Dark Desire

by Dark Desire (lit)

  Charity took off her jacket and hung it up on the coat rack, sniffing the air as she came into the small kitchen. “The men. I figured you would know about it. Every time I walk down the street, I see men just standing around on corners. It’s making for a lot of interesting conversations.” She got out bowls and spoons and started setting the table, laughing softly. “I just walked by in time to hear Kelly ask Blade what he was selling and offered him a hundred bucks for a good time.”

  Picturing the always cool and controlled Blade, part-owner of Club Desire, the club owned by Doms who taught other Doms, being propositioned on the street corner by his wife would be a sight well worth seeing.

  Laughing, Hope turned to her sister. “I’m sorry I missed that. What did he say?”

  Charity reached into the refrigerator for the pitcher of iced tea. “Well, at first you could tell he was shocked and was doing his best not to laugh, but then when Kelly started circling around him, looking him over, everybody else lost it. He used that cold voice of his, you know the one, and told Kelly that a date with him would cost her considerably more than a hundred dollars. Kelly pretended to think about it and reached out to feel his butt. She tells him, ‘Okay, you have nice buns, I’ll give you one-fifty.’”

  Hope laughed so hard it brought tears to her eyes. “I can just picture Blade’s face! What did he say to that?”

  “He started laughing and hugged her, promising retaliation. God, you can see how much he loves her. Then he threw her over his shoulder and headed for home.”

  As Hope ladled the soup, she couldn’t help but be a little envious. “I wish Ace would do something like that to me.”

  Charity used the mitts to pull the bread out of the oven and brought it to the table. “What are you talking about? I’m sure our good sheriff takes care of you. You’re getting married to the man next weekend.”

  Hope looked down into her soup, stirring the vegetables around. She couldn’t wait to marry him, but it bothered her that he seemed…different. Nodding, she looked up. “Yeah. Mom and Dads finally finalized the buffet at the hotel.”

  Charity broke off a piece of bread and frowned at her. “What is it? Did you and Ace have a fight?”

  Hope sighed and shook her head. “I almost wish we had. Something’s wrong, and I’ll be damned if I can figure it out. He’s lost some of the intensity already, like maybe he doesn’t want me as much anymore.”

  Charity looked at her worriedly. “Do you think he’s changed his mind?”

  Hope shrugged, the knots in her stomach tightening. “He’s very loving and sweet. He seems like he’s impatient to get married, so that’s not it.” Hope sighed and stirred her soup. “He makes love to me every night, and it’s incredible. I don’t even have the chance to catch my breath. He just sweeps me away.” Scowling into her soup, she clenched her jaw. “I think he does it on purpose.”

  Charity took another bite of her soup, frowning. “Does he talk to you?”

  Breaking her bread into little pieces over her soup bowl, Hope nodded. “He’s really pissed that he hasn’t caught the guy who hit me, and he thinks it’s the same person who turfed the field behind the men’s club and shot out the windows in both clubs. He’s trying to get approval to hire more deputies. Rafe and Linc will be leaving any day to bring the woman they’re both in love with to live here.”

  “That means Ace would be working alone.”

  Hope nodded. “And even when Linc and Rafe get back with the woman they want to marry, they can’t even be with her together if they’re all taking different shifts. So, Ace is trying to get approval to accept applications for a few more deputies.”

  Charity nodded. “It seems the way to go. I can’t imagine he’ll have any trouble getting approval from the town council. Hell, we’re the ones who’ll be voting on it. He’s not worried about it, is he?”

  Hope shrugged. “He doesn’t seem to be, but he does talk to me. He tells me about his day and asks about mine.”

  “Then what the hell’s your problem? He sounds like the perfect man. I’ve seen the way he is with you. He treats you like a china doll and he’s a perfect gentleman.”

  Hope looked up from her soup, her stomach churning in both anger and dread as Charity confirmed the fear that had been hovering at the back of her mind for days. “Ever since the accident, he’s been careful with me, too careful.”

