Strictly Business: Hooded Pleasures, Book 1 (21 page)

Their usual stoic looks disappeared upon seeing her. Wide smiles split their faces, helping calm her nerves.

“Mistress Kate,” Ed said with a slight bow. “So glad to see you again.” He kept his voice low, although there was no one nearby. “We were worried about you for some time, until Wendy informed us you had taken a break from attending.”

Eddie nodded his welcome.

He’d never been one to waste words.

“Good to see you too.” She flinched inside. These men had been her friends, and she’d walked out without saying good-bye. “I had some personal matters to deal with.”

“You have nothing to apologize for, most of all to us. Welcome back.” Ed held the door open for her.

Kate hesitated, her fingernails digging into her palms to help her find the strength to continue.

She hadn’t been forced out of the club, her membership terminated because she’d done something wrong. She’d exiled herself because she didn’t feel she could ever share the same space with Carl again, the very air tainted with her failure.

Now she was back.

To save someone from hurting himself.

Alex.

He needs me.

I need him.

Her stomach curled into knots.

Ed kept the door open, staying silent.

She thought for a wild second about cutting and running, bolting into the night.

Alex.

“Thank you.” Kate stepped into the hall and headed for the front desk, forcing herself to walk slowly.

She couldn’t get to where she needed to be by running.

Jackie, sitting behind the desk, frowned for a second, and Kate knew she was busy mentally flipping through the membership files, using her photographic memory to figure out who this new arrival was.

Kate slowed her pace, giving her extra time to recognize her.

Jackie’s face showed equal parts of shock and happiness. “Kate?” she whispered. “Is that you?”

Kate found herself smiling despite the situation. “Matthew has you working the door? I thought he would have let you take over as assistant manager by now.”

“I am the assistant manager. I like to sit here and see the new kids sweat their way through the front door on these nights. One of the privileges of seniority.” Jackie jumped to her feet and ran around the desk to grab her in a tight hug. “Kate. God, it’s been so long. How are you doing?” She pulled back to look at her. “I’m so sorry. When I heard—”

Kate put up her hand, cutting off the conversation before it had a chance to get started. “I’m just making a fast visit. Planning on only staying for a short time.”

Jackie paused for a minute before responding. “I understand.” From the tone in her voice, she didn’t but wasn’t going to pursue it. “Your locker is still there. Matthew decided, due to the circumstances, he’d keep it open for you as long as you wanted it.” She shook her head. “He wanted to toss them both out, but the rules…”

“Yeah, I know. The rules.” Kate fought to keep the concern out of her voice. “You tagged in a man not too long ago. Alex Hanson.”

Jackie picked up a clipboard. “Yes. New member. First night here, clipped him white and green.” Her eyes went wide as she looked at Kate. “Yours?”

The single word held a thousand questions.

“No. Maybe. I’m not sure.” She gestured toward the two doors. “I’m here to see.”

Jackie nodded. “Okay to tell Matthew you’re here? I know he was worried about you. He didn’t want to call and bother you at home.”

Interpretation: he didn’t want to get caught in a fight between you and Carl.

“Sure.” Kate had already stepped around the desk and now stood in front of the locker room door. “Do whatever you want.”

“It’s good to see you again,” Jackie said as she unlocked it with a flick of her finger. “I think you’ll find nothing much has changed.”

Everything’s changed
, Kate thought.
Everything.

The room was much as she’d remembered it, a series of lockers that could have been part of any gym. The black metal closets stood there waiting to hold secrets safe for the members of Boots ’n’ Chains.

A twist of her key, and the locker door swung open. She’d taken all her gear on her last visit, not wanting to leave any reason behind for her to return. Only one item sat on the top shelf, waiting for her to put it on.

The gold bracelet.

Alex.

She hung up her trench coat and reached for the thin gold band.

Alex.

Kate slid the bracelet on her hand and shut the door, leaving the key in the lock.

She strode toward the door at the far end of the room.

The full-length mirror stood beside the entrance to the lounge area. She’d spent more than a few minutes there in the past, checking herself out. Kate couldn’t help thinking about the outfits she’d worn in the past before, after and during her time with Carl.

Tight leather-and-lace corsets propping her breasts up and accentuating her cleavage. Fishnet stockings that would be inevitably torn by the end of the night. Her favorite pair of boots, knee-high and polished by adoring hands.

