As everything inside him reached out to her, he wrapped one arm around her, joining them as one. Her pussy muscles squeezed his cock. A moan rose up from his throat as he reached the point of no return.
He exchanged a long, heated look with her, and warm familiarity curled around him as he released inside the woman who’d given so much of herself tonight—a woman he wanted to give himself to.
Control obliterated, Kaden’s cock pulsed and throbbed, and Janie squeezed her pussy in response, milking him of every last drop. With Kaden’s cock still deep inside her, they held each other tight, like their lives were dependent on it. Maybe they were.
Kaden crushed her against his chest and held her there until their breathing returned to normal. He cupped her head with shaking hands and looked into her eyes. “You did good, baby. Really good.”
Sated and completely exhausted, she gave him a small smile. He watched her lids open and close, her body craving rest after that powerful experience. She kept blinking, like she was trying to stay awake. He pulled out of her and helped her to stand on wobbly legs as he quickly unhooked her arms, then he gently rubbed her wrists and ankles.
Her knees wobbled, and Kaden quickly gathered her in his arms and carried her into the hall where Tate waited for them with a blanket for her aftercare.
“She needs to rest,” he said to his friend.
Tate covered her with the blanket. “Do you want me to drive her home?”
“No. I’m going to keep her here tonight.”
“Sidestepping the rules again, I see.”
“I think it’s what she needs.”
Tate nodded. “Maybe it’s more about what you need.”
Chapter Five
The soft snoring sounds coming from beside her pulled Janie awake. She glanced around, trying to orient herself. The moonlight slanting in through the crack in the curtains told her she wasn’t in her own bed. She turned to her right, and her heart lodged in her throat when she saw Kaden sleeping beside her, his beautiful, naked body completely exposed. She reached out to touch him, then drew her hand back as the things they’d done the night before, the things she had felt, came crashing down on her. Her heart raced. Good God, she was in over her head. This was supposed to be a sex affair, but somewhere along the way, things had changed. She had developed feelings for this man that went far beyond what went on in the dungeon. Feelings that she knew better than to allow to happen with any man.
Ribbons of unease moved through her and she slipped from the bed. She combed the room for her clothes, but when her search came up empty, she found a robe on the door and pulled it on. Stepping into the dark hall, she walked quietly, wondering how she was going to get out of there without clothes. She passed by Tate’s room and spotted her dress draped across his chair. She tiptoed in, her mind reliving last night and how he’d disappeared from the play. Where had he gone? When had he gone? She’d been so wrapped up in Kaden that she hadn’t noticed. The truth was, being with two men had been fun, something she’d fantasized about in the past. While she really liked Tate, now, after Kaden, she only wanted his hands on her.
And that scared the shit out of her.
Janie’s heart pounded against her ribs as she padded across the wood floor and reached for her dress. “Everything okay?” Tate’s deep voice nearly gave her a heart attack.
Her knees shook, and she sank down into the chair, her dress crushed in her fists, sure she’d never be okay again after last night. Kaden’s touch, his words, the way he pushed her to open up, had a profound effect on her, and she couldn’t deny that he’d touched her on a different level.
“I… I should probably go,” she said, needing time to sort out her feelings.
“Come on,” Tate whispered, pushing the blankets off his body and climbing to his feet.
“Where?” she asked as she pulled her robe tighter, catching Kaden’s scent on it.
“You went through a lot last night, and you fell asleep before Kaden could give you proper aftercare.”
“Aftercare?” A small, hysterical laugh slipped from Janie’s throat. “Does it include Xanax or lots of gin, because the way I’m feeling right now, that’s the only thing that’s going to work.”
Instead of answering, he smiled and held a hand out to her. “Trust that I know what Kaden would want me to do.”
She nodded, and without hesitation, she said, “Okay.”
Dressed in a pair of pajama bottoms, he guided her down the hall and into a lavish bathroom. “This is gorgeous,” she said, taking in the vanity and ornate mirror. She wasn’t use to such luxury, which reminded her they were from different worlds. Then again, were they? She’d seen the scar and the abuse Kaden had suffered.
Tate picked her up and set her on the counter, then reached inside a huge, marble stall, with a rain shower nozzle and turned on the spray. “This will help soothe your muscles,” he said and leaned against the wall, his arms folded.
Unable to help herself and wanting to know more, everything about Kaden, she asked, “How did you and Kaden meet?”
He grinned. “On the playground.”
“That long ago?” she managed to get out, noting that Tate was keeping a measure of distance from her.
“Yeah.”
As she looked at him, she couldn’t help but think he and Kaden were so different. “You two just seem so…”
“Different? We are, and that’s what makes our relationship work.” He checked the temperature of the water. “When I moved here, I had a lot of trouble. I came from a wealthy family, wore glasses, and read a lot. Total bully bait.”
Her heart hurt for the little boy he’d been. “I’m sorry.”
“Believe me, those guys were sorry in the end, too.”
“What happened?”
He gave her a lopsided grin. “Kaden happened.”
She couldn’t help but smile as she thought about the powerful Dom and the way he came to her rescue with Simon. “He’s a really good guy, isn’t he?” she said quietly.
