Monroe, Marla - Their Reluctant Submissive [Knights in Black Leather 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (5 page)

Patti wrapped up her purchases and suggested coming back soon to look over the new line of gowns that would be arriving in a couple of weeks. After promising to return soon, Kelly slipped out the door as a tall man walked in. He nodded at her but didn’t touch her. She hurried down the sidewalk toward the next building.

Although the stranger hadn’t addressed her, other than to nod in her direction, she couldn’t help but feel a little bit uncomfortable. He had the air of someone used to being in charge, a Dom, which was how she viewed all men like that. Perkins City seemed to have an overabundance of the type. Of course the fact that they had a local BDSM club in the area should have been warning of that.

Shaking off the urge to return home, she was determined to finish shopping. She still needed at least two outfits for work to ensure that she would be able to dress warmly when the weather changed.

The next store she entered seemed to be right up her alley. It sported nice clothes with reasonable prices suitable for working at the shop. The outfit she’d bought from Stacey would be a nice one for going somewhere special, but she wouldn’t wear it to work unless they were having something special like an open house of sorts.

She had just finished checking out with three outfits she could mix and match when someone walked up behind her and hugged her. She jerked back and turned around.

“Hey! Have you had lunch yet?” Anna grinned at her. “Steve said he saw you out shopping earlier.”

“Oh! No. I haven’t. I was thinking about heading over to the diner.” Kelly swallowed, trying to calm her racing heart. The other woman had startled her.

“That sounds like a great idea. Let’s go. I just got finished getting a mani-pedi and don’t feel like going back home yet.”

Kelly followed Anna back down the street and across to the diner. It was right at one so most of the lunch crowd had finished and left by then. They took a booth near the front of the building and ordered their drinks.

“Did you buy a swim suit?” Anna’s question confused her at first. Then she remembered the party.

“No. I doubt I would need one anytime soon with fall approaching. I’ll look at getting one next year.”

“If you got one now, you could come over to Steve’s and swim with me when I go. It’s no fun sitting out by the pool alone or with just them.” Anna’s frown tugged at her heart.

“I’ll have to see if I can find anything left in my size that I like.” She didn’t have the heart to tell her she really couldn’t afford to buy one yet.

“So what’s going on with you and the Callahans? They really seemed interested in you at the party.”

Kelly inwardly groaned. She really didn’t want to talk about them. “Nothing.”

“They kissed you like you were the last woman on earth, Kelly. Don’t try and say it’s nothing. I saw you when I walked outside to get in my car. Have you heard from them since then?”

“No, and I don’t think I will. I’m not interested in a relationship right now.”

“I don’t understand. They are two of the best men here and would treat you great. Are you worried about their being Doms?”

Kelly felt her mouth drop open but was spared from having to answer because the waitress returned with their drinks and to take their lunch order. She mulled over how to answer Anna’s question without being rude. She honestly liked the other girl, and she was Steve’s sister.

“Anna, I’m really not looking to date anyone right now. Even if I were to start, I wouldn’t want to date anyone who is into the lifestyle.”

“Why not? I mean you are a submissive, right? Steve seems to think you are.”

Kelly cringed inside. She hadn’t said anything to her boss about her preferences, but the fact that he was a Dom meant that he would have been able to pick up on her submissive tendencies even though she was trying to overcome them. He was well aware that she wasn’t looking to date anyone by the number of men she had turned down over the last few months.

“I used to be a submissive, but I don’t want that kind of life anymore. I didn’t like it. I just want to be me now. Do you understand?”

Anna bit her lower lip and nodded, but Kelly could tell the other woman didn’t really. If she was happy with her life, then she wouldn’t understand someone else’s need to get out of it. She didn’t have a clue how to explain it to her either. She had no intentions of sharing her history. It was still too fresh in her mind.

Anna seemed to realize she wasn’t going to discuss it any further because she changed the subject and they talked about the new styles in the stores. She was glad she had just finished shopping so she actually could talk about it. It occurred to her that she really didn’t have much experience with making small talk. Her Master had kept he fairly secluded, so she hadn’t gotten to talk much with other submissives unless they were at the club. Then most of the conversations had centered on club gossip or what their Masters were doing.

The waitress returned with their meals, and conversation slowed down as they ate. Anna talked about some of the other women she knew around town and offered to introduce her to some of them.

“Have you been to Desire yet? It’s the spa where I go.” Anna’s obvious excitement about the place filled her voice. Even her eyes lit up.

“Um, no. I’ve never heard of it.”

“Oh, you have to schedule a session on your next day off. They treat you like a princess, and you feel so good when you get finished.”

“I’m not much on spas, Anna. I do my own nails.”

“But it’s about pampering yourself more than getting your nails done. We have to make it a girl’s day out one day. We can invite Dixie and have a blast!”

Kelly just smiled and went along with her. She was too embarrassed to tell her she couldn’t afford to. She would have other plans when they set it up. She was so busy poking at her salad that she nearly missed Anna’s frantic expression. When she looked up at her friend, she knew it was too late to do anything about it. A large hand settled over her shoulder, and the unmistakable scent of the two men she had hoped not to see today filled her senses.

Chapter Five

“Hello, Anna, Kelly. Mind if we join you?” Jackson couldn’t resist approaching the table once he saw that Kelly was there.

He and Marx had been picking up some feed when they decided to get a cup of coffee and a piece of pie. To his surprise, Marx had spotted the two women the moment they stepped inside the diner. They sat down despite the frown Kelly gave them. He just grinned and settled in.

After the waitress took their orders, Jackson leaned toward Kelly and rested his arm along the back of the booth. Marx had taken the side with Anna and kept his hands to himself.

“What are you lovely ladies doing today?” Jackson asked.

