by Anya Summers
“Discipline you in front of the whole audience,” he promised, with fury blazing inside him.
“I’d like to see you try,” she spat, and that was when he noticed the sheen of tears. Anger mingled with hurt and fear in her gaze.
He advanced on her and she raised her hands in a defensive stance in front of her face. It stopped Jared in his tracks. Only someone who had been hit, repeatedly, would react that way. His heart broke for her as the whole audience, all the Doms present, witnessed her reaction. It was a kick to the scrotum that this lovely sweet thing had been abused. He knew it now as surely as he knew he wouldn’t let her get away from him.
“Deke, take over for me, will you?” he said and Deke responded with a silent nod, not wanting to interfere. In fact, the entire club held its collective breath, waiting to see what happened next.
Naomi was about to back out of reach when he corralled her, dipped down, and hefted her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. She screamed, “Put me down, you damn Neanderthal!”
Clamping his arm around her flailing legs, he gave her ass a good swat. Instead of making her fall in line and behave as he tromped up to his Penthouse, she fought him every step of the way.
But he was ready for her. They would have it out and then they would stop this nonsense, and he’d have her back in his bed by midnight.
Chapter 12
How dare he think he could boss her around? Naomi’s wrath knew no bounds. Fury vibrated through her body. Her bottom stung from his rather hard swat, and he’d cost her a night’s wages on top of it.
The moment he set her on her feet, she turned to escape. She wasn’t doing this with him tonight. She was too angry and too hurt after the things Sherry had told her after the boat docked. It made her wonder if this was even the right place for her and think that maybe it was best if she did move on.
“If you walk out that door, madam, before you answer my questions, you may as well turn in your employee badge and pack your things. I’ll have a boat standing at the ready to ferry you back to the mainland,” he warned.
Her hand was on the door knob and she said to the door frame. “You would fire me?”
“Look at me when I talk to you.” He waited for her to comply before he continued. “I told you from the start that I expect honesty. What you did tonight, disobeying a direct order, will not happen again.”
“Harrumph, that’s rich. You are such a fucking hypocrite,” she spat and rolled her eyes. Was he being serious?
“Explain the eye roll, little one,” he commanded. His voice had gone deadly still.
She couldn’t help it. Her heart was hurting too damn much and she exploded. “You expect honesty but then don’t give it in return. That’s utter bullshit, and you know it. You’re such a hypocrite and don’t even realize it.”
“What are you talking about? I have been nothing but honest with you. From the get go.”
“That’s a load of tripe but okay, I’ll give in. Let’s get this over with so I can get back to my shift and decide whether or not I want to continue working here. What do you want to talk to me about?”
“You didn’t tell me you were leaving the island and it would have been nice, given where we have progressed to, if you had given me a heads up. There have been issues with sex trafficking on the islands. Any beautiful woman needs to be careful. From here on out, you will not leave the island without an escort. If I can’t go, one of the other dungeon monitors will be your guide. Non-negotiable. Why did you leave?”
Why, it actually sounded like he cared, but the act was wearing on her last nerves. “Because, Lothario, you don’t own me. No man does, nor ever will again. You are my boss, that’s it. In my free time, I don’t owe you an explanation for anything.”
Jared stalked her then until her back was flush against the wall and she had nowhere left to go. His seductive intentions were written across his face. Then he admonished her for her response. “I think we are much more than that, little one. Up this close, I can see how your pupils are dilated with need and your sumptuous nipples are pebbled into hard peaks because they are begging for my lips. You want me to tease them, your body cries out for release when I clamp my teeth around them. Your breathing is shallow and your face is flushed because your body knows what you have yet to realize: you belong to me. You were meant to be my submissive and deep down you know it’s true. So why are you fighting it, little one?”
“Would you stop with the ‘little one’ comments? And no, we aren’t a thing and I’m not agreeing to be your submissive. Yes, we did have sex a few times, but that was a mistake. Let’s chalk it up to a definitive error in judgement, and one that I will not be repeating.” She valiantly held her ground while her body melted in response to his words. It wanted him. He was right in that respect. His body’s pheromones seemed to be calibrated to hers, always getting a response from her. She squeezed her thighs together, ignoring the flood of cream drenching her panties.
“Last I recall, you were all hot and heavy to suck my dick, which you are supremely talented at, by the way. What changed?” he asked.
“Why don’t you ask Zoey and Sherry why things didn’t work out, since they were some of your recent conquests, too?”
Jared reared back like she’d struck him and asked, his face deadly still, “How do you know about Zoey?”
“I heard you this morning—when you thought I was asleep, you mentioned her name. After you had just finished sleeping with me.” Naomi averted her gaze and continued, “And Sherry told me all about your little romance. How many women have you done this little Lothario act with?”
It was funny how standing there, caging Naomi with his arms, seeing the tears in the corners of her eyes at what he could tell she saw as a betrayal, made Jared realize how different his feelings were for her compared to Zoey. He thought he’d known what it was to care for another, but Naomi completely disarmed him with her trembling lower lip even as she tried to hide the storm of her emotions.
