* * * *
Macie woke up comfortable, too comfortable. Bolting straight up, she opened her eyes and surveyed the room. She thought at first she was back in her apartment, but the dark, cream-colored walls told her she wasn’t. She was at the club. She was in Matthew and Andrew’s private suite. Letting the sheet drop from her body, she gasped when she realized that she lay in only her bra and panties.
Odd, I know I put clothes on this morning.
Looking about the room, her eyes stopped on the alarm clock on the nightstand, 11:43 a.m. Huh, I don’t remember closing up the diner.
Getting out of bed, she noticed her legs were a little shaky, but other than that, she felt rested and wide awake. She hadn’t felt this good in weeks. That was when it hit her. Stopping dead in her tracks, she looked around and found no sign of them. Grabbing the robe at the end of the bed, she flung open the bedroom door and ran down the hall, only to come to a complete stop.
There, sitting in the living room, was Matthew and Andrew, Mistress Katarina Garrett with Judas Caspian, and Kelly Conner O’Brian.
“Sit down, Macie Lynn. We need to talk,” Andrew ordered in that harsh voice of his.
“Where are the boys?” she asked, standing defiantly.
“With Emma and Janie. Now sit,” Matthew said sternly.
Looking around the room, Macie saw all their faces. Each unyielding and unmoving, well, except for Kelly, who looked kindly at her. Deciding not to push her luck, she took a seat in the only chair available. The chair just happened to be in bird’s-eye view of everyone. “So what’s this about? Please tell me it’s not an intervention, because if it is, all of you can go fuck yourself.”
Chapter Fourteen
Andrew looked at the woman he loved more than life itself, and sighed. He knew this wasn’t going to be easy. He also knew she would fight them every step of the way. But not once did he think she would be downright hostile.
He hadn’t noticed the signs of stress since he, too, was feeling them. He figured it was something every parent needed to adjust to and eventually would find a balance. However, that balance never came. Oh, they were making do, but tempers and tensions were rising. Add in the lack of sleep, and well, he wasn’t shocked that Macie lost it. What did shock him was that she turned to another man. He would not allow that, ever.
She belonged to him.
She wore his collar. Apparently, she needed to be reminded of that. The last six weeks were hard on all three of them. He, too, hadn’t slept worth a damn, but he refused to allow this to continue. The tension at home was so thick he could cut it with a knife. The storm brewed slowly, simmering just under covers. Until today when it finally exploded. He’d expected her to run, so he wasn’t very shocked when she did.
Unlike Matthew, Andrew never left. He watched what Macie had to endure trying to gain the life she acquired. She worked hard and overcame many obstacles to have her diner and the life she achieved. And in one moment, her life changed. He watched as she tried to compensate, to adapt, but he knew she felt threatened and inadequate. Over the last six weeks, he could see how stressed she was, always second-guessing herself with the babies. No matter how many times he agreed or praised her efforts, it never seemed enough.
When she freaked out at the diner, he allowed her the space she needed to gather herself. When she didn’t return, he wasn’t surprised. Macie needed to figure things out for herself.
Highly independent her entire life, she had always figured and done for herself. Yet when motherhood came knocking, she had a hard time grasping the simple understanding that parents made mistakes. There was no rulebook or manual. It was all trial and error. What mattered most is at the end of the day was that the babies were happy and healthy. For some reason, Macie believed there was more, that she was missing something, and nothing he or Matthew could do or say would make her feel or think anything different.
Sitting back, she began to fidget. She was wringing her hands, and he noticed that nervous tendency more lately. Thinking back, she had always seemed more controlled and steady. Back before Matthew showed up, she took everything in stride, never letting anything get to her, but over the last two years, she had become more skittish.
Looking over at his brother, it didn’t take him long to figure out that Matthew was the key factor in this. Only he couldn’t figure out why. Why had she been so nervous since Matthew’s return? They had worked together to secure their position with her, to let her know that they loved her and wanted to be with her. They were patient and understanding, yet she still fought them both every step of the way.
