Bad Boys of BDSM Omnibus No. 1

by Anita Lawless, Leigh Foxlee, C. J. Sneere

  She resisted his tug, resisted falling against his strong, warm body and holding him close, though the primal part of her wanted to so badly. Instead she yanked free of his grip and headed toward the door.

  “Where are you going?” he called after Bekka, following her as she fled.

  “To get some answers.” She expertly avoided his hand as she sprinted out of his apartment and down the back stairs. Tears blurred her vision as she crossed the street and headed toward her own shop.

  ***

  Chapter 10

  It was Monday, so she didn’t have to work at the store today. She kept it open late on Fridays and Saturdays, since she did good business on those nights, then shut it up Sunday and Monday, since those were her slow ones.

  After a quick shower and change, she jumped into her car. A glance over at Corey’s showed he was open. He did half days on Monday now, she knew, and she saw him lurking close to the front window, watching her as she drove off.

  She was headed into Rexton to pay a visit to Juanita. Bekka’s jealousy took over and she was determined to get to the bottom of this. Maybe she was overreacting, but her gut told her Corey was lying to her. Had he slept with this Gwen? Had a fling with her? She’d camp out on Juanita’s doorstep until her ex-mother-in-law gave her some answers and helped her get to the bottom of this. They were so close, so if Corey was holding something back about another woman, Juanita was bound to know about it.

  She knew Mondays were half days for Juanita too, because they’d once ran the coffee shop together, and had kept the same hours as Bekka did now in Moncton. Juanita hadn’t changed them after she left. So she wouldn’t be opening until 11 AM for the lunch crowd. Bekka would get to Rexton by 10 AM at this speed, if not a little before that, so she’d head straight to Juanita’s house to talk.

  She took the highway out to Cardwell, a small rural area just outside of Rexton where Juanita lived in a four bedroom farmhouse that was too big for her. This was the place Corey and Bekka had once shared with her, living in the basement apartment, but now they were gone the place had to be driving Juanita insane. Bekka knew her mother-in-law hated being alone in big quiet houses in the middle of nowhere. Corey had told her Juanita’s boyfriend stayed over often, but he had his place still, so he couldn’t move right in. Corey said his mom planned to put the home and seven acres of forest filled with maple and fir up for sale.

  Juanita’s red pickup was still in the carport, so Bekka pulled up beside her and killed the engine. Molly, Juanita’s golden retriever, was already barking inside the house, announcing a guest had arrived.

  Molly peeked through the screen in the open window in the front door when Bekka knocked. She smiled at the dog. “Hey, girl. I missed you.” Molly whined in response and her tail wagged even faster.

  Juanita called, “Be right there.” Then her footsteps sounded as she made her way through the kitchen, towards the front door. Her bewildered frown turned into a curious smile when she saw it was Bekka.

  “Well, what’re you doing out here, hon?” The older woman tucked a stray strand of blonde hair that fell out of her ponytail behind her ear.

  “I need to talk to you about something. You got a couple minutes before you head over to the shop?”

  Juanita’s brow crinkled in concern. “Sure. Come on in.” She opened the door wider and walked off toward the coffeepot.

  When they had worked together, curiously enough, Juanita’s controlling side didn’t show. She’d trusted Bekka to do her job and she’d done hers. It was only with matters that concerned Corey that the meddling side of Juanita came out, and now, as Bekka settled at the kitchen table and accepted a cup of coffee, she realized how much she’d missed spending time with the woman. There was a fun, charming side to Juanita that had made them friends in the first place.

  “So what did you want to talk about?” Juanita sipped at her coffee and took a seat opposite Bekka.

  Bekka traced the rim of the cup, added more cream to the milk chocolate colored liquid, and then looked up. “There’s this woman … name’s Gwen, and she keeps calling Corey. She says you gave her his number. Corey says he talked to you about it.”

  Juanita’s bewildered frown returned. She scratched one plump, rosy cheek. “Yeah, he mentioned that when we had our big fight” She gave an uncomfortable frown. “I have no idea who she is, hon, or how she got his number.”

  “He says he doesn’t know her either.” She didn’t add that she suspected he was lying.

