by Piper Flynn
“Marcus, you’re making a scene. Calm down. If you hate it when it’s finished, I’ll put everything back. But you really need to make a change to that space. It’s the first thing your clients see. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”
Kat giggled as Marcus took one step toward his receptionist before pivoting away and slamming out the door. “Hi there, Presley!” she called loudly.
The woman who’d been arguing with Marcus turned with a smile and headed in their direction. The rest of the diner resumed its normal conversations. “Hi Kat! Hey Emma. Hey Chase! How’s everyone doing?”
Emma smiled up at the young woman standing at the end of the booth. Presley Harper had crashed her car in front of the diner a few months back and now worked for Marcus at Hometown Tire. She was hilarious and one of the sweetest people she’d ever met. “We’re doing better than you, from the sound of things.”
Presley rolled her eyes. “He just cranky because he hasn’t eaten yet. Women aren’t the only ones that can get hangry. Soon as I feed him, he’ll be right as rain. Oh, Chase, I’m glad I caught you. Albert ordered a new tire for his Ducati. It came in on the truck just this morning. I was going to call when I got back to the shop. Bobby was working on it when I left.”
“Thanks, sweetheart. He loves that you bullied Marcus into carrying bike tires too. Saves him from a trip into Lincoln when he needs something.”
“I didn’t bully him. I made a suggestion and he saw the merit of actually following it. Seriously, the man isn’t ever going to reach the shop’s full potential if he doesn’t change some things around. Well, gotta go. We all have to get together soon. I need a margarita this big.” Stretching out her hands as far as they’d go, she winked and turned back to retrieve her order.
“I bet if you could go back in time to when Ruthie was that age, those two would be just alike. She’ll be dancing naked in the town fountain in a few years if she hangs around. I’m amazed Marcus hasn’t fired her,” Kat mused as she watched Presley land a big smacking kiss on top of the short-order cook’s bald head before hurrying out the door, laden down with food for the shop.
“I keep waiting for him to do it. I’d snap her up in a heartbeat for the café. She might even be able to handle the boys,” Emma said with a devilish smile.
“That’s why he doesn’t fire her. To keep her away from your brothers or any other man swinging a cock. Seriously ladies, how can you not see Marcus Valerian wants a piece of the lovely Presley in the worst possible way?”
Emma and Kat both sat there staring at him, dumbfounded. “Makes a strange sort of sense. Especially when she ran off that sleaze bag from Chicago. He was one of Marcus’s best clients. Talk was he lost a cool twenty thousand when the guy left.”
“He blamed it on Presley, but I happen to know sleaze bag put his hands on her and Marcus dropped him on his ass. Took two of the shop guys to haul him off the bastard. The guy swore he’d never come back as Marcus was ‘escorting’ him out the door.”
“How do you know?” Emma asked curiously. Chase always knew everything.
“Chase knows all, sweetling,” he said as he sat back, spreading out his arms on the back of the booth like a pagan god.
“Bobby,” they both said in unison.
Chase smiled and nodded. “The man cannot hold his tongue. Or his liquor.”
“I can’t wait to tell Jack. Maybe Marcus will come off of his to-be-killed list now.”
“How’s everything going over here? Can I get anyone a refill on their beverage?”
Emma looked up at the chirpy voice. “Not for me, thank you. It’s good to see you back, Ava. If you need anything, please let me know.”
“You are too sweet. But I’m just fine. If ya’ll don’t need anything, I’m going to leave your check right here. Just holler when you’re ready to pay up and I’ll take care of it.”
“Thanks, Ava,” Kat chimed in as the woman walked away.
“She seems better. Last week you could tell she was still moving rather stiffly.”
Emma watched her walk to another table and smile at the guys sitting there. Poor thing. Anyone watching wouldn’t think she’d spent the last two and half months on her sickbed. She’d caught something from a sick parent she’d gone to nurse and had almost died. Merle needed to make sure she wasn’t overdoing it. Being sick for that long had to make you really weak.