  Charity nodded. “Of course he would be. You didn’t expect him to manhandle you when you were bruised all over, did you?”

  Hope dropped her spoon into her bowl and sat back. “The bruises have faded, Charity. I just hope nothing else has.”

  Charity shook her head. “You said yourself that the lovemaking was great. If Ace is happy and you’re happy, don’t rock the boat. Give up your stupid games and make a life with the man you love.”

  Hope jumped up from her chair. “Damn it, Charity, just because you don’t like games in the bedroom, don’t think the rest of don’t want them. Can’t you understand? Dominance in the bedroom isn’t just a game with Ace. It’s the way he lives. I accept that about him, hell I love that about him. My need to submit in the bedroom is just as strong as his need to dominate. I can’t have him giving up a part of himself because he thinks I can’t handle it. We both need that, Charity, and if he changes, he’s always going to feel like he’s missing something.”

  Sitting back down, she dropped her head in her hands. “So will I, and it’ll ruin everything. We’re going to end up resenting each other.” Lifting her head, she wiped away a tear, rubbing her stomach where it burned. “Why can’t he believe me when I tell him that I need the same thing he does?”

  Charity put her own spoon down and took a sip of iced tea, sitting back in the chair to regard Hope steadily. “You’re really serious about this? I mean you expect Ace to dominate you when you have sex? You really want him to spank you and God knows what else?”

  Hope stood again, too restless now to sit and reluctantly amused at her sister’s question. “Of course. You know, Charity, sometimes it’s hard to believe that you grew up in the same town I did, not to mention the same family.” Wagging her brows, she laughed at Charity’s red face. “I plan to spend a lot of time getting into trouble just to earn myself one of his spankings. God, he’s good at it.”

  Dropping back into her chair again, she wrapped her hand around her own glass of tea, running her thumb up and down the cool side. “I don’t know what I’d do if he’s already decided I’m too delicate to handle him.” Looking up at her sister, she snorted inelegantly. “Can you believe that? Me? Delicate? Hell, I don’t even know if that’s it or not. He hasn’t said a word, and every time I hint at it, or even bring up the subject, he asks what’s wrong with the way we have sex now. It makes me feel like an idiot.”

  “Could you live with the way sex is between you now?”

  Hope nodded. “Sure. I love Ace. But I can’t live with him trying to change such a vital part of him for me, especially when it’s not necessary. I feel like I only have a part of him, Charity. I can’t live with that. I want it all.”

  Charity paused with a spoonful of soup halfway to her mouth. “Then go get it. I can’t imagine it would be too hard for you to earn yourself one of those spankings.”

  The fire in her stomach disappeared, replaced with an excitement that she hadn’t felt since the morning the truck hit her. Grinning, she hurried to finish her soup.

  “Oh, I think with a little help I can do better than that.”

  * * * *

  Hope grinned at Sebastian’s cool look. “Do you have a sister somewhere that I can hire for my club?” She could have sworn his lips twitched but didn’t know for sure. She’d tried to get past him several times over the years when she’d been curious about the club, but he was damned good at his job. After that she’d tried to get in just because they told her she couldn’t.

  Sebastian looked down his nose at her, but the twinkle in his eye ruined his look of superiority. “Miss, you know you’re
not allowed admittance, and don’t try to tell me you’re here to see Mrs. Royal because she’s not on the premises.”

  Hope did her best to look insulted. “I’ve heard the stories about how Rachel got in. Give me some credit. I wouldn’t use a story that’s already been done.”

  Crossing his arms over his chest, the ever-proper butler lifted a brow. “Of course not. What story did you plan to use tonight? It better be good. The sheriff’s not going to be pleased that you showed up here.”

  Hope grinned. “You just let me worry about the sheriff. Can I talk to either Blade, Royce, or King?”

  “Miss—”

  “Stop calling me Miss. You know damned well what my name is. Hell, you bandaged my knees when I fell off my bicycle.”

  Sebastian continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “Miss Sanderson, you know very well that the Masters are very busy.”

