Tamed (Club Sin 5)

“He what?” Kenzie said, alarmed. “Where would he get that type of money?”

“His parents are stinkin’ rich and gave him a trust fund when he turned twenty-one. Porter always told me he never used the money. He’s just like that”—she shrugged—“always so determined to pave his own way in life.” Awareness danced in her eyes. “Now after hearing that, do you honestly think that Porter would pay that much money for some random submissive he simply had a duty to?”

Kenzie gaped at Cora, disbelieving what she heard.

“I love Porter,” Cora continued in Kenzie’s silence. “He made me happy when I most needed it. He’s always been the good guy, being there for everyone else to help them be happier. Yet when it’s all said and done, there he is, standing alone.” She sighed, regret reflecting heavily in her eyes. “Believe me when I tell you he would not do that for just anyone. But I also know he won’t be the first one to tell you how he feels. He’ll need you to take that nex

t step.”

Kenzie couldn’t help but ask, “How do you know that?”

Shame darkened Cora’s expression. “Because I did that to him. I stepped away from our relationship, because I only felt friendship toward him. Because of his strength he let me go. He loved me that much, even though I knew that day I hurt him.” Tears welled in Cora’s eyes and her voice became quiet, small. “I know he won’t put himself out there like that again. I know that because I caused him to doubt love. He thought he found love in me, but I only called it friendship. I’ve confused that inside him.”

Kenzie knew it all should be that easy. She should be that strong to tell him how she felt, but that scared voice in her head reminded her how much love could hurt. “I’m not sure I’m ready to go there with him.”

“You? The strong, feisty submissive being afraid of something?” Cora gave a knowing grin and smacked Kenzie’s thigh. “Now that doesn’t sound like you at all.”

Kenzie tucked her hair behind her ear, considering what Cora had told her. She was the woman Cora described, only those parts of her were because of pain she was hiding. That heartache seemed to have eased now. Kenzie realized it wasn’t the events in the life that made her strong, it was simply who she was. Her past didn’t define her. She believed that now.

She had already decided she no longer wanted to live in that dark past. Maybe this was the first step she needed to take for a brighter future. And Porter did make her happy. She felt safer with him than she’d ever felt before. “You know, you’re right, it doesn’t sound like me, does it?”

“Nope.” Cora waggled her eyebrows. “So tell me, Kenzie. Is it time to put your big-girl panties on and go after what you want?”

Kenzie shook her head. “No, I’m afraid it’s not.” As Cora frowned, she quickly added, “It’s time to put on my sexiest thong.”

Chapter Twenty

Minutes before eight o’clock in the evening, Kenzie strode through the entrance of Club Sin, moving down the hallway with silence surrounding her. Seeing that the parking lot was full tonight, she suspected everyone was down in the dungeon, busy experiencing erotic delights. She wanted some of that herself.

She adjusted the belt on her coat hiding her sexy lingerie underneath and followed the fancy carpet lining the hallway. As she neared Dmitri’s office, her heart tripped at what she was about to do. There were things she wanted that she hadn’t before, and she didn’t question herself now. Like Cora had said, it was time to take a leap of faith. Where that leap would land her she wasn’t sure, though she was ready to take that chance.

Once she’d reached Dmitri’s home office, she stopped at the door, not surprised to see him behind his desk. She had called a few hours ago and requested a private meeting with him. While most of her steps in life had seemed difficult, this next step had been so easy. She drew in a deep breath and knocked on the door frame.

Dmitri lifted his head and gave her a sweet smile. “Come in, Kenzie.” He rose from his desk and gestured to the black couch by the window. She moved there quickly, and he waited for her to sit, then joined her and asked, “Now, what can I do for you?”

Nervousness coursed through her, but she pushed past it. For too long she’d lived in a shell of protection to keep everyone out. That had to change. There were things she wanted to happen tonight. Things that were impossible without this meeting with Dmitri. “I’d like to remove something from my hard-limits list.”

“All right,” he replied with a knowing twinkle in his eyes. “What would you like to change?”

Images of being held in Porter’s arms during aftercare spiraled through her mind. She hadn’t experienced that sensation of intimacy after a scene, and her heart yearned to now. “I’d like to remove the part that I can’t be held during aftercare.”

Dmitri cocked his head. “Remove it entirely?”

Kenzie hesitated, understanding his question perfectly. “Well, not exactly. I’d like to add that Master Porter”—his new title sounded so delicious on her tongue—“is allowed to hold me during aftercare.”

Dmitri didn’t smile. He simply continued to consider her intently. “You are sure about that?”

“Yes.” She gave a firm nod. “Very sure.”

“I have no objections, Kenzie. In fact, this pleases me greatly.” Dmitri rose, moving to the filing cabinet with his powerful gait and taking out her file. He grabbed a pen off his desk and then returned to his seat. “Change what you’d like to on your agreement and sign where you’ve made the changes.”

She accepted the pen and then placed the file on her lap, scanning over the contract until she reached the hard limits. There, she happily made the change and signed her name next to it, even including a hard tap of her pen almost as if even that would prove her point at how much she wanted this. She was tired of being scared, of living a sheltered life. More important, after hearing what Porter had done for her, she wanted to give him something back. Something that she’d never given anyone.

When she lifted her head, offering the file back to Dmitri, he gave a beaming grin. “I’m glad that you’ve found something you can trust in Master Porter.” His voice softened as he cupped her shoulder. “In fact, I’d say it’s about damn time.”

She regarded Dmitri, a man she greatly cared about. He’d given her chances when she knew other Doms would have walked away from her. Dmitri didn’t have to be as kind to her as he’d always been, considering she’d given him a lot of trouble in his club. “Thank you.” Her throat tightened with emotion. “Thanks for all you’ve done for me.”

His smile became gentle. “It took some time, but you’ve found peace, Kenzie. I couldn’t hope for anything more for you.” Leaving her a little breathless that he’d known all along how troubled she truly was, he returned the file to the cabinet, then his expression firmed. “Come. Let’s see to enjoying this evening.”