McKenna glanced back and forth between the other two men sitting at the table before her attention was redirected to the newspaper lying on the table in front of Tag. Susan Toulmin’s big head filled up the majority of it, along with the caption “How many is too many?”
Instead of reading the filth she knew she would find, McKenna looked up at the three men now focused on her.
“What do you think?” Logan asked.
“About what?” She didn’t read the article, so she didn’t know what it said exactly, but she had a pretty good idea. No matter what, it wasn’t going to douse Club Destiny in rainbows and sunshine.
“I don’t care what anyone thinks. I want to know what the hell we can do about it,” Luke growled.
“Unfortunately, she’s not violating any request by the judge because she’s not talking about the trial. And she hasn’t released any names.” Tag didn’t sound all that confident.
“I suggest we fight fire with fire.” Backing down had never been McKenna’s style, and despite the fact that she didn’t have a horse in this particular race, something about Susan just rubbed McKenna the wrong way. And, yes, maybe there was a bit of defensiveness she felt for the men at the table.
“We’ll start with a series of articles.” McKenna knew her next recommendation was not going to go over well. “We need to make the readers want to like the people behind the club. Once we can do that, defending the club won’t be necessary because you’ll have more people in your corner than you know what to do with.”
“The people behind the club?” Logan looked skeptical. “As in me and Luke?”
“To start, yes.” McKenna could practically hear Luke’s teeth grinding together. “It’s not like we’ll provide your social security numbers or your address, but we need to let people know just how real the two of you are. Since you,” McKenna focused on Luke, “are the face of Club Destiny, it only makes sense that we share a little bit about you.”
“You want to share the details of my private life?”
McKenna knew he didn’t like the idea, but it made sense. “Are you ashamed of your life, Luke?”
“Fuck no, but I don’t think it’s anyone’s fucking business.”
The vehemence in Luke’s tone was crystal clear, but so was the smile that tipped Logan’s lips. Maybe, just maybe, she had someone in her corner. She was surprised that Tag hadn’t weighed in at all, but she knew just what to say to rectify that. “And you,” she glanced at Tag, “the amount of interest I garnered from one single article was ridiculous. People want to know more about you. At least this way, we’ll take the focus off of the other members and redirect everyone’s attention toward the three of you.”
“Are you fucking serious?” Luke again.
“Very much so.” McKenna stopped talking and watched all three of the men as they contemplated what she was suggesting.
“What’s in it for you?” Tag finally asked.
McKenna smiled. He knew her better than she thought.
“I’ll write up the articles, I’ll get each of you to bless them, and I’ll even get the first one out today.” She paused for a moment. “In return, I want to see why people spend outrageous amounts of money to be members here.” Leaning in closer, McKenna lowered her voice, “And if any of you try to tell me that they’re willing to spend it on an absurdly boring playroom and a miniscule apartment, I call bullshit. I want the real reason. And I want a tour.”
There, at least it was out there.
When Luke smiled, looking directly at Tag, McKenna knew she’d pegged it accurately. Club Destiny wasn’t about the second floor and the sleek, gray slate floors, or the open play area that might draw a few people from time to time. Shit, these people didn’t need to pay the kind of money Club Destiny charged; they could get the same thing for a hell of a lot cheaper down the street. There was something that no one was telling her.
“What do you think?” Luke asked Logan.
“I think it’s not a bad idea.” He too was smiling. “What about you? Anything we need to watch out for?” Logan turned to Tag.
“As long as she doesn’t talk about the lawsuit, you’re good as far as I’m concerned.” Tag didn’t sound thrilled about the idea, but he wasn’t turning her away either.
“And the tour?” Luke asked Tag directly, all three of them pretending as though she weren’t sitting right there.
“I’ll do the tour. Friday night.”
Friday? McKenna wondered why he wanted to wait so long and on her last night there to boot. It was only Sunday, which meant she had to wait all freaking week.
Instead of pouting, McKenna smiled, and then asked, “Which one of you wants to go first?”
Logan and Luke immediately pointed to the other, and Tag just sat back, sipping his coffee. She could feel his eyes on her, but she didn’t look at him.
“You’re the face of the club.” Logan laughed, talking to Luke.
“We have the same fucking face,” Luke barked, but he followed it with a smile. “I guess I’ll go first.”
Intimidating - the first word that came to mind as McKenna sat down in an empty chair, in Luke’s office. Luckily for her, she hid her emotions well because when he sat down behind his desk, he didn’t look at all friendly.
“Interview away, Ms. Thorne.” His gruff voice told McKenna the next hour was not going to be a pleasant one if she didn’t do something about it now.
“Please, call me McKenna,” she told him as she tried to get comfortable in the hardback chair. It wasn’t happening. “Do you mind if we move over to those chairs?” Tilting her head in the direction of a small seating area on the other side of the room, she waited for his response.
Without saying a word, he simply stood, then waited for her to do the same.
Why was she so damn nervous? It wasn’t like Luke McCoy was famous or something? But there was something about him that just made her... apprehensive.
By the time they were seated, and she was a fraction more comfortable, McKenna could see the tension in his strong jaw had only intensified.
