Her Master's Collar (On the Hunt)

by Brookes, Sara

  Chapter Six

  Hours of waiting and hoping only increased Korene’s frustration. The medical facility room was too small to properly pace, and sleep had only been a fleeting thought. The sterile smell of ammonia seemed to be permanently etched into her lungs. She normally ran to work out her stress, but she refused to leave the room until she had some answers.

  Despite his betrayal and the fact he’d willingly risked her life without so much as asking her, she was determined to see him well again. Damn her for still loving a man who deliberately set out to deceive her.

  As she stared out at the setting sun, the sound of movement caused her to spin. “You better put your ass back in the infirmary bed or you’re going to find out what it feels like to be the one strapped down.”

  Roland scowled, both at her and the bright streak of blood dotting the starched white sheets. “I want to get out of here.”

  Folding her arms, she started tapping her heel against the sterile tile flooring. “And you will, when the med techs release you. Ripping out your IV line and trying to storm out of the room doesn’t show how manly you are. Just how stupid.” He narrowed his eyes, but she ignored his steely glare. “And you can shoot dirty looks my way until your eyeballs fall out. I don’t care. You’re not leaving the biobed.”

  It had been touch and go for him while they’d waited for the emergency medical transport to arrive on Mars. The trip back to Earth had passed one terrifying heartbeat at a time. More than once she’d thought she’d lost him forever. She wasn’t about to let him jeopardize his health simply because he insisted he was ready to go.

  “I’m fine.”

  She pointed to the door with a grunt. “When they say you’re fine, then you will be. Not a moment before.”

  “Ball-buster.”

  “Only for you.” She blew him a kiss, smiling when he narrowed his eyes.

  The nurse entered the room, scowling at the line he’d torn out of his arm. She patched the area, reset the line and then checked the dressings on his arms, shoulders and back, before recording his vitals on the bed’s telemetry readout. “I’ll be back in about an hour to put on a fresh patch. Need any pain meds?”

  “No,” he growled.

  Korene waited until she closed the door before meeting Roland’s gaze. “Now that you’re coherent enough—start talking.”

  He sighed, rubbing his hand over his face. “Tom Baxter was one of the assholes responsible for wiping out my platoon. They sentenced him to life without parole, but he escaped lockdown three years ago. I’ve had my eye on him ever since. The World Government even wanted his head served on a platter because they haven’t been able to pin him down either. He’s a slippery little bastard. Or was, at least.”

  “So you were using both of our companies as a front?” she asked quietly.

  “Yours—yes. Elite is a front anyway.” Oddly, that bit of information didn’t surprise her. “Don’t get me wrong, we can perform search and rescues with the best of them. But that’s just to keep up appearances. Our main source of income comes from the World Government. The very same ones who pretend we don’t exist. At least until they need us when they don’t want to get their hands dirty. They keep the best on payroll to take out the worst.”

  “So wait, does that mean you’re still…I thought you retired.”

  Roland’s lips pressed together. “Yes and no. On the books—yes. I retired from the Corps when I returned from Mars. But—”

  “But off the books you’re a fucking bounty hunter,” she finished as she shot him a deadly look.

  “Pretty much.” He smiled wryly. “Whole team is. We bring in a collar, they pay us hefty fees to do the job, disappear and keep our mouths shut. I assumed you’d figure this entire scheme out after Baxter started flapping his jaws. Especially given the credentials of the team members.”

  She’d tried to fit all the pieces of this puzzle together while waiting for him to wake up, but she hadn’t been able to make things align. More than likely because she’d never considered the possibility Roland was still on the government’s payroll. “Why would I? Markus always told me he was some kind of supply clerk when you two were in the Marines. Valentine drove a tank, I think. He was always vague about his work, but I assumed that was just how he was. And I’d never met Finley before now. Why would I—ah, shit.” Dread filled her belly. “I’m such a fool. All fronts, right? No one actually does what they’ve said they do.”

