Mastered 2: Ten Tales of Sensual Surrender

by Opal Carew

  “What. The. Hell?” she whispered to herself.

  A very disgruntled Yazmin Ross sat in the back of the police car.

  Though she desperately wanted to ask what the hell was going, Mac stepped through the typically-closed double security doors and into the posh establishment. Just as she hit the first hallway to head to Madison Lee’s office, a door opened off to her right. A single-file line of the entire grim-faced Twilight Teahouse staff streamed out of the private conference room used for their business meetings.

  As they walked past in complete silence, a grim picture filled her mind of a scene from a movie about a young wizarding school that had been taken over by some pretty mean bastards. In that scene, no one smiled. No one had spoken. With forbidding faces, they’d marched along as if headed to their deaths.

  In the halls of Twilight, if a pin had dropped, she doubted it would make any noise just now.

  The attendants were all dressed in crisp and colorful traditional Japanese attire—the women in kimono and obi and the men in haori tops and hakama pants. Today’s theme appeared to be the Spring season, with each person sporting some light, soft version of blue, pink, yellow or creamy white.

  The kitchen staff that worked under Landon in his role as head chef, wore typical sparkling white chef coats with appliqued bamboo leaves done in dark blue. Loose black pants were covered with half-aprons, and on their heads were blue and white checkered cotton headbands with the Twilight Teahouse symbol embroidered in the center.

  Kuri came up in the line. A baby-pink kimono with bright red sakura cherry blossom petals along the hem, graced her lithe body. Long, jet black hair was twisted up into an elegant knot on top of her head in a geisha-like style. As usual, Kuri was the picture of elegance, though her usual bubbly countenance was missing today. The other woman put out an arm and gently tugged Mac so that they ended up walking together. Kuri kept her focus straight ahead so Mac kept her questions to herself as they all moved, some turning directions or getting into the elevator to go about their duties.

  Kuri and Mac ended up in the executive wing, a two-story affair that was connected to the five-storied main building. At its center was an atrium alive with plants and trees under a frosted glass skylight. The round space was circled with shoji doors that let into several offices. Kuri escorted her to Landon’s office, gave a polite bow and departed without a word. Mac settled in to wait and every minute felt like an eternity as the nervous twitch in her gut morphed into a higher state of alarm with each tick of the clock.

  Checked her watch. It had been five minutes.

  Shit! I swear I’ve been in here for an hour!

  Up out of the chair set aside for visitors, Mac paced. Checked her watch again—seven minutes.

  “Fuck a duck!” she fumed aloud.

  Finally, the door opened. Mac’s relief became a mix of confusion and bone-chilling fear when Madison Lee entered alone.

  “I want to tell you what happened before Landon gets in here. He’s almost done giving his statement to the police.”

  Mac opened her mouth to voice one of a million questions that bounced around in her brain.

  “Nope. Just listen, MacKenzie. Everything is fine, but I’m doing some interference here. And no, Landon doesn’t know I’m in here. But woman to woman, I know how I’d feel if this happened to me, so I’m totally sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong, so if you feel the need to cut it off after I’m done, then so be it.”

  Mac took her seat again, crossed her legs and waited.

  When Madison Lee finished talking, the woman slipped back out of the room. And Mac had to admit, even if only to herself, Maddy had been correct—a little bit of female intervention had indeed been needed. Otherwise, she might have castrated her husband rather than applaud him.

  * * *

  One of the serving staff stepped into Landon’s office with a tray of refreshments for MacKenzie. A note in Landon’s handwriting had been slipped beneath the small glass of ice-cold tea.

  “Sorry for the wait. Be there shortly.”

  Much more relaxed since Madison Lee had given her the skinny, Mac enjoyed the beverage and sat back. She’d just powered up her electronic reader to spend the time enjoying a novel when the door opened again.

  Her husband stepped in and she flew into his arms.

