“Are you okay?” he asked, looking down at her.
The heat of a blush covered her cheeks as his voice drew the attention of his friends. She lowered her eyes then nodded as she tried to step away from him but his hands tightened on her shoulders, holding her in place. She shifted from one foot to the other, anxious to escape and find a private place to rub the ache from her breast. Why, she wondered, did guys always have to catch her in just that particular place?
The Viking tipped his head down and looked into her eyes then whispered a quiet curse when he saw the tears in her eyes. Jenna figured he was wondering why a sturdy girl like her was crying, after all he hadn’t hit her that hard. Swallowing, she blinked her eyes, clearing them.
“It’s okay. Really.” Jerking back, Jenna bumped into a hard body behind her. She looked over her shoulder and saw one of the Viking’s buddies. His eyes swept over her from her shoulder-length platinum hair across her face and down until they stopped on her breasts. She kept herself from letting her discomfort show as she silently cursed the low neckline of the dress, then promised herself she would never let Addison buy her another item of clothing.
“I asked you a question.” The Viking drew her attention back to him.
“I’m fine.” Shifting, she moved away from the man behind her as she noticed the glares of several women who had been flirting with the group of men. Snorting, she blushed then bit her lip. Surely they didn’t think she was some kind of competition.
“How about having dinner with me and telling me what just went through that beautiful head of yours?” the Viking asked her with a confident smile.
Yeah, right, she thought, seeing his eyes locked on her chest. This guy isn’t interested in my brain. “I have to go,” she said, eager to escape into the anonymity of the crowd. Turning, she bumped into a blond man with hazel eyes.
“I don’t blame you for turning down Thor’s invitation. I’m Ben Harrington. How about going to dinner with me tonight and we can get to know each other over a nice lobster dinner and a glass of wine?” His smile was enticing. The practiced smile of a bad boy who knew he was irresistible to women.
“Sorry, seafood gives me a rash.” Jenna hid her smile when his disappeared. Hearing a step behind her, Jenna swiveled around and saw a dark-haired man with dark-brown eyes give Ben a smirking grin. “I’m Mac Malone. How about having dinner with me? I know a place with the best steaks in Texas.”
Fed up, having been the victim of this type of one-upmanship in the past, Jenna decided to put an end to their fun. “I’m busy tonight.” Before she could take off, a small hand wiggled its way between the Viking and Mac Malone. A second later a flushed and excited Addison slipped between them, and slid to a stop next to her.
“There you are! I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” Addison said, grabbing Jenna’s hand then glancing around. “Hi, Thor. How have you been?”
“Better now that you’ve arrived, elf.”
Jenna watched as Addison threw her arms around Thor, gave him a hard hug, and then laughed when he oomphed and pretended she had squeezed the breath from him. “We’re playing poker in the den after lunch. You should join us, Thor,” Addison said, her Irish accent pronounced.
“No way, elf.” Thor chuckled as he told the people standing in his group, “Never, ever play cards with this blue-eyed pixie. She has the luck of the Irish.”
Addison laughed again then looked at Ben and Mac. “Your warning comes too late, Thor. Ben already owes me twenty boxes of crayons, and Mac owes me a case of markers for the elementary school resource bank.”
Thor chuckled then told the rest of the people standing with him, “This is Cade’s, uh—”
“Pain in the ass, just deserts, comeuppance, bratty stalker,” Addison suggested, laughing.
Thor laughed then said, “Addison Matthews.” Smiling, he added, “I don’t believe I’ve ever met your friend, Addison.”
Addison smiled at Jenna then at Cade’s friends. “This is my soon-to-be roommate, Jenna Parnelle.”
“It’s nice to meet you finally, Jenna,” Thor said. “Addison mentions you all the time.” He switched his gaze to Addison. “I thought Cade had decided against letting the two of you share an apartment.”
“Well, he can just change his mind or suffer the consequences,” Addison said.
A dark-haired lady stepped forward to introduce herself. “I’m Cara Bradley. It’s a pleasure to meet both of you.”
