by Measha Stone
“New to the scene?” His voice held a hopefulness she instantly recognized as desperation.
“Yes. Very.” She eyed Kendrick standing in the shadows. She tried to convince herself he was simply doing his job, but she couldn’t help but hope he was watching her.
She observed the young man carefully, assessing his threat level. “I’m actually kinda hungry. Do you wanna grab something to eat? I think I saw a diner down the street.” She gave him a brilliant smile.
“Uh. Sure.” She pretended there was more enthusiasm in his response.
“Great.” She linked her arm with his and led him from the room toward the main entryway.
Kendrick’s eyes burned through her as he approached them. She tugged her new date to a quicker pace. The front door opened, and she managed to slip into the hall as she heard Kendrick’s name being called over his walkie talkie again.
Two hours after leaving the club, and Kendrick, behind, she found herself sitting on her couch with a small bowl of rocky road ice cream, feeling every bit the cliché.
The television depicted a love scene between a love-struck couple struggling to find each other in a world full of chaos and terrorists. She watched them passionately kiss and claw at each other’s clothing, trying to get to their naked bodies to become one, and wished she felt something—anything. If the leading man would pull his leading lady’s hair, bite her shoulder, command her to do anything, Kelly might have felt a stirring in her loins, but society’s version of passion did little to excite her. The longing grew for what she now feared she would never have.
As she clicked the TV off, the doorbell rang. It was nearly midnight—too late for Jessica or Erin to stop by unannounced.
With the bowl of rocky road in hand, she peered through the peep hole.
Her heart stopped momentarily, and her throat clenched.
Kendrick stood on the other side, fist raised, ready to pound on the door.
She did a quick mental check of her appearance. Not having expected anyone, she had already donned her black pajama shorts and pink tank top. Her usually unruly red curls were bundled on top of her head, held in place with a thick scrunchie.
“Kelly, I know you’re on the other side of this door.” His voice rang through the wood.
She stared at it, as if to see if it had momentarily become transparent.
“Open the door.” His tone was hard—commanding. There was no threat, but she found herself unwilling to disobey.
She slid the bolt and opened the door, keeping herself in the way of his entry.
“Hi.” She forced a flat tone into her voice. Her hand remained on the door, as though she would be able to keep him for entering her apartment.
His expression was one of determination and concern. His eyes swept the room behind her and then over her body. The corner of his mouth turned upward at the sight of her pajamas.
“Can I help you?” she asked when he remained silent.
“Where’s Tony?” His gaze moved back to hers, capturing her with his stare.
“Who?” She tried to sound annoyed.
“Tony. The little boy you left the club with.” He didn’t need to try; he sounded every bit annoyed.
“Oh, him. I don’t know where he is,” she answered honestly. Tony had turned out to be more irritating than she had originally predicted.
“He’s not here with you?” Relief laced through his words along with the softness around his eyes were anger once lived.
“No. I didn’t bring him home like some lost puppy. I left him at the diner.” She omitted the part about how Tony not understanding her newness to the club didn’t mean she was about to start taking orders from anyone who called himself Dominant.
She’d left him sitting in the far corner booth of the diner with his dick in his hand. Shock riddled his face after she had poured his soda in his lap after he had command for her to stroke him while he ate.
“Good.” Kendrick shot her a look of a approval. “May I come in?” he asked in a soft, tender voice.
She wanted to ban him from her apartment, from her thoughts, but she was drawn to him.
Kelly moved to the side, letting him into the apartment. His gaze swept over the living room before he turned on his heel to face her. She shut the door.
“It’s late.” She crossed her hands over her chest, knowing the action pushed her breasts further outward. Luckily, she’d eaten enough of the rocky road, it wasn’t in danger of slipping out of the now tilted bowl.
“I know.” He raked his hand through his hair. “I shouldn’t have blown you off so easily.” He let out a gust of air.
“Okay…” she pressed.
“I didn’t like seeing you with Tony. He’s too young and inexperienced. And you are too impulsive,” he added, pointing a finger at her chest.
She arched a brow.
“You need someone with a stronger hand. Someone who knows what the hell he’s doing.” His voice turned ragged with need and desire.
She grinned at the prospect. “Someone like you?”
“Yes…no.” He took a deep breath. “If you’re going to go exploring, I’d rather be the one to show you around.” His expression showed hesitation. “I don’t want someone like Ted or Tony leading you around.”
“So, you want to be my tour guide?” Her question was more sincere than her tone implied, but the excitement of having him standing in front of her, offering her any sort of lead into the world she sought had her giddy.
“Well, if you want to call it that.” His smile reached his eyes, and he visibly relaxed. The sight left her own body easing from the tense state he seemed to be causing with his accusations. “But there are rules.”
“I would assume so.” She unfolded her arms and put the ice cream bowl on the coffee table. “Do you want something to drink? Are you hungry?” She pointed toward the kitchen. “I can make you a sandwich.”
“No, thanks. I have to get back to the club.” He took two strides toward her, leaving only a sliver of space between them. “I didn’t want to wait until morning to see you.”
