Edged, p.1
Edged, page 1
Table of Contents
Edged
Copyright
Blurb
TO MY READERS:
ACKNOWLEGMENTS
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Epilogue
OTHER BOOKS BY MARIE TUHART
Preview of Unmasked
Edged
By Marie Tuhart
https://www.marietuhart.com/
Edged Copyright © 2023 Marie Tuhart
All rights reserved
Digital ISBN: 978-1-954847-06-4
Print ISBN: 978-1-954847-07-1
Cover design by Designed by D
Editing by Red Quill Editing LLC
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, opinions, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events is entirely coincidental.
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Thank you!
Wicked Sanctuary: Surrender your inhibitions.
He has an artist’s passion.
She can’t let anyone in.
Two lovers learning commitment doesn’t mean losing themselves.
Kaley Clark’s job as a dog groomer is perfect for her, right up until she arrives at her favorite client’s house and the woman’s grandson opens the door. Kaley recognizes him immediately. The man was a cutting-edge artist and she couldn’t help being attracted to him.
Coming off the high of his first gallery showing, Anthony Payne just wants to paint until he sees Kaley. She is the perfect model. He’s captivated by her and is willing to do anything to get her into his life.
When a trauma from her past comes between them, can Kaley learn to trust Anthony with her body and her heart?
TO MY READERS:
This book contains elements of the BDSM lifestyle that are only true to life in this book. There are various relationship dynamics in the lifestyle, which are decided between the people involved. While I have researched and talked with people in the lifestyle, this is my take on how my characters choose to live.
If you decide to explore the lifestyle yourself, please remember to always be safe. Never go home with someone you don’t know. Attend a munch or a small get-together first to see if this is something you want in your life. Reading and living are very different.
FYI: Anthony was introduced in Power Play, Rose and Oliver in Claiming Rose. You don’t have to read these novellas in order to enjoy Edged.
Enjoy.
ACKNOWLEGMENTS
There are several people I want to thank for supporting me through this book:
Laurie, thank you for all your support and writing sessions.
Red Quill Editing team, you are the best team to work with. You can always make me laugh.
Publisher’s Note: This book contains a dominant male, spunky heroine, sexy situations, trauma around mugging and adoption.
Chapter One
Kaley Clark drove her Fluff and Puff van down the road, proud of the professional yet friendly look of the logo painted on both sides. Impish dogs and sly cats and her contact information—the perfect advertisement of the business she’d started a few years ago and needed to thrive.
She parked in the circular driveway of the ranch style house, surprised not to see her client, Clara Pierce, waiting at the door to welcome people to her home. She hoped Clara was okay.
Securing her shoulder-length auburn hair, Kaley pulled her equipment out of the van, made her way up the front stairs, and rang the bell. Nugget, Clara’s Maltipoo, barked. The door opened and… Kaley took a step back.
Anthony, or Payne as they called him in the club, stood there, his black hair mussed, and his blue eyes dazed. “Can I help you?” His deep voice sent shivers up her spine.
“I’m—”
A voice Kaley knew well came from behind the man she couldn’t take her eyes off. “It’s Kaley, let her in, Anthony. Remember? She’s here to groom Nugget.”
“You’re the dog groomer?”
Kaley bit the inside of her lower lip, hoping her heart would resume a normal rhythm. She’d watched Anthony from afar, intoxicated by his powerful shoulders and piercing eyes. His intensity both excited and intimidated her. “People have trouble believing I’m the dog groomer.” She glanced down at her apron with her logo on it. “I don’t know why.”
“Maybe because you’d make the perfect model for painting,” he said, his gaze roving from Kaley’s head to her toes and back again. She warmed at the appreciative look in his dark eyes. “My apologies,” Anthony said, stepping back. “Come in.” He reached for her folded up grooming table. “Here, let me take that.”
“I’m fine.” She shifted past him.
Clara’s voice rang out strong and clear. “I’m in the family room, dear. Don’t let my grandson take you off guard,”
“Is she okay?” Kaley asked in a low voice.
“Sprained ankle. She’s been told to stay off it.” He shut the door as Kaley walked down the small hallway.
Nugget started whining and wiggling when she saw Kaley. “Hi, Clara.” The woman was sitting with her leg propped up on a pillow, trying to hold the energetic dog.
“Allow me,” Anthony said, maneuvering around her to remove the baby gate across the doorway. “We’re trying to keep Nugget confined to this room so Gran doesn’t go running after him.”
“I see.” Kaley slipped by him and smelled paint and turpentine. She’d heard Anthony was an artist, and his comment when she first arrived backed that up. Did he paint his models clothed or nude? Her body heated at the thought of being painted by him in the nude. Not that it was going to happen, but she could fantasize.