“Oh, we know you,” Jenna said, “or rather we’re familiar with your work with the free medical clinic in Rendezvous. Addison and I have signed up to work at the fundraiser next month.”
“That’s wonderful, we need all the help we can get,” Cara said.
“We’re looking forward to it.” Addison froze as Cade entered the room.
Jenna knew what would happen next. Addison would confront Cade about them sharing an apartment and then the fight would be on if she didn’t head her off. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, too, Cara. Sorry to rush off but we’ve got to go now. We’ll see you at the fundraiser next month.” Grabbing Addison’s arm, she tugged her toward the patio doors. “Let’s go outside.”
“What’s the hurry?”
“It’s too hot in here.” Jenna gave herself another mental roll of the eyes. It had to be at least ninety degrees outside beneath the cloudless blue sky and blazing Texas sun. Just as they reached the doors, and safety was within their reach, Jimmy Burrows stepped into their path. Jenna cursed and looked back for Cade as Jimmy shifted by her and blocked Addison.
“My dear, Addison, Mother, and I were just commenting on how beautiful you look today and how nice it is to see you again. In fact, we’d love to have you to dinner tomorrow night.”
Jenna watched as Addison laughed in his face then stabbed the tip of one rosy red fingernail into his bony chest. “Shove off, Jimmy. You’re not getting your hands on me or my money.” Then grabbing Jenna’s hand, she pulled her through the doors.
“Damn, how do you do that?” Looking back, Jenna saw a look of pure hatred cross Jimmy’s face. “If I did something like that, people would be on the phone talking about me before I could move out of hearing distance.”
“Money talks, and lucky for me, I have lots of it.”
“You better watch him, though. You really pissed him off.” Jenna towed Addison across the lawn while trying to keep the heels of her shoes from sinking into the ground. “Where have you been hiding all morning while I’ve been fielding all of the ‘what’s Addison going to do now’ questions? People do realize we’re two different people, and I don’t always know what you’re up to, right?”
Stepping closer to her, Addison lowered her voice. “I’ve been in the kitchen with Maggie helping Cade’s housekeeper Jane Marshall. You’ll never believe what she was telling Maggie about Cade and his brothers.”
Snorting, Jenna narrowed her eyes. “One of these days Cade’s going to catch the three of you gossiping about them. Then, Jane is going to lose her job as his housekeeper. Maggie, your ex-nanny aka spy, is going to be banned from the ranch. Then who will you get your juicy little tidbits of information from, hmm?”
“I don’t gossip. I gather information and they’re not my only source of information.” Addison planted her hands on her waist, her Irish brogue lyrical. “Do you want to know what she said, or not?”
“Of course I do but let’s sit down. These shoes are killing me and your giant friend stepped on my toes then got my boob with his elbow.” Glancing around, she pointed to a couple of chairs by the pool. “There.”
“Great choice. I’ll cover you while you rub it. Do you need some ice?”
“Hell, no! If I put ice on it my nipple will turn into a weapon of mass destruction. Everyone here would have to protect their eyes.”
Throwing her head back, Addison laughed, her husky voice echoing across the lawn as her braid swung back and forth, the sun catching on the gold and red strands. “I’d love to see that! Everyone stumbling
around, one hand covering a watering eye. Cade could hand out eye patches and we could all pretend to be pirates.” Covering one eye, she mimicked a character from one of her favorite movies. “Argggg.”
Shaking her head and laughing, Jenna said, “Damn, I wish I was shorter like you.”
“Yeah, where the elbows line up with the side of your head.”
Jenna dropped onto a cushioned chair and sighed with relief. “Either way my boobs would be safe.” Crossing her legs, she looked at her foot then reached down and rubbed her toe. “Oh, that feels so much better.”
Standing in front of her, blocking the view of anyone nearby, Addison watched her rub her foot. “Go for the boob. I think your toes are okay. Those shoes may hurt your feet but dang, they make your legs look fabulous.”
“You know you can cuss if you want to. Cade isn’t around to hear you right now.”