  “Yeah, well the club’s not open for the night yet, and they don’t have any classes this month. I know Blade’s probably not here yet, but the other two are. I need to see one of them.”

  “The Masters—”

  “Who is it, Sebastian?” King Taylor’s deep voice came from somewhere behind Sebastian a few seconds before he flung the door wide and smiled when he saw her. “Hope! Hey, honey. Congratulations on your engagement. I’ll be there with bells on.” His smile fell. “What are you doing here? You’re not trying to get into the club again, are you? Does Ace know you’re here?”

  Hope stuck her tongue out at Sebastian’s back as he moved away and King filled the doorway.

  Literally.

  Although not as tall as Ace, King had more thick muscle than any man she’d ever met. She’d heard years ago that his father used to call him a weakling and King had really taken it to heart. Nobody in their right mind would ever say that to him now.

  Hope smiled at the wariness on his face. “I need to ask a favor.”

  King’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of favor? And is it going to get me in trouble with the sheriff?”

  Since she’d known him most of her life, his hard features didn’t scare her, but she knew he could be pretty intimidating when he had to. Like Ace, he couldn’t be called handsome, but something about him had women lining up in droves to be with him. That strong exterior with the teddy bear heart would be irresistible.

  “No. But you can call him in few minutes and rat me out. That’s what I want to talk to you about.”

  He held out a hand to take hers. “Come on in, but I reserve the right to call Ace if I don’t like this.”

  “If you do this favor for me, you’ll be calling him anyway.”

  * * * *

  Sitting in his office, Ace spoke to Rafe, who’d come in to relieve him. “I’d hate like hell to think this guy’s going to get away with what he’s done.”

  Rafe drank the last of his coffee and got up to refill his cup. “It looks like he will unless he does something else and we catch him.”

  Ace tossed a pen onto his desk with more force than necessary. “I hate this. I’m going to find this son of a bitch. Stay alert. Anyone new in town is to be watched. If they don’t like it, they can leave.”

  Rafe put his cup on the desk and lowered himself into the chair again. “That’s not gonna be real popular for the businesses here.”

  Clenching his jaw, Ace turned to meet Rafe’s eyes. “I don’t give a damn. My priority is to protect the residents of Desire. It’s something I haven’t been very good at lately.”

  Rafe nodded. “I’m glad you got the approval to hire more deputies. It’s hard to keep the town covered twenty-four seven with only the three of us. With you getting married, it’ll be nice to have a day off to spend some time with your wife. Linc and I can handle it while you’re on your honeymoon.”

  Ace shook his head, forcing down the guilt he felt at not taking Hope somewhere nice like she deserved. He’d have to do his best to make it up to her. “We’re not going on a honeymoon until I catch this guy.”

  Rafe looked like he wanted to say something but changed his mind and nodded. “We’ll catch him soon.”

  “Yeah.” Every time he pictured Hope lying on the ground after being hit, he wanted to pound something. Damage had been done to property, and he didn’t have a single suspect. Used to being in charge, he hated this feeling of helplessness.

  Rafe reached for his cup. “He hasn’t done anything since he hit Hope. Maybe it shook him. It sure as hell upset him enough to call.”

  “Maybe. I’d rather he didn’t cause any more trouble, but it pisses me off that unless he does something else and we catch him, he just might get off scot-free.”

  Rafe’s expression hardened. “I know. One of the reasons Linc and I came to Desire, besides wanting to live where ménage relationships are accepted, was how safe the town is. We want to start a family here, and since we’d both worked in law enforcement, we wanted to do our part. This guy comes by and spits in our faces and walks away.”

  Ace sat back and steepled his hands over his stomach. “It has to have something to do with the clubs. He didn’t do anything to any other business in town.”

  “Maybe he just hasn’t had the chance. The clubs are the largest businesses here, and since they’re not on Main Street, he might’ve figured he wouldn’t have as many witnesses.”

  “True, but we have nothing else to go on. I can’t just sit on my hands and wait for this guy to cause more trouble. I’ve already talked to Royce at the club, and he’s going through his files for anyone who’s filed a complaint.”

