Tainted

by Jamie Begley

  “Let’s get some lunch,” Kaden said, seeming in a much better mood.

  Sawyer followed him back to the motorcycle, watching as he put his purchases into a saddlebag before placing hers in also. Getting on the bike, he turned the motor on as he waited for her to get on.

  “Don’t pout. I gave you fair warning, Sawyer. As soon as you learn that I’m the one with the balls, you might actually have some fun.”

  “I doubt it,” she said grumpily, putting on a helmet. This time, her arms circled him less enthusiastically.

  Kaden pulled out of the parking lot, driving several blocks before he pulled over at another strip mall. This mall seemed more respectable, and she didn’t hesitate to follow him inside the well known department store. She watched as he picked out several items, sometimes even asking her opinion. He chose commonsense items the guys were constantly fighting over on the bus, such as a new pair of shoes for Ax because he had forgotten his favorite pair in a hotel room. Several t-shirts for Sin since he ripped his off constantly when he was on stage. Then underwear for D-mon because Kaden said he was tired of seeing his junk on display.

  “Maybe he just likes to show off.”

  Kaden laughed at her joke. “It’s hard living on the road. If we don’t replace the essentials, then they start stealing them off each other. If Ax swipes another pair of my socks, I’m going to hurt him.”

  He bought R.J.’s wife a set of cookware as a hostess gift. Obviously, he had noticed Jordan was systemically destroying their current set.

  “Do you need anything?” he offered.

  “Yes, Please.” Sawyer went to the aisle she needed, picking up a package.

  “I see my socks aren’t the only ones that Ax has been pilfering,” Kaden said when she laid the large pack of socks on the counter.

  “Anything else?” He questioned.

  She looked up at Kaden. “Thanks for getting me out of the house. I’m enjoying myself.” Sawyer spoke the truth. She was enjoying herself, except for having to buy the paddle.

  “You can give me a present tonight to reward me,” Kaden’s wicked voice whispered into her ear as he put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her to his side as they checked out.

  Going outside, the sunny sky lifted her spirits even further. She began to feel like she was leading a normal life for the first time in months. Kaden took her hand, leading her to a restaurant at the end of the mall. The steakhouse was full, but they managed to find a seat without waiting.

  The food was good. She finished all of it. Relaxing, Sawyer leaned back in her seat, drinking the last of her wine. She enjoyed spending time with Kaden when he was like this, engaging without being bossy. He had a quick sense of humor, but it could disappear in a second when something irritated him.

  The booth next to them had two small children, and the mother was trying to unsuccessfully to soothe the infant. Kaden paid the bill, casting annoyed looks at the couple.

  “Sorry,” the mother said apologetically.

  “There’s no need to be sorry. No one can control a fussy baby. Try rubbing one of the ice cubes on her gums; she’s the age they can become pretty fussy when they’re teething.”

  The mother did as Sawyer had advised and the baby was soon playing with her rattle. As Kaden rose to leave, she thanked Sawyer. Sawyer smiled, following Kaden’s fast stride.

  “What’s the hurry?” Sawyer asked once they were outside.

  “I can’t stand to be around babies,” Kaden said, walking to his motorcycle.

  “I figured that out myself when you said you had a vasectomy,” Sawyer retorted, climbing onto the bike behind him. He didn’t reply to her comment as he drove the bike out into traffic.

  Their last stop was a liquor store, where Kaden bought several bottles of expensive wines. Alec came inside and carried them out to the vehicle he was driving.

  Sawyer stood to the side while Kaden paid the bill, spotting a donation box for the needy. She counted out the money in her pocket that she had left from the money Kaden had given her earlier, slipping all of the money into the box. Turning away, she saw that Kaden had been watching her.

  “Why did you give up your only cash?” Kaden asked.

  “I wanted to,” Sawyer said softly. Kaden’s eyes searched hers before he pulled her close.

  “Sometimes I can be a dick.” She knew he was referring to his behavior at the restaurant.

  “I know.”

