Jamie Begley - Tainted

“I know.”

“Let’s head back.” He smiled ruefully at her acceptance of his flaw.

“Okay.”

They rode back to R.J.’s home in silence. The roads on their return were busy.  It was getting late in the day and workers were going home to their families. Sawyer’s heart ached; she missed Vida so badly and hoped her friend was safe in King’s care.

Sawyer went into the kitchen where she found Jordan completely overwhelmed. She felt guilty for leaving her when she knew R.J. had planned to have a dinner party.

“I’m sorry. I should have asked Kaden to bring me back sooner,” she apologized.

“Don’t you dare apologize. It’s not your fault that I’m a terrible cook.”

Sawyer looked around, seeing the haphazard way she was preparing the meal. Thankfully, she hadn’t put the roast in yet.

“You can do the salad and get it ready, but go out and tell Kaden to serve everyone wine to keep them busy for twenty minutes.”

“Me?” Jordan wasn’t anxious to speak with Kaden.

“It’s okay; he won’t bite,” Sawyer assured her, getting busy seasoning the roast and placing it in the oven. Hastily, she went to the refrigerator. Thankfully, she’d had the good sense to throw together a Brussels’ sprouts gratin, and so she slid that in the oven also.

Jordan came back with a relieved smile and began cutting up the salad. Moving to the side, Sawyer made a quick dessert that wasn’t fancy, but would taste good. She would wait until the roast was done before she placed it in the oven.

She helped Jordan plate the salads and told her how to plate the food. Seeing the young woman had regained control and that a young man had entered to serve the food, Sawyer went outside to take a seat at the table, which was perfect timing because everyone was just taking their seats as well.

Sawyer went to take an empty seat on the other side of Alana, who was sitting down next to Kaden. Her butt wasn’t allowed to hit the chair, however, before Kaden’s voice sounded over the conversations going on in the room.

“That’s Sawyer’s chair, Alana.” The model thin women looked angry, but she didn’t say anything as she moved to the chair Sawyer had been about to take. Sawyer controlled her embarrassed reaction at being made the center of attention, sliding into the chair Kaden was now holding out for her.

The waiter served the meal, and Sawyer was rewarded for her efforts when R.J. called Jordan out, complimenting her on the food. Sawyer winked at the young woman before she went back into the kitchen. Kaden raised a brow at her, yet he didn’t comment.

After dinner, everyone went back into the living room, drinking the wine that Kaden had purchased.

Sawyer sat down on the sofa and Kaden sat down next to her. She was surprised he was making it obvious that they had become intimate, then realized when Sin pulled Megan down onto his lap, that none of the men took their relationships with the women in the room seriously. Even the woman who made no effort to hide she was in love with Ax was only considered a part time girlfriend. Ax had told her himself that he didn’t want to be tied down and that Justine was just a good friend. Sawyer felt sorry for the woman, seeing from the look in her eyes that she didn’t consider herself just friends with Ax.

Alana and Megan both concentrated their flirtations on Sin, who seemed to appreciate having two women vying for his attention. Kaden placed his hand on her thigh as he talked to Alec. Sawyer was listening to their conversation about the security needed for their next concert stop, but lifted her eyes when she felt a concentrated stare on her.

Briana was laughing at something her husband had said; however, her gaze was fixed on Kaden’s hand on her thigh. Kaden drew her attention when he asked Alec if he had heard any further news about Vida.

“King placed her with his other women in his club. No one is going to get by his security.” Sawyer worried about her friend staying in the strip club. She could tell from Alec’s expression he was hiding something from her.

“A—are you sure she’s okay?” Sawyer questioned him.

“I’m sure. There’s not any trouble she can’t handle.” Alec stifled a smile when Kaden threw him a warning glance at his words. Not getting the unsaid joke and frustrated with the two men’s attitude, she rose from the couch.

“I’m going to bed,” she snapped. She maneuvered herself away from the couch they were sitting on. She was just a few feet away when she heard Kaden’s voice.

“Don’t forget my present, Sawyer.” Sawyer kept walking, as if she hadn’t heard the arrogant prick. Walking up the steps, she went into her bedroom and locked the door behind her.

“Payback is a bitch,” she said sarcastically.

