1
Kendra
I stopped a short breath away from the door. Balling my hand into a fist, I lifted it, ready to rap my knuckles against the wooden door to announce my arrival.
Then I pulled back.
My lips rounded as I blew out a controlled sigh.
Kelly had my head spinning.
Thinking twice about entering, I looked up the hallway then back toward the elevator I’d just stepped out of. It was silent; no one around but me. Now that I’d agreed to his contract, I knew that he’d soon be taking our relationship to the next level—a new height I was anxiously waiting to learn more about.
The man was incredible. Strong, dominant, mysterious. He had it all. I loved how he kissed me with enough passion to make my lips feel bruised. And when I touched the tips of my fingers with the pad of my thumb, I could still feel his tight waist on them. Kelly Black had seared his way into my brain. Each time I closed my eyes I could see him staring back, searching deep into my eyes as he threaded his strong fingers through my hair, lightly tugging at the roots.
I bit my bottom lip and hung my head. Just thinking about him had my nipples tightened into hard little knots of the most delicious agony I’d ever experienced.
It was early morning and without knowing what waited for me on the other side of this door, I thought it best that I just use the key I was given and let myself in without turning my visit into some kind of huge production.
Digging in my purse, I found the set of keys and slid the match into the slot, unlocking the deadbolt that was always in place. I heard the shower running in the back as my heels clicked across the floor to the kitchen. My lips curved into a smile when I saw the coffee had already been brewed. Pouring myself a full mug, I proceeded to make myself at home, slicing a bagel in half and toasting it before smothering it in vegetable cream cheese.
There was a new set of flowers—a sunny splash of color made up of lilies and roses—perfectly assembled in a glass ginger vase. Setting my bagel down on the plate, I couldn’t help but move to them, drawing in a breath to smell the lovely fragrance that drifted through the room.
I glanced over my shoulder when I heard the shower turn off.
Quickly, I reached for the note still tucked between two stems, unable to stop myself from snooping.
Alex, work just isn’t nearly as fun without you by my side. Can’t wait to get home and back into your arms. xx ~ Nash
My eyes rolled.
Never in a million years would I have thought Nash Brooks would be so cheesy. Though I could probably give Alex credit for breaking the man down. Without her, he’d still be holding on to his reputation of swinging his bat at everything that was tossed his way. She’d stopped that with a homerun-winning hit, and that filled my heart with pride. I was happy for her—for them.
Setting the note down on the countertop, I slid back into my chair, taking another bite of my bagel and washing it down with the hot black coffee. No matter what I said to her, or how pathetic I made their relationship out to be, I also couldn’t deny that I wouldn’t mind if Kelly started to give me flowers on a regular basis. Pursing my lips and tilting my head to the side, I couldn’t recall ever having a man do that for me. Probably because I would never allow it to happen.
“I thought I heard someone rummaging through my kitchen.” Alex’s soft voice bounced off the walls and filled the vast cathedral ceilings of her open living room.
I turned to find her smiling. “Just me, the regular freeloader,” I said, batting my lashes.
She wrapped her arm around my neck and kissed my forehead.
“You look good. Is that what you’re wearing to work?” My eyes raked over her cute sundress. And though her hair was wet, her natural curls tightened into sexy spirals that bounced perfectly with each step she took.
Alex rounded the kitchen counter, stopped, and looked down her front. “Why? Something wrong with it?”
“It’s perfect.” I thought how lucky she was to be able to wear such comfortable dresses to work. Any other profession—besides my own—would have her sent home. My eyes glanced back to the flowers.
“They were sent over this morning.” Her eyelids hooded in a sense of longing for her man to return.
“When’s Nash coming back?” This was the longest they’d been apart since they got together.
“Not soon enough.” She frowned.
I couldn’t stop rocking back and forth on my tailbone, causing the chair to squeak.
“What is it?” Alex turned to me with a quizzical look on her face.
My spine pulled to the ceiling and I sprang forward, balancing on the tips of my toes. “Since you must ask…”
Alex deliberately lowered her head to study my expression.
In a split second, I pulled my hand out from under the counter and dangled my fingers in front of her face, showing her the ring Kelly gave me.
Alex’s mouth rounded and her eyes popped out of her head. She stumbled backwards, bringing her hand up to cover her mouth.
I nodded, lifting a single eyebrow.
She swiftly stepped forward, taking my hand between her fingers. I watched her study the rock, glittering in the light above. It was beautiful and had my heart hammering for my man. I guess flowers weren’t needed so long as Kelly gifted me jewelry like this.
“That was quick.” Alex lowered my hand, then brought it back closer to her face. “When’s the wedding?”
I pulled my hand free and clucked my tongue. “You know I’m not the marriage type.”
“He just gave that to you?”
My gaze cast to the diamond, moving on my wiggling finger, shifting angles to see it from all sides. It was perfect in every sense. “It’s a promise ring,” I said.
The lines of Alex’s forehead wrinkled. “And what exactly did you have to promise him?”
I could hear the skepticism in her voice. The tone made me believe that she thought I had to do something outrageous in order to receive a gift like this. “You make it sound like you’ve never heard of a promise ring before.”
