Strictly Business: Hooded Pleasures, Book 1 (16 page)

Alex headed for the shower, feeling a sudden urge to punch a hole in the wall.

Kate twisted the pencil between her fingers before flinging it at the wall. It slid down to join the others on the floor, a small pile of wooden martyrs.

She reached for another one from the mug on the table and scowled at seeing there were only three pencils left.

Damn it.

Kate picked up one and chewed on the end, hoping for some sort of creative inspiration.

Maybe she should set fire to the condo, get some hot firemen to break the door down and save her.

With your luck, they’d hose you down and leave you on the floor like a chewed dog toy.

It’d been a long hour; a frustrating hour.

She couldn’t get her head in the game.

The sketch was supposed to be something easy, something to let her mind go on, something she never intended to show to anyone else.

It looked like projectile vomit in black and white.

She ripped the page out of the pad and wadded it up in a tight ball before tossing it at the wall.

It bounced atop the stack of pencils, teetering for a second before sliding off to land on the floor.

Kate looked at the clock for the third time in the last ten minutes.

Ann wouldn’t be off work for another two hours.

Kate fidgeted with the pencil. While Ann’d told Kate to call anytime during her “vacation” if she needed to chat, Kate doubted it included work hours. Ann worked hard enough helping to run a chain of flower shops. With her recent promotion, she had even less spare time and didn’t need the distraction of having her best friend endlessly whining on the phone.

And there was Eric. The man was a saint, but there was only so far you could push a husband by squandering his wife’s free time. He wouldn’t say a word, but he’d get grumpy, and then Ann would be grumpy, and it’d all go downhill fast.

She might not presently be in a relationship, but Kate had some idea of how men thought and worked.

Besides, it wasn’t fair to Ann. She’d offered her shoulder, and Kate had taken it way too often during this past year. First with Carl and now with Alex.

Kate chewed on the edge of the pencil, grinding the wood with her teeth.

In a nutshell—Kate needed a distraction. Something to take her mind off Alex, off her stalled creative attempts, off the entire bloody grid, if that was what it took to figure this out.

Maybe a movie marathon. Some silly cheap monster films, classic kaiju stomping through cities.

Mindless entertainment.

Perfect.

Kate smiled as she put the sketchpad down and headed for her DVD shelf. She’d picked up a boxed set recently of old favorites and was just waiting for the right time to see Oda Castle get destroyed again and again.

The phone rang.

She snatched it up and laughed as she spied the caller identification.

“Kate?”

“Ann.” She scanned the back of the hard plastic case. “I was just thinking about you.”

“Good. Because I was thinking about you.” She laughed. “I have a proposition for you.”

“You’re beginning to scare me.” Kate plucked the first disc out and walked over to the entertainment center. “Sing out.”

“How would you like to be a plus-one?”

Kate shuddered. “How much do you hate me? Besides, I told you I wasn’t looking for a date.”

“No, silly. I want you to be my plus-one.”

She frowned as she slipped the disc into the player. “Are you switching teams? Because Eric—”

“Okay, okay. Give me a second to explain,” Ann said. “There’s this big charity event going on for Alzheimer’s, and Pretty Petals, my company, is catering the flowers. They need someone to be on site and make sure the displays are correct and everyone’s happy, not to mention pressing the flesh and passing out our business cards. I got chosen to attend, and I want you to come along.”

“I’m following you so far.” Kate picked up the remote and started the movie. “But why aren’t you taking Eric?”

“Eric’s got some damned business retreat that weekend. You know, where they go up and shoot paintballs at each other and do that male bonding crap? He can’t get out of it, and I’m sure as hell not going to waste a ticket to a faboo shindig like this.”

Kate watched the atomic bombs go off, filling the screen with black-and-white devastation. “So you want me to go with you?”

Ann laughed. “Of course. You’re my best friend, and I couldn’t wish for a better wingman. Or wingwoman, I guess.”

“What—”

“This place is going to be crawling with rich men looking for hot women to take home. I might be married, but if I don’t have someone with me, it’s going to be like offering red meat to hungry lions.”

“And I’m going to be your date?” Kate smiled at seeing the toy boat model bounce up and down in the bathtub waves.

