After polishing off the rest of the wine and another full bottle, Nikla tucked her friend into the bed in her spare bedroom. No way would she allow Deana to drive home after drinking. She closed the bedroom door and padded back to her office.
After reactivating her screen, she went back to the article on Sweet Hawkes. She discovered that he and his brother had been a part of the local BDSM scene for most of their adult lives. A shot of their storefront sat next to a picture of The Dollhouse, a nightclub Nikla had heard of, but she thought only drinking and dancing happened in the place. She never knew Virginia Beach had its own BDSM club. Talk about decadent.
She stared at the picture, studying the outside until it implanted in her memory. Could she ever step into a place like that? Would she let a man like Sweet Hawkes discipline her like she had seen in movies?
For now, she had to keep her head in the game and focus on her meeting. It could be the start of her new life.
Chapter Seven
Just as Nikla had suspected, as soon as she arrived at her father’s home, he had her stretching her body before they took off for a five-mile run. Thank goodness Nikla had kept up her cardio as she did everything else dealing with her physical health.
“Glad you’re here,” Lawrence said between breaths.
“I told you I would be here Sunday morning for breakfast...and the run.” She smirked at her father, who kept his face straight and tight as always.
The more she stared at him, the more she saw her brother. Her poor brother followed in their father’s footsteps and joined the Marines after college.
It never bothered Nikla that her father declared that she wouldn’t be military material and shouldn’t join the Marines. Nikla had other plans. She did envy her brother for getting away from their father. She felt obligated to be by her father’s side as much as possible.
“Did you get permission to come here?” Lawrence chuckled.
“No.” Nikla hoped her clipped answer would end that line of questioning.
“And where is your young man? Couldn’t get up this early?” Her father glanced both ways at a major intersection before he jogged across it with Nikla following him.
“We’re no longer together.”
Lawrence glanced at Nikla. Instead of offering fatherly compassion, he shook his head. “I don’t understand young people nowadays. Used to be you date for a short while, you get engaged, and you get married. You were with that guy for almost a year. Why couldn’t you hold on to this one?”
“Let’s not go there, Dad.” Nikla kicked up her jog to move beyond her father.
When she brought her gaze up, she saw where her father must have been aiming for in this run.
“Damn,” she muttered under her breath.
Healthy Bites sat off in the distance. Her father’s health food store had been his dream for years. It had done well as soon as he opened it. Then Decadent Treats opened about two miles away from his store.
“Are we turning around and going back to the house now so that we can eat breakfast?” To prompt her father, Nikla turned and started heading back.
“You really are avoiding this place like the plague, huh?” Lawrence continued on toward his store.
“Damn. Damn.” Nikla turned around and followed behind her father.
When Nikla had started the run, she wondered if Sweet would drive by and see her. For that reason, she ran taller with her stomach in, her chest out, and her back straight.
Once at Healthy Bites, Lawrence unlocked the door and ushered her inside. Thankfully Healthy Bites didn’t open on Sunday, so Nikla knew her father wouldn’t be asking her to work.
Inside, Nikla glanced around at the familiar surroundings. Glass cases lined three sides of the intimate space. The pure white walls didn’t give the place a cozy feeling. It almost came off like a pharmacy.
Three tables sat in the main area for customers who wanted to eat in the store that made seemingly calorie-laden treats into something healthy.
Shredded beets filled the chocolate cupcakes. Her father used zucchini in his yellow cakes. The homemade granola bars and muesli had been the fan favorites there.
When Decadent Treats opened, loyal customers started slipping on their need for healthy snacks and decided to go for the full fat.
Lawrence made his way behind the elevated front counter. Already a tall man, the position made him look like a giant. He glared down at Nikla.
“My dream is dying,” he declared.
“I know, Dad.” Nikla took in a deep breath and strolled up to the counter to let her leg muscles relax. “That’s why I’m out in front of Decadent Treats every day talking about the benefits of eating healthy and how consuming so much sugar can–”
“Eh! No one reads anymore. No one cares. They just leave. They just...”
His father trailed off and Nikla knew exactly what he meant in his complaint.
“I’m here. I’ll do whatever I can to help you.” When she saw his father opening his mouth, she quickly interjected, “I just can’t work in the store with you.”
Although her father made healthy foods, he had to use something to make them taste appealing to a sweet tooth. For the same reason she couldn’t go into Decadent Treats, Nikla had to stay out of Healthy Bites. She couldn’t trust herself not to slip.
“If you can figure out a way to get customers into this place, I would appreciate it. Right now, it’s dying on the vine, and I don’t know how to stop it. It just kills me that people would rather drive the extra mile or two for crap when they can have the good stuff here.”
Nikla had never heard her father sound so desperate. “Dad, why not sell and retire? You need to–”
“Need to what?” he snapped. “Crawl off and never be seen again?” He shook his head. “I have a life. I want to keep working.” He stomped from around the counter. “If you can’t help, just say so. But don’t stand there and tell me what I need to do with my life.” He headed to the door. “Let’s go back home. It was a mistake to bring you here.”
Nikla shook her head. She felt the familiar stirrings of the start of another panic attack. She felt the supreme obligation to save her father’s store, to save his life.
