Her friend shook his head, disagreeing without arguing. “I’m supposed to work until eleven tonight. Let me see if I can leave early so I can take you home. We can pick up Debbie on the way so she can help get you into bed and asleep before we leave.” He caressed her back with soothing strokes, and reached for the blanket. “Or you can stay at our house tonight. He did a job on your ass; you may need help getting around tomorrow.”
Viv let him wrap the blanket around her and said, “I’ll be fine. I just need some Coke to get me moving and then I can get my purse and coat from the locker room, and whoever’s working the door will make sure I get into a cab.”
He looked doubtful and she added. “Yeah, my ass hurts. And my breasts too, for that matter.” She leaned into him as he hugged her again. “My heart will survive, and I’ll enjoy my welts and bruises while they last. We had three wonderful nights together, and I need to be glad for what we had, instead of sad for what we can’t. There’s isn’t room in my life for a relationship right now anyway. You know that.”
“You were beginning to figure out how you could fit him into your life.”
She took a deep breath, determined not to cry. “Yes, I was. But he’s gone and it’s no longer an issue. Between working on my PhD, plus teaching, and heading the research projects I’ve been given, I have more than enough to keep me busy and my mind off him.” She smiled. “Plus, I’ve had more orgasms in the past three days than I’ve had in the last six months combined. I should be good to go for a while.”
“Do you want me to get Debbie to teach your early class in the morning? Her first class is later in the day, and it’ll give you an extra two hours of sleep.”
“No, Ron. I’ll be fine. Really. The last thing I need to do is hang out at home and feel sorry for myself.”
Chapter Three
Three and a half years later…
Tyler Hastings stepped off the plane into the stifling Miami heat, made his way towards the customs area, and said a silent goodbye to his most recent alias as he watched the customs agent stamp his passport. He’d just completed his last assignment for the CIA, and was re-entering the country on the same passport he’d left. International travel in the future would likely be on his real passport, though he’d be on retainer for a while so he wasn’t completely free of them. Still, the fact he was no longer full time was a fantastic, liberating feeling.
Tyler didn’t have any family, which was one reason he’d been such a good operative. He’d lived overseas the past two years and had sold most everything before returning to the States. Of the items he kept, he’d shipped everything he couldn’t fit in his luggage, but it’d be a few weeks before it would arrive. Meanwhile, he was here to visit his good friend Mac, who still worked for the agency but was on a leave of absence while his father recovered from open-heart surgery.
Tyler had his choice of jobs now, and planned to spend a few weeks with Mac while he talked to the most promising possibilities and made up his mind which job to take, and where he wanted to live next.
He collected his luggage and was on his way to find a taxi when he saw Mac. They walked to each other, shook hands, and slapped each other on the back in the pseudo-hug men do to keep from actually hugging.
“I didn’t expect you to pick me up at the airport, but it sure is good to see you. You look good, Mac. How’s your dad doing?”
“He’s going to be okay. It takes a long time to bounce back from open-heart surgery, and right now he’s mean as an old coot because he doesn’t have any strength and isn’t supposed to pick up anything heavier than three pounds. My sister just came home from school so she’s helping now, too.” He shook his head. “She’s better with him than I am, which is how I got away from the house to come get you.”
“Your sister? I’ve heard you talk about her enough, but as much as I’ve been around, I’ve never actually met her. She’s home for the summer?”
“Home for good I guess, unless she goes back again. She just finished up with her second, or maybe third, PhD. I can’t keep track of all her degrees. She has an invitation to work at several big name schools next year, but doesn’t seem to know what she wants.” He shrugged and reached for one of the suitcases. “Says she’s done with academia, but I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Tyler let Mac take the suitcase, and followed him towards the parking area with the rest of his luggage. “What’s her degree in?”
“This one’s in Zoology, with a focus on fish; I forget the official title. Her first was in pollution or something, I don’t know.” He rolled his eyes. “She used to drive an electric car, the kind you have to plug in at night if you want to drive it the next day.”
“Growing up on a beach had quite an effect on her, huh?”
“I guess. Though I think she’s done a lot of stuff with freshwater fish, too. Are you hungry? I figured we could pick something up to eat on the way.”
* * * *
Evan MacNeill still lived in the same house Mac and his sister Vivian had grown up. It was a nice, older house on the beach, about an hour outside Miami.
Mac called a restaurant to order take-out, so when they finally entered the house it was with bags smelling of home-cooked country food.
Tyler pulled the cartons out and opened them while Mac retrieved place mats, plates, and silverware. When no one appeared, Mac yelled through the house that dinner was served.
A feminine voice said, “Dad, wash your hands before you eat, the last thing we need is for you to get sick,” and Tyler smiled to himself as Mac’s dad made his way down the hallway muttering under his breath about raising such a bossy daughter.
“Evan, it’s good to see you up and about. What can I get you to drink?”
“I’ll have a beer, son. David tells me you’re out now, going to see what life as a civilian is like?”
Mac chuckled. “Nice try, Dad. You know you can’t drink beer with the medication you’re still on. I’m already bending the rules with this salt laden food from Mrs. Stanley’s place. How about some water or juice?”