“You’re my protection. I want to chat with the businessmen, promote the company, tell them to look at the lovely centerpieces. But I can’t do it if I’ve got puppies snapping at my heels and you know a wedding band won’t put the worst of them off. You come with me, watch my back and use that voice of yours to chase them away.”

Kate allowed herself a chuckle. “What voice?”

“The one that says not to mess with you, or you’ll tie their dicks in a knot.”

“You mean my Domme voice?”

“Whatever you call it,” Ann said. “It’ll be a nice night out. I’m emailing you the information. It’s in a few weeks and just what you need to clear your mind.”

“Okay.” Kate grinned as the dark shadow loomed over the small fishing village. “I’ll pencil it in.”

“And if, you know, you happen to find someone—”

“I’ll talk to you later.” Kate cut the connection with a firm jab of her finger and settled down to watch the man in the rubber suit run wild through Tokyo.

Chapter Eleven

Another Sunday.

Another visit from Danielle.

Alex enjoyed it, he loved it, he almost came when she whispered in his ear from behind.

Because in his mind, it wasn’t Danielle.

It was Kate standing behind him, her fingers tracing down his hot and sore muscles.

Kate binding his hands together and hanging them from the hook, the dark gouge in the wood capturing and keeping his attention. Kate pushing him to the edge as she applied the flogger with unerring accuracy to his shoulders and back, the tails licking his bare ass and thighs.

Then he remembered it wasn’t.

He held back a sigh as the chime went off and Danielle helped him bring his arms down to his sides.

So close.

So close but not there.

His heart sank with the realization that he’d never get there without Kate to guide him.

Later on, he dressed in silence as Danielle packed up her gear, tucking his dress shirt into his jeans and waiting for her to hand him her phone.

A few minutes later, Danielle arched an eyebrow as he tapped in the final amount, adding a tip. “You’re very generous. Thank you.”

He smiled. It wasn’t faked; she’d know the difference.

“You deserved it. Thank you for visiting.”

It was the truth. She was an excellent Domme.

But she wasn’t his Domme.

Not the woman he wanted in and out of the bedroom.

Danielle looked at her phone then back at Alex, her lips wavering on the edge of a frown. “Are you—” She licked her lips and he saw the confusion before a steel wall shuttered down, cutting him off.

The aftercare had opened him up to her and she knew what he was thinking.

He winced inside knowing she’d guessed the truth.

Danielle twisted her mouth into a smile. “Take care, Alex. Good luck. You’re a wonderful submissive—you’re going to make some woman a happy, happy Domme.”

Alex nodded before escorting her to the door.

They both understood there wouldn’t be any more visits.

He felt both delighted and deflated at the realization.

Alex stood at the window and watched her leave.

Time to make another phone call.

Maybe his last.

“I’m sorry; we don’t know when Kate will be back.” The honeyed voice stroked his ear. “Didn’t Danielle meet your needs?”

“Yes. And no.” Alex cleared his throat. “I’d like Kate’s direct number, please.”

“I’m sorry, but it’s not possible,” she cooed.

Alex shifted to his business voice, the one that didn’t put up with any crap from people who should know better. “It is possible. I’m sure you have it on file.”

“We do. But we don’t give it out to clients.” The operator’s recovery was quick and sharp, matching Alex’s attitude. “Security protocol. You understand.”

Alex shifted gears. “I understand you have to protect your people from any possible problems. How about the other way around—can you ask her to call me?”

“Ah—” The smoothness vanished from her voice. “I guess I can do that.”

Alex allowed himself a smile.

There’s always another way to get what you want.

“Please do. Tell her I’d like to hear how she’s doing and if I can help in any way.”

“I’ll pass the message on to her. Thank you for your call.” The line went silent before he could reply.

Alex stared at the cell phone, mentally willing the receptionist to pass his message on.

It wasn’t a sure thing. The odds were good she’d toss his request in the garbage. He couldn’t be the first or last to try to track down one of Hooded Pleasures’ employees. They’d have a system set up to keep them safe and secure, keep their identities as secret as possible in case of any issues.

Alex couldn’t blame them.

He’d do the same in their place. Because no matter how much checking you did, there was always the chance of the wrong person becoming a customer and then an ex-customer. Someone who wouldn’t take “no” for an answer.