Before she could move her feet, she took a deep breath.
“Nikla, let’s go!” Lawrence shouted from the door.
Once her body settled, she turned to him. “Coming.”
Feeling stuck between a rock and hard place, Nikla didn’t know how to solve her father’s problems. She just knew she had to try. Someone had to be in his corner.
****
Sweet stood in the Decadent Treats kitchen, staring at the ingredients before him and feeling like he had no idea what to do with them. The sugar and honey sat next to his left hand. By his right sat flour, brown sugar, and chocolate. Nothing spoke to him.
Used to be he could gather any ingredients together and make something spectacular. He’d even made desserts with bacon.
“Hey.”
Sweet snapped out of his trance to see his brother standing across from him. “How long have you been there?”
“Long enough to see that you don’t look good. What’s going on with you?” Masaun planted his hands on the counter.
Sweet shook his head. “I don’t know. Everything I used to know and that used to make sense to me don’t anymore.”
“Are you talking about here and making candies?” Masaun knocked his knuckle against the bag of sugar.
“Not just that. I played with that submissive the other night, I couldn’t get into it. My mind wasn’t there.” Sweet hated to admit that his brother had been right, but he couldn’t lie to him. “I’m losing it, man.”
Masaun lowered his gaze and breathed out before he spoke. “You need to take some time off. After you and, um, after your breakup, you kept working and buried your head in this place. You have to take care of yourself. Hell, I don’t think I’ve seen you smile in forever.”
Sweet let his brother’s words roll
around in his head before he spoke. “I’m thinking about stepping back from The Dollhouse, not doing that anymore.”
Sweet didn’t want to admit that his true passion for discipline seemed to have disappeared.
“You don’t mean that. You’ve been a Dom for a long time.” Masaun came around the counter to stand next to Sweet. “You remember you used to make those chocolate chip cookies all the time and we all loved them but you hated them?”
Sweet recalled that memory of himself as a teenager trying his hand out in the kitchen. “Yeah.”
“We all told you how great your cookies were, but you couldn’t see that, or taste it. You kept saying something was off, and you were right. You tweaked the recipe.”
“I added coffee.” Sweet remembered smelling the beverage one day and thinking that the taste would enhance the flavor of the chocolate in the cookies.
“You were right. You turned something great into something spectacular.”
“So what are you saying?” The pep talk so far sounded awesome, but Sweet didn’t know how it would solve his problem. How could Sweet find his love of cooking and disciplining again?
Masaun poked his finger into Sweet’s chest. “You know yourself better than anyone. And only you know how to fix this problem. Whether it’s time away or taking a cooking class somewhere or going to a BDSM bed-and-breakfast–”
Sweet blinked. “Does a place like that exist?”
Masaun shrugged. “Thought I heard about a spot down in Virginia Beach. Someone made an old school into one. If that’s what’s going to bring back your passion, do it.”
Sweet thought about his suggestion and rubbed his hands across the back of his neck. “I met someone.”
This time it was Masaun’s turn to blink. “Really? At the club?”
Sweet didn’t answer. He didn’t want to tell his brother that the lone protester had somehow managed to capture his interests.
“Whatever, man. That’s great. Vanilla?”
Sweet nodded. “That might be part of the problem. If she doesn’t know...”
“Then you teach her. That’ll get you out of your rut.” Masaun patted Sweet on his shoulder. “Your solution is right there. Figure out the relationship and maybe you’ll discover something about yourself.” Masaun walked off with a laugh. “I can’t believe you finally put yourself out there.” He nodded. “I’m happy for you. Hope she can make you happy.”
Masaun walked out.
Sweet just hoped that he could get Nikla out of his head. He couldn’t be any good to her or any woman right now until he could straighten himself out. Despite what Masaun suggested, time away from work wouldn’t do it. Sweet would have to keep going with his plan to open another store. He had his appointment in the morning. He would be able to focus then.
Chapter Eight
Sweet, dressed in black slacks with matching jacket, a crisp, white shirt and a red power tie, walked into the Zuberi Commercial Real Estate Company office. He could never be a submissive or slave. The tie wrapped around his neck felt too much like a collar. He hated the feeling. He kept pulling on the inside of the collar to give himself some air to breathe. He wondered how the hell Masaun could wear a tie all the time. For this meeting, Sweet would look his best.
The small building existed near the Oceanfront and sat sandwiched in between two tall buildings. He imagined the owners bought the small dwelling years ago before all of the construction happened down at the Oceanfront area and they refused to give up their spot. He had to respect their fortitude.
Sweet smoothed his hand down his tie. As long as he kept the events that had happened with Nikla and Leaf out of his head, he would remain calm.
Sweet’s thoughts had gone back and forth between his encounter with Nikla Dearwood and his sorry performance at The Dollhouse. He couldn’t keep his mind on Leaf while he thought about business, losing Melinda, and Nikla Dearwood, both a headache and a distraction.
After taking a needed deep breath, he gripped the doorknob to the white building and pulled the door open. The creaking hinges welcomed him more than the venomous glare he got from Nikla who sat at the edge of a chair like she wanted to jump up at any moment.
