Mine Page 12

  She couldn’t want for anything more than what she had right now. The sense of fulfillment washing through her was worth every tear she’d shed in her past. And she knew that by giving Miles Club Sin, Dmitri had done the right thing for everyone involved.

  “Presley.”

  The hard command sent heat straight down to her toes. She turned, finding Dmitri, all Dom and intense, frowning at her. “You said you were getting drinks. You didn’t bring the water back to me.”

  “I…” She swallowed against the surge of arousal flooding her. Those eyes; that voice. Dmitri knew how to set her on fire. “I hadn’t quite gotten there yet.”

  One brow arched. “Ah, that is a shame.”

  “Why?”

  Miles quickly made his exit as Dmitri’s grin began to shift, becoming one of pure sin. “Because now I’ll have to punish you.”

  At one time in her life, Dmitri, in his Dom mode, would have unnerved her. Not now. Two years of being with him had taught her that sometimes a Dom corrected behavior that he didn’t approve of. Other times he found opportunities to punish to start playtime. This was one of those times.

  She mirrored his grin. “Oh no, sir, not a punishment.”

  His eyes darkened, growing smokier with his arousal. “I’ve created a saucy sub. What have I done?” He reached for her, cupping her face, rich amusement in his eyes. “I wonder what I should do about this?”

  A few suggestions came to mind. She settled on one. “Fuck the sassiness right out of me, sir?”

  “No, Presley.” His smile—filled with such passion leaving her winded—spread across his face, as he pressed his hard cock against her. “I’ll fuck you until you beg me to stop.” His mouth brushed across her cheek, stopping at her ear, where he whispered, “Then I’ll fuck you again.”

  She leaned back to stare into his piercing eyes, which had opened her own eyes to a life of happiness she’d never known she wanted. “Sounds like a dare, sir.”

  His mouth came within inches of hers; she could smell his minty breath. He tangled his fingers in the strands of her hair, locking her into his hold. “No, doll. As always, it’s a promise.”

  Dear Reader,

  It’s hard to believe the Club Sin series is over, isn’t it?

  I cannot express how much all of your support has meant to me. Every email I’ve received and all the kind words you’ve sent to me have brightened my days. I’m touched by how much the Club Sin gang has become a part of your life, as much as they’ve become a part of mine.

  While we’re saying goodbye to our beloved Club Sin Doms, I’m so excited to introduce you to the new spin-off series, Dirty Little Secrets. If you thought the Club Sin Doms were men to die for, wait until you meet Micah, Darius, Ryder, and Gabe. Prepare to swoon! These men do not disappoint!

  Keep reading on for a sneak preview of Bound Beneath His Pain, the first book in the Dirty Little Secrets series.

  Lots of love!

  —Stacey

  For my Club Sin readers

  Acknowledgments

  To my agent, Jessica, thank you so much for selling the Club Sin series, and for all your hard work during that process. It’s amazing that we have seven books behind us now! I can’t wait to see what our future holds.

  Sue, thanks for taking a chance on Club Sin, and for sticking by me throughout this series. It’s been a fun journey. Your support has meant everything to me. I’m so excited to see what we do next together!

  To everyone at Random House, from marketing to cover artists to everyone in between, thank you for all that you do.

  BY STACEY KENNEDY

  Club Sin

  Claimed

  Bared

  Desired

  Freed

  Tamed

  Commanded

  Mine

  Dirty Little Secrets

  Bound Beneath His Pain

  Magic & Mayhem

  Witches Be Burned

  Warlocks Be Hexed (coming soon)

  PHOTO: PAIGE RICHARDSON

  STACEY KENNEDY is the USA Today bestselling author of the Club Sin series. She writes deeply emotional romances about powerful men and the wild women who tame them. When she’s not plugging away at a new story, she’s either hiking, canoeing, relaxing around a campfire, or obsessing over Penny Dreadful, Game of Thrones, or Outlander. Stacey lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband (who puts any of the heroes in her books to shame), their two young children, and her third baby: a mini labradoodle named Jax.

  staceykennedy.com

  Facebook.com/​authorstaceykennedy

  @Stacey_Kennedy

  The Editor’s Corner

  Another month of new Loveswept romance books is here! I know you’ll adore this selection of stories chosen just for you….

