Everything He Wants (17 page)

"Nice to know I still have that affect on you."

"Baby, I don't think you'll ever stop." He scooted over so he could stand up. "I'm going to get you something warm to drink. Tea?"

I shoved an arm under a pillow when he offered it to me before placing a blanket on top of the other one. "Tea sounds wonderful."

"Pretty sure they're out of orange spice," he said.

"I don't doubt it. At this point, I'd be happy with some water so long as it's warm."

"Good, because I don't think they have tea, either." He kissed me again, then left the room.

I closed my eyes and breathed in his lingering cologne. My body and mind were still coming down from my high. So when the door opened again, I figured I'd dozed off.

"That was fast," I said without opening my eyes. "Forget something?"

The door clicked behind him, then locked. His silence and the still air put me on edge.
Something's wrong.
Pushing past my fading delirium, I managed to roll over and open my eyes, but when I looked toward the door, Jake wasn't there.

Dennis was. He may have been cleaner than usual, but I could never forget that face. Those eyes! The rigid jaw line was definitely his.

"Hello, Kitty." Dennis stood in front of the door to the room—my only escape—with his arms crossed over his chest.

For a long moment, I just stared at him, gauging if he was real or a hallucination brought on by subspace.

"How did you...where did you..." I covered myself with the blankets even more as my vision jumped from him to the door. "You shouldn't be here."

"Concerned about my wellbeing?" Dennis held a hand to his chest. "I'm touched." He took a step toward me, grinning when I eyed the door a second time. "Expecting someone?" Another step.

God, I hope so.
I clutched the blankets in my hands.
Jake, what's taking you so long?
"How did you get in here?"
Keep him calm, Kira. Whatever you do, don't piss him off.

Dennis held up a credit card. "Faulty locks, I'd imagine. They really should get them replaced—like someone else I know."

I glared at him.
Break into my old place all you want. The new residents will call the cops on your ass so fast...
I swallowed when he moved even closer.

I stood up so I was on his level. "You know..." I closed the distance between us before he could do it himself.
Aggression begets aggression. Confidence.
Neither of which I had at the moment. "I feel sorry for you."

"Sorry for me?" Dennis scoffed. "You should be more concerned about yourself, sweet cheeks. I'm not the one kneeling in front of some little shit like I'm his personal bitch."

Calm, Kira. This is exactly the opposite of calm.
He was already on the defensive, and I knew anything I said would provoke him. A part of me wondered how he got inside
The Limelight,
but deep down, I knew.

His hair was slicked back, and to the untrained eye, he looked pretty good—like most of the other Doms who walked in. Clean shave. Pressed suit. And if I didn't know any better, I'd bet he was sober.

"Why are you here?" I asked again, keeping my voice even while my nerves tied into knots.

The smug grin on Dennis's face put me on edge. "You know, I’d heard rumors of a blonde slut working here. I had a feeling it might be you. I knew you didn’t disappoint."

What the hell do you want, a biscuit?
"I don’t
work
here, Dennis. I scene here. There’s a difference."

"Is there? Could’ve fooled me. Looks like you’re obeying his every beck and call. It’s befitting of you, to be honest. I always knew you’d end up being someone else’s bitch."

"Better than being yours."

"Seeing as you’re trained, I think I could use a sub."

The doorknob started to turn. Got stuck. Dennis and I exchanged glances—his eyes looking very much like a cornered animal's. Mine probably weren't any better.

"Kira?" Jake called from the other side of the door.

I opened my mouth. Closed it when Dennis's eyes darkened. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me up against him.

"Not a word, Kitty," he snarled, turning so we were both facing the door. "So help me. You breathe a word, and I'll see how little you're wearing under those rags."

I yanked free from his grasp. Turned on him. "That isn’t how this works."

Dennis pulled my hair and slammed me onto my knees. "Submit to me, bitch."

I whimpered as the floor bit at my skin. I clawed at my blankets and held them tight.

Someone knocked on the door again. Harder this time. "Kira?" Jake jiggled the door handle.