“I’m no fool. I know what a promise ring is, I just want to know what he thinks it means.”
My tongue wet my lips as my gaze fell back to the silver ring reflecting light as if it was something magical. “It’s his promise to me.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Alex cock a hip and roll her eyes. “To live worry-free, promising that he’ll take care of me.”
“Ironic.” Alex crossed her arms.
I lifted my gaze up to her. “Don’t you think?”
Slowly, she turned her face to meet my gaze. “After all the shit you’ve given me about Nash being paternal—” her brows raised, “—he told you that?”
I gave her a firm nod, rounding my shoulders back and making sure to fold my hands on top of the counter with the ring proudly displayed for her to see.
“And you didn’t make any promises to him?”
“No one said anything about not making any promises.”
“So you did?”
“I did.” I grinned.
“Care to share what those promises might be?”
I reached for my coffee mug and brought it to my lips. “One month, exclusive to him,” I mumbled into the cup.
Alex tilted her head closer, cupping her hand behind her ear. “What was that? I couldn’t quite understand you. It’s like you didn’t want me to hear what you just said.”
My lips curled over the rim and I stole a quick sip, letting the roasted nutty flavor fill my senses before lifting my head and saying more clearly, “One month, exclusive to him.”
Alex narrowed her eyes before letting her head fall into her hand. She shook her head and chuckled. That’s when I noticed it. Around her soft wrist was a charm bracelet.
Slowly, I leaned forward as if being drawn in by some unexplainable magnetic force. I needed a closer look, needed to believe what it was I was seeing, what it was I was assuming. “What’s this?” I asked, yanking her arm away from her head.
“Kendra!” Alex yelled as her body flung toward me. “It’s nothing.”
“Sure doesn’t look like nothing.” I brought it closer to my face, taking time to inspect a couple of the charms. “Nash gave it to you, didn’t he?”
We locked eyes, neither of us willing to budge, before Alex said, “So what?”
“How is this any different?”
Alex peeled each of my fingers off her wrist and said, “For one, I didn’t sell myself for a month.”
My head nodded as I smiled like I’d caught her in a lie. “No, you just sold out completely.”
“You really want to play this game?” Her eyes hardened as her face got serious. “Because, I can do this if you want.”
“Go girl. Show me what you got.” My muscles flexed.
She stomped her way around the counter and marched straight up to me, grabbing hold of my ear. “Let’s talk about where you got these.”
I winced when she pulled on them both, and it took me a second to remember what I had in my ears. But as soon as I did, I cursed, “Shit.”
“Uh-huh.” She released my lobes.
“Madam’s going to kill me.” I swatted her hand away, reaching up to make sure they were the earrings I thought they were. Alex looked on, patiently waiting for an explanation. “I forgot to give them back.”
“You mean to tell me those are the Madam’s?” Alex’s words swirled in disbelief.
They were the rare, tanzanite stones she only gave to certain girls. “It’s her way of visibly recognizing certain rights of passage.”
Alex must have seen the look on my face because she backed off, knowing that I’d made a mistake—again—with the Madam. She leaned against the counter’s edge and crossed her arms. “So, let me get this straight. Madam is cool with you being exclusive to Kelly for one month?”
I slid back onto my stool, taking a bite of my bagel, thinking how ready I was to get on with my one month with Kelly. Remembering his promise to introduce me into his world of submission was both terrifying and exciting. After all, that was the exact reason I went to work for the Madam—to rid myself of the mundane path I was on. “She’s all for it.”
Alex looked at me, forgetting to blink. Her neck was stiff and I couldn’t help but ask, “What is it?”
She pushed off the counter and moved to stand in front of the sink with her back turned to me. I watched as she filled an empty glass with water. “I’m not sure I like what’s happening here.”
“Nash will be home soon. Then you can get back to straddling him and forgetting about me.”
Alex turned to face me. Her brows were drawn tight. “Aren’t you afraid?”
“Baby doll, there is nothing to be afraid of.”
She stared into her glass for a minute before saying, “Except there is.”
“There’s not.” I smiled, my voice a soft, encouraging whisper.
“Kendra, don’t you remember?” She cleared her throat. “Kelly is the one who set off your relapse.”
I cast my gaze down at my hands. She was right, but I wasn’t about to admit it. We’d been over this; it wasn’t Kelly’s fault he’d triggered memories of my rape. My cell dinged with a message.
“Just promise me that you’ll step away if it happens again.”
When I looked up at Alex, I could see it in her eyes—she still wanted me to seek professional help to deal with the trauma of my past. But I couldn’t.
Ignoring all of the insecurities bubbling up inside me and pushing the fears to the side, I reached for my purse and pulled out my phone to check who had messaged.
“It’s him, isn’t it?” Alex looked on.
I nodded. “I have to go,” I said, collecting my things and taking the last bit of my bagel along with me.
“Kendra.” I turned to find Alex holding up the key to her apartment. “Don’t forget this.”
I stepped back to her with an open palm. Alex dropped the key into my hand and when I closed my fingers around the metal, I kissed her cheek. “Thanks, baby.”
“You know I’m always here for you.” She flashed a small smile, but her eyes didn’t hide the true thoughts of what it was she was thinking. “No matter what.”