by Keith, Megan
She let her eyes wander over his features, or what she could see of them above the deep bath water and bubbles. He smirked at her before finding her foot in the water again. He began to rub his thumbs in such a way that it distracted Mackenzie from her sudden anger at the man. She let out an involuntary moan and opened her mouth to protest at his blatant interference tactics when he spoke.
“First of all, yes, I come from a wealthy family and I have lived in luxury my whole life, but I am not some spoilt brat. I have morals, I have manners and I have a strong work ethic. So I don’t appreciate you jumping to that kind of conclusion. Secondly, I don’t know how to answer you.”
“Why? Just tell me what it is you want from me!” She pulled her foot from his hands again.
“I don’t appreciate your tone,” Sir reprimanded.
“I don’t appreciate yours, either,” she said with a huff. She felt the sudden need to remove herself from the situation.
Mackenzie lifted her ass from the bottom of the bath in an attempt to get out. She barely got her legs straightened before he was pulling her back down. She landed with a thump and slid slightly. He sighed in annoyance as he righted her, so she kicked him.
“What do you want from me, Sir?”
“I already told-”
“You haven’t told me anythi-”
Sick of her interruptions and angry at being kicked, he tugged on her foot so hard that she slipped and her head dipped below the water. She coughed and spluttered when she resurfaced a second later.
“You’re an ass!” She was in shock that he would do something so brash. She again tried to get out of the bath but his body was suddenly hovering above hers, his arms braced on the edge of the bath, either side of her. He moved so quickly that it stole Mackenzie’s breath.
“Will you listen to me now?” he said angrily.
His eyes drilled into hers and she felt her resolve weakening.
“Fine! I’m listening!” Mackenzie crossed her arms over her chest, a furious look on her face.
“Why do you infuriate me so much?” he demanded.
She blinked up at him, suddenly wondering about that herself. He was a force to be reckoned with and she kind of liked the fight for some reason. He moved away from her a little and she sat up straighter. She opened her mouth to speak but he held out his hand to stop her.
“Please, listen to me. I’ve already told you, I want a relationship,” he said, a little too calmly for Mackenzie’s liking.
“But I don’t understand about the whole Dom/sub thing and I need answers,” she said quietly.
He looked into her eyes and saw confusion there. He wanted to be honest and ease her mind. He needed to get his words right before he could voice them to her. He thought back over his day of shopping, the overwhelming urge he had to follow her into the change rooms, fucking her senseless, the hand holding, walking down the street, eating hot dogs, sleeping beside her in bed, having her in his arms… her laugh…
His attraction to Mackenzie had been instant, from the very first second he’d spotted her at The Blue Room. In the time spent watching her from where he sat, week after week, in the corner of the bar, he had developed feelings. Feelings that were just as foreign to him as his new tendencies. At first, he thought it was because they were meant to be together, as Dom and sub, but when he finally took her home to his apartment, it had been a revelation. He’d found that even though he had a strong urge to dominate, he wasn’t looking to claim a submissive after all. He wasn’t a Dominant looking for a sub, he was a man looking for a woman. Everything had been in preparation for her. He needed to be what she needed.
She was what had been missing from his life. He came to realize that claiming her sexually wasn’t enough. He wanted to dominate her in the bedroom (or anywhere he could) sexually, but, outside of that, he wanted more from her. He began to imagine how she would impact on his life. After their first encounters he knew he loved her fight, her tenaciousness and her intellect, and being a submissive full time was not on her cards. He was happy with that. He’d realized that she was his other half. The fact that she was willing to submit to him, sexually, was only part of the reason they belonged together. And this weekend, spending it with her like this…
It begins and ends with Mackenzie.
He shook his head, still astounded that this is what he wanted. A relationship. With her. He’d always thought he would settle down one day, marry and start a family. But Mackenzie entered his life making him crave more than he’d ever realized. He was confused as to how he could want a Dom/sub relationship and yet still imagine that humble, normal, married life.
Could she give him both? He’d never wanted anything more. Mackenzie was different to anyone he had ever met and he didn’t want her to go anywhere. But was she ready to hear that?
