Just A Kiss: A Club Temptation Novella (Club Temptation Collection) Read online

  Just A Kiss

  A Club Temptation Novella

  J.H. Croix

  Contents

  Just A Kiss

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Epilogue

  The Club Temptation Novella Collection

  Acknowledgments

  Also by J.H. Croix

  About the Author

  Just A Kiss

  A Club Temptation Novella

  By J.H. Croix

  JUST A KISS

  A CLUB TEMPTATION NOVELLA

  J.H. CROIX

  Copyright © 2020 by J.H. CROIX

  All Rights Reserved. This book may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission from the author. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. All characters and storylines are the property of the author and your support and respect are appreciated. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Cover Design: Kari March Designs

  Published by: Lady Boss Press, Inc.

  Chapter 1

  Eva

  When I climbed out of the car, my date, Chad, winked and flashed a quick smile as he reached for my hand. “I promise you’ll like this.”

  Chad and I had been matched through a dating app. I’d been hesitant to dip my toes in the waters of dating, but my friend convinced me it was time. Sarah thought it was absolutely ridiculous I was still so unsophisticated when it came to dating. I kind of hated dating even though I did want to have a chance at a relationship with someone.

  Chad seemed nice. He was a mid-level executive at some tech company, but that was all I knew. We were supposed to keep our details private until we went on a second date.

  He still hadn’t told me where he was taking me. As we walked toward the unassuming house, anticipation chased over my skin. Maybe this was a hidden café in Seattle. I loved Seattle, but even I had to admit the city where I’d grown up had become very trendy. It was hard to find anything here that was new these days. That didn’t change the fact that wildly popular places were still delicious, but I missed discovering little surprises.

  Five minutes later, I found myself not only startled and surprised but also wondering what I’d gotten myself into. This unassuming place was a discreet BDSM club. I’d read about places like this and loved a good hot romance as much as the next girl. It was more than fine with me to discover this place. What I wasn’t all that fine with was a man bringing me here on a first date without telling me where we were going.

  When Chad’s hand came to rest on my lower back, annoyance flashed through me and not the good kind. “This way,” he murmured, bending to place his mouth at my ear.

  Apparently, Chad fancied himself a dominant kind of guy. I didn’t think my personality would suit him. I suppose that was what I got for testing an anonymous dating app.

  A couple was occupying a small platform. The woman was trussed up in ropes, beautifully and artistically, while the man worshiped her with his hands. When I looked over, a sense of envy struck me. It wasn’t because she was naked or this was an intensely erotic moment. Rather, it was the look in his eyes—radiating pure love and fierce desire. My belly quivered, and my knees went weak.

  Chad had to go and ruin it by commenting, “You like that, I see.”

  Stopping abruptly, I swatted his hand off from where it rested. “Chad, this is our first date. Dial it down.”

  He smiled with this, I don’t know, I guess what he meant to be a comforting look, but it felt condescending to me. “And it will be our last. This is not the kind of place to bring a first date. Given the security here, I don’t appreciate that you lied about the nature of our relationship.”

  Chad’s eyes narrowed. “I didn’t take you for a prude, Eva.”

  “I’m not, but I met you less than an hour ago. We haven’t built the kind of trust needed to do this.”

  Turning to walk away, I seriously doubted I was suited to be whatever he thought I might be. According to the very friend who encouraged me to sign up for this anonymous dating app, I was too cranky and bossy.

  “Eva,” a voice said, the tone commanding and low.

  The sound of my name sent a wash of goose bumps over my skin. As if caught by a silk lasso, my feet came to an abrupt stop, and I turned toward the voice.

  I knew it wasn’t Chad. He didn’t sound like that. I scanned the area before my eyes collided with an icy-blue gaze. My breath felt locked in my lungs, and my pulse shot into the stratosphere. Zane Maddox stood ten feet away, exuding calm power and understated masculinity. Zane was the kind of man women ruined panties over, and he didn’t even have to try. It was there in the lift of his chiseled chin, the stark lines of his cheekbones, and the intense look in his eyes.

  Heat suffused me, spinning like fire throughout my entire body. I’d been an intern at Zane’s tech firm in Seattle three years ago. I’d had a terrible crush on him, like the worst kind, but I was certain he’d never noticed me. Though I also would’ve argued he didn’t even know my name.

  Apparently, I was wrong on that count.

  “She’s with me.” Chad’s voice came from over my shoulder.

  “No, I’m not,” I said, my anger snapping me out of my shock.

  Zane approached in a deceptively lazy stride, carrying a drink in his hand. His intent eyes locked on Chad. “That’s not what she says.”

  Oh, God. Zane’s voice was just as sexy as I remembered. It was low with a thread of command and the expectation that anyone he spoke to was listening.