And then Vivian walked into the room and she was so beautiful Tyler had to look away to keep from staring. She had the most exquisite crystal clear blue eyes he’d ever seen, her long blonde hair was in a ponytail, she wore khaki shorts with a loose pink t-shirt tucked into them, and her feet were bare.
However, what made him want to stare wasn’t what she had on, and wasn’t even her raw beauty — it was how she moved, and how she carried herself. Graceful and self-assured, like liquid in motion. Tyler busied himself with drinks while reminding himself she was his best friend’s sister. But the truth was, he was mesmerized by her.
“David, you could introduce me to your friend. Oh, I forgot, you have no manners. I’ll do it myself.” Her smile was bright as she went from teasing her brother to introducing herself to Tyler. “Hi there, I’m Viv. I hear you do the same secret stuff my big brother does. Maybe the two of you can work out together and get him back to the level of testosterone he’s used to. He’s seriously on my nerves trying to be all domestic.”
Mac lightly swatted her on the back of her head. “Dad and I did good enough while you were off finishing school.” He smiled, rolled his eyes, and added, “But I gotta admit you’re better at it than I am, that’s for sure.”
Tyler spoke up. “Hi Viv, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Tyler Hastings.”
Her smile made his heart skip a beat, but he was determined to ignore his reactions to her.
“Hello Tyler. Nice to meet you, too. How long are you staying?”
“As long as he wants,” Mac answered. “He’s retired from the government and has a list of prospective employers who’ll all be schmoozing him and trying to get him aboard. He’ll be flying around the country doing interviews, but dad and I told him he could stay here as his home base until he figures out where he’ll land.”
Her brother stopped placing silverware and gave her a level stare. “Tyler’s a good friend, Viv, be nice to him.�
�� His glare turned to a grin as he added, “Besides, he’s a helluva cook. I’m betting he’ll go to the grocery store tomorrow and bring back enough food we won’t have to keep buying meals from Mrs. Stanley’s place and pretending they’re home cooked.”
Tyler finally got a word in between them. “Speaking of groceries, I haven’t figured out what to do about a car. Until I know where I’ll be moving there’s no sense in buying one. If I take the job in Portland I won’t want to drive it from here to there, but it doesn’t make much sense to rent one, either. I may look for a motorcycle, but it’s hard to go to the grocery store on a bike.”
Mac’s dad had an answer. “I’ve got a perfectly good truck out there you can use, son. I’m glad you’re here to cook; can’t wait to get something decent to eat. These two never managed to pick up that particular skill.”
“I wouldn’t have pegged you for some kind of gourmet cook,” responded the beautiful Viv. “I guess I figured all Mac’s friends would be Neanderthals like he is.”
Mac threw a dinner roll across the table at his sister and she deftly caught it and took a bite, grinning at him.
Tyler missed having a family of his own. It hadn’t been so bad when his life was one mission after another, but it would’ve been nice to have family to fall back on while he was at this in-between part of his life — not to mention holidays. Of course, Mac was pretty close to being family; they’d been friends since college and had been drawn into the government at the same time. They’d even managed to work some missions together here and there, and they made a good team.
When they finished eating, Vivian volunteered to clean the kitchen while Mac helped their dad with his therapy. Tyler started to offer to help Viv with the dishes, but decided he needed to put some space between them. Plus, he didn’t think it would take two people to load four plates, four glasses, and four sets of silverware into the dishwasher. It didn’t take him long to hang the clothes he’d brought in the closet in the spare bedroom, and he decided to go downstairs to work out.
He was doing chin-ups when Vivian joined him. She seemed to understand he wouldn’t want to talk while doing reps, and merely nodded his way as she walked to the treadmill. Tyler moved from chin-ups to free-weights and almost dropped a dumbbell when Viv asked, “Are you seeing anyone, Tyler?”
Tyler finished his set as he decided how to answer. Viv was leading them to dangerous ground, and he needed to get them back to safety. He couldn’t take his eyes off her, but there was no way he could fool around with his best friend’s sister. He glanced up as he switched hands, shook his head, and looked back to his hands as he answered, “Relationships don’t generally mix with my line of work.”
“But you just retired, right? So, you could have a relationship now?”
He grinned up at her, hoping to deflect her questions with humor. “Why? You have a friend you want to set me up with?”
She gave him a direct look. “No, Tyler, I don’t.” There was no mistaking her meaning, so it was time to just say what he was thinking. “Well, no offense, but you’re my best friend’s sister, so you’re kind of off limits. Besides, you seem like a nice girl, and I’m not exactly a nice guy. So...” He shrugged and looked back to the dumbbell.
“Define, ‘not a nice guy’, please? Do you mean you’re a bastard, or do you mean you engage in the kind of sex games good girls shouldn’t engage in?”
Tyler just stared at her, trying to figure out how to answer.
“I know a little about what my brother’s into,” she said, “and while his brand of kink isn’t exactly mine, I guess I just figured any friend of his who’s been around for long might be into something a little off-the-wall, too.”