And as he thought of Zoey, Jared realized that the ache in his chest had diminished and was almost non-existent. It was there, for a part of him would always love her. But Naomi overrode them all and made the feelings he’d had for Zoey pale in comparison.
He stroked her cheek, catching the single trail of wetness. “I’m sorry about this morning, little one. Zoey was a woman I loved and I discovered yesterday that she and her husband are expecting a baby. It put me in a bit of a funk. I’m sorry for the way I acted, and appreciate the sweet care you took of me when I was too fashed in the head to care for myself. I didn’t mean to hurt you and am sorry for that.”
“I see. And Sherry?”
Dammit, he had regretted ever taking that needy little sub to bed. In his defense, it had only been a couple of times at the Dungeon Fantasy Club in Scotland, but in what measure of madness had he agreed that she could come work for him here? When she’d contacted him, he had been feeling low and homesick for a familiar face.
“Naomi, you understand I am in the lifestyle and haven’t been in a committed relationship before. Sherry is a submissive I fooled around with back in my homeland at my club there. But she and I haven’t been intimate in any way since then. In fact, until you, I had been celibate and had only been using my hand for the past six months.”
Confusion mixed with hope in her gaze. “Sherry said that you liked to go through subs and toss them away once they started to have feelings for you. After this morning, and then again tonight, when I ran into her and she asked me to cover for her so she could prep for your arrival, I just assumed…”
“She said what?” Jared had had enough of her little games. Sherry was going to be disciplined and sent packing if she didn’t drop the act. He regretted ever agreeing to bring her to the island. Naomi glanced at him sheepishly, chewing on her bottom lip.
“Said that you were going to her place tonight, and I just assumed…” Naomi blushed, blinking back her tears.
“Naomi, I can promise you, I ha
ve not been intimate with any other woman in the last six months, especially not Sherry. We had a week-long fling a year ago, but I haven’t touched her since then. I will address her lies on the morrow and depending on her answer, she may earn herself a one-way ticket back to Scotland.”
Naomi’s eyes closed and she nodded. “I’m sorry I believed her.”
“And we are going to address the why of that, but first, are we in agreement that there is more than just sex between us?”
She gazed at him with such emotion, it shook him to his core. She whispered a throaty, “Yes.”
“I’m amending the original terms of my offer. Give me a trial run for one week of being my sub, and if at the end of that week, you do not want to continue, we will both go our separate ways. Agreed?”
“Yes. I can agree to that. And I am sorry.” She was so contrite she bowed her head, placing her forehead on his shoulder.
He stroked a hand down her back as he held her close. He murmured into her ear, “I know, little one, but that’s not going to stop me from punishing you for your back talk tonight and insensitive lack of judgement today.”
“Wait, what?” She tensed inside his arms.
“You know that’s the way of it, and you severely disobeyed me, as well as disrespected me in the club. You will be spanked for that.” He pulled her close and whispered in her ear, “And after that, I plan on making you come all night long.”
At her breathy moan, he knew he had won and led her into his bedroom. He sat down on the bench and patted his thighs.
“Disrobe and park that luscious ass of yours over my lap.”
He hummed deep in his throat as she did as he commanded. She was wearing blazing red lingerie with a barely-there lace bra that pushed the succulent globes of her tits up, teasing him with a glimpse of nipple, as well as a matching thong that he wanted to take off with his teeth.
“Leave the thong,” he commanded, patting his thighs.
She nodded at his words and did as she had been told. It was his turn to moan at the delicate strip of red lace. He loved her ass and seeing the G-string separating the plump halves aroused him to no end. He would buy her hundreds of G-strings just so he could take them off her.
He massaged her flesh, cupping the mounds, and laying his left arm across her lower back to keep her in place. Then he smacked her ass, watching the flesh jiggle, and her gasp and swiftly indrawn breath were music to his ears. She had earned thirty swats today. He set about turning her caramel flesh a deep ruby red with his spanking. She whimpered and writhed upon his lap. He noted the glistening pool of moisture seeping from her crease.
He loved her cream and would take his time once he had gotten the answers he sought, eating her out to his heart’s content.
When he had finished her punishment, he could smell her arousal. His fingers toyed with her slit, pushing aside the flimsy fabric, and she flooded his hand. He bit back his groan. If he wanted to get the answers he sought, now was the time while her defenses were down.
He lightly rubbed her clit. “Tell me, little one, why did you think I was going to hit you earlier in the club?”
She stopped gyrating her hips against his fingers. “Excuse me, Sir?”
“Just answer some questions for me, and I will give you the release you want.”
“But I don’t want to talk about it.”
“I understand that, and you mentioned my not being honest before because I was withholding pertinent information from you. Now you are doing it. I’m not trying to hurt you, but as your Dom, I need to understand. It will help me when I am pushing your limits to know where I can go and what’s off limits, and what I might be able to do to help you heal. Understand?”
She nodded her head and seemed to collect herself as he toyed with her folds.
“My ex-husband, Jon, was an abusive alcoholic. I didn’t know that when I married him. But once the vows were said, he changed and became a monster.”