  “Let’s head back.” He smiled ruefully at her acceptance of his flaw.

  “Okay.”

  They rode back to R.J.’s home in silence. The roads on their return were busy. It was getting late in the day and workers were going home to their families. Sawyer’s heart ached; she missed Vida so badly and hoped her friend was safe in King’s care.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Sawyer went into the kitchen where she found Jordan completely overwhelmed. She felt guilty for leaving her when she knew R.J. had planned to have a dinner party.

  “I’m sorry. I should have asked Kaden to bring me back sooner,” she apologized.

  “Don’t you dare apologize. It’s not your fault that I’m a terrible cook.”

  Sawyer looked around, seeing the haphazard way she was preparing the meal. Thankfully, she hadn’t put the roast in yet.

  “You can do the salad and get it ready, but go out and tell Kaden to serve everyone wine to keep them busy for twenty minutes.”

  “Me?” Jordan wasn’t anxious to speak with Kaden.

  “It’s okay; he won’t bite,” Sawyer assured her, getting busy seasoning the roast and placing it in the oven. Hastily, she went to the refrigerator. Thankfully, she’d had the good sense to throw together a Brussels’ sprouts gratin, and so she slid that in the oven also.

  Jordan came back with a relieved smile and began cutting up the salad. Moving to the side, Sawyer made a quick dessert that wasn’t fancy, but would taste good. She would wait until the roast was done before she placed it in the oven.

  She helped Jordan plate the salads and told her how to plate the food. Seeing the young woman had regained control and that a young man had entered to serve the food, Sawyer went outside to take a seat at the table, which was perfect timing because everyone was just taking their seats as well.

  Sawyer went to take an empty seat on the other side of Alana, who was sitting down next to Kaden. Her butt wasn’t allowed to hit the chair, however, before Kaden’s voice sounded over the conversations going on in the room.

  “That’s Sawyer’s chair, Alana.” The model thin women looked angry, but she didn’t say anything as she moved to the chair Sawyer had been about to take. Sawyer controlled her embarrassed reaction at being made the center of attention, sliding into the chair Kaden was now holding out for her.

  The waiter served the meal, and Sawyer was rewarded for her efforts when R.J. called Jordan out, complimenting her on the food. Sawyer winked at the young woman before she went back into the kitchen. Kaden raised a brow at her, yet he didn’t comment.

  After dinner, everyone went back into the living room, drinking the wine that Kaden had purchased.

  Sawyer sat down on the sofa and Kaden sat down next to her. She was surprised he was making it obvious that they had become intimate, then realized when Sin pulled Megan down onto his lap, that none of the men took their relationships with the women in the room seriously. Even the woman who made no effort to hide she was in love with Ax was only considered a part time girlfriend. Ax had told her himself that he didn’t want to be tied down and that Justine was just a good friend. Sawyer felt sorry for the woman, seeing from the look in her eyes that she didn’t consider herself just friends with Ax.

  Alana and Megan both concentrated their flirtations on Sin, who seemed to appreciate having two women vying for his attention. Kaden placed his hand on her thigh as he talked to Alec. Sawyer was listening to their conversation about the security needed for their next concert stop, but lifted her eyes when she felt a concentrated stare on her.
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  Briana was laughing at something her husband had said; however, her gaze was fixed on Kaden’s hand on her thigh. Kaden drew her attention when he asked Alec if he had heard any further news about Vida.

  “King placed her with his other women in his club. No one is going to get by his security.” Sawyer worried about her friend staying in the strip club. She could tell from Alec’s expression he was hiding something from her.

  “A—are you sure she’s okay?” Sawyer questioned him.

  “I’m sure. There’s not any trouble she can’t handle.” Alec stifled a smile when Kaden threw him a warning glance at his words. Not getting the unsaid joke and frustrated with the two men’s attitude, she rose from the couch.

  “I’m going to bed,” she snapped. She maneuvered herself away from the couch they were sitting on. She was just a few feet away when she heard Kaden’s voice.

