by Measha Stone
"But there wasn't enough proof?" she asked, not pulling away from him. His touch ran like an electric connection between them, and she didn't want to break it.
"No." He let go of her and sat back.
"And you blame yourself because she got hurt." Kelly touched his arm again.
He turned away from her, reaching into his back pocket. He pulled out his wallet and produced a business card. "Here's the club I told you about. Remember, Friday nights only."
The topic was closed. He held the card out to her in firm silence. He'd said all he was going to say on the subject.
She took it from him and opened the car door. "Thank you, again." She leaned over the console and kissed him on his cheek, letting her lips linger on his skin a moment longer than she'd intended before pulling away.
She slid out of the car and waited for him to say something else. To ask her to dinner, to lunch, to anything.
Silence.
She closed the door, and before her foot touched her front steps, he was gone.
The sensible man, driving the sensible car, tore around the corner of the street.
She pressed her lips together, trying to burn the memory of his smell, and the way he tasted, into her brain.
The card in her hand held promise.
A promise of another meeting. A smile coiled over her lips with a sudden realization.
It was already Friday.
Chapter 4
Kendrick waved off the couple in the elevator holding the door for him and headed to the stairwell. Living on the seventh floor made for extra cardio after his five-mile run, and after the morning he'd experienced, he welcomed the burn.
After dropping Kelly at her apartment, he'd gone straight home, debating on doing a little admin work he'd been putting off for too long. The place felt empty. The scent of her lilac perfume lingered in the bedroom, embedded in his sheets. It was with some reluctance he pulled the bedding free from the mattress and took them to the washer.
His years on the force had presented him with plenty of opportunities to rescue damsels in distress, but he had never taken any of them back to his place. Kelly hadn't been the first drugged woman to cross his path, but she was the first he'd let sleep it off in his bed.
He'd told himself he was doing Derek a favor—a big favor. He didn't need to get involved. He could have simply dropped her off at the emergency room as a security officer and left her. He knew at least two nurses at County who would take her off his hands, no questions asked. But he didn't. He'd brought her home and let her sleep in his bed. Not the guest room down the hall, but his bed.
He'd decided to forego the work once again and went for a long run to clear his head. A run in with Ted always ended with him taking a longer route than usual. He needed to burn off his anger more than calories.
Kelly crept into his thoughts as he ran toward the lake. One advantage to living on the Magnificent Mile were the paths around the waterfront, making his runs seem less mundane. The day begged for people to be outside in the warm sun and cool breeze of spring.
He expected a woman who had come face to face with a man who'd attacked her to be angry or scared, but Kelly had surprised him by being strong. Formidable. Her eyes had hardened when they caught a glimpse of Ted, her muscles tensed beneath Kendrick's hand, but she remained completely in control. She hadn't made a scene or even raised her voice. She simply hadn't let Ted get to her, or at least let him know he had. Kendrick noted how the rise and fall of her chest sped up when she'd walked away from Ted in the hall. Her fingers had rubbed together on each hand as she left, but never quite balled into fists.
As he ran, he'd let his thoughts wander over her. Thinking about how much it would take for her to lose her control, to let herself go. His own wheels spun with all the of the ways he'd like to make her let go of her restraint.
He decided he would start with kissing the tempting diamond shaped beauty mark on the inside of her ivory thigh, then he'd move higher…
The club was quiet when Kendrick arrived for his shift. The two roundtable discussions were wrapping up, and the members hadn't started arriving yet for the evening festivities.
His security staff was already on site setting up near the doors and planning out the evening. Four men rotated throughout the dungeon once it was in full swing. One stayed at the front door behind the dungeon staff, in case an outsider tried to sneak his way into the private club.
Gallant Domination allowed anyone to join their ranks, but they had to sign up and pay their membership dues first. A quick background check was also done on new applicants trying out the club for the first time. To gain full access membership, they went through a more thorough screening, and it was up to Kendrick's company to provide that service as well as keep the club safe for its members.
"Kendrick." George, the primary owner of the dungeon waved him over to the main office. "Hey, I heard about last night," he said by way of greeting. He picked up a handful of envelopes from the corner of his makeshift desk and began sorting his mail. "Still chasing Ted's tail." He shook his head.
George had purchased the club in his twenties, wanting a place to play without having to worry about his neighbors. At first, it had been a small group of friends who pitched in to pay for equipment and share the mortgage payments, but it soon took on a life of its own.
Before he was thirty, the club had over five hundred members, and he began organizing large events and educational sessions. Kendrick had been a member while he was on the force, before he opened his company and became security for the club.
Nearing his forties, George still held on to his youthful looks. His playful blue eyes sparkled when he tangled himself in the right sort of mischief, contrasting with his salt and pepper hair. The shoulder length locks had been shed for a tighter cut once the salt started to appear more rapidly around his temples.
Being a club owner gave him plenty of time to get his workouts in. He always told new members of the club you have to have muscle and stamina if you were going to have a sub pressed up against the cross for a good flogging.