  He made a grab for the hand she’d balled into a fist. “At first they did. Finley was a SEAL. Markus was Force Recon just like me. This all just came about through a matter of circumstance. I wanted out when I returned from Mars, but no one seemed to be of the mind to let me just walk away. Convinced me I was too damn valuable or some shit. For a while, I even believed them.”

  She thought about all the time they’d spent together years ago. How intimate they’d gotten. The level of trust they’d shared. Their relationship had flourished and been so solid she’d been convinced at one point Roland was the man she was destined to marry. Now she felt as if she hadn’t really known him at all. “How did I not know this?”

  “Most of it occurred after I returned from Mars.”

  Her voice dropped. “When I wasn’t in the picture anymore.”

  He nodded. “Since I showed up in your office, you knew what you needed to. Any more information at the time would have put your life in jeopardy. I never disclose my plans, remember? I wasn’t willing to sacrifice you. I’m still not, which is why I just handed in my retirement papers.”

  “How fucking altruistic of you.” She slid her hand away, pushing out of the uncomfortable visitor chair to put distance between them.

  “I did it to protect you, Korene. Just like I did when I uncollared you.” The tenor of his voice was so soft, it clenched at her heart. Damn him and his ability to make her feel something for him even when she was angry. “Sometimes the right thing is the most painful thing you can do.”

  She continued to stare out the window. “Finding out you were lying to me all this time is pretty damn painful.”

  “I should have been upfront with you about this whole thing from the beginning, but I couldn’t. I can’t make you understand why I did what I did. But I wanted you there when I collared the asshole because he’s the root cause of all this mess.”

  “Yet you killed him.” She turned, waiting for his rebuttal while she tried to understand his reasoning. “Why go to all this trouble only to kill your mark?”

  His expression fell, every year of his age showing clearly on his face. “I know. It was just…too easy. He was right there, in my hands. All those years I’ve had to stew about what he did just boiled over. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy hearing his neck snap. And if I didn’t admit I did it for myself as much as all those men I failed years ago.”

  “But you lost your paycheck.”

  His mouth opened, then closed as he leaned back and closed his eyes. “The bounty was dead or alive. Proof of death is all that’s necessary.”

  “Which you don’t have either.”

  “I don’t know. I can be pretty convincing.” He pushed the sheets to the side, exposing the angry red skin covering the back of his legs. The damage there was minor given the injuries spread out over his back. He crossed to her before she could protest or order him back to the bed. “Whatever the outcome, we’ll pick up the pieces.”

  She remained silent for a moment as she looked at him. This was the first time she’d seen him so…vulnerable. “What if they’re not meant to fit together anymore?”

  His arms wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her against his body. “You know as well as I do that’s not true.”

  Despite her irritation, the shelter of his arms felt so comforting. Especially after the long hours of the unknown. “I don’t know what’s true.”

  “No one should hurt you, yet I did just that. Twice. A thousand apologies won’t make it up.” He grunted, cocking his shoulder to lift her he
ad and cradle her face between his hands. “But I’ll tell you what I know is true. I love you. And you love me. Or else you wouldn’t have withheld your submission to just me.” When she opened her mouth to dispute his statement, he laid a gentle finger on her lips. “You would have taken another Master in the ten years we’ve been separated if that hadn’t been the case. Your surrender is as beautiful as it is magical to me, pet. Something for me to treasure almost as much as I treasure you being back in my life. I believe all those things are enough of a foundation to find our footing again, don’t you?”

  She sighed, guiding him to the bed. He tugged on her hand, pulling her down to lie with him. When she wiggled to move away, concerned she’d hurt him in some way by sharing the small bed, he simply molded his hand to her ass in order to hold her in place. She stilled, resting her head against his chest. The cadence of his heart thumped strongly against her ear. After their harrowing escape, she didn’t think she’d ever heard anything so wonderful in her life.

  Lifting her head, she found his shadowed, but expectant gaze upon her. He was waiting for her answer. “It’s the foundation for a very, very long road.”

