Steel was softer than his gaze. “I didn’t give you permission to stop kneeling.”
“I’m tired of kneeling.” She went into the kitchen where she’d left the breakfast dishes unwashed. Snagging the pan where she’d burned his eggs, she tossed it in the direction of the sink. It hit the counter and clattered to the floor. “I’m tired of cooking and cleaning. I’m tired of being good.”
Part of her was pushing him because she was frustrated at her lack of progress in her investigation. It was fucking impossible to investigate if she was shut away in an ivory tower. Or an apartment with comfortable furniture and granite countertops.
He leaned against the door frame. “You’re definitely not being good right now.”
“Fuck being good. It isn’t getting me anywhere.” Brandy slapped her hand over her mouth as if doing so would keep the words inside. If she didn’t cool her temper, she was going to blow her fucking cover. This wasn’t like her; she was known for being even-keeled.
Her brain scrambled for ways to make him forget what she’d said, but when her gaze met his, she saw that he wasn’t angry. He met her petulant temper tantrum with a stoic calm. His jaw didn’t tighten or twitch the way it had whenever Karter or Yoseff came around with their usual charming attitudes.
If anything, the whiskey in his eyes shimmered as he grew resolute. “I’m going to take a shower and make lunch. You will endure your punishment.”
Her gaze dropped to his leather belt. He’d used the thing on her twice, and both times she’d very much enjoyed it.
“No, Firebrand.” He chuckled as his iron grip tightened on her elbow. He spun her around and steered her to the bedroom. “You’d get pleasure from that. Good girls get the belt. Bad girls stand in the corner.”
In the bathroom, he turned on the shower and peeled out of his clothes. Brandy watched, her eyes lighting in appreciation of the striptease. When he was naked, he fished paper out of his pants’ pocket and spun her to face the wall. He held the paper up and pushed her head forward until her nose pinned it to the wall.
“Don’t let it drop.”
The or else was implied. As she held the paper in place with his great, hulking mass standing guard, her imagination ran wild with all the ways a veterinarian-turned-enforcer could inflict pain without physically damaging her. She knew he’d never harm her, though they hadn’t really discussed how far he’d go in the sadism department.
His arms came around her waist, and she felt his strong, sure fingers unbutton her jeans. The zipper slid down, and her breath caught. She loved the way he touched her, always with tenderness if not gentleness. Shivers of anticipation rippled down her spine. Even though she knew he wasn’t about to let her climax, as long as he didn’t deny his touch, she was happy.
Her jeans slid down her thighs, an erotic preview of what was to come. His fingers skated along the waist of her panties, tickling her flesh with the light caress.
She sucked a sharp breath when he peeled away the thin cotton, exposing her secrets and desires, and she closed her eyes to focus the bliss.
But none came.
He stepped away. She heard the scrape of the shower curtain open and close.
She was alone.
With her nose pressed to a piece of paper on the wall and her jeans and panties around her knees, she was alone. Lukas didn’t even sing or hum in the shower, so the spray of water was the only thing she heard.
He was naked and five feet away, yet he was so far out of reach.
The longer she stood there, the more she thought about how this nonviolent punishment—delivered by a man who was thoughtful instead of angry or cold—was far worse than a spanking. At least a spanking filled her mind and body with something. This left a void, a black hole of nothingness. And yet it drained away the worst of her impatience and frustration. It let her brain focus on the bigger picture and left her in a calm, rational state of mind.
The shower shut off, and the curtain scraped open. She listened to Lukas dry his body, the slide of the towel over his skin the only sound, and her imagination filled the blanks.
His arm came over her shoulder and his hand stopped on the paper. He didn’t touch her, but she felt the power of his presence all the same.
He eased her back and threw the paper onto the counter next to the sink. “How do you feel?”
She answered honestly. “Calm. Peaceful. It’s strange—I thought I would be angry at you, but I’m not.”