“I don’t bite.”
Apparently, her outburst helped to relax Luke a little, at least if his smile was anything to go by.
“I’m just going to ask some simple questions and feel free to respond however you want. Do you mind if I record this? It’s only for my notes. I promise, I won’t publish the recording in any way.”
Luke nodded his head, but kept his eyes trained on her.
“Have you ever done an interview before?” McKenna was pretty sure she knew the answer, but she really was hoping to get Luke to loosen up a little.
“What do you think?” he replied smartly.
“Ok. For the record, your answer is no.” McKenna didn’t need to record that, but she hoped it would make Luke lighten up.
It didn’t. Reaching into her memory banks, she tried to remember some of the funniest interview questions she’d heard or asked before.
“How many pairs of shoes do you own?” McKenna kept a straight face as she asked the question, even when Luke tilted one eyebrow and looked at her questioningly.
“You want to know about my shoes?”
“Me personally? No, not really.”
Finally. Luke cracked a smile. A genuine one. It was then that McKenna truly understood what Sierra and Cole saw in the man. He was beautiful. Especially when he wasn’t brooding.
“Ok, now on to the serious questions.” McKenna clicked on her recorder and focused every ounce of her energy on Luke.
Chapter Eighteen
*** ~~ *** ~~ *** ~~ ***
Tag hit the end button on his phone at the same time McKenna walked through the door. Turning in his chair at the small desk, he looked up at her and was surprised to see a smile on her face.
“The interview went well?” Not that he hadn’t expected it to, but Tag was well aware of how hard Luke could be on people. He definitely wasn’t the most sociable, but ever since he fell in love with Sierra and Cole, he had chan
ged. Not that he would admit it.
“It did.” Making a beeline for her computer, she barely spared him a glance, which bothered him for some reason.
He knew she was probably going to work on her article, but he had at least been hoping for a minute of her attention. Didn’t look like he was going to get even a few seconds.
Turning back to his computer screen, Tag tried to pretend that her shrug off didn’t bother him. That didn’t work, so he opened his instant messenger and found her name in his contact list.
He typed, Know what happens when I get ignored? And hit enter.
No, what? Was the reply a few seconds later.
I get a sudden urge to... pull out my toys
Thought you didn’t have any toys
I never said that
You implied it
Want to see my toys?
Yes
Tag honestly didn’t expect that answer, so as he looked at the three small letters glaring back at him from the screen, he had to readjust his slacks.
Don’t tease me, McKenna
Or what?
The woman was going to kill him.
That’s it
Tag didn’t wait for a response. He stood abruptly and stormed over to the sofa where McKenna was sitting. He easily removed her laptop from her grasp and sat it on the coffee table behind him before taking her hand and helping her to stand. The moment she was on her feet, he tossed her over his shoulder and carried her to his bedroom.
Her laughter made his cock throb harder. And the way she pinched his butt made him laugh.
Putting her back on her feet, Tag pulled McKenna close and pressed his lips to hers. He’d been thinking about this all day, and now that she was back, he was ready to give her a brief introduction to a couple of his toys.
“Don’t move.”
McKenna’s body went rigid, and the smile disappeared from her beautiful mouth, but Tag could see the passion reflected in the multi-colors of her eyes. She was instantly turned on which only made him want her more.
Tag retreated to the other side of the room and the armoire where he kept his clothes. Among other things.
After rummaging around for a couple of minutes, more for effect than anything, he returned to her side, not bothering to hide what he had retrieved. “Turn around.”
McKenna turned but not before Tag saw the hint of another smile at the corners of her mouth.
He set the items on the bed in front of her while he slowly removed her clothes, placing kisses on her smooth skin as he went along. Hell, he would’ve been happy to do that for hours, but he could feel the tension in her well sculpted muscles.
They were standing at the end of the four poster bed, which was perfect for what he had in mind. Keeping her facing toward the mattress and away from him, Tag took one of her hands and attached a soft, leather cuff to her wrist before attaching the clip on the other end to the hook at the top of the post. He continued to do the same with her other arm, then he used another set of cuffs to fasten her ankles to the hooks at the bottom of each post.
He took a step back and admired his handy work. Truly, standing before him was the sexiest woman he’d ever laid his eyes on. With her red hair still clipped at the back of her head, he was able to admire the graceful column of her neck, the smooth contour of her shoulders, and the slender curve of her waist. Not to mention her delectable ass.
“Are you shaking?” Tag asked when he noticed her trembling slightly.
“No.” She didn’t sound very convincing, but Tag heard the humor in the one word.
“Have you ever been tied up, McKenna?”
“No.” That did sound convincing.
“Are you nervous?”
“Nervous, no. Anxious, yes.”
Tag moved closer, removing the clip and allowing all of that glorious red silk to fall around her shoulders, down her back.
“What are you anxious for?”
“You to touch me.”
Tag liked that McKenna didn’t hesitate in answering his questions. She wasn’t shy when it came to what she wanted, and she obviously had enough experience to know that she’d get exactly what she wanted if she played along.
