Master No

by Lexi Blake

  He pressed on her back, his palm covering the skin between her shoulder blades. He moved her until she was flat against the desk, one cheek turned to the side. She could feel a bit of the moisture she’d left when he’d tongued her to completion. It was warm against her belly. And she was making more even as he moved around to the side of the desk. She glanced up and there was something in his hand.

  A ruler. He was really playing up the office theme today. It was a slappy yardstick he must have had behind the desk.

  She gave him a nice whimper because that really was going to burn.

  The first whack nearly made her cry out. She took the pain, letting it morph into heat. Her Master meant business though. She’d barely had time to process when he struck again. Over and over she felt the slap of the ruler against her backside. He peppered her with smacks, lighting her skin on fire. She could feel the heat. She lost track of how many times he struck. He would stop every now and again, lightly rubbing a hand over her flesh, inspecting her before getting back to business.

  Tears dripped from her eyes, cleansing and freeing. She relaxed, letting the ache take her where she couldn’t go alone.

  The ache seemed to fade to a slow pulse. Her focus shifted, the world turning nice and fuzzy. This was a special place. She’d been here before, but it wasn’t the same as it was with him. Him. Her Master. Her Tennessee.

  She was becoming addicted to him. Dangerously so, but she couldn’t seem to do anything about it. She wanted him too badly. She’d nearly panicked when she’d realized how poorly she’d handled things earlier. He’d retreated back behind that placid stare of his and she’d known if she let it go on, she would lose him—at least the part of him she was getting to know. The man didn’t let many people under his armor. She understood that, but she meant to be one of the few.

  “Have I lost you?” His hand trailed up her back.

  She sighed. “Happy place.”

  “Ah, your backside is a lovely shade of hot pink, but my sweet sub is in her happy place. Have I mentioned how much your freak flag turns me on? I’m going to help you get on your knees.” He lifted her up, turning her in an easy show of strength.

  Her whole body felt languid as she drifted to the floor, her knees hitting the soft carpet. He stood over her, his hands finding her hair and tugging lightly, gaining her attention.

  “You’re not done yet, Faith. Not even close. Pay attention.” He worked the fly of his jeans, shoving them off his hips and freeing his cock.

  That gorgeous monster sprang out, bobbing in front of her face. She licked her lips at the thought of torturing her Master for a bit. She leaned forward. Without the use of her hands, she had to concentrate on staying upright and getting her very important work done. That cock needed some affection.

  She licked at the head, satisfied when she heard a long groan from her Dom.

  “That’s what I’ve needed all damn day.” His hands found her hair again, this time sinking in with a gentle bite.

  If she was happily in subspace, it looked like her Master was deep into topspace. She licked the round head of his cock as he planted his feet and settled in. His fingers ran over her scalp before tugging again.

  “Lick me. Run that hot tongue all over me, Faith.”

  She did as he asked, licking him from base to tip before lightly sucking the head. She tasted the salty goodness of the pre-ejaculate already seeping from the tip. Spanking her had gotten her Master as hot as it had her.

  He took it for a few moments. He allowed her to explore, running her tongue over the silky skin covering his dick. She let her tongue find the smooth surfaces, the ridges and hollows, learning his cock and the way he tasted. She licked him over and around until she made her way down to his balls. They were already tight against him, preparing to give up their juice.

  “Fuck,” he muttered when she began to lick the heavy sacs. “You’re the sadist, darlin’.”

  She didn’t bother to mention what that made him. It made him perfect for her.

  He tugged on her hair, pulling her up. “Suck me, Faith. If you don’t, I’ll find something worse than the ruler. Trust me, I can find something nasty to slap your ass with if I don’t get what I want.”

  He was staring down at her, heat in his eyes.

  “What do you want, Master? I want to make sure I give you exactly what you need.” He always made her ask for what she wanted because he loved to hear her talk dirty. She kind of craved it from him, too. She loved the way his Southern accent made everything sound so polite, even the nastiest of demands.

