Part-Time Lover [The Doms of Sybaris Cove 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Tara Rose

  Ian Raleigh had nothing to do with PR at Phoebe’s Playthings, but it was impossible to ignore the shit storm that particular department was currently fielding. He and Brett Durante, the other accounting department head, had volunteered to help Graham Raleigh and Jagger Durante field phone calls from the media. Arizona Durante and Dallas Raleigh, who both ran the marketing department, were helping with the phones, as well.

  Jagger had come in early last Sunday morning, and every morning during the past week. They’d stayed well past five o’clock, as well. Over one week later, with most of the recent construction on Palace of Eris now a charred mess, the local cops were no closer to finding the arsonist than they’d been initially.

  The man believed to have set the fires had been spotted by Nando Durante, who ran the manufacturing department with Liam Raleigh, the night of the fires, lurking next to the building where Jesse and Wendy had stored fireworks brought to the island by boat earlier in the year. But by the time Nando had circled the building and tried to get a look at the man’s face, he’d punched Nando in the shoulder and then left him inside the building where a beam had fallen on top of him and knocked him out. If Leta and Graham hadn’t spotted him and the man fighting, Nando would have been among the victims of the fires.

  The arsonist had used nothing unusual or all that difficult to make to set the fires. They hadn’t been able to trace the incendiary devices to anything other than hardware parts that anyone could have bought. They’d found no hairs, fingerprints, or DNA that didn’t belong to Jesse, Wendy, or one of the dozens of crew members and employees of JD Construction. The only thing they did know was that there had been no unusual activity via boat or plane on or off the island around the day of the fires, so they’d concluded it had been a resident who’d set them.

  But it was no secret to anyone that Asa and Jesse hated each other with a passion. Asa had even taken his case to stop the resort from going up to the Louisiana Supreme Court. And several days before the fires had been set, Jesse’s hotshot attorney from New Orleans had held a press conference blasting both Asa and Phoebe’s Playthings for trying to stop free commerce.

  As much as Ian thought Morton Stewart was a big-mouthed asshole, he had to admit the man was right. Asa was so used to controlling everyone on this island and at this company that he’d reacted by fighting back when Jesse and Wendy went forward with their plans to build the resort. He should have just let them build it. The tourist trade would have been good for every business on the island, including Phoebe’s Playthings.

  But that wasn’t how Asa operated. If he didn’t have his hands in it or if he couldn’t dictate how it was run, he tried to annihilate it. And now he’d landed not only his own reputation but the credibility of this company in hot water because he’d made such a fuss about the resort. The media had all but convicted him already. Jesse’s attorney had seen to that. And from what Ian and his relatives had been able to gather, the residents of the island were suspicious, as well. Even the ones who had sided with Asa to begin with.

  Outsiders had never been unwelcome here, but neither had they been treated like honored guests. Less than twelve thousand people lived on this island, so everyone knew each other, at least by sight. Anyone new was regarded with suspicion until they proved who they were and why they’d come here.

  And even though all the residents treated newcomers the same way, it was the Durante and Raleigh families who furthered the divisions among residents. Or at least, most of the older generations did. Asa and Tim certainly kept those invisible lines active in the minds of others.

  Tim Raleigh was the other CEO, and even though he was less vocal than Asa, his contempt of people descended from the natives ran much deeper than his cousin’s. Ian avoided Tim as much as possible, as did many of the department heads and middle management. They preferred to deal directly with Asa whenever possible. Even Tim’s son, Dallas, went to Asa with anything really important.

  “Fuck.” Arizona’s voice pulled Ian out of his reverie. “CNN is running another story.”

  They all gathered around the TV in the PR department conference room to listen to their island and its residents portrayed as backwoods hicks who preferred to stall progress rather than let a redheaded stepchild cousin have a piece of the pie.

  “Redheaded stepchild cousin?” asked Dallas. “Where the fuck did they get that description for Jesse?”