“You thought Tony was here, and you wanted to save me again,” she spoke softly.
“In a way.” He shrugged and ran his knuckle along her jawline, creating tingles on her skin. “I don’t like sharing.” His fingers grasped her chin and tilted it upward.
She braced herself for a deep, lingering, passionate kiss. The warmth of his lips brushed over hers then disappeared. The low rumble of his chuckle had her eyes flying open to meet his.
He was grinning at her. “First lesson is patience.” He kissed the tip of her nose and released her.
“I am patient,” she promised, knowing full well it was a lie.
“Hmmm…maybe the first lesson should be in honesty.” The firmness in his stare counteracted the sly smile on his lips. “You must always be truthful with me.” His warm breath washed over her, his face remaining so close to hers.
She swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond without her voice cracking. He saved her from herself.
“I have to get back. The club doesn’t close for another three hours. Are you free tomorrow?” he asked, stepping away from her.
“Yeah. I lead a study group from ten to noon, but otherwise, I’m free.”
“Good. Don’t make any other plans. When I send for you, you’re to get in a cab and come straight to my apartment. No delays, no dallying, no excuses.”
“You’ll need my number,” she replied, walking him to the door.
“I have it. Club file.” He grinned at her and opened the door.
“Why didn’t you call then, instead of coming all the way out here?”
He leaned in and kissed her cheek quickly then gave her a wink. “Because I didn’t want to. Tomorrow.” He walked away and bounded down the stairs of the building.
She waited until she heard the main lobby door close before going back into her apartment.
The daze she felt didn’t fade until she was nestled u
nder the covers of her bed. She’d set her alarm, but her mind raced toward the possibilities of the afternoon.
Chapter 8
Sunlight ravaged Kendrick's bedroom. In his exhaustion of the early morning return from the club, he'd neglected to shut his curtains. Rather than close them and try to gain a few extra moments of sleep, he decided to shower and get ready for the day.
Kelly was in her tutoring session until noon. He had at least an hour before he would think of texting her.
The first lesson was patience, he'd told her. Who was being taught here? he thought to himself as he once again checked the time on his phone.
Set on not contacting her until well after one, he donned his workout gear and went for a long jog.
Running along the lakeshore on a Saturday morning didn't provide Kendrick with the solitude he wanted. Other runners and bikers were sprinkled on the path, making him dodge as he went on his way.
His thoughts easily drifted to Kelly.
He'd promised himself he would not be party to bringing her into his lifestyle. His plans to dissuade her from any more experiments or field trips had vanished when she'd walked away from him at the club. She was determined, and it drove him mad. The sight of her with the newbie had made him rethink his original position. She would be entering his world with or without his guidance, and the idea of the new pup touching her in any way sent angry shivers down Kendrick's spine.
If he hadn't been short a man at the club and Sam taking his sweet ass time on his break, he would have gotten to her sooner.
Once it was clear to leave, he'd gone straight to her apartment only to find it dark. No answer to the bell. Giving way to thoughts of all the horrible things that could have been happening to her, he'd driven to another club close to the Gallant Domination.
She hadn't shown up there, which both relieved and panicked him. If they didn't go to her place or another club, did that mean they'd gone to the newbie's place?
Instead of calling George for the private information on the new club member, Kendrick decided to swing back to her apartment. A massive amount of pressure dissolved in his chest when he saw the lights on.
He had already resolved to protect her from the newbies and arrogant Doms, but this immense relief of finding her safe and untouched sealed his mind about seeing her privately—intimately.
Her strong interior impressed him. She would bend to his will. He knew it was what she already desired. She sought out a piece of herself she didn't fully understand yet. He had been in a similar situation before.
Elizabeth.
She'd come into his life effortlessly. She'd been the new barista at the coffee shop he frequented. After a few months, she knew his drink, and he knew where she hid her vibrator. He introduced her to his kinks and his life. She took to it as easily as she'd slipped into his heart.
But like most romances, things dulled. She no longer yearned for his whip or his approval. She craved the attention of others. She wanted to be lent out to other Doms at the clubs, but he wasn’t the sharing kind. The parting was mutual and respectful on both sides.
He'd seen her with other Dominants at the Gallant Domination, and although he missed her moans and her smile, he'd found himself happy for her. She was finding herself and he was honored to have brought her to this place in her life.
All of that went away after Ted slithered into her life.
Kelly wasn't Elizabeth, though. She was stronger, and she already knew the dangers of men like Ted. He hadn't been able to stop Elizabeth from getting hurt, but he could prevent Kelly from seeking attention from the wrong men.
The fact he found her sexy in both body and mind didn't bother him in the least. He knew better than to think any relationship with her could result in a long-term commitment, but he was drawn to her.
His thoughts wandered to the diamond-shaped birthmark, and he picked up the pace of his run.
It was after noon; she should be home from her tutoring session.