Nugget leaped out of Clara’s arms and launched herself at Kaley. “Easy, Nugget.” Kaley set her stuff down and caught the dog as she jumped into her arms. Laughter bubbled up as doggy kisses covered her face.
“Nugget,” Clara admonished.
“It’s fine,” Kaley said, tightening her arms around Nugget so the small dog didn’t fall. “Are you in pain, Clara? I could have done this on another day.”
“It’s nothing.” Clara waved her hands. “Doctor’s being cautious.”
“Doctor is making sure you heal,” Anthony said, giving Clara a pointed look.
Kaley’s knees weakened. There it was, that Dom stare. Oh yes, she’d seen him around Wicked Sanctuary, and she’d kept her distance. The man oozed power that made her apprehensive, but that didn’t stop her lady bits from sitting up and taking notice.
“The usual?” she asked Clara. She was here to groom the dog, not make eyes at Anthony. No matter what her body said.
“Oh yes, dear. That would be wonderful.”
“All right. Let me go set up in the laundry room, and I’ll come back for Nugget.” Kaley turned.
“Do you need help with anything?” Anthony asked as he cupped her elbow.
Tingles flowed from her elbow throughout her body. She didn’t want to react to him this way but couldn’t seem to control herself.
“I’ll be fine.” She watched him remove another baby gate and walked into the laundry room. Kaley was aware of Anthony watching her while she set up. Her skin prickled with…it wasn’t exactly excitement, but it wasn’t dislike either. In fact, it felt quite dangerous, something Kaley tried to steer well clear of.
“Come here, Nugget,” Anthony called, and the dog came running into the laundry room. Did everyone follow the man’s orders? Kaley picked the dog up and put him into the sink and began bathing him.
“Maybe when you’re done with Nugget we can talk?” A nthony asked.
She worked the shampoo into the dog’s coat. “Talk?” Now she sounded like a parrot. “I’m not sure we have anything to talk about.”
“I think we might.” His voice was strong, and the words warmed her like hot chocolate on a cold day.
Kaley didn’t answer, but damn if her insides didn’t melt at the sound of his voice. Instead, she rinsed off Nugget, wrapped him in a towel, and placed him on the grooming table.
Anthony sighed, then left, and she blew out a breath. While she might have seen Anthony at the club, she doubted very much he knew who she was, and it was better that way. His kink was not her kink.
Besides, she wasn’t looking for a Dom, just someplace she could relax, be herself, and make some friends. She was still exploring the lifestyle.
Nugget licked her hand, and Kaley laughed. “Thank you for the kiss.” Leave it to the dog to get her attention where it needed to be.
* * * *
Anthony Payne watched the pretty dog groomer give Nugget a bath. Fluff and Puff. He grinned as he as he walked away. Kaley seemed familiar to him. He didn’t recognize her business name. Could he have met her around town?
Maybe at his gallery opening a few weeks ago. The opening had been filled with people, and as much as he didn’t like crowds, Dane had convinced him that he had to keep up appearances. “How long will the grooming take?” he asked his grandmother.
“About an hour.” Clara picked up her book.
“Okay, I’m going to go back and paint for a bit.”
“Go.”
He made his way to the sunroom that had become his temporary workspace after Gran sprained her ankle. The doctor said she needed to stay off it until it healed, which could be two weeks.
Anthony had immediately moved in. Not that he lived far away. There was a cottage on Gran’s property he’d lived in since he was eighteen, when his parents threw him out. He shook his head.
He didn’t want to think about his parents or that time in his life. He’d been a confused young adult they’d set adrift. Luckily, Gran took him in. He stepped into the sunroom and put a new canvas on the stand.
Then he remembered where he’d seen Kaley. Wicked Sanctuary. She worked behind the bar, and he’d tried sketching her a few times after he left the club, but he never could seem to get her essence. Seeing her today he knew why.
Up close and personal was what he needed. She’d stirred up his muse. He wanted to bring his vision of Kaley to life. Hell, he wanted to paint her. That would be the only way to appease his muse.
Once she was done with Nugget, he’d talk with her about allowing him to paint her. It was more than his muse being intrigued with her. His dick had leaped to attention when he saw her. Thankfully, his clothing hid his unusual reaction to her.
Had that happened at the club? He would have remembered if it had, wouldn’t he? Picking up a piece of charcoal, he began to sketch. First a chaise lounge, then Kaley lying upon it. She was going to be his new inspiration.