  “Don’t forget my present, Sawyer.” Sawyer kept walking, as if she hadn’t heard the arrogant prick. Walking up the steps, she went into her bedroom and locked the door behind her.

  “Payback is a bitch,” she said sarcastically.

  ***

  Sawyer woke up alone in her bed the next morning. While not exactly regretting her decision, she had woken with her body feeling needy. Sawyer didn’t appreciate her body betraying her needs. While she had gone most of her life without a sexual partner, one night with Kaden and her body was giving her hell.

  She would be better off with Vida, surrounded by women, instead of a band full of men determined to show off their sexual prowess.

  She took a shower before getting dressed in her only other pair of jeans, reminding herself that she needed to wash clothes today if they were leaving on the bus tomorrow.

  Going downstairs, she walked into the kitchen where a strange woman was sitting at the table drinking a cup of coffee.

  The woman rose from the table. “My name is Lucy. How may I help you?”

  “Where’s Jordan?”

  “Ms. Jordan left; her trial period was over.” Jordan had told her she would be leaving at the end of the week, but somehow she had thought she would be leaving early tomorrow morning when they left. She hadn’t even said goodbye to her. Sawyer felt sad to have missed her; she had begun to consider her a friend.

  “Oh. I’m sorry I missed her. I’ll just pour myself a cup of coffee.”

  “Allow me.” The woman efficiently poured her some coffee. “Would you like any breakfast?”

  “I was just going to make myself a piece of toast.” The woman moved around the kitchen and then a plate of toast with butter was handed to her.

  “T—thank you.” Feeling uncomfortable, she sensed this woman had no intention of getting friendly with one of R.J.’s guests. Not wanting to sit in the large dining room, she went outside to eat her toast by the pool.

  It seemed like Kaden and Briana had the same idea; they were sitting at one of the tables. As she drew closer, she saw that Briana looked upset while Kaden’s face was an expressionless mask behind his sunglasses.

  She wanted to retreat when she saw them, but didn’t want to appear intimidated. Instead, she sat down on one of the lounge chairs, setting her coffee on the small table next to it. She leaned back against the cushions as both of them continued quietly talking, ignoring her presence.

  It wasn’t long before Megan, Alana and Justine came outside wearing skimpy swimsuits. The women jumped into the water, screaming playfully, trying to draw attention to themselves. Alana and Megan actually removed their tops, throwing them to the side of the pool.

  Disgusted, Sawyer was about to get up and go back inside the house when Alana got out of the water. Picking up a towel, she dried her body off before dropping the towel down on one of the empty lounge chairs. Going up behind Kaden, she placed her arms around his neck, and pressed her bare breasts against his back. One hand slid down his chest until her hand landed on his cock covered by his swimsuit briefs.

  A knife stabbed in her heart as she watched Briana’s chair screech back from the table, leaving Kaden sitting at the table with his cock in Alana’s hand. Sawyer rose to her feet, determined to follow Briana’s example.

  “Sawyer, come here.” Kaden’s harsh voice had her freezing in place; her disbelieving gaze flew to his. “Come here, now.”

  Sawyer found her feet reluctantly carrying her toward Kaden. She couldn’t seem to tear her gaze away from him as she stopped a few feet away, unable to force herself to go any closer.

  “Did you deliberately lock your door against me last night?”

  Sawyer licked her dry lips. “Y—Yes.”

  “I thought so. I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt, but I can see you’re determined to disobey me.”

  “Kaden, forget about her. Let’s go to my room.” Alana made no effort to lower her voice.

  “Were you happy with your decision to lock me out?” His eyes dared her to lie.

  “Nnn—no,” Sawyer admitted honestly.

  Kaden reached out, taking Alana’s wrist in his hand and jerking her down in front of him. “Do not touch me again. I do not fucking want your hand or your tits on me again.”

  “Okay, Kaden, I was just playing around.” The woman took a step back when Kaden released her.

  “You need to pack your bags and get the fuck out of here, Alana. I’m tired of dealing with you.” The woman left, running toward the house without even bothering to cover herself.