  My nipples sure were. They tightened up the second he took another step to stand closer to me.

  Chad’s eyes bounced to me. “Eva, would you please clarify that we came here tonight together?”

  Oh, for God’s sake. I was not going to shore up Chad’s stupid ego.

  “We may have arrived together, but I’m no longer your date. I just said so not two minutes ago. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

  I started to walk away only to have dumbass Chad try to follow. This time, Zane cut right in front of him. “I think she’s made it clear she’s not with you.”

  Chad muttered something and stalked away, actually pouting. I was caught between feeling annoyance at Chad and this decidedly inconvenient effect Zane was having on me. I almost burst out laughing at the ridiculousness of the whole situation. All the while, in one corner was a woman with two men worshiping her and in another area was still that intensely erotic couple on the platform.

  “Would you like a ride home?” Zane asked. It sounded more like an order than a question.

  So I said as much. “Is that really a question, Zane?” I was a little surprised at my boldness. I’d used his name to make it clear that I knew who he was.

  His lips quirked at the corners. “Not really. I’m taking you home.”

  Next thing I knew, Zane had rested his palm between my should
er blades and was coaxing me forward. For the life of me, I couldn’t think of one reason not to leave, but it got my spine up to have him being the one to insist I do so.

  But this was Zane, and he’d once intimidated me just by existing. Plus, he did kind of make my knees melt.

  Moments later, I found myself out on the sidewalk. “Did you drive here yourself?” he asked, his blue eyes boring into me.

  I wanted to lie, I really did. But I was me, and I didn’t do well under the force of a presence like Zane’s. “No.”

  Zane didn’t even reply. He gestured for me to walk ahead of him, his hand landing at the dip of my waist like a hot brand. We crossed the street while he made a quick phone call. After a few words, he slid his phone in his pocket.

  “I can find my way home. I’ll just call a car service. And before you think I’m stupid, that guy didn’t tell me he was bringing me here. We met on a dating app, and he said our destination was a surprise. I had no idea he was going to bring me here. It’s not like I have a problem with the place, but we just met and—”

  Zane looked at me quietly, and I shut up. I was feeling flustered in his presence. I also felt extra flustered because I looked like a fool.

  “My car is here.”

  In another moment, he was holding open the back door of a sleek black sedan. God, this was crazy.

  Zane climbed in beside me and closed the door. “Your address?” he asked.

  I quickly recited it, and he repeated it to the driver. “If you don’t mind, some privacy please, Danny,” he added.

  “You got it, boss.”

  A partition rolled up with a whisper between the front and the back. I laced my fingers together and clasped them over my knees. I was even dressed up because Sarah told me I needed to look good for a date. My skirt was bright blue and twirly around my knees, and I wore these cute little kitten heels.

  “I’m glad you left,” Zane began.

  “I’m surprised you even know my name,” I countered.

  One of Zane’s dark brows rose in a slash. “You think I would forget your name?”

  Chapter 2

  Zane

  Eva Slater crossed and then uncrossed her legs as she stared at me. The space inside the car felt crowded with nothing but a narrow strip of the black leather seat between us. Seeing Eva tonight had surprised me.

  I was downright furious with the asshole who had brought her to the club, but that was a problem for another day. My problem wasn’t that Eva was there, but rather that it sounded like her date had misled her through omission.

  Eva lifted a hand, smoothing it over her dark hair. The streetlights outside flickered through the window, glinting on her hair. She finally lifted a shoulder in a small shrug. “Yes, I’m surprised you remember my name,” she said in her husky voice.

  “I have a good memory,” I countered.

  Eva traced her finger along the stitching on the seat between us, and I wished she was tracing her finger anywhere on me. Eva had been an intern at my company some years ago. She’d been hot as hell then but totally off-limits. Interns weren’t a part of my social circle. Especially not interns who affected me like a live wire of electricity to my system.

  “I don’t think you ever spoke my name when I was working at your company. Why would I assume you would ever remember it?”

  Oh, that’s right. Eva was assertive. Or so her boss had told me. Well, I suppose I’d been her boss as well, but I didn’t directly manage the interns at my company.

  Since leaving her internship, she’d gone on to start her own gaming company. It was small but well-known. She made it a point to work with determined, like-minded women and had made a splash with several successful games. She was brilliant, and I wouldn’t mind stealing her back.

  “Maybe we didn’t talk much, but I remember you. Obviously.”

  Eva pursed her lips. She was wearing a shiny lip gloss I wanted to kiss off, but no other makeup that I could tell. I quickly did the math in my head. She’d been an intern about four years ago, which meant she was twenty-three years old, or thereabouts, when she was at my company. It would’ve been right after she graduated from an advanced master’s program in computer coding.

