Secured Heart (Windy City #2)

by Measha Stone

  “Oh, something about Jonathan’s mom dropping in at the last second. Just us four tonight,” Alex answered, taking a swig of his beer. His face scrunched into a sour expression as he looked at the label of the bottle. “Next time I stick to my usual.”

  “Then we can order? I’m starved.” Kelly waved over a waiter.

  “Alex, do you know what happened after Kelly left the bar last night?” Jessica demanded.

  “She went home with some hottie and had wild sex?” Alex guessed, pausing to give his order of stuffed figs and scallops to the young blonde waiting on them.

  Jessica sat patiently as Royce gave their order, keeping a solid glare fixed on Alex. Once the waitress finished, Jessica unleashed. “No. She met some crazy person at a house party and was nearly raped.”

  “I was not nearly raped.” Kelly corrected. She hadn’t gone into the specific details of the spanking bench and the nature of the house party. Some things were better left unspoken when it came to her small group of friends. They all meant well, as good friends often did, but in the process of meaning well, they tended to show her the dark side of her decisions.

  True enough that her past was not one of a straight laced virgin. She’d invited more men home than she would willingly admit to presently. In the search for her future husband, she had turned over every rock and kissed more than her fair share of wart-giving toads.

  Her friends still lived under the deluded cloud that she brought home every humanoid walking with a penis, but that was far from the truth. During the past year, she’d finally come to realize men wanted only one thing when they came over after a date.

  Even when a man managed to enter her apartment, it wasn’t a sure thing of entering her bed. She wanted more. She wanted love. A family. Jumping into bed at first sight wasn’t going to find her that. More times than she could remember she threw a man out when his hands wandered to unauthorized territory. Mixed messages were her specialty.

  “Kelly, you have to admit that meeting that guy at the house party wasn’t exactly smart.” Royce used his logical tone with her. His voice still warmed her skin. She envied few people, but Jessica snaring Royce was something she allowed herself to indulge in the sin over.

  “I know.” She put her glass down, keeping her fingers resting on the stem of her wine glass. “Enough about my stupidity—”

  “Wait. Last night?” Alex placed a hand on her forearm. “The Hot Rod?” His eyes darkened.

  Although they were friends mutually through Jessica, Alex had taken it upon himself to watch over her whenever they were out at clubs. He acted the big brother, but knew when to back off.

  “Nothing happened.”

  “You encourage her. Every time you two go out—”

  “I didn’t go out with him,” Kelly tossed across the table, her voice expressing her annoyance at the continuation of the subject. “Jess, I’m a big girl. I make my own choices. Alex isn’t my babysitter. We bumped into each other at the club; we didn’t go together.”

  “I don’t understand you.” Jessica shook her head. “I know you want to find him, but going home with these asses from the bars…that’s not how you do it.” Royce placed a firm hand on Jessica’s arm, stilling her from making any further comment.

  Kelly caught the action, the pang of envy deepened.

  “Well, Alex hasn’t brought him to me yet,” Kelly threw across the table.

  Alex groaned and hid himself in his beer bottle.

  “That’s not fair.”

  “Look, the food is here.” Royce stilled the conversation as the wait staff brought their small plates of delicious tapas. “Kelly, tell me more about the man that saved you from not being nearly raped.” He turned the conversation, once the plates were all settled.

  Kelly thought about how to proceed with Kendrick. He hadn’t left her mind since he’d dropped her off at her apartment that morning.

  She couldn’t be sure if it was his strong authoritative looks and attitude that kept creeping into her mind or if it was the wounded look in his eyes when he’d told her about his ex-girlfriend. Ted had done worse to Kendrick’s ex than he had to Kelly.

  Kendrick hadn’t gone into any vivid details, but the fierce pain in his eyes told her she’d got off extremely lucky when he’d saved her from Ted.

  “Kendrick? He seems like a good guy.” She sipped her drink, deciding to make him a casual thought. There was more to him she wanted to explore, more about the world he seemed to be connected to, as well.

