Nobody's Hero

by Kallypso Masters

  “She’s more a spirit on a mission. Not to worry, though. She’s leaving soon. Said three’s a crowd. Joni told me to bring the angel, by the way. She said it would help her to go toward the light and to seek another land.”

  “The poem.”

  “Poem?”

  “Yeah, she left me a poem called “If You Forget me” and that was one of the lines—'to seek another land.'”

  “Well, she knows you won’t forget her, but said she’s glad you’re finally ready to set her roots free so she can fly.”

  Adam realized he hadn't been able to let Joni go because of his guilt and remorse for not loving her well enough. But he had loved her and she'd known it. Karla had waged war on his heart and finally shown him he'd known all along how to love fully and honestly. For the rest of his life, he intended to make sure she never doubted his love.

  He wrapped his arms around Karla’s midriff and rested his cheek against hers as together they stared up at the angel. He hadn’t seen the angel on a Christmas tree in more than a decade. He would never be able to place it on a tree without thinking of Joni. But he was glad she didn’t plan to haunt them forever. As usual, Joni was right. Three’s a crowd.

  For the first time in years, he was caught up in the Christmas spirit, too. He couldn’t wait to see Karla’s face when she opened her gifts. He hoped she’d accept them.

  She had turned his rudder in a totally new direction. He knew he and Karla wouldn’t always see eye to eye on everything. Hell, maybe not even on most things. But they’d always be there for each other.

  “Thank you for…everything, Karla. I love you so much.”

  Her hands covered his and he felt her smile against his cheek.

  “Hearing those words…that’s the best Christmas present ever.”

  He broke away and turned her around to face him. “Oh, you’re not getting off that easy.”

  Her eyes gleamed in anticipation. “I can’t wait for you to open my gift.”

  “You didn’t have to get me anything. Just having you…”

  “Nonsense. Um, Sir.” She looked contrite. He just grinned back at her. “It’s just a start, but I hope you like it.”

  Curious now, he watched her go back to the tree and pull out a flat square package with holly-leaf wrapping paper and a tiny red bow.

  “Let’s go sit by the fire.” He picked up the two gifts for Karla and carried them over to the sheepskin rug and pillows he’d positioned in front of the native-stone fireplace. Patrick had done a phenomenal job restoring the cabin, but keeping many of the original features, like this fireplace. He could picture Johnny Montague, and maybe even Kate, hauling the stones to create it as they built their home together.

  Karla knelt beside him. “Open it!”

  “Okay, okay. Hold your horses. Anticipation is good for Doms, too, you know.”

  “I know, but it’s hell for us subbies. I can’t wait to see what you think.”

  Adam ripped the paper where it had been taped down and revealed a CD with a cover showing the Shibari suspension scene they’d done in October when she’d gone into subspace. The words “Touch Me” and “by Master Adam’s Kitten” were in bright red letters on the cover. He felt his throat grow tight and looked up at her.

  “You wrote this?”

  She nodded, tears shimmering in her blue eyes. She cleared her throat. “For you. Here,” she said, taking the CD from him, “let me put it on the laptop so you can hear it.”

  She cranked up the speakers and he heard a soft Goth-rock beat, most likely a concession to him that it wasn’t the hardcore stuff, and her beautiful voice began singing about all the places she wanted him to touch her. Not just places on her body, but places like the floor, the table, the shower, conjuring up memories of some of the places he’d already touched her. His dick responded to the visceral images in the lyrics.

  I see you wet your lips

  You know I can’t resist

  Just want a little taste

  So, there’s no time to waste

  You know I like it rough

  I just can’t get enough

  Not feelin’ no shame

  when I’m screaming out your name!

  As the music continued to play, he pulled her on top of him, gripped her hair in his fists and pulled her mouth to his. When the song ended, he released his grip and she sat up, straddling him and staring down. She waited for his response. Hadn’t he already shown her? He grinned.

  “Don’t ever sing that song on stage or on any of your future CDs.”

  She drew her brows together. “You didn’t like it, Sir?”

  “Oh, I liked it—too much.” He pushed her body down to his crotch where his hard dick pressed against her ass.

  She grinned, her eyes sparkling. “I see, Sir. Well, that one will be just for us.”

  He brushed a strand of hair from her eye. “Kitten, I am so proud of you for writing and recording a song for me. You’re going to be a huge success when you start selling your music online—your other music.”

  Her smile grew wider. “Thanks for having faith in me, Sir.” She bent down to brush her lips against his.

  “I think it was you who had the endless well of faithfulness, kitten, especially when it came to me. Semper Fi.”

  “Well, since I’m now a member of the Marine Corps family, I’ll always strive to live up to the motto.”

  Gently turning, he lowered her onto her back on the rug and kissed her as he slid his hand under the cup of her bra and pinched her nipple. He took advantage of her soft gasp and invaded her lips. So sweet, so warm. His hand lowered to her mons and he spread the folds of her scarf skirt, touching her bare pussy. Wet for him. Only him.