He turned her to face him, and his arms enveloped her in a tight hug she felt in the beat of her heart. She closed her eyes and slipped her arms around his waist. His hand played up her spine, and threaded through her hair. With infinite gentleness, he tilted her face up, and then his lips claimed hers in a tender kiss.
The burn was slow to start. It waited behind the quiet presence of unspoken feelings, patient and confident. Then it took over, superseding all else.
His hands seemed to be everywhere, his body cradling and surrounding hers. He broke the kiss, but instead of trailing his lips down her neck, he put space between them.
“I’m trying, Firebrand. I’m working to prove myself, and I’m advocating for you. It’s going to take time to earn trust and to carve out our place here. Be patient. I know it’s hard, especially because I can’t tell you anything, but trust me—and be patient. I have faith in you. I’m asking you to have faith in me.”
Pain flashed behind his eyes, gone almost before it manifested. Brandy wasn’t sure what he was hiding. She was certain he hadn’t meant for her to see it, and because she knew they both had secrets, she filed it in her memory. One day there would be no secrets, and when that day came, everything would be over.
Even their relationship. She was under no illusion that it would survive the truth.
She placed her hands on his cheeks, framing his face and coaxing affection back into his expression. “Daddy, I want to serve you.”
The internal wrestling match didn’t take long. They both knew he had to get back to work soon. The stress that led Brandy to misbehave also affected Lukas. They both needed this.
He nodded. “Get naked. Go lay on the bed.”
This was going to be quick and dirty.
Brandy barely had time to scramble into position, and Lukas was there. His hand pumped along his shaft.
“Spread your legs, Firebrand.”
“Yes, Daddy.” She shoved the pillows partially under one shoulder to the side as she lifted her knees.
“Suck your finger. Get it wet. Good. Now play with your clit. Get those juices flowing for me.”
“I’m already wet, Daddy.”
His kisses, his voice did it for her. Add to that the visual of the sexy beast stroking his erection to tease her, and she was drenched. She dipped a finger into her juices and spread the moisture through her pink parts. “Please fuck me, Daddy. Fill me up with your thick cock.”
It was cheesy, but the effect of her words on Lukas negated any humor or embarrassment she might have felt.
Passion lit his dark eyes, and he leaped onto the bed, landing between her legs. He guided that thick cock into her wet channel, feeding her need until he was fully seated. His body shuddered, and he stilled.
A moment passed, a moment in which he peered into her eyes and linked his soul to hers.
Then he was a madman. His hips swiveled and pumped, slamming into her with so much force she had to let go of him to brace her hands against the headboard.
Her orgasm hit hard. The potency had her body arching and bowing while a long, loud moan ripped from her depths.
Lukas’ thrusts had been enthusiastic before, but now he lost the last shred of control. His pelvis shoved her midsection into the mattress. The bed squeaked and groaned, and the headboard knocked into the wall.
He lifted her, grasping her ass with both hands, and he buried his face in her neck. His full weight pinned her in place, and her orgasm only grew more intense.
“Oh, Daddy, yes!” She wanted to say more,
but words were lost as they degenerated into incoherent moans and gasps that weren’t enough.
Lukas’ groans grew louder, but his mumblings became clearer. Between liberal bouts of swearing, he praised her beauty, her feisty spirit, and the way her pussy squeezed his cock. Then he shouted again as his orgasm bathed her insides.
He collapsed, though he didn’t have far to go, crushing her beneath his bulk. With trembling fingers, she stroked the back of his neck and his smooth, bald head.
After a few minutes, he peeled his sweaty body from hers and flopped onto his back.
She took her first full breath, filling her lungs with glorious oxygen.
“That was intense, Firebrand. I ought to punish you more often.”
Brandy thought about the curious way his discipline had chased away her tumultuous emotions and helped her regain her focus.
She entwined her fingers with his. “Anything you want, Daddy.”
He shot her a sideways grin that communicated his unwavering belief in her ability to be stubborn and contrary. He laughed. “Let’s throw on some clothes and see what we can scrounge up for lunch.”
She snagged a clean shirt of his. It fell to her knees, so she wore it like a loose dress. “How about you get dressed, and I’ll make you one hell of an unforgettable sandwich?”
