Strictly Business: Hooded Pleasures, Book 1 (20 page)

Maybe it was time for her to climb out of the pit she’d thrown herself into after Carl left.

She felt the pain in her chest and clutched her hand over it. Her fingers tangled in her shirt, pulling it into a knot in her hand.

No.

She’d lost the right to be anyone’s Domme after failing him. She hadn’t given him what he wanted, and he’d left.

But she couldn’t shut off that part of herself, the part of her called to be a Domme.

That was why she’d joined HP. Get the thrill without the commitment, the emotional attachment. Get in, get them close to the edge and get off on her own. She didn’t need any man in her life. She didn’t need to open herself to anyone ever again.

The phone rang.

Wendy.

She paused before picking up the call.

She’s calling to ask if I’m ready to come back to work or need more time.

She steeled herself to make a decision. It wasn’t fair to Tracy, Danielle and the others at Hooded Pleasures to leave them hanging.

Maybe another week would do it.

She tapped the button. “Hello?”

“Kate? It’s Wendy.”

She relaxed at the familiar voice. “Hey. I’m sorry ’bout taking so long off work, but—”

“Listen to me.” The tone left no room for interruption. “I’m down here at Boots ’n’ Chains. It’s new members’ night, if you remember how the scheduling works. You know I like to be part of the welcoming group, keep the drama down among the regulars.”

“Okay.” She tried to tamp down the panic building at hearing the club’s name.

“Alex is here.”

The words slapped her hard, rendering her silent for a second.

“Did you hear me?”

“I heard you. So what do you want me to do?” Kate asked, forcing confidence into her words. “He terminated his contract with Hooded Pleasures. He’s free to go where he wants.”

“I know that,” Wendy said. “Why do you think he’s here?”

“He’s looking for a Domme.” A flash of jealousy burned through Kate’s veins hard and fast before dying out. “I told him he wanted the whip more than the whipper, like we said. So he’s moved on from needing me, needing a paid Domme. Why are you calling me?”

“Because he’s already turned down one offer. I’m sitting here in a private booth and just watched him wave Andrea off.”

For a second, Kate thought she was going to faint. She clutched at the arm of the couch. “What?”

“You heard me. She came on over and told me about it. Seems he’s sitting here waiting for his Domme to show up. Andrea was quite heartbroken—she’d quite taken to him in the few minutes they talked.”

Kate tamped down the jealous pangs twisting her gut. “So he’s waiting for someone. How do you know it’s me?”

Wendy snorted. “Please. Don’t be insulting.”

“So he’s going to sit there and get blue balls.” It came out harsher than she’d expected, startling herself. “He’ll give in and go with someone after a few hours, get his fun and decide to get on with his life.”

“You sure about that?” Wendy said.

“I can’t come to the club. You know I can’t,” Kate answered, avoiding the question. “Does he know you’re there?”

Wendy snorted. “Of course not. I backed off as soon as I recognized him from the file picture. He just canceled his contract—I didn’t want to make it look like I was pressuring him.”

“I played by the rules.” The words sounded foolish even as she said them. “He formed an emotional attachment to me, and I broke it off. By the rules.” The repetition didn’t dull the growing pain in her heart.

“Kate, the rules are there to protect both of you. To keep the professional relationship exactly that, professional. But it doesn’t work if the feelings flow both ways.”

Kate looked at the sketchpad lying on the floor. “What do you mean?”

“I’m asking if you feel the same about Alex as he does about you. From what I’m seeing here, he’s definitely in love with you. So the question is, are you in love with him? And if you are, what are you going to do about it?”

“That’s not—” Kate couldn’t take her eyes off the penciled image of Alex. “I can’t—”

Wendy pressed on. “I know you gave up on the club because of Carl. I get your pain. But are you going to let Alex go through the same cycle because you don’t want to talk to him about this?”

“What? Why?” Kate stood up despite the growing nervousness in her gut.