“Yes, and he protects what’s his.”
He protected me. Could that mean he thinks of me as his?
“You protected him from his father,” she said, understanding where he was going with this.
“My family took him in. But if it wasn’t for him, I don’t know where I’d be today.”
“You two are good for each other.”
“I love him, Janie, and would do anything for him,” he said. “When Sondra left us, he took it hard and closed himself off to others. It’s been hard waiting for him to come around again.”
“Sondra?”
“She was part of our family until she ran off with another man. She didn’t even have the decency to tell us to our faces and instead broke it off through text.”
“Your family?”
“Kaden and I reserve our play for the dungeon. Outside of it, we lead normal lives. She was part of that life, and it did a number on us both when she left.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, then something else occurred to her. “You shared her outside the dungeon?”
“Yes.”
Last night, Kaden didn’t seem to want to share her, even in the dungeon.
As she considered that, Tate said, “No wonder Kaden is breaking all the rules.”
“What—” she began but was cut off when a deep voice sounded behind her.
“Hey,” Kaden said, the deepness in his tone, turning her on all over again.
Tate gave him a smile. “I was wondering when you were going to wake up. Your girl here is in need of aftercare. I was just getting things ready.”
Kaden and Tate exchanged a long look, and she could feel the love, trust, respect, and understanding between the two. Tate walked past Kaden, and Kaden stopped him. “Tate, wait.”
Tate put his hand on his friend’s shoulder and said. “Everything is as it should be, my friend.”
“Thank you,” Kaden said, and when Tate left, Kaden lifted her from the sink and peeled her ro
be from her body.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, his eyes moving over her.
“I’m a little sore,” she said.
His features softened as he smiled. “Come on. I can help with that.”
She took off her watch and the bracelet they’d given her, and he guided her into the shower. As the warm water fell over them, he held her tight, and she couldn’t help but wonder if this was part of his aftercare, or if it was much more.
All thoughts melted away as he touched her body, she, in turn, reveled in the feel of his hard muscles and the way his cock pressed against her. She took him into her hands, and they moaned in unison as she stroked him. Long, heated kisses were exchanged, and before she knew it, she was back in his bed.
He laid her out and stood back to look at her. His eyes darkened as they gazed at her naked body.
“You are so beautiful,” he murmured.
Her throat tightened, because he was the one who was beautiful. “Come here,” she said.
Kaden kneeled on the bed and moved between her legs. She automatically widened for him. He touched her sex lightly, running gentle, soothing fingers over her. The way he touched her now was different than in the dungeon, but just as powerful and moving.
He ran the soft pad of his thumb over her lips, his touch so caring and tender it tugged at her heart. He stroked her clit and she grew wetter. A soft moan escaped her lips.
“Feeling better?” he asked.
“Kaden,” she cried out when he applied a bit more pressure to her clit. The man sure knew his way around a woman’s body. She closed her eyes. “That feels…”
“Good?” he asked.
“Yes,” she murmured and moved beneath him, but then stilled when she realized she didn’t have permission to move. She opened her eyes to find him smiling at her, his demeanor different, less controlled than when they were in a scene. But she couldn’t think about that right now, not when her body was tingling all over and an orgasm was pulling at her. She met his glance, not because he told her to, but because she wanted to see him, wanted to see the look on his face when he took her over.
“That’s it. Just let go and enjoy.” The warmth in his eyes as he smiled at her brought her to the peak. “I love it when you come for me,” he whispered. She fisted the bed sheets, and every nerve in her body came alive as she tumbled over.
“Oh, yes,” she cried out, concentrating on every pulse, every sweet throb of pleasure.
Her body stopped spasming, and Kaden crawled over her, his weight pressing her into the mattress. He pushed her hair from her forehead, and his lips found hers. His kiss was soft, yet possessive, and she could feel herself getting pulled in deeper and deeper, falling more for him with each passing second.
“I want you inside me,” she said around his kisses.
“Are you too sore, baby?”
“Never for you.”
“If you’re sure.”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything.” Or confused by the things she was feeling.
He rolled off her and grabbed a condom from the nightstand. He sheathed himself then slid over her body. He positioned his crown at her opening and dropped a soft kiss onto her mouth as he pushed all the way inside her. He took her slowly, softly, taking the utmost care with her body. Pleasure soon grew inside her, and another orgasm took her by surprise. They held each other tight, like they couldn’t get enough of each other, and continued to make love well into the early hours of the morning. When he finally rolled off her and pulled her in next to him, they were both drained and sated.
She listened to Kaden snore as he slept deeply beside her. She was exhausted, but her thoughts were too scattered to sleep. Her mind too busy racing, sorting through last night’s events in the dungeon, her conversation with Tate, and the beautiful lovemaking with Kaden that followed.
Lovemaking?
Oh, God, she was so confused. Was it lovemaking, or was it just his way of giving proper aftercare? After all, a Dom had a certain responsibly to those in his charge. She looked at him and her heart squeezed. She had gone to Kaden because something was missing in her life, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. But now, as he lay next to her, it occurred to her that what had been missing all this time was the connection, the emotions behind the sex.
