Lord, she had to stop thinking about that. No men. That was her rule. She didn’t trust easily, but men especially. She couldn’t be sure that one of them wouldn’t offer her up on a silver platter for the price.
And if that made her feel sad, she would just have to ignore it. Stupid girls got themselves killed. Falling for a guy like Micah Ross was definitely stupid.
Business was starting to slow down, so she decided to start looking over the bar, starting cleaning up and doing inventory. Mondays weren’t that busy, but she never left her bar for the next worker without a good supply. In her position as head bartender, she didn’t have to stock the bar. She could make the next bartender on duty do it, but Dee held herself to higher standards than that.
She picked up a bottle of Patron and made a note that she needed another one. Once done, she turned to put it back.
“How’s it going?”
Her heart jumped to her throat, every nerve going on alert and the bottle slipped from her grasp. The crash was barely heard over the roar of the pulsing music, but it did draw the attention of a few people sitting at the bar. Micah was behind her in an instant. He grabbed her by her upper arms and spun her around.
“Are you okay?”
She looked up at him, held immobile by his nearness. She had never been this close to him ever. She could see the concern in his eyes, feel his breath feather over her face. Even with all the people in the area, she could scent him. Bayberry…and Micah. It made her head spin and left her feeling vaguely aroused.
“I-I’m fine, Micah. You can let me go.”
He looked down at his hands on her arms as if he didn’t realize he still held her. He wanted to argue, she could see it when his gaze pierced hers again. After a moment’s hesitation, he released her.
There was no reason for her heart to be beating the way it was. Her entire body simmered with heat. Good Lord, it wasn’t as if she hadn’t been that close to a man before. She was acting like a teenager.
“Are you sure?” he asked, his low, seductive voice easy enough for her to hear. He had moved closer, his lips within inches of her ear.
She nodded and turned to grab the broom. Without saying anything she cleaned up the glass. He stayed there, watching her as if she were a child who needed supervision. By the time she was done, her nerves were jumping.
“Was there something you wanted?”
He didn’t say anything. She glanced up at him. His body was rigid, his gaze fastened on her mouth. A tremor of need shifted through her blood. Dammit. She cleared her throat.
“Micah?”
The heat in his eyes sent a shaft of need spiraling through her as she took a step back from him. From temptation.
“No. Just wanted to make sure you were doing okay tonight.”
She frowned. He watched her a lot but he rarely worried about her taking care of herself. “Everything’s fine. You know how Monday nights go.”
He kept watching her mouth as she spoke. It was a bit disconcerting. A lick of heat raced up her spine. His gray eyes darkened, his pupils dilating. Every bit of moisture in her mouth evaporated. Her nipples pebbled, ached. It took all her control to lick her lips. The need to squeeze her thighs together to relieve the unbearable tension between her legs almost overwhelmed her.
He took a step closer to her. The music, the people, everything faded to the background. Without a word, he dipped his head, but jerked back at the sound of Keisha’s voice.
“Hey, I need another gin and tonic.”
He shot Keisha a look of death before glancing back down at Dee. She couldn’t say anything. Hell, she could barely think at the moment. In that one second, she had wanted him with a need that was burning her up inside. Her entire body was pulsing, yearning. But the moment was over as he glanced around at the customers. He said nothing as he turned on his heel and stomped out from behind the bar. Dee pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm her heart and then leaned against the bar.
“Hey, Dee? Wake up, girl.”
She looked up at Keisha and offered her a weary smile. “I’ll get it. Give me a second. And definitely, I owe you a thank you.”
She cocked her head to the side, her chocolate brown eyes twinkling. “Why? Because the big bad bossman looked like he wanted to gobble you up?”
Dee closed her eyes and shivered. “Yeah.”
“Ohh.”
Dee’s eyes shot open. “What?”
“Well, I didn’t know you liked him that much.”
Dee inwardly cursed. She had kept her attraction to him under wraps until that instant. “I don’t like him.”
“Honey, you may not like him, but I could hear it in your voice. You want him.”
“Show me a heterosexual woman who wouldn’t find him attractive, and I tell you the woman is an idiot.”
Keisha laughed. “No. This is different. I have never seen that reaction to any man in the two years you’ve worked here.”
Dee finished making the gin and tonic and placed it on Keisha’s tray.
“You’re loco.”
Keisha laughed. “Oh, you do. This is going to be good. Just don’t do anything until my day on the pool. I need that money.”
Before Dee could say anything, Keisha turned and worked her way through the crowd again. Without looking, she knew Micah was there, knew he was pretending not to pay attention to her. The fairest whisper of his gaze would move over her from time to time. She could feel it as if his fingers moved over her flesh. Dammit, she didn’t need this.
One way or another, she would have to ignore him and every enticement he represented. Keeping entanglements to a minimum made her a smart girl. Smart girls stayed alive.
She glanced over and noticed he was talking to one of the regular subs…one that used to be his favorite. Her heart dropped to her stomach and she turned around. So what if it hurt? It was the way it had to be.
She pushed aside her foolish yearnings and started to shut down for the night. She’d learned years ago not to regret what she’d lost. There was nothing to be gained from it.
What begins as a quest for submission becomes an unrelenting need for love.
A Little Harmless Obsession
© 2010 Melissa Schroeder
May Aiona’s crush on sexy Evan Chambers is a bad habit that should be easy to break. It’s not like he’s ever noticed her. Looking for a safe place to release the reins of control and explore her curiosity about BDSM, May takes a friend up on an invitation to visit an exclusive bondage club—all she has to agree to is a public submission.
