Page 3 of Wickedly Played (Checkmate #1)

Chapter Two

SERENA

I wasn’t lying. I’m not sure why I’m here, since Jim will do whatever he wants, regardless of my opinion. I’m pissed at Jim for dragging me out this early in the morning. After finishing a party last night, I didn’t go to bed until four in the morning.

Of course, I seem like I don’t care about my stalker coming out of hiding.

I knew they would eventually, after word got out that I was without protection.

Every night, I check the locks numerous times.

I checked my closet to make sure no one was there.

I check the backseat of my car in case someone is going to jump out at me. I’m not stupid. I know I’m in danger.

However, many of these people don’t realize that I’ve always been in danger. I’ve been in the type of danger where, at any given moment, I could be shot or stolen. I know it is only a matter of time before they all find me.

Growing up the way I did, I’m aware of the monetary and power gain someone could have once they have their hands on me. I’ve never told Jim this, but I take solace in knowing I’m worth more alive than dead.

I don’t want to be reminded of this continuously throughout the day. I feel the pressure every moment of every day. This perilous feeling is why I don’t do relationships. It is also why I hide out in the open.

After the first time my stalker sent a note, Jim started to implement more rules for me.

It's hard to attend parties and perform my shows with a bodyguard, but I did it anyway to appease Jim. Jim is a pansy. I know this. However, I also know that I’m the cash cow for him and his third wife, whom he flew over from across the oceans.

This new security guy is very easy on the eyes. Max- I think that’s his name- has muscles but is soft enough to be comfortable. He has blue eyes that fire back at me when he’s bossy. Typically, if one of my subs were to snap at me, I would have put them on the wall and used the riding crop on them.

“Are you coming?” I ask with a smirk.

“Be back in a few,” he tells Adam.

Once we’re outside, Max looks around to check our surroundings. I watch as he diligently looks around the corners, peers into cars, and then looks above us. I can’t help the giggle that escapes my lips as he pulls me from next to the street to the inside of the sidewalk to block me from the road.

Okay, I’m going to ignore the way my arm tingles under his fingertips. Well, I’m going to try to.

“Do you think someone is going to kidnap me in broad daylight?” I taunt.

“I’m not sure. After reading your little received love letters, I wouldn’t put it past someone,” he retorts.

“Ouch,” I wince. “Look, you don’t have to take this job. I’m fine on my own. You don’t look like you live in the lifestyle, so I wouldn’t expect you to understand, Max.”

His hand grips my elbow to pull me closer to him.

It has been so long since a man has tried to manhandle me.

I must admit, it's pretty hot. Usually, I’m the one who is in control of the situations with men and women.

Don’t get me wrong, I seldom sub for someone else; it's typically a Domme.

With two Dommes in a situation, the fight for dominance is wickedly arousing.

Plus, my clients love to watch us as we try to outdo each other by seeing who can get the other one off first.

Max stops us in the middle of the sidewalk to look at the building behind us. “Serena, I’m not interested in being involved in your whips and chains, or whatever else you do. I’m your security detail, and that’s that. What are your basic requirements?”

I balk at his assumption about what I do. “Could you try to sound a little less insulting?”

“I’m not in the mood, little girl.”

My back tightens as I feel my fight coming over me.

I know I’m about to challenge this man. Max has no idea who he’s messing with, and I can’t wait to teach him a lesson.

But first, this bull shit must end. “Max,” I placate his name to be an asshole, “I’m not interested in someone who’s going to fight back with me.

If you're uncomfortable with what I do, perhaps you shouldn’t take this job, and I'll go back home. I have a few things to do today.” I don’t tell him that my schedule consists of two D/s clients, and then a couple of cam visits later.

I toss my ponytail behind my shoulders and roll it back. I’m prepared for whatever is about to come out of his mouth. I wait for what feels like several minutes for his answer. The thought of having a bodyguard following me around with an immense disdain for what I do is appalling.

Yet… makes me want to play with him a little more.

“What are your basic requirements?” Max asks again.

“It is all in my contract. One thing, though,” I broach this topic carefully.

“What?”

I look around to make sure no one is listening to what I have to say. “If you’re going to be in my house, you’re going to hear and see things you won’t be able to unhear or unsee. You must always remember that you are a representative of me and my brand. Does that make sense?”