In the kitchen, she found Needa Ross leaning against the counter and scrolling through something on her phone.
Brandy hadn’t seen the big boss’s wife since they’d arrived at Willowlands. The woman looked much better, though she hadn’t appeared that bad in Houston. But now she was rested, her makeup was flawless, and her clothes were suited to relaxation instead of business.
“Oh.” Brandy glanced down to make sure Lukas’ shirt covered as much in reality as it did in her head. Then she reached back to close the door to the bedroom which had been open the whole time. “I wasn’t expecting company.”
Mrs. Ross tucked her phone into the tiny purse with a long strap draped across her torso, sounding a dainty snort. “I can’t imagine what kind of performance you might have managed if you had.”
Deciding to brazen it out, Brandy shrugged. “We might have worked in some acrobatics, maybe a dance number or a song.”
The grin on Mrs. Ross’s face widened. “Doctor Luke said I’d like your sense of humor.”
Brandy executed half a curtsy. “Thank you. I’ll be here all week.”
“Yes.” Mrs. Ross tapped her finger to her lips. “About that.”
Brandy perked up.
“My husband was not pleased to see that Doctor Luke had brought you along. After hearing—and seeing—what I did, and putting that together with the way he talks about you, I’m convinced he would have refused to come if we hadn’t let him bring you, and that would have been unfortunate. It seems he chose to err on the ‘ask forgiveness’ side of the issue.”
The door behind her opened, and Lukas appeared at her side. He positioned himself slightly in front of her, as if he expected to have to protect her from The Eye’s matriarch.
“Mrs. Ross, welcome to our home. We were just about to make lunch. Would you like to join us?”
Mrs. Ross looked from Lukas to Brandy and back. “Thank you, but I’ve already eaten. I’ve come to tell you that Brittany may accompany you outside the apartment. You may leave her inside the barn, but you must escort her there and back.”
Brandy clapped her hands together and decided against asking if Mrs. Ross considered her a horse. “We can go for runs?”
Lukas groaned, so Brandy smacked his arm.
“You can slow down every other day. It won’t kill you to run an eight-minute mile.” She faced Mrs. Ross. “He likes to keep a six-minute pace to show off. I think he secretly likes having an excuse to slow down.”
“You’re a jogger?” Mrs. Ross arched a brow.
“Yes. Do you run? You’re welcome to join us.” Brandy wasn’t being polite. Establishing any kind of relationship with Mrs. Ross would be hugely beneficial to her investigation.
Mrs. Ross drummed her fingers on her thigh. “Eight minutes?” I wonder if you and I would be better suited. I’ve been looking for a jogging companion. Yes. I’ll be here at six tomorrow morning.”
“Oh.” Brandy shot a glance at Lukas. She hadn’t meant to exclude him. He shrugged, giving permission. Then she smiled at Mrs. Ross. “Okay.”
“I’ll be going,” Mrs. Ross moved to leave.
“Thank you for stopping by,” Brandy said. “Call ahead for the evening show. There’s limited seating.”
Pausing with her hand on the door handle, Mrs. Ross laughed. “Doctor Luke, you’ll bring her to the barn this afternoon. Give her something to do with all that energy.” With that order, she was gone.
Lukas parked his hands on his hips. “Patience pays off.”
“Yeah. I’m pretty sure she just ordered us to have loud sex in the barn.”
Shaking his head, Lukas said, “Where’s my sandwich? I heard it was going to be epic.”
Chapter 13
The hot desert sun beat down on her head as they approached the huge, modern barn at the northern edge of the property. Brandy eyed the massive structure, thinking about Lukas’ prior career as a veterinarian. He’d never directly answered a question about what he did for The Eye. The only thing he’d ever said was that she was mistaken about his duties.
During lunch, he’d spent time instructing her on how to behave outside the apartment, and there hadn’t been an opportunity to ask questions or to work her way around to the details of his role in The Eye’s operations. He was important enough to be called to the ranch where the big boss of the organization had his home and headquarters. Only important people made it this far.