* * * *
“Excuse me.” A female voice close to his ear and her soft touch on his shoulder caused him to jump. “Sorry I startled you; I’ve been saying your name for what feels like five minutes.”
Anthony blinked at Kaley. Sometimes he got so caught up in his work he’d lose track of time. “It’s okay.” He checked where she was standing. Thank goodness his body blocked most of his sketch. He wasn’t ready to share it with anyone yet.
“Your grandmother wanted you, and I’m getting ready to leave.”
“Already?” He rubbed the back of his neck.
Kaley smiled. “It’s been over an hour. Nugget is all clean and groomed, and I had a nice visit with your grandmother for a few minutes.”
“Anthony,” his grandmother called.
“Be right there.” He turned and shifted the easel, then glanced over at Kaley. “I’d like to paint you.” How unlike him to blurt that out.
Her light green eyes grew wide. “Paint me?” She started to shake her head, then glanced around. “Oh my goodness. This is a beautiful room.”
Anthony smiled. “I could paint you in here where you could look out the skylight and let your mind float.”
For a second her shoulders relaxed, then she stiffened. “I can’t.”
“Please.” Anthony tried and failed to hold back the pleading tone. He’d heard the legends of an artist’s near compulsion to capture a subject on canvas; now he understood it was real. And he was sure he’d do whatever she asked if she would agree.
“I don’t think so.” She walked to the doorway. “I barely have time for anything outside of work. Sorry.”
“I won’t take a lot of your time.” Anthony strode over to her.
“No. Sorry.” Kaley walked away, and his shoulders dropped with discouragement. Then a silly grin spread across his face. He’d find a way to get her to agree to sit for him. He wasn’t going to let her go that easily.
* * * *
Kaley forced herself to breathe normally. How could she explain it? Anthony painting was like watching a master at work. He hadn’t even realized she was there. And the room he was painting in…
The domed glass ceiling in the old fashioned sunroom bathed the room in perfect light. But it wasn’t just that. She could sit in that room for hours just gazing up at the sky or even reading a book. She shook her head as a wave of sadness washed over her.
She didn’t have time for such flights of fancy. She had a business to run and no time to sit for Anthony to paint her. Why did he want to paint her anyway? She wasn’t model beautiful. Getting closer to Anthony, even just for a painting, could be trouble. That was something she didn’t need in her life. She’d had enough excitement over the years.
“I’m going now, Clara.”
“Thank you, dear, for everything.”
“Sure.” Kaley gave Nugget ear scratches before she made her way out of the house. Anthony stood in the doorway of the sunroom, and she felt the heat of his gaze on her back. Thank goodness she’d already taken her equipment out to the van. He’d probably be right there to help her, and if she spent much more time in his presence, she’d cave. Time to get to her next appointment.
She climbed into her van but couldn’t resist looking at the house. Anthony stood framed in the front door, his dark hair slightly mussed and the shadow of a beard that made her want to run her hands along his chin. Her gut clenched. All that male attention was focused on her.
Was that a bad thing? Yes. She didn’t have time for men, and Anthony wasn’t the right man for her. For one thing, she didn’t do his kind of kink. Plus, maybe she was being judgmental, but she was pretty sure he’d grown up with wealth and privilege. She was just a poor kid from the wrong side of the tracks. It was better this way.
Kaley pulled out of the driveway, feeling disappointed she couldn’t stay longer and watch Anthony work. Where was all this coming from? She’d seen Anthony at the club and hadn’t had this reaction to him. What made today so different?
Maybe it was seeing him outside of Wicked Sanctuary. There the men seemed so dominant and overwhelming. Today she saw a man taking care of his grandmother, and it warmed her heart.
And just because she hadn’t seen him with Clara before didn’t mean anything. What difference did it make? Anthony wasn’t for her. The last thing she wanted was a man in her life who could become special to her.
Chapter Two
Kaley walked into the Double D BBQ at seven and smiled when she saw her friend Dani.
“I’m so glad you could make it,” Dani said, giving her a hug.
“Me too.” Dani had taken her under her wing at Wicked Sanctuary since Kaley was a brand-new sub. Dani was actually the one who told Kaley about Wicked Sanctuary when the two hit it off while Kaley was grooming a dog at the same house where Dani landscaped.
They sat and ordered food. “So how did today go for you?” Dani asked.
“Busy, but okay.” Kaley glanced around. “I might need some advice.”
“Oh?” Dani’s brown eyes twinkled.
“Yes.” Kaley swallowed. “I saw Anthony.”
Dani sat up straighter. “Where?”
“I groom his grandmother’s dog. He was there helping her out because she sprained her ankle.”