  “I want to fuck your mouth, darlin’. You relax and let your Master have your mouth. You want to do that for me, don’t you?”

  Hell, yes. She simply gave him a sweet smile. “I want to please my Master in any way he would like.”

  His hands tightened in her hair, right to the point of discomfort. A sweet burn along her skin that brought her back to him. “I’m going to hold you to that. Until we get on a plane for that island, I’m going to keep you naked and ready to take my cock.”

  He didn’t wait for her to reply. He lined up his cock and began to press inside. He fed her his cock, pushing past her lips.

  So full. He was a big man and she had to open wide. She let him move her, guiding her up and down on his dick. She whirled her tongue over and around, fighting the tight fit. She relaxed and opened her jaw wider, taking him deeper.

  She could barely breathe, but that was all a part of this particular game. How much Tennessee could she handle? She intended to handle all of him. Every last gorgeous inch.

  Faith worked with him, letting him fuck her mouth. He found a hard, relentless rhythm. She hummed around his flesh, adding another layer to the sensation he would feel.

  It seemed to break something in Ten. He growled and his hips moved faster, pushing her harder. He thrust in until his cock found the back of her throat, and he held her there as he began to come.

  She swallowed around him, taking in everything he had to give her. He filled her mouth, nearly drowning her in his essence. She drank him down, licking and sucking even as he softened.

  “Do you know how you make me feel?” His voice was a low growl, his hands softening in her hair.

  She kissed his cock again. “I hope I make you feel as beautiful as I do when you’re around.”

  He stepped away and pulled up his jeans. “You make me feel like a king. When I fuck you, I’m the king. I’m powerful and wanted. That’s how you make me feel. You remember that. Always. No one ever made me feel the way you do.”

  She stayed where he’d left her, her body flush with pleasure. This was what she could give to him. This and one other present. She’d called Ian Taggart earlier. Theo’s brother had been happy to take her credit card information and her request.

  She would let this man know how wanted he was if it was the last thing she did. Whether or not they were together three months from now, she wanted him to know how special he was.

  “I’m going to treat you like a king when we get to the island, Master.” She was going to take the next few weeks and figure out if they could make this work. Figure out if he was the one worth coming back home for. She loved her work, but she wanted to love someone else more.

  He moved out of her line of view and she felt him at her back. With a few quick moves, her hands were free and he was hauling her up and into his arms. She loved the way he picked her up with no effort at all. She let her head fall against his shoulder as he strode out of the office.

  “And I’ll make you feel like my sub,” he vowed as he carried her into the bedroom they’d shared for a week. “I’ll make you feel sheltered and protected and worshipped.”

  She already felt that way. And it was making her reconsider everything she’d said to him earlier about her sister. Maybe she should have him look into it. It didn’t mean she was disloyal. It meant she was careful.

  But first she was going to spend the night in her Master’s arms. Nothing was more impor
tant than that.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Two days later, Faith stared down at the text she’d received. The private plane had touched down not two minutes before and when she’d brought her phone back online, the message had been sitting there.

  Problems at the clinic. Small fire. Lost the entire shipment of influenza vaccine along with a few boxes of supplies. Sorry I hadn’t told you. Didn’t want to interrupt your vacation with bad news.

  She’d woken up the morning after her fight with Ten and decided to do some more digging. On her own, for the time being. Her first stop had been to leave a message for the doctor running the clinic in her absence. She needed another few samples of the vaccine if she was going to run another test. She’d requested that he send three samples to three different labs this time. She was going to do this right and put her mind at ease.

  Her mind wasn’t easy at all now.

  “I like rich people flying,” Erin announced.

  Theo shook his head her way. “Don’t get used to it, baby. Remember who your man is, but I promise the next time we have to fly without Faith’s private airline, I will treat you to one of those sweet, sweet premium coach seats.”

