Licorice Whips by Bridget Midway Read Free Book Online Page A

her attention.
    She scanned the area where she parked and realized she had stopped in the heart of downtown Virginia Beach. Nikla brought her gaze back to the empty storefront. That spot would have been perfect for “Transitions by Nikla.”
    With that in mind, Nikla started to calm down. She strolled up to the glass and pressed her face against it to get a sneak peek into her future. In the empty space, she could see her complete studio. She would keep the hardwood floors. She knew exactly where she would put each reformer. She would cover the back wall with mirrors just like in the studio in the recreation center. On the front glass, it would have the name of her business.
    She thought she would have shared that moment with Justin. Just thinking of his name enraged her again.
    Nikla released a long, loud, blood-curdling scream that she hoped with traffic and the general noise of the area wouldn’t be noticed.
    “Justin, you bastard!” Nikla wrapped her arms around her body to try to still the shaking.
    She wanted to face the asshole. Knowing him, he would be waiting at her place with his sorry, hang-dog expression. Nikla wouldn’t fall for it. Clean slate. With no man in her life, she would have time to truly concentrate on herself.
    Nikla took a step back to return to her vehicle and finish whatever she had had with Justin when she bumped into a tall, solid mass. She yelped before righting herself and turning around to see a towering man with shaggy brown hair and the most hypnotic green eyes she’d ever seen. Damn it. The man from Decadent Treats.
    For a split moment, she imagined what it would be like to fuck him. This stranger would be a perfect rebound sex subject with his large hands, muscular thighs, and those kissable lips. She could use a sex-only type of relationship. Deana would be proud of her for that decision. Too bad this guy hated her guts. 
    “You again.” He shook his head. “I heard a scream. Can I help you?”
    If he only knew.

 
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
     
    Sweet hadn’t expected two things when he heard a scream that he didn’t help produce: he didn’t expect to see the lone protester standing alone doing the shouting, and he didn’t expect to be hit with that familiar tingling feeling in his fingers that itched to grab his whip and use it on her.
    In his vision of disciplining her, he would be doing it out of pleasure, not to cause her pain like she wanted to inflict on him and his brother with all of her protesting.
    As much as Sweet hated to admit it, for as many times as he had gone to The Dollhouse, like Masaun had said, he hadn’t played with anyone since Melinda. Until he could get back to his normal self, he couldn’t think about anyone in that way right now. 
    “I’m fine.” She ran her hand back over her hair in front of her ponytail. “No, I’m not actually.” She looked at him like she wanted to unload her life story. Then she clamped her mouth shut.
    Sweet scanned her body. Her tightly-wrapped sweater, her clingy black pants, and flip flops showed off her fit body. She hadn’t changed from the outfit he saw her wearing a few hours ago.
    Out of curiosity, he glanced over at the vehicle next to his truck to see if a small dog existed inside. Although he didn’t see or hear a dog in her car, he still held onto the idea that she spent her life doing the bidding of some rich man.
    He didn’t mind the catering part. The idea of her being attached to someone sent a strange tickle over the back of his neck.
    What the hell was he doing? He didn’t know this woman to feel jealousy or any kind of attachment. Being the object of her hatred didn’t garner her any sort of connection.
    The more he stared at her, the more he realized his quick assessment didn’t hold water. Although pretty—hell, gorgeous—Sweet noticed she didn’t have a stitch of makeup covering her flawless caramel-colored face.
    A trophy wife, girlfriend, or mistress wouldn’t leave the house