Rule Breaker

by Sienna Snow

  “We’re here for you, baby girl.” Carmen took my hand and squeezed it.

  “This is the way it was supposed to be, the three of us against the world.”

  Milla’s words caused my heart to clench. The guilt of abandoning Carmen weighed heavy on my conscience. “I’m sorry I pushed you away, Carm. You deserved an explanation. Because of me, you lost Milla, too. We should have been there for you.”

  Carmen pulled back from our embrace. “Even though it hurt, I never held you responsible. I actually placed the entire fault on Max. We barely spoke for over a year. I blamed him and his stupid ego for the loss of my two closest friends. I’m not trying to embarrass you, but I knew about the type of relationship you had with him.”

  “But how?” I bit my lip. I thought Milla was the only one aware of the extent my relationship with Max.

  “He’s my twin, Arya. We’ve known each other’s secrets from the time we were young, including the types of kinks we practiced. That’s why I was so angry with him. What he did to you broke a very sacred trust.”

  “I feel a little weird right now. I must have done a lousy job of keeping the nontraditional aspect of my relationship under wraps.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Honestly, I couldn’t believe my nerdy, little virgin best friend would be open to exploring kink.”

  I laughed and felt my cheeks burn.

  Was I that naïve about sex?

  “Okay girls,” Milla interrupted. “Enough with the sex talk. My innocent ears can’t take it.”

  I rolled my eyes. Milla’s adventures in kink put mine to shame, and Carmen wasn’t innocent, either. Under her gentle and demure exterior sat a feisty Domme who loved to take charge.

  Hooray, no more serious talk.

  “So what’s the plan for tonight? Carmen, are you up for a trip into San Fran?” I asked.

  “Sure, after these past few weeks, I could let off some steam with a night on the town. Do you know any hot guys who can join us?”

  “Of course. I’ll make a few calls and set it up. Be prepared. Milla and I are going to show you how we smart Cali girls party.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Dressed in our sexiest clothes, Carmen, Milla, and I strolled to the entrance of Saba, the new club Milla and I had secretly invested in. Located in San Francisco’s SoMa district, it had a twenty-five-and-older clientele and was perfect for club hoppers.

  “Ms. Rey, Ms. Castra. It’s good to see you two again.” A handsome, burly bouncer approached us. He leaned down to give both of us a hug. “It’s nice to know you girls remembered us little people in the world.”

  “There is nothing little about you, George. I don’t even come close to your elbow,” I joked and got a tighter squeeze in response.

  “We missed you. The only time I get a glimpse of both of you is on TV or in the newspapers. The pictures in the paper don’t do you any justice.” He gestured toward Carmen. “Who might this be?”

  “George, this is Carmen Dane. A good friend of ours. We thought she needed a peek at what San Francisco nightlife is all about.” I smiled at him. “James is parking. Be nice for me, will you?”

  George snorted. “That old man can take care of himself. Don’t worry, I’ll send him to his usual perch at the top of the club.”

  I rolled my eyes. George liked to tease that James was my hawk, watching and ready to strike his prey if anyone came too close to his charge.

  “Why do you have a Russian geezer like him around when you could have all this gorgeous chocolate looking after your person?” He rubbed his chest, emphasizing his brawny form.

  “Because you’re too pretty and a complete distraction. I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off you.” I stood on tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. At six foot eight and 280 pounds, George looked like a scary bouncer, but in reality he was all mush and a perfect teddy bear.

  “Is Thomas here?”

  George gestured inside. “He’s waiting for you at your usual table. Go on in.” He removed the red rope blocking the entrance and let us pass.

  “You girls head up. I need to go check on something,” Milla mumbled as she walked toward the offices of the club.

  “Work, work, work. All work and no play makes Milla a boring girl,” I called.

  Yeah, I’m one to talk.

  Milla flipped me off and kept walking.

  “Arya, I had no idea you were such a flirt. George is totally in love with you,” Carmen commented, as we headed to our table on the second story of the club.

