Chains (The Club #8) Page 5

  Ugh, now I’m left alone with this random person and Ashley’s nowhere to be found. She swore to me she’d stay by my side, introduce me to some of the other members and never take her eyes off of me. Yeah, well, how quickly that plan changed ‘cause right now I’m trailing behind little miss leather and lace to the point of no return.

  I’m confused, frazzled and a bit overwhelmed. Plus it doesn’t help she told me to leave my clutch in the car—my cell phone could really come in handy right about now. Uncertainty takes over as my heart begins to beat through the thin fabric of my dress.

  She’s seriously on my shit list when I get out of here.

  Coming to a set of stairs in the back of the room, we ascend to the second floor. We’ve stopped at the top of the stairs and my sex kitten tour guide for the evening is gesturing in various directions, her mouth moving yet I’m not listening to a word she’s saying. I feel wholly out of place and with everything that surrounding me, I’ve completely blocked her out. As she begins to move through the space, I follow keeping my chin tucked and gaze directed to the floor not wanting to draw any attention to myself.

  The smells of liquor, leather and sex drift throughout the space as we approach another bar located to the left before a long corridor. I don’t know where we’re going or what I’m about to find as I continue to look for Ashley. Walking down a dimly lit hallway, a few men and women pass us by, but I refuse to make eye contact. I’m certain I’m already sticking out like a sore thumb. Along the path of twists and turns, I notice closed doors until we come to the end where two rooms are opened.

  “You’re more than welcome to enter each of these two rooms, but be sure to keep to yourself. I’ll be right here waiting for you once you’ve had your fill,” she tells me while resting herself against the wall.

  Curiosity spikes through me as I nod and enter the one room. My jaw immediately drops to the ground as shock and disbelief take over my entire body.

  What in the ever loving fuck?

  My knowledge of the sexual world as I know it is now forever changed as my insecurities rage through my mind. On shaky legs, I move further into the room as my body controls my movements. My thoughts are scattered, unable to process a coherent thought. The visuals now present before me are unbelievable. Men and women are controlling one another as if their subject is in a trance. To the right, a woman is tied up and blindfolded while a man is proceeding to strike her with a leather strap. Her cries sting my ears as fear creeps through me. Another man steps in closer, whispering something into her ear while his hand moves to her most sensitive spot. Within seconds, her facial expression changes, her mouth shaping into an O as her body begins to convulse and sounds of pleasure pull from her lips.

  I can’t believe what I’m witnessing, yet the feeling I’m experiencing is nothing I’ve ever felt. The speed of my pulse continues to race, a wetness forming in my panties as my breasts begin to swell.

  What the hell is wrong with me?

  Taking my eyes off of them, I turn to the left where yet another woman is tied against the wall. Her head is drawn to the side, her gaze toward the floor as the man is urgently removing the leather skirt from her waist. Her position is still, never wavering as he moves to the side shedding his dark jacket. Before I can budge or look away, he turns to face me and my world instantly falls to the floor as the pieces of my once broken heart begin to send bolts of pain through my entire body.

  Connor’s gaze doesn’t leave mine and, for the life of me, I can’t look away. My body is stiff, feet cemented to the hard floor. His deep, dark eyes are drawing me in, pulling at my soul and wrecking havoc with my every thought. I can’t be here, I can’t see him…this can’t be happening. I’ve tried to put him out of my mind for a year and this…this is how he’s brought back into my life.

  For a split second, he looks away and I regain my composure trying to get the hell out of the room. As I approach the door, my arm is dragged in another direction and I’m escorted into another large space. Rough hands cup my face as I’m pulled in closer to a hard body. His hands frantically roam over me as I attempt to break from his embrace. He pins me up against the wall beginning to trail his lips over my neck, I’m trapped by his large stature and can’t break free.

  “You’re a pretty lil’ thing, how is it that no one has claimed your sweetness yet?” he asks, the smell of whiskey coming off his hot breath.