Using the tip of his finger, he followed the gentle curve of her waist, over her hip, then beneath the luscious curve of her ass. He didn’t go any further, just simply reversed the motion until he reached the gentle swell of her breast. His other hand followed suit, performing the same motion on the opposite side until he had both hands cupping her breasts and his chest was pressed against her back.
“You’re so damn beautiful,” he whispered in her ear, licking her ear lobe as he kneaded her breasts.
Glancing down at the bed, he took stock of the items he’d placed there earlier, figuring he’d give her a choice. Tag didn’t doubt that she was all too familiar with each item, but he knew for a fact, she’d never been on the receiving end of one.
“Do you have a preference?” he asked.
It took a few seconds before she forced out her answer, but that was likely because he was pinching her nipples between his fingers, none too gently.
“Crop.”
“Why that one?” Tag had an idea she would pick it, although he wouldn’t have cared which one.
Truth be told, he didn’t use these toys much. He wasn’t into hard core BDSM, nor did he experiment with it regularly. He used them for what they were... toys. They heightened the sexual experience, but it wasn’t something he had to have.
“I like it.”
“To be used on you? Or to use on someone else?”
“I’ve never had it used on me.” McKenna’s voice was just a whisper and Tag detected a hint of excitement in her tone. He was beginning to think McKenna might just be his equal in more ways than one.
What he didn’t know was what that actually meant.
~*~*~
McKenna tried to focus on the cool air caressing her skin, but that wasn’t working. Her mind was ablaze with images of what might be next in Tag’s little game. And she had no doubt this was a game. She’d known it the second he tossed her over his shoulder so easily and when he secured her wrists and ankles to the bed post.
Maybe she should feel a little concern as far as the bondage went, but she didn’t. If anything, she trusted Tag. Why? The way he held her, touched her, and even that possessive tone she detected – all of those things contributed to the level of trust they had already developed between them, even if unknowingly.
She found it interesting the way he put the toys down in front of her, obviously to intimidate her. She wasn’t. No, she was turned on like hell, but in no way was she intimidated.
She didn’t know anything about Tag’s reputation at the club, but she knew of the reputation of several Dom’s in the area and he wasn’t one of them. That was because he wasn’t a Dom. He didn’t indulge in that lifestyle, although he obviously found some interest in it based on the toys on the bed in front of her.
A riding crop. A small paddle. A suede flogger.
She had several of each in her toy box, although she hadn’t used them in quite some time. These didn’t look to be cheap toys, which didn’t surprise her. Tag didn’t seem like the kind to go cheap on anything, much less pleasure.
But the riding crop, well, in her experience, it would be the least painful, at least when used by a novice.
As Tag retrieved the riding crop, McKenna bit her lip. Ok, so now she was getting a little nervous. Here she was, spread eagle, and secured firmly with the leather restraints which offered her barely any room to move. There was no way she was going to get away from the pain he would likely deliver.
When she felt the cool steel tip of the handle slide down her spine, she shivered involuntarily. He was going to tease her first, apparently. She smiled. His mouth followed, the warmth of his lips trailing down her naked back had her pussy dripping and her nipples hardening painfully.
The anticipation was as exciting as the act. She knew that much. When Tag�
�s hands gripped her hips, his mouth going lower, spreading teasing kisses over her bottom, McKenna fought the urge to wiggle away from him. Or maybe she wanted to get closer. Either way, she forced herself to remain still, letting the pleasure encompass her.
Just as she was getting used to the soft, light kisses, a sharp sting assaulted her ass, and she flinched. Barely. Ok, so the riding crop definitely hurt, but it was an exquisite pain that overtook her entire body. When he used his big hand to rub the sting away, she pushed her bottom against him, wanting to feel his hands on the rest of her body.
That’s not what she got.
Another biting sting landed on her left butt cheek, and she moaned. Oh, yes, she definitely liked it.
Who would’ve thought?
For the next few minutes, Tag continued to tease her, chasing the pain away with his tongue and his lips, his fingers and his palms, only to deliver another crisp, sharp, sting followed by several more. By the time he was finished, McKenna was biting her tongue, trying to keep from crying out. The tears streaming down her face were involuntary as was the throbbing need that had taken up residence between her legs.
“I didn’t think your ass could get any prettier.” Tag’s warm breath heated the skin of her neck as he whispered close to her ear. “I was wrong.”
The riding crop suddenly appeared before her, back on the bed where it had been originally, and she felt Tag’s big body shift behind her. His broad shoulders maneuvered between her legs and when she looked down her body toward the floor, she could see the top of his head moments before her body was accosted by ethereal pleasure.
His tongue began stroking her clit fiercely, showing absolutely no mercy until she was begging and pleading for him to let her come.
Instinct had her holding back, mainly because that was what she would’ve expected from her playmate had the situation been reversed. Another jolt shook her body, making her limbs weak as Tag thrust two fingers deep inside of her, curling them until he was skillfully manipulating her G-spot.
“Tag!” She wouldn’t be able to hold on much longer, she knew that much. “Please Tag! Let me come!”
Infatuation - A Club Destiny Novel Page 14