She wore none of that tonight.

Now she was going back to—

Kate paused, her hand on the doorknob.

To do what? Save Alex from his desires?

She’d seen the way he’d reacted to her touch, to the feel of leather on bare skin.

Her hands on his chest.

The taste of his lips.

The memory sent a warm rush through her body.

Kate closed her eyes, reliving the moment.

Damn.

She clenched her thighs together in an effort to pull herself back from the brink. A few minutes in the club, and she was already more than halfway to coming.

Alex was out there, waiting for her.

Kate wasn’t sure what she was going to do or say to him.

But she wasn’t going anywhere standing in the locker room.

She gripped the exit-door handle and pulled.

Chapter Fifteen

Alex put the empty water bottle down on the bar. William came over and gave him a questioning look.

“No more, thanks.” Alex looked out on the dance floor.

Any more water, and he’d be spending the next hour in the bathroom. It wouldn’t be a bad place to hide, but he suspected at some point, Veronica would come in there after him.

He doubted he’d find sanctuary in a men’s room.

Not here.

It’d been over an hour since Veronica went off with the unnamed sub. Whatever they were doing back there, she was taking her time.

He closed his eyes and groaned, remembering his sessions with Kate. Limits set because it was in his house, restricted to short sessions with only the toys he had or what she brought.

Here, there were almost unlimited options, unlimited possibilities. And he wanted to share all of them with her.

With Kate.

Katherine.

“You okay?” William’s voice brought him out of his reverie. He looked at him, concern in his eyes.

“Fine.”

Maybe he should leave.

“You can do that,” William said.

With a shock Alex realized he’d spoken it aloud.

“But I got a feeling you’d rather stay now.” He nodded toward the far side of the room. “Haven’t seen her in a dog’s age. You show up, she shows up—doesn’t take a blind man to see what’s going on here.” He grinned. “You got yourself a winner here. Well done.”

Alex caught his breath as the figure approached.

She was a goddess.

Mistress.

It wasn’t the most revealing outfit. By comparison to the others on the floor, it was covering too much skin.

But it was Kate.

His Kate.

His Katherine.

His Mistress.

She wore a black blouse, the buttons half-undone and the long sleeves loose on her arms. The black jeans ended in matching motorcycle boots—hardly what he’d think of as typical wear for a Dominatrix. Compared to the others in the room, she was overdressed.

But on her, it was perfect.

She slid in beside him, settling on the barstool.

She didn’t look directly at him.

William stepped up with a wide grin. “Pleased to see you, Mistress Kate. What can I get you?”

“Water,” Kate replied.

The bartender moved off as Kate let her breath out slowly, studying the top of the bar.

William placed a cold water bottle in front of Kate, taking the cap off for her with a sharp twist of his wrist. He glanced at Alex as if to ask if he wanted another drink.

Alex shook his head. His mind was spinning. He wanted to slide to his knees, kiss her feet, but there was something wrong with her—something off.

Kate lifted the bottle and took a tiny sip. She cradled the bottle with both hands. The gold bracelet slid back and forth on her wrist as if afraid to settle in any one place.

Alex saw the water vibrations, the slight tremble in her fingers as she gripped the bottle.

The realization slapped him across the face.

Kate was terrified to be here.

She’s scared.

Why?

Alex rolled the empty bottle in his hands, trying to find the right words to start the most important conversation he’d have in his life. He thought he’d be waiting for days, weeks before she showed up.

A few hours wasn’t anywhere in his imagined scenario.

The great speech he’d been in the early stages of composing withered up and blew away in the dry desert of his mind.

Damn.

She came here for me.

And I can’t find the words.

“Hello again.” The familiar voice brought his head up and around, away from the woman beside him.

Veronica.

Double damn.

She stood there alone, her hands on her hips. “I said I’d be back.” Her eyes locked with Alex’s. “Ready?”

His mouth went dry as he looked at her. Aside from the flush in her cheeks, she looked like she had earlier, no evidence she’d taken a man in the back and made him—

Do what? What did she do with him?

Alex’s imagination began to run wild.

Veronica extended her hand. “Come on. I’ll show you a good time, rookie. And if you’re good, maybe I’ll consider making you a regular.” She wriggled her fingers. “Come on.”

He stared at the long, slender fingers.