“Because he’s going to end up getting into trouble the longer he sits here alone and waiting for you. At some point, he’s going to meet up with a Domme who’s either going to bully him into going with her or plain talk him into it, and he’s going to have the worst experience of his life. And I don’t think you want that.” Wendy sighed. “You don’t want Alex to be hurt, do you?”

“No.”

“Then come here and claim him as yours. Do what you should have done the minute you knew it was more than an assignment, Kate. Come get your man.”

He’d put it off as long as he could but after all that water, Alex had to pee urgently. A discreet question to William had him heading to a washroom, still within the yellow lines.

He slipped inside the room. It was a standard layout with no surprises other than the large ceramic bowl of condoms sitting by the sink.

Not surprising.

He allowed himself a childish smirk before tucking three into his pockets.

Just like a Scout. Be prepared.

He stopped, catching his reflection in the mirror. A scared, nervous man looked back at him, sweat beading on his forehead.

He twisted the tap, sending cold water spewing into the sink.

Alex cupped his hands and filled them before dunking his face. The cool liquid didn’t help dampen the desire simmering beneath the surface.

He was in a club. A BDSM club. Where everything and anything he wanted was just a question away. All he had to do was ask, and his deepest dreams and desires would be fulfilled.

And he wanted none of it.

Not without her.

An image of Kate flashed across his inner eye.

I’m waiting for you. Waiting for only you.

He did his business and made his way back to the barstool, wishing for telepathic powers. The club had started to fill up, but his seat remained empty.

Alex assumed part of it was due to William keeping it for him. The bartender had moved off, dealing with the growing demand as more members arrived, new ones like him wearing disposable wristbands, and others, veterans who wanted to see what the night would offer.

The bravado he’d shown William in announcing he’d stay at the bar for the entire night was beginning to fray as he saw more couples and threesomes wandering off, heading down the halls and disappearing behind closed doors.

And more than a few curious gazes landing on him, weighing him, checking him out.

Studying his wristbands.

Studying him.

A woman strolled by him. She stopped and frowned before spinning on outrageously high heels and turning back.

She stopped far inside his personal space, leaning in toward him.

“I’m Veronica.” The redhead offered her hand to Alex. “You’re new here.”

He shifted on the barstool, his body reacting automatically to her presence. The woman gave off dominance in waves, her black leather pants and matching corset only adding to his runaway imagination. Her red hair was cropped short off her shoulders and her eyes were a cool blue, trapping his attention.

He didn’t need to check her wrist to see what color she wore.

“Alex.” He shook hands with her, noting her strong grip.

“So what are you interested in?” She raked her eyes over him.

Alex resisted the urge to drop one hand into his lap, cover his crotch. It was as if she was already stripping him naked.

“Nothing tonight. Thank you for your offer.” He tried to sound nonchalant, as if he always hung out at a BDSM bar as a casual observer.

It failed.

She tapped his white wristband. “This tells me you’re looking for a Domme.” Her left eyebrow rose. “Or do you prefer men?” One edge of her mouth curled up in a smirk. “I can find you someone, if you’d like. If you don’t mind me watching.”

“I like women,” Alex said. “I’m a new member. My first time here.”

He felt like he had pebbles in his mouth.

“I understand that.” She ran a finger along his other wristband. “But you’re not seeing much of the club from here. Wouldn’t you like to go for a walk?”

Alex’s gaze darted to the yellow line on the floor, the imaginary fence keeping him safe and sound.

“I can take you past that,” Veronica purred. “Just say the word.” Her hand stroked the underside of his wrist. “Consider it a test run. Let me take you to the back room and show what options are open to you. With me.”

Alex couldn’t hold back the shiver running down his spine, the delicious thrill pooling in his groin.

Veronica caressed his skin with her long sharp nails, the red polish flaring in the dim lighting as if flames danced at the edges of her fingers.

Her touch ignited the invisible lines left by Kate’s cuffs, reminding him again of their last experience together.

Torn between desire and his promise to himself, he said nothing, letting his silence hopefully speak for him.

