Marked (Tattoos and Leather)

by Jaymie Holland

  Over the years they’d had three ménage relationships, including Tiffany. She’d been the one for them. The one they’d fallen in love with, the one they’d wanted to have a permanent relationship with. That had all changed in one brutal, violent act.

  Time healed, and Kane believed it was time to live again.

  Kane thought about Lucas’s words as he studied Tracie. Kane slowly nodded. “I have to say, I agree.” He watched Tracie move toward them, holding two dry cloth towels. “This one is a keeper.”

  Her cheeks were tinged red as she offered the towels. “This probably won’t do a lot of good at this point, but maybe you can still get some of the moisture out.”

  Kane grazed her palm with his fingers and her eyes widened and her lips parted at the intimate contact. He saw conflict in her gaze, like she knew she should tell him to back off when she actually craved his touch.

  She reached across him to hand Lucas the other towel. Kane nearly groaned at the soft swells of her breasts so close to his mouth. He wanted to suck them through her blouse, feel the silk against his tongue before nipping on the hardened bud of her nipple. She had to be doing it on purpose.

  He nearly squirmed in his seat. Hell, but this was torture. If that was her intention, to torture him and Lucas, she was doing a fine job of it.

  As if of its own accord, Kane’s hand started to stray upward, ready to cup her generous breast. But then she was gone and he dropped his hand away. Damn, he’d almost groped a flight attendant.

  A sexy, gorgeous, flight attendant he intended to get to know better. A hell of a lot better.

  By the end of the long flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu, he could tell Tracie was rattled. She was clearly fighting a desire to get to know Kane and Lucas and a desire to run.

  Just before it was time to disembark, Kane opened up his briefcase, took out a notepad with their letterhead, and scrawled a note on the top page. He glanced at Lucas who raised an eyebrow.

  “She’ll be compelled to meet up with us.” Kane grinned as he tore the note from the pad. “She won’t be able to resist.”

  Lucas, as a rule, didn’t show a lot of emotion, but there was a hint of amusement in his expression. “Wager?”

  “You’re on.” Kane glanced at Tracie who had stepped outside the door to tell passengers “aloha” as they walked through the now open door and up the ramp. He turned back to Lucas as he folded the notepaper. “Winner gets to go down on her first.”

  This time Lucas’s lips twitched. “And if you lose?”

  “Not going to happen.” Kane shrugged. “She’s going to taste so damned good.”

  Lucas pressed him. “If you do lose?”

  “I’ll cook for a week.” It was not an easy wager because Kane hated to cook.

  Lucas held back a smile of amusement. “I think that might be more of a punishment to me than you.”

  “Fuck you.” Kane flipped him the bird. “Doesn’t matter, because I’ll win anyway.”

  Lucas drew his briefcase out from beneath the seat, and he and Kane waited for other passengers to disembark. When they were the last two passengers left on the plane, they stepped into the aisle and headed toward Tracie and the captain.

  When Kane reached Tracie, he held out his hand. “It’s been a pleasure.”

  She hesitated then took his hand. Her eyes widened slightly and her cheeks tinged pink as he pressed the piece of paper he’d written on against her palm. Her fingers closed around it, and with satisfaction Kane watched as she slipped her hand into her pocket before turning her attention to Lucas.

  Score. He had her now.

  Kane felt enormous satisfaction when he glanced over his shoulder to see that Tracie was watching them as they walked away. He winked and she bit her lower lip before disappearing back inside the plane.

  Chapter 5

  Tracie waited until she was alone in the taxi, and it was pulling away from Honolulu International Airport, before she slid the folded piece of paper out of her pocket. It had her name written in a male scrawl on the outside. Whichever one of them had written the note had clearly read her nametag to get the spelling right.

  When they’d left the plane, Angel had noticed Tracie was preoccupied, but Tracie had told her friend that she just wanted to get to the hotel and relax. Angel had other plans, so she wasn’t going to make it to the hotel until later. But Angel made it clear that Tracie had better be good and relaxed, and ready to party at nine.

