****
Elijah sat inside his sister’s house, staring up at the ceiling. He really needed to get a job or do something with his time. Staring at a ceiling all day was driving him stir-crazy. There had to be something he could do. Over the years he’d been doing odd jobs, but his main job had been in the BDSM clubs. Club Kink was not the only club he’d been part of. He’d not taken a sub, but he’d trained other Doms on how best to approach their submissives.
Rubbing a hand down his face, Elijah wondered how he was going to get a job in his current situation. His last employment was at Club Kink.
Working at the bank was a no. He was good at math and with communicating with people, but he’d go mad staying in four walls.
Elijah wasn’t a bum. He worked well with his hands and loved helping people out. In college he’d gained a business degree and could do anything he wanted. At thirty-five, he was undecided on what he wanted to do with his future. He wasn’t hurting for money as he’d been sane enough to save from a young age.
The sound of the door opening had him jerking to his feet.
“And he said what?” she asked. “Oh my God, Amber, why didn’t you say yes?”
He tensed at the sound of his woman’s name. Leaning against the door frame he watched his sister drop her bag onto the floor. She was slowly moving out and in with Julian. He helped when he could.
“You’ve got to go out with him even if it goes nowhere.”
Silence fell on the house. Heather glanced up and finally saw him looking at her. His sister let out a sigh. “I’ve got to go. We’ll talk some other time.” Silence again. “No, my shit-head brother is staring at me. He needs to get a job. Yeah, okay, bye.”
Heather folded her arms, glaring at him.
“Who was on the phone?” he asked.
“You know the answer.”
“So, Amber has a hot date?”
“Yeah, well, she’s thinking about it.” Heather walked past him to go straight toward her kitchen.
“Who with?” he asked, following her.
“A guy from work. Why are you so interested?” She filled the kettle, keeping her back to him.
“No reason. She’s your friend, and I’m trying to be supportive.” Jealousy coursed through him. Amber was his woman. No other man should be allowed to touch her.
“It will be good for her. I’ve never actually seen her with a guy. She’s not even been on a date. This should be good for her.”
Heather turned to him, smiling. “How are you?” she asked.
“I’m good.” He was pissed off. Finding out Amber had a date had really made him angry.
“Any luck on the job front?”
“No. I’ll find what I’m looking for soon enough.”
“Good. You shouldn’t be sitting around here waiting for stuff to happen. Julian and I are going to Wade’s tonight. Do you want to come along?”
He knew his sister was trying to build a relationship with him. At that moment, he couldn’t care about her effort. His thoughts were filled with Amber and her proposed date with a guy from work.
“No, I’m going to stay around here. I’ve not got anything planned at all.”
“All right. I’m going to grab some more stuff. Are you still good paying the rent, or do you want me to pay it?” Heather asked.
“I’m good.” They stared at each other. “I’m going to go for a walk. I’ll see you soon.”
She smiled, and he turned to leave.
“Love you,” she said, making him pause.
“I love you, too.”
He left then with a smile on his face.
Checking the time he saw it was after lunchtime. He went to the nearest café he could find and ordered himself some food and a coffee.
His thoughts were all over the place. Amber had a date. He didn’t like it. Why would she accept a date after the weekend they’d shared together? None of it made any sense. He stayed in the café for a long time. The waitress kept smiling at him. Elijah ignored her and only wished to know the answers to his questions.
When it was about to close, Elijah paid his bill and left. He couldn’t handle not knowing the answers.
Before he could turn around he hailed a cab and headed toward her apartment.
It was insane the way he was feeling. He’d never been jealous of anyone, and yet in the last few months of living in Heather’s home, he’d grown jealous of both his sister and the guy who’d asked Amber out on a date.
He arrived at Amber’s apartment a little after five. Elijah knocked to discover no answer. Biting his lip to contain his anger, he sat down by the door and waited.
The time passed slowly, and his heart broke with every minute that passed. At a little after six, the elevator pinged and suddenly Amber was walking toward him. Her head was lowered, and she hadn’t spotted him. Elijah stayed on his butt, waiting to see what would happen.