“I understand. It’s a little intimidating the first time here. Tell you what.” She pulled her hand back slowly, tugging on his index finger at the end. “I’ll find someone to occupy my time for a bit, let you finish your drink and get more comfortable with the club. When I’m done, I’ll come back and see what you’ve decided.” She studied him again. “I’d love to tear you down and build you back up again. I can promise you one hell of a night.”

Without waiting to hear his response, she strutted away.

Alex went back to his drink, needing something stronger than water. He gestured at William, who came down the bar to see him.

“Whiskey neat, please.”

William shook his head.

“The rules.” He placed a fresh water bottle in front of Alex. “Although I understand why you’d like a stiff drink.” He nodded at the retreating woman. “She’s a handful and a half. Wouldn’t advise breaking your vows for that one—you might not be tall enough to ride that ride, if you get what I mean.” William smiled. “Consider it free advice from your friendly bartender.”

“Thanks.” Alex turned to watch Veronica as the Domme strutted around the lounge, seeking out a companion.

Finally, she stopped and crooked her index finger at a man leaning against the wall, a young blond fellow wearing a white T-shirt and jeans. He had his arms crossed in front of him and looked slightly bored at the goings-on around him.

He saw Veronica’s movement and stepped forward with a wide smile. His hands went behind his back as he stopped in front of her, eyes downcast.

Veronica ran her hand along his chin and whispered something.

He nodded in response, staying silent.

She walked down one of the halls running off the main lounge with her newest acquisition in hand trotting behind her.

Alex grabbed at the fresh water bottle.

He had never been so thirsty.

Kate stared at the cell phone as Wendy cut the connection without waiting for an answer.

Damn it.

She glanced down at the sketchpad. The black-and-white Alex smiled at her.

They’ll tear him apart.

She ran into the bedroom and pulled the closet door open as she stripped, her mind running a mile a minute.

Okay, they won’t kill him. But he’s going to have a hell of a different experience with any of the women there than he had with me.

He better remember his safe-word.

She mouthed the phrase, reliving the emotional rush she’d had on hearing it from his lips that single time.

Kill switch.

Kate grabbed her clothing and focused on getting dressed, trying hard to avoid getting sucked into a memory well.

Carl—

Kate shook her head to banish the name, banish the man from her thoughts. She forced herself to think about the club to quell the growing panic twisting her insides.

Boots ’n’ Chains had been around for years, catering to the BDSM scene. They had strict rules about membership, and woe betide the man or woman who pushed Matthew, the owner, to his limits. He’d built the business from the ground up and made sure the club was well stocked, from the bar to the rooms.

The private rooms had everything.

Everything a good Domme needed to give her submissive the best experience. Spanking benches, St. Andrew’s crosses…

She couldn’t hold back a sigh as she remembered the almost limitless choice of toys. Whatever you wanted or wanted to try, they had it.

Kate stopped, remembering one lovely flogger she’d adored. Broken in with multiple uses and users, it was at that perfect point of worn leather—enough snap to keep stiff, and enough bend to wrap around a hot, sweaty body.

It was hell and gone from what she dragged from appointment to appointment in her duffle bag, the frayed leather almost worn out on some of her toys.

Alex—

She snatched up her cell phone and called a taxi. In this emotional state, there was no way she trusted herself enough to drive.

After placing her request, Kate turned her cell phone off and tossed it onto her bed. The club might allow them, but she didn’t want to take the chance anyone would call and disrupt what might be the most important night in her life.

She studied herself in the full-length mirror before reaching for her leather trench coat.

Yes.

Kate went into her kitchen and wrestled open a tea tin she’d placed at the back of her cupboard. The single locker key inside fell into her hand, and she pocketed it.

It’s time to go back.

The cabbie didn’t bat an eye when she gave him directions on how to get to the club. Given the industrial area, she was sure he’d been here more than once to either pick up or drop off partiers.

When she stepped out, Ed and Eddie were in front, waiting. Arms crossed and alert to anyone who came near, the pair stood as straight as soldiers on guard duty.