Free The Last Good Knight Part II: Sore Spots (The Original Sinners) by Tiffany Reisz Page B

that gave him an excuse to be in Kingsley’s house. But certainly it was no excuse for being in Kingsley’s club. The danger of discovery never stopped him from taking risks like this, however. One of their own had been attacked and badly hurt. Dominatrix or nun, Søren didn’t care.
    “Now you may go. I’ll be in touch with any news as it becomes available. If any of you prefer to stay here during the crisis, you know my home is always open to you. Dismissed.”
    The women rose and filed out of the room. Nora overheard Nikki asking if she could stay with Irina. Tessa and Jai decided they would crash together in one of Kingsley’s guest rooms. They weren’t scared to go home, but they much preferred staying at Kingsley’s where they could better stay abreast of what was happening.
    Nora told Simone she was welcome at her house in Connecticut. Simone thanked her and said she’d think about it, but tonight she’d stay at the hospital in case Natasha woke up.
    Nora watched them all go. Søren gave her a last long look before leaving the room. She smiled at him as a reassurance that she was okay. It didn’t seem to convince him any more than it convinced her.
    Once alone with Kingsley, she exhaled heavily and collapsed into a chair in front of his desk.
    “What the fuck is going on, King?” was all she could ask.
    “ Je ne sais pas. ” He put his booted foot on the chair next to her thigh. “I told you all I know. I’ve spoken to the police commissioner, Detective Cooper, and everyone I know. They’ve all assured me that they’ll do whatever they can as quickly as they can.”
    “Nice. Lovely. Now tell me what’s really going on.”
    Kingsley met her eyes for a moment before glancing away.
    “Two weeks ago Natasha offered herself to me. I turned her down. She quit the next day.”
    Nora nodded, a delaying tactic while she decided how to respond.
    “First, can I say I’m impressed you turned her down?”
    “Elle.”
    “Sorry. But please don’t tell me you’re blaming yourself for this. You have the right to say no if you don’t want to fuck somebody.”
    “I did want to fuck her.”
    “So you turned her down because...?”
    “The usual reason,” he said. And that was all he said and all he needed to say. Three people in Kingsley’s world knew he was a switch. Apparently Mistress Natasha had sensed his proclivities, and instead of succumbing to her advances, he’d rejected her.
    “It’s not your fault she got hurt, Kingsley. We all get hurt around here.”
    “I know,” he said, slipping tiredly into French. Je sais.
    “I know you know. And I also know you know I can’t cancel on my clients. That’s fine for Irina and the subs. They have normal clients. My clients run the world. They’re not going to be happy if I say ‘Sorry, busy,’ without any notice like this.”
    “They’ll survive a week or two without you.”
    “That’s the problem. They will survive because they’ll find a new Domme. You and I have worked way too hard to build my career. This could kill it.”
    “It’s not going to help it, non. But your life is more important than your career.”
    “My career is my life.” Nora stared him down hard.
    “What would you have me do? I let you keep working and le prêtre will kill me and lock you in a cage.”
    “Søren’s not into cage-play.”
    “It won’t be for erotic purposes, I promise.”
    Nora growled under her breath. She didn’t know what to do but she knew not working wasn’t an option.
    “I can’t let the girls think I’m spooked,” she told Kingsley. “If I’m scared, they’ll be terrified. I have to keep working.”
    “Then you’ll have a bodyguard with you. C’est ça. ”
    “Bodyguard? You’ve got to be kidding me.”
    “It’s either a bodyguard or no work. Your decision.”
    “Fucking hell... All right. Whatever. It’s only until they catch the guy, right?”
    “ Oui .”
    “Good. I’ll call Griffin.”
    “Not Griffin. You two know