Nate frowned as he watched Kodi yank her short skirt back up twice while wiping down a table across the room. “She didn’t need to lose any weight.” Granted, he hadn’t ever played with her, but she’d always looked perfect to him. She’d only worked for them for a few months when she disappeared, so he hadn’t had time to get to know her. Now that he considered it, Nate realized he knew virtually nothing about Kodi Green aside from what he’d read in her background check. Thinking back, he wasn’t sure there had been anything in the report about family—he made a mental note to pull her bio out of the file later and take a closer look.

  Kodi turned and began weaving through the crowd, making her way back to the bar. When she lifted her eyes, meeting his gaze, Nate felt a blast of heat engulf him as a surge of electricity passed between them. The charge made the dark hair on his forearms dance in the air and his scalp tingle. He was certain she’d felt it too when she stumbled. Kodi would have fallen if Donovan Gibbs, one of the club’s Dungeon Monitors, hadn’t steadied her. Van spoke with Kodi for a moment before releasing her and giving Nate a questioning look. Nate shook his head, as much to clear the after-effects of the jolt to his brain as to assure Donovan there wasn’t a problem.

  Taz had his back to the room, but he felt the flash of heat searing through Nate as if it had moved through his own body. Spinning around to see what had happened to his brother. Taz saw Nate staring across the room at Kodi Green. “What the hell’s going on, Nate?” His words hadn’t been loud enough for her to hear, but Taz was attuned to his older brother and knew Nate heard the underlying concern.

  For the first time since they were kids, Taz heard Nate’s unspoken response. “I don’t know. She looked at me, and it was like getting hit in the chest with a thousand volts of white heat.” Nate’s silent communication was interrupted when a woman at the back of the club started screaming red. The club’s safe word was cause for at least one of the owners to become involved, but before Taz could volunteer, Nate was already making his way through the quickly gathering crowd. “Watch her. Don’t let her leave. I’m not sure what happened, but I damned well plan to find out. We need to be careful, I’m worried we’ll spook her if we aren’t careful.”

  Kodi’s shoulders lowered marginally when she saw Nate moving away from the bar. Taz frowned, wondering why she’d been so nervous. Had she felt the same punch of heat Nate experienced? Interesting. Very, very interesting. Pasting on a big smile, Taz stepped closer to the bar and held out his hand for her tray. “You are one busy lady this evening, Kodi. Are the members behaving themselves?” When she gave him a wary look, Taz smiled and set the tray on the bar. “Are you having any trouble with unwanted advances? Remember, members aren’t supposed to approach you while you’re on duty.”

  A soft flush colored her cheeks as she lowered her gaze. “No, Sir. No one has said anything to me. I’m not really the type of woman men hit on.” The last sentence had been uttered so quietly Taz almost missed it.

  Is she fucking serious? Not the type?

  Taz heard Landon snort next to him and shot him a quelling look. Nix raised his hands in mock surrender and grinned. Shaking his head, Taz looked back to Kodi. He held out his hand for her order and moved quickly to gather what she needed. Setting the bottles of water and beer on the tray, he gave her a soft smile before sliding it across the bar to her.

  “I saw you drive in early this afternoon, Kodi. Did you get a chance to eat before we opened?” She ducked her head and shook it once in answer. Keeping his voice even to disguise his frustration, he said, “After you deliver those drinks, come back, and I’ll make you one of my world-famous ham and cheese omelets. High protein for energy and one of the few things I can make on a hot plate.” The truth was Taz was a surprisingly accomplished cook if grilling steaks and vegetables counted as cooking.

  As an empath, he could feel her internal struggle. A part of her felt like she should politely decline his offer, but she was hungry—really hungry. Hell, Taz was picking up echoes of her stomach cramping just thinking about food. It was a test of his control to flash her a flirtatious smile and not demand that she eat something immediately. Turning to the large glass fronted refrigerator, Taz began pulling out the ingredients he’d need. He felt the moment he’d won as something between relief and resignation moved through her. Smiling to himself, he quickly began grating cheese and dicing a large slice of ham.