  “You asked to be taken on the floor, kitten.”

  “Yes, Sir.” Her breathy whisper nearly undid him.

  “Turn over. On your knees and elbows. Then brace yourself, because I’m going to ram my dick so deep inside you, you are going to taste me. Is that clear?”

  Her pupils dilated. “Sir, yes, Sir!”

  He chuckled and leaned back, smacking her on the ass for her insolence as she scrambled to get into position. He knelt behind her, unhooking her bra and sliding it down her arms. When she moved to rise up and remove it completely, he pushed against her back. “Stay. I didn’t give you permission to move.”

  He lay over her back, supporting himself with one hand on the floor as his other pulled and teased her nipples.

  “Take me, Sir. I need you.”

  He removed his hand from her tit. “Kitten, we’ve talked about this before. You do not tell me what you need. I already know what you need.”

  “But, Sir, you don’t seem to know that I need it now! Ow!”

  He’d squeezed her tit harder than he had lately, because they were so sensitive, but one way or another, he needed to exert his control over the situation before she ran all over him.

  “I’m sorry, Sir. I’ll be patient. Take as long as you need to.”

  Was she insinuating he was old and slow? “Why, you little brat…” He rose up onto his knees and undid his button-fly jeans, allowing his rigid cock to spring out and thump against her ass. He pressed his middle finger into her wet pussy to make sure she was ready, pulled his finger out, and then grabbed her hips and rammed himself inside, entering her fully.

  “Oh, yes! Harder, Sir. Take me harder!”

  He growled. Later, he’d enjoy punishing her for continuing to top him. Right now, all he wanted to do was bury himself inside her to the hilt, over and over again, for the rest of his life.

  * * *

  When Karla could form a coherent thought again, she felt Adam pull out of her. Too languid to move, she remained with her butt up in the air, resting her head on her hands. He pulled away, patting her butt, and she missed him immediately. He got some paper towels from the kitchen and cleaned them up, then she lay down again on the sheepskin rug.

  “Now, I need to get up off the floor and get your presents.”

/>   “Presents?” What could he possibly have gotten for her? She already had everything she wanted. She rolled over onto her back and looked up at him.

  “Yes, presents—but with some strings attached.”

  He stood up and walked over to the tree, retrieving the two small boxes he’d placed under there this morning. “You’ll have to excuse the wrapping on the first one. I’m all thumbs when it comes to this kind of thing.”

  “Never judge a book by its cover, Sir.”

  “Truer words were never spoken. I still remember seeing you standing there on my stage in a Maid Marian costume.”

  “Hey, it was popular in the club in Soho.”

  “Well, I prefer the way you’re dressed now.” Well, she certainly wouldn’t have shown up in Soho wearing this, but she’d already worn it to the club once, the night she’d thought she could submit to being Adam’s slave. What a nightmare that had been.

  He knelt down beside her and handed her the one he’d wrapped first. She felt her throat tighten and when she moved to sit up, he held out his hand to her, bringing her into the cradle between his thighs and wrapping his arms around her.

  Safe.

  Karla had the wrapping off and was about to open the long box when he stayed her hand. She heard him take a deep breath.

  “Kitten, what’s in the box is something you will choose to wear the first time. This is something I can’t order you to do. But once you accept it, you will wear it whenever and wherever I tell you to wear it. Do you understand?”

  Her hand began to shake in his. “I think so, Sir.” Her chest tightened with emotion and her eyes burned. She knew before she opened the box what was inside. Adam released her hand and she opened the lid. There, nestled in tissue paper, was a black leather collar with red spikes. She touched the leather. So soft, like baby’s skin. But the spikes were made of cold, hard metal.

  “The leather is soft, like you.” He stroked her cheek. “The spikes signify your love of rough sex.”

  She giggled. “I always wondered about all the different types of collars and what they meant.” She pulled it out of the box and heard something jangle. Turning it over, she saw a dog tag attached to one of the D-rings. “Montague, Adam M.” was imprinted into the first two rows of metal, as well as his social security number, rank, even religion. Lutheran.

  “I didn’t know you were Lutheran.”

  “What? Oh, the tags. Yeah, well. We went some when I was a kid.” He pulled a chain from around his neck which had an identical dogtag. “I’ll always wear the other dog tag, indicating we’re one body, not two, forever joined.”

  The tag swam before her eyes and her hand shook so badly, it jangled again. She reached up and wiped the tears from her eyes and looked again to find a padlock and an anchor attached to the same ring, etched with the words “Semper Fidelis.”

  Always faithful.

  “You know what the motto means. You’re mine, kitten. Only mine. We’ll be faithful to each other until death parts us.”

  “Maybe even longer, Sir. I am yours and yours alone.”

  He wrapped his arm around her upper body and pulled her against his hard chest. Safe.

  “Are you saying you’ll agree to wear my collar, kitten? You don’t have to agree today. If you do decide to wear my collar, though, we’ll want to have more formal ceremony at the club with our friends, when you are ready to make the commitment publicly.”

