Chapter Ten

“You were with Cara again? Walking dogs?” Rick asked.

Rem shrugged and put up his hand to the cocktail waitress. His draft was quickly re-filled, and he faced his brother, Rick, who had a very nice handful sitting in his lap. Namely Tara Denton, the love of his life. Her silvery blonde hair made her look like an angel, and Rem believed she was damn close. “It was for the rescue shelter. She kind of convinced me to be a volunteer.“

Rafe spit out a laugh. “Dude, you’ve never walked dogs for anyone else but her. So, what’s the deal? It’s been a few weeks and you always seem to be making plans with her. You two hooked up again?”

Rem glared. His other brother had his arms wrapped firmly around his current lover, Summer Preston. With her high ponytail, innocent face, and girl-next-door looks, no one would ever expect she was a wicked Dominatrix who’d beaten his brother and loved him like no other. Rem respected the hell out of her. She led the life she wanted, and finally convinced his brother to do the same. As former military, Rafe had been intent on ignoring his submissive side, afraid his family wouldn’t understand.

Stupid. Rem respected the beauty of domination and submission on both sides, and it didn’t matter whether the role was male or female. At least, Rafe had finally learned to embrace his real self.

Rem happened to love them already like sisters, so he hoped his brothers ended up making it official.

The ladies leaned forward. “Rem, is this the woman you dated through college?” Tara asked.

“That’s the one.”

“The one who stomped on your heart and left you for dead?” Summer asked with a protective frown.

He laughed. “Not really. Rafe has to do a better job explaining the intimate details of my past. Nothing like your brothers spilling your dirty laundry.”

Tara waved her hand in the air. “We’d never share your secrets. It’s in the circle of trust.”

Rick tugged her hair playfully. “Hmm, seems you’ve been watching too many movies and not enough studying.”

“I got an A- on my last test!”

“It should’ve been an A.”

Rafe rolled his eyes. “Yeah, like you’re a perfectionist, Rick. I saw your station before. It was a bit of a mess. Pop would’ve kicked your ass.”

Tara giggled.

Rem figured this was a perfect time for his announcement. “Cara and I are friends now. I invited her to join us for a drink tonight.”

Silence fell at the table.

“Friends?” Rick repeated. “Are you kidding me?”

“You’re not sleeping with her?” Rafe asked in confusion.

“Nope. We’re just friends.”

“Who’s friends?” Rem groaned at the sound of Rome’s voice. Sloane greeted everyone and slid into the leather booth with a glass of sparkling water. Her dark good looks, and no-nonsense attitude screened a brilliant mind. As “The Queen of Cards” she made millions on the circuit and had just got back from another tour.

“Cara and Rem are now friends,” Rafe filled in.

“Not the Cara who broke your heart and abandoned you?” Sloane asked.

“Is there anyone at this table that doesn’t know my personal shit?” he grumbled.

“No,” Rome said.

“Dude, you’re screwed up,” Rick said. “First you said you’d never see her again after the FANTA-C date. Now you’re suddenly sneaking around, walking dogs, as friends. Why don’t you both try again? It’s obvious you’re into her.”

Rem glared and jabbed his finger at his brothers. “Stay out of this. “

Summer spoke up. “Rem is right, it’s none of our business.”

“I agree,” Sloane said. “Hey, maybe you can take her to Chains?”

Rem choked on his beer. “No way. I know she had Paul teach her, but I’m sure she’s ready to pull out of the club scene. I think we both needed FANTA-C to close the door on the past, and start fresh. But not together.”

Silence fell again.

As he glanced around the table, he received sympathetic stares that told him one thing. He was a big chump.

“Well, this is a quiet table.”

He looked up. Cara stood next to him, shifting her weight from foot to foot in her trademark gesture of nerves. Rem stood and gave her a half-hearted hug, feeling on display as the crowd in the booth took everything in. Sometimes, family was a real pain in the ass.

“I’m glad you can make it.” He quickly made introductions to the girls, but his brothers surprised him. They slid out of the booth and caught up Cara in big bear hugs.

“You look great,” Rick said. “All grown up.”

Cara laughed and blushed. “You guys, too. I cannot believe I’ve been in Vegas over a year and never ran into you!”

Rome motioned to Rick. “Started with this guy, and one by one, he dragged us out here. Whatcha drinking?”

“Blue Moon on draft,” Rem and Cara said together.

Rafe grinned. “Squeeze in with us.”

