Dangerous (The Complete Erotic Romance Novel) (36 page)

She was looking around, admiring the chandeliers and fine upholstery while trying to not look awed, when a man spoke beside her table. “You must be Miss Jones.”

Kendra glanced up at a man’s deep voice. A handsome hunk of a man was standing beside the table where she’d been seated. She didn’t know him, but he was so elegantly dressed he could have been Reid’s twin.

Except he was black.

And Reid was at a table not far away, pretending he didn’t know her.

Kendra didn’t understand exactly, but she wasn’t going to let that interfere with Reid’s plans. She was his toy and his submissive, which meant she was supposed to play along. If this was a test, Kendra wasn’t going to fail.

“I am,” she agreed with a smile.

“Reid sent me,” the man said and slid into the banquette to her right. He moved so he was seated close to her, his thigh against her own. Kendra made to instinctively move away, but his left hand landed on her thigh to stop her. His fingers spread out, his hand warm and his grip firm. “My name is Rex,” he said, his voice low.

He had green eyes. Kendra stared at him, unable to make sense of what was happening. “I see,” she said, even though she didn’t. “How nice to meet you.” She offered her hand, and he took it, pressing a kiss to its back. His left hand never left her thigh.

In fact, it seemed to press down on her a bit more firmly. His grip tightened for a moment, and Kendra understood.

He was her test.

He was going to feed her while Reid watched.

Her heart fluttered when Rex pressed his thigh against hers. The restaurant had long white table cloths, long enough to hide anything he did to her. He pulled up the skirt of her dress and his hand was on top of her stockings, as if he staked a claim.

Kendra felt her lips part. How much did he know about what she was wearing?

He watched her as his warm fingertip traced the line of her garter, sliding against her bare skin. Kendra swallowed and stared back at him, keeping her mouth slightly open and her posture relaxed.

Rex smiled. “Reid has told me a great deal about you.”

“He hasn’t mentioned you.”

“Does he have to?” His question was low and dangerous, a warning. Kendra’s thigh was squeezed for that, even that momentary move showing her the man’s strength.

“Of course not.”

Rex pushed her skirt up a little more, his gaze locked with hers and his lips curved in a slight smile. His finger slid under the top of her thigh in a slow caress, moving steadily toward her crotch.

Kendra fought the impulse to lock her legs together.

“You know how to sit,” Rex said quietly and Kendra exhaled as she spread her knees wide.

He smiled, his pinky finger finding the chain. He gave it a small tug, watching her closely for her reaction. She looked to Reid, who was watching them avidly over the top of his book, his eyes the most vivid hue of blue she’d ever seen them.

He liked this.

That was sufficient for Kendra.

He was sharing her, at least to some extent, and watching.

Making her fantasy come true.

Kendra leaned against Rex as if exchanging a confidence. “I don’t understand the sunglasses,” she whispered and he chuckled a little.

“So you can close your eyes without anyone knowing,” he said softly. “Reid said you’d understand if I said ‘secrets and displays.’”

Kendra did. She looked once at Reid and noticed he was smiling slightly. She knew from his expression he thought she wouldn’t play along, that maybe she’d fail his test or even bolt. But she’d surprise him. She wasn’t going to fail.

She’d told him what would make the scene hot, and he’d provided all the ingredients. This was her chance to explore a fantasy.

While he was watching, which was the best part of all.

Clearly, she was being rewarded.

“You’re going to have to order then,” she informed Rex sweetly. “I’m not going to be able to read the menu.”

“Of course,” Rex said. “Any allergies or dislikes?”

“None.” Kendra swallowed and closed her eyes. “I’m in your hands.”

“You certainly are.”

“I just hope the reward is worth it.”

“I think, Miss Jones, you can count upon that.”

* * *

It was excruciating to watch Miss Jones with Rex.

Reid had suspected he wouldn’t enjoy it, but it was much more difficult than he’d imagined. The worst part was that Miss Jones seemed to be enjoying it so much. She was so compliant, so submissive, so damn obedient. She didn’t rebel at all against him giving her to Rex, much less to anything Rex suggested.

He watched Rex feed her, knowing exactly how she would take each bite. He could practically smell her perfume and the wet heat of her puss. He could easily imagine how her thigh would feel beneath his hand, how slick her puss would be, how she’d catch her breath when the chain was tugged slightly against her heat.

She and Rex could have been the lovers.

Reid found himself burning with jealousy. Every time Miss Jones smiled, he felt betrayed. Every time she laughed, he wished he was the one beside her. Every time she touched Rex, Reid burned to claim her for himself again and again and again. It was ridiculous, because he had created the situation. He had arranged this.

And it was driving him crazy.

He reminded himself this was what she wanted—to be shared and watched.

He reminded himself that she already had a dangerous power over him. He reminded himself of those photographs, but that only made him want to refresh the marks from the riding crop.

To prove his ownership of her.

He told himself that this was healthy for both of them, testing the boundaries before they were emotionally involved.

Even if Reid feared that it was already too late for that.

* * *

Chapter Fourteen

“Tell me what you’re wearing,” Rex murmured after he’d ordered their meal. Kendra was sitting beside him still, his muscled thigh against her own and his hand on the bare skin at the top of her thigh. She had put on the sunglasses at his instruction, and had her eyes closed. Even so, she could practically feel Reid watching them, along with a delicious sense of being very naughty.

“I don’t understand,” Kendra asked, although she did.

“What are you wearing besides this very pretty dress?”

“Stockings,” Kendra said, feeling herself flush.

