PlaybyPlay (10 page)

Her last words came out on a whisper and she dipped her gaze
to the floor but Seth cupped her cheek, forcing her gaze back to him. He stared
at her, his heart hammering in his chest. For two years he’d stood in the
shadows watching Katherine, wanting her—how could she ever think he’d want
another? It was wrong to test her, to trick her, but he’d devised his plan on a
hunch, nothing more. He hadn’t truly been certain she was the same woman who’d
run away from him that night months ago until she’d entered the club. And when
he saw her on the camera, when he’d caught sight of her as she’d walked into
the club today, dressed in her silly disguise, he’d been furious.

Her very presence spoke of her lack of trust in him, her
lack of faith. And it made him question everything they’d shared together. If
she couldn’t trust him, then how could he possibly trust her? From the moment
he’d left his keys and set his plan in motion, he’d questioned Katherine’s
interest in him. Had this all been an act—a game to her? Had she purposely
taunted him all those times just so she could get him into her bed and try out
this whole bondage thing with him? This was neither an act nor a game to him. He’d
let Katherine into his world, given her a glimpse into his soul, shown her a
part of himself he’d never shown another. If she wasn’t into submission—if this
was just a passing amusement to her, he didn’t know what he’d do.

He recognized the depth of his feelings for Katherine for
what they were, and if she rejected him after everything they’d done… He let
out a shaky breath to ease the furious beating of his heart.

He ached to tell her how he felt, but not here, not now. He
wanted to take her home where he could love her all night, where he could show
her just how much she meant to him, so that she’d never have a reason to doubt
him ever again.

“I was wrong to set you up,” he said finally, “But to be
honest, I wasn’t even sure it was you until you walked into the club and I saw
you on the monitor. After what you said the first night I spent at your home, I
figured you’d overheard me and Joshua and then followed us to the club.” He
shrugged. “I was simply following a hunch.”

“It’s okay. I deserved to be set up.” She smiled shyly. “You
never would have had to do it in the first place had I just come out and told
you I followed you and Joshua here once before.” Her brow wrinkled into a frown
then. “But tell me this. How did you suspect it was me?”

Seth grinned good-naturedly. “For security reasons, there
are cameras in discreet locations throughout the club that protect the privacy
of our guests, while still providing adequate security. I went through hours of
tape until I saw you. The image wasn’t clear so I didn’t recognize you but then
I remembered how you ran away as if you knew you didn’t belong here.” He cupped
her cheek. “Besides, most of our guests don’t wear disguises, and the only
person who would is someone who is desperate to keep their identity a secret—which
left me wondering
why
?”

She sighed. “I knew the whole costume thing would come back
to bite me in the ass. It was overkill, wasn’t it?”

“A little, but I think it’s sexy.” He wagged his eyebrows.
“Boss lady by day, femme fatale by night. It’s like I have two women in one.”

She laughed at that and her eyes twinkled, but he didn’t
miss the slight flash of uncertainty in the depths of her gaze. “So am I to
assume that means you won’t need to entertain the company of other women
here—not even Sonya?”

His brows lifted. The statement was made jokingly but he
knew her too well to miss the subtle layer of jealousy just beneath her playful
façade. He bit back a smile; she had no reason to be jealous, not in the least.
He wasn’t in love with Sonya, nor did he desire her in that way, or any other
woman for that matter. Before the night was through, he would be sure Katherine
understood that—completely. But for now he just gave her the most obvious
reason why no woman was a threat to her, not even Sonya,
especially
not
Sonya.

“From the moment I claimed you as my sub you became mine,
and you, Katherine, are the only woman for me, no one else, and especially not
Sonya. Sonya is my business partner and friend, nothing more. Besides, she has
always belonged to Joshua.”

Katherine’s eyebrows lifted. “They’re lovers? I didn’t know
Joshua was seeing anyone seriously.”

Seth frowned. “Not quite. They share a purely sexual Dom and
sub relationship.”
For now
, he thought to himself. Sonya was tired of
being
just
Joshua’s sexual sub
.
Seth knew she wanted more and so
did Joshua. And if Joshua wasn’t careful, he was going to lose the one woman
who could see through all of his bullshit and still loved him in spite of it.
“The only reason why you even saw me with Sonya is because from time to time,
Aaron, Joshua and I will share our sub
if everyone is comfortable with
it.”

“Oh.” Her eyes rounded. “So you would share me?”

“Eventually, if you’re fine with it, but only then.”

“And what about Aaron? Does he have a sub
too?”

The image of Katherine’s pretty secretary flashed before him
and he smiled. Michelle. Whenever Aaron visited Katherine’s office, he always
freaked the young woman out, made her nervous, but Seth knew his friend had a
thing for her and that Michelle’s unease around Aaron had less to do with fear
and more to do with her physical response to the domineering man every time he
walked into her office. “Not yet, but he has his eye on someone very close to
you, actually.”

“Really? Who?”

He shook his head as he seized her hand. “I’ll tell you
later.” He was done talking about Joshua and Aaron, especially when he and
Katherine had more important things to discuss—and more exciting things to
do
.
“It’s time for us to go home,” he said quietly but firmly.

“What? I thought we were going to stay and
play
,” she
teased, repeating Joshua’s parting words.

“Oh, we will definitely play,” he whispered with a wicked
smile as he thought of his home, and his closet full of leather and chains,
whips and floggers and many other toys he was eager to try on her. “Just not
here. I think tonight we’ll go to my home.”

Katherine smiled up at him and his heart constricted at the
depth of emotion in her gaze—so open, so trusting, and full of the love he knew
burned in his own gaze.

“I like that idea,” she whispered, squeezing his hand in
hers. They walked out of the club hand in hand and drove to his home, leaving
the Red Velvet Rope behind them for now—but not for good.

Also by
Nadia Aidan

His
Rebellious Concubine

Invitation
to Decadence

Queen’s
Surrender

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