  Without hesitation, he shared Yazmin’s latest nutball antics. All the while, he kept his hands on her. Buried his hands in her hair. Held her close. Ran his fingers down her spine and gave a grunt of appreciation when he felt the sexy corset she wore beneath her silk bolero jacket. When she wasn’t wrapped in a tight hug, he caressed her arms, her waist, and the underside of her breasts.

  Mac began to melt.

  Amazing how stress and fear turned into the need to touch and taste, to chase the demons away. Now that she knew this man was all right, heat began to infuse her core, as it always did when she was the center of his particular attention.

  “How did she manage to even get in here, Lan?”

  “Beats me. Looked like she waltzed in through the doors on the rear street where my crew takes out the kitchen trash. But Madison Lee is beyond pissed. She’s the one who called the police and reported a stalker.”

  “Holy shit! Seriously?”

  “Yep.”

  “Well, I heard Yazmin was all up on you, handsome.” She let the sultry smile on her face belie any anger in her words. Landon’s deep rumble of a laugh made her tremble.

  “She tried to, but Maddy pretty much appeared out of nowhere. She didn’t interrupt, though. Instead, she acted as witness and left it to me to handle it. I made it clear that I was not interested in revisiting old friends, reconciling with her, or being in her presence for any reason. I told her that we all knew about her clandestine phone call to Jay, trying to get information on you and me. In short, I told her to go the fuck away and stop chasing me.”

  “Did you actually say that? Really?” Mac’s expression was one of amazement. Not because she didn’t believe her husband, but because he was usually so careful with a woman’s feelings, and tried not to purposely cause pain with his words.

  “I did say exactly that. Word for word, in fact. I was especially eloquent with the four-lettered ones. I also made sure to repeat it to the police. It’s in the official report, I’m sure. And Maddy was able to make a statement that she’d just told Yazmin’s film director and crew that the woman had been banned from the premises two years ago, for life.”

  “Well considering how her lips were plastered to the side of your neck, I guess she wasn’t buying the fact that you’re happily married. Again.”

  “Woman, as fucked up as our last go-round was regarding Yazmin, I never ever lied to you. Either of you. And I don’t plan to start now. I am saying, for the last time, that I am not interested in her.”

  “You do know that I’m aware of that, right?” Mac asked, walking around the desk and sitting down in her husband’s lap. Strong thighs flexed beneath her butt as she rocked back and forth playfully.

  “Yes, I know, but I wanted to say it anyway. The aggression was hers and I was truly trying to get out of there without totally destroying her with words I could never take back. I don’t want that kind of karma following me around. And neither do you.”

  He was definitely right on that point.

  “Point taken,” she said. “Now kiss me, you gorgeous Celt.”

  “Nope. No kisses just now. We need to go. I made a reservation for us in the Japanese baths in five minutes. It’ll take that long to get to the elevators on the other side of the building. After the news about the police and the bullshit made the rounds, they were willing to squeeze us in.”

  “Second floor or fourth floor,” Mac queried. The second floor held a bath space where families of members of the club could come and enjoy a spa day as well as a true Japanese community bath. The fourth floor held the same concept, but for couples and kink, only.

  “Second or fourth? Fourth, of course. Who do you
think you’re dealing with, lass?” Emerald eyes sparkled with mischief and Mac almost backed up a step with the sudden urge to run so he would give chase, catch and ravish her. She felt like a stick of dynamite just waiting for the match to strike. Gah!

  “Dinner afterward?” Mac knew her expression was hopeful as she felt her face light up with expectancy. At Landon’s nod, her tummy did a little dance and her happiness kicked up a notch. Sure, Mac was an excellent cook, but her fare was reserved for family and friends. Landon, on the other hand, was one of the best sushi chefs in the state, let alone Seattle proper. Most people found it amazing that as a young man, he’d made his way from Ireland to Japan to train under one of the most strict, but equally respected itamae, a true sushi master. He’s spent ten years as an apprentice, and that was considered a short amount of time.

  But the boy was skilled, and that was just the way of it.

