Winning Her Racy Heart [Racy Nights 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (6 page)

Kari put down the menu and glanced at Noah, trying to remember when she’d last sat in a diner and had a meal with a man, just to be in his company. She was surprised to realize she was comfortable with Noah. And he was easy on the eyes. That helped, surely.

“You know what you want?” A tired-looking woman Kari didn’t recognize moved in front of their table. Her gaze was fixed on the pad in her hand.

Kari glanced at Noah out of habit. One of the rules she’d followed while with The Sir was to allow him to order first when they were at a restaurant. It was still hard for Kari to forget things like that.

“You first,” said Noah. His eyes were bright and full of light, like he was happy just to be in her presence.

“Coke, double cheeseburger with everything, and large onion rings.”

“You?” The woman barely glanced at Noah.

“The same.” Once the waitress left, he leaned back and glanced around. “This is better than the bar. I can hear you speak.”

Kari stared at the tat on his forearm, resisting the urge to run her fingers along it.

“Okay. I’ll tell you.”

She smiled, wondering what he’d say if she told him she’d actually been fantasizing about how the hair on his arms would feel against her shaved pussy. “Finally. I’m all ears.”

“After I got kicked out the army, I drifted west, thinking I could find myself in mountains and wide open spaces.”

“Did you?”

“Not exactly. What I found was that changing my address wasn’t going to change my life.” He pointed toward his chest. “I first had to change in here, you know?”

“I know exactly what you mean, Noah.” The depth of his explanation took Kari aback. It had never occurred to her how much soul searching must have gone into his physical metamorphosis. It made his good looks that much sexier, because they went deeper than surface eye candy.

“And the wolf is a symbol of that. He endures and adapts to his environment.”

The waitress plunked down their Cokes and Kari unwrapped her straw, twisting the paper so it had a knot in the middle. She held one end out toward Noah. “Make a wish.”

“Huh?”

“Make a wish, then we pull. Whoever gets the knot gets their wish granted.”

“Really? Does it work?”

She laughed. “It hasn’t yet, but there’s always a first time.”

Noah pulled on his end and the knot came with it. He pumped his fist in the air. “Sweet.”

“What did you wish for?”

“If I tell you it won’t come true.”

She shook her head. “That’s only for wishing on stars.”

“Oh, really? You an expert on this subject?”

“I sure am.”

“Well, let me explain a few things then.” He shifted in his seat. Kari stared at his mouth and wondered if it would taste as sweet as she imagined. “Wishing on stars is useless.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. They’re millions of light years away. By the time your wish gets there, you’ll be dead, dried up, and blown away.”

She laughed. “You’re missing the point, scientist dude.”

He gave her the sexiest grin she’d ever seen on a man, and her panties flooded. It took every ounce of willpower she had not to suggest they forget the cheeseburgers and onion rings and go straight back to his place.

“And what, pray tell, is the point?”

“Stars have magical powers. Their alignment on our birthday predicts what we’ll be like in life. Therefore, wishing on them is perfectly acceptable.”

He was trying hard not to laugh, and Kari squirmed in her seat. The light danced in his eyes, and she imagined them gazing down at her as he fucked her silly. “You believe that?”

“Well, yes. The alignment part, that is. Our Zodiac sign can help us understand why we’re drawn to certain paths, but we still determine our own destiny by the choices we make. Don’t you believe in astrology?”

“Not really, Kari. But I respect the fact that you do.”

“Oh, wow. Thank you, Noah.”

This time he did laugh. “I love that fake sarcastic tone to your voice. I really do. It’s such a nice change from what I remember.”

“What do you remember?”

His smile faded. “I don’t want to upset you.”

“You won’t. I promise. Please tell me.”

“My cretin friends and I referred to you and your friends as the ‘smart
and
rich’ crowd. You pretty much ignored everyone else, Kari. And when you did speak to anyone outside your circle, your voice dripped with smug disdain.”

Their food arrived, but Kari had suddenly lost her appetite. He was right, of course. She had been exactly like that. “I’m sorry.” It sounded horribly inadequate, but she couldn’t think of anything else to say.

