figured he deserved to have some fun and blow off some stress before returning to Iraq for another tour of duty,” he said in a lighthearted tone.
“Damn straight,” Mac said with a chuckle as he shook the other man’s hand, impressed with Declan’s firm, confident grip. “Welcome to The Players Club. Enjoy yourself.”
“Thank you,” Declan replied with a curt but polite nod. “I appreciate the invitation. Nice to meet you both.”
“Army Special Forces, right?” Dean asked, repeating what Mac had told him a few days ago about the other man. And he was an expert sniper, to be exact.
“That’s correct, sir,” Declan replied.
Mac knew the other man was being respectful with his use of sir, but he shook his head and slapped Declan on the back in male comradery. “You can leave military etiquette at the door. No need for formalities between any of us here.”
A small smile quirked the corner of Declan’s mouth, the only hint of humor he displayed. “After ten years in the service and constantly addressing superiors, it’s a hard habit to break.”
“Dean and I definitely remember those days,” Mac said of their own time spent in the service.
The four of them conversed for a few minutes, mostly about the places Declan had been on tour and when he was heading back to Iraq. Even knowing the two men weren’t blood related but had grown up together as young boys when their parents married, Mac still found the contrast between Rick and Declan interesting, because they appeared to be complete opposites.
Rick, who was older than his stepbrother by a few years, had been working at Noble and Associates for a while, so Mac knew him best. While the other man definitely had a serious side when it came to work, his personality outside of the office was easygoing, sociable, and flirtatious when it came to the ladies, as Mac had discovered when Rick had initially set his sights on Stephanie. Before Mac had come to his senses, realized he wanted her for himself, and become a fucking caveman about having her.
In comparison, Declan came across as austere, confident, and a bit rough around the edges—which was to be expected considering what he’d probably seen and done in the military. Even in a relaxed atmosphere, his expression was unreadable. He stood at attention—spine straight, hands at his sides, and shoulders back. Yeah, some habits were so ingrained they came as naturally as breathing.
Mac recognized that air of control and dominance about Declan, and how aware of his surroundings he was despite being guarded. He was the kind of disciplined man that Mac wouldn’t hesitate to hire for his security team in a hot minute, given the chance.
“I wasn’t expecting Summer to be here tonight,” Rick said, drawing Mac’s attention back to the conversation and the interested glances both he and his stepbrother were casting toward the young, curvy blonde woman. “Is she here strictly for Stephanie’s party or to play?”
“To play, but she is a club virgin,” Mac pointed out, and was surprised to see Summer glance demurely at Rick and Declan, too, then bite her bottom lip. “Stephanie gave her an invitation, and from what my fiancée told me, Summer was quite eager to explore the club and what it has to offer.”
Rick pushed his hands into the front pockets of his trousers, a small frown marring his brows. “I’ve talked to her at a few of the get-togethers you and Dean have had at your places, and while I’ve been attracted to her, I’ve never made a move on Summer because she seems . . . inexperienced when it comes to BDSM.”
Dean laughed. “See all those women at the table with Stephanie?” he asked, jutting his chin back in that direction at the gathering of girlfriends, who all but Summer had significant others there in the VIP lounge. “They were all inexperienced the first time they walked into The Players Club, including my wife, Jillian. But none of them were innocent or naïve, and they certainly knew enough about the place that they hadn’t come here for vanilla sex.”
Mac grinned at the two men. “Maybe Summer is waiting for the right guy . . . or guys to come along and show her the finer aspects of BDSM.”
Mac watched as Paige jumped up from the table where the girls were gathered, then returned a few moments later with a birthday cake for Stephanie, simply decorated with a few lit candles on top. He’d half expected