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  Kayla watched, glad for the heels she wore that allowed her to see slightly better than without them. She was constantly aware of Gage’s presence at her back, though. He righted himself, but his hands held her waist on both sides, and his mouth tickled her ear repeatedly when he told her little details about Rider’s skills.

  “Wow. That’s an amazing tattoo,” Kayla said as Rider turned away from her and she saw the expanse of wings across his back.

  “So, you like tattoos?” Gage’s voice was teasing. His hands slipped around her until he held her firmly against his front, both arms crossed under her breasts.

  She couldn’t breathe, and it had nothing to do with how tight he held her. She couldn’t concentrate on anything except how good it felt to have him behind her, touching her so reverently. Like a real date. Surrounded by his scent and his frame, she lost track of what round Rider was in. She never answered the question about tattoos, but she did remember the details of the display on Gage’s body. And she hoped to soon see the words across his arm and six pack in the near future.

  “He’s something, isn’t he?” Gage asked.

  He might have been, but Kayla’s vision was clouded. And it didn’t improve any when Gage stroked the underside of her breasts with his thumbs. She took a deep breath and tried to stand taller and maybe dislodge him, but he simply chuckled and held her still. “So wiggly,” he whispered in her ear, his breath making her shiver. “Stay still.” He squeezed her firmly, and she lifted her hands to grasp his forearms as his thumbs stroked higher against her chest until he suddenly flicked them both across her nipples.

  Kayla gasped, her nails digging into his arms.

  “Put your arms down, baby,” he muttered. “Watch the match.”

  She jerked her gaze toward the ring, not having realized the world had ceased to exist as she fell under Gage’s spell.

  “Arms, baby. Put them at your sides. Submit to me.”

  Here? She lowered both hands, but as she did so, a knot formed in her belly, and her pussy grew so wet she could feel the moisture gathering in her thong. Suddenly she wished she hadn’t chosen the jean skirt.

  Gage yelled something out to Rider she couldn’t hear. To anyone else, she knew it would appear he was watching his friend fight with all his attention. But Kayla knew better. It was a show. The man mastered her in the crowd. His fingers worked magic on her nipples until they were so stiff they ached. He flicked them repeatedly, and whenever no one was looking, he pinched them, hard.

  Kayla melted. If he let go, she was sure she would collapse to the floor.

  Their first sort of official date had just begun, and already he had her in a state of arousal to rival any other date she’d ever been on. Not that there had been many. She’d been with no one since Simon and only a few men before him, none of whom she’d slept with. Simon had been a piss-poor excuse for a date after about a month of luring her into his web.

  Had he ever been as attentive as Gage? She couldn’t remember. In the early days, she was so enamored, she would do anything for him. She was a virgin, even though she was almost twenty. And Simon played her so well, she never recognized the signs until it was too late.

  Was she a poor judge of character? She thought about Gage, the way he looked at her, held her, made her so horny she couldn’t think straight. He managed that nearly every time they were together. Had it only been two weeks? She’d fallen hard. Just like she had for Simon…

  Kayla stiffened. Worry ate at her and dampened the good feelings flooding her body. What if Gage was no different? After all, he was doing some of the same things Simon had in the beginning. Overly attentive. Focused intently on her needs. Saying all the right things.

  Shit. She needed to slow this down before she made poor choices. She shoved the obvious differences from her mind—the fact that he hadn’t pressured her since she’d agreed to date him, the fact that he hadn’t had sex with her even though he’d slept with her in his arms, the fact that he’d taken such care with her when she’d stopped their scene instead of continuing to whip her and paying no attention to her needs. Still she worried.

  The match ended as Kayla stiffened further.

  Gage leaned to her ear again. “You okay, baby?”

  She nodded, too quick, too hard.

  He released her and took her hand. “Come on.” He lifted his gaze to the other women. “We’ll be back.” And then he led her away, totally the Dom. He didn’t ask her opinion. He simply pulled her by the hand.