  “Going to see him again?” Jessica stuffed a fig into her mouth.

  “This is starting to turn into a musical number from Grease.” Kelly pushed her empty plate away. “Isn’t there anything else going on that we can talk about?” She turned her eyes to Alex to save her.

  “Well, there is the fact I’m going to be a free agent, as of next week.” Alex wiggled his eyebrows as he gave his news.

  “Really? She’s moving out?” Jessica asked, referring to his live-in girlfriend/booty call.

  “Yep. Sandra has finally taken the hint and is packing her shit.” Alex grinned.

  Kelly listened politely as he went over the details of their breakup. Emotionally, he had left the relationship months ago, but Sandra was still holding out hope.

  The conversation swayed between Alex’s new hope for love and Erin’s desire for a wedding larger than the city of Chicago could hold.

  The check arrived, and Kelly slid her hand over the bill and dragged it to her. “You guys always sneak away to pay. I’m just going to do it right in your face.” She grinned and tucked her credit card into the bill fold.

  “Fine.” Alex folded his arms over his chest with an obviously fake expression of annoyance. “Whatever.” He mimicked Kelly’s favorite term.

  Not being waylaid, she flagged down the waitress and handed over the payment.

  “You guys go ahead. I’m just gonna grab a cab.” Kelly waved them away.

  Royce led Jessica to the exit with his hand resting on the small of her back. Alex walked a few steps behind them, checking out the girls in the restaurant on his way to the door.

  Kelly stepped out onto North Avenue after paying the taxi driver. The street was still alive with teenagers and new-agers making their way from one bar to another. She pulled her phone from the back pocket of her capri jeans and brought up the email containing the address.

  After a short search, she found the doorbell, a small box resting on top of a larger, more permanent bell with the club’s initials GD written on a piece of masking tape.

  “Here goes nothing,” she said to herself and pressed the white button. A buzzer sounded, and she pushed through the door. The club was on the top floor, two long sets of stairs stood between herself and what she hoped to be an eye-opening evening.

  The stairs were less of a challenge than she first anticipated, and she attributed that to her daily run. A heavy steel door popped open as she reached the first landing, and she quickened her pace up the second set of stairs. She took a moment to catch her breath before stepping into the club.

  Not sure what to expect, the club was nothing like she’d imagined.

  A bald, thin man greeted her with a wide smile. He stood behind a hostess counter, similar to what a diner would have.

  “Hi!” The man’s grin was catchy, and she found herself smiling back at him. “Is this your first visit with us?” he questioned, pulling a large binder out onto the countertop.

  “Yes.” She looked around. No sign of Kendrick.

  The room was designed in a lounge fashion, giving it a comfortable feel. A large bar was situated behind the check-in desk. Half a dozen people sat sipping on drinks from plastic cups. They all looked normal to her. No outrageous outfits, no crazy hairstyles, just men and women chatting at a bar. Further into the room was a living room set up, two couches and armchairs facing a coffee table just like in any other living room. More people sat on the couches talking quietly.

  Kelly could hear music coming
from rooms off to the side. Like any other club, the lights were dimmed. Unlike any other club, pictures of naked and half naked bodies positioned in bondage or acts of submission hung on the walls.

  “Your name?” the host asked.

  She finished checking in, signing the appropriate disclosures and such, and headed off to explore. A whipping sound came from a far off area, and she headed in that direction.

  She walked through a softly painted chamber that appeared to double as a dressing room. A large Chinese screen separated the couches and the dressing area.

  A couple sat on one of the couches, talking to each other. They didn’t seem to notice her walking through the room, but she noted the way his hand rested on the upper part of her thigh. His fingers disappeared beneath the hem of her black leather skirt.

  The snapping of leather drew her further into the next room where she found the excitement of the atmosphere to be seductive. Lights were dim around the space, but there was more than enough illumination to make out her surroundings.

