Mastering Macie [The Men of Treasure Cove 7] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)
Page 10
Andrew collapsed heavily on top of her, totally spent, crushing her in a way that made breathing hard. Every muscle in her body ached from being whipped. She could feel a thin layer of sweat covering her body from his laborious session.
Relieved that Andrew finally moved off her, she tried to catch her breath and calm down, only to feel him rubbing her ass once more.
Oh god, he’s not done…
Slowly turning around, she watched as Andrew pulled up his pants and quickly threaded his belt. Why he stroked her, she didn’t know. Andrew had always been loving and very attentive to her needs, but never, not once during a punishment had he ever shown her any kind of affection. She didn’t know what to think, let alone do.
Matthew helped her stand and fixed her dress. Her ass hurt something fierce, but it was a good pain. Turning her toward Andrew, Matthew gave her a small push. Standing before him, she dared not look him in the eyes. She didn’t know why all of a sudden she felt so shy around him. He just stood there not saying anything, and she couldn’t help it. A quiet sob left her mouth as a tear slowly trailed down her cheek.
“Macie, I don’t like punishing you. Please understand that, but I will not allow you to disrespect my brother, yourself, or me. You must learn to watch your mouth around us, baby. We both love you and only want to help you achieve your heart’s desires. You have to stop fighting us.”
“I promise to try harder.”
“That’s all we can ask. Now, are you ready to go have some fun?”
“Yes, sir.”
* * * *
Andrew was quiet the whole ride out to the JC Ranch. Second-guessing dishing out her punishment, he started to think that he had been too hard on her. Generally, Matthew punished Macie, and he was okay with that. His tendencies toward punishment were on the severe side, and though he loved the woman to pieces, he didn’t want to scare her off.
He still hadn’t truly come clean with Matthew about his life in the BDSM world. He knew Matthew suspected, but Andrew knew whatever Matthew thought was nowhere near what he really did.
As a doctor, his life consisted of tending and taking care of the sick. He listened, gave support, and nurtured everyone who walked into his clinic. He was good at what he did, and he loved his job. However, with any job, Andrew needed an outlet to let go of the stress his everyday life dealt with.
He was in his first year of his residency when he met Gavin Rayburn. Together, they worked side by side, day in and out, for four years. It was Gavin who saw something in him. Andrew dismissed it as an inconsistency in his nature, not really understanding what his friend was trying to tell him. He knew Gavin lived the lifestyle, and at the time all Andrew had ever done was dabble in sharing with his brother, so when Gavin invited him to the Den in Seattle one weekend, Andrew thought, “why not?”
It was at the Den that Gavin really explained what he thought, and after seeing for himself firsthand, Andrew found himself right at home and relaxing for the first time in years. After that, Andrew spent all his free time hopping shuttle flights back and forth from Silver Springs to Seattle. He had his work life where he could love and nurture, and then there was his secret life, which he kept hidden from everyone who knew him.
It was that deep, dark secret he feared would cause more harm than good. Therefore, he chose to keep that life separate. It wasn’t an easy choice, and even Gavin tried to talk him out of it, but coming from Treasure Cove, he knew what he was into would even be hard to swallow for the kinkiest of men and women. It wasn’t every day that citizens from a small town accepted a doctor who enjoyed inflicting pain instead of taking it away.
“Andy?” Her soft voice interrupted his thoughts.
Looking at her, he cupped her hand with his. “Yes, baby?”
“I liked it,” she whispered softly, leaning over so only he could hear.
Matthew had parked the SUV, and before Andrew could respond, Macie was exiting the vehicle and heading off with his brother to enjoy the festivities. He watched in awe as the woman he loved turned and winked at him as if what they experienced was their secret. He knew she only tasted a small bite of what he really wanted to do, but she was happy.
Maybe he could slowly introduce her to his kinkier side, he thought as he shut the door and followed them. Only time would tell, but in the meantime, he was going to enjoy what she offered.
* * * *
Macie and Andrew stood off to the side, listening as Matthew informed everyone about the town charter. The new information had become a topic of discussion as more and more information trickled in. With Matthew moving his law practice back home permanently, most of the ranchers and remaining family founders had hired Matthew to oversee and look out for their interests. Macie thought it was a nice gesture in all, trusting the man who abandoned her all those years ago, but she just wasn’t ready to let go of the hurt he had caused quite yet. She didn’t rightly know what was keeping her from shedding all that excess baggage but until she could figure it out, she kept a part of herself hidden and tucked away, just on the off chance he high-tailed it out of town again.
As the faces of her friends and family grew tight with worry, Macie leaned into Andrew. She had come to rely on him. He didn’t know it but he was her rock, and she loved him deeply. No matter what happened in her life, she knew that Andrew would always be there for her. He was comforting when things got to tense for her. He was controlling when things became too chaotic, and he was warm and loving when she felt all alone.
“I love you, Andy,” she said, needing to say the words. She wanted him to know how she felt. She had loved him since she was ten years old, and even after all these years, she still loved him.
She felt him kiss the top of her head. “I love you, too, Macie, always.”
As they stood there watching friends and family say their good-byes, the rumble under the ground had people stopping in their tracks.
