In the Shadows (The Club)

At least he relaxed. “I don’t like talking about it. That’s all.”

“I can understand that. Are we heading to the store now?”

He nodded, started the car, and pulled out into traffic. They didn’t speak as he drove. Instead, she traced her fingers over the back of his hand, strangely content. The past few weeks she’d dreaded being in others’ company, afraid that one of her customers may be her stalker. Not having anyone to trust was wearing on her more than she realized. Now that she had someone she could rely on, facing the situation was much easier to bear.

Zeke stopped at a local hardware store and shut off the car. He clasped her hand, still not looking at her. “You know I’d never hurt you, right?”

“Wow. And we’re to the heavy without warning,” she teased. “What brought that on?”

“I’ve been going over what Detective Mancini said,” he replied. “I don’t want you getting the wrong idea about me.”

“Well, let me see if I have the right idea of you so far. You were in the military, doing something important. Now you work at The Club. I’m guessing you do something important there too, since she said you had licenses. They probably aren’t for the sale of alcoholic beverages though...”

“Concealed carry permits.”

“Oh. Guns.”

His eyebrow rose. “You don’t like guns?”

“I don’t mind guns. But I’m curious why you have them for work.”

“I signed a nondisclosure agreement.”

She turned a little in her seat so she could face him better, noting the way he didn’t let go of her hand. “You’re some kind of kinky sex master, are you?”

The guffaw that broke from him took them both by surprise. “You think I’m...that I’m a sex master?” he finally managed to get out.

“I wouldn’t be surprised. I’m not sure what the guns are for–”

He leaned in, other hand rising to brush his fingertips against her cheek. “Security,” he answered. His voice lowered, turning rough and seductive. “Now, let’s get back to the kinky sex master. Would you like that?”

Heat rose to her cheeks and her nipples pushed against the lace of her bra. She’d never been into anything except plain old vanilla sex, but just the mental image of Zeke using her scarf to tie her hands to the bedpost made her ache.

He must have read it on her face because his eyes darkened and he leaned in even closer, until his lips were brushing hers. His hand dropped from her cheek, only to grip the curve of her hip, a hot, possessive gesture. “Oh, you shouldn’t have given that away, Viv, darlin’.”

“We’re in public,” she whispered, afraid the sparks between them would combust. At least if that did happen, she was wearing fancy underwear. Still, she wasn’t keen on everyone else in Karim getting a glance of it.

“Some people say that makes it better,” he whispered back. She shivered when he nipped at her lower lip. But then there was space and air between them and he was opening his door. “Come on.”

***

Zeke had never thought walking down hardware aisles could be a sexual experience. But that was before he’d met Vivian. He’d managed to walk away from the car before things went too far, but he’d gotten her riled and she was getting some of her own back now.

He watched, fascinated, as her pale fingers slid over spools of rope. Every now and then she’d pause for a half second, playing with a loose end and looking back over her shoulder at him. His breath would catch, his dick harden, and she’d give him that knowing smile before continuing on her way.

I will not lose my control. I will not lose my control.

The mantra continued as they wove their way through the aisles toward the security section, but with each repetition the conviction waned. By the time they arrived in the right place, his control was holding by a thread and she knew it.

“What is all of this?” she asked, peering at the various packages.

“Do-it-yourself security,” he answered, reminding himself that keeping her safe was his priority. Work before play and all that other shit.

He pointed out a few. “Those might be easiest. If the window opens and the sensors are separated, the alarm will go off. You’ll get some warning and may scare off this asshole in the process.”

She nodded, but he could see her drawing inward again, nibbling at her lower lip. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and read over several packages. When she returned to the first for another round of reading, he stepped closer to her and wrapped an arm around her waist.

“Hey,” he murmured, “it’ll be fine. You won’t have anything to worry about, I promise.”