He sat back on his side of the bath and was silent for a really long time. To the point where Mackenzie wondered if he was ever going to speak.
“I want a relationship with you.” He paused and spoke steadily. “I think I kind of like that you argue with me. I like that you don’t bend to my every whim. I think I need that. I feel an intense need to control you though, I like taking charge … but I’m not sure I want a complete Dom/sub relationship with you after all.”
“You don’t?”
“I thought that’s what I wanted.” He sighed. His brow crinkled a little as he spoke. “I was mistaken. You confound me. I’ve realized I want more from you than that, Mackenzie. A relationship. I want you, in every way.”
“You do?” Mackenzie couldn’t hide her delight, though she was nervous about it she knew that’s what she wanted. Her smile was so wide she felt like her cheeks might split.
His lips curled up into a deliciously wicked grin. “Just sometimes, I want to be a little kinky about it. You want that too.”
“Oh.” She blushed with knowing.
“We’ll work it out as we go. Okay?”
She nodded, loving this turn of events. His hand reached out and rubbed her thigh under the water.
“Now, come here. Let me wash your back.”
“My back, huh? Because that really is the dirtiest part of my body.”
Mackenzie raised her eyebrow at him but then turned around anyway, positioning herself between his legs. Sir leaned forward, gathering her hair to one side, he kissed her tenderly on the shoulder.
“Oh, I plan on cleaning every nook and cranny,” he whispered seductively, peppering kisses along her neck. Mackenzie shivered at the contact and his words. Then he turned her head toward him, planting his lips on hers. He was like a magnet and her whole body twisted and fell into his kiss. He kissed her long and hard, until she was somehow lying on top of him. It was far more intimate than any other kiss. It set her heart racing and her mind reeling with possibilities.
Eventually the kisses slowed to a stop and he sat her back upright. Then set about lathering her back, shoulders and arms.
“So, are you saying I don’t have to call you Sir anymore?” she asked hopefully.
“No, I’m not saying that at all.” He chuckled and Mackenzie smiled.
“You’ll have to tell me your name eventually, you know.”
“I know.”
He dipped his hands and the face washer to her front and started gently washing her breasts, paying particular attention to her nipples, causing her to softly moan.
Talking kind of ended there.
The sun was disappearing over the horizon. The clouded afternoon sky filled with shades of pink, purple and lilac, nothing like he had ever witnessed before. He had a naked Mackenzie on his lap. They were seated on her sofa, wrapped in her big fluffy white duvet. The TV was on but neither of them were watching. Instead they were both looking out the window at the unusually colored sky.
“It’s beautiful,” Mackenzie whispered.
He didn’t answer, just tightened his hold on her instead. It had been a beautiful day, spent with a beautiful woman and it seemed only fitting t
hat the sun went down in much the same way. After their long bath, they had wrapped themselves together and hadn’t moved from their spot on the sofa since. He’d never felt so content in all his life.
“How old are you?” Mackenzie asked, breaking the silence. She turned her head against his shoulder to look up at him.
He cleared his throat, “I’m thirty-two.”
“I’m twenty-eight.”
He nodded his head, not quite sure how to respond. Of course, he’d already known her age.
She was surprised he answered her so easily when he still wouldn’t reveal his name. But she had come to accept the no name thing. For some reason he felt that knowing who he was might make her change her mind about him. Mackenzie was beginning to feel quite confident that it wouldn’t. She was intrigued, but she was willing to wait until he was ready.
“Thank you, Mackenzie,” he said softly. He pushed the back of her head to his face so he could kiss her hair.
“For what?” she whispered.
“For a perfect day.”
Eventually, nature called and Sir was reluctantly forced to leave their cosy cocoon to use the bathroom. Mackenzie slid off the sofa, wrapping the big duvet around her body as she went. She picked up her purse, from where it had dropped on the floor many hours earlier, when Sir had pushed her against the wall. She smiled as the memories flooded her. Dumping her purse on the kitchen counter, she pulled out her phone and found its battery depleted. She plugged into the charger and waited.