“Andy?” Macie turned in his arms, letting him hold her tighter.
“I don’t know, baby. Stay here,” he replied, looking for his brother.
Matthew rushed over and said, “Look.”
There off in the far distance, Macie saw a black smoke cloud rise over the town.
“Oh god,” she muttered.
“Fire!” Jeff shouted as ranchers ran to their trucks to give assistance.
“Let’s go, Macie, I am gonna need your help,” Andrew ordered grabbing her hand, hurrying her toward their vehicle.
* * * *
Her diner was gone.
Turning, she watched as the Treasure Cove volunteer fire department put out the last of the remaining fire that was once the town library. The smoldering ashes dwindled down to nothing. Only two sides of the brick façade were left standing. All those books, thousands of them, were gone. Firefighters pushed debris away, making sure there were no red embers left. The sheriff and deputy sheriff stood off to the side talking with two men from the Montana FBI branch.
The force of the explosion ripped through the two-story library, leveling it instantly and taking out several businesses’ windows in the process. Storeowners closest to the library were already boarding up, protecting their merchandise, but her diner, which sat directly catty-corner to the library, ended up with severe damage.
The diner’s complete front façade looked like someone had taken an Uzi to it. Large gaping holes, missing windows, part of the roof missing, and that was just the outside. The interior was a lost cause, booths, stools, and the bar all gone.
“Damn,” she cursed, kicking a brick out of her way.
“It’s going to be all right, Macie. Everyone will help you rebuild,” Matthew said, looking around at all the destruction. He had never seen anything like it before. There was so much damage. He was amazed that nobody got hurt.
“Come on, baby, you can’t stay here tonight. Let’s go home and we can start fresh tomorrow,” Matthew said, ushering her toward his vehicle. Macie didn’t want to leave. Everything she owned was literally a pile
of rubble.
She was ruined.
She didn’t have the funds for a rebuild. Hell, she barely had funds to pay her electric bill, and now was homeless. Her mind wandered to earlier in the day when Ms. Van Ottoman walked into her diner, and she wanted to laugh. Too bad the old bitch wouldn’t get the chance to hand deliver an eviction notice. There was nothing to evict.
“Macie, are you gonna be okay?” Jeff asked, walking over to her.
“Yeah, I always land on my feet. Don’t you worry about me. Have you told Janie yet about her library?”
“No, Caleb and I are gonna wait till we get home. Look, I want you to know that when you’re ready, Caleb and I will be here to help rebuild this place. Just let us know, all right.”
“Thanks, cuz. You had better get home to Janie. She is going to worry until you do.”
After hugging Jeffery, Matthew opened the front door of his vehicle and helped her in. She never said a word as he buckled her seat belt or when Andrew slid into the seat behind her.
She couldn’t stop looking at what was once her home and livelihood.
In the blink of an eye, her world had turned upside down, and she didn’t know how to right it.
Chapter Seven
The nights had started getting cooler in Treasure Cove and with winter right around the corner, Macie worried that the construction on her diner would never happen. She had been getting the runaround with the town council once again. Permits were becoming a hassle, and even though the bank had assured her that her construction loan was in the bag, she knew that one word from that old bitch and everything would end.
She wanted to break ground before the first snowfall, and living in northern Montana, that could be any day. To make matters worse, she was stuck in bed with the flu. Apparently, the nasty bug had already infested several residents, and as much as she tried to avoid it, the damn bug had grabbed a hold of her with a vengeance.
She felt as if she was dying. It was bad enough she had to contend with cold chills and a burning chest, sinuses so painful she was afraid to blow her nose, but the vomiting was a bit too much. For the last three days, she lived and slept in the bathroom. Nothing stayed down. It had gotten so bad that Andy had actually given her a shot of Phenergan to stop the vomiting.
It had worked, for a whole three hours. Then she was back praying to the porcelain God.
“Macie?” Matthew called from somewhere in the bedroom.
“In here.” She gagged, lifting the lid once more.
The dry heaving was the worst. She didn’t know what was coming up, because nothing was left except her stomach and intestines. Figuring she needed those, she tried to take a deep breath. It got worse.
God, kill me now!
“Oh, baby, you’re sick again,” Matthew said, kneeling behind her, holding her hair, and rubbing her back. If his touch wasn’t so annoying at the moment, she might have actually enjoyed it. Shrugging him off, she vomited once more. Flushing the toilet, she tried to get to her feet. However, the moment she stood, her legs gave out. She felt as if she was falling, which aggravated her stomach.
“Close your eyes, baby. It helps,” Matthew said, holding her in his arms. The heat from his body felt so good. Tired and cold, she snuggled deeper into him. She felt the soft bed at her back as warm blankets covered her.
“I thought you were supposed to be working,” she asked gravely.
God her throat hurt.
“I am.” He smiled, sitting next to her. “I thought you would like to know that I was able to get the city council to agree to the rebuild of your diner, and I already have the permits signed. So, you need to get well, baby, because you are going to be a busy woman for the next few months, unless you want Andy and I to oversee the rebuild.”
