My Addiction (Club Desire #2)(73)

Chapter 22


The sound of the elevator doors opening pulled Kate’s gaze from the security monitor, even though Dex had disappeared from the screen several minutes ago.

She turned, and as soon as she saw him, it felt like all the air was sucked from the room, making it hard to draw breath.

He was still the same amazingly sexy man who had left his scent on her sheets the night before last. But now it would always be imprinted on her mind how tender he had been with his sub, and the murderous expression on his face when he had pulled the Dom away from her.

Sandra stepped past her and was immediately swept into an ardent embrace by her husband. “How is Min?” Sandra’s voice broke, and the tears Kate knew she had held in as they’d watched the scene play out slid down her pale cheeks.

Brent kissed the top of his wife’s head and held her more tightly. “Physically, she’ll heal. I think emotionally might take a while longer.” He stroked her back gently. “I’m going to talk to her about calling in a counselor for her to speak with.”

Kate was surprised Brent would think to do that. Yes, it was his club, but she couldn’t imagine Ed Ralston ever doing something so altruistic, even to make himself and The Dungeon look better. It just wouldn’t enter his mind.

Warmth filled her at what she saw here. These people truly cared. Not just about Club Desire, but about their members.

The awareness of Dex in the room drew her nerves tight and left a heavy weight sitting in her stomach. She resisted the urge to meet his gaze for as long as she could.

She wasn’t being childish over how he had left; she just didn’t know how to face him and maintain any kind of composure. Especially after she’d seen how gentle he had been with Min.

And she was ashamed to admit that jealousy had stabbed through her at the touching scene.

“Kate,” Dex said softly, his deep voice carrying easily across the few feet separating them.

She slowly turned her head and met his gaze.

The weight of that gaze was substantial, but she tried to ignore the traitorous thrill of excitement that it caused.

“It’s good to see you again.” He stepped forward slowly, as if waiting for her to flinch away. But he surprised her when he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, much like Brent had done with Sandra.

It was a tender, protective gesture, every bit as sweet as what she had seen on the security monitor.

Her jealousy eased a bit, but the hurt from the way he had left remained. Finally, she gave in to the strong pull between them and rested her head against his chest, breathing in his spicy, dark scent.

“Dex.” Brent’s deep voice broke into the cocoon of protection and well-being Kate had started to let herself get lost in. “Go ahead and stay here. You can go over any membership questions Kate might have. I’ve got a conference call with our London client in about twenty minutes.”

Our client?

Kate’s head snapped up, and she turned to look at Brent. “You’re the efficiency expert?” She was glad her voice came out sounding curious rather than accusing.

Brent gave her a large smile. “Yes. I hope Dex hasn’t made my job sound too dreary. It’s actually quite fascinating.” He winked as he stepped inside the elevator with Sandra and the doors shushed closed, blocking them from view.

She stiffened as anger flashed inside her chest.

But, no matter how it felt, he hadn’t lied to her.

He’d been up front that he could be recalled at any time. But when she had asked about Club Desire, he made it sound like he’d been here once or twice, and then added as almost an afterthought that he knew the owner.

Yet he actually worked for the owner, had helped design the club, and obviously spent a good deal of time here.

She sighed. While he hadn’t been fully forthcoming with her, he still hadn’t lied. He had answered her question honestly and even offered to talk to the owner on her behalf. He’d been under no obligation to share more with her, even if she wished he had.

Kate wanted to push away from Dex and wrap her anger and hurt around her like a protective blanket, but being in his arms felt too good to ruin with tantrum theatrics.

Her anger ebbed as she thought the situation through. The hurt, however, might take longer.

Dex eased away from her, just enough so he could capture her gaze. “I’m sorry I had to leave so quickly. And I’m sorry you had to see what happened with Min.” She saw in his gaze how sincere he was on both subjects, and how much anger and guilt he carried over the latter. She wondered why there would be guilt.

Kate swallowed hard and forced words through her tight lips. “I was sorry you had to leave so quickly, too. I had hoped for more time before you were recalled.”

There. That wasn’t too bad.

She hadn’t babbled about how she had wanted to see him again, and how much she wanted his hands on her, or gushed over how she had hoped to have more nights like the one they’d shared.

Just a simple statement that she hoped he couldn’t read too much into.

“Why don’t we sit?” He led her to the love seat where she and Sandra had sat while they were talking to Brent before he’d been paged.

Once more, she sank into the soft leather, but this time, Dex sat next to her, pulling her against him, as if he had every right to do so.

She thought about pulling back. Setting a boundary. But then she shook her head as she admitted that he did have that right.