Bared (11 page)

“I’m sure they are making a mess.”

Cora laughed as Sandy-Lynn gave her a wave and left her office.

Too bad for Cora her mess wasn’t something so easily picked up and put back together. With thoughts of Aidan on her mind, she left the office and got back on the road. At a few minutes past nine o’clock, Cora drove through Club Sin’s wrought-iron gates and headed up the cobblestone driveway.

When she spotted Aidan’s motorcycle resting near the front entrance, she heaved a sigh and parked next to him. She cut the ignition and stared at Club Sin, which was also Dmitri and Presley’s home. The Georgian-style mansion with its red brick, black shutters, and white pillars stood proud on its large plot. Set back from the road, private from the lives of others, the club offered much consolation to many people.

After a deep, long breath, she exited the car. Her muscles twitched with each step as she approached the house. When she reached the dark hardwood front door, she swept her hand through her curled hair before she turned the door handle.

Her gaze settled on the huge balcony that curved the entire upper floor and the grand wooden staircase. Cora wrapped her arms around herself as she took it all in. From the art on the walls to the decorative pieces, the home exuded wealth.

Lucky Presley.

Cora wiped her feet on the mat in the foyer and inhaled the citrus scent coming from the kitchen. As she headed down the long, wide hallway, she strode by an oval-shaped dining room, and then continued on past Dmitri’s home office.

Her mind raced with thoughts of tonight and of Aidan. Would he be back to his normal self? Would he have forgotten about what he saw in her eyes? Her skin prickled as she reached the end of the hallway. She journeyed down the basement steps and her breath caught as the stone walls led her to the dungeon’s door.

She wrapped her hand around the handle, chewing on the side of her lip. He came to her house today—did that mean he was finally opening himself up to her? Did he finally see that all of this was simply because she loved him?

Did he finally want to move past Lily?

When she entered the dungeon, the sounds of erotic pleasure washed over her in
seductive waves. Her muscles loosened and she shut her eyes, basking in the low hum coursing through her veins.

“Hi, you,” Presley said.

Cora snapped open her eyes, discovering Presley wearing a beautiful mauve-and-silver corset and dark silver boy-cut underwear. Her long, dirty-blond hair flowed over her shoulder with a slight curl at the ends. “Hi, sweets.”

Presley’s gaze searched Cora’s before her brow wrinkled. “Still doing okay?”

“Oh my God, stop asking that. I’m not dead or holed up in my house.” Cora squeezed Presley’s arm. “I’m fine.”

Presley gave a tight laugh with a crisp nod. “Okay, okay, I’ll stop asking.” Though her smooth, placating voice indicated she didn’t believe Cora.

Cora added, “Just so happens, I booked off Tuesday and Wednesday to veg on the couch, so life is great.”

“Lucky you, I’m jealous.” Presley grinned. “Well, I wanted to say hello, but I better get back to Master Dmitri. Come find me later, okay?”

“Okeydokey,” Cora replied, ignoring Presley’s concern.

Their worry will pass
.

As Presley hurried away, Cora removed her jeans and blouse. She placed them on the bench by the door, leaving her in the lingerie she’d purchased earlier—black lace, boy-cut underwear, and matching shelf bra. The warm air brushed across her flesh, causing her nipples to pucker.

She scanned the dungeon, and in seconds she found Master Aidan leaning against the far wall, watching her every move. By the slight curve to his mouth, she was sure he’d seen her enter the club.

His hooded eyelids indicated he approved of her attire.

When she approached and settled in front of him, she inhaled his woodsy scent. His smoldering gaze regarded her from head to toe. Moisture slid into her expensive panties and she squeezed her thighs together, easing the ache his stare caused. She yearned for those sinful looks to turn into hot-as-hell touches.

More than anything, she craved to fall into his command. She needed
him
. She wanted him to take her out of her mind and to quiet her thoughts. She was desperate to forget that he
didn’t keep her at a distance and touch her without restraint. Her insides quivered to lose herself in the safety of his hold, to experience nothing but pleasure. He held his hands loosely behind his back, and with a strong posture, he circled her.

Under his examination, Cora’s mouth dried and body flared with a seductive burn. Master Aidan slid his fingers over her skin from hip to hip, and she shivered. Her mind raced with images of his fingers touching her wet and warm places.

