in anything he had to offer.

  Maybe I have a low sex drive. Maybe there’s something wrong with me. I might be a prude or maybe I just haven’t found the right guy. I don’t know. After a week of Turntable dates, though, one thing is for sure: I’m hopeless.

  “Fine,” I give in to Christina. “You’re right. I don’t really know a lot about what happens at a club. Is it like, a huge orgy?”

  She laughs. “You didn’t even look it up online before taking the bet?”

  “I figured you wouldn’t lead me astray,” I shrug. “Was I wrong?”

  Lily and Christina exchange knowing glances. They spend a lot of time together at work and they’ve become very close lately. When I met them at a Shining Stars Daycare event, they were warm and welcoming to me, and I immediately felt comfortable with the two women.

  Even though I’m a caterer, not a childcare provider, we’ve discovered that the three of us have a lot in common. We all like the same movies and read a lot of the same books. I’m obsessed with fantasy novels and so are they. Hell, we even fangirl over the same actors in Doctor Who.

  Still, there are times when I occasionally feel like an outsider in the group.

  “I’ve been going to Anchored for six months now,” Lily says slowly. “It was scary at first, but you know what? The idea of going is much scarier than actually going. It’s not like a giant orgy. That’s not what Anchored is about.”

  “Yeah,” Christina agrees. “It’s a safe place where people can enjoy their kinks, meet new people, and learn new things.”

  “Like the best tools to use to spank someone?” I ask.

  “That’s part of it,” Lily nods. “Do you really want someone spanking you when they haven’t had any training? Anchored provides that.” Lily’s husband, Jaxson, teaches BDSM classes at Anchored. Christina is pretty experienced in BDSM and doesn’t need to take any classes, but both girls have been urging me to sign up for one of Jaxson’s courses, or to at least come check out the club.

  “I know, it’s just that I’m not really that type of girl.”

  “You don’t like orgasms?”

  “That’s not what I said,” I roll my eyes at Christina, wondering how the hell I’m going to get out of this. A bet is a bet, and a promise is a promise, but I really don’t want to go walking around the club in my skivvies for all the world to see.

  “You’ve really never thought about going?” Lily asks gently. “Like, not even sort of considered it?”

  “It’s just not the way I would ever think to spend a weekend. I mean, you guys, when was the last time I even went clubbing? I’m totally boring these days. I work long hours and that usually includes the weekends. The last thing I want to do after being on my feet for an entire wedding and reception is to go dancing.”

  “If you get tied up, you won’t even have to stand,” Lily points out helpfully. “But for real,” she puts her hand on my knee. “I think you should give it a shot. Christina dragged me there, and I wasn’t sure what the hell I was getting into.”

  “And you found your true love. I know. I know that you both found husbands at Anchored, and that’s great, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen that way for me.”

  “We’re not saying you need to find a husband. We’re just saying you need to get laid, honey,” Christina isn’t one to mince her words.

  “How long has it been? Really?”

  “Six months,” I lie, but they both just stare at me until I groan. “Fine. A year. Happy?”

  “No, we’re not happy,” Christina says. “You gave Turntable a week. Now it’s time to let us help you.”

  “It’ll be great,” Lily says, and she sounds so excited that I hate to disappoint her.

  “All right,” I say finally. “I have off Saturday. How’s that work?”

  “Perfect!” They both squeal. Christina is already on her phone,
shooting off a text.

  “Who are you messaging?”

  “I’m sending a guest request to the owner. They have to manually pre-approve guests, and then after your initial visit, you’ll need to apply to become a member if you want to.”

  “Sounds like a serious place.”

  “It is,” Lily and Christina say in unison.

  “Okay, but let’s get something clear up front,” I say, not sure how I’m going to put my fear into words. I’d rather find out now, though, and then be surprised later. “Am I going to be expected to put out when we all go to the club? Like is this that type of intervention?”

  “Are you asking if we’re going to force you to sleep with someone?” Lily looks shocked.

  “Yes, that’s what I’m asking.”

