by Avery Gale
“Beautiful, Princess. Knowing you trusted me enough to shelter you during those vulnerable moments pleases me more than I can tell you. And seeing how this scene turned you on makes me want to push my aching cock deep into your heat and fuck you until we are both too spent to walk.” Her knees folded out from under her, but he’d been ready. “I’ll always catch you, Princess.” He knew he’d used the same words earlier, but he planned to repeat them until she believed him.
Holding her was pure pleasure, but he wanted her to regain her footing so they could continue. Once she was steady again, he led her across the room. She paused briefly to watch a scene playing out in the medical room, but the shudder that moved through her didn’t seem to have anything to do with arousal. “I can’t imagine wanting to be that…umm, well, exposed. I have to psych myself up to go for my yearly physical.”
“You’re going to be bare very soon, and you’ll be as exposed as your Master wants you to be.” She might not think she wasn’t an exhibitionist, but her body was telling him something else entirely. It was time to find out if he was right.
Tobi leaned back against the lounger and closed her eyes. “Damn, I needed this today. I’m glad you suggested it.” She and Gracie had both been working long hours drawing up the blueprints to relocate the forum shops at Mountain Mastery. As soon as Nate and Taz finished renovating one of the smaller buildings on their property, they planned to open a full-service day spa and to expand the number of venders they could host. She and Gracie would have to return to Montana at least one more time before the merchandise was moved in, but for the next couple of weeks, they were going to enjoy a slower pace.
“Montana is beautiful, but nothing beats Texas sunshine.” Tobi glanced at Gracie and rolled her eyes. Even though her best friend wouldn’t have been able to see the gesture behind the dark sunglasses she wore, Tobi hadn’t been able to hold back her disbelief.
“Are you shitting me? It’s ten o’clock in the morning, and it’s already hot. By noon, we’ll be hiding inside by the pool and cranking the air conditioning down to a setting equivalent to a Canadian winter just to keep the pool water from boiling.” Tobi often swore her friend’s Central American blood made her immune to heat.
“Your language is going to get you in trouble, Tobi. And I’m too tired to go down with the ship with you this time. You didn’t see me complaining when it was cold this winter. Although I did keep peeking outside expecting to see a penguin parade marching up the driveway.”
Tobi choked on the drink she’d just tipped up to her lips and waved her hand dramatically, trying to clear iced tea from her lungs. “Fudgesicles. I’m sure you did that on purpose…you’re going to drown me someday pulling that stunt.” She grabbed her towel and wiped the tea from her breasts and shook her head. A lot of good it did me to slather on sunblock. “I only saw you a couple of times all winter. You hid inside and only went outside when the temperature was over sixty…and you thought it was warm enough for a parka. And the one afternoon I ventured to your house to see you, I had to change into shorts and a tank top it was so hot in there.”
“It wasn’t that hot. You’re exaggerating again.”
“Your kids were roasting marshmallows over the furnace vents!” Tobi loved teasing Gracie, but truthfully, it wasn’t much of a challenge.
“When are Landon and Savannah arriving?” Tobi wanted to laugh at her friend’s lame attempt to change the subject.
“Late tomorrow evening. They’ll be staying two or three days, and I need to check the cabin to make sure everything is ready for them. I’m still fuming about Kyle’s lecture.” After all this time, the man could still make her homicidal…amazing.
“It wasn’t really a lecture. It was more of a plea.”
“What the holy hell is that supposed to mean?”
“He simply asked you to set a good example for Savannah while they are here. She has to pretend to be Landon’s sex slave when they go to Costa Rica, and well…you aren’t always a textbook submissive.” Tobi sat up, turned to her friend, and pushed her glasses up until they were balanced on top her head. “I can be good…usually…when I want to. When have I ever led a newbie astray?” Before the words finished tumbling out of her mouth, Tobi realized she’d made a mistake. Don’t ever ask a question you don’t want to have answered.
Gracie laughed. “Tobi, I want to rest and let the sunshine soak all the way to my bones. It would take too long to list all the times you’ve gotten me caught up in your schemes. Micah called me Ethel for weeks after your last ‘scathingly brilliant idea.’ Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to figure out why he was calling me by some other woman’s name? I didn’t grow up watching all those sit-coms. Jax finally took pity on me and told me to Google, ‘Lucy and Ethel.’ If I’m Ethel, that makes you Lucy, by the way.”
Oh yeah, she knew. Kent had called her Lucy more often than she was willing to admit. “Whatever. I still find it insulting that he feels the need to point it out. He could try charm for once. I respond well to charm.” Okay, so that wasn’t entirely true. She tended to ignore Kyle’s requests if they weren’t issued in a stern voice because that was her clue he was serious. Kent was her charmer…he could sweet talk her into anything.
“Insulting or not, we’ve both been warned to be on our best subbie behavior. I’m sure we can handle it. But I’m voting for a margarita party in the afternoon before their club visit. There’s a new place in town that has specials for ladies in the afternoon, and their lunches are supposed to be delicious. It’s the one Lilly was telling us about last week.” Tobi remembered her mother-in-law raving about a new upscale place in town. Surely Kent and Kyle would approve them going to a place their own mother recommended. Then again, she and Lilly tended to amplify each other’s outrageousness.