“I can’t take the chance of it becoming a habit. I’d be sure to slip when he was around and there’s no telling what he’d do. He can be really mean.”
“No shit. Look at the car he made you buy when you wanted that Porsche.”
“Don’t remind me.” Addison grimaced. “I didn’t even get to choose the color. He said red would make me reckless.”
Laughing, Jenna ran her eyes over Addison’s rosy red dress, shoes, lipstick, and nail polish. “I was wondering what was up with all the red.”
“I’m protesting by showing him he was right.” Giggling, she pointed to a table a few feet away with an ice bucket, several beverage dispensers, and glasses. “I’m going to get us something to drink. I’ll be right back.”
Jenna checked her shoe again, making sure there wasn’t any damage to the slender strap over her toes.
“Here.” Addison held out a glass of tea to her then dropped into the other chair as she took a long sip from her own glass. She grinned then winked at Jenna. “Boy, gossiping sure does make your throat dry.”
“You’re shameless, Addison Matthews.”
“Yes, I know, but you love me anyway.”
“That’s true. I have something to tell you that I overheard last night at the Hard Times Tavern. I wish you’d been with us.”
“Me, too, but by the time I got back from Dallas I was so tired I just wanted to go to bed. Then, Cade insisted I have breakfast with him this morning.” Addison paused for a breath, “Tell me now what you heard last night.”
“No, first you tell me what Maggie said before someone spots us and knows we’re gossiping.”
“You’re paranoid. They’ll just think we’re talking.”
“Addison, everyone knows you’re the biggest meddler in the county. Maybe even the entire state of Texas.”
“Can I help it if everyone wants to confide in me?”
“Confide? What you call visiting is what other people call interrogation.”
“I learned it from Cade.” Addison leaned closer to Jenna. “Do you remember what we heard about Luc and Logan, and how they share their girlfriends?”
Jenna scooted her chair closer to Addison, wanting to make sure she heard every word. “Yes.”
“Well, Jane was telling Maggie that one night she forgot to take a casserole from the freezer that she wanted to serve the next day, so she was in the kitchen moving it to the fridge when she heard a noise coming from the family room and—”
“Congratulations, Addison.” Mr. Long, the local pharmacist, stood next to them, his bald head sunburnt and glistening with beads of sweat in the bright Texas sun. Next to him, his elderly wife leaned on a cane as she fanned herself. A bright purple hat covered her snowy-white curls.
Jenna said hello then stood and offered Mrs. Long her chair. When she accepted, she helped Mrs. Long sit down while ignoring the strong whiff of mothballs coming from the elderly lady’s hat. Glancing toward Mr. Long, she bit her lip to keep from laughing when she saw Addison step out of reach of his roving hands.
“May I get you something to drink?” Addison asked, edging a little further away.
“Yes, dear, ice tea sounds lovely,” Mrs. Long told her, her voice shaky with age. “I’m afraid the heat has been a little too strong for poor, sweet Mr. Long today.”
Jenna giggled when she saw Mr. Long reach out and pinch Addison’s bottom as she turned her back on him and Addison squeaked and jumped forward, away from his groping fingers.
“Oh, Mr. Long, you naughty boy,” Mrs. Long said. “I’ll have to punish you later at the club.”
“Yes, dear.” Mr. Long looked at Jenna and winked.
Knowing she must look ridiculous with her mouth hanging open and her eyes bugging out, Jenna tried to blank her expression. It had been pure luck that she had been in the ladies’ room at the tavern last night when two women had begun talking about an expensive and very exclusive BDSM club called Club Mystique. Intrigued at first, she’d really been shocked to learn it was located on the southern border of the Ramsey ranch and was owned by the five brothers. More shocking than that had been learning the brothers were Doms.
Finding out Jackson was a Dom had shaken her to the depths of her soul. It had also put her river encounter with him two years ago into a whole new light. Then hearing the Longs’ remarks just now had the pieces of a rather interesting puzzle beginning to take shape in her mind.
