Chapter 9 - Alex
“You can’t avoid the club forever, Alex,” Stephanie said as she stabbed at the salad in front of her. She’d met me for lunch a couple days after the party. We were supposed to talk wedding plans, but ended up talking about my night with Paul and what a disaster it ended up.
“Why not? Can’t you guys find a new club?” I whined, pushing my chicken around on my plate. I hadn’t had much of an appetite since the night at Paul’s house. I felt guilty for sneaking out on him when he’d been sleeping.
“I still don’t understand why you got so freaked out. It sounds like you had an amazing night.”
I sighed. “We did. It was a totally amazing night. It was like no night I’ve ever had with anyone.”
Stephanie shook her head. “Then what the hell is the problem?”
“It was going too far,” I said softly, knowing that Stephanie would tell me I was crazy.
She put her fork down and looked at me sternly. “Alexandra, I love you, but you’re an idiot. You are too beautiful and wonderful to be alone and it sounds like Paul really likes you. Why can’t you just open your heart and give him a chance?”
My eyes filled with tears. “I want to, Steph, I really do. But I’m scared. I’m scared to depend on him. I’m scared that I’ll live in his shadow. I’ve worked too hard for what I have to give it all up for some guy.”
“You know, you aren’t your mother,” she replied quietly.
My dad had died when I was three, leaving my mom alone to take care of me. She didn’t handle being alone so well, bringing man after man into my life. I hated how dependent she was to have someone take care of her and I swore I would never be that way.
“I know. I just can’t help but remember how she would panic when some guy would leave her. She wouldn’t leave her room for days. I never wanted to be like that.” I always said I would rather die than let any many have that affect on me.
Stephanie crossed her arms and narrowed her chocolate brown eyes at me across the table. “Is that what you think is happening with me and Zach? That I am giving myself up just to be with him?”
“What?” I asked, taken aback.
“Zach and I have a Dom/sub relationship and now we are getting married. Am I weak? Have I lost myself?” She threw back her hair, her auburn ponytail bouncing.
She had a point. “No,” I muttered.
She didn’t say anything, just looked at me accusingly.
“Ok, ok, you have a point.” I slumped in my seat.
“Mmhmm...I didn’t push you before because I never thought you found anyone that was worthy of you, Alex. But Paul is different. I saw the way he looked at you at our party, the way he watched you when you weren’t looking. He’s totally smitten with you.”
“Really?” I perked up.
“Yes, really! He couldn’t take his eyes off you all night. And it wasn’t in a creepy, stalker way like Will would do with you. There was nothing but love and desire in his eyes for you. Being collared by someone that feels like that about you is wonderful. There’s nothing like it. You feel loved, cherished and protected. I think you’d experience all that with Paul, more even.”
“But I left him the other night. He’s probably furious.” Why had I done that? My eyes filled with tears as I thought about the way Paul looked, sleeping so soundly in his bed as I dressed and snuck out of his house.
“Has he tried to contact you at all?” She reached across the table to touch my hand in comfort.
I shook my head, “No. Nothing.” If he did feel the way Steph said he did, why hadn’t he tried to call me?
“Well, in his defense, he probably thought he totally scared you off and didn’t want to make it worse. I mean, you’re the one that left without a word. Did you ever tell him these fears you have about being in a relationship?”
“We never really talked about it. I guess I should’ve. Things just kinda moved there before I had a chance.”
“Yes, you should’ve. Now are you going to come to the club tonight with us or not?”
“Ok, ok. Twist my arm. I should probably talk to Paul anyway, if for no other reason than to apologize.” Hopefully he would talk to me.
“Right. Something tells me he’ll forgive you. Zach saw him at the club the other night and said he was walking around like his puppy died, just sulking in the corner with his drink.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. The thought of Paul moping around like a lovesick teenager cracked me up. “Let’s hope so.”
***
It was a busy Friday night at the club and Stephanie and I had just gotten off the dance floor, breathless from dancing. I hadn’t seen Paul yet, and I was trying not to seem too eager to see him, but I couldn’t wait to talk to him.
“I’m going to run to the bathroom. Can you please get me beer?” I brushed my hair out of my eyes.
“Will do.” Stephanie replied before she turned to take off for the bar where Zach sat waiting for us.
I twirled around to head to the bathroom and hit a brick wall – or at least it felt like a brick wall.
“What the hell? Watch where you are going,” I muttered.
“Sorry, Alex.”
I froze in my tracks. I knew that voice anywhere. I’d heard it whispering dirty things in my ear and moaning in pleasure when he was inside me. Paul! Finally I ran into him - literally.
“Um, sorry, I didn’t mean to be so rude,” I fumbled over my words, not quite sure what to say. Zach was right about how he looked. He had dark circles under his eyes and he hadn’t shaved for a few days. I was surprised he came to the club looking like this. “I was just on my way to the bathroom.”