  “I shouldn’t be in here. I-I need to go,” I reply.

  His focus is taken off of me for a moment and I grab the opportunity to escape his stance. Ducking beneath his arm, I rush past him and into the hallway.

  “Jesika?” Connor’s voice pulls me to stop in my tracks.

  I’m at a complete loss and, for the life of me, I can’t focus on anything that’s happening. I need to get the hell out of here.

  “Where’s…” I begin to speak, but I’m cut off by Connor’s stern expression.

  “Don’t worry about her, she’s taking care of a little something I had tied up. Now excuse me for a moment.”

  I watch as he moves toward the other man, cornering him at the edge of the hallway.

  “I don’t know who you are or why you have your hands on her, but you better believe you’ll never set foot in this place again,” Connor states, venom falling from his lips.

  My eyes follow his tall stance as he grabs the man by the collar and escorts him away from me and down the hallway.

  Seconds tick by lasting for what seems like an eternity and I’m once again pulled into a moment of shock. What I’ve seen, heard and felt is out of this world. I need to leave, get away from here and forget everything that has taken place. As I break out of my fog, I begin to walk back down the corridor.

  “Max, there you are.” I hear Ashley’s voice coming toward me.

  As she approaches, Connor quickly follows.

  I feel like I’m an episode of the Twilight Zone as my gaze moves between the two of them. Neither of them realizing the other is caught up in my focus. As she approaches me, her eyes move from me to Connor who is now standing next to her side.

  “Bitch, you left me. You left me all alone in this fucking demented place. How could you, Ash…I mean, Whit,” I shout shaking my head in disbelief. “I’m leaving and don’t you dare try to stop me. I came in here with an open mind, just like you asked, and now look where that’s left me.”

  My blood is racing through my veins, the pain in my chest constricting to the point I feel like I’m going to pass out.

  “Relax, Max, let’s take this into a private room so we’re not causing a scene.”

  “I think it’s a little late for that, Whit,” Connor says.

  My eyes move from him to the crowd of people now standing behind him. Ashley reaches for my arm and pulls me down the hallway, where she reviews clipboards attached the rooms.

  “Here,” she states opening a door and ushering me to follow her.

  Releasing a breath, she pulls me inside and shuts the door.

  “Sam, what in the hell are you doing in here?” she asks.

  “I’d like to ask you the same fucking thing and how do you know Jesika?”

  Sensing that I’m literally about to fall flat on my face, I move toward a cushioned bench and take a seat. While the two bicker back and forth like complete idiots, my head spins not understanding what’s going on.

  Lifting my head from my hands, I look at the two of them.

  “Excuse me, hello…over here,” I wave my hand frantically. “I want to go home, not sit here and listen to the two of you.”

  Ashley comes to my side and sits down next to me, pulling me into her arms as a wave of emotion takes over and tears fall down my face.

  “I’m sorry I left you. I knew better, yet I still went off. It was so very wrong of me and I’m sorry.”

  She holds me for a few seconds before Connor’s voice breaks through the deafening silence.

  “This is a beautiful moment the two of you are sharing, but it does not cle
ar up the confusion as to how you know one another and why the hell you would have brought her here, Ashley. I demand an explanation before either of you leave this room.”

  His tall defined form stands only a few feet away from me, yet I can’t bring myself to look him in the eye.

  “Well, since we are all apparently on a first name basis and we are behind closed doors, I’ll do the explaining.” Ashley perks up. “Jesika and I have worked together for quite some time now at the magazine, she’s a dear friend and was in need of a little relaxation so I thought…”

  “You thought, Jesus Christ, Ashley, take her for a day at the fucking spa, not a night here at The Club. Obviously you know nothing about her, she’s not one of us, and she’s not meant to be here. She’s not a fucking submissive,” he barks, his tone echoing through the small room.

  “And how do you know all of this, Connor? Are you suddenly psychic and know everything about everyone?” she asks in a harsh tone.