He understood. Didn’t like it, didn’t have to like it, but he understood why the company did what they did.

Alex knew he could find her if he put his mind to it. He’d seen her play, and it wouldn’t be hard to go into the online world and ask around about the Amazonian ogre. It’d take some time, but he could locate her persona, and a few more steps would have her personal information at his fingertips.

But where would he go from there? Show up at her door, demand answers? How would he even start to talk to her about his emotions, his feelings for her?

Not to mention if Kate got wind he was searching for her she might disappear or worse, call the law on his ass. The last thing he needed for his reputation was to have “accused stalker” on his resume. Even the hint of it could be enough to destroy his business contacts depending on how much leaked out. If the BDSM angle escaped—

It wouldn’t destroy his business, but it sure would put a few dents in it. Especially if the stalker angle came out and went viral.

Besides, he had a much more important problem to try to figure out.

He had no idea how to begin that transition, shift from a paid relationship to a personal one, remove the wall between them and let them come together as a man and a woman, as a submissive and his Domme.

All he knew was he couldn’t stand the situation as it stood. He’d never accept another visit from Hooded Pleasures unless it was Kate, and she didn’t want to see him at this point.

But he couldn’t just sit around and do nothing.

He’d made the first step leaving the message for Kate. It was on her now, the power staying in Kate’s firm grip.

She didn’t have to call him back. She didn’t have to see him ever again.

His heart skipped a beat.

What would he do if she never called back?

He hefted the cell phone in his hand and wondered about canceling the contract, terminating any official ties they had on each other.

It’d be a start. A signal to her he wasn’t going to settle for anyone else, that he truly belonged to her even if she didn’t know it yet. That few minutes on the floor, those few minutes—

He licked his lips, remembering the taste of her.

She didn’t fake any of that.

It was as legit as it came. Her responses, her eagerness, her hot, addictive kisses…

That was the Kate he wanted to know. The woman he wanted to love, to protect and serve.

So he had to cancel the contract.

But if he did it before hearing from her he might close off his only way to communicate with her. After he dropped the company, they sure as hell wouldn’t pass on any messages.

And he’d likely never see her again.

A hollow ache started in his gut at the idea, of never feeling her touch, be it gentle or harsh.

There had to be another option.

He just couldn’t think of one yet.

He had to wait.

Alex sighed.

Patience had never been one of his strong points. Kate had remarked on it more than once.

Now patience seemed very important indeed.

Kate couldn’t put it off any longer.

She studied the calendar hanging on the refrigerator door. It was there, marked in red and circled with a thick line.

Her “night out” with Ann.

She’d done some research on the charity event and found it was more popular than she’d thought, various news outlets bleating about the event and advertising the amount of money raised for Alzheimer’s research and the number of notable people attending. It’d never appeared on her radar before, but supposedly the gala had been going on for years with more and more donations every time.

As she surveyed the clothing in her closet, Kate was torn between being grateful for something to occupy her time and being annoyed at having to leave her living room.

The pizza place had her regular order memorized. All she had to do was call and confirm.

It wasn’t necessarily a Good Thing.

The worst thing was she still hadn’t made up her mind about Alex.

Tracy had called to let her know he’d had two sessions with Danielle, and from the Domme’s personal report, he wasn’t likely to ask for any more sessions. He hadn’t canceled his contract, but the fact he hadn’t asked for another Domme didn’t bode well. They’d call later that week for a follow-up to see if Danielle’s feelings held true, that this substitution wasn’t working out. After that, they’d see what he wanted to do, accept another Domme or terminate his arrangement with Hooded Pleasures.

Alex had called the switchboard, but not about Danielle. He’d asked about Kate, tried to get her phone number. Tracy had exhibited her usual efficiency, putting him off.

Failing at getting her home number, Alex had asked for a message to be passed on.

Tracy did, letting Kate draw her own conclusions.

She focused on getting dressed, tamping down the questions swamping her mind.

What would he do now that he’d turned down Danielle?

Would he cancel his contract?

Would he try to seek her out? After seeing him in action, Kate had no doubt that he could find where she lived with little effort. He could easily access her character info from the online game and work it backward, find her personal information.