  Erin’s nose wrinkled up. “I think I’m ruined now. I need a rich dude.”

  Theo had her out of her seat and in his lap in a heartbeat. “Not on your life, baby. You’re stuck with me.”

  Erin looked uncomfortable for a moment, but then seemed to give in. She cuddled up on Theo’s lap as they taxied toward the private hangar. “I don’t like rich dudes anyway. And I always said you were sticky.”

  Ten’s hand slid along hers, finally meeting to tangle their fingers together. “You all right?”

  This was supposed to be their quiet time. Just her and Ten and Theo and Erin. They were going to spend the time until her dad and the rest of the family and friends got here for her party in a state of hazy bliss. They were going to drink and play and sit on the beach.

  Her problems could wait. She would have to admit there actually seemed to be a problem at some point, and her backside would probably ache a few short minutes later, but she wanted her Master in play mode, not work mode. It wasn’t anything that couldn’t wait.

  “No. It’s some stuff with the clinic. Nothing important.”

  He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Good. I’m ready to relax for a while. Didn’t you say there was a resort close to the house?”

  She glanced out the window. From the airstrip she could see the green of the jungle all around them, but she knew the ocean was never far away. “Yes, but honestly we never need to leave the house. We have everything right here including a private beach and there’s surf and scuba gear and the boat. I say boat, but it’s really more of a yacht. It’s even got a two-person submersible to explore the reefs in. My father likes his toys.”

  “I’d still like to see the resort. I read something about it having the best seafood in the Caribbean. Also, they have the golf course,” Ten pointed out. “I didn’t lug those clubs here for nothing.”

  She was going to lose him to golf. He and Theo had dragged their golf clubs along with their kits. Golf and kink. At least she liked one of his hobbies.

  “I already called and you both have full use of the country club. Erin and I will be in the spa.” Unless… “Erin, you don’t golf, do you?”

  Erin grinned at her from her Master’s lap. “I could kick both their asses. I have a seven handicap. My father forced the sport down my throat. I hate it. I’ll totally do the girly-girl spa thing. I’m looking forward to lying on the beach and not doing a damn thing except drinking margaritas and reading a book.”

  “Oh, you’ll be doing some other things while we’re here.” Theo ran a hand up her thigh. “I can promise you that.”

  Tennessee leaned over. “So will you. I bet the one thing this place doesn’t have is a dungeon, but don’t you forget that I don’t need fancy toys to play with you.”

  His words heated her skin. He’d kept her naked for a full day after the night they’d fought. She’d packed for the trip without a stitch on and when Theo and Big Tag had come by, he’d denied her a robe. Both men were used to the lifestyle and hadn’t blinked an eye when Ten had talked business with a naked woman on his lap.

  She hoped the staff was used to nudity since Ten seemed to think she would spend a lot of time naked here, too.

  It would be nice to play Adam and Eve. There were several bungalows and buildings on the property. Maybe they could set up a temporary dungeon and get some playtime in before the horde descended.

  The brilliant sunshine was muted as the plane entered the hangar. From here it was a long walk up to the main house, but her father’s well-trained staff would handle all the luggage and she could start to show off the grounds to her friends.

  She shoved aside her worries. There wasn’t a place for them here.

  “Is that who I think it is?” Erin moved off Theo’s lap and stared out the tiny window. “I thought you said we would be alone.”

  Ten’s eyes narrowed as he looked past Faith. “That’s an unexpected surprise.”

  Maybe she wouldn’t be able to set aside those worries so easily. The plane came to a stop and her sister was standing in the middle of the hangar, smiling and waving. Her sister, who was supposed to be in Houston finishing up work before vacation. Her sister, who Faith hadn’t mentioned a word to about this trip.

  So many coincidences.

  The door was opened and the stairs leading down to the ground released with a hydraulic hiss as the pilot nodded their way and wished them well.

  God, she hoped her father wasn’t here, too. She grabbed her purse and started out.

