(( ✗ )) Her face was red with embarrassment. She hadn’t even looked at her knees yet. They hurt, but her pride hurt more. The moment the door to his office shut she began to fidget in his arms. “Put me down, please,” she said. But he didn’t let her down until he placed her on the sofa. Kingsley kneeled in front of her, pulling her leg out in front of her. “You don’t have to look at it. I can go back to the club.”
“Lucky knees.” She said. Did he know his fingers were caressing her calf muscles? His touch was soothing and his fingers smooth. She closed her eyes relishing the slight touch. Her pain was gone, wow he had healing hands. Noelle gazed at him. “You don’t like other men touching me.” She blurted the words out unable to stop them when he paused on her knee. She licked her lips. “Because of you being a Dom?” Why was she talking to him? She was angry at him. Mad and wanted him to leave her alone. The way he was caressing her calf made her feel like falling to sleep.
She saw his other hand tighten on his own thigh. The knuckles were white. She eased up off the seat, missing his touch as she did. Her knees hurt, and she was looking forward to a bath. “You need to stop sending men away,” she said, stretching her hands above her head. “Do you always send unwanted men away with other women in your club?” She took a step toward him invading his space. A finger poked against his chest. “I’m not your responsibility, Javier. I can do whatever the hell I like. You don’t know everything about me, Mr. Kingsley.” Noelle stated. As his hands came up grasping her arms she whimpered from the strength in his arms. Who wouldn’t be affected by this man? She put an arm’s distance between them. Noelle waited for him to let her go. She stared at him for a few seconds trying to see if there was any sign of her effect on him. There was nothing visible. “See you around.” She turned on her heel and left.
Kingsley watched her leave. The sway of her hips and that full rounded ass tempted him where he stood. He wanted to call her back, strip the skirt from her body and to see how full the curve of her ass actually was. She shouldn’t be tempting him like this. He ran a hand over his face in an attempt to stem his desire for her. The pulse of his cock was not going away. He cursed her for invading his thoughts. Glancing around his office, he tried to find something to take his mind off her. All he smelt was her subtle perfume that permeated the air. “Fuck,” he said. Seeing no salvation in his office, he left the room and made his way down to the dungeon where the real action was taking place. The beat of the music in Eden held no appeal. He didn’t know if she had left or whether she was out there dancing with some asshole.
He took his usual booth in the back of the club so he could watch the proceedings. The main bulk of the club was clear of any serious action. A female sub was being punished for an indiscretion with missing a Dom’s title. Watching his club usually calmed him whereas now all he saw was Noelle. What would she look like knelt at his feet or offering to do anything he ever wanted. Tate and Kevin came over interrupting his thoughts. They were two friends who dealt with security. From what he knew they were brilliant at what they did and had made a fortune from the services they provided. They sat on either side of him, their expressions looking grim. “Odd to see you here,” Javier said, sipping a brandy that a waitress had brought over to him. Javier listened while Tate continued talking. The sound of a sub crying out in pleasure pulled their attention out of their conversation. Javier saw the dark-haired beauty being brought to climax. All of a sudden the woman changed in his mind’s eye. He saw two-toned hair. The brown became black with the contrasting blond underneath. He shook his head trying to clear his thoughts. Noelle shouldn’t be in his thoughts. She was too young, wasn't she? She called him Mister, now he imagined her calling him daddy. Turning his attention back to the table, he thought about Noelle with her sweet smile. That sweet smile had turned into one dripping with sexual promise only moments ago. “I need you to do something else for me,” Javier said.
“What do you need?” Tate asked as Kevin joined them at the table.
“I want you to do a background check. I want to know past boyfriends of Noelle, her scores in college, and where she works now.”
What the hell are you doing? She’s younger than you. You shouldn’t be doing this.
Stop.
He couldn’t stop.
Tate pulled out a book and began making notes.
“When do you want this information for?”
“As soon as you can get it.” Javier sipped his drink. A sub stood by their table looking down at the floor.
“Yes,” Javier said with a growl to his voice.
“My master has offered me to you,” the voice said.
“Tell him I’m not interested.”
“That’s not like you, Javier, pushing away a sub.”
He didn’t say anything as he downed his drink.
“Get me those details.” He left the dungeon without a backward glance. Some people tried to catch his attention, he ignored them, pretending he hadn’t seen them. Javier walked out of his club and asked Leo to get him a cab to take him to Possession, Stephen's club.
He waited while Leo talked to the driver firm. They used one who knew the score and kept their mouths shut. Once inside, the driver didn’t speak to him or acknowledge his presence. Javier stared out of the window trying to get the black and red haired beauty out of his mind. At the gate to Possession, he typed in the twelve digit number for his access code. The gates opened and immediately shut when the car drove down the path leading up to the house.
He was surprised to see there was no doorman when he entered. Javier kept his coat and made his way down to Stephen’s office. Lucas and Sean were coming down the stairs looking like they’d just been to hell. He saw Lucas give him a nod of the head before leaving. “I’m surprised to see you here,” Sean said. The man looked like he’d aged twenty years.
“Are you still drinking from the bottle?” Javier asked.
“No, I drink from the glass and keep the bottle close by.” Sean walked away leaving Lucas and Javier alone.
“I think you need to talk to Stephen.”
Lucas walked past him leaving Javier alone.
He knocked on the door and heard his friend’s muffled voice letting him know the door was open. Walking into the room Javier was shocked by what greeted him. There were piles of paperwork on the table. Stephen sat in the centre of the room looking through some of the mounds of paperwork. Stephen looked up. “Javier? Is that you?” Stephen went back to reading.
“Why don’t you have a doorman?”
“He quit when he was attacked at the door by a pair who’d managed to get an access code to the gate. They didn’t look like regulars. They were members of the press. After the attack there was an exposé on the people who worked here. I compensated him, and his job will still be here when all this crap dies down.” Stephen explained without looking up.
Javier looked at the never ending paperwork. “How did they get the access codes?”
“Someone hacked our security. I’ve had Tate and Kevin put a tighter lock on things. I’m hoping it will hold up any possible threat. I’ve had it up to here with them.” Stephen raised his hand above his head. Dane hadn’t looked up at him. Javier didn’t like this other man. For him, he represented all the crap that was happening. Dane listened to them talk. They were getting close to putting their history together. He’d figured it. "I know you're familiar with the office buildings here in town I need some information. It's all about the girl in the bar, you remember and these two girls, her friends, they aren't good for her. I've known her as a little girl when her father was killed at that time, I gave her mother my word, I'll take care of her, then she disappeared, she went to college. Now she works in the city. I am responsible for her, again, you know? I wanted to keep her safe, and I hate the fact that her friends are in love with an illusion. I send these two girls in your club, and you owe me a favor." At his words silence descended on the room. Stephen nodded. "I understand, I had no idea." he said. "Personal transactions remain in the family. We know you want to save her, Kingsley. We’re going to help any way." He owed Kingsley so much. Kingsley knew he was putting his life on the line to help him, who’d helped to free him years ago. "We know what you did, Stephen. Past is past, your files will disappear. Be sure." Now he knew that Stephen knew when Noelle would also appear in his club, Kingsley would be informed.
