“So you ended up being just friends?”
“Very good friends, but yes, just friends.” She shrugged. “It took me a while to see that, I guess.”
Something intense crossed Sawyer’s face, and she shifted slightly. He evidently noticed her response, and his smile suggested he enjoyed it. “How did Josh handle the breakup?”
“It was mutual.”
He licked the ketchup off his fingers, never taking his eyes off her. “Interesting.”
“Why is that interesting?”
He wiped his mouth again before placing his napkin back on his lap. “You seem hung up about the breakup, even though things ended on good terms. Like I said…interesting.”
“Well,” Chloe tossed back, “interesting is better than boring.”
Sawyer smiled. “That it is.”
Stomach full, Chloe placed her napkin on the plate. Sawyer took a final sip of his Coke and rose, grabbing his wallet from his pocket. “Let’s get out of here.”
Chloe blinked up at him. “Where are we going?”
“To my house.” Sawyer dropped cash on the table.
When she didn’t move, he grinned down at her. “To wait for Shane’s call, of course.”
She slid out of the booth. “I’m not sure I believe you.”
“Ms. Nash, you have a dirty mind.” He raised his hand to his heart in mock dismay. “I planned on catching a replay of the game and wait for Shane’s call. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
“Oh, please.” She nudged his shoulder. “I call bullshit.”
He chuckled as they exited the restaurant. Outside, the hot sun beat down on them. “Bad language, too?” He squinted at her. “I’m shocked. And here I thought you were a good girl.”
“I am a good girl,” she scoffed, folding her arms.
“Are you?” He closed the distance between them, lowering his mouth until it was close to hers. “Or have you been good for so long that you’re itching to be bad and see what all the fuss is about?”
She swallowed—hard.
His eyes gazed knowingly into hers. “Am I wrong?”
“Yes,” she said. The words sounded unconvincing even to her.
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Now who’s lying?”
His arrogant question made Chloe stiffen her shoulders. “What are you going to do about it, punish me?”
The grin he gave her was one no man should possess, given the power it exerted over her. “Don’t tempt me.”
She didn’t.
Chapter 5
Sawyer’s house was a total surprise. Because he was such an alpha type of man, Chloe thought he’d have a simple home, with sports memorabilia on the walls and a big-screen TV as the focal point in the room. But his home was very nicely designed and decorated, a warm living space.
Located in the west end of Las Vegas, his two-story redbrick house didn’t display any extravagance. She did notice, however, how clean and uncluttered everything was. From top to bottom, she couldn’t find a speck of dust anywhere.
After using the bathroom, she found Sawyer in the living room. “I thought you might like this,” he said with a smile, offering her a glass of wine.
She accepted the drink. “Thanks. I sure do.”
As she took an appreciative sip, she scanned the room’s open layout. The back of the house had a chef’s kitchen, with black marble countertops surrounded by cherrywood cabinets. The dining room was furnished in dark wood, and black leather couches flanked by glass end tables decorated the living room.
“You’re killing me here,” said Sawyer, voice dry. “Please tell me what you’re thinking.”
Chloe swallowed the wine and turned to him. He rested a hip against the couch, arms crossed over his thick chest and brow furrowed. “I cannot get over how nice your house is.”
His eyes creased at the corners. “You thought I’d live like a pig?”
“No, of course not.” She waved him off. “I’m just impressed.”
He reached down and grabbed his beer off the end table. “Don’t be too impressed. I have a cleaning service that comes biweekly. And Ash decorated the place.” He moved to the couch, taking his cell phone from his pocket and placing it on the coffee table. “When I bought the house a while back, I gave her my credit card and a spending limit and told her to have fun.”
Chloe noted the teal afghan draped across the recliner by the bay window, which should’ve been a dead giveaway of a woman’s touch. Most men didn’t care about throw blankets. Keeping her wineglass tight in her hand, she went and sat on the love seat opposite him. “Is that what Ash does for a living?”
He swallowed the beer in his mouth and nodded. “She’s been an interior designer for a couple of years.” At Chloe’s obvious bafflement, he chuckled. “Why does that shock you?”
