I was hooked right from that first sentence, because what? This series had been on my TBR for quite some time, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to get into it because of the sex club and the BDSM aspect. But I was so glad I did because this was so different from what I'd previously read or expected. This was also my first buddy read, and it was with @eliv_bookstagram, which was honestly so fun.

Emerson and his friends, Garrett, Maggie, and Hunter, founded the Salacious Players Club—an exclusive, members-only sex club that allows men and women to indulge in their kinks in a safe environment and without being judged.

Although he was proud of the club, this caused a serious rift between him and his son Beau, who couldn't get past the fact that his dad owns a sex club. When Charlie goes over to Emerson's place to collect her half of the deposit money for her apartment after she breaks up with Beau, things start off with a little misunderstanding between her and Emerson. He feels like Charlie might be the key to him reconnecting with his son and offers her a job as his secretary. What he doesn't expect is how he can't deny his growing attraction for her.

Emerson Grant is honestly SO HOT, and I'd be on my knees for him too. Pure perfection. The way he took care of Charlie, always hyping her up, praising her, making her see herself the way he does, making her believe in herself. He always showed up for her and made a genuine effort to know her family too. Their banter and flirting were all so sweet and filled with SO much sexual tension.

He was also a dedicated dad. Even though he knew Beau was not on board with him owning a sex club, he still kept hoping that one day he'd see things differently. Emerson wasn't ashamed of what he did or his interests, but he was sad how they'd impacted his relationship with Beau.

I loved Charlie's relationship with her mom and her sister. Especially how protective she was of her sister, how she'd raised her and would do anything to make her happy. She was so unaware of things regarding the club but had a curious mind and wanted to learn more. She questioned herself about what she might be into as she learned more about sex and kinks, and realized that they're not something to be ashamed of. She slowly started feeling more confident in her own skin and like she was precious and adored when she became a sub for Emerson. His praise quieted the voices in her head and also gave her a sense of power at the same time.

From being the timid girl who'd been constantly put down by the men in her life and felt like she wasn't enough to her slowly building her confidence, speaking up for herself, setting boundaries, being unashamed for wanting the things she did, and asking to be treated the way she deserved. That was a wonderful growth to witness, and I loved and cheered her on the entire time.

Their romance built up gradually. What started as a work relationship with Charlie being Emerson's secretary slowly turns into Charlie becoming a sub for Emerson. While they try to keep it on the low and just as a learning experience in a safe space for Charlie to explore her kink, it quickly turns into their feelings getting more tangled up. There is a lot of pull and push, especially from Emerson's side, who doesn't want to acknowledge his feelings because of his already strained relationship with Beau, being Charlie's boss and 19 years older than her.

The spice was so well blended with the plot, and even though this book gets into different kinks, dom/sub in this case, what I loved was how we as readers are slowly eased into it along with Charlie. It wasn't like she was randomly told to do something that she had no clue about and ended up loving it instantly. This was more about Charlie testing her likes and dislikes, doing her research, and learning more about it. And as a reader, watching Charlie go through that process gradually was convincing, which is what made the whole experience hotter because I was able to understand why a certain kink might be enjoyable to someone rather than simply being told it's good.

That being said, the spice was fucking explosive. There was so much tension between these two right from the start, and as their relationship slowly evolved, things only got hotter. The club opening scene was insanely sexy, and the audiobook just made me drop my jaw. The scene in the voyeur hall towards the end... OH. MY. GOD!!! Every single one was hot AF. I was basically blushing throughout this book.

What I also loved is that though this book is about them running a sex club, the club doesn't take away from the plot. The focus is on the club, yes, but without it being overwhelming or being the main focus. Everything was very evenly paced with just the right attention.

Emerson groveling on his knees for his stupidity was something I totally relished in, and I also admired Charlie so much for holding her ground despite it and making him truly work for it. That moment showed the growth Charlie had undergone over the months.