  Thoroughly exhausted from this conversation, I pull away from her ready to speak for myself.

  “No, Ashley, he’s not psychic. He’s…this is him, the man I told you about last year.”

  Her hand flies to her mouth a loud gasp escaping her lungs.

  “Oh my God,” she whispers. “You’re the man she fell in love with, the man that destroyed her and broke her heart?” she asks pointing the finger at Connor. “And you’re the one he pined over for weeks, the woman who he couldn’t get over. Thank fuck I’m sitting down right now because I think I’m going to pass out.”

  Her words hit me hard. I knew the feelings I had felt for him all those months ago, but she’s saying he felt them too? He couldn’t get over me?

  As I look in his direction, my eyes glance from his feet, up his body and into his eyes. I don’t know what it is, but something is looking back at me that I’ve never noticed before. Perhaps it’s because I didn’t look hard enough. Maybe I was too afraid to see it, but hearing it from her and seeing him like this now…I’m completely shredded

  As I sit staring out the large windows in my office, I try to think back to where I went wrong. I have everything a man could want. I’m successful, wealthy and in the best shape of my life. Professionally speaking, the firm is expanding, our clients are well taken care of and I enjoy the work I do. Yet here I sit, feeling miserable and insignificant.

  Four weeks have gone by and not a word from Jesika. That night at The Club, seeing her again, it killed me. The moment our eyes locked, everything fell back into place. I was swept away into a world where only the two of us existed. Seeing that man hovering over her, pinning her against the wall sent fury through my veins. She was trapped and had he not looked up to see me, could have taken advantage of her. Escorting him out of the building may have been harsh on my part, but there was no way I was going to risk her safety.

  Leaning forward, I rest my elbows onto my knees and run my fingers through my hair. She has flipped a switch in me, turned my life on its side and there’s nothing I can do to make the emptiness she left go away. There’s something about her that makes me want to protect her, open my heart and allow myself to love, yet a part of me is terrified. I need to see her, feel her and be with her more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. Leaving me once was heartbreaking, this time she’s gutted every emotion I’ve ever felt. My life has always been about authority, power and showing dominance. Once I break down those walls, the control I’ve harnessed will be lost and I’m not sure I’m prepared to lose such a drastic piece of my worth.

  The sound of the intercom buzzing brings my focus back to the present. Turning in my chair, I face my desk looking over the calendar. No one is scheduled to arrive for the day, what could she possibly need from me now?

  “What is it, CJ? I’m in the middle of something,” I respond into the device, annoyance stemming from my tone.

  “I do apologize, Mr. Samson, but Mr. Jacobs needs to speak with you. He said it was urgent. Shall I tell him you’re preoccupied?”

  Son of a bitch, I completely forgot Peter was meeting with Spencer Enterprises today. I need to gather my thoughts; I can’t let something this big slip through my fingers.

  “No, CJ, tell him I’m available and send him in,” I reply flicking off the intercom.

  The door opens and in walks Peter with a smug look on his face.

  “I’m not in the mood, cut to the chase,” I state standing from my chair and moving around the desk.

  “Yeah, what else is new, Connor, as of late, you’re never in a good mood,” he says taking a seat on the leather couch. “And let me add that I’m not the only one who’s noticed.

  Leaning myself onto the top of the oak surface, I cross my arms over my chest while glaring in his direction.

  “Get to it, Peter, I know you didn’t come here to sit back and relax on my furniture. What the hell happened with Spencer Enterprises today?”

  My lack of patience dwindles while he makes himself comfortable lifting his feet onto the glass table and propping his hands behind his head.

  “You’ll be pleased to know that everything went just as I expected. Cliff and the board reviewed the contracts and have agreed to sign with the firm. We should have the signed contract delivered by courier before the end of the day.”

  With an obnoxious grin, he stands from the couch, moving toward the built in bar.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” I ask.