  USA Today bestselling author Claire Kent continues her emotionally charged story of longing, betrayal, and insatiable desire with Darker the Release, sequel to Sweet the Sin. Another Loveswept USA Today bestseller, Lauren Layne, introduces her new Oxford series with Irresistibly Yours. Wendy Marcus’s latest sexy yet sweet military romance, All I Need is You, releases this month as well. Then there’s another Friends First story from USA Today bestseller Laura Drewry, How Forever Feels. USA Today bestseller Stacey Kennedy finishes up her successful BDSM Club Sin series with Mine, simultaneously introducing her next series of erotic play, Dirty Little Secrets, and hot hero Micah.

  We’re back on the ice with the first in the Aces Hockey series from Kelly Jamieson, Major Misconduct. Ladies, hold on to your hearts, the Caldwell Brothers are here—USA Today bestselling author MJ Fields and Chelsea Camaron want you to meet Hendrix, the first book in a series about three alpha men who live up to their legendary names. Lastly, something a little different—bear-shifter’s anyone? An alpha hero to the extreme, hot highlander Ronan is all that you could want in Bearing It All by Vonnie Davis, perfect for fans of Jennifer Ashley and Shelly Laurenston.

  Fabulous variety with a book for everyone, yes? I hope you’ve found your book boyfriend in this month’s releases. However, if you haven’t, fear not, as November’s hot lineup is just around the corner. Until then…

  Happy Romance!

  Gina Wachtel

  Associate Publisher

  Read on for an excerpt from the first book in Stacey Kennedy’s Dirty Little Secrets series:

  Bound Beneath His Pain

  Available from Loveswept

  Chapter 1

  Allie

  I never understood sexual chemistry.

  Not truly.

  But I sure got a taste of it when the San Francisco real estate mogul Micah Holt walked into our rectangular third-floor meeting room at Richardson Real Estate. Located in Union Square above an art gallery, our office needed a renovation to fix the white paint peeling around the window frames, the worn hardwood floors, and the stale smell that never went away.

  Today, with Micah in attendance, the office seemed even more outdated.

  Enigmatic and gorgeous, Micah looked more like a fitness model than a businessman. He had stylish, short jet-black hair, a crooked nose giving him a bit of character, defined cheekbones highlighting the hard lines of his face, and an athletic squared jaw. The black tailored suit covering his six-foot-two, strong, solid body seemed to scream rip me off!

  I sat next to my assistant, Liv Sloan, on the left side of the conference table, unable to take my eyes off him. He stood silently by the floor-to-ceiling windows, exuding authority and lust, while the rest of the Richardson staff assembled for the surprise Monday morning meeting.

  God, I could only imagine the feeling of having his immense power flowing sensually over me. I knew my reaction was physical, not logical. It didn’t matter. I wanted to fuck him.

  When my ogling caught his attention, he glanced over his shoulder, his bluish gray eyes burning into mine, holding me captive. Heat trickled through my veins, lingering low in my body, daring me to go after him. He carried a self-assurance that I’d never seen before i
n a thirty-five-year-old man. Yet somehow the strength he projected seemed haunted—tainted, somehow. Untouchable, even.

  But maybe I was searching for a flaw in a man who appeared to lack one. Whatever special thing men had that called to women, this man had it in spades.

  When his eyes finally moved elsewhere, he scanned the faces around him and never really connected with anyone. I thought that said a lot about his arrogance, but by the sudden yearning for his attention to return to me, I realized I liked his particular type of arrogance.

  “What’s this about?” Liv asked, breaking into my thoughts.

  I turned in my swivel chair, finding Liv’s curious, big brown eyes on me. She had an air of innocence about her—dark, bouncy brown curls resting on her shoulders, and a natural pinkish hue across her cheeks. “Got me.” We’d only found out about the meeting a few minutes ago. “But I’m guessing since the big shot, Micah Holt, is here it can’t be good news.”

