Choosing Rena

by Dakota Trace

  Digging her nails into his shoulders it was all she could to hang on. “Oh…my…fucking…god…please…Sir….I’m…gonna…please…let…me…” She knew she was babbling but could’ve cared less.

  “Come!” His demand broke the last bit of her restraint and she came, and came, and came until the front of his jeans was soaked with her release. She screamed, uncaring of the neighbors, her entire world focused on the spot between her thighs.

  She was just coming down when Jackson groaned under her, his body locking in place as he exploded inside of her, his face a twisted grimace of pleasure. His chest heaved as he bounced her up and down once, twice, and finally three times as he spent inside of her. When it was over, it was all she could do but cling to him as they sank to the floor between the couch and coffee table, their bodies still joined.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Rena was vastly aware of the hand Jackson had placed on her back as he guided her through the early evening crowd at Pínaka ti̱s Mi̱téras. It had been some time since she’d been to Gabriel’s restaurant, so she’d been looking forward to the visit since Jackson suggested it earlier. The fact that she was combining her desire for good traditional Greek food with business mattered little, although Jackson’s presence at her side sent tingles of pleasure through her. It wouldn’t take much to get used to having him at my side.

  “Dare I wonder what’s going through that gorgeous head, ma peekôn?” Jackson’s breath teased her ear as he pulled the chair out for her to be seated. The hostess had given them a semi-private table towards the back of the restaurant.

  She gave him a grin. She couldn’t help it. Getting her brains fucked out twice in twenty-four hours gave a girl a huge reason to be happy. The pleasant soreness between her thighs reminded her as she shifted in her seat while Jackson seated himself. “I was just thinking this is going to take some getting used to.”

  A blond brow rose in question before Jackson snapped open his napkin. “What’s going to take some getting used to?”

  “Having a white boy at my side.” She nodded to the people at some nearby tables who were staring.

  “Screw them.” His hand covered her on the linen tablecloth. “I want to be with you, so they can either get over it or not look.”

  Her cheeks heated at the possessive look in his eyes. “I…”

  Before she could think of a suitable reply, the hostess followed by Dieter and Elizebetta appeared at their table. “Your guests have arrived, Ms. MacAllister.” The waiter appeared a few moments later, and after seeing them seated and taking their drink orders, excused himself.

  After Elizebetta settled in, Rena quickly made introductions but once the pleasantries were finished, an uncomfortable silence reined. Under the older woman’s steady gaze, Rena barely resisted the urge to squirm. It was like she was once again in the Head Mistress’s office at St. Barnabas, the all-girl Catholic High School she had attended. She had to remind herself that this was the mother of the man who she’d had arrested for attacking her, not the nun who’d made her teen years a living hell. If she could survive that, this should be a piece of cake. But it wasn’t, and if it hadn’t been for Jackson’s firm belief that the woman would be appalled by her son’s behavior, Rena would’ve called off the meeting, assuming that the contract between them was dead in the water.

  “Mrs. Vayarti.” She took a sip of water to wet her suddenly parched mouth. “I’m sorry about this situation with your son. If you don’t want me to do the security for the new gallery…”

  Sitting regally as any queen, Elizebetta smiled. “Nonsense. If you’re woman enough to say no to Louis and make it stick, you’re exactly the woman I want to have on the job.” Elizebetta placed a hand over Dieter’s. Rena couldn’t help but notice how haggard the younger man looked. Had Louis followed through with his threat to have him fired? His presence alone confirmed nothing considering the romantic relationship between Elizebetta and him.

  “All right then. I know Louis said something along the lines of him controlling the purse strings. Which I have a feeling by his appearance alone, Dieter here has been working hard to reverse since the last time we met.”

  A soft smile crossed Elizebetta’s lips. “My Dieter has gone through World War III with my son’s lawyers, and he’s actually managed to secure a hearing at the end of the month in New York, in front of a civil court judge, to challenge the validity of the will my husband left. There’s a good chance I’ll be in charge of my own money in…what….?” Elizebetta looked to her lover.

