Hold 'Em: Vegas Top Guns, Book 3 (21 page)

“I’m not telling him anything.” Cass’s big blue eyes sparkled with a constant sense of good humor that never seemed to leave.

When Cass had called out of the blue, inviting Leah out for the night, she’d almost said no. Almost. Even though Ryan and Cass had been dating for something like seven months, the two women hadn’t gone out without the guys. If Leah had a free night lately, she spent it with Mike.

So she’d gone. It would be something different that didn’t involve getting blitzed on alcohol or getting blitzed on Michael. She’d begun to wonder if she was verging on addicted to the man.

When Cass had suggested they skip real food and order the dessert mini-sampler, Leah could’ve kissed the woman. She’d needed some chocolate. Stat.

Until even the dark chocolate puddle cake had managed to remind her of Mike. The raspberry sauce in the middle had been hot enough to prick her lips with heat. She’d wondered what Mike would do if she drizzled it over tender skin.

She shifted in her seat.

At the same time, it was way easier to think of deliberately applying heat and pain than to remember the perfect rose he’d offered. She’d actually dried it in an attempt to keep it beautiful forever. How very unlike her.

Cass put down her fork and leaned her chin on a fist. “So, what’s wrong?”

Leah laughed. “Nothing’s wrong. That’s half the problem.”

“Trouble in paradise?”

Something about the way she asked—probably the knowing look on her features—sent a chill down Leah’s spine. She picked up her water glass in an attempt to look…cool. Christ, she was a dork.

“I’m not tracking.”

Cass waved her fork. “You and Mike. Getting so good you’re scared?”

The water turned into chunks in her throat. She sputtered. “How the hell did you know?”

“Oh, please.” Cass rolled her eyes. “When you guys disappeared at Paulie’s? And you came back with that pink flush in your cheeks? How could I miss it?”

Leah rubbed the base of her thumb over her sternum, which still burned from the coughing spasm. “Does Ryan know?”

“Nope.” Cass seemed blissfully unaware of the relief loosening Leah’s joints. “He
never
has a clue about things like that, unless Jon gives him one. Which he didn’t, by the way. I figure it’s not my business to point it out if he doesn’t ask.”

“Thanks,” Leah said quietly. “I don’t think he’d mind, but…I just like keeping my business to myself.”

Cass pointed the fork at her again. “That’s because you don’t have enough girls for friends. Lucky for you, I intend to fix that.”

The laugh that burbled out of Leah was the aural embodiment of more relief. “I’m sure I couldn’t live without you.”

“You will be sure. Just you wait and see.” Cass pushed her chair back from the table. “When you see where I’m taking us next, you’ll be completely and totally convinced of my brilliance.”

“Just so long as it’s not the
Thunder from Down Under
show. I see enough sweaty, posturing males at work.”

Had Leah possessed any idea of where Cass was going to take them, she’d have volunteered to buy the show’s tickets. They pulled into a tiny asphalt-topped parking lot and went through an unremarkable door.

That opened into a sex shop.

The place had weird washed-red lighting and a sound system that blared heavy rock. Shelves and rows and racks were filled with plastic wrapped…implements. Vibrators, costumes and almost anything a girl could think of—including a full row of black leather and silver buckles.

The back of her neck burned fire hot. It was one thing that Cass had guessed she and Mike were sleeping together. If by some devilish trick she’d guessed the things they got up to, Leah might die.

Well, maybe. On the other hand, she hadn’t been able to talk about it with anyone. Not even with Mike, really, since he already knew what he was doing. She kept trying to hold up an unbreakable front—show no vulnerability. Yet the secrets were nibbling at her from the inside. She was Michael’s ma’am, and she didn’t have a clue what she was doing.

Her fingers trailed over a feather-topped tickler. She could do interesting things to Michael with that.

A quick cough cleared the flush of lust from her chest. “Are we here for anything in particular?”