He covered her hand, and his warm touch sent a jolt of electricity straight to her throbbing clit. “Don’t be. You’re not like that anymore, and I’m not exactly in a position to judge you or anyone else. I was an asshole back then. I’m lucky I’m not rotting in jail right now. But you did ask, and I don’t believe in sugarcoating things.” He grinned and gave her hand a quick squeeze. “Especially when someone asks for it.”

Something about the way he said that make her nipples tingle, and she wondered what he’d say if she asked for it. As in, asked him to put her over his knee and spank her ass until it was red.

He let go of her hand and picked up his cheeseburger. When he took a bite, the look of pure bliss on his face made her stomach growl. Apparently her appetite was back. “Is it good?”

He made a noise in the back of his throat and nodded. Kari took a bite of hers. It had been so long since she’d eaten anything this decadent it tasted like manna. Since Alexa didn’t eat meat, they’d been in the habit of cooking to her tastes rather than making two separate meals. Kari didn’t mind, but sometimes she missed food like this.

“Are they as good as you remember?” he asked.

She nodded because her mouth was full.

He popped an onion ring into his mouth. “So, I told you about the tat. Now are you gonna tell me why you left New York?”

She swallowed the food in her mouth. “Noah, I really can’t. I wish I could.”

He looked surprised. “Kari, is it that serious?”

“It is.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” She was touched by the genuine concern in his voice.

“I wish there was. Hopefully it will all be over in the spring.” The trial was set for mid-April.

“For both of you?”

She shook her head before she realized she’d just invited questions she couldn’t answer. “Just me. Alexa…she left for a different reason.”

“Can you tell me that?”

“No. I can’t betray her confidence. That’s her story to tell, not mine.”

He smiled. “You’re a true-blue friend, Kari Tye.”

“Alexa and I have been through a lot together.”

They ate in silence for a few minutes as eighties music blared from the jukebox. Kari liked this place. She always had, and she was glad now that she’d have new memories of being here to replace the old ones with Adison.

“You have to give me something.” His grin was back. How did he do that? It was so damn sexy she couldn’t think straight.

“What do you mean?”

He leaned closer and his cologne tickled her nose. “I told you about the tat. You owe me one secret. Anything. Even a tiny one.”

She wasn’t in the habit of telling people about her lifestyle, but she didn’t have to come right out and say it. She could ease into it and watch his reactions, then decide how much to say. “Okay. I can tell you why I dropped out of Columbia University. How’s that?”

He put down the onion ring he’d been about to eat. “I didn’t realize you’d dropped out of college.”

She glanced around. “In a town this size? Really? I thought everyone knew that.”

“You’d be surprised by how little your parents and siblings have said. They can keep secrets.”

“Good to know. Anyway, I dropped out just before my senior year because I met someone. I thought I was going to spend my life with him.”

Noah glanced at her ring finger.

“I wasn’t married. He…” She glanced around again and leaned close. “Noah, I don’t know how much you know about some of the things Adison and I were into when we dated.”

Noah’s gaze grew wary. “There were rumors, but it was none of my business.”

Of course there would have been. That shouldn’t surprise her. “What rumors?”

He shrugged. “Well, I guess you probably know that word got around he ah…deflowered you.”

Did they hang out together? Was she making a mistake telling him this? “Are you friends with him now?”

“Not exactly. I mean, we bump into each other a lot at work and in town, but we’re not best buds. I’ve never heard of him gossiping about you, if that helps at all.”

Kari made a split-second decision, hoping her instincts were right. “Okay. This man I met was my Dom. I was with him for nine years.” She sat back against the booth to survey the effect her words had. When he barely registered surprised, she began to wonder what other secrets Noah Wells was hiding. “I thought you’d be shocked, Noah.”

He picked up the onion ring and popped it into his mouth, giving her a thoughtful gaze. “You know Maddox McCree?”

“Sure.” He’d been two grades ahead of her, but she remembered him.

“Did you know he runs a very private, very exclusive dungeon in his home?”

“No shit. Really?”
Right here in Racy?
Kari was truly surprised.

“No shit.”