  A large wooden cross stood in the far corner of the room. It tilted back toward the wall slightly. Four thick rings lined each arm of the cross. A woman stood next to it with a black bag in her hand.

  Kelly found a spot close enough to see, but far away enough to remain unnoticed as she spied. She hid behind a couple that was readying to watch the events unfold as well. Voyeurism appeared to be encouraged, which made her being a nosey person more acceptable.

  The woman standing next to the cross put the bag down on the floor and began to undress. She slid her sundress down her shoulders and let it slide to the floor. A man stepped toward her and pointed at the puddle of cotton on the ground. She nodded and picked it up, folding it precisely before placing it back on the floor next to the bag. The man said something else to her that made her smile, but Kelly couldn’t make it out over the music playing from the loudspeaker behind her.

  Kelly thought the naked woman would be timid with so many onlookers close by, but she didn’t seem to mind or notice everyone’s eyes on her.

  Her attention was fully focused on her male companion. He stood a full head taller than her. His back appeared massive compared to the petite frame of the nude woman. The tight fitting black T-shirt displayed the ripples of his arm muscles, and the snugness of his blue jeans did a good job of pointing out the hours at the gym he must spend.

  The man stepped to his lady. He slid his hand up her body, brushing his thumb over her breasts, before his hand disappeared behind her neck. Her head jerked back by his fist full of her hair, and her glossy eyes locked on him.

  Kelly’s own heart rate sped in anticipation; she could only guess at the emotions the woman felt.

  Although she looked almost entranced by the events, she seemed to be focused, determined, as she listened to what her partner told her. When he was done speaking, he led her to the front of the cross, still holding her at the base of her neck, the thick blonde curls of the woman’s hair entwined in his fist.

  He placed her facing away from him. She raised her arms up to mimic the beams as he left her side. A moment later, he placed black cuffs on each of her wrists and ankles. A short chain was used to secure each of the four cuffs to a metal ring on the cross. The woman would not be getting away easily.

  When Kelly realized she’d been holding her breath, she forced herself to breathe.

  The man stepped away again and rifled through the black bag on the floor. His lady kept her stare forward.

  The cross was placed in a corner of the room near large windows that faced the street outside. Thick purple curtains covered the windows, hiding the scene from any onlookers on the other side.

  The man reappeared behind the woman, carrying a thick leather strap in his right hand. His left hand gently caressed her bare bottom.

  A soft slap of his hand jolted the woman’s attention. The next slap was harder; her backside rippled from the impact.

  Kelly heard the woman’s gentle moan and watched as the man finished spanking the woman and readied the strap.

  The thunderous clap from the first strike made Kelly jump. The woman only grunted. Two more strikes of the strap resounded through the small room.

  The man ran his fingertips over the reddening area of the woman’s backside, while he whispered into her ear. Kelly wanted to know what he was saying to her.

  She caught a glimpse of the woman turning her head to receive a kiss from her partner. Kelly guessed the words he’d whispered were full of passion.

  She stepped a little closer to the couple, further immersing herself in the small crowd.

  A body pressed up against her from behind.

  She tried to move away from it, to allow the onlooker more space, but she stilled when a hot breath ran over her ear and a deep voice said, “Enjoying the show, Kelly?”

  CHAPTER SIX

  Takes One to Know One

  Kendrick stepped back to avoid being hit by Kelly’s shoulder as she flung her body around to see him. Her eyes were large with surprise, and her pupils were dilated.

  When he’d dropped her off at her apartment that morning, he hadn’t expected to see her again. At least, not so soon. He could admit to himself he wasn’t entirely annoyed at her showing up at the club, although he thought her impulsive act to be a bit careless. She couldn’t have known for sure he’d be there. And hadn’t she learned her lesson the previous evening? She was too bold for her own good. But damn she was beautiful and innocent looking as she watched the scene unfold before her.

  Her lips had pressed together firmly as she watched Dominick bring out the strap. Her chest had risen and fallen quickly each time his hand swung back, taking aim.

