Page 43 of Desire

“Kiki,” Dante warned, livid.

“I’m sorry, sir,” she said meekly. “Are you going to punish me now?”

“Punish you?” Joey asked. “What kind of sick psycho shit is this?”

“It’s nothing,” Dante said. “Just a woman scorned. You know the deal.”

Kiki’s eyes flashed in anger.

Dante took a deep breath, steadying himself before he lost his temper with her. “Kiki,” he said, his voice calm but firm, “it’s time for you to leave.”

A flicker of defiance crossed Kiki’s features, but it was quickly replaced by a sneer. “Fine by me,” she huffed. “But I wanted to show you something first,” she said to Joey, her voice low and seductive.

“Don’t do it,” Dante warned. He couldn’t believe she was going to risk her career as a model at Couture and the lawsuits Colleen would level on her like a ton of bricks. And yet, she still hadn’t said a word about Club Inferno. She was keeping it personal, if vindictive as hell.

Kiki unbuttoned the jacket and turned around. She was topless, but as she eased the jacket down to the middle of her back, all Joey saw was her back and shoulders.

Dante knew there were probably reddened whip marks, especially if she just came from a session. Joey’s eyes widened in shock as he took the welts, his expression shifting from confusion to anger. “What the hell is this? Who did this to you?” he demanded, his voice rising with each word.

Joey the protector. He couldn’t see that Kiki didn’t need his protection.

Dante clenched his jaw, frustrated. “It’s not what you think,” he started, but Joey’s hand shot up, silencing him.

“Are you into some messed-up stuff, Dante?” Joey’s tone was accusing, and Dante could see the disappointment swirling in his friend’s gaze. His fists clenched as he struggled to find the words to explain without revealing too much about his lifestyle.

Before Dante could respond, Kiki leaned in closer to Joey, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper. “He’s a Dom, Joey. He gets off on beating women.”

Well, so much for telling Joey that he was with Emma now. That would bring this shit show to a whole new level.

“Is that true?” Joey asked him.

“Kiki likes to cause trouble,” Dante said instead of answering him. “And she doesn’t like the fact that her actions have consequences. Like this little scene here.” He picked up the phone and called Istvahn. When his friend answered, he said, “Kiki Pretty followed me to a bar and is running her mouth.”

“Dante, don’t,” Kiki said, trying to grab the phone out of his hand and button up her jacket at the same time.

“I’ll file a complaint when I get back, but I want her gone by tonight,” Dante said.

“I’m on it,” Istvahn replied.

“You can’t do that!” she said, panic in her eyes.

Dante pocketed his phone once Istvahn confirmed that he’d have Kiki’s apartment cleaned out and her things ready to leave right away.

“Your membership to Couture has been revoked,” Dante said. “You can wait in the lobby while they bring your stuff to you.” She would know that would also include her membership to Club Inferno.

“Fuck you, Dante,” she snarled, and stormed out of the bar.

“What the hell was that all about?” Joey asked.

“Models.” Dante shrugged.

“Yeah.” Joey drank from his beer, still staring after Kiki. “So she was your girlfriend?”

“Not exactly,” Dante hedged. Then decided, fuck it. Kiki had already outed him. “Do you know what a Dom is?”

“Yeah, it’s like the Gimp from Pulp Fiction.”

“No,” Dante said, shaking his head. He pointed to where Kiki had stormed out. “That was the Gimp.”

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