Mastering Macie had become a full-time endeavor, and now with two babies in the mix, they were forever connected. He just needed to figure out what was scaring her. He hoped he could find the answers to ease her tension.
“Macie, this isn’t an intervention. We’re worried about you. We want to help, but unless you talk to us, we don’t know what to do,” Kelly said, starting the conversation.
“This is bullshit. So I freaked the fuck out at the diner. It won’t happen again,” Macie replied, frustrated. She looked at her hands the whole time, never looking at Kelly or anyone else in the room. He knew then she was hiding something.
“How much sleep do you get at night?” Kelly asked.
“How much do you think, Kelly? I have twins at the house that can barely sleep more than two hours. I am lucky to get any.”
“And how do you keep yourself awake?”
“Coffee, soda, energy drinks. I just keep busy,” Macie whispered.
“Are you still breastfeeding?” Katarina asked. Andrew watched as Macie looked up and said, “Yes.”
“Andrew, have you told her that whatever she ingests into her system, she is in essence feeding the same thing to the babies. That would explain why they are not sleeping regularly,” Katarina said and then turned back to Macie. “For the time being, I would suggest putting the babies on formula. When their sleep starts to regulate, you will be able to sleep and ease off the caffeine.”
“You mean I’m the reason they are awake all the time! This is just fucking great. Let’s just add that to the list where I keep fucking up,” Macie shouted, getting to her feet. She paced back and forth, wringing her hands, agitated and angry with herself for something he should have caught.
He felt awful.
This wasn’t all her fault, and she was taking the blame. He knew the dos and don’ts of raising a healthy child. Yet, with his own flesh and blood, he ignored the signs, leaving everything up to her.
Getting to his feet, he stopped in front of her and pulled her into a hug. “Macie, this isn’t your fault. I should have seen the signs. I should have stayed home more and helped you. I’m sorry. I won’t make that mistake again.”
“Damn it, Andy, it’s not you! I should have known this. I am their mother!” she yelled.
“Macie, but you’re not the only one that has to bear the burden. Those boys have two fathers who should have known. Instead of helping, we went back to our own lives, leaving you to handle everything. That isn’t parenting. That is running away from responsibilities,” Andrew said quietly, trying to make her see reason.
“They’re my responsibility! I have to look after them. I have to teach them.”
“But they also have us, Macie. You have to let us help. If you are overwhelmed, you need to say so. We can’t read minds. We aren’t going anywhere. We want to help,” Matthew said, entering the conversation.
“No!”
“Why?” Andrew whispered. He could tell they were getting somewhere. Macie retreated away from him. He watched as she backed away, shaking her head. Andrew knew at that moment this wasn’t about the babies, or her refusal to accept help. This was about something else, something that was scaring her to the point of madness.
Matthew got to his feet, and walked toward her. She cowered and moved away, until her back hit the wall. Unable to flee, she looked like a frightened animal getting ready to pounce.
> “Why, Macie? Why can’t we help?” Matthew asked, slowly moving toward her.
“You don’t understand! You never understood!”
“Understand what, Macie? Tell me.”
“I have to learn this, not you!”
“Why can’t I learn?” Matthew challenged. He grabbed her shoulders, bringing her closer to his face. “Tell me! Those are my sons, too. I have a right to know.”
“I tried to tell you, but you never listened!” she rambled frantically, looking around the room for help. Andrew watched as her eyes latched onto his. He saw desperation and fear as she pleaded with him to help her. As much as he wanted to take her away from his brother, he knew interfering would only hinder what needed to be done to help her. Whatever rooted her fear was stopping her from moving on. It wasn’t healthy, and until she said whatever it was, they couldn’t help her.
“Don’t look at Andrew! Look at me!” Matthew shouted, shaking her. “I have a right to know! I love you, Macie. You are the mother to my children. Trust me!” Matthew ground out through gritted teeth, angrily.
