Lucien found a seat some distance from the bar, so that he might sneak glances at the intriguing young man without being blatantly obvious. It looked like Gabriel was showing him around and explaining things, so maybe he was a newer employee, which would explain why Lucien hadn’t seen him around. Of course, Jax had kept Lucien secluded in the VIP lounge for the past year, so it was possible the man wasn’t so new to the scene.

Lucien watched as he listened attentively to Gabe. He would nod respectfully, and his dark brown hair, cut shorter on the sides and longer on top, would bounce with his movements. He seemed eager to learn and quick to jump in—showing a good work ethic.

On the table beside Lucien’s chair lay a copy of what the club called The Book. It was a listing of all the members, containing names, ages, join dates, preferences, and the ever-important checklists of desires and limits. A reference guide of sorts.

Lucien started thumbing through the pages. Each listing had the member’s picture, and Lucien intended to find one in particular. With about four hundred doms, subs, and switches of Red Obsidian, it could take a while to search through since he didn’t yet know the man’s name.

After several minutes of flipping page after page and having no luck, a softly approaching presence made Lucien look up and into those stunning light gray eyes once again. The man stood before Lucien, holding a small tray with one drink.

His tan skin held a faint blush that might have been missed if Lucien wasn’t so intent on capturing every detail. The man held the tray with skilled steadiness, and his smile was perfectly and professionally polite. Aside from the red tint on his cheeks, there was no indication that Lucien had an effect on him. And that just wouldn’t do at all.

“Would you like a drink, sir?”

On the tray was a glass of scotch, neat. And if it was Gabe who had told the man what to pour for him, then it would be a sixteen-year, single-malt—Lucien’s choice for a casual night at the lounge.

“Yes, thank you,” Lucien said, and the man took the glass and held it out for him.

Their fingers brushed just slightly as Lucien received his drink, sparking a desire for more. The man dipped his head and started back for the bar.

“May I have your name?” Lucien asked before he got too far. “I haven’t seen you here before.”

Pausing, the man turned back to Lucien. “It’s Milo, sir. I’m just filling in for Carmen tonight.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Milo,” Lucien said, trying the name and liking it. “I’m Lucien, but I enjoy hearing you call me sir.”

There, the blush deepened. Milo took in a quick, shallow breath. His eyes widened a fraction, and he clutched the drink tray tighter to his chest. Positive signs that the attraction wasn’t just one-sided.

“Sir,” Milo said, his voice so sweetly soft. He took a step back, but it looked like he wanted to take a step forward, desire now evident in his expressive features. “Let me know if you need anything else.”

“Thank you, Milo. I will.”

Milo returned to the bar where Gabe had been openly watching the exchange. Lucien raised an eyebrow at the club owner, who had far too much interest in Lucien’s love life. Gabe simply smiled, and Lucien rolled his eyes and looked back down at The Book. Now, knowing the young man’s name, he finally found his page.

Milo Mitchell, age 24, he/him, gay, submissive. And not currently under contact. He’d been a member for eight months—not so new, but it explained why Lucien had never run into him. Before Lucien allowed himself to get too excited, he started reading the checklist. Not all who were a part of the BDSM community were compatible in their needs. Lucien had learned his lesson with Jax.

Jax had kinks that Lucien couldn’t fulfill for him—pain was not something Lucien enjoyed giving. And conversely, Lucien had a strong need for control that Jax couldn’t meet. Looking back, they had never been right for each other.

And Lucien refused to make the same mistakes. His eyes scrolled down Milo’s list, his heart thundering faster and faster. Each category listed the corresponding activities, and whether the member was giving or receiving, they rated each activity a number between zero and five. Zero being a hard limit, an activity they will not do. Five being an activity they extremely enjoyed.

Lucien read numbers that matched his own, over and over again. In bondage, control aspects, and praise, they were a close fit. And other categories that were hard limits for Milo were the same for Lucien. He looked up at the bar where Milo had started taking orders and serving drinks to the other members who had filtered in. Was this sub made just for him? Lucien chuckled at himself for the notion, but honestly, he had never matched up so well with another, at least on paper.

“Lucien?” an all-too-familiar voice called.

Breaking away from Milo, Lucien turned to see Jax strolling toward him.

He had dressed to accentuate all the allure he knew he possessed. In tight leather shorts and a crop top baring his sleek and toned abs, Jax sent Lucien a dazzling smile. He had brown hair, pale skin, and midnight-dark eyes. Lucien could not deny Jax’s beauty. But it did not make him blind to the person within.