He rocks back on his heels. “Do you have a guest house? What are the sleeping arrangements?”

I smile at him, then get very close to smell his natural scent. “You would be sleeping with me. I need someone to protect me. Even while I’m sleeping.” My eyes burn with mischief as my lips curl with satisfaction of knocking him off his game.

He backs out of my space. “I know what you’re doing, Serena, and it isn’t going to work.”

Feigning innocence, I place a hand right below my throat. “Whatever do you mean?” I ask with more than enough sass.

“Sleeping arrangements. What are they?”

This is going to get annoying very quickly. All of the questions he wants the answers to are in the contract. I know Jim sent it to Adam. “Read the contract. I’m heading back to the office to meet with my agent. I need to leave.”

Max grabs my elbow again to pull me in front of him. “I hope you understand what a stalker is capable of doing. I’m sure you think you’re tough. However, you have no idea what someone unhinged is willing to do.”

My heart hammers in my chest at his words. I’m not sure if he’s meant to be threatening or if that’s just how I’m taking it. However, there is something in the way he speaks that catches my attention. “What are you suggesting?”

“Sleeping arrangements. Answer me that question, and we can go from there.”

I take a deep breath. “The master suite has an adjoining room which is connected through the closet.”

He doesn’t react physically to my statement. “Have your other guards slept in there?”

I nod. “It is the easiest way for my guard on duty to get to me.”

“What is the current schedule?”

I blink a couple of times to clear my mind. “What?” What schedule? My schedule? My schedule is booked for the rest of the month.

Max crosses his thick arms across his beefy chest with a look of amusement on his face. It takes him about a second to recognize that I was checking him out. Shit, mother fucker, god damn.

When he chuckles deep in his chest, I want to punish him. “Am I funny to you?” I question him with my shoulders squared, looking him head-on.

To his credit, he stops laughing, but his face looks like he wants to start again. “Oh, little girl. This is going to be fun.”

I’m wildly aware we are still in the busy downtown area outside many offices. I’m also not blind when I clock a few people looking at me over their lattes like they are trying to place me. No doubt in my mind that a few of them are my clients.

“The schedule?” Max asks again.

“Jesus. How many times do I have to tell you to get with my agent? I’m done with this conversation.” Spinning on my heels, I walk away from him, but feel his eyes on me the whole time I’m in front of him.

Jim is waiting for me outside the office as he measures the situation. “So?”

“So?” I snap back.

“Is it going to work for you, Ser?” Jim’s a balding man with a slight beer belly. We all know the money I pay him for his services, which was used to pay for his mail-order bride. I hired Jim to be the in-between once my business and my involvement with the Checkmate Club became well-known.

“He’s a cocky asshole,” I reply.

“Good. So, you’ll get along with this one.”

I shake my head. “I want a different one. I can’t work with this chucklehead.”

“That’s Captain Chucklehead, to you,” Max’s deep timbre of a voice washes over me as I register his words.

“Are you serious?” I ask incredulously.

The intensity in his face has me wanting to lash out. Who does he think he is talking to me like this? When was the last time I allowed someone to talk to me like this? I can’t even remember.

“What about my face makes you think I have a sense of humor, Serena?”

I try to walk away, but feel his hand grab my elbow, turning me to look at him. I flit my eyes to my agent, who doesn’t have anything to say about the exchange. He’s about to get fired. I need to get out of here.

“Why do you want to work for me? You don’t even like me,” I blurt.

He chuckles mirthlessly. “It is probably for the best that I don’t like you. Did your other guards like you?”

I’m about to end this conversation when there is a nagging voice in my head that tells me he is probably correct. “Of course they did. They loved working for me,” I quip with my cocky remark. “They loved the benefits they got from me, too.

Max’s eyes darken. “Do you think that might have been the problem? If they weren’t so busy trying to see under your skirt, they might have protected you a little better, and you wouldn’t be receiving death threats. Don’t you think?”

My hand feels heavy with the need to flick my whip at his back. The scarier thing… My skin tingles at the thought of him dominating me.

“Fuck off,” I spit. This time, I’m able to get away as I climb into my car to leave. I don’t wait for Jim to get into my Maybach before I speed off to go home.