“I can’t!” she screamed, falling into Matthew, sobbing uncontrollably. “I can’t trust you. You left! You left me!”
Andrew froze where he stood. He heard her clearly, and though he thought she had gotten over what had happened so many years ago, looking at the woman before him, crumbling in defeat, he now knew.
Macie couldn’t, would not ever trust Matthew. She still blamed him for everything that happened after he left. For so long, they were her lifeline, her escape from reality, and when Matthew left, and then a year later he did, going off to college, they had inadvertently broken something within her. Though Andrew came back home, he knew even then that Macie had changed. She was more reserved, more quiet, just not Macie.
* * * *
Matthew held Macie as she sobbed in his arms. Closing his eyes, he tried to contain the rage inside him. It had been two years since his return, and during that time, he walked through hell trying to get back in her good graces. He had thought that night at the Hicks dinner party settled everything between them. He knew Macie still had some reservations, but since the boys were born, he figured all was settled.
Apparently, he was wrong.
“Everyone, get out,” he firmly said, not bothering to turn to make sure they followed his instructions. With what he needed to say, and what he was about to do, he did not want an audience. Once the door closed and he heard Andrew say they were alone, Matthew grabbed Macie by the arm and hauled her into the bedroom.
Flinging her onto the bed, he loomed over her. “What the fuck do I have to do to make you understand that I am not going anywhere? What more do you fucking need from me, Macie? Do you want me to write it in blood? because I will.”
“I don’t know!” she shouted back at him, her temper rising.
This was the Macie he knew, the lively, vivacious woman who fought, scratched, and clawed to get what she wanted, not that simpleton who cowered and cried. He had only ever seen Macie cry twice in her life.
“Well, you better figure it out fast, Macie, because this,” Matthew shouted, waving his arms around in the air, “is not working anymore. You don’t communicate. You close yourself off, and we have to figure out what is wrong. Moreover, God help us if we don’t figure it out, because you get all pissy! I won’t live that way, Macie. I mean it.”
“Then leave! You’re good at that!”
“I never said I was leaving, woman. Stop putting words in my mouth. I said I would not live like this. That’s it.”
“Well, I am not going to stop being who I am just because you can’t figure me out!”
“Oh, sweetheart.” Matthew chuckled. “Not only are you going to change, you are going to start right now. The first thing you’re going to learn is to communicate.”
Matthew slid from the bed, taking off his tie and suit jacket. Macie scooted to the other side of the bed, her eyes wide and uncertain.
“What do you mean?”
“Communication 101, I ask a question and you will answer, truthfully,” he said. Looking at his brother, Matthew asked. “Is she good to go?”
“She had her checkup yesterday. She’s been cleared.” Andrew smiled, leaning against the wall, looking at her.
“Cleared for what? What the hell are you two talking about?” Macie yelled.
“Oh, sugar britches. I have waited six, long, agonizing weeks to do this,” Matthew said, stalking over to her. When he grabbed her wrist, she tried to fight him, but he never wavered. She fought him, hitting and kicking as he dragged her to the end of the bed. When he swung her around, he quickly removed her robe. She yelped when he pulled her across his lap, facedown. Holding her back with one arm, he raised the other and smacked her ass hard.
Her scream vibrated through the room.
“Now, Macie, we are going to do this one question at a time. We will ask you a question, and you will answer us truthfully. If not, I will spank you, is that clear?”
“Fuck off!”
Smack!
“You think she will ever learn, brother?” Andrew asked, laughing as he removed his shirt.
“Probably not. She is too stubborn,” he replied to his brother and smiled. “But I must admit it will never be dull with her around.”
Brushing his fingertips against her back, Matthew pushed her hair over her shoulder to expose her neck. Trailing a finger gently up and down, he watched as goose bumps rose over her body, eliciting a moan.
Smack!
“Ah!”
“How long have you felt this way, Macie?” he asked, rubbing her ass, spreading the heat.