  Karla broke away from him and scooted around to face him, dashing more tears from her eyes, but no longer caring if she acted overly emotional. Next to her wedding, this was the most important commitment she’d ever made. She knelt as gracefully as she could and held the collar out to him. At first he looked puzzled, as if he thought she was giving it back. Then she took her free hand and lifted her hair, exposing her neck.

  “Please, Sir. I would be honored to wear your collar. To have you teach me to be the best sub I can be, one you can be proud of. To be obedient to you always—well, as much as I can.” She grinned.

  He chuckled. “Don’t worry, kitten. I’ll continue to try and keep you under my thumb. But I enjoy punishing you when you get out of line, so I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

  Karla nibbled her lower lip. He’d paddled her really hard last night for her brattiness. She really did need to try harder not to disobey. Adam dug into his pocket and retrieved a key and unlocked the one-inch padlock at the back of the collar. Oh, my. The lock was for real.

  Adam paused and looked up at her. “You’re sure you’re ready for this, kitten? Do you have any questions you want to ask?”

  “Will we continue to negotiate, until we know what each of us needs and wants?”

  “Yes, always.”

  “And, just to be clear, I’ll be your sub, not your slave.”

  He chuckled. “You’d better believe it. I think I’ve had enough slavery to last a lifetime.”

  “Then I can’t think of anyone I’d rather be padlocked to, Sir.” She grinned.

  Adam crawled on his knees behind her and opened the collar, placing it against the slim column of her neck and adjusting the size to fit her. He slipped two warm fingers between her neck and the leather to test the tightness.

  “How does that feel?”

  “Wonderful, Sir.”

  She felt a little tug as he buckled the latch and then heard the click of the padlock as it was snapped in place. His. She was his sub. He was her Dom. She felt her nipples bunch in anticipation of their time together.

  His lips pressed against the curve of her neck and her breath hitched in her throat. Her head lolled to the side, giving him better access. But he pulled away.

  “You’re not finished yet, kitten.”

  She furrowed her brows and wondered what she was supposed to do, then he held the other box in front of her. This one was very professionally wrapped. She liked Master Adam’s wrapping job better, because it was more personal. She took the box and carefully tore the paper off the cardboard, then opened the lid. Inside, there was a slim black-velvet box. She lifted it out of the cardboard box and lifted the lid.

  Gleaming against a black velvet backdrop lay an exquisite filigreed collar in silver or platinum studded with diamonds an encircled with ribbons of pink and green gold. The pink was much like her wedding band.

  “Those ribbons are made of Black Hills gold and the filigree is platinum, like the ring you gave me on our wedding day. I commissioned it soon after we arrived up here, when you were at the grocery store gathering up supplies. This is the collar you will wear in public. Read the inscriptions.”

  She held the collar closer. On the pink ribbon, she read, “To the woman who brings me to my knees.” And on the green ribbon, “Always and forever.” She remembered the first time she’d brought him to his knees, in a dirty ladies room in the Chicago bus terminal. She looked up to see a gleam in his eyes, as if he too remembered that time. And here he was, once again, on his knees before her.

  “Yes, kitten—always and forever.”

  About the Author

  Kallypso Masters writes emotional romance novels with dominant males and the women who will bring them to their knees. Sometimes it seems she lives with these Masters at Arms Doms twenty-four/seven—yes, they tend to dominate her life. Often, she’ll wake up with one or more characters waiting by her bedside to share some delicious secret about themselves. Yes, it’s a tough job, but she loves every minute of it.

  Kally has been writing full-time since May 2011, having quit her “day job” the month before to pursue a full-time writing career. Masters at Arms was her debut novel (published in August 2011) and was followed quickly by Nobody’s Angel in September. (These are just the books she’s allowing to be published. Many others will remain in that box on the shelf where all practice novels should go.)

  She is excited to be making plans to attend some of the conventions and conferences in the Romance Writing and Reading world, including the 2012 Romantic Times (RT) Booklovers (Chicago, April), Lori Foster�
��s Reader and Author Get-Together (Cincinnati, May/June), and Authors After Dark (New Orleans, August). She hopes to meet lots of readers and fellow authors there!

  Kally lives in rural Kentucky and has been married for 28 years to the man who provided her own Happily Ever After. They have two adult children, one rescued dog, and one rescued cat—and now four Doms (Adam, Marc, Damián, and Luke) and a Domme (Grant).

  Kallypso Masters can be reached on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/kallypsomasters) and on her Facebook Author page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kallypso-Masters-Author/260576087323803); at Twitter (@kallypsomasters), Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomkallypsomasters), and by e-mail at kallypsomasters@gmail.com. Her Ahh, Kallypso…the stories you tell blog can be read and followed at http://kallypsomasters.blogspot.com/.

  Or write to her at Kallypso Masters, PO Box 206122, Louisville, KY 40220.