  “Come on, Connor, I did it. The issue at hand has been taken care of and I scored us the deal. Spencer Enterprises is officially ours. I do believe this is a reason to celebrate,” he responds clasping his hands together. “Want your usual?” he questions before turning back to pour himself a drink.

  I can’t argue the fact that I’m ecstatic about the news he’s just brought to me; however, it was his error and lack of professional judgment that initially could have cost us the deal.

  Walking toward me, he extends his arm out with a glass of amber liquor.

  “To fixing my mistakes and learning a valuable lesson,” he remarks and lifts his glass.

  I accept the scotch and raise a brow before taking a long sip, allowing the burning sensation to linger and coat the back of my throat.

  Placing the glass onto my desk, I give him a firm pat on the back before moving back behind my desk.

  “Aren’t you going to say something?” he asks setting his glass next to mine.

  Looking up, I meet his gaze and release a heavy sigh. I know damn well my frustrations should not be taken out on him. He doesn’t deserve my hostility; after all, he did restore my faith in him by signing Spencer Enterprises.

  “You’re right, Peter. You really came through for me and the firm. But I have to know, how did you rectify the situation?” I ask.

  “Yeah, about that,” he says shifting from his left to right foot and running his hands through his hair. “I think you should come with me, it’ll be easier to explain in person.”

  A deep laugh pulls from my stomach. I’ve known this man for far too long; I think he’s finally lost his mind.

  “Peter, we are in person. What the hell are you talking about?”

  Meeting my gaze, he gestures for me to follow him.

  “It’s time you meet her, the secret is out and I’m tired of hiding her from the world. We’re meeting for a drink in a half hour downtown. Grab your shit and let’s get out of here before I lose my nerve and change my mind.”

  Refusing to argue, I shut down my Mac, grab my briefcase and follow Peter out of my office.

  Walking through the doors, the delicious smells of food drift past my nose as my stomach starts to growl. My eyes scan the patrons in search of who the mystery woman may be. Apparently, the one who has captured Peter’s interest is a member of The Club; if she’s here I would recognize her in a heartbeat. I can only hope that the sub who has stolen his heart is not someone I’ve fucked.

  As we near a table, I notice a blonde, her back turned to us. Peter steps forward cat
ching her attention as she stands and faces me. Her intense blue eyes stare back to me, those cherry red lips recognizable anywhere.

  “Connor,” she states leaning forward to place a gentle kiss to my cheek.

  I look to Peter who now has the biggest grin spread across his face. No words come to mind, I’m left speechless. Never in my wildest imagination would I bring these two together as a pair. My mind is blown…Ashley is Peter’s Domme?

  “Are you going to sit?” Peter’s voice calls to me, breaking me from my thoughts.

  Looking between the two of them, I nod and take a seat across from Ashley.

  “You look as if you’ve seen a ghost, Connor, please say something,” she remarks reaching out to rest her hand onto mine.

  “I don’t know what to say,” I laugh. “I spend so much time with the two of you and never put the two of you together.”

  She squeezes my hand, reassuring me that everything is okay. I’m not sure if I’ve been so caught up in my world or what, but this arrangement…relationship has me feeling numb. Two of the dearest people in my life found one another, kept their lives such a secret I didn’t even notice it coming.

  “We’ve both wanted to tell you for a long time. With everything that happened with her father and the firm, we agreed it was best to wait ‘til now.”

  “I’m happy for you, for you both,” I respond looking between the two of them. “Unexpected, but nonetheless you both deserve to be happy.”

  Ashley smiles brightly back to me while Peter claps me on the shoulder.

  “Good,” he states. “Now that this is all out in the open, it’s time we both talk to you about something that has been weighing on our minds. As your closest friends, it’s only fair that we remain honest and blunt with you from here on out.”

  Unsure of where this conversation is going, I look to Ashley with a scowl on my face.

  “Is this an intervention, because if that’s the case I can pay a well educated psychologist to evaluate my mental health?”