“Rock, paper, scissors for who pays?” Chase piped up as he took in the price of the bill.
“Get ready to have your ass whipped, Taz,” Kat said as she moved into position.
“Uhhmmm, dirty talk … that mean old Dom is a bad influence on you. I like it,” Chase said with a laugh. “Challenge accepted.”
* * * *
Ava watched the antics of the trio sitting in her booth. They were playing some sort of silly childhood game. It was taking every ounce of her being not to pick up a knife from the kitchen, walk over, and slit Emma Black’s throat open. Her Master had not been pleased when she’d failed to kill neither Emma nor Ronan. Then when he’d heard how her actions had caused the Kincaids to go on alert, he’d been furious. He’d had that disgusting lawyer of his contact a sadist friend he had outside of prison to pay her a visit. Taking a deep breath, she tried to cleanse her mind of the thoughts of those three horrible days and nights.
Where once she’d welcomed the kiss of a whip on her skin, she now shuddered at the thought of someone using one on her. The glorious cleansing power of a sweetly sharpened blade would be forever beyond her reach now. Her Master had delivered his message thoroughly without laying a hand on her. She was no longer his, no longer welcome to do his bidding. She had been cast aside like a mongrel. He had not cared if she’d lived through the torture or not. When her Master’s messenger had finished his job, she’d barely been alive.
Her back had been shredded to ribbons by various metal-tipped floggers and whips. Her thighs and breasts had been torn apart by his blades. She’d somehow crawled to a phone and summoned help. A friend had nursed her back from the brink of death. Now here she stood, looking at the woman who had caused the whole thing. She was going to kill her if it was the last thing she did. Once the deed was done, she’d finish off the Kincaids and show her Master she was worthy.
He had contacted her last week, cooing to her of his pride in her endurance. Telling her how he wished she had not pushed him to such extreme discipline. She’d wept to hear him say her true name, something other than “slave,” whispered in that hypnotic voice. Once again he accepted her as his own slave. Master Stone had sent her a care package—a memento, he said. From an artist whore he’d used and discarded. It had amused him to keep it to remind him of her demise. She’d been amazed when she’d opened the box and a cast of his massive cock was nestled inside.
She would never admit it to her Master, but she’d been a very naughty slave. She’d known immediately it was a replica of his dick and she’d used it thoroughly in both her pussy and ass long before he’d given her the command to do so. When he called she had it sitting out ready to use. He’d demanded she mount and ride it until she’d been spent. And she had, and it had been wondrous. As if her Master where there impaling her. She had a moment of doubt when she’d first opened the box. Her mind had flashed back to horrible things he’d had visited on her. Her insides had shriveled at the thought of the monstrous thing lying there. But this had been a sign of his forgiveness, of his love. Everything he’d done had been to strengthen her, to prove she was his and only his now. That she was worthy.
“He didn’t touch your pussy, did he, sweet Ava? Would you like to know why? That’s my pussy. No other dick will touch my pussy unless I demand it. He was not worthy of that sweetness. Has he ruined you for others, slave? Will another ever use that body of mine? Will you ever smile up sweetly at a man with a whip or knife? I saw the weakness in you, Ava. That weakness had to be expelled. You are my instrument. I cannot have you distracted by your body’s lust.”
Av
a had almost thrown up at the thought of a man touching her ever again. Never would she welcome that sweet pain again. It had been taken from her in order to make her pure for her Master. He’d known she was weak and would stray from her mission. She would let some man play with her while he sat helpless in that horrible place. He’d saved her by breaking her. Eventually the memories would fade from her like mist, and her mind and body would be pure.
Master Stone had told her to use the lawyer if she needed him, and to kill him afterward. It had lightened her spirits somewhat, just as he’d intended. She abhorred that dirty pencil-dicked old man. After whispering sweet words of praise into her ear, he’d disconnected the call.
“Miss, could I get a refill, please?”
