Desired (26 page)

Dmitri barked a laugh, smacking Porter on the back. “I imagine she is. So, you in?

Porter nodded. “Only one month.”

Aidan chuckled, rubbing his hands together. “Fuck, this is going to be one helluva show.”

Porter scoffed to Aidan, then said to Kyler, “I’ve got some information for you. Can we talk?”

Kyler looked to Dmitri and Aidan. “Mind leaving us?”

Dmitri smacked Porter on the back again and then followed Aidan over to Kenzie and Cora. Kyler assumed to tell Kenzie that Porter was in agreement with the plan. And Kyler agreed with Aidan, paring those two, one of the most stubborn Doms with the brattiest submissive, would be a good show for all.

Kyler turned to Porter, his muscles tensing. “What did you find out about Rory?”

Porter shrugged, dragging a hand through his hair. “Found out that he flew into Vegas a few days ago.”

“Yes, I know that.” Kyler waved him on. “What else?”

Porter stared at Kyler, as if choosing his words carefully. “He hasn’t returned to Savannah. And what should be your biggest concern is he’s staying in a hotel only blocks away from Ella’s condo.”

Darkness seeped into Kyler’s veins. All his pent-up tension overtook him and possessive thoughts flooded his mind.
Mine to protect. Mine to love
. “Is he, now?”

The next evening, a knock at the door had Ella rushing to answer it. Before Club Sin opened tonight, Kyler had suggested having a get-together with the Club Sin Masters and the submissives. Ella had agreed, considering she’d run out of the dungeon yesterday without saying goodbye. And, well, she liked his friends. So much so that she wanted them to be her friends.

On the way to Kyler’s last night, he had told her that Aidan didn’t mind Ella being in the dungeon. Still, she needed to see Aidan outside of Club Sin to feel good about it all. Sadly, no matter how much she thought it over all day, she had yet to reconcile the fact that her boss—the respected Aidan Knight—was a Club Sin Master.

She hoped that tonight, over a casual dinner, they could smooth things over. Leaving Club Sin wasn’t an option. Not playing with Kyler was a damned depressing thought. Somehow she needed to make this all right.

Only problem?

She had no clue how.

As a second knock sounded, she yanked the door open and then she froze. Not in fear, as if Rory stood at her door; she was left flabbergasted that the man standing in front of her was alone.

“Aidan?” she managed.

He smiled. “We have a half an hour to talk before the gang arrives.”

“Err …” Ella felt the color drain out of her face and shifted on her feet. “Sorry, I was expecting everyone at once.”
And Kyler never told me you would be coming first. Alone
.

Aidan’s eyes softened. “I thought it was a good idea to come see you. The girls are coming over soon with the dinner they promised to bring.” His brows rose. “You don’t mind that I came to see you to talk a bit first, I hope?”

“Of course not, please come in.” Though the memories of what he’d seen her do last night were not far from her mind. She didn’t know whether to curse or just die in embarrassment right there on her hardwood floors.

Blowing out a slow breath, she shut the door behind him. Aidan took his shoes off, then
strode into her open-concept living room. The far wall of windows was why she’d bought this condo; it showed off the Sin City lights.

“Nice place,” he said with a grin.

Your salary increase helped pay for it
. “Thanks.” She hesitantly approached him, unsure of what to say or how to start this completely awkward conversation. “So …”

“Please come sit.” He gestured to the couch and settled down on the cushion. “We need to talk, yes?”

She snorted a laugh. “I’d like to say no, but I think that’s out of the question.”

“Entirely out of the question.” He watched her lower down next to him with a warm gaze. The silence continued, but Ella couldn’t look away from the compassion in his shadowy gaze.

After many—oddly, not uncomfortable—seconds, he finally asked, “Do you care for me, Ella?”

“In a boss-and-employee way?”

“Friendship. Family. Is the way that I mean.” He hesitated, and at her silence, since what he said was
so unexpected
, he added, “Since you started working for me, I’ve felt quite attached to you. Do you see me in that same light?”