“It’s ok, princess.” My knees weakened as I heard his term of endearment for me. “I should’ve been paying more attention. I didn’t hurt you, did I?” I noticed the look of concern on his face and my heart melted. How could I have left him that night?
No, but I want you to. I glanced over him. Despite the tired look on his face, he still looked good. Tonight he had on black jeans that hugged his muscular thighs. One of his signature black t-shirts completed the look. I wanted to wrap my body around him and lick from his neck up to his ear.
“No, I‘m fine. Just on my way to the restroom.” I didn’t want to leave him, but my bladder was about to burst.
He let out a deep throaty laugh. “I’d better let you go then. Can we please talk when you’re done?”
My stomach did a flip-flop. I was glad he wanted to talk to me too. I tilted my head and smiled at him softly, “Yes, I think we need to talk. I’ll come find you when I’m done.”
I watched him walk away; heading over to the table Max was sitting. God, he was a beautiful man. I was a fool to think I didn’t want him - or need him.
When I was finished in the restroom, I headed back to the bar looking for Paul. He wasn’t sitting with Max, and as I looked around the room, he was nowhere in sight.
I then heard a voice that made the hair on my neck stand on end. Will. What the fuck was he doing back in town? My heart sank when I saw him standing at the bar, talking to another Dom. Stephanie and Zach were nowhere to be seen. No Paul either.
I started to turn around to go hide in the bathroom when he saw me. “Hey Alex, babe!” He quickly walked over to me.
I faked a smile and returned his hug half-heartedly. “Hey Will, what are you doing in town?”
Will grinned and slid an arm around my waist. I looked around nervously; hoping to god Paul didn’t see us. “I am back in town for a bit. I was going to call you, but decided to surprise you.” He leaned down and nuzzled my ear as he gripped me tighter. “I missed my girl.”
I'm not your girl. Never was, never will be. I needed to figure out how to get away from him without causing a scene. Will wasn't known for his cool temperament and I had a feeling we'd all get to see that if I wasn't careful.
I felt the bile rise in my throat, slipping from the tight hold he had on me. “How’s work? How’s California? D
o you need a drink?” I didn’t want Paul to get the wrong idea about Will and me before I had a chance to talk to him and make things right from the other night. I’d never get a chance with him then.
Will grabbed me by the hips and pulled me flush against him. He pressed his forehead against mine. “I just want you, Alex. I missed your sexy ass so much. Let’s get a room. All I could think about the whole time I’ve been gone was you tied up naked and doing nasty, dirty things to you.”
My eyes flashed nervously around the room. I needed to find Stephanie. She'd help get me out of this situation. My heart dropped when my eyes met Paul’s icy blue stare. I wondered how long he had been watching.
I pushed myself away from Will. “No, Will. You realize we were done before you left for California, right?”
“What the fuck, Alex? We were far from done when I left. I’ve been gone for months and this is how you greet me? I don’t think so!” He grabbed my wrist and yanked me over to him. I fell against him, my palms against his chest as I lost my balance.
I pushed off of him and put my hands on my hips. “What the hell was that, Will?”
His face was red now and I instantly regretted pushing away from him. I’d seen that look before and it meant things were going to get ugly. That had always been our attraction; we fought like cats and dogs, but had the most amazing, passionate sex. It was like nothing I’d ever experienced before
He fisted his hand in my hair, pulling it tight, causing me to gasp. He leaned in and pressed his lips against my ear. “That’s no way to treat your Dom, Alex. You know I have to punish you now, right?” He chuckled and bit my lip. “And I’m so going to enjoy it.”
I shivered and closed my eyes. I’d been on the receiving end of Will’s punishment a few times and let’s just say that I lost count of how many orgasms I’d after seven. Not this time though. I wasn’t going to fall into old habits with Will. I wanted Paul. I belonged to him.
“Will,” I said quietly. “There’s someone else.”
His grip tightened in my hair and I had to fight back a moan from the pain. “Always the little slut, huh, Alex? As soon as I’m gone, you find some other asshole to fuck. Well, babe, I am back and you’re mine.”
I bit my lip and tried to push away from Will again. “We ended even before you left. His hand went tighter around my wrist, almost breaking it and this time I couldn’t stop from crying out. A Dom sitting at the bar stood up, coming to my defense. “Will, man, stop it. You’re going to hurt her.”
Will waved him away with his hand. “Whatever…She’s just playing games.” He looked at me, his dark brown eyes dark with something darker than lust – something I’d never seen in his eyes before. “She likes to fight me sometimes, pretend she doesn’t like it. Don’t you, slut?” I tried to lift my other hand to slap him and he caught my wrist, holding it so tight my eyes filled with tears. He yanked harder on my hair and I whimpered.
“Is there a problem here?” I glanced over, my eyes widening when I saw Paul standing there, arms crossed, looking down at Will.
“Butt out, man. Just a little discipline problem here with my sub.” He turned back to me and narrowed his eyes. “Right, Alex?”