  Juanita got up and came to sit in the chair right next to Bekka. Molly padded over and sat between them, begging for a treat, which Juanita gave her before she settled next to Bekka once more.

  “Sweetie, I wouldn’t worry too much,” she said, patting Bekka’s arm and looking into her eyes to show she spoke the truth. “Corey’s heart only belongs to one gal, and she’s sitting at my kitchen table.”

  Sincerity showed in her gaze, and Bekka believed her, but the truth about who this Gwen really was to Corey still nagged at her.

  Bekka squeezed Juanita’s hand. “Thanks, Mom.”

  Juanita’s face lit up like it was Christmas. “You haven’t called me that in a long time.” Then she reached over and gave Bekka a quick hug. “Don’t worry. We’ll figure out who this woman is. Probably just someone who got a tat from Corey and has a crush on him.”

  “Yeah. That’s what he keeps saying.” Bekka forced a smile, patted Molly on the head. “It’s probably nothing.” But doubt still gnawed at her insides.

  “You want to follow me into town? I’ll give you a free mocha with extra whipped cream.” Juanita went to grab Molly’s leash.

  Bekka laughed. “You know me too well. Sure, I’ve got nothing big planned today. I can hang for a bit.”

  “Good. It’ll be nice to have you around the place again.”

  Molly dutifully climbed into the backseat of the small pickup after Juanita opened the door for her. The dog was so good, she took her to the coffee shop with her every day. She never bothered the customers and stayed in the backroom that Juanita had set up special for her with a crate full of toys, a bowl of water, and her feeding dish for supper time.

  When they arrived at the shop, all thoughts of that promised mocha fled. Corey’s Harley was parked out front and he was sitting on it, his mirrored sunglasses reflecting the early afternoon sun. God, but he looked devastatingly gorgeous in his leather jacket, with a cool spring breeze rippling through his dark curls. He sauntered over to the cars when they both pulled up and stopped.

  “To what do I owe this pleasure?” Juanita said as she climbed out of her pickup. “My daughter-in-law and son both come and visit me before noon. Are you proposing to her again?” Juanita looked overjoyed at the prospect.

  Bekka blushed as she came up beside Juanita to face Corey. She knew he’d followed after her, and she still wanted those answers about Gwen, but right now her traitorous libido and heart were too focused on how delicious he looked.

  “Is this about that chick named Gwen?” His gaze darted between Bekka and Juanita.

  Before she could answer, Bekka said, “We’ve talked about it. I know your mom didn’t do it. No worries.”

  Juanita held out her hands. “I have no idea who she could be.”

  “I already told you that.” Corey gave Bekka a hard, cold stare. “And neither do I.”

  Bekka turned to her ex-mother-in-law. “I’ll take a rain check on that mocha.” She hugged the woman tight and gave Molly a final pet. “Corey and I need to talk.”

  “No problem, darling.” Juanita glanced between the two. “I hate to see you leave so soon, but I understand.”

  That was definitely a change for Juanita. At one time, she’d have pushed for them to both come in, sit down, talk it out in front of her. Though she would’ve meant well, she’d had a hard time getting that the two needed their privacy in the past. Now, it seemed she was changing. A flutter of hope stirred in Bekka’s heart.

  She motioned for Corey to follow h
er to her car, but he stood stubbornly beside his bike.

  “We can talk right here,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest.

  She rolled her eyes as she walked over, and he glared.

  “I don’t know who she is,” he said again, and at least this time he met her gaze when he spoke the words.

  “You’ve got no idea?”

  He let out a slow exhale, adjusted his feet. “Maybe she came into the old shop after I sold it to Sarah. Sarah could’ve given her my number. I helped her out for a couple weeks before I moved my place to Moncton.”

  Sarah was another local tattoo artist who had been Corey’s apprentice at one time, and she’d bought the shop in Rexton from him. She was a great gal Bekka got along with, but she hadn’t seen much of her since she left the small town. Sarah was married to a local mechanic who also detailed cars and bikes.

  “Let’s go ask her if she knows a Gwen.” Bekka hopped into her car and drove toward Corey’s old tattoo shop. She didn’t miss the look of surprise on her ex-husband’s face before she backed out of the parking area.