  “Two months at the near side, six at the far side.” He pressed Elizebetta’s hand to his lips. “It all depends upon how much fuss Louis is going to kick up.” He returned their hands to the table. “Not making light of the attack, Rena, we should thank you for the distraction you’ve provided by pressing charges against him. With his attention torn between two court cases, we may have a bit easier of time convincing the judge Lizzy is of sound mind and can control her own money. Not to mention a conviction on an assault charge may be enough to convince the courts my lady would be better off managing her own life than having her son in charge of it.”

  Rena forced a tight smile. “I’m just sorry it had to come to this. I did care for your son once upon a time, Mrs. Vayarti. He was my world. It pains me to think I misjudged him so badly.”

  Elizebetta sighed, reaching for her water goblet. “Something changed inside my son during his father’s illness and sudden death. If I didn’t recognize him, I’d swear the man who joined us during our last meeting was anyone but the caring son I raised. I just don’t know where I went wrong…” She teared up, sniffling into her napkin.

  “That’s utter bullshit.” Jackson stirred, speaking up for the first time since the couple had joined them. “Your son is a grown man and made his own choices. It has nothing to do with how you raised him. I assume you taught the boy right from wrong, Mrs. Vayarti. If he chooses not to use what you taught him, then the blame rests at his feet, not yours.”

  “Do you think so, Mr. Levough?” Hope shone in Elizebetta’s eyes.

  “I know so, but enough of this macabre stuff. Why don’t we discuss your plans for your new gallery? I’m not an art aficionado but I can appreciate a good painting as well as the next man.” He nipped at Rena’s fingers. “And for some unknown reason, I find the idea of my woman guarding said pieces of priceless art sexy as hell.”

  “Jackson!” Rena tried to pull her hand away, horrified of what Elizebetta might be thinking. But instead of frowning, her employer giggled… actually freakin’ giggled.

  “I do believe I like your young man, Rena. He suits you to a tee.” Then the older woman launched into gushing schpeel about several of the local Chicago artists she was planning on featuring during her grand opening.

  * * * *

  Watching his lover unlocking her apartment door, Jackson had a feeling he was going to be getting the brush off tonight. When she turned to face him, he knew without a doubt he’d be making the long lonely trip back across town to his empty bed. He wasn’t sure how he was going to handle it. It honestly, depended up on her reasoning. If she thought last night was a one-time thing, she had another thing coming.

  “I had a great time tonight…” She fidgeted, her eyes darting down.

  “As did I. Elizebetta is every bit as much the character you told me about. I do believe you’ll enjoy working with her and Dieter.” When she continued to look everywhere but his face, he sighed. “All right, spill it. What’s bothering you, ma peekôn?”

  “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed everything we’ve done in the past twenty-four hours but…” She seemed hesitant to go on.

  He sighed. “But what? You have no more need for me since I’ve scratched your itch?” It came out much rougher then he’d intended and she flinched.

  “No, it’s not that.” She lifted a hand to touch his face. He stoically accepted the gentle caress. “It’s just that I need some time.”

  He gazed into her amber eyes, look
ing for a clue, anything that would give away what was going on in her head. “Some time?”

  She shifted. “Don’t get me wrong, Jackson, I’ve loved everything we’ve done but…”

  Pain slashed through his chest at the idea she was giving him the heave-ho. “Go on, finish it.” He kept a tight rein on his emotions.

  She finally scowled and her hand went to her hip. “White Boy, you’re being way too dramatic. I’m not saying I don’t want to see you again. I do. What I’m saying is I’m not ready for the 24/7 thing yet.”

  Relief surged through him. She wasn’t tossing him out of her life. He moved closer to her, allowing his body to brush up against hers. “So if I said I wanted to have dinner with you on Monday before my class, you’d be game?”

  The hue of her eyes darkened to the same shade of amber he’d only had the privilege of seeing twice before. His little peekôn was aroused. She finally nodded.