  When George had called Kendrick over to inform him his “guest” had arrived, he hadn’t known what George was talking about. The ass hadn’t even had the decency to hide his grin when he’d showed Kendrick the copy of Kelly’s ID at the front desk.

  Kendrick had done his best to ignore the chiding he’d received as he walked away in search of her. She was persistent. He’d give her that much credit…before he pulled her out of the club and tossed her cute ass into a cab.

  “Kendrick!” Kelly placed her hand over her chest, catching her breath.

  He noted that her deep blue shirt dipped further down her cleavage than he would like for a public setting, but he quickly reminded himself she wasn’t his to command.

  “I didn’t see you.” She flashed him a wide smile.

  “I doubt you’d notice anything while watching Dominick and Teri.” He raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.” He gestured with his chin to the scene before them, while keeping his hands shoved into his pockets. He didn’t trust himself not to touch her if they weren’t. He could smell her lilac scent, and her lips looked entirely too kissable for his comfort.

  She turned around to watch the scene unfold. A few of their fellow spectators had drifted off to find their own play-station.

  Dominick had removed his shirt, and he was pressing his bare chest against Teri’s back. When he moved away, the dark red stripes of the strap glared at the crowd.

  Kendrick heard Kelly’s sharp intake of breath.

  “She’s okay. This is light play for them,” he whispered into her ear.

  She responded with a nod.

  Dominick went back into the play bag and retrieved a thin, braided leather whip.

  “You may not want to watch this part. That’s a single tail. Her marks are going to get angrier, and she’s going to cry out. That thing can sting like a bitch.” He warned her.

  She merely shrugged. “I’m fine right where I am, thanks.” She didn’t look back at him when she said the words, but he heard the slight tremor in her voice.

  He shook his head; the woman didn’t know her own limits.

  Kendrick noticed a male bystander, a newbie, move a little closer to Kelly. His eyes wandered over her breasts like a hungry pup. Kendrick placed his hands on her hips and pulled her back against this c
hest—claiming her. She made no move to peel away from him, sinking back into his embrace. The wayward curls of her hair tickled his chin, but he didn’t release her. The feel of her against him came as natural as breathing, as though she had been made to fit into his form. He smiled over the contented sigh she released when he tightened his grip on her waist.

  Dominick stroked Teri’s hair while whispering to her. After she gave a nod, he stepped back from her and unrolled the single-tail.

  Kendrick tightened his grip on Kelly’s hips as Dominick ran the whip through his free hand then held the tip between his fingers, taking aim. A flick of a wrist was barely seen before the screech reached their ears.

  Kendrick felt the muscles in Kelly’s back tighten. She held her breath until Teri settled herself on the cross then remained motionless awaiting the next strike.

  They watched, with Kelly leaning back into Kendrick as the scene progressed and him wrapping his arms around her, completely enveloping her in his embrace. His chin rested on top of her head; the rough curls were softer to the touch than he would have thought.

  Each strike of the whip made Kelly tense. The dark welts were starting to show nicely across Teri’s back and ass. Red crisscrosses in places. Kendrick admired the work.

  He released his grip around Kelly once Dominick put the whip away and began the dance of aftercare.

  Assuming Kelly was finished watching, Kendrick slipped his fingers through hers to lead her away. She pulled back and shook her head. They watched as Dominick tenderly released the cuffs from the beams and rubbed the feeling back into Teri’s arms. It was only after Teri was wrapped in a silk robe and being escorted to another room that Kelly let Kendrick pull her away.

  He walked her to the front lounge, intending to talk her into a cab home. Once out of the play room, she turned to him with tears glimmering in her eyes. He cursed himself for not dragging her away sooner. This wasn’t her world; it was too much for her.

  “That was the most beautiful thing I’ve seen in a really long time.” She surprised him by saying. She blinked away the tears and smiled, her hand resting on his forearm. A stray curl fell in front of her left eye.