French Kiss (Decadence Nights Book 2) by Maddie Taylor Read Free Book Online

“Yes, sir? Is something wrong?”
    “I’m afraid so, Mari. Master Reyn called, he had an emergency at the hospital and won’t be able to make it.”
    “Oh,” she replied with a sigh, relieved that it wasn’t something she had, or hadn’t done. The next instant she frowned, remembering a comment in his email. “He said he wasn’t on call tonight.”
    “Yes, and he extended his sincere apologies for that as well. He would never have scheduled something with you if he hadn’t been fully available, but evidently, there was a major trauma and more surgeons were called in. It couldn’t be helped.”
    “How awful,” she murmured as the image of mangled cars on a freeway flashed in her mind. When it quickly transitioned to a familiar flower strewn casket, she barely controlled a flinch.
    Her memories were triggered less often lately, but when they came, they were sudden and painful. She tried to mask her reaction as she shook it off, but Master Dex’s perceptive eyes narrowed. Before he could ask questions, she redirected the conversation.
    “Thank you for telling me, sir. Maybe next time.” With a nod, she turned quickly to leave, disappointed and unfulfilled as usual, but now feeling haunted as well. Her first step, however, brought her head on with a broad male chest, standing so close if she leaned a fraction of an inch forward, they would touch. Although she hadn’t seen him move, she knew exactly who it was, and while she told herself not to, she was compelled by some unseen force to look up. Before she lifted her chin, she swallowed, knowing she would find the one dom she’d hoped most to avoid.
    The power of his gaze locked on hers, sending frissons of desire racing through her. It was too much all at once and she took an involuntary step back. Unfortunately, she forgot where she was and ran out of floor, teetering on the edge of the top step behind her. Her arms flailed, trying to maintain her balance as strong hands came out and encircled her waist, pulling her to safety.
    “ Faites attention, ma chérie .” Silky smooth, his cautionary tone needed no translation. As he looked down from his superior height, he didn’t let go, pulling her in a fraction closer until the tips of her breasts brushed up against his chest with each inhaled breath.
    Mesmerized by his beautiful eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to look away. Not pale or dark like she’d thought earlier, but a mixture of colors falling somewhere in the middle like summer leaves just as the season is waning and turning to fall. There were little flecks of yellow scattered throughout the irises and at the edge, a ring of dark forest green, so dark it was almost black. They were stunning, and as she stared up into them like a love drunk fool, the little lines at the sides that said he laughed often, crinkled as amusement crept in.
    She blinked once, then lowered her gaze.
    “Good save, my friend,” Dex praised as he looked on. “Mari, this is Master Arturo, I thought you two might get along. You don’t come often, and I’d hate to see you leave disappointed tonight.”
    She glanced briefly at Master Dex. The message behind his gently worded invitation was clear. It was extended, not as a request, but as a directive.
    Under his scrutiny, and that of Arturo, whose gaze she could feel on her face, his fingers flexing subtly on her waist where he continued to hold her, she mounted her weak argument. “It’s a three-hour drive, sir.”
    “Which you made with the intention of carrying out a scene with Reyn. Unless you’ve also had an emergency arise, time should not be an issue.”
    She swallowed. For some reason the Master Dom was insistent on her having a scene tonight.
    “Of course, you always have a choice, but I think if you decline, we will need to schedule some time to have a serious discussion about what you hope to get out of your membership at Club Decadence. Every few weeks or a once a month visit makes me feel as though we’re