Untied: A Mastermind Novel

by Lydia Michaels

  The baby crawled off the blanket and Lettie was distracted. When Nadia finished her wine, she excused herself to find the boys.

  Cutting through the ballroom, she pushed the door to the kitchen open a crack and paused—

  “But what if Nadia gets mad?” Elliot asked.

  She drew back, unsure what they could possibly be discussing.

  “Then apologize. I can only vouch for my own experience. I never thought Lettie would be into the things she’s into and, as much as you made fun of the whole Mr. Stone thing, it helped in that department. There was no personal consequence—at least for a little while. I could be … myself.”

  “But you weren’t being yourself.”

  “You’re wrong, Elliot. Pretending to be someone else let me be more myself than anything else ever has. It took away any sense of blame or shame. Don’t get me wrong, finding a balance between reality and fantasy wasn’t easy—I swore I’d lost her—but we made it work and look at us now. Never in a million years did I imagine she’d accept me so completely. She’d been blind to my flaws just long enough for me to find the courage to show her my true self.”

  “But you two still argue.”

  “Of course,” Asher laughed. “What couple doesn’t? But that’s over insignificant stuff. The truth is, once we stopped basing personal experiences on other people’s standards the instinct to compare ourselves to others sort of disappeared. We’re happy and that’s all that matters to us. We liberated each other, accepted who we are on the inside.”

  Nadia peeked through the crack of the ornate wooden door, but Asher’s body blocked Elliot’s expression from her view. He patted Elliot’s shoulder. “Let her see the real you, not the idea you want to portray, but who you actually are. Love can only be genuine. If it’s not, then it’s not really love.”

  Love? Her heart fluttered at what she might be hearing. But then she frowned. Why was he telling Asher this when he should be sharing his feelings with her?

  Elliot sighed. “She’s like a drug. It doesn’t seem healthy for one person to alter another’s perception so intensely. She makes me feel stronger. I’ve never felt strong. And she likes…” He paused. “Never mind.”

  Her head tipped as she waited to see if he’d voice his concerns. Thankfully, Asher prompted him to keep talking.

  “What? I’m not going to judge you.”

  Keeping his voice low, Elliot whispered, “She likes when I’m … aggressive.”

  A smile twitched on her lips as his words affirmed he, too, was struggling to manage the intensity of their chemistry.

  His friend laughed. “Yeah. Lettie likes that, too.”

  Nadia’s face heated as the conversation turned personal.

  “So what’s the problem? Does being aggressive make you uncomfortable?”

  “No, it’s the opposite. I like it too much. It’s a rush and I feel powerful, but I’m afraid I’ll accidentally cross a line. It doesn’t seem right to treat a woman that way. Maybe it isn’t. I don’t know. This isn’t what I expected.”

  “So make a safe word.”

  “A what?”

  Asher shook his head. “I have some books you should read. There’s no reason to reinvent the wheel, Elliot. Sex is supposed to be passionate. You’re not the first guy to worry about losing his head.”

  “I just don’t want to disrespect her. I can’t screw this up.”

  “Have a little faith in yourself. Doing something to a stranger can be a felony, but doing certain things to a lover who’s begging for it—literally begging—can garner a whole new level of returns.”

  “We’ll see. I think she’s mad at me right now. She was really quiet on the way here and nervous about coming in her work clothes.”

  Asher laughed. “That’s ridiculous. Let her know we’re the last people to judge others for something as meaningless as clothing. We know she works.”

  Feeling terrible for assuming Elliot’s friends could be shallow when they were honestly two of the most accepting people she’d come across in a long while, she stepped back from the door, letting it silently close.

  She’d let her personal doubts run amuck in her head tonight. She had to stop doubting herself. All of these worries were groundless and creating unnecessary stress.

  As soon as she got Elliot alone again, she’d explain that sometimes her past experiences mutated into insecurities, but assure him she was ready to trust what they had and stop comparing it to past failures. That was only fair, being that she’d asked him to do pretty much the same in regard to his past.