  Hope was dressed as casually as she ever did, wearing a neat pair of khakis and a prim white shirt. Stylish sandals covered her feet. She hurried forward to give Faith a long hug. “Hello! I was so excited when they told me the plane was coming in today.”

  She hugged her sister back. “I thought you were working in Houston.”

  Hope pulled away slightly, looking Faith over. “We ran into a snag, but I’m getting it worked out. Administrative stuff. I hate it. I thought I could use some downtime so I came out here a few days ago. And then I got bored, so I’m thrilled you’re here. I even put together a lunch for us, though I thought it would be you and me and your…guy.” She stepped back as Theo came down the stairs. “Hello, Mr. Taggart.”

  Theo grinned. “It’s Theo, Hope. Unless you want me to call you Miss McDonald.”

  Hope shook her head. “Not at all. Casual is better among friends.”

  “Mr. Taggart is fine with me,” Erin muttered.

  Ten’s arm slid around Faith’s shoulders. “Don’t worry about it, Hope. I have a solution. Theo and I will head to the country club after we get settled in and you can have a nice lunch with your sister and Erin. Theo and I have been dying to hit the links, if you know what I mean.”

  Erin turned a dull red, but Faith was happy she managed to not let loose the multitude of curses she was sure her friend had flying through her head at that moment. Ten had actually solved a ton of problems, including keeping her sister from fawning all over Theo. It would also give Faith time to figure out exactly what her sister was doing here and what had happened with Kronberg.

  And what was going on with her vaccines.

  “That sounds wonderful,” Faith said. “Let’s show them around and then eat. I’m starving.”

  An hour later, she sat down at the table by the pool. The sun was shining down as Hope nodded for the server to open the champagne.

  “Where’s your friend? What was her name again? Erica?”

  Faith rolled her eyes. “You know her name. And she’ll be here in a few minutes. She was seeing her boyfriend off. I bet you remember his name.”

  “I make it a point of remembering beautiful specimens,” her sister said with a shrug. “Theodore Taggart. Did you know he wasn’t aware of his older brother until a short while ago? He thought his
twin was his only sibling.”

  “Have you been checking into him?”

  “I did a little digging. Well, I read Dad’s security reports. Theo and his brother flew through BUD/S training and then up and quit the Navy after less than a year in the SEALs.”

  “He decided to work for his brother.”

  “And that’s where he met the girl. Apparently they’ve been together for a year or so. It’s a little icky.”

  “Be nice.” The last thing she needed was for her sister to start a fight.

  “I’m not nice,” Hope pointed out. “I’m practical, and that woman doesn’t fit with him. He’s smart and polite. He could go places. She’s going to drag him down.”

  “He’s in love with her.”

  “I don’t know about that. Sometimes relationships are all about comfort and stability. People fear the unknown. He hasn’t asked her to marry him. You would think they would know if they’re compatible after a year. I think he’s in a rut. Sometimes it takes a jolt to the system to get out of a rut. I’m going to feel him out about a job at Kronberg.”

  “He’s not in the medical field.” The idea of Theo in some stuffy lab was ludicrous. “I think he’s happy working with his brother and he’s very settled in Dallas. He bought a house not more than a month ago.”

  “He can buy another one in Houston. I need someone of his experience to work with the veterans in my study. I talked to him for a while at his house when I was in Dallas. He has valuable insight.”

  Maybe she didn’t understand her sister’s research. “You said it yourself. He wasn’t in the military for very long. I know he saw some combat, but he doesn’t have any major injuries. I don’t see how he could help with prosthetics.”

  Hope frowned and her fingers drummed along the table as though she was trying to decide something. “It’s more than prosthetics. Look, I can’t really go into it without you signing numerous nondisclosure agreements, but I’m working on something some of Dad’s friends started. It’s a whole-body type of treatment for soldiers. There’s more going on than simply an injured limb. What I’m working on can treat the mind and the body. It can create better soldiers.”