“Matty, please, I can’t think like this.”
Smack!
“That’s the point, sweetheart. Now answer the question.” When she didn’t answer him fast enough, Matthew raised his hand and smacked her ass again, harder.
“Since you returned!” she screamed, and then whispered. “I have felt his way since you came home.”
Rubbing her ass, Matthew grabbed a hold of her panties and ripped them from her body. Matthew loved Macie’s ass. Full and bouncy, her jiggly cheeks were something to behold when she wiggled her globes, enticing them, or as they fucked them. Just rubbing and smacking the full morsels made his cock harder than a fence post. “My god, I’ve missed this ass,” he moaned as he slapped it once more.
“Is that why you won’t marry us? Because you don’t trust Matthew?” Matthew heard Andrew ask. Looking up, his brother, who now stood naked, stroked his cock. When Macie didn’t answer right away, Matthew gave her another smack.
“Yes!” she shouted as he smacked her once more.
“Is that right to punish Andy for your lack of faith in me?” Matthew asked, running his index finger down the crack of her ass, toward the moisture between her legs. Sliding his finger into her moist pussy, he wiggled it, hooking it, as his thumb began to rub her clit. When she started to moan and grind against his hand, he quickly removed his finger and smacked her hard. “Answer me!”
“No!”
“Well then, brother, I do believe we are at an impasse. We want to marry this divine woman, and yet she won’t because she doesn’t trust that I won’t leave her. Whatever shall we do?” Matthew asked, stroking her pussy once again.
Her moaning increased as she began to grind once more on his hand. Matthew knew this was a tricky game he was playing. Torture by sexual pleasure wasn’t for the weakhearted, but sometimes when all reason failed, only the desire for pleasure remained. And that was what he was counting on, Macie’s desire for pleasure.
Macie Lynn Owens was a unique woman. Her sexual appetite was insatiable. Unlike some women, Macie craved more with a bite of pain. She thrived on it. There were some nights when her sexual desire overpowered even them. It was on those nights when a little more force and control was needed to satisfy their woman. Matthew was betting on the fact that it had been a little over two months since she had been satisfied, and that it was going to t
ake them both to control her, to make her see they were serious.
Tonight they were going to Master Macie.
* * * *
Macie wanted this. She needed this. Her life had turned upside down and inside out. Nothing was normal. That simple constant was gone. She needed balance, and after what felt like forever, she was finally going to get it.
She trusted Matthew and Andrew in the bedroom. She knew they would never hurt her physically. However, when the stress became too much for her, she needed, craved that bite of pain that allowed her to feel. It allowed for some release from all the anxiety and drama in her life. She needed her mind clear, and though her body was eager for the vacation, she knew getting her mind to that place was going to be a battle. She had a lot of pent-up frustration and worry to overcome. It wasn’t easy being a new mother, holding down a career and trying to accommodate two virile men. It was exhausting. However, tonight, at this moment, it was about her and her needs. Moreover, she was going to enjoy every blasted minute of it.
“I’ll call Gabriel and tell him we will need tunnel three,” Andrew advised, reaching for his phone.
“Make sure to tell him it’s a private session,” Matthew replied to his brother as he continued to rub her ass, keeping the heat burning.
She had heard rumors of the dark tunnels that ran under the Pleasure Cave, but she had never actually seen them. She didn’t know exactly how many of them there were, but she had been told about four of them. Each tunnel led to specialized rooms, which catered to all walks of BDSM. Only a few of the Masters were allowed in the tunnels because what went on in them were not for the faint at heart, or so she heard.
Smiling, she knew that whatever Matthew had in mind was going to be fun, exciting, and new. She needed something lighthearted. She couldn’t wait to see what he came up with. Each served her needs, but together, they were unstoppable. She loved being with them, and never once had they faltered in giving her exactly what she needed. Her mind whirled at the possibilities as her pussy clenched, eager for their domination.
Mastering Macie [The Men of Treasure Cove 7] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 19