Play Room: A Society X Novel Read online

  After I send her the text, I attach a few images of the job sites I’ve been at today so she can see the progress we’re making. Putting my phone face down, I turn my attention to Pastor Larry and the women of the congregation.

  “Tell us, Kai, are you fitting in?” one lady asks.

  “Yes, I think so.”

  “Do you like Portland?” another inquires. “I find it too busy.”

  I take a quick drink of my water before answering. “I do like it, but I’m from the city. I do have to say though, I like Sweet Briar a lot and can see why Mr. Ward is so eager to help.”

  “We need more people like you and my daughter, putting down roots here. It’s what’s going to build this town back up,” Pastor Larry adds.

  “Oh yes, having Lexi here would be so pleasant. Have you met her yet, Kai?” another lady asks.

  I shake my head. “No, sorry. I’m fairly busy.”

  “He has a lady friend, Martha,” Pastor Larry says. I chuckle slightly at usage of “lady friend” and wonder what it’s like to live with the old-fashioned rules. Hell, I don’t know how men resisted women until marriage. By the time I was eighteen I was having sex with any willing woman and never even gave it a second thought when I was about to lose my virginity at a party. It was more like a hurrah moment for me.

  I’m well on my way home when Dria texts back, agreeing to dinner. Breaking the ‘no texting and driving’ law, I tell her that I’ll pick her up and we’ll go to a casual place. I don’t want her stressing about what to wear.

  As soon as I get home, I shower and make a reservation at a local restaurant that Parker suggested. I asked him for a place to take a casual date and he gave me a list. I don’t know how long he and his wife have been married, but I do wonder if he was a player before he married Mia.

  With the reservation made, I head over to Dria’s. I’m a bit early so I circle the block a few times, checking out the houses in her neighborhood. Most of them are rundown, which for me makes a good investment. I have been thinking about getting into the flip market. It’s profitable and I have the means and skills to get the job done. It also gives me something else to focus on while I’m in town.

  Pulling up to Dria’s with five minutes to spare, I rush to her door to get her. If anything, I’m a gentleman. I’ll greet her at her door, open the car door, hold the door at the restaurant, and walk her to her door at night, even if this is our last date. I barely knock when she opens the door, standing there with a creamy yellow sundress on. In her hand she’s holding a sweater, prepared for the cooler night ahead. But it’s the way her hair is pulled up off her neck and her sun-kissed skin that has me at a loss for words. She’s beautiful and I know that without a doubt I will pursue her if she allows me to.

  I clear my throat. “Sorry, tongue tied. You look lovely,” I tell her as I offer her my arm. She steps out of her house and makes sure her door is locked before placing her arm in mine.

  “Thank you, you dress up nicely,” she replies with a smile.

  “I can put the top up,” I offer as I help her into the car.

  “No, I think I’d like to feel the wind in my hair.”

  I’d like to feel my fingers in your hair, but I don’t say that to her. Instead, I rush around to the other side and get in. I take the back roads to head toward downtown so I can avoid the freeway. I’d rather sit in stop and go traffic with Dria as long as possible.

  At the restaurant, talk is limited. This isn’t exactly the intimate place I was hoping for. There’s a band and it’s rather loud. We eat mostly in silence because neither of us is fond of yelling at each other to have a conversation. I’ll be sure to point this out to Parker when I see him next.

  After dinner, I take her hand and walk her toward the waterfront. I’m not ready for the date to end. Surprisingly she doesn’t let go, but I’m not willing to read anything into it. Dria points out different sites and talks about how in early June the Navy ships will come in and dock for Fleet Week, and how there will be numerous celebrations throughout the downtown area. She tells me about the Saturday market and how it’s the best place to get fresh vegetables and homemade goods.

  “We should go tomorrow,” I suggest. Anything I can do to spend more time with her.

  “I can pick you up,” she tells me to which I nod eagerly. “It’s only from ten to five, so we should probably go early.”