“You’re just hoping I’ll be too juiced to be sassy.”
“Yep.”
“A fine lot you know. How has booze ever worked out in our favor before?”
Gracie’s well-endowed chest heaved with a put-upon sigh. “Fudgesicles.”
Chapter Sixteen
Landon shook his head, trying to refocus his attention. It seemed to be getting harder and harder to remember he was supposed to be training Savannah for their upcoming mission rather than giving in to his desire to claim her as his own. God, he’d love nothing more than to take her small hand and lead her as she explored her submission. Being the one to witness all those firsts was going to be a joy, but it was also a pleasure he needed to postpone. His first order of business was getting her ready for their upcoming trip to Costa Rica. Cursing under his breath, self-recrimination was front and center in his mind when he felt a brush of air signaling someone had stepped up beside him.
Letting Savannah observe a nearby scene, Landon looked to his left and barely held back his grimace when his eyes met Taz Ledek’s. Fucking perfect. Just what I need when I’m already ass deep in alligators—a fucking mind reader more meddlesome than my Aunt Nancy.
Taz’s bark of laughter brought a startled gasp from Savannah and a curse from Landon. His friend reached out and wrapped his large hand around her upper arm, and Landon wanted to slap it away. “Sorry, Savannah, I didn’t mean to startle you.” Landon felt a wave of relief when the other man released his hold on her. She smiled and returned her attention to the couple in front of her.
Landon almost groaned when Taz turned his insightful gaze back to him. “Are you sure you don’t want to make any changes?” Landon cocked a brow at his friend, aware he’d been deliberately vague. Taz left it up to him to interpret whether he was asking about the plan for tonight or the plan for the two of them to rescue Amaryllis Fitzgerald. He wouldn’t pull the plug on Savannah’s commitment to bring her niece home safely, but he had considered moving their scene to a less public part of the club. Damn.
This time Taz’s laughter was much more subdued. “It’s not that bad, you know. The trick is admitting you’ve fallen. After that, it’s easier to accept the chang
es in your thinking.”
“You’re a real pain in the ass sometimes. You know that, right?”
“He should. I tell him all the damned time.” Nate’s amused voice came from his other side, and Landon shook his head at his teasing tone. The change in Nate Ledek since Kodi entered his life was nothing short of remarkable. The former SEAL had always played strictly by the book and was as driven as any Wall Street tycoon Landon had ever met. But love had smoothed many of those razor sharp edges, leaving a much more affable person in its wake.
Taz snorted a laugh that he tried unsuccessfully to cover with a cough. “Why don’t you just tell him you think he’s turning into a pussy? I tell him that, and he still walks around with his head in the clouds.”
“Fuck you, Taz. Just because our lovely wife is angry with me and batting her pretty lashes at you tonight doesn’t mean it will last. I’ll be her favorite again in no time.” Nate might have sounded flippant, but Landon could hear the remorse in his voice. Evidently, he hadn’t enjoyed his sub’s punishment any more than she had.
“You keep offering, brother, and I keep turning you down. When are you going to figure out that invitation is just wrong on every level?”
Landon shook his head. Leave it to Taz to focus on the first rather the last part of his brother’s response. “Could you two cut the Laurel and Hardy routine for a minute? Fucking hell, Kodi deserves a medal for not murdering the two of you in your sleep.” Landon appreciated their attempt to calm his internal storm.
Taz shrugged and grinned. “Fine. But I still think you should tell him he’s a pussy. Our lovely wife usually leads him around by his balls.”
Nate waved his hand in Kodi’s direction and growled, “See that paddled ass? Those aren’t your handprints, brother. She was out of line, and I dealt with it.” Nate might have been talking tough, but the look on his face said he was feeling more than a little guilty about punishing Kodi. Landon shook his head and chuckled. He missed working at the club and feared it was going to be awhile before he got the chance again. His time at Mountain Mastery had never been about the money. He’d taken the job as a favor to his friends and as an outlet for his kink.
Lowering his voice to keep Savannah from hearing, he asked, “Will it be a problem to move to the smaller stage upstairs? I’d like to start with a smaller audience.” What he’d really like would be to put Savannah back in the car and take her home. He’d fuck her until they were both too spent to care about where they were.
“No problem, man. And just for the record, I understand your reluctance to expose her to the general club membership. We’ll be careful who we send up.” Landon was relieved his friends would screen the audience, something in the back of his mind was niggling with concern about doing a scene in front of the entire membership. Since they still weren’t certain why Amy Fitzgerald had been targeted, there was a lingering worry about spotters working in clubs to find unattached subs. He wasn’t sure how much Savannah knew about her niece’s personal life, but it seemed Amaryllis had been dabbling in the lifestyle prior to her abduction.
Before Landon could summon Savannah back to his side, she turned, and he was struck by the heat in her eyes. Looking over her shoulder, he saw one of the club’s more popular Doms flogging a sub who hadn’t belonged to the club long. The woman was trembling under the Dom’s lash, and even though her skin glowed crimson with raised welts, they would fade before the next morning. The tenderness would remain for a few days, reminding her of her submission, but all outside appearances would be gone before she returned to her law practice tomorrow morning.