“We were just grabbing a late lunch,” Anna answered when it was obvious that Kelly wasn’t going to.

He watched the other woman frown at Kelly and had to suppress a smile. He wound his fingers in Kelly’s hair, tugging gently on it as Anna continued to talk. It was obvious that she didn’t appreciate Kelly clamming up on her. He decided to poke at his pouting princess.

“Kelly, Marx and I want to take you out Saturday night. How about we pick you up at seven for dinner.”

Her head jerked up and around to stare at him. She had to hold her tongue until the waitress finished serving their pie and coffee. She didn’t hold off on the evil eye though.

“No. I appreciate the offer, but I already have plans,” she finally said through clenched teeth.

Marx grinned across the table at her. “Didn’t Steve tell you that he needed you to help display some of his things?”

Jackson had to struggle to keep from chuckling at the shocked expression that crossed her face. He had no doubt that Steve had already asked her to work. He was proud of her jewelry designs and was hoping to expand that aspect of his business. Having the artist and craftsperson there would be a great opportunity to garner more interest and perhaps even some custom requests.

“Oh! That’s right. I forgot all about the open house at the club Saturday! I knew Steve planned for you to help him with it but forgot about it. Is that what the new outfit is for?” Anna’s excitement about the upcoming event didn’t seem to bleed over to Kelly though.

“What club?” Kelly asked staring at Anna.

“Golden Shackles. It’s their annual open house where different artisans can showcase their work. It’s a huge event every year. We get people from all over Texas and even some of the bordering states who come for the weekend.”

“Steve didn’t tell me where it was going to be.”

Jackson heard the underlying anger in her voice. He was sure Steve would be hearing from her about the little detail he’d left out concerning Golden Shackles. He didn’t envy the man, but he would sure take advantage of the situation.

“That’s settled then. We’ll pick you up and take you to eat before you have to be there to set up. We better make it five since you’ll need to be there before the doors open at seven.”

“Look at it this way, kitten. If you’re busy working, we can’t bother you nearly as much as if we had you to ourselves the entire night.”

“Stop calling me ‘kitten,’ and I wouldn’t be dealing with you at all because I still wouldn’t have gone out with you two.”

He tugged on her hair once again, and she growled at him. Anna actually giggled then sobered when Kelly glared across the table at her. He loved getting her riled up. She had so much fire in her. He wanted to tap into it and bring out the passion in her. He could see Marx chomping at the bit to touch her. His hands were resting on top of the table next to his now-empty plate.

“I’m finished eating. Anna, thanks for inviting me to lunch, but I better go now. I have a lot to do this afternoon.” She smiled at the other woman then turned a pointed look at him.

“I enjoyed it, too. I’ll see you for sure Saturday if I don’t make it by the store before then,” Anna said.

Marx slid out of the booth to let Anna out as he stood up to give Kelly room to slip free. He tossed several bills on the table to cover the combined tabs and tip.

“Our treat, ladies.” Jackson watched as Kelly fought an inner battle to be gracious with them.

“Thank you. That’s very nice of you.”

Anna smiled her thanks and headed toward the door. When Kelly would have followed, Marx took her bags from her so she would be forced to follow them to retrieve her purchases. They had parked just outside the door, so she wouldn’t have far to fume.

“Can I have my things back now?”

“No, we’ll drive you home. There’s no reason for you to walk carrying all of this when we have the truck sitting right here.” He watched as his brother placed her bags in the back seat of the truck before climbing up in the driver’s seat to wait on them.

Jackson opened the passenger door and indicated she should go first. Kelly didn’t say anything more. Instead, she let him help her up into the cab where she buckled her seat belt and stared straight ahead. No doubt she had planned to go by Heavy Trinkets to give Steve a piece of her mind. The other man owed them for giving him a brief reprieve. He would be sure and let him know that she was on to him the first chance he got.

Nothing was said on the brief trip to her apartment building. As soon as he climbed out of the truck, Kelly was ready to jump down. He stopped her by grasping her at the waist and swinging her to the ground. Without letting go of her, he backed her against the side of the truck and leaned in for a kiss. His cock had long since passed hard and was fast moving toward petrified. If they didn’t get inside of her soon, he was sure he would be permanently stuck that way.

As his lips drifted across hers, Marx walked around the side of the truck carrying her bags. Jackson didn’t want to rush the kiss, but their ultimate goal was to get inside her apartment to see what it looked like on the inside. They had lucked out that she had bought something while shopping they had been able to use as an excuse to carry her home.

He nibbled at her bottom lip before licking across it and pressing harder against her mouth. She opened for him, and he was lost. Wonderful wet heat invited him in to play. His tongue slid alongside hers in a sensual dance that had his balls drawing up in their sack. He wasn’t sure if the moan he heard came from her or from him.

She pulled back and stared up at him looking for all the world like a naughty angel who’d been caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Then she wiped her face free of expression. He could tell she was trying to pretend that she hadn’t felt anything in their kiss, but he knew better. She wasn’t immune to the sharp tingles that had raced from his lips to his dick.

Kelly held out her hand toward Marx. “I can take my things from here. Thank you for the ride home.”

He shook his head and turned and walked toward the building. They knew she lived on the second floor on the corner in building three. He waited for her to follow his brother then made sure to keep right behind her. Marx led the way to the back building and up the stairs. He noted that there wasn’t a lightbulb in the fixture on the landing and made a mental note to be sure her landlord was called.

They stepped aside as she unlocked the door to her apartment, but when she turned to take her things from Marx, they both walked on inside. She huffed out a breath and closed the door behind them. When Jackson turned around, she had her arms crossed, which only served to plump her breasts even higher. The soft mounds peeked out from the V of her blouse. He couldn’t take his eyes off of them.