She swallowed uneasily. Last night, he’d broken down her defenses—had gotten a glimpse of the real Janie. The one who came from a dysfunctional family and suffered emotional abuse at the hands of her brother and father. Not at all unlike Kaden.
Is it possible that he likes the real me? Or are complimentary words just part of the play?
She wrapped her arms around herself, and as the morning light slanted across her body, she suddenly felt naked, vulnerable…afraid. Every insecurity she harbored deep inside came rushing to the surface, filling her with painful memories. Fighting down the lump in her throat, she pushed the sheets off and quietly slipped from the bed. She hurried into Tate’s room, grabbed her dress, and darted down the stairs before she woke him. She rushed into the den to scoop up her purse and grabbed her phone, pulling up the number of her favorite cab company. With uncertainty welling up inside her, she worked to pull herself back—emotionally and physically—too fearful to put her heart on the line, only to find out he didn’t want it.
And besides, there has yet to be a man in your life who hasn’t let you down.
Chapter Six
With single-minded determination, Kaden maneuvered his car through the heavy Saturday morning traffic. He shot Tate a glance, noting the worry in his friend’s eyes as he stared at the disturbing text message that had come from Janie a few minutes earlier.
It’s over. I don’t want to see you again.
“None of this makes sense,” Kaden said for the hundredth time.
“I know. I saw the way she looked at you when you first walked into the bathroom. That wasn’t the look of a girl who wanted casual. I also don’t believe she’s the type to pull a Sondra on us.”
Kaden clenched down on his jaw. “Do you think I pushed her too far, asked for too much?”
Tate shifted in his seat to face him and put his arm on the back of Kaden’s headrest. “I don’t know, but you had to do what you had to do, Kaden. I saw the way you were with her. From the second you brought her home, I knew she was for you. You only pushed because you needed all of her.”
Kaden raked his fingers through his hair. He could barely believe it himself, but in a short time he’d fallen hard for her, and it had changed everything for him. He nodded toward the phone with the breakup message that seemed to come out of nowhere, especially after the two of them had made love well into the light of morning.
“Something just isn’t right.”
Tate shook the band she left in the bathroom. “Something is definitely off.”
Kaden pulled his car into her driveway, and they both jumped out. They hurried to the front door and knocked loudly.
“I’m coming. I’m coming,” a tired voice said as the lock clicked.
Janie’s roommate, Maria, opened the door, and surprise turned to worry when she saw him and Tate standing there on the stoop.
“Is she here?” Kaden asked.
Maria shook her head. “No she didn’t come home last night. I thought she was with you guys.”
“She was, but she left sometime this morning,” Kaden said. “Then she sent this.” He held the phone up for her to read the message as old, painful memories of Sondra came rushing back. But Janie wasn’t Sondra, and he didn’t believe for a minute she’d do this to him. Sure, she might be running scared, but underneath that façade she presented to the world, she was kind and giving, vulnerable yet strong, and damned if he wasn’t determined to be there for her, to show her that she could count on him.
“Do you have any idea where she could be?” Tate asked.
Panic moved over Maria’s face. “What’s going on? Is she okay?” Her glance bobbed back and forth between the two of them
. “You better not have hurt her.” She glared at them. “Underneath that tough disguise, Janie is a sweet, loving person who’s been through hell and back, and so help me, if you hurt her—”
“I’d never hurt her,” Kaden said, his jaw tightening. “And I know exactly who she is.”
“Then what happened?” Her eyes suddenly grew round. “Oh God, tell me Simon doesn’t have anything to do with this.”
Kaden leveled her a look. “Why would you think Simon had something to do with this?”
She pointed to the phone. “Janie might have left your place this morning for her own personal reasons, but sending a text like that isn’t her style.” She nibbled her bottom lip, then added, “And I know Simon. Don’t think for a minute that that rescue scene at the café will keep him from Janie. She’s changed her phone number numerous times, and he always finds the new one. He totally ignores the restraining order against him and continues to stalk her, so your strong-arm tactics would mean basically nothing to him.” She shook her head. “If he’s still following her—and I’m betting he is—he’d know she’d been with the two of you, and even his pea brain would be able to put two and two together.”
“Jesus Christ,” Tate said. “Where the hell could she be?”
As the two puzzled it out, Kaden’s mind raced. He’d pushed Janie hard last night, exposed her—and this morning, she’d run off like a skittish cat. And what does a cat do when it’s afraid?
Hide.
“I know where she is,” Kaden said, he turned and rushed toward the car, Tate tight on his heels.
“I’m coming,” Maria said.
“No,” Kaden said. “You stay here and call the police. Tell them to meet us at the set.”
“The set?” Maria called out.
“Yes, just do it.”
Kaden and Tate jumped into the vehicle, and he rushed through the city streets. After showing his identification at the gate, he asked, “Has Janie Monroe come through here this morning.”
The security guard looked over his clipboard. “Yeah, about an hour ago.”
Every Which Way Page 26