  When she returned to the den Lettie smiled. “Did you get lost?”

  “No, I was looking for the boys, but they were talking so I didn’t disturb them.” She settled on the couch. “Scarlet, can I ask you a personal question?”

  “Sure. I’m not sure I’ll be able to answer, but go for it.”

  Nadia thought of Asher’s enthusiastic words, trusting he knew his wife better than anyone. “Do you think there’s something broken in a woman that likes…” She went with the word Elliot used. “Aggressive men?”

  Lettie snorted. “No. I hate having to make the first move or ask for things. I’d much prefer for Asher to be the aggressor.”

  “But what about … physical aggression—in bed?”

  Lettie frowned and then nodded. “Ah, you’re talking about hair pulling and all the fun stuff.”

  Hearing her label it as fun untied the knot in her neck. “Yes.” She leaned close and whispered, “Do you like that stuff?”

  “Mmm-hmm.” She giggled. Scooting closer, she cupped a hand along the side of her wine-stained lips. “Sometimes Asher will even tie me up.” She sighed. “We haven’t done a lot of that since becoming parents, but I love when he goes all Mr. Stone on my ass.”

  Nadia frowned. “Mr. Stone?”

  Lettie waved a hand. “It’s sort of an inside joke. But that’s what I call it. He’s so sexy when he gets all bossy and domineering. It’s such a turn on. He gets in my head and I love it.” She giggled, her eyes shifting as if a fantasy played through her mind. “I should leave a blindfold on his pillow tonight, let him know I’m overdue for some play.”

  Blindfolds? Tying up? Nadia didn’t know if she could go that far, but she was intrigued. “When he ties you up, do you ever panic?”

  “Hold that thought. My little prince is falling asleep and I have to get him to his crib or he’ll wake up when we move him and never go back down.”

  Nadia waited, as she carried the baby upstairs, her mind rolling over several strange scenarios. Knowing Lettie had this whole other side really helped.

  Because Elliot had limited experience, Nadia had been terrified she’d come on too strong and he’d think her trashy. But if Lettie did those things and there was nothing remotely wrong with her—she was a teacher for crying out loud—then Nadia was definitely overthinking things. Maybe there wasn’t anything wrong with her. Maybe it was the men of her past that had been wrong.

  Lettie returned, carrying a baby monitor. “Okay, I’m back. Where were we?” She rubbed her hands together. “God, it feels good to have another girlfriend I can talk to about this.”

  Nadia smiled, feeling the same way. “I asked if you ever panicked when he tied you up.”

  “Sometimes, but it’s a good panic, the sort that heightens awareness and intensifies everything. We have a word in case I’m ever really freaking out. I’ve never needed it though. God, I really miss that. I’m glad you came over tonight. You make me remember how it was in the beginning.”

  “I’m glad we came, too.”

  Lettie’s gaze drifted as her mind went somewhere else. In a dreamy voice, she whispered, “There’s something so potent about feeling your man’s weight pressed over you. It’s dominating, but so telling. I love when Asher holds me tight and takes exactly what he wants.”

  Nadia nearly panted with the thought of Elliot doing the same. “I can’t believe I was nervous coming here. Now, I realize how silly t
hat was. I think you and I have a lot in common, Lettie.”

  Her friend smiled. “We should get together again, maybe have a girl’s night.”

  “I’d love that! I don’t have a lot of female friends.”

  As if they sensed their exclusion, the men entered the room. Elliot looked at her, his eyes guarded, and she smiled.

  She’d been unfair to him tonight, again working out her own issues, and overlooking the fact he might have his own concerns to navigate. The fact that this was truly a relationship, not just casual fucking, made her so much more aware of what she could actually lose when it came to Elliot.

  Rising, she went over to him. She was done limiting her impulses. He should know how addictive she found him. “Hi.”

  He studied her, his eyes guarded. “Is everything okay?”

  She stepped closer, nuzzling his chest with her nose. “I’m sorry I was in a mood earlier. I had a lot on my mind.”

