Top Trouble: A Submissive Series Standalone Novel Read online

  Top Trouble

  A Submissive Series Standalone Novel

  Tara Sue Me

  Praise for Tara Sue Me

  “An erotic, deeply loving BDSM romance...Fans of erotic romance will delight in its mix of heat and heart.” PUBLISHERS WEEKLY starred review for THE MASTER

  “For those Fifty Shades fans pining for a little more spice...the Guardian recommends Tara Sue Me’s Submissive Trilogy, starring handsome CEO Nathaniel West, a man on the prowl for a new submissive, and the librarian Abby, who is yearning for something more.” LOS ANGELES TIMES

  “Scorching sex, well-developed characters, occasional bursts of humor, and skillful plotting make Me’s series launch a must-read.” PUBLISHER WEEKLY on AMERICAN ASSHOLE

  Copyright © 2019 by Tara Sue Me

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  ISBN ebook: 9781950017096

  ISBN Print: 9781950017102

  Cover photo: Depositphotos.com

  Cover Design: Mister Sue Me

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  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

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  Wall Street Royals/Excerpt from FOK

  American Asshole

  Also by Tara Sue Me

  About the Author

  For all my readers who insisted upon Evan and Kelly’s story. I didn’t know it at the time, but writing this would be one of the most entertaining and eye-opening experiences I’ve had in writing this series so far.

  Thank you.

  Chapter One

  Until tonight, Evan Martin had never felt jealous of a submissive. But watching the man across the room kneel at Kelly Bowman’s feet and seeing the way she talked to him, her hand in his hair, and her lips brushing the skin along his ear… Well, it had him thinking things he’d never admit to anyone.

  He took a step away from the wall he’d been leaning against to shift his feet and calm his dick down.

  “Looks like Mistress K has herself a playmate for the evening.”

  Evan looked up and found Daniel, one of the group’s long term Doms, watching the curvy redhead.

  “Yeah,” Evan said. “He’s played with her before. He knows what he’s getting into.”

  Daniel raised an eyebrow.

  “Not that I keep track of who she plays with or anything,” Evan hurried to add, even though he did. She hadn’t played with anyone the last two times the group met here at their new club. It had been six months since she played with the sub she was talking to at the moment.

  Daniel obviously overlooked his bald-faced lie. “She brings so much to the group, even apart from being our only Senior Domme. She’ll be missed.”

  Evan’s head spun back to Daniel so fast he was surprised he didn’t give himself whiplash. “What? What do you mean, missed?”

  Daniel cringed. “I didn’t realize you hadn’t heard. She took a job in Texas. With the Dallas PD.”

  Kelly was moving? To Dallas?

  “No,” Evan replied, trying to sound as normal as possible. “I hadn’t heard that. I wish her all the best.” He couldn’t imagine her not being in Delaware. Not being part of the group. “When’s she moving?”

  “A month, I think.” Daniel wrinkled his brow. “Julie wants to throw her a party, but she’s too busy with wedding stuff.”

  Daniel and his submissive, Julie, were getting married in three months. Evan nodded but said nothing. He found that he couldn’t. Daniel looked at him as if expecting him to be a smartass about Kelly moving, her potential party, or both. But the snark wouldn’t come. In its place was something else. Evan couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but it felt an awful lot like regret.

  He felt a sudden need to get away from Daniel. The senior Dominant was too observant, and he’d known Evan for too long. He’d keep talking about Kelly, and if Evan didn’t watch himself, he’d end up confessing his attraction to her.

  He wasn’t sure why it mattered. So what if he found the Domme attractive? She was every man’s fantasy: hot body, fiery red hair, plus she was a hard as nails cop who busted balls for a living. Who wouldn’t find her attractive was the real question.

  Probably, it was because they were both Tops. A relationship between the two of them would never work. Over the years, it became easier to pick fights with her than to confess he was attracted to her. Not to mention, pushing her buttons was so damn fun.

  The sound of giggling caught his attention, and he glanced at the sitting area to his left. A group of unattached submissives had their heads together, whispering about something. He moved toward a vacant chair next to them.

  Maybe he’d try to find someone to play with. That would force him to focus on something else. And that would be a good thing, because at the moment, Kelly Bowman filled all the space in his head.

  Kelly watched as the male submissive stood to his feet and walked off. He’d approached her about playing, but she wasn’t in the mood. She didn’t even know why she’d bothered to show up, other than it was a habit to attend play parties. That should have been a red flag. In what world did she think it was acceptable to show up at a play party just because it was habit? Hell, she should have stayed home. At least then, she could have knocked out some packing.

  Now she had to be social. She glanced around the new club, taking in all the friends she’d made over the years. Friends she wouldn’t be seeing much of after a month.Though she was a bit apprehensive about moving back to her childhood home state, she was mostly excited.