  “No, you won’t be allowed to have sex with anyone your first night.”

  “No?” I’m not upset, but it seems like a strange requirement for a sex club. “Why not?”

  “Everyone has to do STD screening before they have sex at the club,” Christina explains. “And you have to get tested regularly in order to maintain your membership. Oh, and you have to go through a psychological evaluation, but it’s totally not a big deal.”

  “That kind of sounds like a big deal. Talking to a shrink? What if I find out I have some repressed childhood memories or something?”

  “Then it’s probably a good idea to find that out before you go bonkers and hurt someone, love,” Lily wraps her arms around me. “Hey,” she says. “It’s going to be just fine. I promise.”

  Chapter 2

  Anthony

  “He said everything was going to be okay,” the woman sniffles into her tissue and continues sobbing. “He promised!”

  “I know he did, and I’m sorry about what happened to you,” I push the box of tissues closer to the crying woman. “But Mrs. Hunter, it sounds like there’s nothing more you can do. He’s made his choice, and I’m going to do my best to make sure you get everything you deserve.”

  She looks up at me. Her big, watery eyes are pleading. “But all I want is him,” she whispers. “All I’ve ever wanted was him.”

  By the time my newest client leaves, it’s nearly time to go home.

  “Doing okay in here?” Kennedy, my paralegal, peeks her head in.

  “Yeah, I’m all right,” I tell her, waving her off. “You can take off for the day.”

  “Thank you very much,” Kennedy winks and closes my office door when she leaves. I see her walking away through my interior office windows. She walks with a bounce in her step, and I realize that Kennedy seems happy.

  Really happy.

  Maybe that’s what makes her the best paralegal I’ve ever had. She works hard, she’s always on time, and she never complains. She doesn’t whine. Kennedy does her job with a smile and when she works on a project, she gives it her all. She is one of the few lights in my day.

  Divorce is a messy business. Contrary to popular opinion, not all divorce attorneys are bad guys. Oh, I’m a shark when it comes to helping my clients. I’m ruthless. I’ll go the whole way, but I’m not a bad guy. I don’t go looking for trouble. I don’t need to get a jury all riled up to feel like I’m a good attorney. I win, and I win, and I win, and that’s what makes me feel like a good attorney.

  Sometimes, though, my job can be completely emotionally exhausting.

  When I meet someone new at work, ninety-nine percent of the time, that person is having the worst day of their life. Either they’ve chosen to leave their spouse or they’ve discovered their spouse is leaving them. No matter who decides to leave first, divorce is never simple. It’s never clean. It’s never easy.

  It’s dirty, and it wears me out.

  By the time I leave the office, I’m ready to call it a day, but I promised Zack I’d meet him for a drink at Drinking Games. My best friend since law school, Zack is someone I can never say no to. Hell, he’s someone I never want to say no to. He’s always been there for me, and I’ve always been there for him. We have an incredible friendship, and I’m lucky to have him in my life.

  Tonight, I don’t feel like being social, but somehow, I make it to the little bar and make myself comfortable on one of the stools at the bar.

  “What’ll it be, sir?” I look up at the bartendress. Her dark hair is pulled back and she’s wearing a corset top with jeans. I don’t know if most people could pull off the look or not, but she seems to.

  “I like your boots,” I tell her.

  “My boobs?”

  “No,” I lean over the bar and point down to her feet. “Your boots,” I say. “You look like a cowgirl.”

  “Well, yippee-kay-ay,” she winks. “What are you drinking?”

  “Whiskey sour,” I tell her, and she smiles and moves away to start making the drink. While she pours, I take a look around. Drinking Games is a smaller place, but it’s got a fun, comfortable atmosphere. There are several round tables throughout the room, along with a jukebox and some pool tables.

  “Like what you see?” The woman appears with my drink and sets it in front of me.

  “Yeah, it’s not too bad,” I tell her. “When did you guys open?”

  “Two months ago,” she says.

  “You guys get pretty busy in here?”

  “You’d be surprised.”