Sawyer woke up alone in her bed the next morning. While not exactly regretting her decision, she had woken with her body feeling needy. Sawyer didn’t appreciate her body betraying her needs. While she had gone most of her life without a sexual partner, one night with Kaden and her body was giving her hell.

She would be better off with Vida, surrounded by women, instead of a band full of men determined to show off their sexual prowess.

She took a shower before getting dressed in her only other pair of jeans, reminding herself that she needed to wash clothes today if they were leaving on the bus tomorrow.

Going downstairs, she walked into the kitchen where a strange woman was sitting at the table drinking a cup of coffee.

The woman rose from the table. “My name is Lucy. How may I help you?”

“Where’s Jordan?”

“Ms. Jordan left; her trial period was over.” Jordan had told her she would be leaving at the end of the week, but somehow she had thought she would be leaving early tomorrow morning when they left. She hadn’t even said goodbye to her. Sawyer felt sad to have missed her; she had begun to consider her a friend.

“Oh. I’m sorry I missed her. I’ll just pour myself a cup of coffee.”

“Allow me.” The woman efficiently poured her some coffee. “Would you like any breakfast?”

“I was just going to make myself a piece of toast.” The woman moved around the kitchen and then a plate of toast with butter was handed to her.

“T—thank you.” Feeling uncomfortable, she sensed this woman had no intention of getting friendly with one of R.J.’s guests. Not wanting to sit in the large dining room, she went outside to eat her toast by the pool.

It seemed like Kaden and Briana had the same idea; they were sitting at one of the tables. As she drew closer, she saw that Briana looked upset while Kaden’s face was an expressionless mask behind his sunglasses.

She wanted to retreat when she saw them, but didn’t want to appear intimidated. Instead, she sat down on one of the lounge chairs, setting her coffee on the small table next to it. She leaned back against the cushions as both of them continued quietly talking, ignoring her presence.

It wasn’t long before Megan, Alana and Justine came outside wearing skimpy swimsuits. The women jumped into the water, screaming playfully, trying to draw attention to themselves. Alana and Megan actually removed their tops, throwing them to the side of the pool.

Disgusted, Sawyer was about to get up and go back inside the house when Alana got out of the water. Picking up a towel, she dried her body off before dropping the towel down on one of the empty lounge chairs. Going up behind Kaden, she placed her arms around his neck, and pressed her bare breasts against his back. One hand slid down his chest until her hand landed on his cock covered by his swimsuit briefs.

A knife stabbed in her heart as she watched Briana’s chair screech back from the table, leaving Kaden sitting at the table with his cock in Alana’s hand. Sawyer rose to her feet, determined to follow Briana’s example.

“Sawyer, come here.” Kaden’s harsh voice had her freezing in place; her disbelieving gaze flew to his. “Come here, now.”

Sawyer found her feet reluctantly carrying her toward Kaden. She couldn’t seem to tear her gaze away from him as she stopped a few feet away, unable to force herself to go any closer.

“Did you deliberately lock your door against me last night?”

Sawyer licked her dry lips. “Y—Yes.”

“I thought so. I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt, but I can see you’re determined to disobey me.”

“Kaden, forget about her. Let’s go to my room.” Alana made no effort to lower her voice.

“Were you happy with your decision to lock me out?” His eyes dared her to lie.

“Nnn—no,” Sawyer admitted honestly.

Kaden reached out, taking Alana’s wrist in his hand and jerking her down in front of him. “Do not touch me again. I do not fucking want your hand or your tits on me again.”

“Okay, Kaden, I was just playing around.” The woman took a step back when Kaden released her.

“You need to pack your bags and get the fuck out of here, Alana. I’m tired of dealing with you.” The woman left, running toward the house without even bothering to cover herself.

“I don’t play games, Sawyer. I outgrew those years ago. Do you want me in your bed or not? I’m done dealing with your on and off switch, and before you open your smart-ass mouth, you better think twice because, depending on your answer, you’ll either be staying here with a number of security or leaving on the bus tomorrow with me sharing the bedroom with you.”

Sawyer stood in shock at his ultimatum. She knew she would be safe here for the next couple of months, safe from Rick and her building desire for Kaden, yet…