  Her new position was a big promotion. She’d flown to Dallas twice and was looking forward to her new job and getting to know her new colleagues. The housing market was so much more reasonable, and those horrid winters would forever be a thing of her past.

  That alone should have her dancing for joy, instead she felt like she was trying to convince herself moving was a good idea.

  “Yo, Red. I didn’t know you had a cowboy fantasy.”

  She turned at the sound of Evan Martin’s voice and found him leaning against a wall, his dirty blond hair falling haphazardly into his face. In fact, it was so long, only one of his icy blue eyes was visible.

  “I’m surprised you could see it was me through that mop on your head you call hair.” She pretended to study it. “I hope you didn’t drive here. I think your haircut could be an impediment to driving.”

  His grin grew larger. “If I say yes, will you attempt to handcuff me?”

  “You’d like that wouldn’t you?”

  He pushed back from the wall. “Nah, I’d rather be the one doing the cuffing, and I could tell you why I wear it like this, but it’d be better if I showed you. Of course, one of us would need to be in cuffs and it won't be me.”

  “You don’t have the balls to handcuff me.”

  “That I do, Red. Would you like to see them?”

  “That’s okay, I didn’t bring my magnifying glass.”

  “Damn it, you two.” Daniel said, coming up besid
e them. “Mistress K, you’re here for another few weeks. Do you think it’s possible you and Martin could stay away from each other during that time?”

  She rolled her eyes, but the truth was, she enjoyed sparring with Evan. He was funny and sharp and, not to mention, hot as ever-loving hell. On more than one occasion, she’d wondered what it would be like to submit to him. Could she do that? Even though she wasn’t a bottom?

  He looked at her as if he knew what she was thinking. His eyes danced with barely controlled mirth.

  “What’s so funny, Martin?” she asked.

  “You,” he replied. “I know what you’re thinking.”

  “I doubt that.” She hoped to hell he didn’t know what she was thinking. “You’re a lot of things, but brain reader isn’t one of them.”

  “I don’t have to be a mind reader to know when a woman wants me.”

  “If you think—”

  “That’s enough.” Daniel came in-between them now, and he’d lost his jovial expression. "I've warned you both too many times to count. It’s time for you to leave. Both of you. You’re disruptive and setting a bad example.”

  Evan looked like he would argue, but Kelly felt nothing but relief. Her rational brain told her she could go home and start sorting through her house, decide what was going with her to Dallas, and what she could either toss or give to charity. But in reality, she knew what would happen, and it involved her favorite vibrator and a fantasy or two starring a smartass Dom. She spun on her heel and headed to the dressing room.

  Ten minutes later, she stepped outside only to find Evan standing by her car.

  She ignored him and opened her door, when Evan moved closer. “You’re welcome in advance for the orgasm.”

  Chapter Two

  Two Weeks Later

  “Do you think Kelly’s drinking a bit too much?” Evan asked Daniel. He shouldn’t care. It was her going away party, after all. If she wanted to get plastered, that was her choice. But…

  He looked outside for her car. Yup, her dark sedan was parked outside Daniel’s house, which meant she drove herself. She wouldn't be able to drive home, that was a certainty. He should leave his car in Daniel’s driveway and take her home. Or would it be better to take his car?

  “It does look like she’s had quite a few.” Daniel frowned. “It’s not like her. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her have more than one.”

  “Maybe the move is getting to her.” It sure as hell was getting to him. He’d merely waded through the last two weeks. He didn’t want her to leave, but how to convince her to stay?

  Why did he continue to think such stupid thoughts? Nothing would keep her in Delaware. If she wanted to move to Dallas, she should move to Dallas. He’d never told her he was attracted to her and now it was too late. Seriously, what did he think would happen? She’d find out he was attracted to her, and she’d cancel her move? Yeah, right.

  He should have done or said something years ago. That would have been the smart thing to do. But, no. He’d acted like he had all the time in the world and look where it got him. Standing at a going away party for the one woman he didn’t want to go away.

  Daniel glanced at his watch. “I’ll drive her home. Party’s winding down, anyway. Let me go tell Julie.”

  He started to walk away, but Evan shot his hand out to stop him. “I’ll take her home.”

  Daniel raised an eyebrow. “You will?”

  “Yes, if you don’t mind, I'll leave my car in your driveway.”

  “And you’ll get her home in one piece?”

  “I’m insulted you’d think otherwise.”

  “I’ve broken up more spats between the two of you than I can count on both hands and that’s just this year alone. You have to admit it sounds peculiar that you’d be the first one volunteering to drive her home.”

  “I enjoy picking on her, that doesn’t mean I want anything bad to happen to her.”

  Daniel gave him the look he gave people when he knew they weren't being completely honest.