  Sarah’s shop was only a two minute drive down Main Street. Corey followed after Bekka, and he parked in a slot beside her moments after she shut off the car. They entered the place together.

  Old memories came flooding back when she walked across the threshold. Sarah had changed up the décor a bit, but for the most part the shop looked the same as when Corey had owned it. There was a leopard print couch in the waiting area that made her smirk. Her ex-husband always did have a thing for leopard print.

  Sarah was in-between clients, and she sat in front of an art table that was tilted up as she worked on a tattoo stencil. She beamed at them when she finally realized they were in the place.

  “Hey guys!” Her pencil dropped to the tiny ledge at the base of the table’s surface and she jumped off her stool. “I haven’t seen you in ages, Bekka.” She wrapped Bekka in a big hug. “What brings you in?”

  “How’s business?” Bekka wanted to make small talk first, ease into the question. She hadn’t seen Sarah in a while, after all, and she didn’t want to jump her friend with an accusation.

  Corey said nothing. He stood beside her, glowering and silent.

  “Good,” Sarah said, her hoop earring glinting as her confused gaze darted between the two of them. “Real good. Corey sold me a goldmine.”

  “That’s great!” Bekka was genuinely happy to hear that. She knew Sarah and Paul, her husband, had a new son, barely a year old, to take care of.

  Sarah scratched her head over her bandana, then the side of her nose near a silver hoop that pierced her right nostril. A sign she was picking up on the tense energy vibrating between Bekka and Corey. So Bekka decided to just spill it.

  “Do you remembering tattooing someone named Gwen?” She realized it was a shot in the dark, since few tattooist remembered the names of all their clients, unless they were regulars. “She might’ve asked you for Corey’s phone number.”

  Sarah tapped her labret piercing and thought. “Don’t think I do …” Then her blue eyes widened with a memory. “Oh, right! Wasn’t that the chick who you went out with that one time, Corey? She kept bugging you to have a beer with her or something.”

  Corey shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot as Bekka frowned at him and raised an eyebrow.

  Sarah slapped her bandana and wrinkled her nose. “I am such a dumbass.”

  “No, no, it’s okay, Sarah.” Bekka gave her a smile. “Thanks.” After another quick hug, Bekka stalked out of the shop.

  Great seeing you again!” she called after Bekka. Then to Corey, she said, “I’m so sorry, big guy.” Sarah’s eyes widened and glimmered with apology.

  Why had he lied to Bekka about the one date with Gwen? He’d been the dumbass! But he’d been worried she wouldn’t understand, that she’d be suspicious and it would make her keep her distance. Well, he’d made things worse by lying. Now she was pissed, and he’d have a lot of explaining to do. He’d just have to hope it didn’t drive a wedge through their rekindled relationship. But the fuck up was on his head, not Sarah. He’d thought Sarah would’ve forgotten about Gwen. What a stupid move it had been to tell Bekka Sarah might’ve given Gwen the number. More stupid to lie to her.

  “Did you give Gwen my number?”

  Sarah shook her head. “Nope. She did ask me where you’d gone, how she could get a hold of you, but I knew you went to Moncton to patch things up with Bekka. I told Gwen that.”

  So who had given Gwen the number? She could’ve looked it up, that was true, but Corey was listed as C. Varkov in the phone book, so it wasn’t a dead giveaway. Mind you, there weren’t many Varkovs in Rexton or Moncton.

  “Thanks, Sarah.” He gave his former apprentice a big hug. “And don’t worry. I’ll fix this with Bekka.”

  “I feel like such a dick.” She sounded defeated.

  “No, it was my mistake. No yours.” Corey made for the door. “Tell Paul I said hi.”

  “Will do!” Sarah called after him. “Don’t be such a stranger. You and Bekka should come out again soon. We’ll all go for drinks or something.”

  He gave her a nod and a wave, then rushed out the door when he saw Bekka was about to pull away.

  Corey grabbed at the driver’s door handle and shouted. “Wait! We need to talk.”

  Bekka shot him a glare through the closed window, but she pointed to the passenger’s side and shut the car off. That was a relief. He needed to come clean with her and hope for the best.

  “So you knew Gwen.” Bekka’s words were laced with icy anger. “Why’d you lie to me?”