“Yes,” Rex said, amusement in his tone. His finger slid under the edge of the stocking, then followed the line of her garter up her thigh. “And a garter belt.” His palm flattened over her leg, then moved upward. “A most interesting little chain.”

“Jewelry,” Kendra said, feeling breathless.

“A gift?”

“Yes.”

Rex tugged the chain a little, driving its maddening coolness against her puss. “And where does it go?”

“It’s tied in a modification of John Wilkie’s string tie,” Kendra admitted, easing aside the neckline of her dress on the opposite side so Rex could see the chain there.

“So, you’re bound in a fine chain all the time,” he mused.

“Yes, sir.”

“Rex,” he insisted. “Call me Rex.”

“Yes, Rex.”

“Panties?”

“No, Rex.”

“Then your ass should be on the leather banquette.” He lifted his hand from her thigh while Kendra pulled her skirt out from beneath her butt. The leather was cold and smooth, the touch of it making her feel sinful. “Better.”

The weight of his hand landed on the back of her waist, then slid up and down slightly. “And what’s this?”

“A gift,” Kendra said. “But I couldn’t fasten it tightly enough myself.”

“Of course not. I’ll have to help you with that later.”

“Thank you, Rex.”

“How tight do you like it?”

“Very tight, Rex.”

“Excellent. And it has cups?”

“Only lower ones, Rex.”

“Give me your hand.”

Kendra opened her hand, palm up, on Rex’s thigh. Something cool was placed into her palm. Metal. Then he folded her fingers over it.

“Put this in your purse,” he murmured. “Then go to the ladies’ room and put these on.”

Kendra caught her breath, knowing what they were. Nipple clamps. She bit the side of her lip in the signal arranged with Reid.

“A question?”

“May I open my eyes, Rex?”

He chuckled. “Only when you’re gone from the table. Don’t take long. I’m feeling impatient.”

“Yes, Rex.” Kendra put the nipple clamps in her purse, then eased around the banquette. She opened her eyes only when she was standing up. The other people in the restaurant, to her amazement, were continuing with their meals, as if nothing untoward was happening.

Her dress fell back into place as she stood up and she walked to the ladies’ room, aware the two men were watching her closely. There was another woman washing her hands and fixing her lipstick. Kendra went into a stall and pulled out the nipple clamps. They were silver with fur between the grips, fierce looking little things that were small enough to not show through her dress. She slipped her dress off her shoulders and pinched one of her nipples, as Reid had done, then put on the clamp.

It was tighter than the other ones had been and sent a jolt of mingled pleasure and pain through her body. She felt wetter then, her body keenly aware of sensation. She swallowed and licked her lips, then put on the other clamp. She took a deep breath and rearranged her dress, then flushed the toilet.

The other woman was still there, applying her lipstick. She watched Kendra in the mirror as Kendra washed her hands, then reapplied her own lipstick. She fixed her hair, noting how flushed she was, then turned away from the questions in the older woman’s eyes and returned to the table.

Rex was waiting.

Reid was gone.

What was wrong?

She returned to her seat, pulling up her skirt as she moved around to sit against Rex again. She placed her purse on the opposite site and parted her knees, placing her hands there.

“Well?” Rex asked.

“They’re very tight.”

He chuckled. “Yes. No point in letting you forget about them.”

“No, Rex.”

Where was Reid? Was he abandoning her? Handing her off? Or just out of her sight? Kendra’s breathing hitched with the conviction that she knew very little about Rex.

But wasn’t that the point? She’d surrendered to Reid and was supposed to comply with his decisions. It wasn’t up to her.

“Have a sip of wine,” Rex urged and she thought she heard compassion in his voice. She felt the touch of glass against her lip. She opened her mouth and took a small sip. It was white wine, cool and crisp and refreshing. “Another?” Rex asked.

“Yes, please.”

He gave her another sip, and she felt him watching her.

“You are intriguing, Miss Jones,” he said. “Tell me a bit about yourself.”

“Like what?”

“Have you played these games before?”

“Never. Have you, Rex?”

“Frequently.” The waiter came then and Kendra smelled food. Rex spoke to the waiter after the food had been put on the table, assuring him that they didn’t need anything else. She could feel the waiter’s curiosity and guessed from the sound and smell that only Rex had been served. “I thought we’d keep things simple tonight, Miss Jones,” he said quietly. “A full meal might be too much on your first attempt.”

“Thank you, Rex.”

A utensil touched her lip and Kendra obediently opened her mouth. Something silky smooth, creamy and rich slid into her mouth. Warm. It tasted like seafood. Lobster.

“Lobster bisque, Miss Jones,” Rex said.

“Thank you, Rex. It’s delicious.”

He fed her French bread, warm with butter, and more of the bisque. He gave her a few more sips of wine. He was attentive and careful, but Kendra couldn’t help thinking that the exchange would have been more exciting if it had been Reid feeding her.

Even if Reid had been watching them.

The short meal seemed to take forever, and Rex was clearly in no hurry. He talked about his infant son and his partner, a woman who Kendra understood liked the same games as Rex. She wondered if he was monogamous, then knew he couldn’t be, not if he was sitting in a restaurant feeding another man’s sex slave.

And promising to tighten her corset.

He insisted on having a Scotch afterward, lingering over it and a piece of dark and bittersweet chocolate. He shared both with Kendra, and she was surprised by how well they went together.

She heard him pay the bill and thank the waiter, and knew the end of their meal had come.

She wondered what he had planned.

She wondered whether Reid knew.

She wondered how late it was.

Then Rex touched her elbow and bent to whisper in her ear. “Right with me, Miss Jones. Keep your eyes closed and I’ll guide you out.”