  Everyone in San Francisco knew the name of billionaire Micah Holt. He was CEO of one of the top five real estate companies in North America, Holt Enterprises, and on the board of many businesses in San Francisco.

  Liv nodded in agreement with me, then added, “Big shot or not, that man oozes sex.”

  “Of course he does.” I scrunched my nose, attempting to look unimpressed by him. “He’s an expert at making women fawn all over him.”

  Liv discreetly raised her hand, her eyes twinkling. “Sign me up! I’d fawn all over his sexy ass.”

  I laughed quietly. A couple months ago, Liv had broken up with someone and had been single ever since. She had a fondness for bad boys who drove motorcycles. Me? My last breakup that ended with a competing real estate agent, Matthew Granger, meeting someone new—who he married two months later—was the final kicker to many relationships that went nowhere.

  I was a proud hopeless romantic. I wanted that spark declaring a man was mine and I was his, though the fairy tale seemed to belong to everyone else and never me. Instead of accepting that true love only happened in the movies, I’d sworn off relationships, focusing entirely on my career.

  It might not be the ideal situation for a twenty-five-year-old, but I’d never been happier. I liked not thinking about a man all the time, not worrying over someone else, or giving a shit if I said or did the wrong thing.

  I liked freedom, I supposed.

  “Thank you for clearing your schedules,” said my boss, Henry Richardson, drawing my focus to the head of the meeting-room table.

  In the presence of Micah, Henry looked aged. His eyes were a soft brown, and he was a bit on the short side. He drank too much, leaving him with a wrinkly face, and ate more than he could burn off. He also meant the world to me.

  Shortly after my fifteenth birthday, my parents died in a plane crash. Life changed a lot back then. But when I started working for Henry four years ago, he had become a replacement father to me. At least, that’s how our relationship felt. I looked up to him. I measured every man against him. And I treasured having him in my life.

  Henry continued. “I have some news that I hope you’ll see as a positive for our company.” Our company. My heart warmed, as that one line spoke of Henry’s high regard for his employees. “As you all know, my retirement is long overdue.”

  Heavy silence and palpable disappointment carried into the meeting room like a thick cloud of poison rendering us incapacitated. Except for Micah, who stuffed his hands into his pockets and gazed out the window.

  Suddenly, I found a flaw.

  A big one.

  Henry added, “I’ve decided to make today my last day and to merge our company with Holt Enterprises.”

  People stirred around me, and I agreed with their disappointment. But my concern had nothing to do with job security—I could not lose Henry. Worry and panic tripped my heart, sending me into a frenzy of a thousand what will happen now? thoughts.

  Henry’s gentle stare fixed on me, his voice softened. “I know this comes as a shock, but when it’s time to leave, it’s time to leave.” He turned toward the suit at the window. “Micah? Anything to add?”

  I could almost hear the feminine sighs of appreciation as Micah stepped toward the table. I hated myself for being one of them. What a sucker I was; I’d totally fallen for the charm that he dished out to everyone.

  “Thank you, Henry,” said Micah, before addressing the rest of us. “I’m aware how important Richardson is to you all.” He planted on a cold, fake smile. “We at Holt are excited about this merger. You’ve got a good start here.”

  First, he pushes Henry out of his company. Second, he insults it. “A good start.” I snorted.

  Micah’s eyes shifted to me, amused. “Something to add?”

  I knew Micah’s type. Hell, I’d grown up surrounded by spoiled men who cared more about the bottom line than how they affected people. My older brother of ten years, who raised me after my parents’ death, had given me a privileged life. He also taught me the art of showing strength in the face of rich and powerful men. Never lower your gaze, he once told me. “Nope, nothing to add at the moment.”

  “Please don’t stop on my account.” The side of Micah’s mouth curved, a telling sign that he enjoyed my challenge. “I’d like to hear more of what you were saying.”

  “Oh, look!” Liv whispered under her breath. “Your big mouth has gotten you in trouble again.”