Until Kyler, Aidan was the only friend she had in Vegas. She knew he wasn’t wrong—they shared a closeness that she’d never had with a former boss. She always had the sense that he took care of her in odd ways, like sending her to buy new clothes on the company’s tab, which usually included getting her hair and nails done, too. That compassion had brought platonic love between them, she believed that. “I do feel close to you.”

“I’m glad.” His smile was tender, as was his voice. “Here’s the thing: I would’ve brought you more fully into my life had I not lived the lifestyle I do. I never mix business with pleasure, which is why you’ve never met any of the Club Sin Masters before. When Club Sin opened, I requested everyone stay away from my office. Privacy, to me, is important.” He paused, as if choosing his words carefully. “Your being in the dungeon comes as a relief. Now there are no secrets between us. Nothing between our friendship.”

She regarded him, understanding his meaning.
Not just your boss
, the message was clear. “Your showing up just shocked me. I wasn’t expecting …”

“For me to see you having sex and having an orgasm,” he said flatly.

“Yeah,
that
!” She laughed. “I mean, it was pretty obvious that you were a member there
and all, but I wasn’t expecting to see you last night. Then you were there … and you saw the rest.”

“Yes, I saw the rest, and it was beautiful.” He took her hand, and his touch felt like the closest thing to a family member touching her in a long time. “Nothing makes me happier than seeing you like I did last night. And I’m not talking about the orgasm. It’s not about the sex. It’s about seeing you happy.” Squeezing her fingers, his brows rose. “And you are happy, aren’t you?”

“Happy” didn’t describe it. She was living the life she had wanted to that day she took up the radio show’s challenge. Look where the dare had led her: She was having the best sexual adventures of her life and was surrounded by amazing people, and she had Kyler. “I am happy.”

Aidan nodded with soft eyes. “That’s what my focus is. You being naked, fucked, or screaming out in pleasure doesn’t hold any thoughts in my mind when I see you in Club Sin.”

Hearing those words from Aidan made her gape, but she wondered if that’s why he’d said it. Perhaps he took off the edge of how awkward that moment had been. And she noticed herself relaxing.
He’s just a man. A friend who cares about you
. Still, she couldn’t help but ask, “Will you be doing those things with Cora, too?”

“Of course.” He smirked. “That is the point of Club Sin.”

She studied him, trying to get herself into the same frame of mind as he was. It was indefinitely harder.

He frowned at whatever crossed her expression, shaking his head. “You have to get it out of your head that this is an unusual situation. I see people embracing an erotic lifestyle every single weekend. It’s normal for me—normal for all those in Club Sin. It’s not about the sex. It won’t ever be. To see that smile I saw last night. To see how happy you are with Kyler and how he cares for you—that’s what is important to me. That’s what I’ve wanted for you since we met. Nothing else.”

Put that way, she realized, how could she not understand?

She regarded Aidan, so touched by him. So appreciative of everyone she’d met at Club Sin. To come from a place where all her friends had turned their backs on her, to now having so many special people in her life, she simply felt grateful. “Okay. I understand. We’re friends, then? Not only coworkers.”

“Precisely,” he agreed with a firm nod. “Close friends who only want what is best for
each other. And if you saw a friend that you cared about being happy and fulfilling parts of their soul that brought them joy, would that bother you?”

“No,” she replied without hesitation.

“Exactly why it doesn’t bother me. And why it shouldn’t bother you to see me in my Club Sin role.” Then he dropped her hand and took her into a warm hug. “I like you this way.”

She fought the tears rimming her eyes. Hugs like this she missed—warm embraces that came only from those who loved you unconditionally. “What way?”

He whispered in her ear, “Finally smiling and living again.”

Casino machines and the mind-numbing noise of voices rushed across Kyler as he strode through the lobby of the casino. The foyer was bustling with people out for a good time; some were drunk and others were dazzled by the fountains and sparkling crystal chandeliers.