"Fuck his tail. I want his ass." Kendrick raked his fingers through his hair, peering out the large window into the main play space.
"I'd chew you out for even getting involved with Derek's house parties—they are fucking reckless—but it looks like you did some good by being there." George tossed the mail back on to a larger pile of discarded, unopened envelopes. "The girl okay?" He sunk into his chair and laced his fingers behind his head.
Kendrick turned around at the mention of Kelly. "Yeah. Yeah, she's fine." He stuffed his hands into his pockets.
"I heard you took her home." George smiled. His eyes sparkling in their playful way, and his brow raised in challenge.
"Yeah. Derek didn't want the ambulance there, and she was okay. Just needed to sleep it off."
"And this was better done in your bed than in a hospital bed or her own?" His words mimicked the sarcastic lift of his eyebrow.
"Yeah." Kendrick matched his gaze, moving his hands from his pockets to his sides.
"Gonna see her again?" George asked, not backing down from Kendrick's glare—one of the few who were immune to it.
"Not likely." Kendrick shook his head. After she got a good rest, she’d be smart enough to stay away from the club. The idea didn't sit well with him, but he knew it would be better if she stayed in her own world.
"But you'd like to." George continued to give voice to Kendrick’s thoughts.
The two sat in deep silence. Talking about one's feelings was a way to find clarity and move forward, but Kendrick didn't follow that train of thinking.
After several moments of playing a silent game of chicken, Kendrick stood from his chair, the grating sound of the movement filling the room.
"You really should get a secretary for all your crap." He opened the door, letting in the sounds of the dungeon.
"Yeah. yeah." George surveyed the mounds of paperwork that came with owning his busines
s and sighed.
Kendrick didn't envy his friend; more time running the dungeon meant less time playing in it.
"Gonna make a quick round."
"It wasn't your fault, you know? You're going to have to stop blaming yourself at some point." George's voice struck Kendrick's chest as he stepped out of the doorway.
He paused a moment, holding the door open while he stared out into the dungeon before him.
He watched as half-naked women and men were slapped, spanked, loved, desired, and worshiped. Sounds of pleasure mixed with hints of pain lofted through the space.
"Yeah. I know." The door closed with a soft click behind him as he entered the place where he felt most alive—the atmosphere that made his heart pump with meaning.
Chapter 5
“Tell her she’s crazy.” Jessica patted Royce’s hand and pointed across the table toward Kelly, who sat with a glass of wine.
“I’m not crazy.” Kelly grinned and put the glass to her lips.
“What’d I miss?” Alex put his beer down and took his seat.
The weekly gathering of old college friends had commenced, and Kelly was once again the subject of discussion. She should have been used to it, but every time Jessica started to play mother hen, Kelly wanted to throw her drink at her.
“Kelly has lost her mind.” Jessica threw a glare at Alex, pointing her index finger in his direction. “I blame you.”
“Me?” Alex shot her a wounded look before turning his gaze toward Kelly. “What did you do this time?”
“Nothing.” Kelly concentrated on the menu, doing her best to hide her irritation.
“Where are Erin and Jonathan? This is their pick, and they aren’t even here yet.” She scanned the crowded tapas bar at all the couples sitting at small tables, holding hands, laughing, and genuinely enjoying themselves.
“Oh, something about Jonathan’s mom dropping in at the last second. Just us four tonight,” Alex answered, taking a swig of his beer. His face scrunched into a sour expression as he inspected the label of the bottle. “Next time I stick to my usual.”
“Then we can order? I’m starving.” Kelly waved over a waiter.
“Alex, do you know what happened to Kelly after she left the bar last night?” Jessica demanded.
“She went home with some hottie and had wild sex?” Alex guessed, pausing to give his order of stuffed figs and scallops to the young blonde waitress.
Jessica sat patiently as Royce gave their order, keeping a solid glare fixed on Alex. Once the waitress finished, Jessica unleashed. “No! She met some crazy person at a house party and was nearly raped.”
“I was not nearly raped,” Kelly corrected. She hadn’t gone into the specific details of the spanking bench and the nature of the house party. Some things were better left unsaid when it came to her small group of friends. They all meant well, as good friends often did, but in the process of meaning well, they tended to show her the dark side of her decisions.
It was true that her past was not one of a straight-laced virgin. She’d invited more men home than she’d willingly admit. In the search for her future husband, she had turned over every rock and kissed more than her fair share of wart-giving toads.
Her friends still lived under the deluded cloud that she brought home every humanoid with a penis, but it was far from the truth. During the past year, she’d come to realize men wanted only one thing when they came over after a date.
Even when a man managed to weasel his way into her apartment, it wasn’t an automatic pass to her bed. She wanted more. She wanted love—a family. Jumping into bed at first sight wasn’t going to make her dreams come true. More times than she could remember, she’d thrown a man out when his hands wandered into unauthorized territory. Mixed messages were her specialty.