  Now here she was, in the back seat of the taxi, no one else around but the cab driver, and ready to read the note. Her heart thumped as she slowly unfolded it.

  At the top of the paper was an insignia with Law offices of Cooper, Allen & DuBois.

  So the men were attorneys.

  That was one strike against Lucas and Kane. Tracie gave an unladylike snort. The second strike against the pair was the fact that they’d been her passengers, and she had a strict policy regarding going out with anyone she met while she was working.

  To her surprise, she saw that the address was in Manhattan. The men lived in New York, not Los Angeles.

  She looked below the header at the clearly male scrawl and felt her face heat as she read the words. God, would she ever stop blushing?

  Three times she read it through and three times she could swear she blushed more than she had the previous time she’d read it.

  Tracie,

  Meet us in Lewers Lounge at the Halekulani at seven p.m. sharp.

  Remove your panties before you arrive and carry them in your purse.

  Master Kane

  Tracie’s heart pounded and felt as if it was climbing up her throat. She glanced up at the back of the cabbie’s head as if he might be able to read what Kane had written.

  Master Kane. He was a Master.

  Likely Lucas was, too. She couldn’t imagine him as anything but.

  She gripped the paper and closed her eyes. The words had instantly sent a thrill through her, straight between her thighs. Her nipples were taut and she nearly squirmed with the flush of desire that had been a result of the note.

  Remove your panties. It was crazy. The thought went around and around in her mind. Kane and Lucas wanted her to take off her panties, put them in her purse, and then meet them in the lounge in one of the most exclusive resorts in all of Honolulu.

  She knew she shouldn’t do it. She shouldn’t meet with two strange men who had asked—no, ordered—her to do something so incredibly intimate. What else might they order her to do?

  Deep breath in. Deep breath out.

  On the exhale, she opened her eyes, looked out the window, and watched the glorious scenery of Oahu pass by. There was nothing quite like the sights, smells, and sounds of Hawaii.

  She read the note a fourth time.

  Once again she blushed and squirmed in her seat. It had been so long since she’d called any man Master, much less had sex, and she craved the submission. She wanted to be tied securely so that she could do nothing but obey her Master. Or in this case, Masters, if Lucas was indeed one as well.

  With a groan she banged her head against the headrest in front of her. Okay, she’d officially lost her mind. But just because she’d been intrigued, didn’t mean she should or would meet up with Kane and Lucas.

  She was staying at the modest Embassy Suites, within walking distance of the Halekulani. She swallowed, picturing herself walking into the resort and meeting the two men in the lounge. What then? Would they expect her to go up to their room with them?

  For a moment she thought she was going to hyperventilate. No. She couldn’t do something like this. It was crazy and she’d have to be nuts to even consider it.

  She crumpled the note into a ball and dropped it into her purse as the taxi pulled up to the curb of the her hotel.

  Forty-five minutes later, she’d showered, applied make up, and had pulled her hair up with a clip, a deceptively casual look that was quite elegant when wearing a little black dress. The LBD that she had brought on this trip w
as the latest fashion, but she wondered if it revealed too much skin. The dress had a square neckline that was deep enough to show a generous amount of her cleavage—the Victoria’s Secret bra certainly helped in the cleavage department. The dress reached mid-thigh and showed her toned arms and legs.

  The whole time she prepared for a night on the town, she told herself it was because she was meeting Angel at nine at a hot nightclub. Just because she was ready two-and-a-half hours early, didn’t mean she was actually going to go to the Halekulani.

  Oh, who the hell was she kidding? She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Kane and Lucas. She’d stop by the lounge and leave with the perfectly good excuse that she was going to meet Angel at the popular nightclub that was also within walking distance of the Halekulani. So there was no way in hell Kane and Lucas would get her to go up to their room with them.