Ava blinked at the man holding the cup of ice up to her. “Of course you can. Give me just a second.” Giving him a blinding smile, she turned in time to see her quarry walking out the door. That big bastard with a woman’s name followed not far behind. He might be a problem, but she’d think of something.
She’d heard them talking about Ronan being out of town. This would be the first chance she’d had to strike at the cunt. She needed to move fast, before her bastard boyfriend made her mission more difficult. Setting the cup, down she stripped off her apron and threw it on the ground. She could hear Merle calling for her but she didn’t care. That life was gone. She no longer had to hide her true nature from these horrible people. She was going to embrace what everyone had always told her was sick and twisted. Fuck them all. Her Master’s will would be done. She had a lawyer to visit tonight. Tomorrow, they’d make their move.
* * * *
“I miss you, little love.”
Emma hated to admit it, but she hated sleeping alone. In foster care she’d always had to share a bed with other children. A big empty bed had seemed like a luxury. Ronan had ruined the joys of a huge oversized bed for her. “I miss you too. I’m glad you got everything wrapped up so quickly. This bed is cold without you in it.” She plucked at the comforter as she spoke into her cell phone.
“I’ll be home by lunch. And Emma, the only thing I’m going to be hungry for is that sweet pussy. It’s been so long since I’ve had my head buried between your legs I might just eat on you for hours, little love.”
Emma felt said body part pulse in arousal. “I thought you might be hungry so I took the liberty of preparing your lunch for you.” She heard him growl—God, that got her hot—before he answered her.
“What have you done, sub?” His voice sounded a bit strained.
“Well, Master, I’ve been so lonely these last few days without you. So I took a trip to the spa with Kat to try to stop thinking about you.” Again she heard the growl.
“You should never stop thinking about me, little love,” he said in that whiskey smooth devil voice.
“While I was there, the technician talked me into getting my pussy waxed bare. It feels so soft now, Master.” She heard a string of indecipherable curses and the sound of blankets rustling.
“Sub, tell me how you know how soft that skin is now,” he demanded hoarsely.
“Well, Master, I must admit I touched myself before you called. I only ran my fingers over it a few times. It felt so good, like silk. I knew you told me not to touch your pussy, so I didn’t. I got out that little anal toy and used it there.” Emma smiled as she heard his breathing getting heavier.
“You dared to fuck yourself after I told you not to?” Ronan’s voice sounded guttural, slurred.
“Only my backside, Master. Not my pussy. I must admit I did come several times.” She smiled as she heard him groan. She knew he’d started jacking off the moment she’d mentioned the wax. Her pussy was weeping with the need to be stroked.
“You will be punished, sub. You knew exactly what I meant and still you pleasured yourself.”
Pulling back the comforter, she pushed past her panties, running a finger over her wet opening. She couldn’t help the indrawn breath. “I feel so wet, Master. My juices have soaked my panties.”
“That’s another punishment, sub. You don’t wear panties in my bed. Remove them,” Ronan barked out.
Emma put the phone down and turned on the speaker function. Lifting her hips, she took off her panties and splayed her legs wide. With one hand she started dipping into her opening, then spreading the moisture onto her engorged clit. She put the phone on her thigh and started rapidly strumming her clit. There was no way Ronan didn’t hear the wet sounds her pussy and fingers were making.
“Emma, dear God, please tell me that’s not what I think it is. Have mercy, woman.”
Emma was beyond answering. Her pace increased as her orgasm neared and she couldn’t stop the sounds escaping her mouth as the pleasure built and then burst over her entire body. She convulsed, sending the phone to rest between her outstretched thighs. She could hear Ronan give his own shout over the sound of breathing. A minute passed before she heard him speak.
“You are in so much trouble, little love. I want you to lick those fingers clean. Don’t waste a drop of that sweet nectar.”
Emma brought her hand to her mouth, smelling herself. She imagined Ronan watching her do this very thing and groaned as she licked each digit clean.
“Don’t you taste like heaven, little love?”
Emma opened her eyes surprised she was already starting to feel aroused again. “Heaven might be a strong word to use, Master.”