Tyler considered her words — she was saying she’s kinky, but not into her brother’s kink. He knew first hand his friend Mac was really big into group sex, often two guys on one girl, but he was okay with five guys on three girls, or almost any other combination as long as it was consensual. But Tyler was a sexual Dominant who delved into the whole domination and pain aspect of sex, and here was this beautiful woman hinting she was kinky and asking questions about his flavor of kink. He should go back upstairs and end this conversation, but he couldn’t.
Against his better judgment, he asked, “And what brand of kink would you happen to be into, if it isn’t exactly like your brother’s?”
“You first, Tyler.”
He returned the dumbbell to the rack and stood to leave. “Sorry, princess. I don’t take orders.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. You’re a Dom, aren’t you? I knew it. Almost the instant I saw you in the kitchen, I knew it.”
He was momentarily speechless, but he’d had years of practice keeping his face neutral when caught off guard. Crossing his arms, he relaxed against the wall and let his eyes slowly rove from her feet to her face before saying, “if you figured that out then I’d have to guess you’re in the lifestyle as well. Does big brother know about this?”
She jumped to the side-rails and stopped the treadmill. “Are you crazy? If he knew men had spanked and flogged me he’d tear their balls off and stick them down their throats.”
Tyler raised his eyebrows. “Exactly, so what makes you think you and I could have any kind of relationship when he knows what I do to pretty little girls like you?”
“I’m not a little…..” She seemed to think better of letting him change the subject by goading her into an argument, and his attraction to her only grew when Viv changed tack to keep them on topic. “If I weren’t my brother’s sister, would you be interested?”
“Yes, I would, actually. But it’s beside the point, because you are your brother’s sister.”
“Okay then. I’m going back upstairs. I want to take dad out on the porch and let him get some fresh sea air before the sun goes down.”
As he watched her climb the steps he imagined her ass with a butt plug peeking out, and her hands tied behind her back. He shook his head; he couldn’t think of her like that. Mac was like family.
* * * *
He’d blown her off! Because of some chivalrous honor code about not doing your friend’s sister! Such a gorgeous man, with the sexiest Dom eyes and Dom voice. What a shame.
She thought she’d recognized him at first, but then she’d started doubting herself. Master James’ hair had been shoulder length and black, and Tyler’s hair was dirty blond and styled in a professional cut. Master James had spoken with a touch of a Canadian accent, and Tyler didn’t seem to have an accent at all. Plus, Master James had brown eyes and Tyler had the most beautiful green eyes. But when she’d first seen him, a trick of the light had made her think he might’ve been the man she’d fallen for in New Hampshire.
Both men had a similar smile that grabbed her heart, though. And they were both a touch over six feet tall with a slim but muscular build. Tyler wasn’t bulging with muscles like her brother, but something told her he was just as strong.
Of course, Tyler would know how to create a disguise, and how big of a coincidence was it that Tyler’s a Dom? No, if we’re talking coincidence then what are the odds the stranger she fell in love with three years ago just happens to be her brother’s best friend? Right. Not likely.
Well, no matter who he was, she was attracted to him, and she wasn’t giving up just because he happened to be her brother’s friend.
Chapter Four
The next morning Tyler awoke early to run on the beach. He’d mentioned it last night and Mac had said he’d get up and run with him, so he assumed the coffee smell coming from the kitchen meant Mac was up. Tyler usually didn’t drink coffee, but he loved the smell of it.
As he stepped onto the front porch he saw Viv sitting in a chair with her feet on an ottoman, her laptop perched on her lap, and a large coffee mug beside her. Mac was stretching out on the sand below while they talked.
Viv looked up as Tyler stepped out the door. “Good morning. I was just telling David how I’d asked you to take me to a movie or something
this weekend to get me out of the house, and you said you couldn’t because I’m Mac’s sister.”
Tyler looked at Mac, and his friend didn’t look happy. Shit.
“Viv, leave my friend alone. He’s not your type.”
“Oh, but big brother, I think he’s exactly my type. I pegged him as a Dom when I walked into the kitchen for dinner. Don’t look at me like that; I’m a big girl, and I know the kind of sex games you play.” She chuckled. “Don’t try to pretend you’re all innocent.”
Tyler made his way down the steps. “Sounds like my cue to leave and let the brother and sister sort things out. I’ll take off down the beach and run solo this morning.”
Mac stood and turned towards the ocean. “No, I’m coming with you. This conversation with Vivian is over.”
They probably ran two miles without talking. Finally, Mac stopped and started pacing. “What does she mean she pegged you for a Dom? What the hell did the two of you talk about when she followed you downstairs last night?”
“Pretty much what she told you. She hit on me, I told her guys don’t go out with their best friend’s sister, she kept at it, and I told her I’m not a nice guy anyway, not her type.” Tyler blew out a breath and continued, “She basically told me what type I am, and that I’m exactly her type. Blew me away, but I thought I’d gotten her to drop it. I thought the conversation was over.”
He shifted his weight, breathed in the warm salt air, and tried to figure out how to reassure his friend. “Look, I told her the truth; you’re my best friend and I won’t mess around with your sister, okay?”
Safeword: Rainbow (2013 extended edition) (Safeword Series) Page 5