  He isn’t Simon. Not even close. Don’t read so much into this.

  When they left the main arena and stepped into the lobby, the crowd thinned. The noise level lowered as the door shut behind them. People stood in long lines for snacks or the bathroom, but the hustle and bustle of the spectators was greatly reduced.

  Gage pulled her across the pathway and leaned against the wall, situating her between his spread legs and taking her face in both palms. “Talk to me.”

  She lifted her eyelids. “About what?” God, had he really read her that well?

  He narrowed his gaze. “Come on, baby. You froze, like something triggered a reaction you didn’t like.”

  She chewed her bottom lip between her teeth until Gage stroked over the offended flesh with his thumb and tugged it free.

  “You okay now?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I get it, you know. More than you think. You’ve been through something horrible. I’m not stupid. And I’ll do my best to make sure I catch your cues and stop when you need me to. But I’m fighting an uphill battle without all the cards.”

  “I know.” Not that she intended to give him anything else to play with, but she understood. Her shoulders slumped. There was no way for this to work long-term. Her past was too painful to share with anyone, and Gage was too astute to let it slide forever., but God how she wished she could keep him. He was fucking sexy as hell, and he treated her like a queen—when she wasn’t busy wigging out wondering about his intentions.

  Gage let out a slow exhale. He set his forehead against hers. “I can also read from your reaction that you think I can’t take the heat.”

  She smiled wanly. He was spot on. She knew he couldn’t take the heat, at least not forever.

  He grinned wider. “I can, Kayla. And I’ll prove it to you.”

  She nodded subtly against his forehead. “There are some things I’ll never discuss, Gage.”

  His gaze nailed her, eliminating everything else happening around them to just dull noise. “Let’s worry about that later, way down the line.”

  She nodded again, but she wasn’t sure he understood how important this was to her.

  “I’m so glad you came. I wanted to share this part of me. Did you really enjoy it?” Bless him for changing the subject.

  “Yep. But I don’t think Katy or Jenna are very fond of the sport.”

  “Nope. Not a bit. But they come occasionally for moral support. Most times they go to dinner or the movies while we fight.” He set his thumb on her lower lip and stroked back and forth, distracting her even though he continued speaking as if nothing about his action was making her arousal shoot through the roof again. “Emily enjoys it, though. If you want to come, you’re welcome anytime. She usually watches. You can exchange numbers and join her in the groupie section.” He grinned.

  Kayla tried to catch most of his words, but she was far more interested in the heat rising across her chest from his thumb toying with her lip. In fact, she couldn’t stop herself from reaching out her tentative tongue and flicking it across the pad.

  Gage groaned. He released her face with his other hand and smoothed it down her back, pressing her into his crotch. His cock bulged at her belly. There was no way to miss it. “You’re gonna kill me.” He rolled his head back against the wall and then released her, setting her away from him a few inches. “Let’s get back inside.”

  Kayla followed behind him in the same manner they’d exited, him holding her hand in a way that was more pos
sessive than guiding. His pressure on her fingers was more than gentle casual handholding, but not enough that she couldn’t yank free if she wanted.

  He asserted his dominance with her in a way that was private, between the two of them. The average person around them wouldn’t notice.

  When they reached the other women, Katy’s husband Rafe was about to start. Gage made fun of her as she winced before the first punch was thrown.

  Katy scrunched up her nose. “Why on earth do you men find it necessary to pummel each other to death for fun? I’ll never understand.”

  Gage settled behind Kayla again. He kept both hands on her waist, spreading his fingers wide enough for it to seem like he touched her everywhere all at once, but he didn’t resume torturing her nipples into stiff peaks. Not that he had to touch the tips for them to swell and stiffen. He did that simply by being in the room. But at least she was able to watch the last fight with some level of concentration.