Kyler dipped his hand into the pocket of his jeans, pulling out his badge. When he reached the hotel lobby, he lifted his badge and said to the clerk, “I need you to tell me which room Rory Snow is in.”

The young clerk raised her brows and then moved to the computer. She typed for a moment. “He’s in room four hundred and twelve.”

Kyler couldn’t decide if it pleased him that the fucker was still in Vegas, or if it only proved how stupid Rory was. “Would you call him and ask him to come down to the lobby, please.”

“Of course,” the woman replied, before moving to the telephone. A minute passed, then she placed the phone back on the receiver. “I’m afraid he’s not answering.”

Fuck
.

“Thank you for trying.” Kyler scraped a hand across his eyes, tension making his body heavy. He needed the asshole to go away. The stress of knowing that the man who abused Ella was in town ate at him.

Ella didn’t deserve this.

Kyler would be damned if he’d sit around and wait for Rory to act first. He lowered his hand and said to the clerk, “Please don’t alert Rory that the police are looking for him.”
Especially because this wasn’t official police business.

“Of course,” the clerk replied with wide eyes. “Is there anything we need to worry about?”

Kyler shook his head. “This is a domestic situation, and nothing to be concerned with.”

Relief lifted the clerk’s voice as she replied, “Might I suggest you check out the casino before you leave? I have seen Mr. Snow spend some time there.”

Is that so?

“Thank you.” Kyler tapped his fingers on the counter, then turned toward the noise leading him into the casino.

When he entered the casino floor, he scanned the crowd, keeping the mental image of Rory in his mind. He didn’t see anyone matching Rory’s mug shot at the blackjack, poker, or roulette tables. Though Kyler suspected if Rory was in the casino he’d be in only one place.

On instinct, he headed toward the bar with the black glass on the walls. As he scanned the people sitting on the stools, his muscles went rigid.

There at the bar, Kyler spotted
him
.

He snorted and approached, dropping down onto the stool next to Rory. Kyler could see why Ella found Rory attractive. He had the good looks and an athletic frame. “For a man who shouldn’t be drinking, you’re doing a piss-poor job of it.”

Rory’s gaze jerked to him, and he scowled. “Excuse me?”

Kyler placed his badge on the bar, and Rory looked to it before his head lifted, some of the heat removed from his stare.
Yeah, dipshit, I’m the wrong person to fuck with tonight
.

The bartender came over, and she asked, “Can I get you anything?”

“Nothing for me,” Kyler replied, controlling the curtness in his voice. He turned to Rory and raised his brows. “I’m sure you’re up for another one.”

Rory gave Kyler a long look and asked through clenched teeth, “Who the fuck are you?”

The bartender’s eyes widened.

Kyler frowned. “Please leave us.”

The bartender didn’t need a further push and turned away, busying herself at the other end of the bar. Kyler inhaled deeply, fighting against the desire to push this asshole into the marble bar beneath his beer and leave him with a scar that matched Ella’s. “I know why you’re here.”

“Good for you.” Rory glowered. “Fuck off.”

“Not likely, Rory Snow.” Kyler kept distance between them, knowing if he got too close he’d make Rory never forget what he’d done to Ella. “I’ve come to give you the chance to be smart about this and leave. And I’m doing that for Ella.”

“How do you know Ella?” Slowly, though, awareness crossed Rory’s features and his gaze darkened. “You’re the new boyfriend.” He scoffed, shaking his head. “She’s dating a fucking cop.”

Kyler let Rory’s words roll off him. “Knowing that, it’s wise for you not to push these matters further than you already have.”

Rory blew out a harsh breath, wafting of beer. “She finds a fucking cop.”

The second jab stung, raising fury in Kyler’s chest. “This badge is the only thing that’s keeping me on this stool.” Rage and masculine fury invaded him. “Apparently, Ella wants things to go down a route that won’t land you back in jail, since she hasn’t already had you arrested. I’m following her wishes, but I’m telling you now, go back to Savannah.”