The five men sat down and one of them began to deal the cards. Lucas glanced at the blue-eyed man he’d been noticing all evening and Ben caught the look. “I saw that,” Ben said, sidling up to whisper in Lucas’s ear. “You’re looking at Aidan Knight, aren’t you? Not that I blame you—he’s the hottest thing at this party tonight—except for my William, of course. But he’s a player. Don’t get involved with him.”

“Is he…uh…”

“A Dom? All the best-looking alpha males are, honey. Well, most of them anyway.”

“Oh really?” Lucas whispered back. “So you enjoyed your spanking then?”

Ben smiled roguishly back at him and winked. “Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it, baby.”

“Ben, if you can’t keep your voice down a little, you’re getting another spanking,” William barked, throwing down his cards in disgust.

“Sorry,” Ben said petulantly, a little flush sitting on his cheeks.

“Don’t take out your bad luck on your boy, Adams,” Aidan Knight said with a smile as he raked in a small pile of chips. “Better watch out, Ben. At the rate your master’s losing, you won’t be able to sit for a week.”

To his horror, Lucas heard a loud snort emanating from his own throat. He quickly tried to cover, pretending it was only a cough, but Aidan turned his attention on him.

Smiling curiously at Lucas, he raised an eyebrow. “Don’t like the idea of spankings, Lucas?” he asked in his silky smooth voice that sounded like molten sex. “Have you ever had one?”

Lucas felt himself flushing at the Dom’s attention, but shook his head firmly. “Not likely. I’m not a sub.” He glanced over at Ben. “Sorry, no offense.”

Ben shrugged. “None taken. The lifestyle isn’t for everyone.” He smiled at William. “But you don’t know what you’re missing.”

“It’s not for me,” Lucas said emphatically.

Aidan turned in his chair to regard him closely. “But how do you know, Lucas, if you’ve never experienced it? A spanking can be very erotic. One of the most intimate and erotic experiences of your life.”

Lucas took a deep breath. The truth was, he had been curious, ever since Ben had told him he was a submissive. Sometimes he wondered how it would feel to give another man complete control over you like that. He couldn’t deny the fact that he was fascinated by it, no matter what he’d just said. If he was ever going to know, he might have to give into his own desires and do some experimenting. But some other time—he wasn’t brave enough yet. He covered his discomfiture and embarrassment by rolling his eyes and smirking.

“Yeah, right.”

Aidan and William shared a smile, and then Aidan leaned back in his seat and gave Lucas a speculative look. Lucas had the oddest feeling that Aidan wasn’t being fooled by his sarcasm in the least.

“That sounds a bit like a challenge to me, Lucas.” Aidan’s voice was silky smooth, but low and deep, almost like a purr.