  “Good.” He brushed his finger over her lower lip, loving the way her lips parted. “I’ll pick you up at six. Perhaps we’ll go to the House of Blues? It’s close enough to Olivia’s that we should make it there on time.”

  She licked her lower lip, leaving behind a sheen of wetness. “You’re taking me to the club?”

  He nodded, cupping her face to slowly take her mouth with his. What was becoming a familiar jolt of awareness sizzled through him as he explored the softness of her lips. When he finally lifted his head, her eyes were closed and her fingers were clinging to his shoulders. Pressing his forehead to hers, he gathered her close, savoring the feel of her against him, before reluctantly releasing her.

  “Behave, Rena. I’ll see you Monday night, wear something nice for me.” He pressed a quick kiss against her nose. She nodded, speechless, as he moved back down the hall.

  “Jackson?”

  He paused before the elevator. “Yes?”

  She ran up to him, plastering her body against his, her arms wrapped around his neck as she took his mouth. Her aggressiveness surprised him, but he found her irresistible as her tongue delved in to stroke over his, its slippery surface exploring every inch of his mouth. Looping one arm around her waist, he savored the weight of her against him. When she tore her mouth away with a groan, he was perilously close to saying fuck it and carrying her back to her apartment to give them both the release they desired. But he couldn’t. He’d promised her he’d give her time to think.

  Pressing his forehead to hers, he tried to catch his breath. “If I don’t leave now, I’m not going to. Do you understand, Rena MacAllister? I’ll have you bent over the nearest flat object and I’ll fuck you ‘til you come all over me.” Behind him the elevator dinged and the startled sound from the couple emerging had Jackson and Rena breaking apart. “I’ll call you when I get home, ma peekôn.” He stepped into the elevator after the elderly couple stepped off. As the doors slid shut, he’d leaned his head back against the wall.

  Making his way out to the underground garage, his thoughts were consumed about the tempting submissive upstairs. He was just sliding inside his vehicle when his cell phone rang. Without bothering to look at it, he flipped it open and pressed it his ear as he fastened his seatbelt.

  “You couldn’t wait, ma peekôn? I can come back upstairs if you want. I haven’t left yet.” Part of him was praying she’d say yes.

  “Not a wise idea if you don’t want a repeat of this morning, Mr. Levough, and this time I won’t use such a pathetic bomb.”

  Shock battled with anger as an unfamiliar male voice filled his ear. He glanced around his surroundings. “Who the hell is this?”

  “Such a typical man. Don’t bother looking for me, Mr. Levough. I’m not stupid enough to be anywhere near you. Wouldn’t you like to know what’ll stop me from reenacting this morning’s occurrence?”

  Jerking the phone away from his ear, he wanted to curse as the display read ‘unknown’. Son of a bitch!

  An amused chuckle trickled through the phone. “Now surely you didn’t think I was foolish enough to call from my home phone, or one that’s traceable, did you?”

  Jackson gritted his teeth. “So evidently you think you’re smart enough to contact me without being detected. Now tell me what the fuck you want.”

  The male tsked. “Such language. One would think you’re an uncouth man, Mr. Levough, but that’s hitting the nail on the head, isn’t it? You grew up dirt poor in a Louisiana bayou before joining the Army. You have several commendations of valor during your career before you left to become a partner in Larson Securities.”

  Hitting his palm on the steering wheel, Jackson wanted to strangle the asshole on the phone. “And what’s your point? You can find information that’s public knowledge?”

  “No. I’m just reminding you how much you’ve gained since leaving the bayou and how easily you’ll lose it all if you don’t stay away from Rena MacAllister.”

  “Louis, you sick fuck, you’re a disgrace to the BDSM world…”

  The man laughed in his ear. “You’re assuming I give a fuck about your nasty, depraved little world, or I’m this Louis character. I can assure you, I’m not. I wouldn’t bother to dirty my hands with such perversions. Nor, do I think it’s fair Rena’s being corrupted by your nasty proclivities.”