Jax’s eyes immediately zeroed in on The Book in Lucien’s lap, and his smile fell away to the look Lucien had become more familiar with—deep disapproval. Lucien snapped The Book shut, set it on the table, and stood.

“Jax,” he said. “Can I get you a drink?”

Jax’s eyes flicked to the bar, and he nodded. “Yes. I’ll go find a quiet booth.”

Milo was busy with another customer, so Lucien went to the end of the bar where Gabe stood watching. Lucien sat on a stool, put his own drink down, and propped an elbow on the bar top.

“I was beginning to think you’d forgotten about us,” Gabe said, crossing his big muscular arms over his chest.

“I was just at your place on Monday.” Lucien reminded him. “Remember, I brought the beer, the game ended up being awful, and Danny experimented with a new dip recipe—which was also awful, but you’d better not tell him I said that.”

Gabe broke his tough guy stance and laughed. “No, I need you alive for the nightclub remodel. So… Jax?”

Lucien sighed and took a sip of his scotch. “We’re not back together if that’s what you’re wondering. He said he had something to say to me.”

“You know he told Danny he was meeting you here tonight. Danny said he seemed pretty hopeful about it.”

“Did he?”

Gabe nodded, and before Lucien could respond, Milo approached.

“Can I get you something, sir?”

And just like that, Jax’s possible intentions didn’t matter so much. Lucien smiled at Milo. “A Manhattan, please.”

Milo started making the drink. Moving with a seamless fluidity, he poured the proper components, dropped in some ice, and began stirring. Lucien watched, then he realized that Gabe was watching him watch.

“So, you knew I was coming tonight,” Lucien said pointedly.

“Even if it was Jax’s doing, I hoped you would. It’s been too long.” Gabe looked back at Milo as he strained the drink into a chilled cocktail glass.

“You mean it’s been too long since I’ve had to put up with your meddling.”

“You can blame Danny for this one,” Gabe said, holding out his hands as if he were entirely innocent.

Lucien needed to remember to thank Danny later.

Milo finished skewering two cherries and setting them on the rim of the glass. He brought it to Lucien with a smile.

“Thank you, Milo,” Lucien said, admiring the way Milo’s eyes lowered beneath thick, dark eyelashes.

Before he was too tempted to stay, Lucien took his and Jax’s drinks and proceeded to where Jax was sitting at a booth in the far corner of the room. The lounge was more crowded now, partners for the night becoming closer and more heated. Full public scenes were not allowed at Red Obsidian, but light play was. Kneeling subs, displays of power exchanges, bondage, and minor punishments or praises were all common displays.

Lucien sat across from Jax and slid him his Manhattan, noting that Jax wore the white wristband.

“Lucien, it’s good to see you,” Jax began right away. “I wanted to tell you that I’m sorry for how I behaved during our last conversation.”

“I appreciate the apology, and you are forgiven,” Lucien said. He could leave behind the hurtful words and move on.

Relief settled around Jax’s shoulders. He took a sip of his drink, and his nose scrunched in displeasure. “The new bartender forgot the orange peel around the rim.”

Lucien felt instantly defensive of Milo’s skills, but Jax was already moving on.

“You see, I was just so frustrated. I felt like I was trying so hard to keep us together, and it ended as if all my efforts meant nothing.”

It would have been nice if Jax had just left everything at the apology. Lucien opened his mouth to speak, but Jax cut him off.

“But I think if we tried harder, we can really make it work this time.”

“Jax, no,” Lucien said, finally getting a couple of words in.

“If you would be pragmatic, just once… Think of our families. Think of the empire we could build combining Calloway and Lancaster.”

“We both deserve more than some marriage of convenience, Jax. You weren’t happy with me.”

“So we weren’t completely compatible in all things,” Jax said, shrugging. “The solution for that is Red Obsidian. We simply maintain appearances publicly, make our families happy, and come here when needed.”

Lucien was shocked into silence, then quickly recovered before Jax could carry on. “Are you suggesting we come here to have sex with other people?”

“Don’t make it sound so sordid, Lucien. Open relationships aren’t all that uncommon.”

“That’s not what I want.”

Jax sighed as if he were dealing with an obstinate child. “You are not going to find the perfect person who fits into that tidy life plan of yours. What we had—what we could have—is the best you’re going to get.”

Lucien stood, looking at the man he now couldn’t believe he’d spent a year of his life with. “I’m not looking for perfect. But I believe there will be someone who is perfect for me. We’re done, Jax.”