His finger slid up her spine and the heat of his body radiated against her. Cora’s mouth parted with a soft sigh. The study of a Dom wasn’t a quick, passionate fuck like a one-night stand. It was a slow, sensual regard, a deciding of what to do with his submissive for the evening. Every touch, each look, and the seconds within that dance made her ache with desire.

He
made her feel special, as if no other woman mattered but her in this moment. That she was a woman worthy of such devotion. As if she held a power so heady that could command all of his focus. Within one moment, Aidan owned her, yet she owned him all the same.

When he returned to her front, he slid her hair off her shoulder and dragged his finger along her arm. Her eyes fluttered closed as one touch, so simply made, seemed like a direct assault to her hormones.

“Beautiful,” he murmured.

At his low voice, Cora opened her eyes and spotted the flare of dominance in his stormy gaze. A tremor slid through her, pulsating in her lower half. “Thank you, sir.” Her gaze drifted over him in his black T-shirt and jeans. “You’re …” She winked. “You’re so damn sexy, sir.”

He chuckled, deep and low. “I’m glad you think so.” Leaning in toward her, his scent consumed her and increased the hard thud in her chest. “Even happier you’re
this
aroused.” He dropped his hand and softness reached his gaze. “Do you trust me, Cora?”

With lightness in her limbs, she smiled.
Thank you, Jesus
, he wasn’t asking unnerving questions.
Good
. He got the hint.
Let’s play!
“You know I do, sir.”

A visible flush crept over his cheeks, and his expression became stony. “Please keep that trust in mind.”

When a flicker of movement caught her eye, her heart dropped into the pit of her stomach. Cora blinked, and then blinked again. She remained rooted on the spot as Porter approached with wide steps and swagger. His hazel eyes held hers, and in khaki pants and a white T-shirt, Porter looked lethal.

When he reached her, he gave his mischievous grin. “Hello, Cora.”

“Err …” She blinked twice. “Hi.”

Her thoughts spun wildly out of control, and she battled the haziness to understand why the hell he was here, with Aidan. Had Porter joined Club Sin? Why hadn’t he told her that on the phone?
Wait … he said he was going to Chains
. “What are you doing here?”

Porter examined her as if looking deep into her soul. “Got a visitor’s pass.”

Her nose scrunched. “I didn’t think Master Dmitri gave visitor passes?”

He shrugged. “He does now.”

One answer told her everything she needed. All her hopeful thoughts crashed and burned; nothing had changed. Aidan wasn’t seeing the problem within himself. He thought it was about Porter.

She turned to Master Aidan and her mouth slackened. In the depths of his gaze, a truth shined through: He’d brought Porter to Club Sin to comfort her. While part of her hated him for it since he was still so blind, his action also warmed her, exactly why she couldn’t walk away.

Deep down, Aidan was a good man.

He hadn’t demanded information from her, nor had he forgotten her pain. He’d done what a loving friend would do: He brought a person that she’d indicated had been part of her pain in her past and forced the confrontation to help her.

Dear God, a Dom had gone to another Dom for help. Wasn’t that unheard of? This single action spoke to Aidan’s worry, and how much he undeniably cared about her. Only problem? It still wasn’t enough.

He wasn’t facing
his
pain. He was only trying to deal with hers.

Tears welled in her eyes before she could control them. She parted her lips and only a soft breath of air escaped. Master Aidan brushed a finger over her cheek, his gaze focused and attentive. “Catch up with Porter. I’ll return to you soon.”

His voice was devoid of emotion, utterly deadpan, making her heart drop. With a grave expression, he strode away. Time stopped.
No, stay
. Cora gripped her middle, rocking slightly on her feet as she turned to Porter. “Did Aidan ask you to talk to me?”

“He’s worried.” Porter’s genuine smile cut through the ice invading her. “So let’s talk.”

Cora followed Porter to the couch near the entrance and her stomach churned. When would Aidan see
her
and the truth staring him in the face? She crumbled down next to Porter,
gripping her middle in hopes she wouldn’t vomit.

When Porter turned to her, regarding her, she rubbed her hands over her face. She knew a truth she didn’t want to accept. Aidan must have gone to Chains to seek Porter out, which meant he’d returned to the place he played with Lily. God, she couldn’t even imagine what memories that had brought him.