  After “doing his time” he’d come to the Pacific Northwest and began to make a name for himself. Now, with twenty years of experience under his belt, the man was a wonder in the kitchen, whether he was preparing fresh fish or whipping up delicious wagashi desserts. Either way, Twilight Teahouse was lucky to have him.

  And so was MacKenzie.

  “I’m so ready for a trip upstairs.” Mac sighed with longing and relief. “It was a long, but thankfully productive day.” She’d gotten the deal close to finalized with Jay, and sent a preliminary copy of the contract over to legal for a head start on the review process.

  Her heart did a sad little dip at the thought of Jay jetting off to Montana again. Rather than following that rabbit down a hole she really shouldn’t go, Mac snapped her thoughts back to the present. “Burt and Solie should be here by the time we make it back downstairs. I’m sure I’ll be starving by then.”

  “That’s tomorrow night, darlin’. Tonight it’s just you and me.”

  She had no complaints on that score. At all.

  “And speaking of tomorrow, Solie is going to love the cake I made for her. It’s a seven layer death by chocolate, get over your dick wad ex-boyfriend and celebrate the awesome new guy, kind of cake.”

  “God, I love you, Landon Ivers.”

  “Damn right you do, MacKenzie Ivers.”

  Hand in hand, they walked through the executive wing, back to the main building and to the main bank of elevators on the first floor. Landon pulled out his access card and swiped it over the reader. In moments, they stepped across a threshold and were flying upward.

  The doors swished open to reveal, as with every floor, a huge immaculate tiled foyer with a wall lined with shoe cubbies just past the reception desk.

  A traditional Japanese bath meant scrubbing down in the shower, soaking in a deep tub for relaxation, followed by deep tissue massage. Foregoing the water part of the experience, Landon raised his wife’s wrist for a kiss and headed straight to their private room. One step into the room, he turned and pulled her into his arms.

  Her breasts were firm beneath her corset and her strong arms held him as tight as he did her. Then, Mac sighed and relaxed into the caress. Allowed herself to be held, loved.

  Landon pressed a kiss to the side of her neck. “So, since I didn’t get to tie anyone up the other day...”

  Mac braced her hands against his chest and pushed back so she could look up into his face. With a raised brow, she gave him her best I-told-you-so look. “That was your choice, Lan. I told you to go ahead and do it.” Then she laughed at his disgruntled expression.

  “But I didn’t want Yazmin. Didn’t want to put my hands on her. Not even a little. I want you. Period. Now, strip lovely.”

  “Strip? Why is it your turn to not strip?”

  “Because I’m the Dom.”

  “Well so am I,” Mac countered.

  “True, but since we only submit to one another, that means I get to pull the man card.”

  “That’s not even bullshit. I’m calling horseshit on that!”

  “Call it whatever you like. It can be your turn next time, woman.”

  They both knew good and well that she didn’t truly want to dominate her man, yet Landon humored her. And she loved him even more for it.

  Besides, how many couples argued over who got to give the massage rather than receive it?

  Clothes off, folded and placed on the wide cushion of a thickly padded chair, Mac climbed up on the massage table. She laid back and sighed with contentment as warmth leeched into her bones from the heated blanket beneath her body.

  * * *

  Easing the lightly scented oil over her skin, Landon eased strong fingers into the tight band of muscled knots on her left shoulder and mid-back. “I think you need a new toy. You need an outlet for your alpha bitch side.”

  When Mac didn’t respond, Landon continued. “I know you believe I need to play with someone else in order to satisfy my kinky rope fetish, but honestly Mac, you’re all I need. Now and forever. My concern is that you have no submissive, and I am not so egotistical anymore that I believe you can go without, while I’m entitled to do whatever I want. I’m so done with that shit, woman. I can’t express how done. So, what are we going to do about your needs, darlin’?”

  Well, he had her there. She did miss having a submissive. She was a dominant personality, for sure, but she didn’t now, nor would she ever, want Landon to submit to her. He wasn’t wired that way. And honestly, she didn’t want him wired any other way than how he was—dominant to the bone.

  Before, they’d each had their own sub, but now her brain lit up like a Christmas tree as an idea came to her. “Lan, what if we play with a submissive together rather than the way we did it before?”

  He hadn’t considered that, and rather than answer right away, he wanted to think on the pros and cons. Landon could admit he was just a tad bit nervous about introducing anyone into their relationship dynamic and wasn’t the least bit interested in a full-time submissive. But that didn’t necessarily apply to Mac.

  “Mac, this isn’t about just what I want or need. Remember that as we hash this out.”

  She nodded as brows dove into a frown. Landon could almost hear the wheels in her head turning, searching for a solution.

  Suddenly, their gazes swung to one another. “Kuri!” they declared in unison.

  Madison Lee and Kinson's submissive was a live in, twenty-four seven sub who happened to love kink. Maddy was the rigger in their family, but she didn’t get around to it much these days. The growth and popularity of Twilight Teahouse sucked up more and more of her time. Kinson was the impact player, but he spent more time overseas for work than he did at home. Which meant an occasionally neglected Kuri.

  “Do you think Kuri would be interested?” Mac asked excitedly.

  “Maybe. The last time she got tied up and suspended, it wasn’t by Maddy.”

  “Really? Who?”

  “Burt.” Burton Khrys wasn’t only their good friend, and a hell of a building contractor. He was also a fully recognized Master in the BDSM community, as well as boyfriend to Mac’s best bud, Solie. “Maddy actually called him to come into the city in between projects just to see to Kuri’s needs because Mad had been up to her eyeballs in planning the expansion to the upper floors. Still doesn’t’ change the fact that she’s owned and collared by someone else.”

  True.

  “What if we ask Madison Lee and Kinson to recommend someone who has some time to play with us at Twilight a couple of times a month or so? For example, someone who is interested in rope and a little impact play, but isn’t looking for anything permanent?” Mac asked.

  Hmm. That might work. Someone that they could play with, minus the attachment? It would give him more rope time, and her more impact play time, yet allow them to do so together.

  “Maybe someone who literally just wants to do some pick-up play every now and then? And, of course, you have me all the rest of the time, and I have you…sort of,” Mac suggested with a bit of snark in those last six words. Landon smacked her bare ass and she
grinned. They both knew that the last thing Landon was going to do was take a flogging from anyone, including her. But fuck her silly? Yeah, he could do that. All day long. Actually, all night, too.

  “So, who?” Mac wondered aloud.

  “Well,” Landon said as he knuckled a particularly tense spot beneath her scapula, “there’s Jay. You’ve always been half in love with him.” When she started to protest, Landon cut her off. “There’s nothing wrong with being attracted to him, Mac. It would have never worked between you in the first place if you hadn’t liked the guy. Besides, what if he’s that missing bit that we’ve been looking for? It would be remiss if we didn’t at least think on it, and if we agree, talk to him about it. Besides, I don’t think it’s a total coincidence that he happens to be in town at the same time Yazmin popped up.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Mac, think about it. We’ve got the epitome of nutball who pops up at the same time as the one man who always treated you with respect and care. And he’s the one who didn’t show up with the intent to wrest you away from me. I respect him for that. We’ve had perfect examples of the good, the bad and the ugly all within a matter of days.”

  She remained quiet, but he could tell she was mulling it over. After a few moments of silence, Landon asked,” So tell me what you think?”

  Mac thought of the man who’d just popped back into her life. Her lips spread into a huge grin. Just couldn’t help it. Jay might be easy going and quiet, but he was a still-waters-run-deep kind of guy with a spine of steel and a sense of humor that never ceased to cause her to double over.

  If she were honest, she’d always had a soft spot in her heart for Jay, and had always been honest in regard to her attraction to him. Time away from the man had done nothing to dim the little flame that always flickered with life and passion when in his presence. Did she prefer him instead of her husband? Not at all. They were so very different...but each brought something different to the table. And damn did she love that particular feast.