  When it was over, at least the middleweight portion, Gage led them all toward the lobby, through an unmarked door, and down a long hall toward the locker rooms. One by one the other three guys emerged.

  Kayla was fascinated by how much they each adored their woman. Considering she knew they were all Doms, it was intriguing how they interacted with each other and their submissives. Each man had subtle moves that demonstrated what Kayla knew to be true about their relationships, but nothing that would let anyone else around in the loop.

  There were also two more men who came out. Gage introduced her. “The rest of The Fight Club. Zane. Conner. This is Kayla.”

  Kayla shook both their hands. She recognized Zane as the man who fought as she was leaving the arena to talk to Gage. She must have missed Conner altogether. He was taller than all of them and older, maybe late thirties.

  The ten of them left through a side door and agreed to meet at a local outdoor taco stand for a late night snack before going to Extreme.

  Kayla rode with Gage. Nerves got ahold of her. She tucked her hands under her thighs to keep from fidgeting. It was strange being out with Gage as his date this first time. She’d known him forever, but this was different. He easily laid claim to her in a way no one could deny, and it was at once daunting and exciting. There was nothing awkward about the way he always had a hand on her somewhere, and even kissed her temple on occasion. It was comfortable. But was it too soon?

  If this idea crashed and burned, which she had every expectation it eventually would, she’d never be able to step foot into Extreme again. And she liked the club.

  She fought to keep her negativity at bay, smiling and making conversation with everyone while they ate tacos and stuffed themselves full of chips and salsa.

  By the time they arrived at the club, Kayla was more or less at ease with the group. As usual, Frank was situated at the door to Extreme. For as long as Kayla had been coming there, he’d been the front line. He nodded at all of them and gave Kayla a double take when he realized she was with the group. He smiled on her way by.

  The usual man was also at the front desk, Harper. He shook the men’s hands and nodded at the women. He too raised an eyebrow when he saw the way Gage held Kayla’s hand, but he didn’t say anything.

  Kayla separated from Gage in the hall and followed the women to the locker room to change.

  It felt strange coming to a place she’d been to more times than she could count over the last few years and yet doing it on the arm of a Dom. Not just any Dom, but Gage. She quickly changed into the sexiest dress she owned, wanting to impress him. It was a deep purple and it fit skintight, draping over one shoulder. It was made of two types of material in the same color. Half of it was a solid fabric that spiraled around her body, sweeping over her shoulder, across her chest, and then circling one hip to come around the back and encase her bottom. The final section reached around the front just far enough to cover her sex. In between the solid material was a mesh in the same shade of purple.

  When Kayla stepped in front of the mirror to slip her black heels back on, she paused for a moment. She’d purchased the dress on a whim over a year ago, but she’d never actually worn it to the club. She loved how it fit and how she felt in it. But was it too much for tonight? The most provocative part was that she couldn’t wear anything under it. No bra. No panties. Either item would show, and likewise it wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to realize she wore neither.

  Kayla was still staring at herself, pondering her choice when Emily came up behind her. She whistled. “Shit, girl. You look fantastic.”

  Kayla flushed. “You think? It’s not too much?”

  Katy stepped around the corner next. “Damn. Too much? Too much what? Material?” She fingered the strap at Kayla’s shoulder. “That is smokin’ hot on you. Gage is gonna drop his eyeballs.”

  Kayla squirmed, tugging on the hem. She wasn’t quite as sure. It wasn’t that she didn’t agree with the other women’s assessment. She did. Even her boobs looked fantastic the way they were encased behind the solid purple, leaving little to the imagination. But was this a good choice for tonight?

  Not that she could back down. She didn’t have any other options besides the jean skirt she’d worn at the arena.

  Jenna stepped up next. “Don’t doubt yourself on this one. It’s perfect.”

  Kayla turned and smiled at the women. “Thanks. For everything. For taking me with you and treating me like one of the gang. I appreciate your friendship, even before I’ve earned it.”