“Her house was”—she half shrugged—“not designed.”
“She hasn’t lived there long.” He rested his ankles on the ottoman, crossing one over the other. “But you also didn’t see her bedroom. That’s the one room she has decorated.” He smiled, love for his sister evident in his eyes.
Chloe noticed the metal artwork on the walls, with splashes of teal to brighten up the masculine space. “I am so going to hire her when she’s feeling better.” Her house could use someone who knew how to put colors together.
“I’m sure she’d love to. You two will hit it off.”
Chloe sipped her wine. “Why do you say that?”
“Because she’s a lot like you.”
“In what way?”
“You’re both damn good at your jobs, committed in a way most people aren’t.” His stare held hers, intense and honest. “She’s sweet, funny, kind, and caring—just like you.”
Chloe took a sip of her wine as she considered his words. Sawyer knew how to dish out thoughtful compliments. “Are you trying to flatter me?”
“If being honest is flattering you, then yes.”
The heat in his voice sent butterflies flitting around in her belly. The passionate look he gave her had her clenching her thighs. To neutralize the sudden rush of tingles within her, she placed her wineglass on the coffee table and reached for her phone. No calls. No texts. “Nothing from Shane yet.”
Sawyer chuckled. “In a hurry to get out of here?”
“Aren’t you?” She lifted her head, seeing the heat in his eyes. “We should be out finding Travis. I’m not very good at sitting around and waiting.”
His laugh turned a bit deeper, throatier. “Now that is something I can agree to.” He finished off his beer in one big gulp and rose. “I stayed at the hospital last night with Ash and left from there to go see you at the office. Would you mind if I had a shower?”
“Nope, go for it.” Chloe’s cheeks warmed.
Sawyer naked? Oh, Jesus!
A small smile graced his face as he grabbed the TV remote off the coffee table and clicked the TV on. He handed her the controller. “Feel free to watch anything you’d like. I’ll be quick.”
The burn of passion lingered in the air as he left the living room and headed up the staircase. She blew out a long breath, curled her legs underneath her, and began flicking through TV stations for something mindless. The moment she reached a soap opera she used to watch in her teens, Sawyer’s cell phone rang on the coffee table.
Leaning forward, she glanced at the screen. Captain. Since she heard the shower going, she ignored the call and continued to surf the channels. A short while later his phone rang again. This time the caller ID showed Dmitri. She remembered Porter mentioning a Dmitri before, but she’d never met him, or Aidan or Kyler, either, though she knew they also were Porter’s buddies.
When the ringing stopped, the call probably going to voicemail, Chloe leaned back into the couch. She’d just settled in to watch the show when the phone rang again, the caller ID now showing Mom. Worry formed in Chloe’s gut. Three people called in less than five minutes. Maybe something had happened with Ashlyn. Even better, perhaps they cau
ght Travis.
She heard the water stop running through the pipes, indicating that Sawyer turned off the shower. Concerned about Ashlyn, she grabbed his phone and moved toward the staircase. “Sawyer?”
Not receiving a response, she began to climb the stairs. Once at the top, she discovered two bedrooms to the right and a master bedroom to the left, with a small loft area that held his computer. “Sawyer?”
“In here.” His voice carried from the master bedroom.
She walked along the hallway and went into the bedroom. Black bedroom furniture nestled against walls painted dark gray. A door on the left was slightly ajar, and she could see steam clouding the mirror of the en suite bathroom. She said to an empty room, “You got three phone calls in a short amount of time. I thought it might be important, so I—” The door beside the bathroom opened, and Chloe’s heart skipped a couple of beats.
Sawyer exited the walk-in closet wearing a pair of jeans, with a towel hanging around his shoulders. “Really?” Chloe heard herself saying without even thinking about it. “You can’t be serious.”
He stopped dead, surprise flickering in his eyes. “What?”
“You come out looking like that?” She roamed every inch of his body. From his thick neck and strong shoulders to the valley of his abdominal muscles and even that sexy vee at his waist, he looked good half naked. Damn good.