  “You can talk to me, Nadia.”

  “I know. But I think I needed a girl’s perspective. I’m glad we came here.”

  He ran his finger under the strap of her tank top. “Even in these clothes.”

  She smiled, embarrassed for the way she acted. “Yes, even in these clothes. Your friends are nice people, not the sort to judge.”

  He pulled her closer and lowered his gaze. “Good.” His lips traced over her pulse and she shivered. “Did you want to stay longer?”

  She wanted him and now that he was teasing her with little kisses and touches, her body was growing more impatient than ever. “Let’s go home, mister.”

  His gaze heated, firing up her blood and she rested her hands on his chest, hopefully implying everything she wanted to do to him. His fingers glided along the strap of her shirt, grazing the side of her breast.

  “I want you,” he whispered, dark promise in his eyes.

  Sweet, sweet relief. She should have never doubted their chemistry. While they both struggled to communicate, the physical attraction they shared remained unhindered. Perhaps that was where their focus should stay for the time being.

  Although Elliot seemed to be communicating his needs with naked clarity as he looked at her, his eyes direct and his intentions screaming in the silence. Maybe he needed a guy’s perspective. She now felt his aggressiveness without having him lay a hand on her. It was palpable, thick and hot like the air of a small Baptist church full of sinners on a Louisiana summer day. Her skin itched to strip away every stitch of clothing. They needed to get out of there immediately.

  Her breath trembled as she held his stare, the gusset of her panties flooding with arousal. “I’m yours. Let’s get out of here.”

  He glanced over her shoulder and she turned, surprised to see the other couple snuggling on the couch, Asher’s fingers combing through his wife’s hair as Lettie rested her head on his shoulders and whispered in her husband’s ear.

  Elliot, ever direct, announced, “I’ll see you in the morning, Ash. Thanks for dinner, Scarlet.”

  The two turned, a look of uncertainty on their faces. Lettie’s cheeks wore a deep flush as she smirked, understanding where their conversation had led.

  “Let me know when you want to do that girl’s night, Nadia.”

  A warm sensation unraveled in her chest as she recognized the beginning of a friendship. “I will. Thank you for a beautiful evening.”

  Elliot took her hand, the slightest contact drawing her nipples to needle-sharp points of need, as he walked her to the car. As he slid into the driver’s seat his posture seemed stiff—aroused.

  Once they were on the main road, she tried to distract her carnal thoughts by admiring the play of lights passing over the contours of his body. His posture appeared tight as a bow, so taut even the air around them seemed incapable of movement. “You’re being very quiet.”

  “Did you want to talk?” he asked, gripping the wheel. The speedometer climbed as the car sped up, hugging the curves of the dark road and propelling them closer to home.

  Her gaze lowered to his lap, her hand drifting over the console and brushing the bulge in his pants. The car swerved and slowed, his attention jerking to her. “What are you doing?”

  “We have a few minutes. I thought we could pass the time.” The wait was killing her.

  He stared intently at the dark road. “I’m driving.”

  “I bet you could multitask.”

  He glanced at her again, the streetlights reflecting in the lenses of his glasses. His attention returned to the road and his jaw twitched. “We should probably wait until we get home.”

  Thwarted, she withdrew her touch and faced the windshield. Five minutes ago he was a lit fuse, firing towards an explosion. Now, the closer they came to his home, the more his mask of control slid over his features and that sparking fuse seemed more like a dimly lit candle. She wanted to playfully taunt him and keep him on edge. If he was a simmering ember she’d blow on him until he was burning hot.

  She pulled her shirt to show off the curve of her breasts and reminded, “You don’t have to be reserved with me, Elliot.”

  “It’s not a matter of reservation. It’s a matter of highway safety.”

  She smothered a laugh. “Oh.” Such a law abider.

  His fingers flexed on the wheel. “I know I don’t have to be reserved with you.”

  “Good.” If they were really going to do this, she wanted it to be authentic.