  When I drop her off, I kiss her cheek. My lips linger there for a moment, mostly because she feels so damn familiar. Everything about her seems memorable and I can’t put my finger on it. She’s definitely one of a kind and must have a doppelganger out in the world that I have come across before.

  “I’ll see you around ten,” she says. “That way we can spend the day there.”

  I quickly text my address and kiss her again because I simply can’t get enough of her. Maybe tonight was a starting point for us. She didn’t seem agitated or stressed out. Dria wasn’t the same as she was when we went hiking last week, and for that I’m thankful. She didn’t fill my night by telling me she wasn’t interested in anything. In fact, she sort of led me to believe something could happen.

  All I know is that tomorrow, I plan to be the same Kai that I am right now. I won’t push her, but you can bet your ass I’m going to flirt like there’s no tomorrow. Before I pull away from her curb, I text Jenica and ask her to set something up with the woman I’ve been with. Deep down, I’m hoping Jenica comes back and says she’s not interested, this way I can move on without this quasi-romance looming over my head.

  Eighteen

  Alexandria

  I’m starting to think I needed the break. It’s been days since my night in the dark room and as the time passes, so does my heartbreak. Don’t get me wrong, not hearing from the club made me a little upset, but it’s probably for the best. I no longer wear my Society X necklace. It’s hidden in my underwear drawer at home.

  I backed off from Kai because I thought there might’ve been something between me and my mystery man. It’s probably a good thing there’s not. Losing my virginity to someone I don’t know isn’t something to be proud of, but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything else.

  Taking Kai to the Saturday market is going to be fun. I haven’t been to it in a long time. The GPS leads me to an expensive apartment complex in the city. I drive around until I find his unit. It’s definitely bigger than my entire house.

  I check my makeup and run a hand through my hair before getting out of the car. Kai opens the door before I even knock. His smile sends butterflies through my stomach. With his hair underneath a baseball cap and dressed in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, I can’t help but think he looks like a normal guy. Not one who makes a gazillion dollars a year.

  He stands in the doorway smiling. “Did you want to come in or should we go?”

  I nod toward my car. “We should probably go. It gets really crowded later.”

  “All right,” he says, locking the door. “Let’s go.” We get in my car and head toward the market. “Thanks for seeing me again. I honestly didn’t think you’d want to.”

  I shrug. “I’ve had a few days to think. I never should’ve said we were too different to work. There’s nothing wrong with being friends.”

  “Exactly,” he agrees, giving me that seductive grin of his. “We can always figure out everything else as it comes.”

  I smile back. “I’m good with that.” There are cars everywhere, but I’m lucky enough to find a spot that won’t make us walk a mile. My arm brushes against Kai’s as we walk and shivers run down my skin. The next thing I know, he has my hand in his as we cross the street. It feels so good.

  “This is awesome,” he says, glancing at all the different vendor booths.

  “Wait until you try the cinnamon and sugar roasted almonds. They’re over in that area.” I point at the far side of the market.

  My stomach growls just thinking about them and Kai laughs. “Sounds good to me.” His fingers tighten around mine and I smi
le. We slowly meander through the first row of vendors and I’m glad we’re taking our time. I don’t want the day to end. “Why did you agree to come out with me today?” he asks.

  I try to ignore the pang in my chest. “Remember when I told you I had a complicated relationship?” He nods, his brows furrowed with concern. “I think it’s over. I felt guilty for dating you while I was kind of seeing someone else.”

  His eyes widen. “So that’s over now?”

  I shrug. “I think so. But aren’t you kind of seeing someone, too?”

  “Not anymore.” We walk over to the river and lean against the rails. The wind whips by us, blowing a strand of hair into my face. Kai gently brushes it away, and I lean into his touch. It feels so familiar. “Now that we’re not being held back anymore, what do you say about maybe taking this a step further?”

  As he pulls me closer, I bite my lip. “What do you have in mind?”

  His head dips lower, his mouth so close to mine. I close my eyes and hold my breath as he kisses me. Only when he pulls back do I breathe. “I enjoyed that,” I whisper.

