Spike stood by the door, his lips already back to bare his teeth, but he didn’t bark. He was the sort of dog to wait until someone got close before he bit—no warnings.
Another knock, then a familiar voice called out, “Sunny? You home?”
Kat?The woman from the club that first night?
Sunny undid the multitude of locks before cracking the door open. For some reason, she expected to find Kat standing there in fetish gear.
It was a stupid expectation—she knew the woman wouldn’t walk around town like that—but somehow seeing Kat in brown slacks and a professional-looking button-up shirt felt weird.
“Yes?” Sunny knew her voice came out rude, but she couldn’t quite put together how the woman had gotten there or why she’d come.
Kat lifted two cups of coffee. “I come bearing gifts. Can I come in?”
Sunny wanted to say no. Not because she didn’t like the woman—she actually did—but more because it felt like another line she hadn’t intended to cross. She’d never planned on allowing people into her home, yet Connor, Garrison and Trent had been there. She hadn’t planned on falling for anyone yet—
She cut off that thought before it could fully form, chastising herself for even starting it.I’m not falling for anyone, and certainly not them.
Sunny ended up stepping back and opening the door to let Kat in. The woman had been nice, and she really hadn’t had a friend who wasn’t connected to the shelter in…
The math became too hard, so Sunny left it at ‘a long time’.
Kat handed over one of the cups, and when Sunny smelled it, she got a good whiff of brown sugar and cinnamon. Kat was a woman not afraid of calories. A quick laugh, and Kat switched the cups, taking the sugary drink herself and giving Sunny one with black coffee.
How does she know?
Kat peered around the small living room, and Sunny couldn’t help but feel as if she should apologize. She’d spent years creating the haven, and she knew it wasn’t much. It was small, and most of her furniture had been purchased used. Sunny recalled her ex, remembered how nice everything had been, how large their home had been, and the same old fears came back.
“It’s just me,” Sunny said like some sort of middle ground, where she made it clear it wasn’t great but didn’t put it down.
Kat turned, an honest smile on her lips. “Are you kidding me? I love it. You probably have an amazing view, and without many neighbors? We should do parties here!”
Sunny shook her head, the thought of random people traipsing in and out of her home an absolute no-go. Still, a warmth in her chest said she liked that Kat thought her home was good enough for Kat to want to have get-togethers there.
“So why are you here?” Sunny frowned. “Also, how did you get my address?”
Kat leaned down to pet Spike—he had stopped growling, because her tough guard dog was evidently just a big softie with everyone. “Connor called me.”
The idea that Connor would have given Sunny’s address out made her chest tight. It felt like a betrayal, especially when he knew how nervous she was about that very thing.
Kat kept talking, as though oblivious to Sunny’s distress. “He gave me your number, told me to call you and check in, to make sure you were okay. Phone calls are for telemarketers and family members you don’t like, though. I rifled through the paperwork at the club to find your address.”
“That’s invasive,” Sunny said, grateful at least that Connor hadn’t breached her trust.
Kat nodded. “Yeah, I hate to tell you, but that’s a good word for me in general. Think of me like Sanctuary’s little sister. I am in everyone’s business—no one particularly likes me, but they also can’t seem to get rid of me.” She smiled as if all those unflattering descriptions warmed her.
What an odd woman.
“Well, I don’t know what Connor told you, but I’m fine.”
“Uh-huh. Look, when the Doms are away, we get to play. So sit down and talk to me—none of it goes past here.”
“But don’t youhaveto tell them what I said? Like, if they asked you, don’t you need to answer?” Sunny followed Kat into the living room, taking a spot on the couch even though Kat sat on the floor, like a kid. Worse, a fear crept in.
I don’t want to put Kat in any danger.
Kat snorted. “Please. They’re notmyDoms. I don’t have to tell them anything.” She set the coffee between her crossed legs. “Come on, Sunny, talk to me. You’ve been ignoring them after from what I heard was a pretty damn good night. What’s up?”
Sunny blew out a slow breath as she traced the bottom of her cup, trying to put into words what she still hadn’t figured out in the days since she’d seen them. “I just don’t think it’s a good idea to get any more involved with this lifestyle.”