“Is there something wrong with my body?”
The annoyance in his voice made her snap her head up. The irritation in his eyes matched what she’d heard in his voice. “You, Sawyer Quinn, do not play fair.”
The hint of aggravation faded and he gave her a glimmer of a smile. “You walked into my bedroom, Chloe Nash.”
She knew why, too.
Sure, she had a reason for coming into his bedroom. But deep inside she’d wanted a peek at him. Behind all her worries and hesitations, she did want Sawyer. And, maybe…just maybe…she wanted to put herself in a situation where she couldn’t say no.
She drew air into her lungs, breathing through the desire storming over her. “You should check these.” She offered him the phone.
He licked his lips, but also accepted the phone. One by one he went through the messages, never taking his eyes off her. Only when he put the phone on his dresser did he acknowledge her again. “Consider them checked.”
“Is everything okay?”
He nodded, grabbing the towel off his shoulders and wiping away the droplets of water on his torso. “For now, yes.”
Chloe had no idea how such a simple move could be hot, but Sawyer made drying himself off sexy. The muscles in his arms bulged, and his abs flexed right along with them. She swallowed as he dropped the towel on the dresser and ran his hands over his buzz cut.
The heat blazing between them was something she’d never experienced before. She ached, honestly ached for him. Her clit pulsated for a simple touch or a lick of his tongue.
Get out of this bedroom! her head told her.
Get him! her body argued.
Every part of her soul hummed in desire. All those hesitations and worries slowly trickled away. She breathed in his woodsy scent and licked her lips. “Sawyer…?”
Eyes intense, and also a bit amused, he murmured, “Yes, Chloe?”
“I…” I don’t understand this passion between us. It makes me crazy. It makes me want to do things I’d never do. But what about Josh? What kind of girl does that make me, if I take you to bed so soon? I’ve never had a one-night stand. I haven’t ever experienced this kind of intensity, where my body is ruling over my mind.
The heat of his body overwhelmed her, pulsating against her, threatening to take over her thoughts. “You, sweetheart,” he growled, stepping toward her, “need to shut off that busy mind of yours.” She backed away until she hit the wall by the door.
“Oh, Jesus,” she breathed.
Eyes blazing hot and centered on her, he slid one knee in between her thighs. With pure confidence, he reached for her wrists and, with ease, pinned them above her head. Not giving her a chance to catch up, he sealed his mouth over hers.
That’s when talking ended and the heavy hard kissing began.
She couldn’t keep up with his intensity—it burned her alive. Her focus narrowed on the way his tongue slid across hers and how his mouth guided her into a kiss so mind-blowing that desire sank deep into her center. His other hand grasped her hip, immobilizing her. Being possessed by Sawyer this way did more for her libido than any other sexual experience in her life.
Chloe didn’t know how many minutes passed before Sawyer leaned away, releasing her hands from above her. When he did, Chloe discovered she’d been rubbing herself shamelessly against his thick thigh, nudged between her thighs.
He gave a low groan, as if the distance between them pained him. “While I’d like to continue where this is heading, now is not the time.” His eyes zeroed in on her mouth as he brushed his thumb across her lips. “My captain left a message to say that the case is running cold. But my mother called to say Ash has woken up more fully and wants to talk to me.”
Chloe pushed away from him, trying to ignore her wet panties. “Oh my God, we should be at the hospital. Why did you just kiss me like that?”
“When you look at me like you want to rip my clothes off, you come first.” He caught her chin in his firm grip. “Besides, taking a couple of minutes to kiss you the way you deserve is not something that I’ll regret.”
“Well,” she retorted, smoothing her clothes, “don’t walk around with your shirt off and I won’t look at you like that.”
Sawyer laughed as he went to the dresser. “If you think you want to ravish me only when my shirt is off, you’re fooling yourself.” He grabbed a T-shirt from a drawer. Only after he dressed and snatched up his phone did he continue. “You’ve given me that same fuck me look since the day I met you.”