  “His attorney, no doubt.” Arizona turned up the sound. “Talk about irresponsible journalism. I talked to someone at CNN Sunday night and gave them the cold, hard facts.”

  “Well, if anything,” said Graham, “this is going to bring in tourist trade. Everyone will be curious about what we do here.”

  “Cue the snakes and witch doctors,” said Jagger, his voice full of sarcasm. “Oh, nice. Look at this.” He pushed his laptop toward the center of the table. “Fox is saying something similar.”

  “We’re hosed,” said Dallas.

  “No we’re not,” said Graham. “We’ve put out statements. If a reporter wants to take the words and twist them, or run a story that Morton planted instead, there’s nothing we can do about that. Our company has been around for thirty-five years. Its reputation in our target market is solid.”

  “That’s true,” said Arizona. “But I’m more worried about the black eye this is giving my father.” He glanced around at each of them in turn. “Unless there’s someone in this room who actually believes he’d commit arson, and then stand there and watch the buildings burn, knowing there were workers trapped inside.”

  Ian averted his gaze, but he wasn’t the only one in the room who did. And he was ashamed to admit, even in his own mind, that he had indeed imagined Asa doing exactly that. But hearing Arizona voice it out loud, he also realized how over-the-top it sounded.

  Asa had done plenty of good on this island, as well. He’d saved more than one local business over the years when the owners had fallen behind on bills, and he gave a lot of money to charity. Ian knew this to be true because he was the one who wrote the checks. And despite having had three wives now, he’d never been accused of mistreating them. His divorces had happened because Asa worked all the time, and he tended to marry women younger than him who wanted to go out and have a good time. He was also very critical and blunt. That didn’t usually make for a solid marriage.

  But an arsonist and a cold-blooded killer? No. Ian couldn’t really see Asa going that far.

  Chapter Two

  Jagger watched Ian rise and reach across the table, extending his hand toward Arizona. “You’re right. I apologize if I gave the impression I haven’t supported you. Your father couldn’t have done this. No matter what he and Jesse think of each other, neither one would kill over it.”

  “Thanks.” Arizona shook his hand. “I appreciate that a lot.”

  The others followed suit, and then the men took their seats again and returned to answering the phone calls. Ian took a seat next to Jagger, who sneaked a glance at his iPhone to read Kai’s last text.

  “How is your uncle Jesse holding up?”

  He glanced up at Ian, still grinning like an idiot from what Kai had texted. “Oh…he’s the same, I guess. I get all my info second-hand through my father.”

  Ian cut his gaze toward the phone. “I take it that’s not him?”

  “No. It’s Kai.”

  “How’s that going?”

  “Pretty damn good, all things considered.”

  Ian frowned. “This has to be awkward for her.”

  Jagger placed the phone on the table. “Yeah. She feels torn right now.”

  “I would, too.”

  “But I hope to take away some of her stress on Friday.”

  “Date?”

  “Play party. We don’t really date.”

  “Why not? You’ve been seeing her for months now.”

  Jagger leaned back and put his feet up on the table. “Kai and I don’t have that kind of relationship.”

  “Her choice or yours?”


  “Both. Why do you care? I don’t see you out and about with women hanging off your arm.”

  “Touché.”

  Jagger took a call so he didn’t have to discuss this any further. His relationship with Kai was his own business, and it wasn’t something he liked to have picked apart by anyone. Especially not family. But as he rattled off the same canned statements he’d been repeating all week to reporters, his mind wandered.

  He and Ian had a fucked-up history together, and it had taken them a long time to become friends because of it. Having each been married to the same woman, at different times, and having both been used in the same way by her would do that to anyone, even distant cousins. But neither man blamed the other one now. Eden had been a player, and she’d duped them both when they were young and stupid.

  Kai, on the other hand, was not a user or a player. Jagger adored her, but she wanted to keep things loose and easy. Her words, not his. And it was complicated because her aunt and uncle were now the sworn enemies of his father’s cousin. Asa was also his boss, which really fucked things up. And to make matters worse, her uncle Jesse had once had a torrid affair with Asa’s third wife. Kai didn’t know he knew that. He’d only recently found out that Kai knew about it.