She fished for details now. “So…you’re a veterinarian?”
He smiled and pushed out a short laugh. “What makes you say that?”
She listed her evidence. “The horses in Houston. I’ve never seen you look so proud and relaxed. You were really in your element. Did you deliver the baby horse?” Brandy wiped at her eye were it had started to sting. “And now you work in a barn. It’s reasonable to think you take care of the horses. Like a veterinarian.”
“Or a trainer.” A smirk played at the corners of his mouth. “I’ve gentled you and trained you quite well.”
She let him have that. The sting in her eye grew worse, like glass was scraping against her eyeball, and it watered until tears smeared down her cheek. She rubbed it.
Lukas stilled her hand, pulling it away from her face. He tilted her face to his. She waited patiently while he pried her eyelid open and peered into her eye in a non-sexy way.
“You’ve got sand in it. Hold still for a minute, and I’ll get it out.”
It was a testament to how much she trusted him when she let him touch her eyeball. Any other person, she would have smacked their hand away and found a mirror. Two seconds later, the stinging stopped.
“All better.” He kissed her forehead. They held hands as they continued toward the imposing structure.
“Doctor Luke, you never said if you were a veterinarian.”
He wrinkled his nose, a brief show of unpleasant emotion. “I used to be, in a former life. I’ve spent the last few years patching up people. Lots of broken bones and gunshot wounds. One outbreak of influenza. I miss working with animals, but The Eye has little call for that.”
He opened a regular-sized door for her.
She slid past, stopping in front of him. “But, horses? Are you working with animals now?”
“A little. Someone else is in charge of the horses. I’m here to be Mr. Ross’s personal physician. I can help out with the horses if I’m needed.” He seemed a curious mix of disappointment and optimism at the same time.
She squeezed his wrist, and then she went inside. “This is a better place to work.”
“Yes. It’s a more important position, but it’s also more precarious.” His hand landed on her lower back, steering her into the room whi
le he closed the door to preserve the air conditioning. It was a bit cool, in Brandy’s opinion, for AC.
“Precarious?”
“Yes. This job opened up because Ben Ross’s last personal physician pissed him off. Firebrand, you were wonderful with Mrs. Ross earlier. Keep her happy, but remember to watch for a line you must never cross.” He cupped her face in his large hands and pressed his forehead to hers. “If you feel the need to be bratty, just do it with me, okay? I’ll take care of you, sweetheart. I’ll make sure you have what you need.”
He brushed his lips against hers, a sweet pass that lingered and deepened.
The door opened before the heat could morph from a steady flame to a blazing inferno.
“Why am I not surprised?” Mrs. Ross sailed into the room, laughter suffusing her question. “Darling, I told you they were like newlyweds.”
Lukas slipped his arm around Brandy, tucking her into his side.
Mr. Ross followed his wife inside, his steps confident and measured. He closed the door and tipped his head in their direction. “Good afternoon, Doctor Luke. Brittany.”
“Hi, Mr. Ross. How can I help you today?” Lukas extended a hand to greet his boss, the guy who ran the international crime syndicate Brandy had been trying to take down for two years.
Mr. Ross looked a lot better than when she’d last seen him. His face was a lot less wrinkled, as was Mrs. Ross’s, and Brandy identified the telltale signs of Botox injections. He stood up straighter, and he wasn’t limping. His gray-streaked hair had been carefully fixed, and his designer jeans and flannel were immaculate.
Mrs. Ross wore a stylish, multi-colored sarong around her hips that matched the swirling pattern on the one-piece bathing suit covering her upper half. She’d added a floppy hat with a colorful ribbon and dark, round sunglasses. On her feet, strappy sandals completed the ensemble.
Brandy didn’t let their casual look lull her into relaxing her guard. Even if Lukas hadn’t warned her, she knew to be on her best behavior. She smiled at the pair, dipping her head in a silent greeting.
Re/Deemed (Doms of the FBI Book 8) Page 16