Turn up at her front door with a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates.

If he did—what would she do?

She wasn’t sure how she felt about the possible answers to those questions.

An hour later, Kate stood outside her condominium, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. The shoes weren’t the problem; her nerves were.

She hated going to public events, be they parties, graduations or charity affairs. There was something about so many people in one place, most of them there for the wrong reasons.

Networking, scouting for prospective mates, one-night stands without any luggage… She guessed there were few people at these events actually there for the cause, be it celebrating some epic achievement or chasing a cure for a horrible disease. There were definitely the good sort, the type who loved to give to charity and worked tirelessly to make other lives better.

But they usually didn’t show up to wave for the cameras.

The majority of the people attending, in her opinion, were there to see and be seen to get into the society papers.

That world wasn’t hers. And she felt nervous being around those people who did make it their life and looked down on everyone else.

The classic “think of them in their underwear” theory to keep calm didn’t work for her. It was easier to shift to seeing them in various states of bondage, especially the men.

And that was wrong on so many levels.

Fortunately, she wasn’t going to have to travel far to get to the evening’s entertainment.

The charity event was at one of the major downtown hotels, the Hewitt. Kate had been there once or twice for their renowned afternoon teas and remembered it as a lovely place.

It didn’t help the butterflies in her stomach as Ann rolled up to the curb in her car and waved her over.

The short black dress was Kate’s favorite outfit for such occasions. It was a perfect chameleon; add some fancy jewelry, and it’d dress up nice for a semiformal outing. Neutral enough to blend in with the crowd and let her slide through the evening without drawing any attention to herself.

Ann wore a lovely light blue dress, tight in all the right places and yet professional enough to make it clear she wasn’t advertising for company. Kate envied her for her fashion sense.

“You ready for a fun night out?” Ann laughed as Kate fastened her seat belt.

“Sure am. Did Eric go off to his happy hunting grounds?” Kate tried not to wince as Ann peeled away from the curb and bounced into traffic.

“They’re all naked and howling at the moon or whatever those guys like to do. I suspect it’s more a case of sitting around watching pornos and comparing dick sizes while drinking like they’re frat boys again.” Ann swerved around a slower car as Kate dug her fingernails into the dashboard. “That’s my idea of male bonding.” She glanced at Kate as they took another corner. “You okay?”

“Sure.” Kate managed a smile. “Just a little nervous.”

“You’ll be fine.” Ann reached over and patted her hand. “I know it’s been a while since you got out into the world, but trust me. It’s like falling off a bike. You’ll know what to do.”

“I’m not looking for anyone.” Kate winced inside as the words came out a bit too harshly and a bit too hurriedly.

“Of course you’re not,” Ann answered without missing a beat. “You’re here to keep me company and enjoy a lovely evening among people who make more in a week than we do or will in our lifetimes.” She put her hand back on the steering wheel, relieving Kate’s anxiety. “And pig out on some great food. I skipped breakfast and lunch for this. Hope it’s worth my growling stomach.”

Kate laughed and then grimaced as they took a sharp turn way too fast.

Alex spent every last second he could working on another page of code, snatching sideway glances at the clock. Jane had called an hour ago to announce they were picking him up on time, not leaving him any excuse room. She’d reminded him for the umpteenth time to wear a decent shirt and tie with the good jacket and pants she knew he had hidden in the closet for such occasions.

He ignored the fashion slight. He’d dressed up before for meetings with high-priced clients and the like—he knew how to look professional.

Alex also knew this was typical Jane fussing over any and everything she could take control of. It was a way she dealt with her nervousness.

Mike sure as hell hadn’t picked out his outfit.

He doubted Monica had much of a choice either. Jane had probably dictated what she’d wear for this double date with a stern warning not to get drunk and out of control like she had at Jane’s wedding. Monica, being a good sport, would have gone along with it just for the sake of getting to go to the gala and be with Alex.

A horn bleated from the driveway.

He got up and grabbed the tie lying on the desk as he started shutting down his computer.

It was going to be a wonderful night.

Not.

Jane, sitting in the front seat, scowled at him as Alex got in the back seat behind her. “You were working up to the last second weren’t you?”