  But he also didn’t see the point in bringing it up with her. They rarely talked about family things because it only ended in a serious, emotional discussion, and Kai wanted no part of it. She’d flat out change the subject each time he tried, so he’d stopped trying. It wasn’t his place to tell her how to think or what to feel. Most days, he wasn’t entirely sure what his place was.

  She called him “Sir” and they had a few loose protocols in place, but she was just as likely to address him by his name and forget the protocols. He never pushed her to follow them, because he didn’t want to scare her away.

  He wanted to be her Dom, but she was content to label him her play partner with benefits. She’d told him she wasn’t sure she could commit to being a full-time submissive yet. Jagger would wait. He had all the time and patience in the world, and she was worth it. He’d told her that often enough now, so that ball was in her court.

  Jagger also knew that Asa would rather him not see Kai, but he and Asa had come to an agreement about that. Jagger wouldn’t parade her in front of Asa, and Asa wouldn’t harass him for it. He’d told Asa the truth. That they were casual play partners at best.

  But now, three months later, Jagger wanted more from her than play and casual sex. Most days, he wasn’t sure that would ever happen. Not with the current state of fuckery on this island, anyway.

  When he and Ian both took a break from incoming calls, Ian asked if Jagger wanted to take a walk outside by the lake. That sounded like a great idea to him, so they left the building. As he always did, Jagger glanced at the gleaming complex across the man-made lake. Kai was in there somewhere, taking X-rays of bones.

  Jagger found that incredibly sexy for some reason. He’d once asked her if she were to take an x-ray of his dick while it was hard whether it would look like a bone was inside it, and she’d laughed so hard she’d almost peed her pants. Then he’d put her over his knee and spanked her until she came. That was the kind of relationship they had. Spontaneous, funny, and hot as hell.

  Ian waved his hand in front of Jagger’s face. “Where did you go just now?”

  “Anyplace but here.”

  He followed Jagger’s gaze. “Is she at work now?”

  “Yep. She almost always has the day shift because she’s been there a long time. And she only does one weekend a month and every other holiday.”

  “Sweet deal.”

  “It makes it easier to get together with her.”

  “Who’s hosting the play party?”

  “Her cousin, Gary.”

  Ian raised his brows. “She doesn’t feel awkward at a play party with her cousin?”

  Jagger chuckled. “Technically, I’m her cousin. By marriage, anyway. Not blood. And no, she doesn’t feel awkward. It’s not like he comes over and watches us or anything. He does his own thing and so do we.” Jagger eyed Ian while he glanced out over the water. “How long has it been since you’ve been to one?”

  Ian shrugged. “A while.”

  “A long while.”

  “True.”

  “Why don’t you come with us Friday?”

  Ian shook his head. “No thanks. I’m tired of playing DM and watching everyone else have fun. I’d rather sit home and watch cable.”

  Jagger texted Kai then waited for her answer. They exchanged a few quick texts, and then he showed the conversation to Ian. “How about now?”

  “Jesus Christ, Jagger. Warn a guy before you do something like this.”

  “Why? She’s hot. It’s all right. You can admit it.” Jagger opened the camera on the phone. “Smile for her.”

  “No.”

  “Come on. Humor her. She’ll get a kick out of this. I promise.”

  Ian not only smiled, he made a peace sign. Jagger laughed as he snapped the picture, and then he sent it to Kai. He’d asked her if she would consider having another Dom top her on Friday, and then she’d texted back that it depended. He’d asked on what it depended, and she’d replied that it depended on who the Dom was. So instead of simply telling her, he’d sent the pic.

  “Jackpot. Here. Read it for yourself.”

  Ian smiled and shook his head again. “She’s not serious.”

  “Of course she is.” Kai had texted back, “Hot dog! Bring him along!”

  Ian’s expression turned serious. “Have you done that before? Topped her with another Dom, I mean?”