  The bartendress turns and heads off to make a drink for someone else, but I’m not alone for long. It’s only a few minutes before Zack strides through the bar and over to where I’m sitting. Despite being a real estate lawyer, Zack has a commanding presence. People hear what kind of law he deals with, and they assume he’s somehow weak. He’s not.

  “Fancy meeting you here,” Zack says. He motions for the bartendress and she scurries over.

  “Hey Zack. What’ll it be?”

  “Sam Adams draft.”

  “You got it, boss.”

  “Boss?” I mouth silently to him. Zack just shrugs.

  “I come here a lot,” he says.

  “Trouble at home?”

  “Not at all. Christina usually comes with me. If we’re not at Anchored, but we still want a night out, we’ll come here. It’s close to work, close to home, and the drinks are cheap.”

  “Plus, the views are unbeatable,” I say, nodding my head toward the woman running the bar, but Zack just rolls his eyes.

  “Out of your league,” he says.

  “Is that right?”

  “He’s right,” the woman says. “And I have a name. It’s Jennifer.”

  “Nice to meet you,” I pantomime tipping my invisible hat to her, and she chuckles before giving Zack his beer. Then she heads off to make more drinks. She glides quickly when she moves, and it’s almost like she’s floating. How does she do that?

  “How was your day?” Zack asks, sipping his drink.

  “About as well as can be expected.” Zack and I work in the same building, on the same floor, but our work rarely intersects these days. We’re still close and we still meet for lunch on occasion, but we’re both so wrapped up in our own cases that we’ve taken to scheduling time together.

  “Nasty cases this week?”

  “You don’t want to know,” I roll my eyes, but then I tell him anyway. “The thing is, if people just continued to treat each other the way they did at the beginning of the relationship, they’d never end up divorced. You know why people walk through my office doors, Zack?”

  “Tell me,” he looks amused.

  “Because they get lazy, and they get stagnant, and they don’t fucking communicate with each other.”

  Fuck.

  I shouldn’t let it get to me this week. It’s just another week. These are not my relationships. I am not a counselor. My job isn’t to save a failing marriage; it’s to get the best deal for my client.

  “You sound bitter.”

  “I am. I’ve seen some women this week who had no clue their husbands were cheating, no idea they were so unhappy. I had a guy who didn’t know his wife of eight years had secret
ly been stashing away cash so she could leave him. He didn’t want a damn thing in the divorce, Zack. He just told me he wants her to be happy.”

  “Damn.”

  “He didn’t want anything. He gave her more than half of what he had in the bank. He gave her stocks. He gave her the house. He gave her everything. You know what he told me?”

  Zack sighs. “Tell me.”

  “He said he can make the money back. It’s just money. That’s what he told me. He said he knows it isn’t going to buy her happiness, but he’s going to do anything in his power to make sure she lives a good, happy life, even if it’s not with him.”

  “That’s heavy.”

  “I don’t know how long I can keep doing this, man.”

  “You thinking of making a switch?”

  “I don’t know. Part of me wants to.”

  Zack doesn’t react. He might work in property law, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t damn great at what he does. Like me, he’s perfected his poker face. He needs it when he’s dealing with clients, when he’s dealing with other attorneys, when he’s dealing with people in general.

  “How long have you been thinking about this?” Zack asks casually.

  “Awhile.”

  We sit in silence for a few minutes, staring at the television screen behind the bar. There’s a game on, but neither one of us is really paying attention. The screen blurs in a series of colors, and I have no idea who is winning, who is playing, or what sport we’re watching.

  All I know is that I’m very, very unhappy, and I need something new, something different.

  I need something fresh.

  “Maybe you just need to get laid,” Zack says helpfully.

  “Fuck you.”

  “It’s been awhile since you had a regular sub, or any sub at all, really.”

  “My Domination habits are none of your business.”

  “He’s right, you know,” Jennifer appears with two fresh drinks. “It’s not good for Doms to go too long without a soft little sub to take care of.”

  I stare at her, shocked that she’s just blatantly intruding on our conversation, and then I look at the drinks.