Free The Lover (Blazing Hearts) by Kennedy Kovit Page A

on theme night. Besides, checking the newsletter and the bulletin board was best when it came to Club K. He didn’t want to walk in again on pony-play night.
    Damn. He ’d never get the sight of some of that out of his head. And he might be a kinky fuck, but he drew the line at some things—being saddled and having a bit in his mouth was one of them.
    Club K was one of several underground clubs within driving distance that boasted hot sex and kinky play—exactly what the K stood for. He was more in the mood for a vanilla fuck tonight so The Drink would do just fine, assuming he found a woman who turned him on. More and more it happened less and less—as if his attention couldn’t be held by the same old same old.
    He walked with confidence past a group of five guys all huddled together, drinking their beers. They were checking out a table full of women and didn ’t appear too pleased with Kaleb’s arrival. It was all too common for Kaleb to run into issues when out and about, especially when traveling solo, like tonight. He wasn’t a small guy. He prided himself on his body and took good care of it. He worked out nearly daily and watched what he ate. He tended to look much bulkier muscle-wise than almost all the men around him. He didn’t mind.
    He was used to it.
    Plus, it was part of his job and his business as a fitness club owner. For some reason his appearance often brought out the worst in other men—men he didn’t know. They either worried he’d steal their women or they wanted to try to prove something by trying to kick his ass. Never ended as they planned. He wasn’t just bronze. He had the skills needed to protect himself. And if tonight was like other nights that included a group of guys on the hunt for snatch, he’d have to show off those skills.
    He sighed. He just wanted sex. Not a fight.
     
     

Chapter Two
    Kaleb approached the bar. A sexy number with a backside he wanted to cup with his hand stood behind the counter. As she reached for a bottle of whiskey, her fitted red t-shirt drew up, showing off her smooth, creamy skin. His dick responded. Her long auburn hair was pulled up in a ponytail and she looked like she took care of herself, but without going overboard. He didn’t like his women hard. He liked them soft, as a woman should be.
    She turned to face him and his breath caught. He knew her. It had been years since he’d last seen her, but dammit, he’d know those emerald green eyes anywhere. His hand automatically went to his upper left pec. He rubbed the area, already knowing there was one of two sparrows tattooed there. One he’d had done to remember the woman before him. A woman he hadn’t thought he’d ever see again. “Erica?”
    A half smile touched her full lips. “ Kaleb.”
    Her accent was nearly gone, reminding him how long she ’d been away from Middlefield. She’d changed, but in good ways—which he didn’t even think was possible since she’d been a knockout to start with. His dick hardened at remembered memories of their time together. She’d been his first. Well, first that he’d willingly given himself over to. His past hadn’t been pretty and it was why he’d ended up a Garnes’ Ranch boy. It was a part of himself he didn’t like dwelling on.
    Being pimped out by someone who gave birth to you wasn ’t something anyone wanted to focus on.
    Erica had known all his dirty truths. Every horror he ’d lived through as a child. Things he’d refused to tell his counselors. Things even Garnes didn’t know. Erica had been a shoulder to cry on—something Kaleb hated doing. And since Erica, he’d never done again. Every emotion he’d ever had for her came rushing back, reminding him he was capable of human feelings, of more than lust.
    She set down the towel in her hand and touched his hand gently. “ Good to see you.”
    “ How long have you been back?” he asked, wondering why she’d not come straight to him. It wasn’t as if he was hard to find or