  I often landed myself in the hot seat, a place I’d become quite comfortable in. I also knew Micah’s techniques. While he seemed genuinely entertained by me, calling me out was a way of showing everyone in this room that he owned the space. “Please continue, Mr. Holt.” I smiled at him, hoping my chilly smile out-faked his. “I’m excited to hear what your plans are for our ‘good start’ of a company.”

  Henry gaped at me.

  Liv snickered into her hand.

  I stared at Micah as intently as I could, watching his shoulders stiffen. Sure, on my end of things there was a sexual attraction making my panties nearly burst into flames, but I had a bad feeling that Henry’s retirement wasn’t by choice, and that made Micah my number-one enemy.

  I watched him draw in a deep breath, shifting his strong shoulders almost imperceptibly. A line formed between his brows, and to me, it seemed like he was sizing me up. I refused to back down. Most women would, I guessed, but he couldn’t rattle me. I would never allow some overconfident guy to take away everything Henry had built.

  Richardson might not be much in size—we had only twenty employees—but we were a family and our clients were loyal. I doubted Micah had a loyal bone in his body. Men didn’t rise to power, as Micah had, without stepping on toes to get there. I knew this, because I’d seen my brother start out as a kind, loving young man and turn into a ruthless, heartless businessman.

  Wealth could—and often did—ruin people.

  That’s why I hated money and the power it offered, and it’s the very reason no one at Richardson—even Liv—knew how much money I had in my bank account, or that my brother was as well known in San Francisco as Micah.

  One second passed.

  Then another.

  Micah’s smile slowly became sexier. I could almost taste the intensity passing between us in the dry air. My traitorous body reacted to him, flushing with an unnatural heat.

  His one brow lifted at me before he looked away, and addressed the group again. “As Henry departs from the company, there will be some changes. We’ll do our best to make them as seamlessly as possible. That said, I’d like to introduce the CFO of Holt, Anderson West.” He gestured to a tall, clean-shaven man standing by the door, who was handsome in his own right, just not Micah handsome. His hair was dark with hints of silver on the sides, his eyes were a soft blue, and his oval face had gentle lines. “Anderson will be assisting in the transition. Starting today, some of you will join us at Holt. Others will remain at Richardson. But any changes will be to better both companies.” The smile that was as fake as the breasts of the co-worker sitting across
the table from me returned. “I’m confident we’ll take Richardson to the next level.”

  Oh, hell no! My fists clenched in my lap. Richardson didn’t need to change. Our sales were sitting close to $2 million. While that wasn’t much to celebrate by Micah’s standards, for everyone else in the room those sales meant something.

  Sometimes, a bigger company wasn’t better.

  It was just bigger.

  Micah continued. “I would ask that you excuse yourselves now until we call you back into the room.”

  As the crowd began to leave the meeting room, I rose from my seat and muttered to Liv, “Let’s hope he stays at Holt. That smile was as cold as the chocolate ice cream I devoured last night.”

  “Oh, please.” She grinned. “I don’t mind looking at him one bit.”

  I chuckled with her, pushing my chair under the table. The moment I stepped away to interrogate my boss about this so-called retirement business, Micah called, “Allie. One minute.”

  My heart dropped into my stomach as I turned, finding Micah staring at me with a different smile now. I wouldn’t call it friendly. That smile belonged on a predator who’d marked me as his prey.

  Micah

  Allie wasn’t a model, or an heiress, or a celebrity, but I wanted her beneath me, touched by me, owned by me. She was understated, wearing a white silk blouse and modest black skirt that didn’t flatter her body. But nothing an Atelier Versace dress, Manolo heels, and pearls couldn’t fix. She had a round face with only light makeup; her cheekbones were highlighted with rosy blush, and her light pink lips were alluringly pouty. Her stunningly crystal clear blue eyes had caught my attention first, as did her long straight chocolate-brown hair flowing over her shoulders, though I also noticed small hints of cleavage through her blouse. My groin tightened against the surge of attraction overcoming me, as her glare met my gaze.