  As soon as she was out of earshot, Taz looked at Landon. “I know we’re busy, but see if you can’t talk one of the unattached subs into helping out for a while. My brother and I are going to have a chat with Kodi while she eats.” Landon nodded then made a beeline for the small sitting area where the subs congregated when they were looking for a Dom for the evening. With Landon’s California surfer looks and easy going personality, Taz was putting his money on him returning with a starry-eyed sub in tow within five minutes.

  Taz was almost finished with the hastily assembled meal when Nate stalked back up to the bar. “Where is she? You were supposed to watch her. I told you to not let her out of your sight.”

  “Calm down. She should be back any minute. I tempted her with food, and I don’t think she’s going to disappear—at least not until after she eats.” Nate shook his head in disbelief and began scanning the room. Taz firmed his voice and glared at his brother. “Don’t scare her, Nate. She’s already intimidated by you.”

  Nate swung his gaze back to Taz, looking like he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. “What the hell are you talking about? Why on Earth would she be intimidated by me? I’m a charming son of a bitch if there ever was one.”

  Taz rolled his eyes and chuckled.

  “Well, Master Nate, I understand you didn’t ask me specifically, but since it seems like an open question…perhaps I can shed some light if you’ll give me permission to speak freely.” Nate and Taz both turned to look at the sub standing beside them. Laughing, they both shook hands with her Dom. Senator Karl Tyson shook his head in resignation and chuckled softly.

  “Love, I think Nate and Taz know you well enough to be fairly certain you’ll find a way to share your opinion even if they say no.”

  Taz wanted to laugh out loud at the mutinous look on her face. Dr. Tally Tyson was one of the best surgeons in the western half of the country. She’d been a resident at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC when she’d met the freshman senator. According to mutual friends, she’d quickly fallen in love with both Karl and his home state of Montana. Tally hadn’t hesitated to move west despite the fact her husband would spend a large portion of the year on the east coast. She was smart as a whip and submissive only to Karl and Landon, who often acted as their third.

  To her credit, Tally observed the club’s rule against speaking without permission and waited patiently for Nate and Taz to give her a nod of approval. She immediately turned to Nate and grinned. “Master Nate, you are a big guy, and you have this aura of authority that borders on….well, it almost shouts ‘Don’t fuck with me.’ People aren’t really sure how to take you. Now, those of us who pay attention know you are a softie on the inside.”

  Taz covered his snort of laughter with a cough, but it didn’t fool anyone, least of all Nate, who shot him a withering look. Fuck you, big brother. She’s got your number, and we both know it.

  Tally waved her hand in the most overacted piece of drama Taz had seen in a long time and patted Nate on the arm. “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe. There are only a couple of subs who are wise to you, but we won’t rat you out.” Her small shrug was far too casual, and Taz bit back another grin at her feigned disinterest. “Besides, we like watching the others snivel and squirm; it ensures you aren’t focused on making the rest of us toe the line. That would really suck, by the way.”

  Taz wanted to lean his head back and roar with laughter at the shocked look on Nate’s face. The whole conversation was so fucking bizarre considering the circumstances he could only shake his head…until she shifted her attention to him. Well, fuck.

  “Master Taz, the only time subs are intimidated by you is when they’ve done something to put themselves in danger. Even those who didn’t witness Brinn’s spanking heed the lesson because word spread far and wide.” Taz mentally flinched at the reminder of the paddling he’d given one of the club’s uncollared subs after watching her dodge between cars downtown one afternoon. She’d been warned on multiple occasions about various risky behaviors—many of which he suspected were attempts to gain attention. He’d used the incident as a lesson emphasizing the importance of submissives taking care of themselves. Taz had heard the little daredevil hadn’t sat comfortably for several days the following week, but he also knew she’d given up jaywalking.