“I’m going to bury my head between your thighs and feast for hours. Son of a bitch, my dick is hard again. Fuck. I’ve got to get some more work done, little love. Think of me tonight. I love you, baby.”
“I love you too, Ronan. Please hurry home.”
“I’ll be there before lunch, little love, if I have to drag the greedy bastard out of bed to sign these goddamn contracts. Hell, I might go across the hall and do it tonight. I need to get home to teach my beautiful sub the error of her bratty behavior.”
Emma giggled and said one last goodbye before hanging up the phone. Rolling onto her belly, she snuggled down into Ronan’s pillow, taking in a deep breath, trying to take in his scent. She loved him so much she ached with it. Tomorrow he’d be back home and her ass would probably be equal parts sore and red after the little stunt she’d just pulled. Smiling to herself, she let her hand wander back down to her folds. Rubbing her clit, she gave a moan at how good it felt. In for a penny, in for a pound, she thought as her hips lifted into the touch, ready for another round. After making herself come several times she fell back onto Ronan’s side of the bed and let her mind drift off into a dreamless slumber.
Chapter 9
Emma looked up as the chime sounded on the door with a ready smile. The café had been open for a couple of months and busier than ever. They still hadn’t found full-time help. She had a high school kid working on the weekends. She’d planned on shutting down early today because Ronan should have been back at lunch but a storm front had moved through, delaying his flight and pushing his arrival time back until evening. Instead of sitting at home waiting and pacing, she’d stayed in town to work. “Hi there. I’m about ready to close up but I do have a few things still available if you’d like a cold sandwich or smoothie.”
The older gentleman walked closer. He looked oddly familiar to her but she couldn’t put her finger on it. His hands were shoved in his rumpled suit pockets and he looked like he didn’t feel well, almost feverish. Maybe she had some of that spinach orzo to send home with him. Garlic and onion worked wonders for a cold.
“What can I get for you?” When he still didn’t answer, just looked at her with a slightly panicked expression, she walked around the corner, thinking maybe the poor guy was having an attack of some sort.
“Sir, let’s sit you down, you look like you’re about to pass out. I’ll call for—” She never finished her sentence. Looking down, she noticed one of his hands had moved out of his jacket and was holding a small-caliber pistol. She shot a quick glance over her shoulder, praying Connie would come walk
ing out.
“He’s not back there, girl. She hit him with a crowbar and dumped him. I think he’s dead.”
Emma looked back at the man with wide eyes. “What? Wait, what are you talking about? Connie can’t be dead. Did you say ‘she’? What’s going on? There’s money in the register but not much. Most people pay with debit cards. Take it all and just leave. I won’t even call the cops.”
Hand still shaking, he waved the gun, motioning her back behind the counter as he walked over and locked the entrance door, turning the sign to Closed. “I’m not a bad person, I swear. But I made a bad choice and now he’s going to ruin my life if I don’t cooperate. The sneaky bastard recorded it all. Every minute of it. I’ll be disbarred, shunned by my peers. I could go to jail. You have to understand I can’t do that. I’d never survive jail. I’ve made too many enemies over the years, defending all those criminals.”
Emma had no idea what he was talking about. “I’m sorry. I don’t understand what you’re talking about. Disbarred? Are you a lawyer?”
“He’s a worthless piece of shit who let his dick do the thinking and now he has to pay for his play. Isn’t that right, Walter?”
Emma turned at the sound of the feminine voice behind her. It was Ava, the waitress from the diner. She must have come through the other door that opened up into her brother’s home. What was going on? “Ava?”
“Ava?” she mimicked in a high shrill voice. “Yes, it’s fucking Ava, and that idiot over there is the Honorable Walter Benson. I needed him to contain you while I took care of your bodyguard. It’s amazing how stupid men are. Always so helpful to us little ladies in distress. Bet he thinks twice before offering to look under someone’s hood again … oh wait, he’d have to be alive to do that. I’m pretty sure I caved his skull in with that lovely piece of iron.”