“Hell no.” She smiled up at him. Her body might feel like total dog shit, but his news made her feel better. She needed something good right now, and Matthew provided.
Over the last few weeks, it took some adjustments on all of their parts, living together. Each set in their own ways, at first she didn’t think it was going to work. The fighting was horrendous, and a couple of times, they all slept apart. However, lately, they seemed to have found a groove. She knew it wasn’t going to last, and eventually something would happen and they would all be at each other’s throats again. Nevertheless, for right now, she was just going to enjoy the fact that he was here, with good news, and they were both happy.
* * * *
Three weeks later, Matthew was sitting in his office, going over the piles of paperwork regarding the town charter. His caseload had doubled after the library incident, and with all of the founding families now clients, it was his job to find a way and fix this mess. The problem he was having was that there was too much work.
Janie Hicks worked diligently, and was a tremendous asset, but even the stress of it all was affecting her, too. He needed more help, fast. When he decided to put an ad in the paper for some help, Braxton Connelly confronted him. It seemed the sheriff of Treasure Cove had the perfect solution to his problems. Matthew had heard the rumor of Braxton and his little adventure in Celestial. He still had a hard time believing the quiet and brooding sheriff had claimed not one but two submissives in front of the whole town of Celestial.
He had already met Jordan Whitmore. A good-looking man with a head for computers, Jordan was the perfect switch for Braxton. Matthew wasn’t surprised when Braxton claimed Jordan, like most of the rest of the residents. He knew the town sheriff played both sides of the fence, and he didn’t care. As long as Braxton was happy, he was, too. Of course, then there was the other one, Charlotte Brooks.
Though Matthew knew about the hell kitten of Treasure Cove, he had never officially met the woman. He had heard the stories of her foul mouth and hellacious temper, which was said to rival Macie’s, but he had a hard time believing that. The woman was only five foot nothing. However, within an hour, she would be sitting in his office. He would finally find out the truth about her. Of course, he already knew. He had done a background check the moment Braxton asked him for the favor.
Matthew was going to offer a solution to both their problems.
“I know my way, Colleen. I don’t care if he is busy!” a familiar voice shouted. Before he could even get to his feet, she walked in and slammed the door. Leaning over his desk, she was spitting fire at him.
God he loved this woman.
“Good afternoon, my dear, what can I do to put a smile on that beautiful face?” He grinned, knowing damn well she was pissed.
“Shut it, Matty. I am pissed at you,” she began angrily. Waving a piece of paper in her hand, she began her lovely rant. “Do you know what this is? It’s the bill from the town council regarding the permits. Apparently, you failed to tell me that I now have to build within the guidelines of the historical society! They want me to build a diner that is cohesive with the surrounding buildings. I can’t do that, Matty. I don’t have that kind of cash. You did this. Fix it now!”
Matthew didn’t bother to respond. He picked up his phone and dialed a number. Waiting for someone to answer, he just looked at the vibrant woman before him. He noticed that she had lost a little bit of weight after being sick for so long. Better now, she seemed to be gaining it back. He loved her curves, and didn’t like it when she was sick. However, looking at her now, his cock was hard and eager to dip into her sweet honeypot.
She was still living with them, and he loved it. He knew it wasn’t going to last forever, but he did intend to take full advantage of that fact until she left.
“Jack, Matthew. Good and you? Glad to hear it. Look, about the diner permits. I was told that the design of the diner itself was to be reconstructed as before. Yeah, I know about the council. Look, bud, how about you issue some new ones? I’ll swing by and pay the extra fine, and we can still catch that golf game this weekend. Yeah, I hear it’s going to be beautiful. Really? No I didn’t hear about that. Sure man, I’ll see you this Friday. Same to you, bye.”
“I want you, Macie.”
“You had me this morning.”
“No, now,” he growled.
Looking her up and down, he took in the clothes she was wearing. A much more daring outfit than she typically wore and one that he totally approved of. He stepped back to get a better look. The short pinstripe skirt clung to her bottom, and he liked the way the straps from the suspender belts showed through the tight fabric. He ran his eyes up and down her legs and drank in the nylon stockings she was wearing. Above the waist, she wore a tight fitting two-button jacket, which pushed up her breasts and showed just a hint of a dark-colored satin bra.
He leaned in close to her ear. “Did you get dressed up just to see me? Because I approve.”
“You wish. I spent the morning at the courthouse trying to fix this mess you created,” she said with a smile.
“Too bad, I so wanted to play nasty boss and office wench, that is unless you want to, then I am all for it.”
“Can you please be serious for a minute?” she huffed, rolling her eyes. God he loved when she got sassy.
“I am serious,” he said huskily, and with that, he reached in front of her, unbuttoned the jacket, and pulled it off, letting it drop to the floor.
She didn’t move.
He found the zipper on her skirt and pushed it down after undoing the small clip above it. As the skirt opened a little, he could vaguely see the top of her suspender belt. His hand moved slowly round the edge of her skirt from back to front, which helped to ease it further down until gravity took over and it ended up in a pool by her feet. He took a step back to drink in the sight of her silk-thong-clad bottom and the thin straps leading down to her lace-topped stockings.