  “How are you feeling?” The sharp crack of the nurse’s stern voice signaled she’d arrived to change his dressings.

  Roland grimaced. “Annoyed you interrupted and stopped me from groping the woman I love.” The nurse gave a terse snort. “Fine. Sore. Happy?”

  When the woman dropped a stack of second-skin patches on the foot of the bed, Korene pressed her lips to the back of his hand as she pushed away. “But yes, it is where we find our footing again.”

  For a few minutes, she watched Roland try his best not to wince or show he was in pain. Stupid man. Shaking her head, she stepped out of the room. The busy corridor teamed with life, techs and assistants rushing around to attend patients. One figure stood out from the crowd, worry practically vibrating the air around him.

  Markus had crammed his bulk into a chair three doors down, his beefy hands cradling his head. She knelt beside the chair, rubbing his shoulder. “You all right?”

  He jumped, blinking a few time as if he was surprised to find her crouched there. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine. Just a few bumps and bruises.”

  “Nothing a few babes in bikinis won’t fix, right?”

  A wry smile twisted his mouth. “Yeah, right. How’s the boss?”

  “Getting his bandages changed.” Markus shifted, clearly unsettled about something. She studied him for a few moments, trying to determine the cause. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Ready to get out of here, that’s all.”

  Liar.

  The door directly across the hall opened as a nurse stepped out of the room. She nodded at them both, offering a slight smile. “You can go back in now, Mr. Tabor.”

  When Markus continued to sit there, staring at the door, Korene folded her hands around his. The reason he was unsettled became crystal clear. “How is Finley?”

  “In pain. She’s refusing any kind of medication the techs want to give her to make her suffering less.”

  “She’s being stubborn, same your boss. Want me to go talk to her? See if I can talk some sense into her?”

  “No. Nothing is going to change her mind. Doc is saying she won’t have a choice soon. She’s going to need a few surgeries to clear all the debris from her wounds. She sustained some hefty injuries to the left side of her body.” He sighed deeply, his arms shaking from the strain of stress. “They may be able to repair most of the damage, but may not be able to remove her comm implants. She’s going to hate it. She hated them anyway. Bitched about them since the day she was told she had to have them in order to be a member of the team. It’s just a game of wait and see at this point.”

  “And neither of you are patient people.” The outpouring of emotion from him in regards to Finley wasn’t a complete shock. She’d sensed there was something between the two given the banter that flew at any given point in the day. “She’s going to be just fine.” A tight fist of worry clenched her stomach. She didn’t believe her own words, but the last thing Markus needed to hear right now was doubt. Finley’s damage sounded just as extensive as Roland’s. Maybe even more so. “They will all be fine.”

  “They who?” Markus snorted. “Valentine took off. Said they weren’t going to keep him strapped to a goddamn table like one of his subs. Probably got tired of hearing his heartbeat ‘cause it reminded him his chest wasn’t empty after all.”

  She echoed his reaction. “Not surprising, considering he’s just as obstinate as the rest of you. I’ll give him a few days to give him some distance before Roland contacts him to make sure he’s all right.” Standing, she pressed a kiss to the top of Markus’ head.

  He grabbed her hand as she started to turn. “Don’t be too pissed at him. Roland, I mean. There wasn’t a day—”

  “I know. And don’t worry, I’ve spent enough time angry with him.”

  Chapter Seven

  Korene stretched out her hand, unsurprised to find herself alone in bed. Roland’s sleeping pattern had never been the greatest, thanks to all his years in the military, but the injuries he’d sustained on Mars had affected his sleep pattern even more. Since coming to the cabin on top of Roland’s mountain a month ago, she’d adopted his habit of a series of short naps over a twenty-four-hour period.

  But she’d just returned from New Washington where her sleep schedule had been thrown for a loop. Add in the piles of paperwork she’d had to deal with, the media she’d had to duck and the launch of a new team to Mars, and his routine had been a damn good thing to return to.