“I need to use the restroom.”
Savannah’s voice brought him back from his observations, and he smiled. Oh no, Princess, I know exactly what you’re planning. There will be no self-pleasuring on my watch.
“Use the private bath behind the office.” Taz’s grin confirmed what Landon had suspected. The woman he was training intended to take the edge off before their scene, but she was in for a big surprise.
Landon let her take the lead up the stairs, the scent of her arousal wafting over him. He pushed his hand up the inside of her toned thigh and chuckled when her steps faltered. “Careful, pet. I’d hate to see all this heat wasted by a trip to the emergency room.” She muttered something unintelligible. He hadn’t heard the words, but he’d certainly understood her tone. Feeling a little bit edgy, pet?
By the time they reached the door of the Ledeks’ private bathroom, Savannah was practically dancing in place. When he stepped into the room with her, she turned and stared at him, her eyes wide with surprise. “What are you doing? You can’t follow me into the bathroom.”
He cocked a brow, and he let a sinister grin curve up the corners of his mouth. “Actually, I can. And if you’re brave enough to be honest with yourself, I think you’ll know exactly why I’m here. Your body is broadcasting your need, Princess. Slaves do not come without their Master’s permission—ever! Your pleasure belongs to me.” Landon would have laughed out loud if he hadn’t been absolutely certain it would piss her off, and her anger would give her an out he wasn’t willing to provide. No, pet, we’re going to meet this challenge head-on. The only emotion he didn’t see play out over her pretty face was denial. He held her gaze until she dropped her eyes to the floor, her face blazing with embarrassment. Busted!
Savannah was sure her blood pressure was peaking near stroke level by the time she walked from the opulent bathroom attached to Nate and Taz Ledek’s office. She’d been so aroused after watching the scene downstairs all she could think about was relieving the throbbing in her sex. Instead, she’d been unceremoniously marched upstairs to pee while Landon Nixon stood nearby, grinning at her like the cat who’d swallowed the damned canary. Rat bastard that he was, he’d refused to turn away and allow her even the barest minimum privacy.
He wasn’t even trying to hide his amusement. Jerk! I’ll show him, I won’t come during our scene. He’ll look like a fool in front of his little Dom play-group, and I’ll find relief later when he isn’t around. It sounded like a great plan…and she’d make it work, too, even if it killed her.
Dammit, he was going to kill her. He’d walked her directly to a secluded area on the second floor and ordered her to strip before she’d taken her last step onto the small stage. When she’d blinked at him in surprise, he’d growled at her and ripped her dress right down the centerline. It fell in tatters at her feet, leaving her too stunned to respond, but she once her brain kicked back into gear, things had taken a sharp turn for the worse. Yeah, asking him if he’d lost his fucking mind hadn’t been her brightest moment.
He’d moved her against a St. Andrew’s cross, pressing the palm of his hand against the small of her back until the cool surface met her warm skin. She gasped as goose bumps raced over her skin. There was no way to hide her reaction, and it seemed pointless to try since he’d just watched her take care of personal business…the rat bastard.
Landon wrapped the leather buckles around her wrists before bending and doing the same to her ankles. She’d been grumbling under her breath about his God-complex when he’d smacked her behind with enough force to make her question his parents’ marital status at the time of his birth.
“I assure you my parents were married longer than nine months before I was born.” When she glared at him, he moved so fast she’d barely registered his shift in position before the other side of her ass felt like fire had just exploded over the surface.
“Holy frosted fairies that hurts.” She heard snickers behind her, but couldn’t turn her head far enough to see who was standing nearby.
“That’s why it’s called punishment, pet. What’s your safe word?” He listened and nodded when she recited what was now becoming a tiresome recitation. I wonder if he’ll ever get the message that I’ve mastered this particular point? She must have muttered under her breath again because he stepped in front of her and glared. “You’d do well to keep quiet unless I give you permission to speak. I don’
t want to gag you. We haven’t reached that level of trust, yet.”
Gag me? Now I know his last marble is rolling silently out of sight. This time it was a man’s husky chuckle that vibrated through her, but she recognized it as belonging to Taz Ledek and wanted to groan in frustration. Not only was her mouth going to get her in trouble, now she wasn’t even going to be able to think without it being splashed on the Dom News Network.
Taz’s hearty laugh filled the small space just before he stepped into her view. “I promise I won’t share what I’m hearing unless it involves your safety. Anything else is an invasion of your privacy.” When she looked at him skeptically, he grinned. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t hang around for the entertainment.”
Nice man, but he obviously ate too much paste as a kid.
Nate was barely holding back his laughter as he stood in the back of the crowd watching Landon set up the scene. Savannah needed to count her lucky stars her Master couldn’t hear what she was thinking. Even Taz was struggling to keep his expression neutral. His brother had always been the more gifted of them, but Nate’s gift was growing stronger since his marriage to Kodi. His grandmother had assured him it would happen, but he’d never taken her seriously. Now it seemed he owed Nanna-son an apology.