  He must have looked smug, because Tally huffed and shook her head. “Thanks a lot for that, by the way. I went to lunch with her a couple of weeks ago, when it was raining so hard you could hardly see across the street. There wasn’t a car anywhere in sight, but she made me walk all the way to the flip-flapping corner to cross a deserted street. There wasn’t an umbrella in the world that would have kept us dry, and I looked like a drowned rat by the time we got to the bistro.” The mock glare she gave him made him chuckle.

  Karl looked toward heaven and sighed. “So, you’re telling the owners of the club they are intimidating, because they do exactly what sexual dominants are supposed to do? That hardly seems like Earth shattering information, pet. And frankly, it’s unlike you to waste everyone’s time with drivel.” Taz grinned at the man’s unspoken challenge. Karl played his little sub perfectly, and they all knew it.

  Tally gave her Dom a look that was sure to get her the paddling she was looking for before turning back to Nate. “Okay, here’s the 411 on Kodi. Please be careful with her. It was hard for her to find the courage to come back here and ask for her job back. I think this was the closest thing she’s had to a home in a long time, and I’d hate to see her lose it.” Everything Tally had just said surprised him, including her use of the military slang for pre-mission information. Where had the lovely Dr. Tyson learned that term?

  Nate didn’t respond for several seconds, and Taz watched the play of emotions move over his face. Tally finally became uncomfortable with the silence and continued, her tone much quieter than before. “Look, I can’t say anymore. Technically, I’ve already shared more than I should have.”

  Taz raised his hand to keep her from continuing and nodded.

  “Thanks for your input, Tally. I appreciate your honesty. Loyalty among the submissives is something I appreciate. Doms work together for your benefit, so it’s only reasonable the subs would team up to thwart our efforts.”

  Taz was relieved his brother had chosen that moment to lighten the mood, because Kodi was finally making her way back to the bar. All she’d see was the four of them engaged in conversation, and Tally’s smile would put her at ease. Leaning closer to her, Taz asked, “411? Spill, sweet sub. I’d be very interested to hear where you learned that particular term.”

  She grinned up at him. “I’m an Air Force brat, Sir. Hooah.”

  Karl wrapped his hand around her arm and shook his head. “Come on, trouble. You’re going to pay for the glare you gave me a few minutes ago.”

  Taz chuckled as he watched her eyes dance in anticipation. Refocusing on what she’d said, he understood why Kodi had been reluctant to return to the club to ask for her old job back. Walking away without so much as a phone call wasn’t the way to leave a good impression. But he had to admit he hadn’t considered how desperate she must have been to ask for a chance to return. Picking up the plate he’d made for her, Taz moved from behind the bar and motioned for Nate to follow him. It was time for them to find out what was going on with Ms. Kodi Green.

  Chapter Four

  Kodi’s head was spinning as the two club owners led her out of the main room. The usual sounds associated with a kink club faded quickly when the door closed with a solid thud behind them. She’d never been in the short hall leading to a small circular staircase. Heck, she hadn’t even realized there was a door there until Taz slid it silently to the side. The few feet between the door and the stairs provided even more between buffer them and the club. Soon the only thing she could hear was her own heartbeat thundering in her ears. By the time she’d walked up the steps and watched Nate open the office door, Kodi was weaving on her feet. She wasn’t sure what was causing the black dots dancing in her vision, but damned if they weren’t getting bigger by the second.

  She heard Taz’s soft curse just as the block dots began merging. “Take a damned breath, Kodi.”

  Nate spun around to look at her and glared. She wondered what he was so surly about just before she felt his large hands wrap around her upper arms. “When was the last time you ate, Ayasha?”

  Who?

  Taz appeared at Nate’s shoulder and laughed softly. “He called you little one, pet. The endearment is from the language of our ancestors. My brother has honored you with a name from the ancients.”

  She blinked trying to bring him into focus. Maybe if I can see him clearly, I’ll be able to figure out what he’s talking about.

  The next time her mind registered a coherent thought, Kodi realized she was sitting with a plate of food balanced precariously on her knees. “If you don’t eat, I’m going to feed you myself, sweetheart. I can literally feel your confusion, and it’s not going to clear until you have something in your stomach. Eat and then we’ll talk.” Master Taz’s voice was soothing and she wondered for just a minute if the rumors about him could possibly be true. He’d said he could feel her confusion, and that fit with the stories she’d heard when she’d first worked at the club months ago.