  I sponsored that program and hosted ten interns a year. Not only was it an excellent program but it was also a way to scope out the best talent. My tech company had started in gaming, but we had expanded into secure social and dating apps and security services for a variety of social media applications.

  So that made Eva about twenty-seven years old now, only five years younger than me. It was perfectly acceptable for me to pursue her now.

  “So you do,” she finally said, flicking her hair off her shoulder.

  When her big, dark eyes met mine, it felt as if a little bolt of lightning sizzled through the air between us. She had a standoffish vibe, one that made me want to break down her barriers.

  “Do you intend to go on a second date with your friend there?” I asked.

  Eva let out a little huff, her nostrils flaring as she looked at me. “Absolutely not.”

  “Good. He’s an asshole,” I said flatly.

  She snorted. “How do you know?”

  “Because apparently he took you to a BDSM club on a first date as a surprise. That’s bullshit.”

  Eva twisted her mouth to the side. “Serves me right. I didn’t want to try a dating app, but my friend convinced me.”

  “Which app?”

  “Metro Love.”

  The moment she said the name of the app, annoyance flashed inside. Because my company was involved in the app’s development. “Well, then. I’ll make sure he’s kicked off that app.”

  Eva gave me a quizzical look, furrowing her brows. “Oh,” she said as her expression cleared. “Your company must be an investor. No need to kick him off just because of me. I don’t intend to use it again.”

  “No?”

  She shook her head, her hair shifting lightly on her shoulders. “It wasn’t really for me to begin with.”

  I had thoughts, lots of them, namely wanting to tell her not to bother with any dating app. I might have put her out of my mind, but seeing her now set me on fire, and I wanted her.

  “They’re not for everybody,” I replied, trying to keep my tone casual.

  We turned onto the street where she lived. “It’s right there,” she said, gesturing to a small bungalow house. That style of home was popular in the Northwest.

  My driver stopped, and I tapped on the window for him to roll down the partition. “I’ll walk from here, Danny.”

  “Got it. See you tomorrow,” he replied with a nod.

  “Thank you,” Eva called.

  A moment later, we were on the sidewalk, and the car was rolling away. Eva looked up at me. “You can’t live close to here. I don’t think this neighborhood is nice enough for you.”

  Looking down at her, I felt my lips curl in a smile. “It so happens I only live a few blocks away. I grew up in Seattle, so I prefer neighborhoods like this.”

  Eva’s eyes widened slightly. “Well, the king climbs down from his throne.”

  She was so sassy. Because I had avoided her when she was an intern, I’d never seen this side of her. “I’m not a king.”

  “Maybe not. You just have piles of money and run one of the hottest tech companies in Seattle,” she returned.

  “Don’t try to convince me you’re not doing well. Your company may be small, but you’ve had two major hits. Now, let me walk you to your door, please.”

  “What if I said no?”

  “I would wait here until you went inside.”

  Eva eyed me for another few beats before she turned and walked up the slate pathway that led to the porch. Since she didn’t chase me off, I followed.

  We stopped in front of her door, and I looked down. Once again, the second my eyes snagged on hers, it felt as if lightning sizzled, and the hairs on the back of my neck prickled.

  This girl. Damn. She got to me.

&nb
sp; “I’d like to see you again.”

  Eva had been reaching in her purse and went still. Her eyes swung up to mine again, and she parted her lips in surprise. “Excuse me?”

  “I’d like to see you again,” I repeated.

  When she stayed silent, I prompted, “Tell me when.”

  I heard the swift intake of her breath through her lips, and desire jolted through me. I waited.

  “Um,” she finally began, “somehow, I don’t think I’m your type.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong.”

  I’d been keeping a safe distance between us so I didn’t do anything stupid. But now I had a point to prove.

  In two strides, I was standing right in front of her. She opened her mouth to speak, but I lifted my finger and placed it over her lips. “Let me show you something,” I murmured.

  Dropping my hand, I eased close enough that when she took in a gulp of air, I could feel her breasts rise and brush against my chest through the thin silk of her blouse. When I lifted my hand to slide it around and cup the back of her neck, her hair was just as silky as I imagined. She took in another breath, and I dipped my head, silently telling myself to keep this quick and not let it spiral out of control.

  I waited just long enough for her to step back if she really didn’t want this. But she did want it. I knew she did. The chemistry between us was creating its own electrical storm.

  Her dark eyes held mine. I dipped my head and brushed my lips over hers—once, twice, and then, her lashes swept against her cheeks and her eyes closed. Tangling my fingers in her hair, I finally fit my mouth over hers, telling myself I could have just a little bit more. She smelled like flowers, and her mouth tasted sweet. She let out a little sigh, followed by a whimper that caught at the back of her throat.