Chapter 9
Maintaining focus during the tutoring session with her chemistry students had never been such work before. Kelly kept one eye on the clock the entire meeting, convinced the hands were purposely moving slower than usual.
When the last of the students gathered their books and headed out of the classroom, Kelly swiped up her purse and ran for the train. Her cell had no reception in the underground tunnels of the subway, so she didn't bother staring at it.
She rushed from the train and bolted up the stairs to the main street. Pulling her phone from her bag, she checked for any incoming messages. Nothing.
She shoved it back into its pocket with a huff and headed to her apartment. She allowed herself one more peek before heading upstairs—again nothing.
After grabbing a bottle of water and sitting at her kitchen table, she picked up the phone again.
She stomped her foot and growled her frustration as the phone showed only the time.
Two hours after getting home from her tutoring class, her phone finally buzzed on the coffee table.
Kelly's heart sped up and her stomach twisted with a nervousness. She’d always longed to relinquish her control, but now that she'd gotten what she'd asked for, she wondered if she had made the right choice.
She sat on her couch, television remote in one hand, ham sandwich in the other, staring at her phone as it nearly vibrated off the table.
The sandwich plopped on the plate as she dropped it to grab her pulsing cell. A quick swipe to unlock the screen, and she was staring at his text—his address and a time frame of twenty minutes.
The cab ride would take ten, which only left her with the other ten to get ready. She rushed to her closet realizing she hadn’t put any thought into what she was going to wear.
Her solution came as she opened the door to her closet.
Kendrick: Blue jeans and a t-shirt. Nothing low-cut.
She stared at her phone for a minute with a crinkled brow. Nothing low-cut? She wasn't even sure she owned anything that didn't display at least a little cleavage.
Exactly seven minutes later she settled herself into the backseat of a cab. She hugged her purse to her well-covered bosom as the driver dodged vehicles and bike riders through the clogged arteries of the city.
The car pulled up the curb in front of Kendrick's building, giving her exactly two minutes to take the elevator up to his apartment. She threw her money on the cab driver's lap and bolted from the car, leaving a generous tip in her haste.
The door to Kendrick's apartment swung open as she stepped onto the doormat. Greeting her with a warm smile, he gave an approving glance at her shirt.
The only top she owned meeting his requirement was a Twisted Sister t-shirt an ex had left behind long ago.
Kendrick moved out of the way and motioned for her to enter.
Too nervous to stand still, she began to admire the artwork on the walls of the foyer. She hadn't taken the time to notice during her last hasty visit.
The black and white photographs hanging in the hallway depicted different architectural angles of the city. They were beautiful.
"Kelly, come here." His voice pulled her away from a photo of the skyline at dusk.
She spun on her heel and went back to the door, where he had stayed.
"It's not polite to enter someone's house and start snooping without at least greeting them." The tone of his voice was firm, but the volume remained low and controlled.
The blood in her face dropped, and she found it difficult to meet his gaze.
"I'm sorry,” she said softly. How embarrassing. She took a deep breath to recover then flashed him a wide smile. "Hello." There. Strong and confident.
"That's better." A grin crept on to his face, a small crease appearing next to it—the spot she so desperately wanted to kiss. "Thank you for being on time. I don’t like to be kept waiting." He rested his hands on her shoulders and pulled her to him, placing a kiss on her forehead.
"Me neither." She hoped her voice didn't
sound as desperate to him as it did to her own ears.
"What were you doing when you got my text?" he asked, turning from her and heading down the hall, gesturing for her to follow him.
"Watching TV," she answered.
"Did you eat yet?" he asked, leading her to the living room.
"Yeah." She stood beside an ottoman, as he walked to the windows to angle the blinds. The afternoon sun shone brightly into the room.
"Yes," he corrected.
She tilted her head.
"I don't like the word 'yeah'. The answer is either yes or no. Never ‘yeah,’" he instructed from the windows.
"Oh…Okay."
"Sit." He gestured toward the ottoman.
She did as she was told, crossing her ankles and placing her hands in her lap.
"How did the tutoring session go?" he asked, taking a seat on the couch near her. His arms draped over the back, and his right foot rested on his left knee. He was so relaxed, while she was a large bundle of nerves waiting to implode.
"Good. The students lead the group themselves. I'm just there in case they need help or to use some of the lab equipment." She had to focus to keep her voice from wavering. She was having trouble remaining casual—a first for her. Usually, firm and fierce came easy to her.
"What do you teach?"
"Chemistry mostly. This term I did take on a biology course as well." She fidgeted on the ottoman, attempting to find a more comfortable position.
"You're a science buff." He grinned. "Smart."
"Science is logical. It makes sense. There's almost always an exact answer to a question, and if there isn't, there will be once more studies have been done. It’s always controlled and precise."
"Do you like control?" His question felt heavy, full of unsaid words she worried would strangle her answer.
"I guess it depends on the situation. In the classroom, I have to be in control or nothing will be achieved." His smile widened slightly. Had her explanation pleased him? What were the correct answers here?
"And what about with your friends?" he pushed.