“So you actually did make an appointment, huh?” Nikla turned away from him.
“You thought I was kidding about wanting both spots?” Sweet kept his stare on her as he made his way to the receptionist desk that sat in the center of the cramped space.
Nikla never returned his look but did respond. “I thought you were trying to rattle me.”
“Trust me. I have other ways I can do that.” Just hearing the word “rattle” had him thinking of Nikla handcuffed to an overhead bar. He could almost hear the sounds handcuffs would make as they clanged against each other.
He cleared his throat to snag the attention of the woman with the gray beehive hairdo. When she looked up, he said, “I have an appointment. Sweet Hawkes.”
The prim, slight, mature woman adjusted her invisible frame glasses on her slender nose, then ran her hand down her neck like she wanted to smooth away her wrinkles. “Please have a seat.” She indicated the chair next to Nikla.
Although Sweet wanted to be disappointed, his pounding heart gave away how he truly felt. He didn’t like feeling this out of sorts around a woman he barely knew, except that she wanted to own and run her own business, and shut down his.
Sweet occupied the wooden chair next to Nikla that seemed as old as the building. It squeaked under his weight, but he welcomed being in a seated position. At six-foot-three, he felt like he had to duck his head due to the low ceiling.
He also enjoyed the aroma near Nikla. No longer smelling of oranges, she only carried a seductive jasmine scent. He took in a deep breath and his dick pulsed. Christ.
“I don’t think I ever had the chance to tell you thank you properly for the other day.” Nikla could barely look him in the eyes as she spoke. “I wasn’t at my best. It was embarrassing.” Her gaze connected to his. “I appreciate you giving me my dignity.”
His heart thrummed at her sincere speech. “I’m human. You needed help. I did what anyone else would have done.”
“I don’t think so.” She held up her hand to him. “Thank you.”
After a beat, Sweet accepted her gesture and took her small hand in his. Her soft flesh melted in his hand. He wanted nothing more than to pull her close and seal her apology with a kiss.
Before he could humiliate himself, he released her hand. “If you really want to thank me, you’ll stop protesting in front of my store.”
“I can’t do that.”
Sweet caught her tone when she said it. She sounded like she did this task for someone else, not because it meant anything to her.
“You must be late for your appointment or incredibly early.” Nikla crossed her legs.
Damn. Now in her skirt and business jacket, she exuded power. Her skirt rode up her leg, showing off more of her luscious thigh.
When she finally looked at him in his eyes, he noticed her lips carried a faint pink hue that gave them an even juicier appearance than before. The makeup around her eyes made them look even bigger. If he didn’t think the chair would crack under the weight, he would have pulled the caramel beauty onto his lap.
“Why would you assume that I’m not on time?” He leaned back in the chair. When he heard a loud pop, he thought better of his decision and sat up straighter. “Aren’t you way early?”
“No. I’m on time.” She looked at her watch. “My appointment starts in a few minutes.”
Sweet furrowed his eyebrows. “If you knew me, you’d know I’m never late.”
“I’ve learned a lot about you, more than I should.” A sly smile spread across Nikla’s innocent face.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Had Nikla actually looked up information about him online?
Before Nikla could answer, the receptionist got his attention. “Mrs. Zuberi will see you now.”
“Who? Me?” Sweet pointed to h
imself. “Or her?” He jutted his thumb over his shoulder to point at Nikla.
“Both.” The receptionist stood and opened a door behind her desk.
Sweet didn’t know what kind of game Zuberi played with the two of them. He planned on being on top.
He stood and held his hand out for Nikla. He had to blink hard when she accepted it. The same woman who wouldn’t shake his hand days ago now had touched him twice.
Her soft, delicate fingers wrapped around his hand. He wanted so much to wrap her fingers around his cock and have her stroke him until he came.
His stomach tightened as soon as the thought hit him that this could be a diversionary tactic. Her soft touch could be a way to throw him from his game.
Nikla’s velvety touch sent a shiver down Sweet’s spine. He squeezed her hand as she got to her feet. Until she thanked him and removed her hand from his, he would have been fine holding her hand into the meeting...of course with her trailing behind him.
He had to get it out of his head about making her his submissive.
As a gentleman, he allowed her entrance into the office first, then he held out her chair. When he noticed the woman sitting on the flowered velvet couch, Sweet remained standing until he shook her hand. Then he sat in a matching flowered chair.
Much like the building and the waiting room, this office looked more like his grandmother’s living room. Mrs. Zuberi didn’t have a desk in her office. Just a flowered couch, two chairs, a coffee table, and two tall floor lamps. The Oriental rug under his feet brought home the familial feel.
Sweet didn’t expect to be meeting with this older woman, the namesake behind the successful local commercial real estate company. Looking at Nikla’s surprised expression, she looked a bit taken aback as well.
“You two want something to drink?” Mrs. Zuberi pointed to an avocado-colored full-sized refrigerator that sat in the corner.
“I’m fine.” Sweet smoothed out his business plan on his lap.
“Nothing for me. Thank you.” Nikla shook her head.
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