“Which is now even more of a relief,” Kyler added grimly. “If not, it would’ve taken longer, as is Savannah’s requirement by law. I’ll tell you this, there is no way Ella will be carrying my child and not be my wife.”
Porter chuckled softly. A Dom through and through. “Where is the wedding? We are invited, right?”
Kyler nodded. “We’ll be having it at the Sin City Chapel, and Ella is checking out some venues for the reception.”
“Nonsense,” Dmitri interjected, spinning his beer bottle on top of the table. “We’ll have the reception at the casino. I’ll have the chef and his team prepare a dinner in one of the private rooms and we can bring in a deejay for dancing later.”
Kyler studied Dmitri. “Are you sure?”
“Of course,” Dmitri replied with a nod. “It’ll be my and Presley’s gift to you and Ella.”
Kyler smiled, appreciation enriching his voice. “Ella will be so pleased, thank you.” Then he drew in another deep breath, blowing it out slowly. “The chapel has theme weddings, and Ella picked a burlesque-style wedding. I’m sure the girls can take care of the clothing for all of you.”
Dmitri chuckled. “They are going to enjoy this, I imagine.”
Porter had no clue what burlesque clothing even looked like. Sawyer seemed equally mystified, with a pinched expression, so an idea came to mind. Porter offered, “I’ll see if Kenzie can grab us something.”
“Good,” Sawyer stated with a grin. “Thank her for me.”
Silence settled over the crowd as everyone watched the game on the television, and Porter considered all this. Happiness slid through him for Kyler, who was the first of the Club Sin Masters to have a child. He took a sip of his beer and curiosity got the better of him. “How did your family take the news?” The wedding was happening fast. Porter wondered if there had been shock all around.
“Of course it surprised them.” Kyler shrugged. “But the moment I mentioned that Ella was pregnant, my mother switched the topic to baby names.” He shook his head, laughing. “That’s when my father and I went outside to celebrate with beers.”
Porter could only smile in return. It seemed so inconceivable for Porter to even think of having a family. Not that he didn’t want to be married and have children, of course he did, but he never had a relationship that led to anything that serious. Cora was Porter’s only serious relationship, though even that relationship had fizzled out quickly. And that was just fine with him. He could do friendship. He just wasn’t very good at love. All his relationships ended on mutual terms, and the word friendship had been the outcome. He was sick of that damn word.
Dmitri rubbed his chin. “A pregnant submissive in the dungeon. This is a first. Times are changing, aren’t they?”
Aidan raised his beer. “For the better, I say.”
Porter followed the move and clashed beers with the guys, hearing laughter all around him. His gaze connected with Sawyer, and Porter could almost read the look he gave. Things were changing, but it wasn’t changing for them. Porter had never cared about that before. He wasn’t bothered by not being in a serious relationship.
For the oddest reason that he couldn’t pinpoint, it bothered him now. He didn’t have a submissive at his side because she loved him. He had one there because of an arrangement. His thoughts oddly went to Kenzie, and his heart clenched as part of him wished that she was there because she wanted to be.
Chapter Seven
Rain poured from the sky, and Kenzie turned away from the gray world outside of the book shop’s window with a sigh. She grabbed the opened box off the counter, moving to the fantasy bookshelf, where an old best seller would sit on the endcap. She grabbed one of the hardcovers from the box, and the phone started to ring. Kenzie quickly shelved the book, then rushed to the counter. She snatched up the cordless phone next to the register. “The Book Nook; how can I help you?”
“Hey, Kenz, it’s Cora.”
“Oh, you are in so much trouble for calling me from work.” Kenzie leaned a hip against the counter, staring at the rain washing down her window. “Or have you decided your weekend should start on Thursday?”
Cora chuckled softly. “Well, I’m on my lunch break, so personal calls are allowed—or at least I’ve declared they are.” Her voice lifted with obvious happiness. “I’m actually calling because Ella wanted me to share her news—she’s a busy bee at work today, but she wanted to make sure that you heard from one of the girls.”