  Corey gut tightened and he prepared for the worst. “It was stupid.” He laid a hand on her leg but she tensed and flinched away, so he removed it. “I’m so sorry, babe. I didn’t want to upset you—”

  “I’m upset now.” Her hands tightened on the steering wheel until her knuckles went white.

  “I went on one date with her. Nothing happened.” She met his eyes and he stared deep into them, assuring her that he spoke the truth. “She had a thing for me and kept coming into the shop. Wouldn’t leave me alone. I wasn’t with you and I was feeling low, so I figured one beer at Taffy’s wouldn’t hurt. But she was annoying as hell. I finally had to tell her to fuck off.”

  “Doesn’t seem like she got the message,” Bekka said.

  “If she texts me again, I’ll tell her I’m back with my wife and to fuck off.” Corey touched Bekka’s leg again, but she just gave his hand a scathing look and then turned the glare on his face.

  Shit, he’d really fucked up this time.

  “Why don’t you let me take you home?” He nodded toward his bike. “You used to love the Harley, and I haven’t taken you for a ride in a while.”

  Well, at least not on a motorcycle, he thought, but bit his lips to stop the words from coming out. Now would not be a good time for sexual humor.

  “I just…” She shook her head and flexed her hands around the steering wheel. “I need some time to think, Corey. I’m going to go for a drive.”

  “Okay.” He slipped his hand off her leg and his heart fell to his stomach. Dread settled there like a cold lump of coal. “Let’s talk later.”

  She just nodded, but she wouldn’t meet his eyes as he left the car.

  ***

  Chapter 11

  Corey headed over to Bekka’s store the next day when he closed the tattoo shop up for lunch. The store was dark, and the sign read CLOSED. Beneath that was a note that read: GONE FOR VACATION. BACK IN 1 WK.

  His stomach soured. “Fuck!” A string of curses followed. Bekka had returned and slipped out sometime last night without him knowing. He should’ve gone with his gut and come over right after he closed up, but he’d wanted to give her some space, some time.

  Where the hell could she have gone?

  He’d find out, but, first, he wanted to get this Gwen thing settled. So he headed into the shop to let Jamie know he was back and ask the kid if he minded
taking over for the rest of the day. Then he headed upstairs to his apartment.

  Corey checked out the text from Gwen that had come in earlier that day. He sat on his bed and typed a message back.

  Corey: Hey, Gwen. Nice to hear from you. Mind if I stop by? Where you at?

  Within minutes, a ping indicated her return text.

  Gwen: Corey! Sure, I’m at 852 Botsford Street. Just off Main. Duplex with brown siding.

  Corey: Great. See you in ten.

  And that was all it took. She texted back something about looking forward to it. Corey shoved his smartphone in his jean pocket, slipped on his leather jacket, grabbed his helmet, and headed downstairs to his bike.

  It took his under ten minutes to get to Gwen’s place on Botsford. He knew the area well, as he had a few clients and friends living on the street. A petite blonde woman answered after he rang the doorbell. She was cute—a plain face with little makeup and light brown eyes—but he had his sights set on only one woman these days. Obviously she’d dressed for his visit, and wore tight, short white shorts and a pale yellow tank top that clung to her braless breasts, making her nipples poke out. But Corey’s gaze didn’t linger.

  “Hey, Corey, come on in.” She tilted her head coquettishly, thrust her chest out. “Glad you came by.”

  He smiled wide, still keeping up the friendly ruse. She led him to the living room and told him to have a seat, asked if he wanted anything to drink. He said an iced tea would be nice, and when she brought it, she made sure to bend down as low as she could so he got an eyeful of nipple. At one time, he wouldn’t have hesitated to accept her blatant invitation. But, now, it just annoyed him.

  She sat across from him and crossed her leg, which pulled her shorts up even higher, exposing a generous amount of creamy thigh. They chatted for a bit and Corey played nice, all the while digging for information. He learned she wanted to get into body piercing and was looking for an apprenticeship here in Moncton.

  Then Corey decided to get right to it. He sipped his iced tea then said, “I need you to stop calling me, Gwen. Pretend you never met me. I’m sure you’re a great gal, but I’m not interested.”