  I laughed. “George has eyes only for his partner of ten years. He flirts to keep everyone guessing. Besides, his lover’s over there.” I gestured toward Marco, the slim Latin-model-looking person managing the bar. “He would slit my throat if I tried to convert George over to the straight side of life.”

  “Wow, everyone working here is hot,” Carmen exclaimed.

  “I hope you include me in that statement.” A deep voice stated from behind us.

  I twirled and hugged the man carrying the sexy baritone. “Thomas. I missed you.”

  He picked me up in a loving, brotherly embrace. Why couldn’t I have fallen in love with a person like him? He was smart, gorgeous, and sexy as hell.

  “When are you coming back to Boston?”

  I had met Thomas as an undergrad at Stanford. A few years ago, when he and a group of other Cali kids wanted to break into the nightlife industry, they offered me and Milla an opportunity to invest. We thought, Why not? and decided to take the plunge. Now, ten clubs later, we were major stakeholders in some of the top clubs in the world. Thomas managed all the venues and kept our association silent.

  Milla and I already didn’t fit the stereotype of the dot-com executives, and we didn’t need any extra scrutiny of our personal investments while trying to broker IT deals. Besides clubs, Thomas was one of the first investors in ArMil. The man had the pulse of anything technology related and had made a fortune following his instincts.

  “I was in Boston last week but had to get back sooner than I expected.” He glanced up and caught Carmen staring.

  Her face was slightly flushed as she clenched the clutch in her palm.

  “Thomas, I’d like you to meet my friend and business partner, Carmen Dane.”

  Thomas took Carmen’s hand in his and gave it a gentle kiss. “We’ve met before. It’s good to see you again, Carmen. Or should I address you as Ms. Dane?”

  Carmen snatched her hand back. “Carmen is fine.”

  Whoa, there was definitely a story there.

  “How do you guys know each other?” I was so nosy.

  “We met at a charity event in New York. It started out boring as hell and then transformed into a most pleasant evening. Wouldn’t you agree, Ms. Dane?” he purred.

  Carmen’s face turned red.

  Holy shit, they totally slept together. Once we’re home, I’m getting the scoop on that one.

  “Thomas, this is not the time or the place,” Carmen snapped.

  I decided to corral Carmen before her head exploded. “Hey, Carm, follow me. I want to dance before the crowd moves in. All of Thomas’s clubs hire the best DJs. They’re the biggest draw outside of the ambiance.” I glanced over my shoulder. “Thomas, be a doll and send Milla our way once she’s finished scrutinizing your books.”

  Thomas laughed and blew both of us a kiss.

  I grasped Carmen’s hand and dragged her to the dance floor. “What happened between you two?”

  “It was nothing. We went out after the event. Nothing happened,” she insisted.

  Yeah, right, and I’m not still in love with your brother. Dammit, I’m not supposed to think about him. “You’re such a liar. You totally banged him.”

  Carmen abruptly stopped and glared my way.

  I raised my hands in surrender. “Okay. Okay. I’ll let it drop.”

  We snagged a spot on the back of the dance floor away from the performance dancers. The music flowed, and for the first time in over three months, relaxati
on coursed over me.

  I loved dancing and enjoyed letting the beat and rhythm fill me. I had hated all the lessons Aunt Elana forced me to take as a child: ballet, tap, urban rhythm. But now, a night out dancing provided the perfect remedy to a stressful week.

  About fifteen minutes into the club mix, Milla tapped my shoulder and handed me a cocktail. Thomas with a few of our other Stanford crew followed her and joined our group. I chugged my drink, deposited my glass on a nearby tray, and continued dancing and laughing. That was until a hand crept around my waist and pulled me back against a firm chest. My heart leaped into my throat.

  The hold was unyielding and possessive, and I knew without a doubt Max was behind me. Carmen cringed and then glared at her brother. I laid my hand over his, thinking to tug it away, but a shock of arousal flashed through me. His slightest touch turned me to putty. Thomas moved toward us, but I shook my head. I could handle this without causing a scene.