  The first bite of the enormous ham and cheese omelet melted in her mouth, and her stomach growled in appreciation. She wasn’t sure she’d ever tasted anything so good. She wasn’t sure how he’d managed to keep the omelet hot, but it was perfect, and she ate the entire thing without pausing.

  “I’m not sure I’ve ever heard someone moan in appreciation of a ham and cheese omelet before, Taz. You’re obviously a magician when it comes to eggs.” Kodi was surprised to hear Nate’s teasing tone. She’d never seen him be anything but professional.

  “I think it’s more likely a statement about how hungry our little butterfly was than an endorsement of my cooking expertise. But then again, I’ve been wrong before, and I did really slave over that hot plate.”

  Kodi looked up at Master Taz, relieved to see the smile on his face. His eyes were sparkling with humor, and she felt herself relax for the first time since she’d noticed Nate watching her downstairs.

  Earlier, when her eyes met Nate’s across the room, it felt like the world had narrowed to a pinpoint. For a few seconds, nothing existed but the two of them. Then she’d felt a sizzling awareness flash through her. It had been so intense she’d nearly fallen. If one of the Dungeon Monitors hadn’t caught her, Kodi would have face-planted in front of God and everybody.

  The first time she’d worked at the club, she’d managed to fly under Nate’s and Taz’s radar because they’d been focused on building their business. But now, something about their attentive looks told her things would be much different this time. You can’t afford to let down your guard. They won’t understand why you didn’t tell them about Koi. SEALs stick together like glue. Just thinking about her brother brought on a wave of sadness so strong Kodi felt tears burn the backs of her eyes.

  Blinking them away, she played off her sudden change of mood. “That was fantastic. I’m not sure I’ve ever tasted anything more satisfying.” She ducked her head in embarrassment when she realized the sexual innuendo of her words. Her cheeks burned, and her eyes closed in mortification. Just shoot me now. They’re going to think I was flirting with them.

  She’d seen them play with subs occasionally and had heard they rarely played with the same woman more than once or twice. The last thing she needed was a broken heart and to be unemployed…again. She was already struggling to find a warm place to sleep at night. As long as they didn’t get the late season blizzard all the local channels were buzzing about, she should be able to make it to spring. Living out of her small SUV was a pain in the ass, but so far, no one had noticed she showered and changed at the club before her shift.

  The money sitting in her bank account in Denver wouldn’t do her any good until she could afford to drive down there and sign the paperwork. It didn’t matter how quickly the balance grew if she couldn’t get her hands on the money. She’d finally found her calling, and the rewards were still out of her reach. Hopefully, her ancient laptop would hold out until she could scrape together enough money to replace it, but at this point, that seemed like a longshot. Every time she booted it up, Kodi sent up a prayer for it to work.

  The flash drive she used to save her work was the last thing her brother had given her before he’d disappeared. She didn’t even care it was almost filled with his pictures and files. She used it to save her work in addition to her online storage. She’d heard too many of her peers telling tales of woe when they lost entire projects after their computers shot crap. Eventually, she would need to sort through his files. Maybe she could find some sort of clue about what he was up to. This recurring disappearing act of his was getting old, especially when he turned up injured and she had to drop everything to take care of him.

  The soft stroke of a warm finger down the outer curve of her cheek brought Kodi back to the moment. She blushed again at being caught daydreaming. Looking up into Nate Ledek’s dark eyes, she wondered if she’d ever met anyone as multifaceted as the man watching her so intently. She saw the corners of his mouth turn up ever so slightly; it was the only indication he’d given her he’d been patiently waiting for her to return to them. Good God, Gertie. You’ve seen what happens to subs who zone out from distraction. Doms loved it when their subs hit subspace, but they were usually pretty pissy if the sub drifted off into la-la-land on her own because she wasn’t paying attention during a conversation.