Her jaw dropped open. He couldn’t . . . he wouldn’t . . . he’d never . . .
“You’d come without me?”
There was a snicker from behind her, and she turned to see a Domme and her sub standing behind her, clearly listening in. Another couple stopped close by.
Wonderful. They were attracting an audience.
“She is an innocent, isn’t she, Sloan?” The Domme asked. “Wherever did you find her?”
Kinley didn’t like the hungry way the Domme looked at her, as though she were sizing her up for the pot. Actually, with her large, crooked nose and dressed all in black she looked a little like the witch from Hansel and Gretel.
Getting off topic here, Kinley.
She turned back to Sloan, who was frowning at the Domme.
“I don’t share, Sharon.”
Sharon. Huh, she looked like her name ought to be Esmerelda or Desdemona, not Sharon.
“Too bad. She looks so sweet. A little older than I prefer, but I’d make an exception.”
Considering the female sub at the Domme’s feet looked no older than eighteen, Kinley figured she was a lot older than the Domme was interested in.
Sloan ignored the other woman, so Kinley did too. He turned that dark gaze back to her.
“Darlin’, you’ve never been properly punished before, have you?”
She thought she had. “You’ve spanked me lots.”
He snorted. “Love pats.”
Love pats? Seriously? Son of a goat. She scowled at him.
“And don’t give me that look, or I’ll continue your punishment tomorrow as well.”
She quickly schooled her face so no hint of a frown showed. She even managed a smile.
He tapped one finger against her lips. “That’s better. Not that there’s going to be much for you to smile about.”
Doomed. She was doomed.
4
Damn, she amused him. She made him smile. Not an easy feat. Before he’d met Kinley, he hadn’t felt like smiling much, not after Sarah had died.
He pushed the thought of her out of his head. She didn’t belong here. Not right now. Not when all his energy should be focussed on Kinley. His sub.
He hadn’t intended to take another sub permanently. But Kinley was special. Since the moment he’d seen her across the room at that god-awful party he’d just known he had to have her. She was so different from the other woman he’d been with since Sarah’s death. There was something about her that was fresh and innocent. She was open and honest, she wouldn’t know how to deceive, and he trusted her.
It surprised him. Trust didn’t come easily to him. Not since he’d been betrayed by the person he’d trusted most in this world.
But Kinley was different.
So why don’t you make her fully yours? His stomach tightened at the thought.
He’d seen the look in her eyes as she watched him sometimes. Knew she felt deeply for him. Kinley didn’t go into things lightly. As far as he knew, she’d only had one serious relationship. And while he didn’t know all the facts, because the last thing he wanted was to think of her with someone else, he knew it hadn’t ended well. The stupid bastard had cheated on her.
Who would throw away someone as amazing and wonderful and kind as Kinley? She’s too good for you.