Her mouth opened, then shut.
“We’d better get going.” A cocky smile crossed his face. “Or you, my sweet, Chloe, might end up doing something bad. It appears you can’t control yourself around me while we’re in my bedroom.”
Chloe snorted. “Now wait just a second…”
His laughter followed her into the hallway.
—
The ride to the hospital was quiet. Sawyer wondered if Chloe regretted what had happened between them earlier. Worried that she would regret it had been the only reason he’d stopped himself from taking her. He could stand many things, but having a woman regret having his hands on her was not one of them.
He hoped she would come to a decision soon, as his dick throbbed in his jeans. He was more than ready to take this girl to bed.
When he reached Ash’s hospital room he asked Chloe, “Do you mind going in there alone? I have to make a quick private phone call.”
She smiled in that sweet, clever way she had. “Not at all.”
He watched her enter the room, noting a sway in her hips that hadn’t been there before. Someone felt sexy and happy, and he rather liked knowing he was the cause of it. And he was glad that Chloe didn’t mind seeing his sister alone. He supposed that was what made her good at her job. No one suspected she was a PI—she seemed a little too sweet for the job, far too trustworthy. But that was her secret weapon, Sawyer thought. She could get close to people.
He waited for a couple holding hands to move past him in the hallway before he approached the chairs sitting some distance from Ash’s room. Removing his cell phone from his pocket, he dropped into a seat. Dmitri, the owner of Club Sin and a good friend, had called earlier, sounding tense. Feeling torn between being a Club Sin Master and wanting to be with his sister and Chloe, Sawyer scrolled through his contacts, finding Dmitri’s name, and then pressed the talk button.
Dmitri answered on the first ring.
“Hey, it’s Sawyer.”
“So glad to hear from you,” Dmitri said, his voice hard. “How is your sister doing?”
“She’s better and more alert now.” Sawyer w
aved at his parents as they exited Ash’s room. Perhaps Chloe had sent them out to eat or get coffee. “I’ve just arrived at the hospital to talk with her.”
A pause. “How are you holding up?”
Dmitri’s concern didn’t surprise Sawyer. Any Dominant would understand the strain Sawyer was suffering. A real Dominant ensured this shit never happened to his sub. “I’m fine because I’m hunting him. It’s that simple.” Sometimes having a job that needed doing was the best therapy.
“Understandable,” Dmitri said. “If you need my assistance, please call.”
While Sawyer appreciated that, Dmitri wasn’t the man Sawyer needed now. “I’ve got one of Porter’s PIs, Chloe Nash, on this. I’m confident she’ll find Travis.”
“I hear she’s good,” Dmitri said.
“She’s damn good, and I’m glad I went to her.”
There was an obvious smile in Dmitri’s voice as he said, “Porter told us you kicked him aside when you came searching for a PI.”
Sawyer chuckled. “Chloe’s been good for Ash.”
“And for you?”
Sawyer hesitated. “Yeah, and for me, too,” he finally said. “Listen, thanks for checking in, but I need to get to Ash.”
“Will we be seeing you this weekend?”
Sawyer bristled. Club Sin was so far from his mind. Truth be told, the only woman he wanted to engage in kinky sex with sat in the hospital room with his sister. “Let me see how things go with Travis and we’ll see.”
Dmitri’s hesitation lasted a little longer this time. Sawyer hadn’t been away from Club Sin for any length of time since it opened five years ago, but surely Dmitri understood the circumstances.
He glanced to his forearm, spotting the black dragon tattoo, and he knew the symbol of the club would forever be marked on his soul. In the BDSM lifestyle, and within the walls of Club Sin, he was a Master, a pro at the game of dominance and submission. He had lived and breathed that lifestyle in Club Sin.
Breaking the silence, Dmitri said, “Everyone is concerned about you. Please stay in touch.”
“Thank them for their concern.” Sawyer ended the call, staring at his phone. A heavy weight formed in his chest. The members of Club Sin depended on him, he knew, but now his thoughts were far away from the club.
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