  Cupping my cheeks, he murmurs against my lips. “Just one more.”

  Before he can kiss me, someone calls my name. “Alexandria!”

  Kai steps back and my head jerks to the side. My high school sweetheart, Matt, waves and heads our way, his arm around a pretty brunette. I was going to tell Kai my full name, but it looks like I don’t have to now.

  “Matt,” I call out and wave back.

  Letting his date go, he hugs me and puts his arm back around her. With his other hand, he holds it out to Kai. “Hi, I’m Matt, one of Alex’s friends. We grew up together.”

  Kai shakes his hand. “Kai.”

  Matt nods. “I know. I recognize your face. You’re working on the Sweet Briar project, right? My father told me all about it.”

  Kai puts his arm around my waist and it’s the first time I realize the kind of man I’m with. He’s easily recognizable and definitely high profile. A part of me is exhilarated about being with him, but the other part is terrified. Dating a man in the public eye will put my life in the public as well.

  “That’s me,” Kai says happily. “Sweet Briar is a special place.”

  Matt squeezes the woman’s shoulders. “Yes, it is. It’s where I met Sarah.” Clearing his throat, he looks at her and then at me. “Sarah, this is Alexandria.”

  I shake her hand and she smiles. “It’s nice to meet you,” I tell her.

  “Likewise. I like meeting Matt’s friends.”

  Kai holds me tighter and I don’t even attempt to look up at his face. “How did you two meet?” I ask.

  They both laugh and I can’t help but join in. I’m relieved to know Matt is with someone else. He was the other obstacle standing in the way of Kai and me. Sarah proceeds to tell me about how she was stranded on the side of the road in a pile of mud. Matt rescued her, but not before they both ended up covered in it, trying to push her car out.

  “Sounds hilarious,” I say, meeting Matt’s gaze. “I’m glad you’re happy.”

  His eyes flick over to Kai’s and then back to me. “You too. Maybe we’ll see you both around Sweet Briar sometime.” Hand in hand, they stroll back up to the market.

  “Alexandria, huh?” Kai teases, turning me to face him. “Now I know your real name.”

  I throw my arms around his neck. “I was going to tell you.”

  “Sure about that?”

  I roll my eyes. “Yes. Everyone calls me Alex or Alexandria. Dria was something I came up with at the last minute. I didn’t think anything would happen between us.”

  “What else are you keeping from me?” he asks.

  “Nothing. I promise I was going to tell you. From now on, I won’t keep anything from you.”

  He holds me close. “Good. I think we have something here.”

  “Me too … but I think we’re missing something.”

  His brows lift. “What?”

  “Almonds.”

  We walk back up to the market toward the food vendors. “With you being a master chef, wouldn’t you be able to make them yourself?”

  “Oh no,” I laugh. “It’s much better to get them here.” The line is always long for those amazing almonds, but when we finally purchase our bag, the lady hands it to Kai. I try to reach for some, but he hurries away, holding the bag in the air. “So help me God,” I shout, “you better give those to me now.” The people around us are snickering and watching us.

  Kai taps his lips. “Kiss me and I’ll give you a bite.”

  I kiss him quickly. “All right, I did it.”

  “Open your mouth.” He places an almond on my tongue and I chew it quickly. It tastes so good. I reach for the bag, but he still keeps it away from me.

  “You’re playing on dangerous ground, Kai,” I warn teasingly.

  He nods toward a bench and we sit down. “Answer my questions and I’ll give you an almond each time.”

  Crossing my arms over my chest, I purse my lips, but in truth, I’m amused. He’s not at all like I thought he’d be. “If I answer your questions, you have to answer mine,” I counter.

  “Deal. What’s your favorite color?” he asks first.

  “Green. Yours?”

  “Blue” He winks and holds out the almond bag. Grabbing a couple, I toss them in my mouth. “What are you most afraid of?”

  I shiver. “Spiders. My neighbor used to throw them on me when we were kids. You?”

  “Clowns. I blame it on It, the movie.”

