Slapping Leather

by Desiree Holt

  “Wait a minute.” Clint stood in front of the desk, glaring at him. “You know her?” He shifted his gaze to Katie. “How is it when I gave you the name of my partner, you never mentioned your history with him?”

  She shrugged delicately. “I was afraid Reece would reject me out of hand, and I really wanted this job. It was the perfect opportunity to leave Atlanta.” She looked at Reece. “Is this a problem for you?”

  She looked so poised, so self-assured, but something lurked in her eyes, something she tried to suppress. What was that all about?

  He shook his head. “Not for me, but I seem to recall this scene being very distasteful to you. Call me curious, but how did you happen to get involved with it?”

  Her smile, slow and hot, was sinful and knowing, whatever shadows she’d been chasing effectively hidden. “We all grow up, you know. And our tastes change.”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “That’s a pretty drastic change. Is there someone who should get the credit?”

  As soon as the words left his mouth he wanted to bite his tongue. Her personal life was none of his business. Damn it. But lust and anger were a boiling cauldron inside him.

  Her smile disappeared. “How I got to this point isn’t important, nor is it any of your damn business. I’m damn good at what I do and I never bring my personal business to the club. I can provide all the references you want on that score and any others. But if this is going to be a problem for you…” She started to rise.

  “No.” Reece hadn’t realized he shouted until the thunder of his voice boomed in the room and both Clint and Katie were staring at him. He cleared his throat. Jesus, he was making a mess of this. “Sorry. No, this won’t be a problem. And I guess we don’t need to bother with all the usual questions.”

  There went that tempting smile again, as if she had a secret and she just might share it with him under the right circumstances.

  “I’m happy to tell you anything you’d like to know.”

  How did you get into this scene? How deep into the lifestyle are you? Do you enjoy being a sub? Would you let me strip you naked and spank your sweet ass?

  Again he had to shift in the chair, his bulging shaft doing its best to poke through the fabric of his slacks. “We’re good. You’re starting tonight, right?”

  “Yes. Clint told me your current manager would like to leave by the end of the week. That only gives us three days together, but I’m a quick study.”

  How quick? How long would it take for you to call me Sir?

  Jesus fucking Christ, Reece. Get your head together.

  “Then I’d better let you get to it.”

  “I’m sure I’ll enjoy working here.” She stood and reached across the desk.

  Reece took her small hand in his larger one, and the electricity sizzling up his arm and into his body nearly fried both his brain and his balls. The slight widening of her eyes told him she felt the same thing, but she took back her hand and moved toward the door.

  “We’ll catch up at the end of the evening for a debriefing,” he told her.

  “Sounds good.” The professional face was in place now. “And thank you. Clint, I’ll just go out to the front and get started.” A brief, professional smile and she was gone.

  Clint closed the door after her and turned to look at Reece.

  “This better not be a goddamn problem, cowboy.” His voice held a slight trace of irritation. “She’s damn good. I don’t want you screwing this up.”

  Reece held up his hands. “On my word, Clint. No playing in the company dungeon.”

  “Better not be.”

  But somehow he didn’t look too convinced.

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