  He covered my hand and whispered in my ear, “Relax. I just want to dance.” His warm breath on my neck and the slight caress of his mouth against my ear increased the inferno blazing in my center.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’m not ready for this,” I admitted.

  “One dance, for old times’ sake. We always had great rhythm together.”

  Without giving me a chance to decide, he pulled my hand up and behind me to the back of his neck.

  I closed my eyes and gave in without protest. The soft feel of his hair under my palm brought out the compulsion to thread my fingers through his dark strands and yank him closer.

  My other hand still remained on his and clutched tight as we swayed to the music.

  “What are you doing here, Max? Are you following me?” I whispered.

  “Yes and no. Don’t stiffen up on me—keep dancing and let me explain. My assistant had scheduled me for a few meetings this week in San Francisco, but when I found out Carmen skipped out on her European assignment, I arrived early to see if everything was okay. She’s been acting weird for a few weeks.”

  I had a gut feeling the weirdness Max described revolved around the evening with Thomas. But until I had more details, I wasn’t mentioning anything to anyone.

  Max continued, “I planned on calling her after my appointment tomorrow. Meeting like this is a coincidence. I didn’t expect to see you here. I purely wanted to check out one of the clubs my new business partners were heavily invested in.” His lips grazed my neck, and the tip of his tongue made small circles behind my ear.

  Without a thought, I tilted my neck, giving him better access, and moaned.

  “Lucky for me, you and your entourage decided to come here as well.”

  What am I doing?

  I moved forward, but the effects of his lips and tongue lingered.

  The music sped up, and our hands reversed their grip. He spun me around, pulling me close. My belly pressed against his hip, my breasts to his firm muscular chest. I inhaled deep and stared into his smoldering eyes. Our lips were mere inches apart, and the desire to kiss him overwhelmed me. If I moved my mouth a little bit closer, I could release some of this need building inside me.

  “I know you feel it, Arya,” Max whispered, keeping the minuscule distance separating our lips. “From the beginning we were drawn to each other. Years and distance have only increased the pull.”

  I wanted to disagree, but the hitch in my breath gave me away. I licked my lips, and Max’s attention slipped from my eyes to my mouth.

  “Would you stop me if I kissed you right now?”

  Oh, God no! I’ve dreamed about it for five years.

  “That’s not a good idea, Max. We have to keep a strict line between business and our personal lives.”

  “You didn’t answer my question, Arya. Your eyes are dilated, and your breath is shallow. You don’t need to say it. I already know the answer.”

  Cocky bastard.

  “Max don’t do this,” I pleaded. Everything in my body screamed to close the distance and remember, but the consequences outweighed the benefits.

  His hand crept along my side, just under the swell of my breast. My nipples tightened and strained. “Nothing will ever happen between us that you don’t want.”

  That was what I feared.

  “I’m not getting involved with you, Max. I’ve lived with the scars for five years. I won’t add new ones. I’ll never be anyone’s temporary fling again.”

  Temporary fling. The words he called our relationship five years ago still hurt every time I remembered them.

  His grip tightened on my side. “I regret everything I said that day, Arya. If I could take them back, I would. Like I told you in your office, life would be different if I hadn’t been such a coward back then.”

  My lip trembled, so I bit it. How many years had I waited for those words?

  “Why are you telling me this now? I’ve built a new life. One that doesn’t involve you. There’s no going back.”

  “I’m not asking to go back. I want to move forward. I’m not making the same mistakes twice. I won’t ever let you go.” He closed the distance between us. The first touch of his lips was both soft and intoxicating. He tasted so good. I threaded my hands around his neck and into his hair. I wanted more.

  As if reading my mind, he opened his mouth, and his tongue touched mine. All coherent thought escaped, while my body drowned in a flood of need. We continued kissing until the music changed and someone passing by nudged us.

