Free Kaden (Recherché series) by Brit Lauren

looks embarrassed. “Xavier, I didn’t mean…” She starts.
    “I know what you mean. And you’re right.” He takes a bottle of water out of the fridge before leaving the room again, slinking back into the shadows.
    “Shit.” Poppy hisses under her breath.
    “Fucking hell! Well, my night has gone to shit.” Thor says. “I won’t fire you, but take the week off, sort your shit out.” I nod. “Except Melanie Myers. God knows the woman wouldn’t take any fucking replacement for you.” He shakes his head and follows Xavier.
    “Oh my god.” Poppy drops her head into her hands and I rub her back.
    “He’ll be fine. You know what he’s like.”
    She huffs out a breath and flashes me an incredulous look. “Yeah, only now I have to deal with the pair of them stropping around the house.” I laugh. “It’s joyful.”
    “At least with Thor there’s an easy way back into his good books.” I say on a smile. She swats at me.
    “Any ideas on Xavier?”
    “Cigars? It’s all I’ve got.”
    “Real helpful.” She rolls her eyes. “So tell me, the lady who had a stroke, she’s a client?” A small frown line appears between her eyebrows.
    “Yeah, but not like that. She pays me to go have dinner with her, play bridge…dance. She’s eighty-nine but she’s really independent, full of life, you know?” I smile, but then falter. “Or she was.”
    “I’m sure she’ll be fine, Kaden, just take a week and ignore Thor. He’s just sensitive.” I’m not sure sensitive is the first thing that springs to mind when I think of Thor. “By tomorrow he’ll have gotten over it and probably sent Maddox to pick up some of your clients.”
    “Yeah, I’m good. I don’t want them back after Maddox has had them.”
    She laughs. “I hear herpes isn’t much fun.”
    Poppy walks me to the door and kisses my cheek before watching me walk down the stairs. “Chin up, Kade.” She calls after me.
     
     
     
     

 
    “Strip and lay down on the bed, hands above your head.” Melanie instructs the same way she always does. She hasn’t said anything about my absence last Friday but then she doesn’t have to. Her displeasure is loud and clear. I should feel bad, I guess. I should apologise and take it like the bitch she wants me to be, but I’m not in the mood for her dominatrix shit today.
    I inhale heavily and look at her. “Why don’t I tie you up instead?”
    Her eyes flash and she steps towards me. “Or you could do as you’re told.” Instead of backing down from her, I stand my ground. Our eyes lock and long seconds pass. Slowly the corner of her lip curls. “Are you sure you’re ready for that, Kaden?” She asks coldly.
    I press my lips together and roll my neck to the side, resenting the off handed insult. “I’m sure.” I say quietly.
    She smiles before she swings her arm back and slaps me clean across the cheek. My head snaps back and a sting radiates across her face. “Get angry.” She moves to slap me again, but I catch her wrist, halting her. “Take what you want.” She all but growls in my face. I’m not an angry person… “Or should I tie you to the bed and make you my bitch again? Maybe you like it?”
    Something moves and shifts inside me. What feels like weeks of pent up frustration and stress surges to the surface and my usual control slips away. Before I even register it, my hand slams around her throat and I shove her back several steps until she’s pressed against the window. She doesn’t want me to kiss her, so that’s exactly what I do. I take. My lips slam over hers so hard I hear her head hit the window. I thrust my tongue past her lips, and she meets me, fighting me, egging me on. My pulse hammers in my ears and heat engulfs my body. Using my free hand I shove my hand up under her dress and cup between her legs.
    “Take, Kaden.” She moans against my mouth. “Don’t ask permission.” I shove her underwear to the side and slam two fingers inside her so hard that I feel