  Rafe stood. “How about Hope? She hasn’t been there long enough to make any enemies.”

  Ace scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “I know. Logan Securities vetted all of their members.” It still pissed him off that she hadn’t come to him. “I’m going to talk to them about anything that might have turned up in their background checks. I’ll have to talk to Hope, too. Maybe she’s gotten threats she hasn’t told me about.” His jaw clenched. If she’d kept something like that from him…hell. He’d have to hope a lecture worked.

  Rafe paused before walking out the door. “Uh oh. Are you sure that’s the kind of conversation you want to get into a week before your wedding?” Chuckling softly, he left, closing the door behind him.

  Ace allowed his lips to curve, his smile falling as soon as the door closed behind Rafe. Before she’d been hit by the truck he wouldn’t have hesitated at all to deliver a sound spanking to get her to tell him everything. He leaned back, closing his eyes on a groan when he pictured her face as he invaded her ass the first time.

  The ecstasy on her face when he stretched her ass and used the nipple clips on her.

  The sounds she made when she came after he’d made her wait for her release.

  Her eyes when he’d talked about fucking her ass.

  The sight of her ass wiggling as the ginger root took effect.

  The feel of her tight ass clenching on his cock.

  As it had since she’d been clipped by the truck, the images were immediately replaced by the sight of that same ass covered with bruises and his terror that he’d put some of them there. The discoloration of her creamy skin, the obscenity of her cute little bottom being red and bruised made him sick to his stomach each time he pictured it.

  He assured himself that he could get used to vanilla lovemaking. The pleasure in making love to her would be enough, but he couldn’t deny that he missed the incredibly strong orgasms he had when he dominated her. He’d seen the surprise and delight on her face and knew she’d never experienced that kind of pleasure before either.

  Fuck. He missed it and missed the extraordinary connection he experienced with her at those times. When he’d dominated women in the past, there’d been a special closeness, but with Hope, the woman he loved, the strength of the bond stunned him.

  He’d looked forward to nurturing that closeness and leading her into a lifetime of submission, creating a bond with her that would be unbreakable.

  With that gone, he f
elt an uneasiness that just wouldn’t go away.

  Since his shift had already ended, he stood and headed out, wanting to get to Hope as soon as possible. He drove home thinking about her and her attempts to get him to dominate her again. Nothing would make him happier than accommodating her.

  His cock stirred. Maybe in the future. If he could ever get those images out of his head.

  Once he got to the house, he hurried inside. The quiet had never really bothered him before, but now that Hope had been here, the house seemed to cry out for her presence. It would be nice to have her to come home to after working all day. When he worked the night shift, it would be nice to come in and shower and crawl in next to her warm, soft body and feel her cuddle up to him.

  Anxiously looking forward to their lovemaking tonight, he raced through his shower. He’d just finished and dried off when his cell phone rang. Thinking it would be Hope, he rushed toward it, disappointed to see it came from Club Desire. Keeping his disappointment from his tone, he answered.

  “Tyler.”

  “Hey, Sheriff. I’ve got a little bit of a problem, and I think you’re the perfect person to take care of it for me.”

  “King? What is it? Did he come back?” Fuck. Holding his phone to his ear with his shoulder, he started grabbing clothes to get dressed.

  “No, nothing like that. I have a problem with a woman who says she’s a sub and has the perfect right to be here. She’s in Blade’s old playroom and refuses to leave.”

  Ace fastened his jeans and grabbed the phone from his shoulder, a little stunned. “Doesn’t Sebastian usually take care of that for you? I’ll come over, but I don’t understand why you just don’t throw her out.” He looked at the clock and mentally groaned at the time this would take him away from Hope and couldn’t resist teasing. “What’s the matter, is she bigger than you?”

  King chuckled. “Very funny. No, she’s just a tiny little thing, but damned if she doesn’t have a mouth on her. She says she won’t leave with anyone but you.”