“Nope,” Cass said blithely. “I just think this place is great. I didn’t have the guts to come in here for a long time, so now I make sure to stop in on occasion. See if there’s anything new and tasty.” She picked up a tiny white outfit and held it out at arm’s length. “What do you think?”

Leah peered closely. “Naughty nurse?”

“Yep.” She smiled then put it back on the rack. “How about you? Anything strike your fancy?”

God, Cass was too easygoing. Relaxed about everything. Leah could tell the other woman that she liked stripping naked and doing cartwheels, and it would be fine.

“Kink,” she blurted.

Cass’s eyebrows wrinkled with confusion. “Honey, everything in here is kinky. Except maybe the lube. That can just be a necessity.”

Leah turned on a heel and slipped down the aisle, then turned left to the BDSM section. She’d only glimpsed it when they’d entered, but she felt drawn there. The expanse of leather was almost dizzying. The scent. The variety. All the possibilities.

She picked up a three-strap slapper—the one tool she knew best. She’d used Mike’s several times since their first weekend. Even as her cheeks burned with what she was about to admit, the weight of the implement fit just right in her palm. The familiar tingle spread between her shoulders.

She held the slapper up. “Kink.”

Cass’s eyes went wider before she grinned. “No way.”

The petite redhead’s good humor was infectious. Leah smiled and even laughed a little. “Way.”

“I gotta say, there’s something about some bad-girl action. If you’re lucky, there’s a spanking afterward.”

Leah started to put her hands over her ears, only to remember she still held the slapper. She tucked it back on the rack. Mike already had that. “Swear to God, I’ll go wait outside and never speak to you again if you bring Ryan into this.”

Cass shook her head, but her smile never dimmed. “Mum’s the word, I promise. I have to say, I never expected you’d be into getting that kind of dirty on. Flat-out honest? I cannot picture you on your knees. At all.”

Leah swallowed around the knot in her throat. This was surprisingly hard. It had been a long time since she’d had a female friend. If anyone would keep her secrets, it would be Cass. “I’m not.”

“What?”

Words about Michael stuck in her throat. Well now, there was a surprise. Apparently she didn’t want to give away the lovely, private things he did for her. She couldn’t bring herself to directly say that he was the one who knelt for her.

“I’m… I’m the one holding the slapper.”

“No way,” Cass squealed again.

“Way.”

Cass clapped her hands twice. “You go, girl.” She blinked. “Wait, does that mean Mike…?”

Leah turned away, the better to hide the blush that was eating her alive. At the same time, Cass’s unhesitating acceptance was nice—a balm to her frayed nerves. She and Mike had been hiding and ducking for more than six weeks.

“Let’s not go there, okay?” Her fingers trailed over a row of leather cuffs.

“No problem.” Cass shrugged. “So I guess the whole sex-shop thing isn’t as novel for you?”

The grin came easier with the blush abating. “Actually, not so much. I’m fairly new to the game.”

Cass’s eyes lit up. “Ooh. Then we definitely need to get you something special. Something that will blow his mind.” Her brows drew together. “But lordy, I have no idea what that would be.”

As if against her will, Leah found herself standing before a row of canes. Lots of lengths and colors, all of them slender. Black or white or red, made of various different materials. One had a long shaft of pale wood. The blue nylon around the handle reminded her of Mike’s eyes.

“I think I know.”

She took it in hand. The slender rattan was so light in her palm, but she knew it was anything but gentle. If wielded improperly, a cane could inflict significant injuries. The internet had proven to be a wealth of knowledge, including information about methods and how long she’d need to train.

Buying the damn thing would be a commitment. There’d be no running over to Michael’s house and saying
Gee, look what I came across.
She’d have to practice and admit, if only to herself, that this was what she wanted. Not what she’d happened into. Not what she was doing just to get her hands on Mike’s amazing body—though it certainly had its own appeal.

The payoff would be worth it. Mind-blowing, probably. Michael’s eyes would go dark as soon as he saw it in her hand. He’d grin, as if he didn’t think she had it in her. Until she had him bent over the end of his bed, taking her strokes. Testing them both.