  “Yes. And she loves it. I’m not talking sex here, Ian, so relax. Gary is pretty lax as far as what he allows at his parties, but no penetration. Not even with fingers or toys. So no pressure, okay? I’m just talking about play.”

  “And she really won’t mind?”

  “Trust me. If she didn’t want to do it, she would have said so. If there’s one thing you can count on with Kai, it’s that she isn’t reluctant to speak her mind.”

  * * * *

  Kai couldn’t sleep Monday night because she kept waking up from very erotic and vivid dreams in which she had hot sex with both Jagger and Ian at the same time. She knew it was only a play date, and it wouldn’t be the first time another Dom had topped her alongside Jagger. But this wasn’t just another Dom. It was Ian Raleigh. The only other man on this island who had starred in her secret fantasies.

  She didn’t know what it was about him that separated him from any other Raleigh. He wasn’t the only Raleigh man with blond hair and blue eyes. He wasn’t the only Raleigh man who didn’t look at her like she was island trash. She’d known him in school, of course, just like she’d known Jagger, but no defining incident stood out that had started her mind going down that road. Not that far back, at least.

  He and Jagger both had married a ridiculous, loud-mouthed girl named Eden Guardia, about two years apart. She’d known Eden in high school, as well. Her family had come to live here when Eden was a freshman, and at first Kai had liked her because she was different. They’d lived in Dallas, and her mother had landed a job at Phoebe’s Playthings. Eden was used to big, noisy cities and crowded freeways, but seemed to love the island.

  It didn’t take the girls in her grade long to realize she was also used to wrapping men around her finger, and she’d set her sights on the Raleighs and Durantes. Even when her mother got fired for stealing from the company, Eden stayed on the island, because by then she and Jagger were a hot-and-heavy item.

  They got married right out of high school, and a year later they were divorced. She left him, not the other way around, but all his friends told him he was better off without her. Kai knew that Jagger had realized that soon after he married Eden, but he was a proud man. All the Durante and Raleigh men were. She felt sorry for him because Eden had used him in a bad way.

  Then, as if that wasn’t enough, she went after Ian, who was blindsided by her. She told
him she’d changed her ways, and he believed her. Kai had always thought of Ian as more of a softie than Jagger, and Eden had certainly played that hand. After a year or so, when she’d had her fun with him, their marriage split up, as well, and then Eden finally left the island and moved back to Texas. Good riddance.

  But both Jagger and Ian were changed after that. Neither man dated much, and they were wary of too much attention from any woman. The only reason Kai had been able to get as close as she was to Jagger was because she told him she wanted to keep things casual between them. She didn’t want to push him away by becoming too clingy, but the truth was that she was crazy about him.

  She hadn’t expected that to happen. They’d started out just playing. The sex hadn’t been planned that first time. But, oh man, had it been incredible. There was no way that Kai could stay away from him after that. But now, after three months, she wanted more. The only problem was that she’d never so much as hinted at that to him, and wasn’t sure how he’d react to the news now that she wanted their relationship to be deeper.

  She didn’t want to lose him, but every day she told herself that not being completely honest with him was just as bad as what Eden had done to him. Maybe not the same things she’d done, but wouldn’t Jagger be just as upset to learn she hadn’t been truthful about the depth of her feelings for him? Even if it meant he told her he didn’t feel the same way?

  “Fuck it all,” she whispered into the dark. She might as well get up. It would mean a difficult day at work without adequate sleep, but this wasn’t helping her either. Even if she did push aside her fear and tell him, their families were at war right now. And while she didn’t want to believe Asa would commit arson and murder, who else could have done this? And if Asa did turn out to be guilty, where would that leave Jagger and his family?

  Why did everything have to be so fucking complicated?

  Chapter Three

  Kai was off Friday after begging to take a vacation day. She didn’t usually take off when she and Jagger had a play date, but tonight was special. She’d hardly been able to concentrate at work all week, and every time Jagger texted her she expected him to say that Ian had changed his mind.