  “I don’t play games, Sawyer. I outgrew those years ago. Do you want me in your bed or not? I’m done dealing with your on and off switch, and before you open your smart-ass mouth, you better think twice because, depending on your answer, you’ll either be staying here with a number of security or leaving on the bus tomorrow with me sharing the bedroom with you.”

  Sawyer stood in shock at his ultimatum. She knew she would be safe here for the next couple of months, safe from Rick and her building desire for Kaden, yet…

  “Well?” he snapped, the cold glare of his sunglasses making her answer harder. “Which one are you going to do?”

  “Go on the bus.” Sawyer lowered her gaze from his.

  “You understand, Sawyer, just how our relationship is going to work? I expect you to obey me in the bedroom at all times, and when we’re not, then you will continue to obey me in matters that I consider important.”

  “How will I know the difference?”

  “You find out the difference when my paddle is on your ass,” he said unrelentingly.

  Sawyer almost changed her mind about leaving. The only reason she didn’t was her body craved his. Surely this first rush of excitement would soon be over. She remembered her first and only sexual relationship, and how it had quickly ran out of steam.

  Her relationship with Kaden should fizzle out about the same time as their deal expired. She could spend the next two months exploring the country and enjoy a kind of sexual relationship that she’d thought never to experience.

  “Okay.” Sawyer made her voice firm and controlled her speech until she didn’t stutter her reply.

  “Now, you can go upstairs. I’ll send your lunch and dinner upstairs.”

  “But I thought we could go out again today before we’re cooped up on the bus,” Sawyer protested.

  “Why should I spend my day pleasing you when you didn’t spend the night pleasing me?”

  The bastard kind of had a point.

  “Have you finished your breakfast?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then there’s no need to stay any longer. You can return to your room. I’ll see you tonight. Oh, and Sawyer, I haven’t forgotten you disobeyed me about shaving yesterday.”

  Sawyer nodded before leaving.

  Going back to her bedroom, she heard Alana yelling from the room down the hall and R.J.’s voice soothing her anger.

  Sawyer threw herself down on the bed, landing on an object she hadn’t seen. Pulling the box out from under her, she opened it to find a small reading device. She spent the next
few hours downloading samples and books, enjoying her surprising present from Kaden.

  She only took a break from reading when Lucy brought her lunch. She read while she ate and then dozed off with it still in her hand.

  She woke just as it started to get dark. Jumping out of bed, she took a bath, using another of the bath bombs. If she didn’t quit going through them so fast, she would have to sneak them out of the other bathrooms. When she finished, she rubbed the body lotion on her body.

  Going into the bedroom, she was going to slip on one of her gowns when she stopped. Instinctively, she knew how Kaden wanted her when he opened the door.

  ***

  Sawyer stood by the bottom of the bed and held her breath as the door opened. His ruthless expression did not change when he saw that she was naked. The door closed with a snap behind him.

  “I see you finally did as I requested.”

  Sawyer nodded her head, unsure that she would be able to control her stutter. She had never felt more nervous in her life; butterflies were having a field day in her stomach.

  Kaden came to a stop in front of her. “This isn’t going to stop me from punishing you for disobeying me twice.”

  “I—I know.”

  “Take off my clothes.”

  Sawyer took a step forward. She was about to reach out when she hesitated. “May I touch you?”

  “Yes.”

  Sawyer could tell from his pleased expression that she had approached him correctly.

  She reached out, unbuttoning the blue shirt that he had left un-tucked from his jeans. Meticulously pulling the shirt from his shoulders, she was about to let it drop to the floor; however, she caught herself, folding it and placing it on the chair next to the bed. She unsnapped his jeans after he voluntarily took off his expensive shoes. Kaden was such a contradiction, being a complete hard-ass rocker with the tattoos, while having expensive tastes in clothes.

  Sawyer unsnapped his jeans, pulling them down his hips and off each leg. She again folded them, placing them on the chair next to his shirt. Sawyer went back to stand in front of him, waiting nervously for his next command.