  “Okay, fine.” He might as well tell someone, and Daniel would understand. “I like her. Is that what you want to hear? I like her, and it’s too damn late to do anything about it because she’s moving to fucking Dallas. So the least I can do is drive her home after she’s had too much to drink at her going away party.”

  There. He’d said it. Out loud. He waited for the “Ah, ha! I knew it,” from Daniel, but it didn’t come.

  “So sorry, man. I can’t imagine how tough that must be.” He clapped his hand on Evan’s shoulder. “Take her home.”

  “Thanks.” Maybe he should have talked with Daniel about Kelly months, heck, years ago. If he had, would she still be moving? There was no way to know. Besides, what was done was done. He couldn’t change anything. With a sigh, he headed toward Kelly and braced himself for what he knew would be an unpleasant argument.

  She stood talking with a few of the other women in their group. Sasha and Julie on one side. Abby on the other. For a second, he thought she looked sober, but Abby said something the other ladies laughed at, only Kelly also swayed. Nope. No driving for her.

  Sasha stepped aside at his approach. Abby crossed her arms and gave him the evil eye. Clearly, the women all expected him to start something. Not that he could blame them, if this had been a party for any other reason, that’s exactly what he’d be doing.

  But it wasn't any other party, it was Kelly’s going away party, and he didn't plan on starting anything with Kelly tonight. Not what they thought anyway.

  “Mistress K?” he asked, deciding that was the quickest way to get everyone on the same page.

  He didn’t look to see how the other women reacted, he only watched Kelly. She narrowed her eyes. “Why did you call me that? Did hell freeze over and no one told me?”

  He decided both of those were rhetorical questions. “I'll drive you home.”

  She’d already been planning her cutting comeback in her head, he could tell. But his reply hadn’t been the one she’d expected and her mouth snapped shut. He’d expected her to argue with him, but then again, she was a police officer and would know she was in no condition to drive home.

  “I should check for flying pigs on the way home,” Abby said to Sasha in an I’m-not-even-trying-to-be-quiet whisper.

  “Okay,” Kelly said. “Ready to leave?”

  “Yeah,” he replied, still stunned by her reaction. “Whenever you are.”

  She said her goodbyes and hugged the remaining partygoers. More than a few raised an eyebrow at the two of them. Kelly grabbed her purse. “I’m ready.”

  He nodded and held out his hand. “We’ll take your car.”

  Once she handed him the keys, they were on their way. She lived about twenty miles from Daniel’s, and because of the time of night, it didn’t take long at all to reach her place. He parked in her driveway, and she only gave him a slight raised eyebrow when he accompanied her to the front door. He passed her the keys.

  “Come inside,” she said, unlocking the door.

  He hesitated.

  “Now,” she said.

  Fuck, but that Domme voice turned him on more than he’d let anyone know. Especially her.

  “Only because you asked so politely,” he said, breezing past her and entering the house.

  “There he is. I knew he was in there somewhere.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Asshole Evan.”

  He bit his tongue to keep from replying and looked around the house. His chest hurt when he noticed the cardboard boxes stacked everywhere. Like he needed a reminder she was moving. She’d hosted the Partner group over the years, before they had built the new club building, so he was familiar with her house. He couldn’t help but think it looked so clinical without the tiny evidences of her touch.

  But some small part of him rejoiced that there hadn’t been a FOR SALE sign in her yard.

  “When are you going to list?” he asked.

  “Sometime the next week,
I think.” She made her way toward the kitchen. “I’m going to get some water. You want some?”

  He sat down. “No. I’m good.”

  She returned minutes later, glass in hand. He should go, it hurt too much to stay in the room with Kelly and her packed up boxes. The entire house seemed to mock him. Yeah, you’re finally here, it said. Three years too late.

  He made a move toward the door, but Kelly nodded to the couch. “Sit.”

  He told himself he only sat down because he didn’t want to leave, anyway. It had nothing to do with following Kelly’s orders. But he’d be lying if he didn’t admit that Kelly giving commands was hot.

  She sat down beside him and gave him the once over. Evan leaned back into the couch and tried to act as if they did this every day. “Like what you see?”

  Her answer was to run a manicured nail down his thigh. “You work out.”

  He gave a grunt in reply. Partially because she hadn’t posed it like a question and partially because hot damn, he liked it when she touched him.

  “I bet you look great with your shirt off,” she said in a low and throaty voice that had him harder than hell.

  He closed his eyes as her hand inched its way upward and teased the hem of his shirt. God, but he wanted to yank the damn thing off and let her have her fill of him. But she was drunk and if she wasn’t, she was too tipsy to give consent.

  Figures, the one time he was able to do something with Kelly, he wouldn’t allow himself to. It had to be some sort of cosmic payback for all the grief he’d given her over the last few years.