Karina was his baby. He might never say it, but it was true. She was the one.
He’d been a dumbshit asshole, but she was the one.
She smiled Sean’s way. Again, a very pretty smile, but not the one reserved for her lover. He was her lover and he was going to do whatever it took to make sure it stayed that way.
He took his Coke and maneuvered his way next to her. “Thanks, gorgeous. What did Master Will want?”
“He’s not feeling well. He just came over to tell me he and Starr are heading home. He wanted to make sure I was okay.” She took a sip and smiled his way.
God, how did he tell her he loved her? He’d fucked this up on a fundamental level. She had to think he wouldn’t accept her. He hated she thought so little of him.
He looked at the clock. It was past one. The club would be open for a little bit more, but they were past the heavy scenes. He’d avoided them tonight. If he’d been at Sanctum, he would have stripped her down and flogged her. He would have tied her to a cross and laid into her, but he didn’t trust the eyes on her here. At Sanctum they would honor his claim. The minute he got a real collar around her throat the men would praise her beauty, but no one would make a move on her. They would honor her for the gorgeous submissive she was.
Here, he worried they would simply take her. Without love. Without honor. Without thought to who she really was. Gorgeous. Smart. So fucking strong she brought him to his knees.
“Are you ready to go?” He wanted to get her out of here. He wouldn’t feel good until he had her back at his place, behind locked doors and in his bed. He’d long ago learned to trust his instincts and they were telling him it was time to stop. Karina didn’t know it, but she was going to his place tonight.
“If you think it’s the right time, then yes.” Karina nodded his way, obviously giving in.
She wanted to stay and if he thought for a second it was in her best interest, in her interest in any way, he would likely turn it around. It wasn’t. None of this was. He was going to tell the Rangers tomorrow to fuck themselves and he and Karina were going on a vacation. He would give them every lead he had, but his girl was out of this. Nothing was worth her safety. She was the most precious thing in the world to him. If he lost his job, then Ian fucking Taggart better get ready for a new employee.
He was putting Karina first.
“Go and change your clothes. Don’t take long and don’t bother with a shower. I’ll just get you dirty again.” He couldn’t walk out and get into the car with her in a corset and thong. Though it should be legal because she was so pretty.
She glanced Sean’s way and her bratty beautiful eyes rolled. “He’s going to kill me, Sean. I’ll see you both back here in ten.”
She sashayed her way toward the locker room. God, he wasn’t going to let that go. Her ass was the prettiest thing he’d ever seen.
And she needed him. She needed him to center her. She needed him so she didn’t devolve into chaos and dirt. God only knew her bathroom needed him.
He would move her into his place. Better yet, he would let her pick a place and then properly organize their stuff and hire a maid. She would cook and he would handle the daily cleaning.
They would be happy.
“Dude, you’re in too deep,” Sean said.
He shrugged. “I don’t want to be anything else.”
“Then I apologize. You’re in just deep enough.”
He could happily drown if she would just keep smiling his way.
* * * *
Karina stepped into the hallway that led to the locker room. She kind of hated Kink. Loved the word. Hated the club because it didn’t take itself seriously. There was a long corridor that led to the only private place in the club. There were two doors that opened off but she wasn’t sure where they led. It was stupid, but she felt a little vulnerable as she passed them.
They didn’t open. She walked on. The lights flickered above her, casting shadows on the hallway. She turned and she could see Liam standing at the beginning of the hall. He’d been at the front door, but she was certain Derek had called him over.
If she let him, she was sure Derek would charge into the bathroom and stand guard over her.
She pushed through the door that led to the women’s locker room. At least it was well lit. It closed behind her and she was alone. She let out a deep breath. She hadn’t been alone in days. Even when they were here at the club, they tended to leave when it closed so all the subs were changing at the same time. It was deserted now. Peaceful. Quiet.
What the hell was she going to do about Derek?
She heard a shower turn on. So much for being alone. In and out. She would change clothes and get right back to Derek. She would run his way. Maybe they could keep up this sweet peace they had found between them. She could forgive his stupidity. He was bruised, damaged by what had happened to him. She could understand that. He’d been sweet since the moment he’d realized he was wrong. Karina believed in second chances.