Kate gritted her teeth, hearing Veronica’s speech.

He’s not yours.

She fought the panic attack threatening to overwhelm her, the fear of being called out clamping her mouth shut.

Speak up. Say something.

She wasn’t sure if she was talking to herself or Alex.

If you speak up, you claim him as yours.

Are you ready for that?

Does he really want this?

Do you?

“Come on,” Veronica urged Alex. “I promise you an experience you won’t soon forget.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Kate saw Alex bend backward, away from the Domme’s hand. He probably didn’t even know what he was doing, but it sent a clear signal. A good Domme, a smart one, would have caught on to the body language and backed off.

Veronica did not.

“Look,” the woman said, a note of impatience working its way into her words, “I’m offering you a good time. You tell me what you want, and I’ll give it to you. Spanking, flogging, pegging—name it, and it’s yours. No strings attached.” She smirked. “I’ll make you come so hard, you’ll faint.”

Heat surged through Kate’s veins at the tone and language. It wasn’t the words—she’d said the same and more explicit in the past.

It was the attitude.

This wasn’t anywhere near a fair offer of exchange.

The heat congealed in her spine, stiffened her resolve.

This isn’t what Alex wants.

Because I know.

I know.

“Don’t push him.” Kate slid off the stool and stood beside Alex.

She fought against the nervous spasms in her gut.

This woman wasn’t in it for the right reasons.

Kate could tell by the tone in her voice, the way she spoke to Alex.

She was a damned bully.

A Dominatrix who got off on the pain and didn’t give a crap about the sub she was with.

She’d given herself away by not picking up on Alex’s cues, his body language.

Veronica turned her attention away from Alex and focused on Kate. Her eyes narrowed. “And who the hell are you?”

“None of your business. Just pointing out the obvious.” Kate resisted the urge to turn her head to the side and glance at Matthew’s office. The one-way window meant he could be watching the entire encounter, waiting to see what would happen. “You seem to be pretty determined to take him no matter what he says or does. Doesn’t seem right to me.”

Veronica studied Kate for a long minute, like a botanist observing a rare butterfly. “I think I remember you. I joined the club about a year ago and saw—” Her eyes widened. “Now I remember. We talked about you in the locker room, giggled about you while stripping off the leathers.” She pointed at Kate. “You’re the one who lost her sub.” She grinned. “How sad for you. And how embarrassing.” Veronica raised her voice on the last sentence, making sure others could hear. “I’m surprised you have the nerve to show your face here.”

Kate resisted the urge to punch her.

It was against the rules.

Alex looked from one woman to the other, the confusion evident on his face.

Kate tried not to focus on him.

Here you go, Alex—Dommes in the wild.

William moved a little closer, strategically wiping the bar with a damp cloth. Out of the corner of her eye, Kate spotted his right hand slipping under the bar to the panic button she knew was there.

Nearby conversations ended with their participants moving in to see what was going on.

Kate could have sworn she heard the canned music drop in volume to allow everyone to hear what was being said.

Great. Just what I need. An audience.

In the right time and place, she’d have welcomed it. But not here and not now.

“That’s in the past.” She jerked her thumb toward the dance floor. “I think it’s time for you to move on. I’m sure there’re plenty of other men who’d like to be with you.”

Maybe not so many now.

“Excuse me?” Veronica glared at her. “I don’t believe I was addressing you. I was having a chat with—” A blank look appeared as she looked back at Alex.

“Alex,” Kate offered. “His name is Alex. And if you’re going to take him into a back room, the least you can do is know his name.” She ground her teeth together to hold the rage at bay. “Seriously. Have the club’s standards dropped that low?”

“As I was saying,” Veronica repeated, raising her voice, “I don’t believe I was talking to you. I was talking to him, which means you should mind your own damn business.”

“Ladies.”

The single word brought everything and everyone to a halt.

Matthew, the manager, strode up to the bar. He was just as Kate remembered him—a handsome face, with short black hair and an impeccably trimmed goatee, set on a gorgeous body. Tonight, he wore a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and blue jeans, a single silver chain around his neck. “Is there a problem?”

His gaze swept over them, startling Kate.

She’d forgotten how intense he could be when it came to guarding what was his.

And the club was definitely his.