He rubbed her bottom, soothing the angry red splotches. That was why she had hesitated in accepting him as her Dom. He had worried, after everything with Zoey, that he may be reading the situation wrong and possibly infusing it with what he wanted but her response laid those demons to rest. “I see. I can tell you honestly, and I can give you references if you want to verify them, that I have never hit a woman in anger or otherwise. When you do a scene where a flogger or a whip is present, some measure of pain is involved, but it is for the sub’s enjoyment and a good Dom ensures the safety of his sub, and that she has consented to the type of scene. How long ago did you divorce?”
“Three years, but tell him that. He hasn’t gotten the memo that we are divorced and has tried to make me see the light.”
Jared stilled, even his fingers stopping their gentle exploration of her pussy. “What do you mean by that?”
“He keeps trying to find me and has, until now. I’ve had to move so often in the past three years just to stay one step ahead of him. But he has always found me.”
“And what happens when he finds you?”
She shuddered underneath him. “He hurts me. Last time, he dragged me down a flight of stairs outside my apartment. If it weren’t for my neighbors calling the cops, I’m not sure what he would have done.”
“Oh, baby.” Jared changed her position so that she was cradled in his arms. He stroked a hand over her hair. “I won’t let him get anywhere near you ever again, that I can promise you. Get me his information and I will make sure that he is never able to set foot on this island.”
She melted against him, the fight leaving her body completely at his promise. He’d never let her ex get within a hundred yards of her.
Jared gave her body the release it needed with his fingers, and instead of moving on to the main event, he just held her. He held her for so long that she fell asleep cradled in his arms. As much as he wanted her, sometimes being a good Dom meant putting your sub’s needs in front of your own. It had been an emotional day for them both, and she was clearly worn out.
He moved them into his bed, where he held her all night, feeling more of that organ he’d long ago deemed too far gone, fall more under her spell as she clung to him.
As he closed his eyes, lulled by her even breathing, he knew that he was irrevocably in love with Naomi.
Chapter 13
Jared’s cell phone blared on the night stand. He answered it before the ringing drilled a hole in his skull.
“Sir?” Yvette’s throaty voice filtered through the receiver.
He grimaced as he glanced at the empty space in his bed, thinking he had a sub who needed to learn what was expected of her. And he would go in search of her as soon as he was done with this phone call.
“Yes, Yvette, what I can do for you this morning?”
He yawned as he sat up, shoving the covers off, wishing like Christ he had a cup of coffee, and wondering about the time. He hoped that whatever fire needed to be extinguished, Yvette could do without him—at least until he’d had coffee.
“You have two visitors here this morning, a Mr. and Mrs. Declan McDougal.”
Fuck. Jared wasn’t ready to see them. How could they be here? Why hadn’t Declan told him they were planning to visit, instead of springing it on him when he had no choice but to accept it?
“I will be down in two shakes, lass. Set them up in their own private villa, on the house, and why don’t you offer them a complimentary breakfast in our restaurant, Master’s Pleasure, while they wait?”
“Certainly will do, sir.”
“You’re a dear. Thanks.” He ended the call and sprang into action. He showered and dressed in slacks and a mint green dress shirt. He stared at himself in the bathroom mirror, practicing his smile until he was positive it looked genuine—when in reality, he was far from ready.
Jared exited his penthouse when he realized he could no longer delay. How could he explain Zoey’s sudden arrival back in his life after telling Naomi it was over? Jared’s relationship with Zoey, while complic
ated because of their past, was now purely platonic. He did still have feelings for Zoey, but the love he held for her had mellowed into that of friendship and kinship. She would always matter to him, just not in the same way. He felt the double-edged blade, for no matter which way he moved, a part of him, his heart, would never be the same after this visit. He knew it as surely as he knew his name. One problem at a time. Exiting the elevator on the first floor, he headed left, away from the registration and concierge desks.
Master’s Pleasure was a fine dining experience. There was a standard menu that guests could order from and then every day, his fabulous chef Franchesca had a selection of specials that were totally her creation and usually some of the tastiest morsels to ever grace his taste buds.
He wasn’t prepared for the sight of them. Declan was holding Zoey against his side and her face was upturned in a torrid kiss. It felt like all the air had been siphoned from the room. Jared’s heart plummeted into his solar plexus. And he was shocked at the pleasure he felt at seeing two people he considered family. Double damn. Was it any wonder he had such a difficult time convincing Naomi of his feelings? This back and forth was giving him whiplash, he could only imagine what his little one must feel.
With a steadying breath, he approached their table and cleared his throat to interrupt their heated exchange. Declan broke their kiss and they both turned their faces toward him. Jared’s heart hammered in his chest as he lost his train of thought of what he was going to say. Zoey was positively glowing. Declan had an air of sublime comfort and peace he had been too blind to truly see before.
Zoey squealed, her smile efficacious as she slid from the booth and tossed her arms around him. “I’ve missed you so much.”
Jared’s arms instinctively closed around her, returning her greeting. Instead of the normal gut punch of lust that would blast his system, he only felt a warm comfort and deep abiding friendship. “I’ve missed you too, lass, more than you know.”