My Addiction (Club Desire #2)(66)
Not exactly a statement of innocence. “So you weren’t the one who did the honors?”
She laughed. “No such luck. Look, me telling Fretwell and a few others that you were FBI probably started the night with all the injuries and the death, and I’m no saint. But I’m not a murderer.” She huffed out a breath. “You were nice to me, even when you thought I was a gold-digging waitress, and I felt bad about blowing your cover. But I don’t have much other information to tell you.” She swallowed hard and met his gaze squarely. “Can I go now?”
Dex pinned her with a stern gaze. “I’ll call Benson to come get you and take you back to your safe house while things play out.” He laid a hand over hers. “Thank you for coming forward. You passing on information caused some bad things, but you sharing now could save lives, including your own.”
Chapter 20
Kate glanced up through the Lexus’s front windshield and gasped.
A building straight out of a Gothic novel looked like it had erupted from the top of Camelback Mountain. She knew Paradise Valley was a nice suburb of Phoenix, but she hadn’t seen many Gothic castles erupting out of nearby mountains, so this one stood out.
Full dark had just fallen, which gave the building an eerie feel. Especially with the sprinkling of stars that had begun to blanket the sky in the background.
Kate steered the car into the parking garage, as fresh excitement churned inside her stomach.
There were only a few other people in the garage, and she did a double take when she saw a skinny sandy-blond-haired woman stepping into a black sedan. She looked a lot like the waitress from The Dungeon, but the odds of that were pretty remote, so Kate shrugged and looked for a parking space.
She hadn’t called ahead to find out if they were seeing applicants tonight. She was just going to show up at the front door and see what happened.
It felt right. And maybe a new dungeon and a new Dom would help her forget about Dex.
Just the thought of his name was enough to bring back the deep ache inside her chest. She shoved all thoughts of Dex away, took a deep breath, and stepped out of the car. This was a big step toward her new future, and she didn’t need Dex or anyone else to build it for her.
She adjusted her top and short skirt over the same green cami and thong she’d worn for her first scene with Dex, and cursed. It was her favorite. That’s why she had worn it.
It had been her favorite long before she’d met Dex. She wasn’t going to throw the set out and never wear it again just because it held new memories for her.
A strong tug of longing followed by sadness made her sigh.
She sternly reminded herself Dex was just a blip in her journey toward her new life. She would stop thinking about him, and aching for his firm, expert touch soon.
She hoped.
She walked out of the parking garage and headed up the long, curving path toward the entrance to Club Desire.
This place seemed to exist in another universe from The Dungeon, and everything she’d left behind in L.A.
As she got closer, she saw large double doors edged in wrought iron. A beautiful blond woman in a stunning blue dress stood just outside, making Kate think of a princess from a nearby kingdom, pressed into service for the evil overlord within.
She laughed at her overactive imagination and returned the woman’s bright smile as Kate stepped into the semicircle of light from the Gothic-style sconce mounted above the door.
The woman laughed and gestured Kate forward. “From your expression, I’ll bet this is your first visit to Club Desire.”
Kate’s cheeks burned. Was it really that apparent?
“I’m sure I had the same expression when I saw this place for the first time. I felt like a fairy princess marching to my doom.”
Kate laughed, and relief washed through her as the woman mirrored her thoughts. Kate gestured to the building in front of her. “This is amazing. I’ve never seen a dungeon like this. It makes my old club look like a shack.”
“I’m Sandra Weston.” The woman held out her hand.
Kate shook the petite, beautifully manicured hand, noticing the wide wedding band with a huge marquise-cut diamond ringed with blue sapphires.
When she raised her gaze, she saw the beautiful wide collar around Sandra’s pale neck, also set with blue sapphires and diamonds.
Kate sighed. So this was Brent Weston’s wife. She’d heard about her from other subs who had met her—all glowing reports.
“I’m Kate Fretwell. It’s nice to meet you. I’m really excited to visit Club Desire. I’ve heard nothing but amazing things.”
Sandra gave a demure smile. “That’s what we like to hear. Was it from one of our members?” she asked in a friendly tone that instantly put Kate at ease.
Kate liked Sandra already, which was a good sign. “The submissives grapevine in L.A. has nothing but great things to say about this place.” She glanced up at the imposing building once more. “And Dex Alexander told me if I ever came to Phoenix, I should definitely visit.”
Sandra’s face lit at the mention of Dex’s name, and jealousy hit Kate like a fist to the stomach. She didn’t want to imagine this gorgeous woman with Master Dex.
“Oh, no,” Sandra hastily added. “I’ve never subbed for Dex, but he’s become a close friend and confidant. And I’ve learned a lot about self-defense since I started taking his classes every Wednesday evening.”