Evan can’t help but notice the exotically beautiful May. But despite his success, the dirty secrets of his past whisper that he’ll never be good enough for her. When Evan sees her standing in his club ready to submit to his best friend, he gives in to the thing he wants most—May as his sub. After their session, he knows one night will never be enough. But loving May isn’t easy for a man always ready to take charge. She might like to submit in the bedroom, but she doesn’t like anyone telling her what to do outside of it.
When May insists she’s not in any danger from the person seemingly obsessed with her, she ends up in the sights of a deranged stalker—with Evan possibly too far away to help.
Warning: This book contains sexy Hawaiian settings, crazy relatives, and a submission scene that leaves the heroine breathless and the hero frustrated. There are toys, bondage, and love scenes so hot, you’ll need ice water and a towel. Remember, it’s a Harmless story, so you know there’s nothing harmless about it.
Enjoy the following excerpt for A Little Harmless Obsession:
“So, what are you up to? It’s a Friday night and you’re hanging around Dupree’s?”
A feeling of uneasy embarrassment swept through Evan. “Not sure. Didn’t feel like going to Rough ’n Ready.”
Again, there was a beat of silence as his friend studied him. “You don’t feel like going to the club?”
Evan couldn’t really explain it. How could he when he cou
ldn’t understand it himself. The BDSM club he had built with Micah was now the premier hot spot on the Islands for those who practiced the life. As the silent partner, he had taken pride in the way Micah had managed the club and the huge upsurge in members.
“Just don’t feel like it.”
“Do you need to see a doctor?”
The amusement in Chris’s voice irritated him. “What the hell is the problem? So I don’t feel like going.”
“How long has it been since you were there?”
“I was there last night, for your information.”
“You were there to play?”
The disbelief in his Chris’s voice was not lost on Evan. “What does it matter?”
“Ahhh, the first of the month, so you and Micah had your regular get-together over the books.” His quick smile irritated Evan. “That doesn’t count.”
With an aggravated grunt, Evan stood and started pacing. “I don’t know what to say. I just haven’t felt like going the last few weeks.”
“Really? I thought it was more like months.”
Evan stared unseeingly at the pictures Chris had up in his office and did not answer.
“It’s been since you joined Cynthia and me, isn’t it?”
“Having a ménage with you and Cynthia has nothing to do with not going to Rough ’n Ready.”
“Really?”
“What are you getting at, Chris?”
“From the time we met, you always had two sets of women in your world. There are the ones you look up to, women you think are too good for you. Then there are women… Well…Lee who used to work here. She’s the type of woman you think you deserve. Cynthia doesn’t fit into your idea of the kind of woman who would enjoy the lifestyle. You think that any good girl would never be interested in bondage and submission. You have a warped view of women.”
Evan spun around. “And just what do you expect with my mother and the way I was raised? Jesus, the fact I’m not a serial killer is surprising if you ask me.”
Sympathy stamped Chris’s features. “I know. I’m not blaming you. I just think you need to figure out what you want. Apparently it isn’t the normal sub you can pick up at Rough ’n Ready.”
Evan rolled his shoulders. “I’m fine. Just been working on that new resort, putting in a lot of hours.”
Chris wanted to say more. Evan could see it on his face. They’d been friends long enough to be able to read each other’s expressions. Evan thanked God for giving Chris some tact, and at least some mercy.
“I gotta get going. Cynthia had a long day and she has a four o’clock call in the morning.”
“You’re leaving May here by herself?”
Chris rose to his feet. “She has a whole staff here. I do it all the time.”
Evan frowned. “Maybe I’ll hang around and make sure she doesn’t have any problems.”
“Just don’t piss her off. She’ll come to me about it and bruddah, you’re my best friend, but I’m not protecting you from May.”
Evan sneered. “You’re afraid of a woman?”
“This just isn’t a woman. This is Maylea, head of the Aiona family. She can kick your ass with just a few sentences.” He opened the door and Evan followed him down the hall, the scents and sounds of Dupree’s now more prevalent.
“If people at Rough ’n Ready could see you now.” Evan snickered. “Done in by a woman.”
“Please. I have always had respect for strong women, starting with my mother.”
They stepped into the restaurant and Chris smiled. Evan followed his line of vision and saw Cynthia standing at the hostess stand talking to May. A sharp twist of envy clawed at Evan’s heart. He would never begrudge his best friend the happiness he’d found with his magnolia, but there were times like today when he would give just about anything to have a woman like her. Their new relationship had set off a wave of yearning that Evan was just not ready to deal with. He knew it was impossible, but it didn’t keep him from wanting it.
He shifted his attention to May, who was now talking to an older man. Dressed in a brand new tropical shirt along with the guidebook he carried, he screamed tourist. She pulled out two menus as she smiled at the man. She turned and said something over her shoulder. He couldn’t hear the words, but the sense of her voice, the soft lyrical incantation, was one he knew well. As he watched them walk to the table, he ground his teeth together as he watched the man—who was old enough to be her father—slip his gaze down her body. Dirty old bastard.
“Did you say something?” Chris asked.
Evan glanced at him and found his friend staring at him as if he’d lost his mind.
“No.” Evan inwardly winced at his curt tone, but he kept his features smooth.
Chris studied him for a second then said, “Hmm.”
Cynthia walked up to them. “You ready?”
“Sure, honey.” Evan smiled.
Chris shoved him aside and took Cynthia into his arms to give her a hard, smacking kiss. “Yeah, everything’s done. Evan’s going to play guard dog for me tonight.”
She glanced over at him, her blue gaze studying him. “On a Friday night?”
“Why does everyone keep bringing that up? So it’s Friday night.”
She laughed. “No problem. Just Evan Chambers is usually busy on Friday nights.”
He rolled his eyes. “It’s been a long week.”
A Little Harmless Addiction: Harmless, Book 5 Page 17