  The fog finally cleared, and I stared into Max’s emerald eyes. His erection pressed against my stomach, and my breath caught as I resisted rubbing against him.

  I stepped back out of his hold and touched my lips. My face was flushed and mouth swollen. “Max…that…that shouldn’t have happened.” A tear slipped down my cheek.

  Great, now I’m crying.

  I walked past Thomas and my friends. Thomas stopped me. “Arya, are you okay?” He shot Max an angry glare over my shoulder.

  “I’m fine. Make sure the girls get back safely. I’m leaving. Don’t worry, Thomas. James will take me home.” I glanced toward the observation area, and James was already gone.

  I peeked behind me as I moved toward the exit. Max remained in the same spot, staring at me. I yearned to run to him and confess everything that had happened to me, but I couldn’t take that risk.

  I exited the club and let the cool night air hit me in the hope of calming my oversensitized nerves. James waved me over to our car. I climbed in and leaned my head back against the headrest. My phone rang, and I answered without checking the caller ID.

  “Hello.”

  “Open your eyes, Arya, and look out the window.”

  Oh no, the voice.

  I followed his command.

  Max leaned against the outside wall of the club, watching me.

  “No matter what you tell yourself, you know where you belong. Don’t think I’m giving up. I know you aren’t ready yet, but soon you won’t be walking away.”

  “Max, you have no claim on me. Not anymore.” I protested. Closing my eyes, I willed my body to calm.

  “Keep telling yourself that. Even now, I know your skin is on fire, craving my touch. I know that with the slightest change of my voice, you react. If I told you to slide your hand down between your legs, you would, and you’d find yourself wet and aching.”

  I didn’t need to touch myself; the dampness soaked through my underwear. I couldn’t go back there again. “Max, please don’t do this to me. I’ve built a new life for myself without you in it.”

  “Well, you’d better start making room for me. I plan on becoming a very permanent part of your life, and it isn’t beneath me to use every opportunity to remind you of who you belong to.”

  “This isn’t fair—”

  “I’m not playing to be fair,” he interrupted. “I’m playing for keeps. Consider yourself warned.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  Monday morning arrived faster than I’d expected, but the luxury of hav
ing my own plane with a bedroom and shower on board allowed me to maximize my time in Cali. The girls had left the night before, Milla back to Boston for a four a.m. meeting with the Italian board of her family’s holdings, and Carmen flying across the Atlantic to Germany.

  James woke me an hour before we landed, giving me plenty of time to freshen up and change for a quick run in the park before heading into the office.

  After my incident with Max at the club and my resolution to keep a professional distance between us, I’d had a rather relaxed week. Most of it was spent stuffing my face with Aunt Elana’s food, reconnecting with Carmen, and retail therapy with Milla. That girl knew how to spend money, and it was very contagious, though the guilt of buying a twenty-thousand-dollar gown still lingered in my gut.

  I strode onto my private elevator and turned on my phone. I hadn’t looked at it since I’d left for Monterey, and I probably had a hundred missed e-mails and messages. If I was lucky, Kerry would have cleaned the junk from my inbox before I reached the office. Then I’d only have to sort through the important ones.

  My phone illuminated and I scrolled through the messages and noticed one from Max. What could he want?

  I hope you had a most relaxing week. When you have a moment, I’d like to discuss a few things with you. Personal things. In private.

  Oh no, that was never going to happen. Being alone with him went against everything I’d told myself in California.

  I leaned back against the metal walls of the elevator. His sheer presence unnerved me. A simple brush from him and I was ready to let him dominate me. If my reaction at the club hadn’t proved it, nothing would. I relished his touch, his smell, his taste.

  Goose bumps prickled my arms and body. I shook the thought from my mind. No matter what my true feelings were, I had to maintain our professional relationship.

  The cab stopped at my floor as I skimmed for other important messages. I exited into the hall and heard a commotion.

  “Is she still the cold bitch she always was?”

  I stopped midstep around the corner from my office. I recognized the voice and his words.