  Jenna dabbed at her eyes. “Stop it. I’m gonna cry.”

  “Yeah,” Emily added, “Gage has had the hots for you for a long time. If he likes you, we knew the rest of us would too. You have nothing to prove.”

  He’s had the hots for me for a long time. And everyone knew about it? Wow.

  “Let’s go.” Katy turned to head for the door.

  Kayla followed the others, taking the rear, hoping like hell she was making the right choice.

  Trusting Gage with her body was easy. She already knew he was a fantastic Dom and an upstanding citizen. She could submit to him easily. But trusting him with her heart? That was an entirely different thing. She didn’t trust anyone to that level. Because she didn’t trust herself enough.

  Chapter Eight

  Gage was stunned speechless when Kayla walked toward him. He’d never seen her in anything close to the dress she wore. Sexy didn’t begin to describe her. In fact, he stared at her from his seat with his jaw hanging open.

  Finally, he found a brain cell and jumped up from his seat.

  “I told her she rocked this dress,” Emily said from the other side of the table.

  Gage heard Emily giggling, but he didn’t take his gaze off Kayla.

  The woman bit her lower lip in between her teeth on one side.

  He wrapped an arm around her middle and hauled her in close. He set his lips on her ear and whispered for only her to hear. “You look amazing, baby.” He flattened his hand and ran it down her back and across her ass to prove what he already knew—she wore nothing underneath the dress.

  Gage swallowed as he stepped over one chair so Kayla could take the seat he’d been in.

  She sat, but timidly, crossing her legs and tugging on the hemline of the dress. There was no way her ass was covered against the chair¸ making Gage stifle a moan.

  He’d lusted after this woman forever it seemed, and here she was on his arm at his club wearing the sexiest dress in the room.

  She lowered her gaze to her lap and fidgeted with her hands until he set one hand over hers and squeezed, holding them both with his own. “I got you a water. Wasn’t sure what you might want.”

  “Water’s good. Thanks.”

  They hadn’t discussed the particulars of what their roles would be with each other, and Gage found himself not giving a fuck as long as she was next to him. He’d always thought he needed a nice submissive woman at his side, but suddenly that didn’t seem as important as having Kayla at his side. She was certainly submissive, b
ut not like other women. She wasn’t a twenty-four-seven type of submissive for sure.

  Gage wanted her more than anything, but he also didn’t want to fuck this up. And forcing her to be demure didn’t suit her. He would do any scene with her she requested, but he couldn’t visualize pulling her around by a chain or having her sit at his feet. He wanted her to be whole. She’d been through something very traumatic. Whatever it was, he wanted to eradicate it.

  One by one, the others drifted away to dance, chat with other couples, or do a scene.

  When Gage was finally alone with Kayla, he turned to face her. He still held her hands in his, stroking her fingers with his thumb. “You’re nervous.”

  She lifted her gaze and licked her lips. “Yeah. Is it super obvious?”

  “Not to anyone else, probably.” He winked. “I’m astute.”

  “That in and of itself makes me nervous. Nothing gets by you.”

  “Relax. Tell me, what makes you nervous? Are you uncomfortable with anything I’ve done?”

  “No. Of course not.” She shook her head.

  Determined to lessen the mystery, he pressed further, “Are you afraid of doing a scene with me?”

  “No.”

  “Last time we were here, it didn’t go so well. We don’t have to do anything at all. If you want, we can just sit here and talk. Or we can dance. Or we can procure a public scene, or even a private one if you’d like. Your call.”

  She balled her fingers tighter. “I don’t know what I want.”

  The honesty he saw in her wide eyes when she lifted her head brought him down a notch.

  “Perhaps you’d like me to take the reins and Dom for you for the rest of the evening. Take the choices out of your control?”

  She sucked her bottom lip under in a way that made him fight against a groan. “That would be nice, Sir.”

  Instantly she was in the role.

  “Trust me to make good choices, okay?”