  Her belly flip-flopped as she slid on a pair of black shoes with an inch and a half thick ankle strap and thick gold and black four-inch heels. They were the sexiest shoes she’d seen this season and she’d bought them on a whim. She retrieved her jewelry from her bag and put on a gold omega choker and simple diamond studs at her ears.

  She put her keycard, her credit card, cash, and her ID into a small black purse. It had a gold chain shoulder strap that she could wear cross-body over her simple black dress while she was walking down the street. She was almost ready to leave when she went to her larger purse, dug out the crumpled note and smoothed it out. She felt tingles throughout her body as she read once again.

  Remove your panties before you arrive and carry them in your purse.

  She set the note on the bed, slid her dress up over her thighs to her hips. Feeling utterly sinful, she shimmied out of the panties and let them drop to the floor. She stepped out of them before scooping up the pair, opening the little purse, and stuffing the silky material in the best she could. Being naked beneath her already revealing dress made her feel deliciously wicked.

  After she smoothed down her dress, she started toward the door. When she reached it, she paused, her hand on the doorknob, as she told herself how crazy this was.

  With renewed determination, she raised her chin. She opened the door, walked through, and let it fall shut behind her with a loud thump and click.

  On her way to the Halekulani, she refused to allow herself to question why she was going to meet with the men. She kept her back straight and her chin high. She did notice the appreciative glances and stares she received from men as she walked. It gave her a feeling of empowerment and a certain amount of control.

  When she reached the resort, a doorman pulled open the door for her and bowed her inside. She was almost overwhelmed by the hotel’s luxury and beauty. She asked the doorman where Lewers Lounge was and he directed her toward it.

  The feeling of empowerment and control vanished as she got closer to the lounge and nerves started to take over.

  At the entrance to Lewers Lounge, she paused to take in the luxurious interior. Finely crafted wood furnishings filled the room along with richly upholstered couches. The place even had a polished wood floor. Live jazz music played, the rich tones floating around the room.

  Oh, jeez. What was she doing here? She almost turned around to leave when she saw Lucas seated on an elegantly cushioned chair while Kane reclined on an equally elegant couch next to Lucas’s chair. They looked so damned good that her mouth watered.

  The men had captured her attention so thoroughly that she didn’t notice the busty brunette nearby until the woman seated herself on the couch, close to Kane. By her body language it was clear the brunette was attracted to him, maybe to both men.

  Yeah, this had been a bad idea. Definitely a bad idea. Tracie blew out her breath. This time she really was going to flee, but both Kane and Lucas spotted her at the same time.

  Kane made a “come here” motion with his finger.

  She was helpless to do anything but obey.

  Chapter 6

  An invisible tether pulled Tracie further into the lounge, slowly, but straight for Kane and Lucas. Kane leaned slightly toward the brunette and said something. The woman frowned and looked put out. She got up, scowled at Tracie, and strode away from the men.

  Both men looked good enough to eat. That thought gave her the clear image of going down on them. If she didn’t stop thinking that way she was going to turn red. She needed to appear cool and calm.

  Damn, they looked hot. Lucas wore all black, his expression unreadable and again looking dark and dangerous. He wore dress slacks along with a black shirt beneath his suit jacket. His keen dark eyes were focused on her and he made her feel as if he was searching her soul again, this time for answers to questions she didn’t even know existed.

  Kane wore a white shirt beneath his black jacket with his black slacks. His hair curled at the collar, and he had a tanned olive skin tone. His cheekbones were prominent, his jaw squared. A smile tipped the corner of his mouth, a sexy panty-dropping smile.

  The thought made her remember that she wasn’t wearing panties and they were tucked into her purse.

  Tracie swallowed as she reached Kane and Lucas, who had both gotten to their feet.

  “Right on time, Tracie.” Kane gestured to the corner of the couch closest to Lucas’s chair, where she would clearly be between the men. “That is a good start.”

  A good start? Once she sank down onto the comfortable couch, Kane sat close to her. Not too close, he wasn’t smothering her, but close enough to feel an electric sensation between them. On the other side, Lucas’s knee was close to hers and an intangible vibe emanated from him that grabbed hold of her.