Dennis pulled back on my hair so I could see the credit card in his other hand. He smiled victoriously when footsteps moved away from the door.

"Jake, wa—"

Dennis’s hand struck my face, bringing tears to my eyes. "What. Did. I. Say?" He grasped my chin, his thumb and fingers digging into my cheeks. "Keep your mouth
shut.
"

I blinked away the tears as my vision blurred, but his hold on me was still there.

"If they come in here, you’re my ticket out," Dennis said, shoving the card into his pocket. "I will hunt you down. Whatever it takes."

I clawed at his arms and wiggled out of his grasp, leaving a handful of hair in my place. I didn't bother to hold the blankets to my body when I pushed him away.

"Jesus Christ," Dennis hissed, reaching for me again. "Don't they let you wear any clothes?" Recovering from his shock, he pushed me onto the sofa. "Hell, Kitty, if you wanted to be treated like shit, all you had to do was ask." He pressed down on my shoulder. Held me in place.

I blinked past hot tears of pain. "Let. Go."

"Why? I thought you
liked
this." His eyes narrowed as he put a hand over my mouth again.

I struggled underneath him, gasping when he moved the hand from my shoulder to my neck. I pushed back. Clawed and bit. Did everything in my power to get my feet between us.

After a heel to the ribs, Dennis recoiled. Came at me again. Footsteps outside the room returned, only this time, it wasn't just Jake waiting on the other side.

The door handle jiggled, unlocked and turned. Black specks started to crowd my vision as I tried to stay alert. Tried to catch my breath.

I didn't hear them come in, but I felt them. Heavy footsteps. Dennis being pulled off me. Blankets placed over me as Jake urged me to sit up and to take a handful of deep breaths.

My vision slowly returned, and as it did, so did images of Devlin fighting Dennis. He shoved his hand against Dennis's neck and pushed him into a wall. He had the same look on his face as Dennis had when he forced me down to my knees—the same determined look that, if allowed, he'd probably have a lot more on his hands than simple defense or assault charges.

I coughed. Rubbed at my raw neck. "Don't," I croaked around the dryness in my throat.

Devlin's eyes snapped in my direction.

"Don't let him..." I coughed. Stood with Jake's help. "Don't get dragged down to his level. It...it isn't worth it."

"Kira." Jake hugged me close. "He shouldn't even be here."

"No, but Devlin shouldn't have to deal with charges for protecting me."

"Thank you," Dennis gasped.

Devlin didn't budge. "The young lady may be in a forgiving mood, but I'm not."

"Master Devlin, please," I begged. "Don't let him do this to you."

"But this is my choice." He gestured at Dennis. "He can't just get a slap on the wrist, not this time. This time he's taken things too far."

"No," Jake said, cradling me in his arms. "She's right. You have Marisa to think about. Let the authorities handle it."

Devlin glared at Dennis, but soon, his grip on my ex loosened.

Dennis squared his shoulders and crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned against the wall. He looked between Jake and myself, and smirked. "You never told him, did you?"

I frowned. So did Jake.
What are you getting at, Dennis?

"Tell them, Kira," Dennis spat. "I don't see a ring on your finger, so you must remember. Tell them. Tell your handler that we’re engaged to be married."

My heart sank, and the breath rushed from my lungs.

"What’s he talking about?" Jake asked.

Once I recovered, I said, "We
were
engaged, but then he canceled. What else is there to say? I never said anything because it wasn’t important."
You aren't important, Dennis.
Not anymore.

"She lies." Dennis fixed his jacket. "In fact, if you call the Shepherd Chapel, you’ll learn we have a wedding coming up."

My eyes widened. "I canceled that. Not even a week after you stormed out."

"And I rescheduled." His smug grin returned. "Told them we had to work out our differences."

I pushed off Jake, ignoring him when he reached for me. "No, let me handle him." Jake held up his hands and nodded for Devlin to do the same. "So what? Now that I’m down on my knees for another man, you want me back? Life doesn’t work that way."

"Have you even seen how he treats you?"