“Kelly, you have to admit, meeting that guy at a house party wasn’t exactly smart.” Royce used his logical tone with her. His voice warmed her skin. She envied few people, but Jessica snaring Royce was something she allowed herself to indulge in the sin over.
“I know.” She put her glass down, keeping her fingers resting on the stem of her wine glass. “Enough about my stupidity—”
“Wait. Last night?” Alex placed a hand on her forearm. “The Hot Rod?” His eyes darkened.
Although they were friends mutually through Jessica, Alex had taken it upon himself to watch over her whenever they were out. He acted like the big brother, but knew when to back off.
“Nothing happened.”
“You encourage her. Every time you two go out—”
“I didn’t go out with him,” Kelly tossed across the table, her voice expressing her annoyance at the continuation of the subject. “Jess, I’m a big girl. I make my own choices. Alex isn’t my babysitter. We bumped into each other at the club, we didn’t go together.”
“I don’t understand you.” Jessica shook her head. “I know you want to find him, but going home with these asses isn’t how you do it.” Royce placed a firm hand on Jessica’s arm, stilling her from any further commenting.
Kelly caught the action, and the pang of envy deepened.
“Well, Alex hasn’t brought him to me yet,” Kelly threw across the table.
Alex groaned and hid himself behind his beer bottle.
“That’s not fair.”
“Look, the food is here.” Royce stilled the conversation as the waitstaff brought their small plates of delicious tapas. “Kelly, tell me more about the man who saved you from not being nearly raped.” The conversation was turned, but still focused on Kelly’s night.
Kelly thought about how to explain Kendrick. He hadn’t left her mind since he’d dropped her off at her apartment that morning.
She couldn’t be sure if it was his strong authoritative attitude creeping into her mind or the wounded expression when he’d told her about his ex-girlfriend.
Kendrick hadn’t gone into any vivid details, but the fierce pain in his eyes told her she’d gotten off extremely lucky when he’d saved her from Ted.
“Kendrick? He seems like a good guy.” She sipped her drink, deciding to make him a casual thought. There was more to him she wanted to explore—more about the world he seemed to be connected to.
“Are you going to see him again?” Jessica stuffed a fig into her mouth.
“This is starting to turn into a musical number from Grease.” Kelly pushed her empty plate away. “Isn’t there anything else going on we can talk about?” She turned her eyes to Alex, pleading for him to save her.
“Well, I’m going to be a free agent as of next week.” Alex waggled his eyebrows.
“Really? She’s moving out?” Jessica asked, referring to his live-in girlfriend/booty call.
“Yep. Sandra has finally taken the hint and is packing her shit.” Alex grinned.
Kelly listened politely as he went over the details of their breakup. Emotionally, he had left the relationship months ago, but Sandra was still holding out hope.
The conversation swayed between Alex’s potential for love and Erin’s desire for a wedding larger than the city of Chicago could hold.
The check arrived, and Kelly slid her hand over the bill, dragging it to her. “You guys always sneak away to pay. I’m just going to do it right in your face.” She grinned and tucked her credit card into the billfold.
“Fine.” Alex folded his arms over his chest with an obviously fake expression of annoyance. “Whatever,” he mimicked, using Kelly’s favorite term.
Not being stopped, she flagged down the waitress and handed over the payment.
“You guys go ahead. I’m gonna grab a cab.” Kelly waved them away.
Royce led Jessica to the exit, his hand resting on the small of her back. Alex walked a few steps behind them, checking out the girls in the restaurant on his way to the door.
Kelly stepped out onto North Avenue after paying the taxi driver. The street was still alive with teenagers and new-agers making their way from one bar to the next. She pulled her phone from t
he back pocket of her jeans and brought up the email containing the address. The exact location of the club was only given to members. She’d had to sign up for a trial pass to gain access to the information.
After a short search, she found the doorbell with the club’s initials written on a piece of masking tape.
“Here goes nothing,” she said to herself, pressing the white button. A buzzer sounded, and she pushed the door. The club was on the top floor. Two long sets of stairs stood between her and what she hoped to be an eye-opening evening.
The stairs were less of a challenge than she first anticipated, which she attributed to her daily run. A heavy steel door popped open as she reached the first landing, and she quickened her pace up the second set of stairs. She took a moment to catch her breath before stepping into the club.
Not sure what to expect, the club was nothing like she’d imagined.
A bald, thin man standing behind a hostess counter greeted her with a wide smile.
“Hi!” The man’s grin was catching. She found herself smiling back. “Is this your first visit with us?” he questioned, pulling a large binder out and placing it on the countertop.
“Yes.” She glanced around, seeing no sign of Kendrick.
The room was designed in a lounge fashion, giving it a comfortable feel. A large bar was situated behind the check-in desk. Half a dozen people sat sipping on drinks from plastic cups. They all seemed perfectly normal to her. No outrageous outfits, no crazy hairstyles, just men and women chatting at a bar. Further into the room was more like a living room with two couches and armchairs facing a coffee table. Another group of people sat there, talking quietly.