“What news?”
“Ella’s pregnant.”
Kenzie hesitated. “Pregnant?”
“Yep, she sure is, and from what I hear she’s just a couple weeks or so. Aidan told me we’re supposed to keep quiet about it. Ella doesn’t want to make anything public until after three months, but they both wanted all of us to know. I’m guessing they’re too excited to keep it in.”
“Understandably so,” Kenzie replied, equally thrilled for them.
She spotted a couple cuddling up under an umbrella, striding past her window, as Cora added, “That’s only half of it. They’re getting married on Saturday.”
“This Saturday? Like in two days?”
“I know, if that’s not the definition of a quickie wedding, I don’t know what is. But Ella doesn’t want anything fancy. With her family…”
Kenzie didn’t need Cora to finish. She knew that all of Ella’s family had passed away—first, her parents when she was young, and then her grandparents later on. Kenzie had never felt happier for any couple than she was for both Kyler and Ella. She’d always be fond of Kyler, and Ella had been put through the wringer with her ex-husband, who pushed her into a table, leaving a scar by Ella’s eye. Sure, Kyler and Ella were doing things at hyper-speed, but they both deserved all the happiness in the world.
All the same, Kenzie couldn’t even imagine it for herself, nor did she want that life. Pregnant? Her IUD kept that reality from ever surfacing. She didn’t think she was selfish or incapable of having children, she just wasn’t sure she’d make a good mother.
Hell, she knew she lived in the past too much to be that present in the now. Maybe some women didn’t think of the future, but Kenzie knew mentally and emotionally she was nowhere near ready for children. Add to that the fact that she didn’t even want a committed relationship, so those dreams weren’t her dreams for now.
Cora drew in a deep breath, sounding like static on the phone. “Anyways, it’s going to be small and intimate, with Kyler’s cop buddies, his family, and the Club Sin gang.”
Kenzie’s heart smiled for Kyler as she began picturing him as a father. She believed he would make an incredible dad. In fact, all of the Club Sin Masters would. Her thoughts oddly went to Porter, and she knew he had the good-father gene in him. Patient, caring, and dependable—he was all of those things. “Is there anything I can do to help with the wedding?”
“I asked Ella the same question, but she said the chapel handles everything for the ceremony, so there’s nothing to do. Dmitri is hosting the reception at the casino, and the staff there is taking care of everything else. All we have to do is show up.”
“Nice.”
“Right? Easy peas,” Cora replied. “Aidan told me last night that it’s a burlesque theme for the wedding.”
Kenzie grinned, a million ideas rushing through her head. “Oh my God, how fun is this going to be?”
“I know.” An obvious smile sounded in Cora’s voice. “Make sure you go and do some shopping, okay?”
“Gladly, girl.”
Cora laughed. “Needless to say, Club Sin is closed this weekend. Tomorrow night we’re going to take Ella out for her bachelorette party. Can you make it to Elements at ten o’clock?”
Kenzie hadn’t been to the hot club on the Vegas strip in years. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
“Great. See you then.”
“Bye.” Kenzie hung up the phone, feeling a little winded. A baby? A wedding? A bachelorette party? Though she was more thrilled that it wasn’t her baby, he
r wedding, and her bachelorette party.
She smiled, moving to the bookshelf to finish stocking, when the chime of the bell on the door rang. Keeping the book in her hand, she went to welcome her customer when a wave of hot unease rushed over her.
The bald man at the door, wearing all black, locked her front door. The book fell from her hand as he approached. Hard features sculpted his face and a long scar ran down the side of his cheek. His dark eyes sent fear right to her toes. Kenzie backed away, unsure if she should yell for help or start running.
She did the latter, bursting toward the back of the store, when fingers tangled in her hair. A scream ripped from her throat as she was pushed against the bookshelf and forcibly spun around to face the blackest eyes she’d ever seen. Evil resided there.