“This”—Veronica gestured at Kate—“is trying to muscle in on my sub.” She reached out and took hold of Alex’s wrist. “I don’t know if it’s jealousy or she’s still freaking out from losing her own man, but—”

A panicked look crossed Alex’s face. He sucked in his breath, stuttering as her nails pressed into his flesh.

“Hold on.” Matthew’s hand landed on Veronica’s forearm, his grip tightening. “You don’t touch unless asked. You know that. Basic rule. Did you ask permission?”

Veronica said nothing.

Matthew turned to Alex. “Did she?” The low voice demanded an answer.

Alex shook his head. He didn’t twist out of Veronica’s grip, her fingers tight on his wrist. The fire-red nails glittered against his skin.

He stayed still, waiting to see what was going to happen.

Kate resisted the urge to interrupt, to tell Alex what to do.

Good boy. Let Matthew take care of it.

Veronica pouted. “Oh, come on. He wants it. He might be a newbie, but he wants it. That’s what he’s here for tonight, right?” She drew herself up, stretching to match Matthew’s height. “I can read cues as well as anyone else. Just because he hasn’t said yes doesn’t mean he’s not interested.”

“Interested isn’t the same as giving permission.” Matthew increased the pressure on Veronica’s arm. “Especially where new members are involved.” He looked at Alex and nodded as Veronica’s grip lessened.

Alex pulled his wrist free and massaged it. There was no doubting the fear in his eyes.

This wasn’t what he wanted.

“You know what night this is. You know the rules. You should know the fuck better than to pull a stunt like this.” Matthew’s lips curled into a snarl as he glared at her. “My office. Now.” He released Veronica’s arm and strode toward a door in the corner of the room.

Veronica put her hands on her hips, looked after him and stuck out her tongue. She turned back and glared at Kate. “Bitch.”

“Hey, this is all on you. I didn’t do anything.” Kate crossed her arms in front of her. “But he might if you don’t get your ass in there pronto. If you’re lucky, you’ll go on probation.” She couldn’t hold back the anger in her voice. “Even if it weren’t new members’ night, you should know better.”

“What?” The snarky reply had Kate seeing red. “What are you babbling about? And what would you know about it?” Veronica snorted. “Couldn’t even keep her own man.”

Kate couldn’t hold back anymore, her voice rising with anger. “You don’t know the first thing about what it takes to be a submissive. What it takes for them to be who they are, what a gift they are to women and men like us.” Kate swept a hand toward Alex. “They give themselves with the expectation we’ll be alert, receptive to their needs, know what they want even if they don’t, and respect the boundaries.” She felt a dozen sets of eyes watching her. “We take care of them first, put them ahead of ourselves. And in exchange, they show us how strong they are, how much they love us to take what we give them. We won’t do anything that’s not consensual, sane and safe.” She glared at Veronica. “Or did you forget that while you were busy getting off on hurting someone?”

Veronica’s face reddened. “Fuck you,” she snarled as she spun on one heel and strode away toward Matthew’s office.

The door opened as she approached and slammed shut behind her, signaling Matthew had been watching everything.

The curious spectators returned to whatever they’d been doing before the confrontation. It was entertaining, but not what they’d come to see or do.

Kate turned to Alex. “Are you okay?”

He continued to rub his wrist, avoiding her gaze. Finally, he pulled his eyes up to lock with hers.

“What the fuck was that?”

Alex wasn’t sure whether he was more embarrassed or excited.

He did know he was angry. Angry at the way this entire visit had turned out, angry at his body for reacting so strongly to seeing Kate and angry at himself for getting into the situation with Veronica.

His carefully laid plan was in tatters, and he had no idea what to do.

“What?” Kate answered.

“You—” He drew a deep breath, trying to channel his emotions into words. “You had no right to make up my mind for me.”

She stared at him.

“It’s my decision, my choice.” he snapped. “I didn’t need your help.”

“Did you want to go with her?” Kate’s disbelief was clear in her voice. “You wanted to be hurt?”

“No,” Alex snarled. “I was going to sit here all night, hard as steel with my balls aching for you, watching everyone else get what they wanted and going home alone and horny as hell to jerk off to dreams about you.” He ignored the audience gathering again for a second round of entertainment at the bar. “If she had forced me to go with her, I’d have regretted that decision, of that I’m sure. But it was mine to make. I could have safe-worded out, walked away at any time. But instead, you intervened. You took that choice from me.”