Wishes (15 page)

* * * *

Kennedy watched Graham shake his head and leave the blonde on the floor to Jordan. There was no audio, but she didn’t need sound to know that there had been something big between those two. Kennedy never looked at the security feeds since that night when she had observed Graham, but she had tracked Patrick down in the booth that evening for a discussion about a document that required his signature. When Graham had entered the discipline room, he had instantly caught her eye. Patrick said nothing to her. Kennedy arched a brow at him, and he shrugged. That was such an annoying fucking gesture. Cowardly, too.

“Who is she?” she asked.

“I can’t divulge that, Kennedy,” Patrick answered almost apologetically.

“Doesn’t matter,” she said. “Graham’s going to get a chance at practicing that communication he’s always going on about when he’s beating my ass. And if he’s lucky, I won’t smack him first.”

* * * *

Patrick watched his PA stomp from the security booth. He managed not to smile and let the guard in on his amusement. He had a role to play here, after all. He had come to really care for Kennedy and thought she would have made a terrific sister. Graham was an amazing friend and a good man, but he had, well,
blossomed
wasn’t exactly a word to use about Graham, but he had grown somehow since getting it on with Kennedy. She was good for him. His pain about his family didn’t weigh on him like it used to. Patrick assumed Graham had told Kennedy about his past. Kennedy simply accepted him for whom he was and challenged him to do better when it was appropriate. And Kennedy had blossomed, too. She would never be a sub in the true sense of the word, not like his Madi, but Graham had enhanced every bit of sexuality Kennedy possessed. Graham no longer sported bruises either. Love was grand.

* * * *

Graham felt her before he saw her. Kennedy was coming down the hallway, and the hot vibes that preceded her made his senses tingle. This wasn’t about their passion though. He somehow knew that Kennedy had found out about Jennifer. Shit.
Nothing to worry about, Graham. You are the dominant in this relationship.

“Graham,” a soft, sweet voice said.

Graham whirled. He had been so intent on the approach of his woman that he hadn’t heard Jennifer come up behind him. She was still naked, and as he turned, she sank to her knees with that graceful move she had perfected, laying her head on his right foot. He made to move back, but she surprisingly wrapped her hands around his ankle and held on. Graham had a choice to kick her free or try and unlock her fingers. He chose the latter and quickly bent over to do so. She surged up to try and kiss him, her nipples stabbing, her hands now seeking to push through his hair. It was like being attacked by a cobweb.

“Back off.”

Graham awkwardly straightened, and Jennifer reluctantly let go of his hair. She, too, rose to her feet, totally comfortable in her own skin, fully aware of how perfect her form and face was.

“Excuse me?” Jennifer arched a perfectly plucked brow and directed a disdainful stare toward Kennedy.

Graham felt frozen in place at the look on Kennedy’s face and in her eyes.

“Back off. You are breaking protocol,” she stated flatly, never taking her eyes from Jennifer’s.

“And you are?” came Jennifer’s haughty response, although a slight note of uncertainty colored it.

Kennedy ignored Jennifer’s request for an introduction. “Subs don’t throw themselves at house Doms. Your behavior is grounds for a suspension of your membership.”

Jennifer flushed. “I apologize. Graham and I…”

Kennedy cut her off. “I don’t need to hear your excuses. Go back to Master Jordan or leave. Your choice.”

Jennifer was red with fury but nodded brusquely. She turned and rushed to the dressing area.

“Honey,” Graham began.

“Not now, Graham,” Kennedy replied. “I need to make sure your little bunny gets gone.”

Graham watched his woman stride away. Fuck, this so wasn’t going to be fun later. He should be furious with her. It was
his
role to deal with Jennifer.
He
was the Dom. He felt like he had been overlooked in the strange little event that had played out and had been talked about like he wasn’t there. Much like he and other Doms discussed a sub in front of him or her. It put a person in their place, established the power ratio, and was really kind of hot. Was he a fucking switch? Nope, just in awe of Kennedy. He could have dealt with Jennifer, but it would have gotten ugly and uncomfortable because she wasn’t going to let him push her away without a fight. Kennedy had known just what to do, if stepping out of her PA role somewhat. But not really. He did wish, though, that she had told Jennifer that she was his, that Kennedy belonged to him. But Kennedy wouldn’t dignify Jennifer with any response. Good for her. Not so good for him later. He sighed and went to the cross room where Clark and Jeanette awaited. Jeanette wanted to move up to the double tail tonight, and Clark was a bit of a pain slut, so he would really need to focus.

* * * *

Jennifer pulled her clothes on angrily, ignoring Kennedy, who stood inside the door of the dressing area, staring just over her head. Kennedy knew she had a great poker face, but she was seething inside. There was no way blondie was going to see her emotional upheaval. Kennedy knew people like blondie. They were like leeches, only with teeth, who wanted what they wanted and didn’t give a shit about anyone other than themselves. If anyone gave them a hint of something, they took advantage, and they ran with it. Kennedy wanted this woman gone so that she could unwind and be ready for Graham later tonight. He has some ’splaining to do, she thought.

Jennifer pushed past her and headed for the main door of the club. “I’ll be talking with Patrick. Believe it,” she snarled. “I don’t know who you are, but you’ll be in shit.”

Kennedy said quietly, “I’m Kennedy Johnson. Patrick’s PA.”

