Perception (Club Destiny #6)(5)
Author: Nicole Edwards

Knowing that he didn’t have time to waste, as soon as Sam had her back to him, Xander tossed the small flogger away and moved to the other side of the room to retrieve the one he intended to use.

His hand had barely wrapped around the braided handle before his slacks were getting a tad uncomfortable. Just the thought of what was about to happen had his cock rigid and anxious.

Knowing that he wouldn’t be able to pay attention to Samantha and do what he needed to do, Xander turned his full attention back to the woman who’d been his main focus for the last few hours. Mercedes Bryant. The mouthwatering woman standing on the opposite side of the room.

Xander wouldn’t deny the fact that there were plenty of beautiful women in the world; he’d had the pleasure of being with plenty himself. But truth be told, not a single woman held a candle to Mercedes. As far as he was concerned, she easily outshined every other woman in the world.

He’d thought so ever since the first time he met her nearly a decade ago.

Mercedes was breathtaking. Mile long legs that would wrap around a man perfectly, luscious curves that he could easily fill his palms with, jet black hair that fell to her waist, exotic steel gray eyes that saw everything, and alabaster skin that just begged for a man’s touch.

She was riveting.

And those were just a few things Xander found so fucking desirable about the woman standing there, waiting for him.

In all of his thirty-five years, he had never met a woman who had captured his attention the way she did.

But he knew firsthand that there was more to Mercedes than just a pretty face and a tantalizing body. Truthfully, through the years that they had been friends, he’d been more captivated by her intelligence, her strength, and her wit than anything else.

And she had enamored him. He just had never let her know.

Without a doubt, she was the most tempting woman he’d ever laid his eyes on. And he could guarantee she had absolutely no idea he felt that way.

Because if she did, he knew she wouldn’t have agreed to this.

Xander was a pro at keeping his true feelings to himself. After all, he’d spent years doing so. In his business, it didn’t benefit him to show his hand too soon. His poker face was without flaw. He prided himself on his ability to hide any and all reaction. And in his defense, he’d been attempting to lure Mercedes to him for longer than he cared to admit. However, as it turned out, subtlety wasn’t exactly his specialty. Not where Mercedes was concerned.

He was tired of being subtle. He was also tired of waiting. So, just like everything else, it was time he took control. In the one way that he was intimately familiar with.

Mercedes moved, drawing his attention to her outfit. When he picked her up that evening, they’d both been dressed for the formal affair that they were attending. Over dinner, she’d stolen his breath with the sexy black dress that had highlighted her voluptuous figure incredibly well, giving a sexy glimpse at her more than impressive cleavage.

However, since they’d entered the play room, she had changed her clothing. At his request. The black corset with its fiery red ribbons, the short black skirt and knee high black boots with the four inch heels was one of the sexiest outfits he’d ever seen her wear and yes, he’d seen her wear plenty, not to mention less.

After all, this wasn’t the first time he’d watched her closely.

Torn between eyeing the woman whose gaze was boring into him and doing what needed to be done, Xander glanced between her and the St. Andrew’s cross.

He met her eyes again and nodded slightly.

“Over to the wall.” His instruction was gentle yet firm, not offering any room for confusion or argument, which, of course, was the intention.

Time to begin.

~~*~~*~~

Mercedes crossed paths with Xander as she moved to the far side of the room as instructed. She met his gaze as she did and noticed the sexy smirk tipping the corner of his lips.

Arrogant bastard.

He seemed to be getting a huge kick out of this. Then again, it wasn’t often – translated to never – that anyone would get Mercedes to agree to something like this.

Then again – her hesitancy notwithstanding – she had to admit, she was both nervous and excited about what was going on here tonight.

Since the day she’d been introduced to Xander Boone many years ago, they had spent a lot of time together. In the simplest of terms, they were business associates, not to mention, friends.

Close, yet very platonic, friends.

When they weren’t dealing with the ins and outs of the real estate market, they would often spend time together outside of work, as well. A lot of that time was spent at one of Dallas’ most exclusive BDSM clubs – appropriately named Kink – where they were both now members.