Desired (Club Sin 3)

Maybe a little more than a bit nervous, Ella.

Though, as she matched Presley’s stride through the dimly lit sexually charged room, her gaze landed on Kyler. He leaned against a post and watched her every move. In the strength of his stare, a peace carried through her.

You’re not alone.

Presley placed a hand on Ella’s shoulder, drawing her gaze. “Enjoy tonight. You’ll be fine with Master Kyler.”

“Thanks,” Ella replied.

She turned to Kyler again, slowly closing on him. His gaze roamed over her from head to toe, and he licked his lips, stirring tingles low in her body. Her sex became damp and her body warmed. Dressed in blue jeans and a black T-shirt, he met her halfway and the side of his mouth arched. Then he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss on her lips. “You look sexy as hell, Ella.”

“Thank you, sir.”

His brows rose in obvious surprise. “Did your book tell you to say that?”

“No, Presley did.”

“I’m glad she gave you some advice. She’s a good friend for you to rely on.” Erasing the distance between them, he pressed his hard body against hers and tangled his fingers into her hair. “For now, leave it off. I only expect a sir if we’re in a scene. Right now we’re not.”

She cleared her throat, as his low voice made her insides gooey. “Okay, so now what?”

“We talk.” He ushered her over to the couch in the center of the dungeon, where he sat down and motioned for her to sit on the coffee table.

She lowered down to the cool glass beneath her bottom, and he closed his legs around hers, staring at her for a long minute. Then he leaned in, running his hands up her thighs. “Before I take you into a scene tonight, we have some things to get sorted out. Last night at my parents’ house, I realized that I cannot have only a D/s relationship with you. It can’t be so casual.” He dragged his fingers over her thighs, bringing all types of heat with it. “I can’t play with you like I have others here in Club Sin.”

She sighed, not surprised he wanted to be all vocal now. That was kind of his thing. “I know things changed last night. I’m well aware what you want and what I want. And I know I’ve been keeping you at a distance, but I’m trying to stop that.”

“Good.” He inclined his head with a stony gaze. “Since the dynamics have changed some and we both know that this is not simply a D/s relationship, but that we want more, we need to talk.” He hesitated, as if choosing his words carefully.

She didn’t like the tightness in the corners of his eyes.

He finally said, “I’m afraid a certain situation has developed. One I wasn’t sure how to deal with, but to let this relationship grow, we need to be open with each other. Trust. Communication. It’s all important, Ella.” He twined his fingers with hers, and his eyes searched hers. “Having said all that, is there anything you want to tell me?”

She regarded his focused gaze, her pulse speeding up. “No.”

His brows pulled together. “You need to know that it’s not my way to avoid matters. You need to trust me. We have to have open communication. And I mean you need to be entirely honest with me when I ask you direct questions.”

“I do trust you,” she replied without hesitation.

One sleek eyebrow arched. “Do you?”

“Yes, of course.”

He stared at her for many moments before his eyes narrowed. “Then I will ask again, do you want to tell me anything about what’s been troubling you the past couple days?”

Coldness swept across her under his knowing stare.

He knows about Rory.

But how can he?

Now his insistence on adding certain things to her hard limits made sense, and her stomach roiled. Hoping—praying—she’d read him wrong, she tried another route to maintain avoidance. “It’s not important enough to talk about.” She didn’t want to withhold the truth from Kyler, but she also didn’t want to talk about her past. Why go there? It would lead nowhere good. “Or, I should say, there’s nothing going on that I can’t handle on my own. Okay?”

“That’s a better answer. It’s closer to the truth.” He paused again, watching her intently, and finally shook his head. “I didn’t want to do this, but I fear it can’t be avoided any longer. For us to be together, I need to know you, Ella. All of you.”

Unable to look away from him, her mouth dropped open. Oh, fuck, he knows about it all. The knowledge shone in the way he regarded her and in the sympathy crossing his face. She scooted back against the table, attempting to put distance between them.

He tsked and tugged her onto his lap. “When we talk, it’s always like this, face-to-face, and preferably with you in my arms.”