Jennifer’s mouth opened and closed, but she didn’t respond. The doorman opened up, and Jennifer shook her head to his offer of having her car brought around. Kennedy waited until the door shut behind her, then went back to her office. Blondie was competition. Well, bring it on. Kennedy wasn’t going to let Graham go unless he wanted out, and he would have to be pretty convincing.

* * * *

Graham eased into their quarters just as dawn broke. He had worked hard all night and keeping focused had exhausted him. He wanted to talk with Kennedy, but she hadn’t sought him out, probably because she knew how busy the three Doms were. Kennedy took her duties seriously, and he appreciated that while there would never be a good time or place for the conversation they needed to have, messing up the night’s scenes would have created chaos. He showered quickly and toweled off, then he slipped into bed beside Kennedy. He never brought another woman’s scent to their bed. A dim light was burning in the corner. Kennedy sometimes had nightmares even now, and she didn’t turn it out until he joined her.

“Honey?” he asked softly, pressing a kiss on her forehead.

“How tired are you, Graham?” she asked quietly.

“I’m beat, but I know we need to talk,” he responded.

“I’m a little pissed, Graham, no, make that hurt,” Kennedy replied.

Graham winced. That was his girl. No pretense, tell it like it is, Kennedy.

“Do you want me to tell you now, honey, or wait until we wake up?”

“You’re off tomorrow night,” Kennedy stated. When he stiffened, she added, “I rearranged the shifts, Graham, with Patrick’s consent. I knew you would be tired, and I’ve had time to settle down. I don’t want to fight with you, babe, so let’s get some rest, and we’ll take this up later and for however long it takes.”

Kennedy rolled over and gave him her back. Graham cursed his reticence to tell her earlier about Jennifer. Stupid move on his part. Now there would be a full explanation and a visit to the past he would prefer not to make. But he knew that Kennedy would expect full disclosure, and if he didn’t come across, it would hurt their relationship. It might anyhow. Graham reached around her waist and snuggled her close, relieved when she didn’t stiffen or protest. He should know better than to think she would react like most women would have, in his experience. All the same, most women could have been put in their place and would back off. Graham wondered how much sleep he would get now, with tomorrow looming before him. Kennedy was already making those cute little huffing sounds that signified she was deep in dreamland. He sighed and resolutely closed his eyes and waited for her to wake.

“Graham.”

Graham rolled his eyelids up a fraction and flinched at the bright sunlight flooding the room. God, he had slept after all. But what the hell time was it?

“C’mon, Graham, get up,” Kennedy insisted. “Blondie is in Patrick’s office and insists on seeing you. She has some sort of court document, and Patrick thinks you had better get up there.” Her voice was controlled, but he heard an inflection of considerable anxiety.

Graham rolled to his feet and sat right back down. He had had maybe two hours of rest, and those had been full of strange dreams. He felt disoriented and hardly ready to face Jennifer. He didn’t know what the hell was going on but was pretty concerned, although he worked hard at not letting it show.

“I’ve put some clothes out for you, Graham, so haul ass and make yourself presentable.” With that, Kennedy left the room.

When Graham got to Patrick’s office, Kennedy was already there, gathering up various files and generally looking her usual professional self. She wore the club uniform of black and white, although in her case the bottom half was a slim skirt over stilettos. Jennifer was lounging on a chair in the corner, alternately smiling sweetly at Patrick and throwing nasty looks in Kennedy’s direction. Shit, should he ask Kennedy and Patrick to leave? Stay? One of them to leave? Graham wasn’t a coward except when it came to messy emotional scenes. His mother had cornered the market on those, and he still cringed to remember how he had felt as a child. He was hardly a kid now, but this was shaping up to be one of those moments.

“Graham,” Jennifer said, softly and seductively. “I apologize for surprising you last night. I know how you hate surprises. I should have remembered. I have something important to tell you and thought I could ease into it by doing a scene with you. You know, something familiar. I missed us.”

Graham felt Kennedy tense a little, but her response wouldn’t be obvious to anyone but him. He had to deal with Jennifer quickly.

“There won’t be any more scenes with you, Jennifer,” he stated offhandedly. “If you have something to tell me, then get on with it.”

Jennifer’s eyes narrowed. “I’d prefer to do it in private, Gray,” she pouted.

“You came to Patrick, so I assume he has no problem being here for whatever you have to say.”

“And her?” Jennifer cast a dark glance at Kennedy. “Why would Patrick’s PA need to be here?”

“Kennedy is mine,” Graham said quietly.

Jennifer went white, and then an ugly flush crept up her neck and spread over her face. “How incestuous, Graham,” she snarked. “Still sharing I see?”

Neither Patrick nor Graham responded. Graham didn’t dare look in Kennedy’s direction.

“Well, Graham, I had hoped to be civilized about this,” Jennifer continued. “I thought we could pick up where we left off, but if you are training another sub and are so committed…”

Graham felt no need to clarify his relationship with Kennedy. He kept silent.

Jennifer tossed a sheet of paper on the desk. It was folded into threes, but the top third bore an embossed seal and his name, right under Jennifer’s. Graham picked it up and unfolded it. He scanned the document and for a moment thought he might pass out as his head blanked and his body felt weak.

“I’ll want a DNA test,” he managed to say calmly if quietly.

Jennifer laughed harshly. “He’s yours, Graham. All you have to do is look at him. If you had married me and taken me to live with your family, all of this could have been avoided.”