“Will, I.am.not.your.sub.” I spat out at him.
“That’s not what you said when I had you tied to my bed before I left a few months ago, Alex. You were begging for more…telling me that you were mine to use and abuse.”
I licked my lips nervously as Paul looked at me questioningly. “Will, you know that was just in the heat of the moment. We’ve both said a lot of things. Let me go! I told you long ago we were done!”
Paul moved closer to Will. “I think you better let her go. And for your information, she’s now my sub.”
A gasp escaped my lips and I almost wept with relief at what Paul said. He did still want me! Or was he just saying that so Will would leave me alone? Either way, Will wasn’t going to like that at all though. He’d fought me for so long to become my Dom. To find out I now belonged to someone else was going to set him off.
Will laughed and turned to me. “You can’t be serious. This guy, Alex? Really?”
He was still holding me tight and all I could do was nod as his fingers dug into me.
“Dead serious,” Paul said, quietly, his voice rumbling as he tried to maintain control. “Let Alex go. Then I think you should leave.”
Will finally released his grip on my hair and wrists, tossing me backwards against the wall. “Fine, you whore. You’ll come crawling back.” He looked over at Paul. “Have fun with this slut.”
Paul caught me in his arms, his strong body holding me up. He made sure I had my balance and then stepped toward Will, swinging at him with his right fist. “That is no way to treat a lady, asshole!”
“Alex’s no lady, you asshole. She's nothing more than a whore,” Will spat. Paul's patience with him was wearing thin, I could see his nostrils flaring as he took deep breaths, trying to maintain his composure. When Will made a move towards me, Paul's fist flew threw the air, catching will completely off guard.
Two security guards grabbed him and led him out the door as he yelled, “This isn’t the end of this, dickhead.”
Paul came back over to me, a look of concern on his face. “Are you ok, princess?”
I smiled at him wryly and nodded. “Yes, I’m ok.” I rubbed my wrists where Will had been gripping them so tight. “Thank you for coming over. Unfortunately, he probably means what he says when he claims this isn’t the end of this.”
He nodded. “You’re probably right. Guys like him don’t go quietly.” He pulled out a bar stool for me to sit on. “Water here, please,” he called out to the bartender. He turned back to me. “Are you sure you’re ok?”
I looked down. My hands were shaking. “Yes, I am. I think I’m going to call a cab though and head home. Enough fun for the night.” I gave him a tight smile. “I’m sorry for all the trouble.”
The bartender handed him a bottle of water. He opened it and handed it to me. “Here, drink.” He commanded as he brought the water up to my lips so I could take a sip. “It’s no trouble, Alex. I would protect you from anyone.” The cool water passed my lips as I looked over at Paul, my heart rapidly beating at his words. I had to resist the urge to sob and climb on his lap to let him hold me.
He pulled the water away, putting the cap back on. “Let me take you home.”
I shook my head. “You don’t have to. A cab is fine.” I was embarrassed by the whole thing and wasn’t sure if Paul was just being nice or not.
He held up a finger to my lips. “Shhhh...No arguing.” I opened my mouth to protest again. He laughed and held up a hand. “We need to talk anyway.”
He was right. We needed to talk, even more so after that little fiasco. “Fine. You’re right.”
Paul raised an eyebrow at me. “Did you just say I was right?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “I did. Don’t get used to it.” At least he still had his sense of humor.
He stood up. “Oh, I won’t, trust me. Let me go tell Max I’m leaving and I’ll meet you by the front door.”
I nodded, butterflies forming in my stomach. I knew we needed to talk, but how would it go? Would he be mad about Will? Would he not want to be with me now? Maybe some fresh air would calm my nerves. I grabbed my purse and headed out the door. I’d wait for Paul in the parking lot.
Chapter 10 - Paul
After combing the club for what felt like forever, I finally found Max standing in the corner, talking to another Dom. “Hey man, I hate to interrupt you, but we had an issue a bit ago with Alex and some old Dom, Will? I took care of it, but I have to go. I’m going to take Alex home. Not sure if I’ll be back.”
Max opened his mouth in surprise. “Will’s back? What happened?”
I ran my hand through my hair. Apparently everyone knew about Alex and Will except me. “Will was giving Alex a hard time; wouldn’t take no for an answer. Grabbing her, calling her all sorts of names. It w
asn't good. I finally had to intervene and kick him out.” I looked down at my bruised knuckle. “After I hit him.”
“Shit, really? Will has been coming here forever. He and Alex were play partners. And you hit him?” Max looked panicked.
“Yeah. He was pulling her hair and almost broke both of her wrists. Then he pushed her so hard she almost fell. She would’ve if I hadn’t been standing there.” I felt my blood boil again at the thought of how he’d treated Alex.
Max ran his hand over his face. “Wow, interesting. I wonder what he is doing back in town.”
Naughty Girl Page 5
