Hero Read Free Page A

cope with losing Katie to another Dom. Flashes of sexual pleasure and the high I found in dominating my partners was enough to keep me going; to keep me smiling around my friends; to keep me pretending that I wasn’t half-dead inside.
    “It doesn’t look like New York suits you.” A familiar voice interrupted my brooding. “For a guy in a sex club, you look pretty damn miserable.”
    Surprised, I pushed away from the bar and turned toward the man I hadn’t seen in two years. “Harper. What are you doing here?”
    He gave me a sardonic grin. “Good to see you, too, Dex.”
    I shook my head with a rueful smile and reached for the hand he offered, shaking it firmly. “I didn’t mean to be rude,” I apologized. “It’s been a long time. How are you?”
    I’d worked with Jason Harper back when I was still with the Chicago FBI field office, before I’d transferred to New York to get away from Katie and the love of her fucking life, Reed Miller.
    I struggled to maintain my smile at the thought of Miller. Thankfully, Jason didn’t seem to notice my lingering sour mood.
    “I’m good, man,” he responded, still grinning. “As for what I’m doing in New York, I’m here for a job interview. Carver is trying to recruit me.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Of course he is.” My boss was going to recruit every agent with a kinky bone in his—or her—body, if he had his way.
    Jason’s green eyes danced with their usual easy humor. “Yeah, the new Chicago director isn’t too pleased with Carver poaching her agents. Ever since Franklin Dawes was killed and Georgia Parkinson took over, she’s been running a tight ship.”
    This time, I couldn’t hide my scowl. To say my former boss was killed didn’t even begin to cover it. Jason made it sound like he’d been killed in action. That couldn’t be further from the fucking truth. I’d lost Katie forever the day Dawes died.
    I failed her. I don’t deserve her, I reminded myself for what felt like the millionth time.
    Jason ran a hand through his shaggy black hair, clearly flustered. “Sorry. I know Dawes is the reason you left. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
    I shrugged it off. “It’s okay. I’m over it.”
    I could tell Jason didn’t buy it, but he was smart enough not to call bullshit.
    “So, how’s the New York field office?” He tactfully changed the subject. “It seems like the job has its perks. Decadence is a great club.”
    “It is,” I agreed. “The team is really close. You’d fit in here.”
    His wolfish smile returned. “If you guys party at BDSM clubs regularly, I’m sure I would. But Dusk in Chicago is a pretty great club, too. And Miller’s there, so at least I have one person in the lifestyle on my team.”
    My own smile was tight. Hatred burned in my gut, a reflexive reaction to any mention of Reed Miller.
    “Yeah, I do miss Dusk sometimes,” I said. That much was true. Dusk had been my safe haven, the first club I’d ever ventured into when I discovered the lifestyle at the age of eighteen. It had been my home before I’d abandoned everything I’d known in Chicago and fled to New York.
    “Do you want me to introduce you to the guys?” I asked, redirecting the conversation. “They’re all here tonight.”
    Jason’s eyes strayed from mine to rove over the crowd filling the club. “I’m sure I’ll meet them tomorrow. I’d rather get to know her tonight.” He tipped his head toward a pretty blonde who was sitting on one of the red leather couches across from the bar. She caught his gaze, held it for a few seconds, then lowered her lashes in a show of submission. Jason’s grin turned predatory.
    “All right,” I agreed easily, somewhat relieved he wanted to leave me alone. I didn’t like talking about Chicago. “I’ll be around if you change your mind.”
    “I doubt I will. See you at the office tomorrow.” He gave me a vague wave, never taking his eyes off his target as he sauntered away from me.
    I blew out a long