  Confusion flooded Jackson. If this wasn’t Louis, then who the hell is it?

  “You’ve been warned, Mr. Levough. And I’ll be watching. Either stay away from the girl or I’ll take down your hard-earned business, brick by brick.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Entering Olivia’s, Jackson stalked towards the private rooms at the back. He barely noticed the sounds of the floggers hitting flesh, the cries of ecstasy and pain as couples, trios and even groups, explored the pleasures of submission and domination. Walking down the hall, he entered his aunt’s office without knocking, his protective instincts so consuming he could do nothing less. At her desk, Olivia glanced up from the paperwork spread out in front of her.

  “Jackson?”

  He looked around for his missing partner before focusing on Olivia. “We have a serious issue. Where’s Jude?”

  She frowned. “He went out on the main floor to deal with a security issue.” She waved a hand to the chairs in front of her desk. “Why don’t you sit and I’ll have him paged.”

  He continued to pace, before finally throwing his body into the chair. She picked up the phone on her desk. “Lisa, please let Jude know I need him in my office. Thank you.” Setting the receiver back in its cradle, she stared at him. “Okay, what’s going on? Is it Rena? Or are you going to make me wait until Jude arrives?”

  His heart swelled at the thought of his feisty little sub. “Rena’s great. Spectacular even.” He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “She loves the paddle as much as I do, submits to my every whim sexually, but is still feisty enough to put me in my place outside of the bedroom or playroom. She’s everything I want in a submissive.” Tipping his head back, he studied the ceiling, pissed beyond belief some asshole was threatening his new relationship.

  “Then what’s wrong?” Olivia steepled her fingers as the door opened behind him.

  “You needed me, Mistress?” Jackson didn’t need to turn around to know it was his partner and not Micah. He could tell by the heavy irregular tread as the person walked further into the room. Jude had damaged his hip during their last tour and still had a limp as a souvenir to remind him.

  “What’s wrong is some deranged asshole has given me a choice. Either I give up Rena or he’s going to ruin our business.”

  Jude hissed, coming around Jackson’s chair and sinking into the opposite chair. “Dammit. You got the call too? When?”

  “As I was leaving Rena’s apartment tonight. It came up as an unknown number and I couldn’t tell anything about his location. I think he might have been using some kind of voice modification, or even something as simple as a handkerchief over the mouth piece.”

  “Was it the same crap I got?”

  Jackson nodded. “Yep. Eit
her break off my relationship with Rena or he’ll destroy Larson Securities.” A frown crossed his face. “Other than Louis - I don’t know who else might be targeting me, but something the perp said makes me believe that it might not be Louis. The disdain he showed for anyone in the lifestyle is something I don’t think Vayarti would have.”

  Jude frowned. “Disdain?”

  Jackson sighed. “Yes, he stated I was not to corrupt Rena with my depraved proclivities any longer. Does that sound like any Dom we know?”

  Olivia frowned. “No.” She turned to the computer. “Have you bothered to ask Rena what club she frequented with Louis in New York?”

  Jackson wanted to crawl into a hole. As much ground as Rena and he’d covered, the specific subject of her past at the hands of Louis Vayarti had not come up. Other than for me to assure her I’d never treat her in the same manner as the conniving asshole did. “Sorry, I never asked. I have…other things on my mind…when I’m with her.”

  Jude had the audacity to laugh. “Now that’s the Playboy Cajun I know and love.”

  Olivia dragged her hand over her face. “Lord save me from men.” She typed for a few minutes on the keyboard in front of her. “I have several friends at the Le Salon DeSade and Paddles NYC. Perhaps they’ll know Mr. Vayarti’s reputation.” She glanced up from the screen. “Pet, you might want to see if your contact at the courthouse can tell you if Louis has been released and if so when? If he wasn’t free at the time of the call, then we definitely have the wrong man.” She pushed away from her desk and approached him. “Jackson, you’re going to have to talk to Rena about this, and prepare her for the possibility you may have to keep your distance from her until we have the situation resolved.”