She wanted him to get over his pain, not drown in it.

With nausea setting in, she dropped her hands and curled her legs underneath her. Looking to Porter, she noticed the creases around his eyes. Somehow three years had made him distinguished. He appeared wiser, even more authoritative than she remembered. While they talked mostly through e-mails, chats, and once in a while got together for dinner, she hadn’t seen Porter in a nearly a year.

Now, sitting next to him, it seemed as if no time had passed at all. She inhaled, scenting the same citrus cologne he always wore. Where Presley was her best friend, Porter was the male version. They just got each other. She felt safe with Porter. More important, she knew without a doubt he’d always have her back.

His presence now spoke to that level of friendship. Aidan might’ve asked Porter to come tonight, but Cora knew he wasn’t doing it for Aidan. He loved Cora, and hearing she might have been in trouble brought him here.

That concern stormed through the depths of his eyes.

He leaned against the couch, lacing his hands behind his head. “How’s your family?”

“My parents are good—retired and relaxing.” Small talk, she hated it, and she shifted uncomfortably against the leather. She also knew why he was doing it—he was taking some time to get a read on her. “Cassandra is on her third kid and living a very vanilla life.”

Porter snorted, laughing. “Does your sister still live in Vegas with her very vanilla husband?”

Cora nodded. “Yup.”

The hard rock song drifted through the speakers, as the shock of what Aidan had done smacked her like a hard brick. Porter likely thought she had issues with him, and that was never anything she wanted.

She stared at her ex-Dom, who studied her closely. Under his stare, memories surfaced. He had taught her so much about BDSM, and about what it truly meant to submit to a man. Hell,
he had laid out the foundation of the submissive she was today.

By the hard set of Porter’s gaze, and the confidence all but oozing out of him, Cora figured he’d become more experienced in the three years they’d been apart. To her, it was as if she stared at a Club Sin Master, a well-trained Dom, educated in all things BDSM. One who knew how to handle a submissive, even a sassy one like Cora.

Porter had always said, “A weak man can’t handle a submissive like you, Cora. A strong Dom knows exactly how to make you surrender.” And she always submitted, every single time. No glares and smart mouth had worked on him, nor do they work on Aidan.

The difference between the two Doms? Porter’s touch never had the effect of Aidan’s; they didn’t shake the foundation of her world. His expression didn’t freeze time, and his mastery didn’t make her nearly as heated. In Aidan’s command, Cora discovered something deeper, something powerful.

Something she allowed herself to be hurt over, because she couldn’t get enough.

Porter tilted his head, and whatever crossed her expression had him clearing his throat. “What’s going on, Cora? Aidan is worried about you.”

What have I done? How have I caused this?

It was all getting too personal, too close to a truth she didn’t want to admit. She curtained her face with her hair and dropped her chin to her chest. “Thank you for coming to see me. Honestly, it’s all very sweet.” She looked to him, spotting an ugly twist forming at his mouth. “There’s no need to worry. I’m okay.”

“Lies, Cora. Lies.” Porter gave a quick, disgusted snort. “When did all this lying start?”

She remembered that tone all too well. Her fingers tightened into fists. She had quite enough of being forced to talk about something she didn’t want to talk about. “Can’t a woman feel things without nosy Doms poking around?”

“Doms who are acting out of concern,” he offered gently.

She raised her eyebrows. “Coming from one of those nosy Doms.”

“Ah, at least the sass hasn’t changed.” Porter stroked his chin, regarding her. “Speak to the problem, Cora. It’s not like you to hide.” His chin dipped, lowering his gaze to hers. “I’m not here to interrogate you. I came because I deserve answers to settle my mind.”

“Answers that are none of your business, since, news flash, you are no longer my Dom,” she retorted with a scowl. “Answers that I don’t want to give. Answers to a nonexistent freaking
problem.”

He frowned. “Being defensive does not look good on you.”

Cora murmured a curse beneath her breath and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I’m done explaining myself. If I have to say I am fine once more, I’m going to deck the next person who makes me say it.”

“Note taken.” Porter chuckled. His eyes danced as he raised his hands in surrender. “I won’t make you say that.”