Looking at the people scattered around the yard, she examined them from a new point of view and a little shiver of awareness spiraled through her as she finally understood the real difference between the guests. Eager to tell Addison what she knew, she waited as she handed two glasses of ice tea to the Longs and moved a large umbrella closer to shade them.
“There you go. Now, isn’t that better?” Addison brushed off her hands and looked satisfied.
“Yes, dear, you’re such a good girl. Come see me soon and we’ll have a nice long visit.” Mrs. Long gave Addison a gummy smile then swept disapproving eyes over Jenna. “Jenna Parnelle, what would your dear sweet mother think about that dress? It’s positively scandalous. The neckline is much too low. I don’t know what kind of material that is, but it’s entirely too tight and shows everything you’ve got. In my day good girls left something to the imagination.”
“I think she looks very nice, dear,” Mr. Long said.
“I gave Jenna that dress for her birthday, and I think she looks beautiful today,” Addison said, her voice sending a clear warning that anyone who messed with Jenna would have to deal with her. She gave Mrs. Long’s shoulder a gentle pat then said, “I’ll come see you soon, Mrs. Long, and you can tell me all the latest news. Now that I’m all grown up maybe you could tell me just a tiny little something about Cade. It would be our little secret.”
“I’ll see if I can think of anything, dear. In any case, come visit soon.”
“I will, Mrs. Long.” Addison waved at the older couple then pulled Jenna away.
“What is it with that old biddy? My dress is an exact match to yours. Just a different color,” Jenna grumbled as they walked away looking for a little privacy. “What did I ever do to her? And just why does she like you so much?”
“Well, she’s a terrible gossip, you know? Someday she’s going to tell me all about Cade.”
“In your dreams! She’s not going to tell you but, boy, do I have something to tell you.” Thinking about what Addison’s reaction might be, Jenna decided to hold off telling her until later. “We’ll talk tonight when we return to the hotel.”
“Tell me now.”
“No, later. It’s not something I can explain quickly. Now, tell me what Maggie said.”
Addison stepped in front of Jenna, placing her back to the crowd. “Okay, where was I? Oh, yes, so Jane heard a noise and she crept into the hallway that goes to the family room and when she peeked around the corner she saw Luc and Logan and their girlfriend Linda and they were all naked.”
“No way!”
“Yes! And Linda was kneeling on the couch and one of the twins was behind her screwing her and the other twin was on the other side of
the couch and Linda was…” Waving her hands in the air, she added, “You know what?” Addison blushed, the freckles on her perfectly beautiful nose standing out in the bright sunlight.
“No, I don’t know”—Jenna did air quotes—“what so tell me.”
“Geez, Jenna, you know?” Feeling her cheeks heat with a blush, she looked at the ground for a moment, then back at Jenna as she ran her hand down her braid then planted her hand on her hips. “She was giving the other twin a blow job.”
“You do know that you don’t actually blow. Right?”
Nodding, Addison giggled, her eyes shining. “Yes, I know you don’t blow. I took that human sexuality class with you. Remember?” Addison glanced around again, smiling and waving at several friends.
“You know, I was really surprised Cade let you take that class.”
“Uh, well, he might not have known I was taking it since I signed up late and paid cash instead of having them send the bill to him.”
“Very sneaky. And, very clever of you.”
“Well, it worked until he got a copy of my transcript. Then all hell broke loose. I don’t know why I let him boss me around.”
Well, it might be because you’re a total submissive like me, Jenna thought to herself. “We’ll talk about it later. Right now let’s just have fun. It seems like forever since we’ve been able to find the time to relax.” Jenna searched the crowd again, frowning when she still didn’t see Jackson.
Addison grabbed Jenna’s hand. “Come on. There goes Logan and Luc sneaking out to the stables with a woman. They ratted me out to Cade and I’m pissed off at them. Let’s go ruin their fun.”
“No. Either Cade will stop us or Jackson will. One of them always does,” Jenna said, thinking maybe that was one way to finally see Jackson.
Jackson's Sub [The Doms of Club Mystique 2] (Siren Publishing Allure) Page 2