Noah stared at her for so long she became uncomfortable. Finally he spoke. “I’m pretty regular there. Or at least, I was until about three months ago.”

Kari tried not to squirm in her seat. To find out there was a group of people in her hometown who were into the lifestyle was fabulous enough. But to also find out this hot guy sitting across from her was part of it sent a fresh rush of wetness to her panties. She silently prayed he was dominant. “What happened? Why did you stop going?”

He shrugged. “Got tired of women who thought my sole purpose in life was to rescue them.”

She was barely able to suppress a smile. Kari had heard that from so many Doms over the years it was practically a mantra. “So, do you have a sub now?”

“No. Not sure I’m looking for one either, if you know what I mean.”

“What exactly are you looking for, Noah?”

That was the second time tonight Noah had been asked that question. It was on the tip of his tongue to tell Kari he’d been looking for her, but that would sound so corny and ridiculous she’d laugh at him. If she was submissive, she’d either been away from it for a long time, or her Dom had let her get away with a lot.

Kari was unlike any sub he’d ever met. She came across as an independent, strong woman, and he’d never found that in a sub. Then again, maybe it was just that he hadn’t yet met a sub like Kari? It was intriguing as hell to imagine. “I’m not sure what I’m looking for, Kari.” It was the safe thing to say, for now at least.

She pushed her half-eaten food aside and leaned closer. “How long have you been in the life?”

“Since I went to Boise. But like most of us, I had fantasies long before that. What about you?”

“I don’t know if the rumors included this, but Adison introduced me to a few things. I also had fantasies long before I understood what they were. And considering how I acted in high school, I still find it hard to believe you aren't at least a bit surprised by my revelation.”

Surprised wasn’t exactly the right word. “Kari, I am surprised, but it also makes me realize just how much I misjudged you for years.”

She shook her head. “No, you didn’t. I was a snob. I was also too young and inexperienced to understand what I was doing or what I wanted. It wasn’t until Adison and I got together that I explored my sexuality.”

Noah wished she’d shut the fuck up about Adison already. What would she say if she told him Adison frequented the same club? But he couldn’t out him. That wouldn’t be right, and Kari would know that. He didn’t want to lose her respect simply because he wished Adison would stay away from her. “He’s been hanging around your shop a lot.”

A shadow of doubt crossed her face for a second or two. “I think he’s just being polite.”

“Really?”

She nodded.

“Have you two talked about what he’s been up to since you left?”

“Only in general terms. I know he was married, if that’s what you mean.”

“It was a long time ago, and it was only for a year or so. They were both in college.”

“What happened?”

“His ex-wife cheated on him with one of their college professors. Serves him right.” Noah watched her cringe, and he immediately wished he’d kept his emotions in check.

“People can change, Noah.” Her voice was quiet. “You did.”

“Touché, Kari. I did indeed. But not everyone can. Or perhaps it’s that some people don’t want to.”

“What do you mean, Noah?”

He gave her a long searching look. How much had she really known about his family, living right next door? “What would you say if I told you the real Anne Wells came at her kids with a rolling pin or a butcher knife when she was drunk?”

Kari’s mouth opened, but she didn’t say anything. Compassion filled her beautiful gray eyes.

“I wonder what your father would have said if he’d known he’d been living next door to a woman who once pushed her husband down a flight of stairs, then left him lying there bleeding while she drove to Lafayette to buy more booze so no one in Racy would see her doing it?”

“Noah…I had no idea. And if my parents did, I swear to you they never said a thing.”

“I don’t suppose you ever had to worry whether the people in Racy would find out what your parents were really like.”

She shook her head.

“So yes, people can change I suppose. And now you’re telling me that Adison has.” He had to know. If she didn’t like him asking, well then so be it, but he had to know. “Kari, do you still have feelings for Adison?”

She averted her gaze, but Noah didn’t think it was from embarrassment. Instead her face filled with confusion. “Why would I? I don’t know him as he is now. I only know the Adison who I left behind in high school. I hurt him too, Noah. We hurt each other, but it was a long time ago. We both were young and stupid But did you know that when I saw him the other day, well…he apologized for it?”