Michaels, Skye - Kelly's Challenge [Le Club 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Skye Michaels

might have been trying to kill herself. I have no real reason to believe that, but the thought just keeps hammering at me. Anyway, that’s my story.”
    Kelly got up and walked to him. She put her arms around him and just hugged him tight.
    “I just wanted to get that all out there. I dislike having secrets from my lovers. I think you need to know up front what you’re dealing with. You already know I have a preference for somewhat kinky sex. If you want to discontinue this relationship now, before you get in too deep, I will understand,” he said with trepidation, hoping against hope that she would not want out. Although he had his brother Jamie and Max for support during the past eight months of grieving for Alexa, some things just had to be faced alone. Justin thought he was finally ready to share some of the burden of his grief and guilt over Alexa with someone else. He hoped Kelly would be the person to help lighten the load.
    “I appreciate your honesty, Justin. I don’t think there are any of us who don’t have a little baggage,” she said, understanding and sympathy shining in her eyes.
    “So you want to continue this relationship?” he asked hopefully, his spirits already beginning to lighten.
    “I do” she said with a smile. “I’m definitely interested. I can’t promise that the D/s stuff will be for me, but I want to give the experience an honest try. At the present time, I don’t see any reason why we can’t go on and see what happens. Of course, I reserve the right to opt out if things get out of hand or become more than I can handle. Now, did you promise me food or not?”
    Justin smiled and his gut relaxed. He was relieved that Kelly had not run screaming from the room. He knew it was a rather melodramatic story and not the kind of thing he wanted to tell a new lover.

    * * * *

    Kelly knew she had a lot to think about. Justin’s grief and guilt ran deeper than she had imagined before their conversation. She knew her life experience was limited, but she had good instincts, a good heart, and a strong background. She desperately wanted to be able to help Justin through his grief. I just hope I’m up to this challenge, and that I have the experience and wisdom to handle this situation for both of our sakes. She wanted to give him comfort, but didn’t know what to say when there were really no good words to say. Empty platitudes were not what she wanted to offer him.

Chapter Nine

    In the Sea Island Suite, Trent turned Paula into his arms for a long, hot kiss. “Happy birthday, baby,” he said. Their relationship had a rocky start at the club several months ago, but it had been moving along fairly smoothly since then. Of course, the sex was great, but they had also found a mostly compatible rhythm in their personal interactions as well, both in and out of “scene.”
    As a sub, Paula was not ideal to say the least. She was always trying to “top from the bottom.” As Dom, Trent would try to correct that behavior with a steely word of reminder in her ear that he was in charge, not she, or a quick, sharp slap on her bottom if a word of warning was not sufficient.
    “Thank you, Master.” She giggled. She really never took this D/s stuff seriously. It was just for fun as far as she was concerned.
    “Your present is on the bed,” he said as he drew her over to the mosquito-netted, pencil-post bed in the center of the bedroom.
    “Okay! I love presents!” Paula pounced on the large, white box wrapped in red satin ribbon and began to open it.
    “Before you open it, you have to know the contents come with some restrictions and some responsibilities.”
    “What do you mean?” she asked.
    “The contents represent a one-day pass, good for the twenty-four hours of your birthday only, every year while we are together,” he said as he watched her take the top off the box. Her face showed her shock as she removed the short, black leather skirt, bustier, high, black boots, and the riding crop of