"You’ve only seen what happens here in
The Limelight
. You know nothing about him, or us. I’m as much of a person as I was when we were together. In fact, I’m better than that now."

"But you begged me to take you back."

"That’s because I didn’t know the difference between the passion I craved and your abuse. If you could get your head out of your ass and stop losing yourself in a bottle, you may have seen this." I shrunk against Jake when Dennis stepped forward.

"You can’t keep hiding from me forever. You aren’t even at your old place anymore."

"And that’s because my place wasn’t big enough for the two of us. As much satisfaction as I bet it would give, I didn’t ditch my old place because of you. My world doesn’t revolve around you...or anyone else for that matter. Yes, Logan is my master, but he’s also my lover and a companion. You were never any of those things, and now you’re just a small speck in the rearview mirror that I can easily scrub away."

Heart beating in my chest, I clenched my fists. I was more than prepared for a slap to the face, so when Dennis deflated, I wasn't sure what to think.

"Get her out of here," Devlin ordered Jake. "I'll make sure the authorities see Dennis if and when he leaves."

Wrapped in a blanket and Jake's arms, I was led out of the room. A lot happened after that, but hell if I could remember most of it. Jake took me to where I'd left my clothes so I could get changed. Once one of the on-scene paramedics gave me the okay, we headed home.

Neither of us talked in the car, but I knew we had the same thing on our minds.

Dennis attacked you.

It wouldn't happen again.

He'll probably do time for it.

I didn't doubt that.

What if you have to testify at his trial?

I froze. There were no answers for that. I only hoped it would never happen.

You'll never see him again if Jake has anything to say about it.

My home or Jake's, it didn't matter. Dennis would never find me, and I was sure
The Limelight
would keep him on every predator sign they had.

We're going home.

* * * *

T
endrils of steam floated above the water's surface as I buried myself in the aquatic tomb. I couldn't remember the last time I'd had a long soak, and mine were as hot as they came.

My muscles sighed in joint relief as my skin quickly turned from slightly pink to lobster red.

Jake smiled and sat on the rim of the tub. "You haven't said much since we've been home."

In fact, I'd spoken hardly at all except for when Jake offered tea and I opted for my boiling bath instead. Tea could come later, after I remembered how to breathe.

And if my skin could breathe, so could I.

I sank into the tub. "Not much to say, is there?"
Not much worth saying.

"No," Jake replied, concern lining his face. "I guess not." His eyes softened. "You sure you're okay with this? If we file charges after tonight, it may stand to go to trial."

"Let it," I growled.
I honestly don't care.

"You wouldn't have to testify, I don't think. Devlin and I can do that since we were both there and saw most of what happened."

"But you weren't the ones being attacked."

"We'll handle it." He dipped a hand in the water to squeeze my own.

"What if he brings up..." I averted my gaze.

"Kira, what is it?"

"If he mentions our lifestyle...if he tells them—"

"Like I said, don't worry about it. There are judges who are aware of the life we live. Hell, some of them even practice it. Besides, if Dennis wants to claim I beat you in front of a live audience, I have fifty or so witnesses who'll say otherwise—and not because I tell them to."

I sighed and sank even more, allowing the water to cover my neck. Far as I could tell, Dennis hadn't left any physical marks, but that didn't mean I'd ever forget what happened tonight. I'd pegged him as the jealous type, but violent? Like this? I think it surprised even him.

"So, if you could do it again, would you?" Jake asked after a long moment.

"What? Losing myself in front of an audience or telling Dennis off the way I did?"
Thank you for letting me do that, by the way.

Jake furrowed his brow. "I, for one, hope you never have to defend yourself in front of him again. But yes, would you ever do the demo again?"

"The same one?" I shuddered at the thought of being in full bondage. And Marisa was right—I didn't notice the audience at all.

"Possibly others as well."

"I guess I'm okay with it."

"Does this mean I can let Devlin know he has a replacement team until they get back?"

"Who says I'm going to return it?"

We both smiled. There was nothing more to say. Dennis was gone, possibly forever, and tonight marked just one more step toward reaching full submission. And for now, that was more than enough for me.

F
uck.