“You’re being a difficult little bitch,” the man with the rich Russian accent snarled. White film coated the sides of his mouth and his teeth were yellow, stained by cigarettes, judging by the obvious reek emanating from him. His fingers fisted in her hair, pulling it at the roots, and his other hand came up around her neck. He wasn’t squeezing tight, but the hold was threatening enough for Kenzie to know that with a little more effort he could kill her. “You see this right here, how easily I could take your last breath?”
She stayed silent, unable to speak through the tightness on her throat, shaking in sheer terror.
“Your deadline was last night. My boss might have patience with you, but I do not.” He towered over her, standing at least six-foot-seven, and all she could do was stare at him as he added, “I’m paid to deal with those who defy him.” His fingers tightened on her neck and blackness began to fill her eyes. “We’re watching you. We’re everywhere.”
She gasped as his hand tightened further, cutting the air from her lungs.
“If you don’t call by this evening and sell this fucking worthless store…”
Kenzie heard nothing else, fighting to scream that it wasn’t worthless, it was priceless. Gran’s touches were everywhere. This store meant more to her than anything in the world. She couldn’t sell it. No, she couldn’t walk away from the last reminder of Gran. This was the only thing keeping her sanity, the only good thing in her world. The only happy memory she had.
“You’re a stupid little cunt,” he all but spat in her face. “I’m bored of your stupidity. This is your final fucking warning.” The hard lines of his face seemed shadowed with an anger she had never seen in anyone. He didn’t portray a dominant man, but was a man who ruled out of fear. “You’re nothing but a roadblock that can easily be removed.” He leaned right down in her face. “I’d love the chance to squeeze this pretty neck and see the life drain from your eyes. Believe me, little ones like you are always the most fun.”
He released his hand and Kenzie dropped to the ground, gasping and fighting for air to return to her lungs. The cloudiness in her eyes began to clear as she heard the door to her shop open and then close. With each harsh breath she drew in, more tears rushed down her cheeks.
“Help,” she finally wheezed.
—
Porter took the final bite of his sandwich and pulled over to the curb in front of The Book Nook. Cora had told him that Kenzie lived in the apartment above the store, and he smiled as he cut the ignition and exited the car. The small store on the corner of the brown brick building was cute. It reminded him of something he’d find in a small town, not something off the Vegas strip. Obviously the store had been there awhile, with the wood along the windowsills weathered and the hanging sign above the door that read THE BOOK NOOK in fading paint. Porter thought the bookshop had charm.
He moved quickly onto the sidewalk and reached the door with the open sign hanging in the glass window. As he opened the door, he heard the chime of a bell that you didn’t hear in stores anymore. His smile widened, as he always knew Kenzie had charm herself, but he liked that she was fond of older times. Simpler times, where buildings weren’t huge and stores weren’t overcrowded.
The dusty aroma led him inside, and his smile instantly faded. Kenzie lay in a heap on the floor. He rushed forward, seeing her long hair hiding her eyes from him. “Jesus Christ, Kenzie, what’s wrong?”
Her head snapped up, and the cold fear registering in her eyes shook him to his core. Dropping to one knee in front of her, he reached out to touch her, but she cowered away from him. Worry engulfed him, as did deep concern for her. He slowly lowered his hands, observing her intently. “Talk to me. What’s happened?”
Her eyes held his, but it was as if she was looking right through him. “Sorry…” Her voice sounded rough. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I got dizzy and had to sit down.”
“Dizzy?” He didn’t believe that for a second.
Considering her carefully, he reached out for her again, and this time she allowed him to pick her up. He gathered her in his arms and helped her onto one of the big oversized chairs in the sitting area of her store. “Is there a kitchen here?”
“At the back,” she replied with a gruff voice.
He spun on his heel and hurried into the small kitchen with white cabinets. Then he took out a glass and filled it with water before returning to her. A thousand things rushed through his mind. Nor was he blind to the fact that his muscles were tense and a primal need to keep her safe overwhelmed him. He dropped down to his knee again, offering her the glass and noting that her hands were shaking. His concern multiplied. Never. Not once since meeting her had he ever seen Kenzie rattled. “Have you been sick?” he asked.
