Page 35 of No More Spies

“Because you are also a dumbass.” Kala checked her lock. Notthat it would matter if Kenz decided to go for it. Her sister was an excellentthief.

“Did your heart really stop?”

This was what she’d been wanting to avoid. “Yes, and youdidn’t feel it so we’re not weirdly connected like you’ve always worried. It’sgood news because you don’t die if I do.”

Kenzie groaned. “You are…”

And here they were. “Too much.”

Kenzie sighed, her eyes softening. “I shouldn’t say that. Idon’t mean it. You are stubborn, though. I’m glad Ben saved you, but you shouldknow according to Dad, Cooper completely blew our cover that day.”

“How?” She’d heard nothing of this. Shouldn’t someone havetold her Ben Parker knew who she was? “He knows we’re twins? Why the hell wouldCoop tell him?”

“No, he didn’t tell Ben anything. He had a very largereaction to Ben carrying you out of a burning house unconscious. He thought youwere dead. Ben is back to the firm belief that Kara and Cooper are a thing.”

She could deal. “Next time I see Ben Parker, I’ll kickCooper in the nuts and tell him we broke up. No harm, no foul. Well, except toCoop’s nut sack. I should probably warn him. He could wear a cup or something.”

“You are missing the point,” Kenzie replied.

“If the point is Cooper’s balls, I assure you I won’t miss.”

“The point is Cooper went all emotional in the middle of anop.”

Kala was certain her sister was embellishing. “He felt bad.Coop is a control freak. He thinks everything is his fault. He’s fine now.”

“He’s not.” Kenzie’s head shook. “Watch him. He’s not okay,and I think he’s ready to make a move, so you need to figure out what you want.You’ve put him off for years. This might be your last shot with him.”

So her sister thought she was going to fuck up. She had nointention. “If it’s my very last shot, my ‘don’t collect two hundred dollars,go directly to jail if I don’t take it’ shot, then I should make it a good one.I might be late tonight, sis.”

“Because you’re going to sit down and have a longheart-to-heart discussion about years of pent-up feelings?” Kenzie asked but ina way that let Kala know it was wishful thinking.

“I thought I would ride him like the stallion he is and gethim out of my system,” Kala explained. “I really did do the whole almost dyingthing, and when I came out of it, I realized I want to experience that man’spenis.”

“You are so close,” Kenzie insisted. “Move about two feet upand I believe you’ll find the part of Cooper you need.”

“I do not need his man nipples.” She wasn’t giving Kenz aninch. This wasn’t a love connection. It was a physical need they obviously bothrequired to move on.

“I’m talking about his freaking heart.”

Kala walked out because the one thing he didn’t want fromher was her heart. She was fairly certain he didn’t think she had one.

Chapter Seven

Cooper sat back and watched her work.

“You were late on Friday,” she said in the deep, dark voiceshe used when working with subs. “Did you think I wouldn’t know?”

Matt Sims was a close friend of the Lodge family and apretty hard-core sub. Gabe preferred working with women, as it was hissexuality that tied into his Dom identity rather than his core personality. Orthe dude was horny all the time and didn’t want to put in the work if therewasn’t a chance he might get something out of it.

So they’d inherited Matt, who was submissive to his core andalso bad at being on time.

“I’m sorry, Mistress.” Matt was down to a Speedo and nothingelse, on his hands and knees on the floor, head down and waiting. He was in hismid-twenties and hadn’t found a permanent dominant partner yet, though not forlack of trying. He’d run through most of Dallas’s gay Doms. Another reason hewas here with them. “I didn’t hear my alarm.”

They were in what Cooper liked to think of as the red room.It was a room specifically equipped for all types of punishment. Or funishment,depending on your point of view.

How many times had he dreamed of getting her in here, layingher out across his lap, and slapping that gorgeous ass until she agreed tonever deny him again? So many times.

But he knew he was ready when he saw himself laid out andher giving the punishment. When he realized he would do anything for her. Whenhe decided his love didn’t have to be a selfish thing.