  Her trip to New Washington marked the first time she’d been away from him since they’d returned. It hadn’t been the easiest time for them, as she’d had to deal with the fact he’d hidden so much from her. Had this been a new relationship, she’d have been more likely to simply walk away without looking back. But they had a past. One that marked her soul so deeply, it was more than enough reason to continue to invest in their future.

  As she rolled over, the wide panoramic window not only gave her a gorgeous view of the mountain range, but also of Roland. The sun threw long rays of golden light over the snow-capped mountains, playing over his bare chest as he stood on an outcropping of rocks. At this angle, the light cast through his linen pants left no doubt he wore nothing else under the fabric.

  Instead of immediately going to check on him, she took a selfish moment to admire his sturdy body. Since their arrival on the mountain, he’d purposefully pushed on her walls, but never so much she felt the need to pull out her safe word again. As much as she enjoyed the give-and-take pattern they’d fallen into, something was missing. She admired Roland’s insistence at keeping his vow, but she also took note of the strain it caused him.

  He wasn’t the only one.

  She pulled the sheet with her as she rose off the bed, walking out onto the porch. After another few minutes of watching him as he stared out at nothing, she walked quietly up behind him. This close, the sunlight played over the silver marks on his back, shoulders and upper arms. Scars from the burns he’d sustained protecting her during their escape from the cave.

  “Going to stand there and ogle me all day?”

  “Oh hell yes.” He turned, his smirk falling when she dropped the sheet in front of her. She stood there for a moment, enjoying his intense gaze as it caressed her bare skin. “Seems as if you’re doing a fair bit of ogling yourself.”

  “But unlike you, I don’t stop with just looking.” He stepped closer, pulling her against him as he dipped his mouth to hers. She found herself swept away by the powerful kiss as he overwhelmed her. His hand conformed to the curve of her lower back, his thumb lightly tracing the small indentions straddling her spine.

  For a moment, she became so hypnotized by the gentle touch, she forgot why she’d come out here. The time was right. She wasn’t about to let the moment slip through her fingers. If the mission to Mars had taught her anything, it was not to wa
ste time.

  Besides, they’d already wasted so much.

  She pushed back, holding him out at arm’s length. His eyes darkened as his arousal increased. She allowed herself a moment to feed on the energy pouring from him. Knowing the choice she’d made was the right one, she slowly went to her knees, the sheet providing protection between the rocks and her delicate skin. Kneeling here before Roland—before her Master—she knew nothing would ever be more perfect for them.

  Except something was still missing. Something important to them both.

  She lifted her hand, turning her palm up in offering. The sunlight bounced off the silver. “I wanted to return this to you.”

  Roland crouched so they were eye to eye as he placed his hand over hers. “It’s not mine.”

  Tightening her grip, she sought to reassure him. “It’s always been yours, Roland. Just as I’ve always been yours.”

  “Yes, you have. And yes, it has.” Roland shook his head. “But I don’t want it back.”

  Her heart missed a beat as she lifted her head to stare at him. Panic began to ice the blood in her veins as her meticulously constructed plan splintered. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “What?”

  “Shhh, it’s okay.” His palms cradled her jaw, power and authority emanating from his deep voice. “Look at me. I want you to keep this one, do you understand?”

  “Yes Sir.” Despite his order, her trembles increased, filling her chest so she could barely breathe. His eyes narrowed. She understood his apprehension, she didn’t sound convinced by the response either.

  “You are a piece of work, my sweet pet. I very much want you in my ropes again, but you need to convince me you belong there. That you’ve earned the right to wear my collar.” Unrestrained mastery flowed from the order.

  This was what had been missing.

  “Always for you, Master.” She relaxed in his hands, waiting for him to continue.

  He gave a low growl. “Very good.” The tension lining his face vanished as he leaned closer, nearly brushing his lips against hers. “That collar represents a very important time in our lives. But you should have a new one. A different one that is reflective of our new relationship. Don’t you agree?”