She snorted as she grabbed her handbag. “No. Just an old, umm, acquaintance.”
Saxon frowned lightly, giving her a quelling glance that had her instantly feeling guilty, but she didn’t elaborate and he nodded before opening the door.
She pulled it closed behind her then with a light blush, took his offered arm.
Chapter Four
Laken leaned back with a sigh. “I am stuffed. It was all so good.”
She hadn’t eaten this well in a long time. She’d never had the money when she was studying, then once she’d started working… Well, Ricky had always been on a diet, so they’d never gone out to eat. Not that he was a large man—in fact, he was about the same size she was. But what calories he did take in wer
e usually in liquid form and Laken didn’t like eating out alone.
She glanced around, scarcely able to believe that she was sitting on Joel Saxon’s terrace, his pool glistening to the left of them. To her right, French doors led into his large house. She’d always thought that he lived in his club. But instead of entering the club, he’d taken her around the back to a private entrance and into his magnificent house, which was surrounded by a thick cluster of trees.
Saxon smiled as he leaned back in his chair, a glass of red wine in his hand. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Laken picked up her own glass of wine, looking down into the deep, red drink
Dirty whore. You like that, don’t you?
She swallowed heavily, pushing away the memory.
“I’d love to know what that thought was,” Saxon said casually.
She glanced up, meeting his sharp, green gaze.
Laken sent him what she hoped was a confident smile. “A girl’s got to have some secrets.”
“Maybe,” he agreed, and she relaxed a little. “But a sub shouldn’t keep anything that upsets her from her Dom. It’s his duty to take care of her, and to do that he needs to know what haunts her.”
She gaped at him. “But you’re not my Dom.”
He swirled the rich, red liquid in his glass. “Would you like me to be?”
“Joel, you’d eat me up and spit me out.” And he would. Duncan, despite the fact that he could be blunt and gruff, had an amazing amount of patience. Saxon would be a whole different ballgame. She had no doubt he would want total control.
Instead of being insulted, he laughed. “I promise, honey, that if I were ever to eat you that I would never be so crass as to spit. Oh no, I would most definitely savor the taste.”
A wave of heat filled her blood as she stared at him, unable to look away. Was he serious? He was joking, right? Surely he wasn’t talking about…
Saxon chuckled. “Ahh, the look on your face is adorable. I love a woman who blushes. So many subs are jaded. Not you, my darling Laken. However, I can see I’ve overwhelmed you, so perhaps that is enough for today. I’m sure you must have some work to do?”
She nodded, suddenly finding herself without any words, not a normal occurrence for her. Saxon just smiled and moved his chair back.
“Excuse me, Sir.” The gray-haired man who had served them lunch appeared in the doorway, an apologetic look on his face.
“Yes, Thomas?”
“There are two gentlemen here to see you. Eli and Kellan Jones.”
Duncan’s two older brothers? What would they be here to see Saxon about?
She glanced over at Saxon with interest. His forehead creased into a frown. Obviously he hadn’t been expecting the two men.
“Sorry to interrupt your cozy lunch,” a raspy voice said. Two large men appeared behind Thomas. They stepped around Thomas who was scowling at them. They’d probably been told to wait in the foyer. However, if they were anything like Duncan then they were no doubt stubborn and tenacious—they wouldn’t be satisfied with waiting for what they wanted. They’d do what was necessary to make sure they got what they wanted.
“As you can see I don’t have time to talk to you gentleman,” Saxon said smoothly, although Laken thought she heard just a hint of annoyance in his tone.
“Come on, Saxon,” the same one spoke again. She didn’t know them very well, but she thought he was Eli. He ran his gaze over Laken in interest. “You wouldn’t speak to us last night because you were working. You’re not working now.”