She took a sip of the water and he noted how it sloshed against her mouth. Rattled might be an understatement. He grabbed the glass and lifted it to her lips, not liking seeing her this way. He had sensed a need to protect Kenzie, especially from herself when she was getting into trouble, but quite possibly things had changed between them.
Now he only felt a desire to remove whatever problem she had, and to do so quickly. When she drew her mouth away, she said, “I didn’t eat this morning, clearly not the smartest of things to do.”
Porter frowned, and she hastily avoided his gaze. This wasn’t a sugar low, no matter that she wanted him to believe that. He felt more of a connection to her now, and he read right through her lie. He placed the glass on the end table and then took her hand. It wasn’t only her hand shaking; he could feel the tremble all the way through her arm. “Kenzie, we’re friends, you know this, yes?”
She stared at her knees. “Of course I know that.”
“Then what’s wrong, Kitten?”
“A sugar…” He narrowed his eyes and she sighed. “I’m fine, Porter.” She pushed his hand away and stood up, moving to the counter. “Everything’s fine.”
No, it wasn’t fine. He believed that deep in his soul. And he hated this ugly distance between them. Maybe it was partly offensive how little she trusted him, when gaining a woman’s trust had never been difficult before. He’d never given them a reason to distrust him. Even with Cora, he’d been nothing but gentle and caring. He had let her walk away from him because it made her happier, even if it broke his heart at the time. Though it also spoke to whatever was going on with Kenzie that made her distrust people so intensely.
It made him want to understand her more and find out what happened to her that caused her to shut down. Perhaps he even wanted to show her how amazing it was to trust someone and know they’d never hurt you. Porter could offer her that. He’d offered it to every girlfriend and submissive he’d ever had.
Staring into her beautiful eyes, he knew deep down that he wanted that with Kenzie. Not the Kenzie that she showed to everyone else. He wanted the Kenzie that, as it seemed, she showed only him. The one who needed him. The one who melted in his arms, accepted his trust, and trusted him back.
Her eyes searched his and she drew in a long deep breath, and he saw her expression close off. Yet the spark he was becoming fond of wasn’t there. Unable to stand the distance between them, he moved closer to her, placing both hands against the counter. He
witnessed her shudder as he moved to trap her. Yet it wasn’t arousal—no, she was flinching away from him. Every alarm inside him was blaring. He closed his body to hers and raised his hand, seeing her examining it as if it would hurt her. Not anything he’d ever seen from her before.
Kenzie loved rough hands—why not now?
He tucked her soft hair behind her ear, pleased that she leaned in to his touch and her eyes fluttered. Confused by her, he said, “If you agree that we are friends, then please share what’s happened. You’re not acting like yourself.”
“I…” She hesitated, and he thought for a second her mouth would open and she’d drop all her walls. But that distance she liked to keep soon settled in. Her emotions were very much in check. “All right, something is going on, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”
He approved of that little show of trust. Porter knew, without a doubt, before he’d played with her she never would have told him anything and would have just sassed her way out of it. Maybe they were getting somewhere. He wanted to push the matter now. Christ, he found himself wanting to get right into her soul and own it. Though until she let him, he was utterly helpless, but that didn’t mean he’d stop trying.
He sighed, running his hands up and down her arms, pleased that she was beginning to relax and no longer tremble. “If it becomes something you can’t handle, you will tell me, yes?”
She averted her eyes. “Of course.”
Lie.
Though what could he do, force it out of her? He knew something terrible had happened. It must have, if the ever-so-strong Kenzie appeared to have the living shit scared out of her.
With her growing relaxed state, he noted her becoming more uncomfortable and shifting on her feet under his intimate touches. He continued to brush his hands down her arms and changed the subject for her benefit. “I came by today because I wanted to know if you heard the news about Kyler and Ella.”
Tamed Page 7