  She set her purse beside her on the couch and crossed her legs at her knees. She felt her heartbeat in her throat as she looked from Lucas to Kane.

  “You’re stunning.” Kane let his gaze drift over her before he met her gaze. “Absolutely delicious.”

  Kane gave Lucas a knowing look before he looked at Tracie again.

  Heat flushed through her and she knew she was blushing.

  “Look at me.” Lucas’s order was one she was helpless to resist. She turned her head and met his dark gaze. His voice was low and sensual. “Does every part of you turn pink when you blush?”

  She was unable to do anything but answer. “Yes.”

  The look he gave her was positively feral. She involuntarily leaned away from him, almost as if she was fearful, as if he intended to take control of her now. Without intending to, she pressed against Kane. He put his hands on her waist and held on for a moment before she could pull away. It reminded her of how he’d held her by her waist on the plane, flames traveling through her from his touch.

  His warm breath slid over her skin as he spoke close to her ear. “You’re so incredibly soft and you smell like Heaven.” He released her as she moved away from him. The heat he generated was like fire burning in her veins.

  She looked from Kane to Lucas and gathered her purse in her lap, her heart rate increasing. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

  Lucas caught her gaze and held it. “You recently had a bad experience.” He said the words as if they were fact.

  “Yes.” She tried not to squirm beneath his intense stare, as she again felt compelled to answer and then explain. “I had a couple of drinks with a man I met on a flight. I thought the man was nice and he was attractive.”

  Lucas narrowed his brows. “What happened?”

  She lowered her gaze, looking away from Kane and Lucas. “Unfortunately, he thought I owed him and he groped me. He got aggressive and I left. He followed me, but I went to the concierge, and by the time security had arrived, the man was gone.” She clenched her purse tight in her lap. “I’ve refused to meet with any men who have been on my flights.”

  “Until now.” Kane touched her chin and she raised her eyes to meet his. A flash of anger was in his gaze and she knew it was because of the scum who had tried to take advantage of her. “Thank you for trusting us. We would never do anything l
ike that to you.”

  She looked away from Kane and looked at Lucas. “I’m crazy for being here.”

  “What’s your favorite color?” Kane’s question came out of left field and caused her to blink.

  “My favorite color?” The simple question made her feel off balance. “Purple.”

  The corner of his mouth quirked. “What’s your sign?”

  Despite herself she found herself loosening up. “Isn’t that a little cliché when picking up a woman in a bar?”

  “Ah.” His smile turned into a grin. “We met you on a plane. Big difference.”

  He had the kind of smile that made a woman’s insides melt. She willed her knees and her hands to stop shaking. “Aquarius.”

  A server arrived and asked for their drink order. Lucas ordered a Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah 2006. Tracie was no expert, but she had a feeling he’d just ordered an exceptional bottle of wine.

  The server left and Kane turned his attention back to Tracie. “Do you live in New York?”

  She hesitated. “Brooklyn.”

  He continued his questioning. “Family?”

  “My mother and stepfather retired and moved to Florida for the weather.” She fingered the hem of her dress absentmindedly. “My brother is in the service.”

  “Oldest or youngest?” Kane seemed to be enjoying playing twenty questions. “I’m betting on youngest.”

  “Then you’d bet right.” She glanced from him to Lucas. “What about you two?”

  Lucas didn’t answer right away and Tracie turned back to Kane.

  “Blue, Aries, I live in the Upper West Side, and my mom lives in Jersey.” Kane appeared to be amused. “Younger twin sisters still home with Mom.”

  Lucas didn’t look amused when she looked his way again. He seemed reluctant to answer. “Leo and I like black.”

  “I can see the Leo in you.” She studied him. “However, black is not a color.”

  “How long have you been a sub?” His question caught her off guard and caused her to look down and away. “Look at me.” She raised her head and looked at him. “It’s clear you were born to be a sub, but how long have you lived the lifestyle?”