Well, screw him. She was tired of waiting around for him like a pet dog. This was it. She’d had it. Even if he did turn up, she didn’t plan to be here.
Laken rushed into the bathroom and touched up her make-up before grabbing her bag and heading out the door.
***
Twenty minutes later, Laken stepped off the bus, wobbling in her heels, a combination of alcohol and nerves making her unsteady.
God, she hated taking public transport at night. Duncan would have an absolute fit if he knew she went out. She would be in for one hell of a spanking. It wouldn’t be playful and erotic, but a proper spanking.
Her insides trembled at the thought.
She clenched her butt just thinking about how he would order her to strip, and then place her over his knee. He’d use his hand, or maybe the paddle. Her clit throbbed. This would be a punishment spanking, though, so she wouldn’t be allowed to come.
But she had no choice; she was down to her last ten dollars and couldn’t afford a taxi. She really should have eaten some dinner because she was going to be living on mashed potatoes until her next paycheck.
Stumbling along the broken footpath, she shivered as a cool breeze went right through her threadbare coat. Her promotion couldn’t have come at a better time.
Laken smiled as she remembered how excited her dads had been when she’d told them about her promotion. They were so proud of her. They’d always supported her, no matter what. Laken’s mom had died when she was fifteen, leaving Daniel and Sid Michaels to raise her.
Her dads had been devastated. They had adored their wife. Their relationship wasn’t something people would easily accept outside of Haven. Her home town was very accepting and there were a number of ménage relationships.
It had been a while since she’d been home. She missed her dads. As the only child with two dads, she knew she had been spoiled. Her dads were best friends, but they were closer than that. They’d shared the same wife, raised their daughter and tried to make success of their ranch.
Yeah, maybe it was time for a visit home. Perhaps she could even stop into Phoenix and see Lila. Once she got some money behind her, she’d do exactly that.
By the time Laken had reached the entrance to the private BDSM club she and Duncan often went to, she had sobered up and her temper had faded. She didn’t really want to be here, not without Duncan. What was she thinking? That she would find another Dom? For what end? To make Duncan jealous?
Petty and stupid. There was no one for her but Duncan. She loved him. But, she was here now. Another bus wouldn’t be along for thirty minutes and she was freezing. Maybe she’d go in and warm up. Then she’d leave.
***
A few hours later Laken stumbled out of the club. She’d met up with a few friends, other subs. A few Dom’s had tried to approach her, but they hadn’t made it very far. The regulars all knew who she was, and despite the fact that she didn’t wear a collar, they knew who she belonged to.
Duncan.
She truly didn’t want anyone but Duncan. What made submitting so special to her was, it was Duncan who she was surrendering herself to. She trusted him to care for her, to treasure her, to put her first.
She had to resort to a bit of trickery to leave the club on her own. Right now, she wanted to be alone. The longer she spent watching how happy all her friends were, the more she’d wished Duncan were with her.
Taking off the way she had tonight wouldn’t solve anything. She needed to grow up and approach this maturely. Talk to him. She should tell him what she needed from him.
Laken stumbled her way towards the bus stop, trying to walk swiftly down dark, empty streets. Those cocktails at the club hadn’t been her best idea, but she hadn’t been able to turn them down when they were offered.
Yep, she was going to go home, get some sleep, and then tackle the problem of Duncan tomorrow.
She stumbled forward and someone grabbed her arm, steadying her.
“Shit,” she squealed as the firm hand pulled her up, saving her from landing heavily on the pavement. As she turned to thank the person, a heavy fist slammed into the side of her head. Pain surged through her with an intensity that stole her breath. Her knees gave way as her vision went blurred around the edges.
Stunned, she fought the blackness that threatened to engulf her as she was dragged along the ground. She struggled to get her feet underneath her, to take a deep breath to scream.
Another blow landed. Agony engulfed her. Her insides trembled and she knew nothing.
Chapter One
Three years later
Laken awoke with a gasp, sweat pouring off her skin as her body shook with deep tremors. She took slow breaths, trying to calm her racing heart. Pushing back the bed covers, she sat on the side of the bed, her head held in her hands as she slumped over.