Bonds of Courage by Lynda Aicher Read Free Book Online Page A

chance to explain. Holden looked up, shoving his hands in his pocket to keep them still. “I can’t have my...” His what? God, was he ready to name the cravings he had? “Desires going public. I couldn’t risk the chance of someone seeing the application, copying it and posting it online. Something like that could kill my career.”
    “So it’s okay if it’s posted with you as a Dom, but not as a submissive?”
    Holden winced. “They’d both be bad, but the submissive stuff would do a ton more damage.”
    “Okay.” Seth nodded, just one small bob. “Why maintain the lie once you were here?”
    “Really?” Holden questioned without thinking. The man raised his brow. Was that silent reprimand a skill all Doms mastered? He sucked in a breath and tried to lower his tone. “Vanessa’s the PR rep for several players. She works with the Glaciers’s management. How in the hell was I supposed to trust her when she walked into your office? Especially after what happened the last time I tried to explore this lifestyle?” He exhaled and stared at the door. He might as well walk out and never come back. “It was a blind check. I had to protect myself.”
    Seth crossed his arms over his chest, his assessing gaze boring into Holden until he had to clench his teeth to keep from fidgeting. “Are you ready to be honest?”
    “Am I going to be tricked again?”
    “We didn’t trick you.”
    “No?” Holden didn’t care if he was challenging the man who held the key to his membership. “Then what was all of this?” He waved his arm out to encompass the room. “The whole bait-and-switch then surprise-the-unsuspecting-athlete wasn’t about being honest.”
    Seth looked away. That was the first sign of weakness the man had shown, and Holden took a dose of satisfaction in that. Vanessa might be angry about being duped by him, but he’d been just as played by the two of them.
    “Sorry about that,” Seth finally said. “That’s not the way entrance interviews usually go.”
    Holden crossed his arms, matching Seth’s pose in a stand-off. Now that his embarrassment and desire had faded, his frustration at the entire situation spiked his anger. So yeah, he liked some domination in areas of his life, but he wasn’t a fucking pushover.
    “Let’s go back to my office and finish talking there.” Seth gestured toward the door but didn’t move.
    “You know, I don’t think I can trust this place anymore.” Holden shook his head, his previous desperation gone. He would push his stupid needs back, just like he’d been doing. The club had been a bad idea in the first place. This whole episode proved that.
    He stepped around Seth and was in the hallway before he remembered he had no clue how to get out. Shit .
    He’d just spotted an exit sign when Seth followed him into the hall. “I’ll show you the way out then.”
    The ride down in the elevator was silent. He didn’t even look at the other man. The sooner this night was over, the better.
    Seth paused when they were at the door to his office. At least Holden recognized where he was now. He pushed past the man, his freedom in sight.
    “Are you sure you don’t want to talk more?”
    Holden hesitated. “Is there a point?” His indignation had faded to resignation during their trek from the room.
    “Do you still want a membership here?”
    Did he? Hell. “I don’t know.”
    Seth gave a grim nod. “I understand.” He glanced down the hall then opened his office door. “Come in for a minute. I don’t like you leaving like this.”
    “Look, it’s cool,” Holden said, suddenly exhausted.
    “No. I don’t think it is.” Seth went into his office. “Just a minute. Please.”
    It was the “please” that had Holden following the man when the exit was so close. Straight down the hall, through the door and lobby and he’d be gone, the evening forgotten. But instead, he opted to prolong the torture. Maybe he should add masochism to his list of kinks.
    Seth