Leaning against the counter, she snuck a peek into the bedroom and spied Sir putting on his jeans. Such a shame to cover that ass, she thought as she bit her lip. She was still admiring the view when her phone sprung to life and dinged at her. She’d missed a text message from Alex. She swiped the screen and an image appeared, below it read:
Mystery solved. He’s not just wealthy, Mack, he’s a fucking multi-millionaire!
She looked closer at the image and saw it was a picture of Sir, holding the shirt collar of a man she now knew was named Greg. It was taken outside the bar on Friday night. The tiny caption under the image was from an internet gossip site. Mackenzie felt sick to her stomach as she read the words. Then read them again. “Millionaire playboy … dispute was over a woman … been caught fighting … brawl outside The Blue Room … not the first time … heir to the Pierce Empire … back to his old tricks …”
No matter how many times she read it, the words that stuck in her mind were the ones that held the worst kind of sting. “The dispute was over a woman” was all she could focus on. She’d had her suspicions. At the time, she had wondered if Greg had been a husband, or boyfriend, of a woman Sir had been involved with, but she had put it out of her mind. And now it was at the fore-front again, making her head pound.
He was so angry that night. Was it a woman he was still involved with? Someone he has feelings for? Where does that leave me?
“Mackenzie?”
She jumped at the sound of his voice, lifting her head she saw Sir walking toward her, he had his phone in hand, too. She let her eyes wander over his gorgeous bare chest, down to his low slung jeans before looking back at his face. Uncertainty marred his features causing her to step back. He glanced at the phone in her hand and then their eyes locked. They stood frozen, an empty room between them.
Mackenzie had never been in love, but for the first time in forever she could feel the possibility of it. She clenched the phone in her hand, it felt the same as the imaginary fist now squeezing her heart. She couldn’t stand the thought of losing her chance with HIM.
I could fall in love with this man. But what if his heart belongs to another?
“What’s wrong, Mackenzie?” he asked, taking a hesitant step in her direction.
She took a deep breath, before asking the question that could seal her fate.
“Nathaniel?”
Firstly, thanks to my family for putting up with me when I’m almost permanently attached to my laptop. Thank you for allowing me to chase this dream of mine! When I hit publish on that very first book I had no idea how much it would change my life ~ I appreciate all your love and support.
Renee Kubisch ~ a kick arse editor and awesome friend. We rock as productive procrastinators! We make a great team; Mack and Sir’s story is as much yours as it is mine! How lucky am I to have exclusive rights to an editor that is available 24/7? No one else has that, I bet.
Tami Norman & Carrie Klein ~ thank you for beta reading this!
Kari Ayasha ~ Cover to Cover Designs, thank you for another gorgeous cover! Love your work and your friendship.
Megan’s Minions ~ my street team! What a bunch of fantastic ladies (I use the term very loosely) you are! Thanks for keeping me entertained and for pimping my stuff.
Thanks to ALL of the bloggers that help spread the word. I appreciate every post, share and comment you make! A special thanks to these bloggers for going that extra mile: Kristine Barakat from Glass Paper Ink Book Blog, Tami Norman at Into the Night Reviews, Marina Skinner & Irene Rosa at MI Bookshelf, Holly Baker at Holly’s Hot Reads, Alicia, Kellie and Amanda at A.K.A. The Book Harlots Review, Jenn & April at Read and Share Book Reviews, Lori & Lee Ann at Hopelessly Hooked on Books, Grace Regla at One-click Addicts Anonymous, Melanie at Sassy Mum Book Blog, Tash at Confessions from Romaholics and Erin Daniels at Read and Ramble.
And a BIG thank you to YOU! THANK YOU for reading my book! I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to message me about it. I love readers who share their thoughts.
Eraser
Eraser Blue
Finding My Way
Crossroads
How to Liv
Keep up to date, follow the blog:
www.megankeith.blogspot.com
Please leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads.
Feedback from readers is much appreciated. It is the best way to give thanks to an author.