Hero by Julia Sykes Page B

“But I don’t want to talk about it.”
    Keeping his grip on my chin with one hand, he ran his other through my hair, his long fingers brushing a dark lock off my cheek.
    “That’s okay,” he soothed. “You don’t really know me. And that’s why I’m not going to push you. Despite what you may think, I do respect you. All I want is for us to be honest with one another. Can you do that? Can I trust you?”
    “Yes,” I promised. “You can trust me.”
    “I wouldn’t trust her, Dex,” a familiar voice pierced the intensity between us. “Keep trying to Top her, and she’ll probably bite you. Believe me, I would know.”
    I turned a saccharine sweet smile on Master Jason. “I did apologize for that,” I reminded him.
    He gave me his best cocky half-smile, the one that usually made subs fall to their knees before him. “Only after I flogged your ass red. And even then, you weren’t really sorry, were you?”
    “No, not really. That’s what you get for trying to boss me around.”
    “Watch your fingers, Dex,” he warned. “They’re dangerously close to those pearly whites. Despite all appearances, she’s surprisingly vicious.”
    I scoffed. “You make me sound like a wild animal.”
    He laughed. “The untamable submissive, in her natural habitat.”
    “You know I’m not really a sub,” I said as Dex’s hands left my face. I kept my attention on Jason to distract myself from the sudden sense of loss that tugged at my chest.
    “Right,” Jason said. “You’re just here for research.”
    “That’s right,” I agreed. “And what are you doing here? In New York, I mean.”
    “I had a job interview. Don’t think I’ll take it, though. I like Chicago. Dusk has the prettiest subs.” He tipped his head at me, his bright green eyes dancing.
    “Smooth,” I commented drily, not falling for his exaggerated charm.
    “Ouch,” he winced. “You know how to bruise a Dom’s ego. I can see you’ve already upset our poor friend Dex.”
    I looked to Dex to find him quickly smoothing away a frown. “Chloe didn’t upset me. We were having a serious conversation when you so rudely interrupted.”
    “Was I rude? I’m terribly sorry.” He kept smiling, obviously not sorry at all. “So, Chloe. What are you researching this time? What’s the new book about?”
    “It’s a ménage,” I said blithely. “So unless you’d like to put on a show for me, I doubt you’ll be much help.”
    “Kinky girl,” he said with approval. “That could be arranged. What do you say, Dex? It’ll be like old times.”
    My brows rose. “You two have done this before?” It had been clear from the beginning of the conversation that the two men knew one another, but the information that they’d had a threesome together was quite a revelation.
    Dex shrugged, his face oddly blank. “I told you I used to go to Dusk before I moved to New York.”
    “Dex and I shared once,” Jason supplied. “Haley, wasn’t it?”
    “Carmen,” Dex corrected.
    “That’s right. I knew it was a blonde.”
    “I’m glad it was so memorable for you,” I said pointedly. “It must have been quite a special experience.”
    Dex actually blushed. I stared at the rosy color on his cheeks, fascinated.
    “It’s been several years, and Dex and I aren’t exactly the monogamous types,” Jason said, distracting me.
    “How wonderful for you,” I commented.
    “Just because you write about people finding love through BDSM doesn’t mean all Doms are looking to find their One True Sub. Some of us like to play.” His green eyes glinted as they fixed on me. “Would you like to play, Chloe?”
    “Back off, Jason,” Dex warned. “She’s not interested.”
    A dark brow rose. “Isn’t she? I think that’s up to her to decide.” He looked at me expectantly. “We’ve played plenty of times. Why not tonight?”
    “I’m not feeling it,” I said, trying to ignore the erotic image that flashed across my mind: my body, trapped between Dex