Excerpt of Tamed by Stacey Kennedy

The crowd went silent as Kyler settled in front of Ella and asked, “Will you kneel for me and wear my collar, Ella, as a symbol of my ownership and of our love?”

Ella smiled and gracefully knelt before him. “I will wear it proudly for all of my days, sir.”

Kyler’s eyes softened in a way Kenzie had never seen from him as he fastened the diamond choker around Ella’s neck. Then he became more serious, tucking a finger under her chin. “You now belong to me.”

A tear slid down Ella’s pinkened cheeks. “Yes, I am yours, sir.”

The crowd shifted on their feet in anticipation as Kyler offered his hand and Ella rose. He took one step toward her, sliding his hands around her face and taking her into a kiss that Kenzie thought was sweet. Intimate. Not at all dominant. Feeling like Cupid had done his work here, she clapped along with the crowd. Until Kyler deepened the kiss, and then Kenzie’s stomach roiled. She’d never been kissed with such devotion. Then again, how could anyone become invested in her when she never let anyone close enough to form a real relationship?

Impossible.

Cupid could keep his cute ass away from her. Lust fulfilled her, because in her mind, this ultimately kept her in control of her destiny and kept her moving forward.

Every submissive chose what she wanted out of the lifestyle, and Kenzie wanted casual Doms who could deliver intense scenes. She certainly didn’t want a Dom she belonged to in every sense of the word. For if she went there, her façade would be exposed. That, she couldn’t allow. She didn’t want to drown in the past. She wanted to live in the future.

A future where she was someone different. Someone stronger. Someone happier.

Her heart, her secrets, her soul all belonged to her.

“How is Ms. Kenzie tonight?”

She glanced sideways and smiled at Club Sin Master Aidan Knight. His shadowy gray eyes were kind and commanding, reflecting what existed in all the Club Sin Masters—a confidence that was alluring and that Kenzie often wanted to steal. “Doing well, sir, though I’m carefully dodging Cupid’s arrows.” At Aidan’s low chuckle, she added, “A girl has to be careful of late, but I’m good at swatting them away.”

The stony expression he typically wore softened. “I do wonder if any Dom here will ever win that heart of yours.”

She folded her arms, scrunching her nose. “It can only be won if it were available to win, which it is not—I have no interest in that type of relationship.”

“Yes, I remember,” he replied firmly, yet only amusement shone in his eyes. “But you never know.”

Kenzie’s smile grew. This was what she loved. Even if she tested the Doms from time to time, she always felt appreciated and liked by them. They were good friends to her; she’d always believed that. She liked how easygoing they were around her. The distance she had wanted so desperately in the past she had achieved in Club Sin.

Cora, Aidan’s new wife, stepped in next to him. Her long, dark hair draped her shoulder and her ocean-blue eyes all but sparkled as she smiled up to her husband. He, of course, wrapped an arm around her, holding her tight.

Kenzie groaned. “Okay. All this love is a little too much for me tonight; this is Club Sin, not Club Cupid.”

“Oh, please,” Cora said and snickered. “Better to be in love than to be referred to as the crazy book lady. If you were more open-minded, you might find a Dom who has a collar that fits you, too.”

“There is nothing wrong with being in love with books,” Kenzie defended. Books were fantasy. They were a way to escape to another world and be another person for a little while, just as Club Sin was.

Cora winked. “So says the crazy book lady.”

Master Aidan’s gaze connected with something over Kenzie’s shoulder, amusement crinkling the corners of his eyes. “A crazy book lady who happens to also be a feisty submissive. Be good tonight.”

Cora all but bounced next to him. “Let’s go grab a seat. I wanna be front row for this show.”

Before Kenzie could figure out what they were going on about, a low voice rumbled behind her. “It’s time to play, troublemaker.”

Kenzie stiffened in that instant. Warm breath trailed over the back of her neck, and shaking it off, she turned to the newest Club Sin Dom, Porter Marshall. He stood right in her space, grinning down at her with his charming and most delicious smile.

She had to angle her head to meet his dark hazel eyes. His tall stature dwarfed her five-foot-five height. Dressed in cargo pants and a black T-shirt, Porter’s beefy, muscular physique filled out his clothing. She supposed private investigators needed to stay in shape, because Porter’s body put most male models to shame. A strand of his sandy-colored hair hung over his brow, and his chin was square, cheekbones defined, lips sculpted to the purest perfection. Porter, so masculine and powerful, pressed all her buttons.

One brow lifted. “Do you plan on answering me?”

Kenzie blinked. Damn, I’m ogling him. She jerked away, realizing that Cora and Aidan had taken a seat on the couch a few feet away. Her mouth went dry and insides quivered, and she wasn’t sure what it was about Porter that knocked her flat on her ass.

She wondered if maybe it was because Porter was a new Dom to her, and tonight would be their first scene together. Whatever it was, the man commanded her mind whenever he was near. He also awakened her body, as if his mere presence demanded it.

Hell, she had come to discover that he electrified the space around him. Whenever he entered a room, no one else existed. She didn’t know if other people noticed that or if it was her alone. Feeling a tad thrown off by his effect on her, she lifted her chin, giving him her sassiest smile. “Yes. Let’s play.”