by Lisabet Sarai, Amy Armstrong, Sam Crescent, Cheryl Dragon, Tanith Davenport
Richard grabbed her arm, pulling her away from the common area and ushering her into a smaller room off the main hallway. Away from the prying eyes of the company, the threat of tears intensified. Serena sniffled, trying to keep them back, desperate to hold onto what remained of her dignity.
Richard pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. His rich male scent overwhelmed her senses, so familiar and comforting that all she wanted was to curl into him. But as much as she wanted to, she couldn’t give in to the urge. Not anymore.
“What’s wrong, pet?” His breath whispered across her cheek. His hand wrapped around her nape, offering more comfort than she realised one touch could.
“I’m not your pet anymore.” She tried to pull from his hold, the tears falling freely down her cheeks, but he held her tight, not allowing her the space to escape.
“You can reject me as your Master. That’s your right.” He leaned a little closer, his thumb rubbing across the base of her throat, right where her pulse pounded, almost making her moan. “But you’ll always be my pet.”
The tears broke through, pouring down her face, racking her body with sobs. He can’t mean that. Not after she’d rejected his proposal and walked out on him. She tried to hold them back, but it was like a tiny tornado inside her—no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t keep back the storm. And through it all, her Master held her, cradling her against his chest, offering her support where she had none.
“It’s all right, pet. Let it out,” he whispered in her ear. One hand held her tight to his body, while the other rubbed her back, calming her the best he could.
When the tears subsided, mostly, she looked up at him, surprised by the earnest concern she found in his eyes. The urge to drop to her knees and offer to do anything to ease his torment welled up within her. She’d even bend over and let him spank her to bruises if it would remove the pain from his face.
Worry lines raced across his forehead and bracketed his mouth. Without thinking, she reached up, smoothing out the wrinkles with her fingers. At her touch, his eyes blazed, heating with a different emotion.
Instantly, she dropped her fingers. What had she been thinking? She shouldn’t touch him. