Unexpected Surrender

by J. M. Walker

  “It is my responsibility. He’s my brother.” Not that my brother deserved it at the moment, I still had to help him. He was family and our mother wouldn’t want it any other way.

  Luther shrugged which was odd in a way for him. Such a big guy making that small of a movement. It almost seemed too casual for him. Like he should pay someone else to shrug for him instead.

  I laughed, shaking my head at myself.

  “What’s so funny?” he asked, raising a dark eyebrow.

  “Nothing.” I walked back around the counter and grabbed the napkin dispenser from him. “Thank you.”

  He nodded. “Tell me what’s funny.”

  “Well…” The back of my neck heated. “I was thinking how when you shrugged, that it almost seemed too casual for you. Like you should be paying someone else to shrug for you.”

  His face broke out into a grin. “I’ll have to budget for that.”

  I laughed harder, put the napkins away, and continued wiping down the counter when I realized that I was suddenly alone with Luther Knight. And I locked the door. But when I waited for the expected fear to take over and it didn’t, a sense of peace washed over me. Could the man who wanted my brother dead, still be a good guy just the same? I mentally smacked myself.

  I nodded to the door. “You should go.”

  “I won’t hurt you, Lexi.” He searched my face. “Although some women deserve it, I would never lay a finger on the opposite sex. Not like that anyway.” He winked.

  My skin flushed.

  “Lexi.” His brows narrowed.

  “You hurt my brother. You should leave. You should really leave.” I backed up until I hit the counter.

  Luther rose from his spot on the stool and came around the counter.

  Before he could close the distance between us, I hightailed it to the back of the deli.

  But of course, Luther followed. He stalked toward me, rubbing his jaw.

  “I can’t say I’ve ever had a woman run away from me before.” He smirked. “It’s kind of exhilarating.”

  “You shouldn’t be back here.” I backed up. “You shouldn’t be here at all.”

  “Why not, Lexi?” Luther shoved his hands inside his pants pockets, his dark eyes peering into mine.

  “Because you kicked my brother’s ass. We owe you money. This…” I waved between us. “Isn’t right.”

  “I’m not doing anything wrong. You aren’t doing anything wrong.” Luther closed the distance between us in three long strides. Grabbing my hips, he jerked me towards him.

  “Stop.” My hands landed on his chest. “My brother—”

  “Is a bastard who would do anything to make some extra cash.” Luther leaned down to my ear, his hot breath scorching the side of my face. “I want you, Lexi, and one way or another, I will have you.”

  “You can’t if I say no,” I panted, my chest rising and falling at the feel of him so close to me. I could sense the heat radiating off of him just from his fingers digging into my hips.

  “You won’t say no, pet.” Luther’s mouth moved closer to my ear. “I promise you that.”

  “How can you be so sure? Whatever you think of my brother, it doesn’t matter. He’s my family. He’s…”

  “You smell like heaven,” Luther murmured, ignoring me. “You smell like the fucking light I’ve never seen before.” Cupping my jaw, he turned my head toward him at the same time he crushed his mouth to mine.

  A hot tongue invaded me, separating my lips and pulling a moan from the back of my throat. Rough hands gripped my hips, pulling me against a hard pelvis and backed me up until I hit the wall behind me.

  My hands moved of their own accord, wrapping around a thick, tattooed neck.

  Luther tasted of mint mixed with a hint of liquor. It reminded me of mint chocolate chip ice cream. The two sensations messed with my head, sending an icy cold chill racing down my spine.

  “Luther,” I whispered against his mouth.

  He broke the kiss, brushing his thumb along my bottom lip, but didn’t let me go. He only stared. His eyes became even darker as time went on. “So fucking beautiful.” He pushed his thumb between my lips.

  I closed my lips around his thumb before I could even stop myself.

  His nostrils flared.

  I released his thumb with a pop and shook my head, clearing it of all the dirty thoughts racing through it. I knew this man was dangerous but there was something more to him that I couldn’t quite figure out. “You should leave.”

  “Why? I happen to be enjoying myself.” He gave me a small smirk.

  “Luther,” I breathed, inhaling the spicy scent of his cologne. “This isn’t right.”

  “And you think your brother is a fucking angel?” Luther stepped back, putting some distance between us and cupping himself.

  My body heated, knowing I had caused that reaction in him.

  “I’m not a patient man, Lexi.” Luther adjusted his pants and leaned against the table opposite me.

  “Doesn’t matter if you are or not. This can’t happen.” But God, that kiss. My lips still tingled from the dark scruff on his jaw.

  “But you want it to,” he added. “Don’t you?”

  Of course I did. “No.”

  “Liar.” He waved a hand between us. “This will happen.”

  “One way or another. Yeah, yeah. I know. You said that already.” I started pacing. “But why me? There are a million other women in this damn city who would drop their panties just to have you look at them.”

  His brows narrowed. “What are you saying?”

  I stopped suddenly. “You really don’t know?”

  He shrugged. Again with the shrugging.

  I stared at him. “You really need to look in the mirror. Suits. Tattoos. Scruff. And you’re built like a…”

  “Like a what, Lexi?” Luther pushed off the table and came toward me.

  “Don’t.” I held up my hand, stopping him. “I can’t think straight with you so close to me. You’re gorgeous, Luther. You have to know that.”

  “I don’t give a shit what I look like. I keep myself healthy and I work out constantly but not because I want to look good for women. I do it to stay safe. The stronger I am, the better.”

  I frowned. “What does that even mean?”

  “It means that I have bad people who are always after me.” He took a final step toward me, brushing his knuckles down my cheek. “But it doesn’t matter. They’ll never catch me.”

  “How can you be so sure?” I asked, a hot shiver skating down my spine.

  “My men are always with me.” He turned his head, nodding toward the front of the shop.

  “They’re here right—” Obviously, they would be. A man of Luther’s stature didn’t travel alone.

  “They are, pet.” Luther pinched my chin, tilting my head back. “I meant what I said. I will have you. Wet. Ripe. So fucking drenched, one thrust of my cock and you’ll be screaming my name.”

  My breath caught at the delicious images he was creating in my mind. “It can’t happen.” But my voice didn’t come out as strong or sure as I would have liked.

  “Maybe not now.” He kissed my cheek. “But it will. Eventually. When neither of us can no longer fight it. We’ll both lose that control together. And I can’t fucking wait.” He placed a soft peck on my mouth, released me, and headed back out to the front of the deli. A moment later, I heard the familiar ding to the bell as the door closed.

  Letting out a slow breath, I slid down the wall to the floor.

  What the hell just happened?

  Lexi

  IT WAS FINALLY SATURDAY night, and I still hadn’t seen my brother. I was also a damn mess. I couldn’t sleep last night. And when I did actually fall asleep, my thoughts were invaded by a dark, dangerous, but so damn delicious, man that it only made the ache between my legs that much worse. But I wouldn’t sleep with him. No matter what he said. I wasn’t experienced, but I wasn’t that desperate either. I had toys and two hands. At leas
t they didn’t want to murder my brother.

  Scrubbing a hand down my face, I took a deep breath and knocked on the steel door leading to The Club. I was actually thankful for the distraction that this place would hopefully offer me this evening. Fingers crossed anyway.

  The door opened, revealing Miss Vee. A deep frown sat between her brows. Her eyes glanced down the length of me, giving me a once over.

  I shifted from foot to foot. “Everything okay?”

  Her brows arched a bit before she scowled. “Yes. Of course. Why?”

  “I don’t know. You just look…stressed.” My cheeks heated. Although she was a woman and I had never been attracted to the same sex before, there was something about her that I liked. She wasn’t the warmest person I had ever met but I liked the dominant air about her. Maybe that was why I latched onto Luther so quickly. I had been taking care of my brother for as long as I could remember, I needed someone to take care of me. Oh God, now I had a daddy complex. My cheeks burned even more.

  “Don’t worry about me.” Miss Vee cocked her head to the side. “But what are you thinking about that’s putting that beautiful blush in your skin?”

  “I…” My voice cracked.

  “Tell me now because as soon as we get into the production room, there will be no speaking.” She smirked. “Not from you anyway.”

  I swallowed hard; my tongue suddenly thick. “I was thinking how I like y-your d-dominance.” I looked down at my feet, wringing my hands in front of me.

  A firm finger pushed beneath my chin, tilting my head back. “I know.” Her dark eyes twinkled. “That’s why you’re perfect.”

  I laughed nervously. “I am far from that.”

  “Maybe.” Miss Vee released me and stepped back into the building. “Come, pet. We have lots to discuss tonight.”

  I followed her into the building, jumping when the heavy door closed behind me.

  “As you know, we have prestigious people who attend our club. They pay to get off basically. To not have to deal with the press or worry about their partners finding out or even catching them with their pants down around their ankles kind of thing,” Miss Vee explained, heading down the hall to the door that led into the white room.

  “They pay to cheat?” I asked her.

  “We don’t get paid to care about their morals, pet,” she said, staring down at me. “As long as they give us money, we keep our mouths shut.”

  “So, don’t judge them basically.”

  She tapped her nose. “You’re a fast learner.”

  I rolled my eyes, my lips pulling up into a smile.

  “You know…” Something flashed behind her eyes. “If you were mine, I’d spank that ass of yours for rolling your eyes at me. But you’re not, so I won’t. I do suggest not doing that again though or I will spank your ass and then I’d have to deal with your Master.” She rolled her own eyes that time. “And I prefer to not have to deal with him when he gets that way.”

  “Excuse me? My Master?” What the hell had I signed myself up for?

  “Ah, little pet.” Miss Vee winked. “You really are naïve, aren’t you?”

  “I…” My cheeks heated. “I’m new to this, yes, but I like to think that I’m not naïve exactly. Just cautious.”

  She laughed, shaking her head. “Same thing in this case.” Once we reached the end of the hall, she swiped her key card into the lock. “Are you ready for what I’m about to show you?”

  “Not really but let’s get this done and over with so I can get home and curl up with a bottle of wine.”

  “Oh.” She grinned. “He’s going to enjoy you.”

  I opened my mouth to ask what she meant by that but was cut off short by the whoosh of the door when she opened it.

  Miss Vee stepped into the white room and much like before, I kept my mouth shut. I had never been a huge talker to begin with but not being able to ask questions was driving me crazy.

  My Master.

  Had I been picked already? How was that even possible? There were security cameras. Was he watching me? Were they recording me? Had she shown him videos? I had only been here once so far. How could I have a Master so soon?

  So many more questions bounced through my mind but like a good little girl, I followed Miss Vee across the white room. We stepped into the second hall and continued walking in silence. I had never been this far before. It was exciting and scary all at the same time.

  “I know you have a lot of questions burning through that beautiful brain of yours,” Miss Vee said once we reached the end of the second hall. “They will get answered in time.” Swiping her card through another key slot, she opened the door and I was hit with a scent of spice. It smelled like a hint of…

  My body heated.

  Luther.

  My lips tingled remembering the way he had kissed me. The things he had said to me. The way he touched me.

  “I will have you. Wet. Ripe. So fucking drenched, one thrust of my cock and you’ll be screaming my name.”

  A part of me was begging for it but the rational part, screamed to keep him at a safe distance. But somehow, I knew that even if we were across the country from each other, he would always find me.

  Miss Vee caught my gaze. “Everything good, pet?”

  “Yes.” I didn’t give a shit what Luther said or how my body responded to him, I would not sleep with him.

  ***

  (Him)

  Watching my sister give Lexi the grand tour of The Club stirred something inside of me. It was almost like she was in my home, taking in everything around her. And she was even more beautiful now than the last time I saw her. My body buzzed. My dick throbbed. My balls fucking ached. My hand wasn’t cutting it anymore. I needed her. But I knew I had to be patient just the same.

  As if my sister could hear my thoughts, she glanced at the camera, raising an eyebrow.

  I sat back in the leather chair behind my desk, tenting my fingers under my chin.

  When she was satisfied that I wouldn’t come barging through the doors and carry Lexi away like a caveman, she continued.

  “This hall leads to the rooms that you’ll be playing in with your Master,” Vanessa explained, taking Lexi down a hall that held windows on either side. They were tinted with the curtains closed unless the patrons decided to have an audience. It all depended on what the submissive agreed to. Everyone had their own special kink and our job was to make sure they were completely and utterly satisfied.

  “Everyone who comes here, has their own kink,” Vanessa continued, taking the thoughts right out of my head. “It’s our job to comply and give them what they’re looking for. The only thing we won’t allow is anything to do with a minor or animals.”

  Lexi nodded.

  Clicking the mouse, I zoomed the camera in on her beautiful face. Her dark eyes held so many questions that I couldn’t wait to give her the answers to. But for now my sister would have to do that for me.

  I zoomed the camera back out, waiting for the right moment to strike. This was the part I hated. I wanted to play. That beast inside of me needed sustenance and if I didn’t satisfy him and soon, I was afraid Lexi would be ripped apart before I even had a chance to enjoy her.

  ***

  (Lexi)

  “You will spend most of your time in one of these rooms. Whatever you checked off in the questionnaire will dictate what rooms your Master puts you in.” Miss Vee stopped at the end of the hall and slapped her hand on a button on the wall. The curtains in the rooms opened, revealing all different types of, what I could only assume, were scenes. “Do you know anything about the BDSM lifestyle?”

  “I’ve read some books and seen dominance play out in movies, but I’ve never been to a club or anything.” My cheeks burned even more.

  “That’s fine. You’re not expected to know everything. These rooms are scenes that you will do with your Master. I noticed in the questionnaire that you’ll try anything at least once. Except for threesomes. Why is that?”

  My b
ody heated. I had forgotten that others would be looking at the answers I had checked off. I was lost in the moment and answered honestly. I wasn’t supposed to speak, so I waited instead.

  “If you’re asked a direct question, you can talk.” Miss Vee gave me a small smile.

  “Because I don’t like sharing,” I whispered.

  “Fair enough and there’s nothing wrong with that, pet. You’re a gift. Most people already know what they won’t do or aren’t into. The fact that you are new to this, will be exciting for both you and your Master. You can learn together what you like.”

  I opened my mouth to speak again but remembered the rule. Letting out a soft sigh, I waited until I was given permission.

  “I know you have questions, but this rule is to prepare you for what’s to come. You won’t be talking to your Master. He will be doing all the speaking and will be doing that through touch and touch alone.” Miss Vee walked past me, stopping in front of one of the large windows. “This room is my favorite. It’s our Sensory Deprivation room. Take away one sense to heighten another.” She sighed, her hand fluttering to her throat. “It can be quite intoxicating for both the sub and the master. Or mistress in my case.” She winked.

  I stepped up beside her, my gaze roaming around the room. It didn’t look like much. The walls were dark and there was a large bed sitting against one of them much like the others. But this one had a table stocked with feathers and other items that I couldn’t quite make out from where I was standing.

  “Have you ever been tickled into an orgasm?”

  I coughed and shook my head quickly.

  Miss Vee grinned. “This way.” She walked past me, to another door. “Remember, whatever your kink is, your Master will not judge you. Do you understand, Lexi?”

  I nodded. My kink. I bit back a scoff. I was so in way over my head.

  ***

  “Where the hell have you been?”

  I looked up from behind the computer screen and frowned. “Me?” I asked Charlie as he strode into the apartment. “I haven’t seen you in a week.” I glanced at the time at the corner of the screen. “It’s almost three in the morning. Where the hell have you been?”