  We both burst out laughing. That movie scared the shit out of me as well. He hands me the bag of almonds and we both stuff a handful into our mouths. “I never thought a man like you could be humorous,” I admit.

  “Most people think I’m a douche, and most women think I’m all about the sex.”

  “And you’re not?” I ask.

  He turns his serious gaze to mine. “No. Don’t get me wrong, sex is nice, but it’s not all I want. Most of the time, it’s all the women want from me. Well, that and my money.”

  “That’s the last thing I want.”

  He laughs. “Which one? My money or sex?”

  I smack his arm. “Money.”

  “Oh, so there’s still a possibility of the sex?”

  I can feel the blood rush to my cheeks. “We’ll see,” I say, tossing an almond into my mouth. “I’m not making any promises.” Although, I’d really love to have sex again. It’d be nice to actually see the person I’m making love to. I can just imagine how amazing it would be to see Kai above me, his hips rocking against mine.

  “How about we cook dinner together tonight? We can talk and do whatever else you want to do. Hell, we can play board games if it makes you happy. I’m not ready to end the day.”

  Excitement bubbles in my veins and I’m just about to say yes when my phone vibrates in my pocket. It’s done that a few times during the day, but I ignored it. “Hold on. Let me see who this is,” I say quickly. There’s a missed call from my mother, but then there’s a text from someone I wasn’t expecting… Jared.

  Good afternoon, Alexandria. You’ve been invited back to the dark room by your partner. Would you like to accept?

  I can hear my heart pounding in my ears. Kai rubs a hand over my leg, grabbing my attention. Guilt overwhelms me when I look in his eyes. I want to spend time with him, but I thought my time at the club was over.

  “What do you say?” Kai murmurs. “Dinner tonight?”

  I squeeze my phone, hoping like hell I’m not making a wrong decision. “Can I have a raincheck? Something just came up.”

  With a heavy sigh, he nods. “Sure. We’ll figure out another time.”

  Stomach in knots, we walk to my car and get in. I feel horrible for choosing the club over Kai, but I have to figure out what to do.

  Nineteen

  Kai

  The car ride back to my place is done in silence. The idea that I’d invite her in and give Dria a tour of my place has long since pas
sed. Every time I look at her, her eyes are focused on the road ahead and her lower lip is pulled between her teeth. Whatever came up has completely ruined the mood for the day.

  I thought I was making progress. We were flirting back and forth, and while I may have initiated the contact by reaching for her hand, she didn’t let go or squirm away. In fact, she stepped closer to me, leaning into me to point out certain vendors. When the opportunity to kiss her came up, I didn’t hesitate. Hell, I couldn’t. I would’ve been an idiot for not taking the chance.

  And now I’m standing in the parking lot of my building, watching the red tail light of her Camry disappear. Part of me wants to believe that it’s a family emergency, but deep down I know it’s the mystery guy. Wherever he was, he’s back and taking my Dria with him. Fucking bastard.

  As soon as I open the door to my apartment, the instant smell of flowers hits my senses. I bought them to decorate, to show Dria that I’m not living in a bachelor pad, that I actually have some taste. The bottle of wine I started to chill is sitting in the ice bucket, mocking me.

  “So much for trying,” I say to the bottle. I leave it there and opt for a beer instead. No man should drink wine when they’re alone. It doesn’t seem right.

  Sitting down on my couch, I prop my feet up on my coffee table, have my cold beer in one hand and the remote in the other. I surf between the sports channels, hoping to find a game that interests me. When my phone chimes, I think it’s Dria, only to find a text from Jenica.

  Your partner agreed. Play room. She would like to try a fetish – spanking. Can you be here in 30?

  My heart sinks at the word spanking. I am not keen on hitting a woman, and while I know it’s not the same, spanking doesn’t appeal to me, not even during sex. I’m tempted to tell Jenica no, but I asked for this to be setup and knowing that my lady friend was a virgin until last week, I don’t want to disappoint her. She needed something and I was the one who ended up giving it to her. I don’t want to let her down.