Madame (Salacious Players' Club, #6)

by Sara Cate

“Seriously?” Clay asks. “Are you sure?” She nods. “Yes. I am sure. I’m not making this decision right now. I’ve had this planned for a while.”

“If that’s all right with you.”

It doesn’t have to be what you had planned to be perfect.

When she opens her eyes and sees both Clay and Jade standing awkwardly in my kitchen, she doesn’t even blink. She greets them politely, and when Clay introduces himself, she nods with a knowing smile.

“Jack talks about you all the time. And you must be Jade,”

Jade is sitting on the countertop, and Clay is staring at the various school pictures and colorful drawings pinned to my refrigerator.

I’m flooded with relief that she’s here. I’m thankful she came to the club tonight, that she forgave me, and that she wants this as much as I do.

It’s not about sex, and that’s not where this is leading. We’re just holding each other and breathing the same air, as close as three people can possibly be.

There was a time in my life when all I wanted was the bare minimum. A safe place to live. A simple life for my son. A life without abuse.

I wrote off the idea of any kind of fairy-tale love. That would have been asking too much.

Jade and I wash Clay’s hair, laughing as we style his long locks in different ways. He shakes them all out as we giggle at him. I think we’re all delirious and high on the perfection of this moment.

then the three of us stare at my king-size bed without anyone making the first move.

“But you know…keep your clothes on,” I add sternly.

I love the way they feel in my bed. It feels like a dream, and I’m not even asleep yet.

In quiet moments like these, I think about her—the version of myself that lived in agony. The one who endured daily nightmares for far, far longer than anyone should.

I’ve been telling myself for so long that I’m not that woman, but that doesn’t feel true anymore. I did not escape some tragic past version of myself. Just like I can’t run from my past. I carry it with me every day.

And to some degree, I’m still Nina—the woman from a small town who refused to be defined by her birth or her fate. The woman who looked in the mirror one day and decided she wanted more.

“Mama?” Blinking the tears from my eyes, I spin away from the window to see Jack shuffling out of the hallway, one eye open and scratching his head as he slowly wakes up.

puts his arms up for me like he used to when he was a baby, I use all the strength I have to hoist him off the...

He rests his head on my shoulder as he slowly wakes up. Standing by the window, I rock him gently. I try to memorize this moment so I can carry it with me wh...

“I wanted to tell you that Clay is going to be my boyfriend.”

I love that he thinks of her. I love that after only a couple of days together, she’s found a place in his mind. I take a deep breath, my stomach growing heavy.

“Jade will be my girlfriend. Our girlfriend. Mine and Clay’s.”

“Do you understand that your family might look a little different than your friends’ at school?”

But my mom has a boyfriend and a girlfriend.”

“You will always have me. Me and you, forever. Okay?”

“Okay. I love you, Mama,” he whispers, putting his arms around my neck. “I love you so much, buddy.”

“And maybe someday you will live here with us,” Jack adds without taking his eyes off the TV.

“Sounds like a plan,” he replies as he wraps his arms around my waist from behind and presses his lips to my neck with a rumbling growl. I squirm out of his grasp.

“I’ve got bad news for you, buddy,” Clay replies as I hand him a cup of coffee. “I’ve never cooked a day in my life.”

It’s not exactly as I envisioned, but nothing ever is. That doesn’t make it any less perfect.

“What do you suggest we do? Drop flyers at the library during story time?”

“Me?” I ask. “You’re not afraid Madame Kink will scare them away?” I add with a laugh.

“Garrett, talk to Mia about a marketing plan. Hunter, run through the ad budget and see what we can spend on this. And, Eden…nice work.”

“You’re stuck with us now, E. And being part of the team means you’re not imposing. Also, I owe you a drink after my smart-ass comment during our meeting, so call up your boyfriend and girlfriend and tell them to meet us at the bar.”

I love everyone in our party tonight, but these two are mine.

“Look at how this table has grown over the years. I feel very blessed to have you all here with us now.” Then he calls, “Cheers.” “Cheers,” everyone repeats as we all tap our glasses together.

“So, what’s with the shiner? Did I miss something?”

“Oh, I love this story,” Hunter says, grinning over his beer. “Wait, what story?” I ask. Emerson is wearing a mischievous grin.

“You haven’t heard that one? About Emerson getting a fist to the eye socket?” Garrett asks with a laugh. “It’s how we came up with the whole idea for Salacious.”

Mia is sitting proudly next to Garrett as they both recap something with Isabel across the table, who is sitting happily between her two men, Drake and Hunter.

Next to them, my gaze catches Ronan’s. And there it pauses for a few moments as we stare at each other, having a silent conversation. If not for him, I wouldn’t be here. If not for what these people started over ten years ago, I don’t know if I’d even be alive. They may never know how much they saved me.

When Ronan smiles softly, I know he must be reading my thoughts. He reaches next to him to kiss the side of Daisy’s head as if to...

How did we get so lucky to find this family...

“Okay, so this woman was sucking my cock…”

Her hand reaches down to caress my bare stomach, pulling me from my dreams.

nodding to Elizabeth, who is currently snoozing on Clay’s chest. Her little lips are smooshed together, and her cheeks are red from the heat, but other than that, she looks perfectly content in her daddy’s arms.

Eden’s hand stays on my stomach. I swear she touches it more than I

“Grandpa, can I drive?” Jack asks from his seat. “Sure, kiddo,” my dad answers as he stands from his captain’s chair and moti...

Eden grabs her phone and snaps pictures of Jack as my dad stands behind him, showing him wher...