She sat down and her leg pressed against his. He loved when she dressed up, but in a casual denim skirt, cowboy boots, and a white lace top, Cara Winters was drool worthy.

“How’s Harry?” he asked grudgingly.

She smiled. “He’s doing great. He’d been at the shelter a long time, and I was afraid he’d lost hope. He’s literally the sweetest dog on the planet and now he’s all mine.”

The ladies sighed. Yeah, if they only knew Rem’s days were numbered with the serial killer dog. “What do you do, Cara?” Sloane asked.

“I teach special education at Sommerset. I really love working with the kids.”

Summer nodded. “I teach second grade at Lakeside. I swear, as tired as I get, those kids make it worth it.”

The women bonded, chattering nonstop and slipping into girlie subjects that Rem wanted no part of. He relaxed in the booth, drank his beer, hung with his brothers, and enjoyed being next to Cara. The heat from her bare leg practically seethed through his jeans and burned him. The scent of musk drifted from her skin. So familiar. So enticing.

Like arousal.

The thought skittered past his brain and stopped. His dick was so hard, it strained his pants and made sitting so close uncomfortable as hell. Was she hot for him? If he slipped his hand underneath her denim skirt and between her thighs, would he find her wet for him?

“I heard Paul is treating you well over at Chains,” Rick mentioned. “I’m glad. He’s a good guy.”

Cara didn’t seem too nervous that Rick knew details. Since they were all involved in the lifestyle, no one had to worry about freaking out anyone else, and they talked as openly as they would in a club. Rem always told her it was hard to keep secrets from his brothers. It would drive most women batshit crazy, but Cara loved being involved in a large, noisy family. It was another part of her he adored so much.

“Yes. He thinks I’m ready to take on a public scene.”

WTF?

His fingers jerked around his beer. “What are you talking about?” he demanded.

She looked at him, startled. “Paul thinks I’m ready to push myself a bit more.”

“That’s fucking ridiculous,” he grated out. He fought back the simmering anger ready to explode. What was going on? He’d assumed Cara was backing out of the club after their night together. She wasn’t ready for another Dom. Sure he’d wanted to tear Paul apart piece by piece for having his hands on her, but Paul was doing right by Cara allowing her to explore the BDSM world the right way. Still, she wasn’t ready to display herself to a crowd who watched her. “A public scene is a big commitment. If Paul is pushing you, there’s something seriously wrong.”

Her gaze narrowed. Annoyance gleamed from meadow green eyes. “It’s not Paul’s decision, just his recommendation. I know if I’m ready or not, Rem,” she said coolly. “But that’s up to me. Not you.”

“It certainly is up to me,” he shot back. “You’re not ready for that shit and I’m not letting you do it.”

“You don’t have a choice. You have no right.”

“Watch me.”

“No, Rem. You’re my friend, remember. You don’t want any more than that.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “You can’t be both.”

Her last words struck him like a meaty punch in the stomach. They stared at each other, the sexual energy whirling around them like a violent tornado. Rem smothered a violent curse, shaking with frustration.

Summer finally spoke up. “It’s definitely a leap, but you’ll know if you’re ready. I did.” Rafe took her hand and pressed her palm to his lips. “If this is a part of who you are, who you need to be, Chains is a good place to find it.”

“Thanks.” She forced a smile and stood up. “I have to go. Harry is still nervous when I leave him alone for too long.”

“I’ll walk you out,” he said gruffly.

“No.” The word lashed him like a whip. “I’ve got this. Thanks for letting me join you guys, tonight. I loved meeting everyone.”

They said their goodbyes while Rem remained quiet. She walked away, and he stared at the table, taking note of the trickle of water linking his beer glass to hers.

“Rem?”

He looked up. Rick seemed to be the one to speak for all of them. “Go after her. Tell her you’ll be her Dom at Chains. You belong together.”

He’d thought that once before. He’d been wrong. He’d spent years questioning every move, every action, until he lay awake at night with a burning emptiness in his gut. His life after Cara had been a mess of jagged pieces he was desperate to put back into a puzzle. Now, she’d returned, and he wanted her just as bad. Logically, he understood he was still afraid of getting hurt. Afraid of not giving her what she needed. Afraid of failing them both.

“I can’t,” he said shortly. “It’s better this way.”

Frustration glimmered in Rick’s eyes but he nodded his head. “Okay. We got your back, brother.”

Sloane cleared her throat and raised her hand. “We’ll need another round here.”

Rem gave a grim smile and leaned back in the booth.