  “It’s not that I don’t want your hands on me,” he continued. “I just want to give you my full focus. You deserve more than half of my attention.”

  And just like that, he turned his rebuff into a compliment, one that not only reaffirmed her self-worth but made her feel incredibly important to him. “You always know what to say.”

  “Not true. Half my thoughts are tossed aside as unnecessary.”

  “Well, the ones you choose make me feel good.”

  He glanced at her, his attention divided. “Never doubt that I want you. That’s probably my most constant thought.”

  Her body burned for his touch and she tried to determine how far they were from home. “Will you prove it?”

  The car picked up speed. “Prove it how?”

  “Show me how much you want me.”

  The car switched into the passing lane. “When we get home.”

  Her mouth pursed with a tight smile, anticipation fueling her arousal. He could probably handle a little road play and not crash the car. “If you wanted something now—”

  “Nadia.”

  He used that powerful tone she’d only heard a few times from him, the one that seemed to cripple her commonsense and turn her into a needy Elliot fiend. She shifted her shoulder so she was facing him.

  “What’s going to happen when we get home, Elliot?”

  His attention shifted to her again. “What do you want to happen?”

  “I want you to decide.” Yes, that was what she wanted. She wanted him unrefined and demanding, telling her exactly what he needed.

  “Then I’ll decide.”

  Delicious wanting coiled tight in her belly. “I love when you take the lead, Elliot. It really excites me.”

  His Adam’s apple made a slow bob under the stubble covering his throat. “Is that so?”

  “Mm-hmm. My body’s already pulsing. It wants you—deep and hard.”

  The motor growled as he drove a little faster. His chest lifted as his breath turned labored. “I can take the lead.”

  The heavy sense of desire grew in her belly. This was certainly a satisfying way to pass the time as he abided by all highway safety laws.

  “I’d give you anything you asked for. Anything at all.”

  His jaw twitched. “No more talking.”

  She glanced at his lap, the shadow of his erection pressing hard against his suit pants, and she snickered. When he pulled into the driveway, he hit the brakes hard enough to rock her body. The engine silenced and he stared out the windshield.

  The car cooled, but her body was
on fire, their flagrant lust thickening the shared air of the car.

  “Are we going inside?” she whispered.

  His door popped open and her brows lifted as he rounded the car. Her door clicked and he was suddenly unlatching her seatbelt and hauling her out of the seat. Adrenaline shot through her veins as he pinned her to the cool exterior. His mouth crashed over hers, penetrating her senses and calling her body to full alert.

  She leaned into him and he pulled back, eyeing her for an uncertain moment. “Is that really what you want, me to take control?”

  A shaky nod and he spun her to face the car, her hips colliding with the curve of the hood and his hands groping her ass. His fingers slipped under the elastic band of her pants, teasing warm flesh and she hummed. He pressed his hips against hers, showing how hard he was.

  Her arms stretched over the heated hood as the cooling engine pinged and he panted behind her. She waited, silently begging for more. His fingers stroked down her ponytail, giving a tug at the end. She moaned, arching back for him.

  His hold released on her hair and her pants were shoved down her backside, exposing the top half of her ass. His fingers dug into her soft flesh, squeezing tightly.

  “I can be gentle,” he murmured, his strong hands massaging with a firm grip that belied his words.

  Between shallow breaths, she whispered, “I don’t want you to be gentle.”

  His fingers again dug into her flesh as his other hand massaged the front of her sex. His warm mouth closed over her ass cheek, kissing and seducing her. “I’m very wet, Elliot. You keep teasing me.”

  He paused, his exhaled breath cooling the wet kiss mark he’d left on her skin. “I want you,” he whispered and she smiled.

  “I want you too, but if you don’t stop teasing me I’m going to do the job myself.” Her pants went up with a snap as her body was jerked away from the car and he hauled her toward the house, his fingers tight around her wrist. The alarm beeped as he punched in the code and pulled her through the doorway. She practically skipped over the threshold, giddy with eagerness.