She wouldn’t bind him for their first time. If she wanted to know the full extent of what he could handle—and what she could dish out—she’d leave him unstrapped. To see every delicious twitch. To see if he pulled away.

Her mouth went dry. Between her legs a deep heat beat steadily with her pulse. Her heart was making dips and loops that any trick pilot would envy.

“That’s pretty.” Cass tweaked the price tag and tilted her head to look at it. “And they’re awful proud of it, aren’t they?”

Leah jumped an inch. So lost in her head, she’d forgotten the other woman was there. “Proud?”

“It’s kinda pricey.”

Bouncing the very tip across the inside of her forearm, Leah smiled to herself. Touching even that tap against her skin caused a flash of pain. A sting resonated inside her flesh. If she did it right, she’d leave striped welts across Michael’s ass and legs, all with a mere flick of her wrists. And damn if he wouldn’t beg for more. She hadn’t yet found his limit.

Though if she screwed up, she could hurt her pet. Badly.

A cold chill went through her. She forced a smile, so Cass wouldn’t see how deeply she was affected. It was one thing to admit she got into a little of the dirty. It was something else entirely to let slip that she yearned for it.

“I suppose it takes a lot of work to make a good cane. The price isn’t that bad.” She bit her lip. “I think I’m going to get it.”

“Good. I’m glad you’re not all weirded out that I brought you here.”

Leah’s laugh was involuntary, and it felt good. More relief to steady her arousal. “I’m glad you’re not weirded out too.”

“So, chocolate desserts and sex-toy shopping.” Cass grinned. “I win at making friends.”

Leah remained giddy as they walked to the counter where a purple-haired clerk waited. But a sudden choke of nerves made her stomach clench. “Wait. You’re not planning on telling Fang, are you?”

“Oh, heck no.” Cass laced her arm through Leah’s and bumped their hips together. “A girl’s got to have some secrets, or her guy might start thinking he’s got her all figured out. Then where would the poor dears be, with their egos that huge?”

“Screwed. We definitely can’t let that happen.”

“See? It’s for his own benefit.”

Leah flourished the cane in the air and snapped it gently against her jeans. His own benefit. That was cute.

Because she was starting to feel like everything was for her.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Mike wasn’t a stranger to strip clubs. What serviceman could claim otherwise? He didn’t know any who’d try to with a straight face. So when Eric invited him and Dash to head to the Playful Pussycat, he didn’t hesitate and he didn’t clear it with Leah.

Why would he? They were weekend types. All business at work—just easier that way—and sex that friggin’ blew his mind once Friday night rolled around. They’d taken to stocking food and condoms to last until Sunday night. Afterward, she returned to her place or he rode back to his. He awoke in his own bed, alone, on Monday morning.

He’d be fine with it if he wasn’t falling for her.

He hadn’t been a saint since he and Georgia parted ways. There were always places where a male sub could get his rocks off with a paid femdom, but that was it—coming hard when a regular hook-up wouldn’t do. He’d tried it once or twice, although it always smacked of hiring a prostitute. The danger, too, made him uneasy. Instant trust? A Dom’s instant understanding of what he needed? He hadn’t ever felt that with a two-hour session.

Now he couldn’t imagine such a scenario. Leah was beginning to know him inside out. What he could take. What he
wanted
to take. It was hard to keep barriers in place when that give and take became so vital. At least it hit him that way. Maybe other subs, male or female, could stick their needs into a box at the end of the night.

He wasn’t built that way—not that he wanted to be. It got complicated quickly. His growing attachment to Georgia had precipitated their breakup. She’d wanted a fun time, and he’d wanted more. Hence staying away from the whole damn thing for so long.

Now there was Leah.

He served her. Happily. Eagerly, even. Her approval and satisfaction had come to dominate a hefty part of his daily life. Waking. Sleeping. Didn’t matter. She set the pace, and he submitted. The switch to making an emotional connection was a half-step away, and he knew it.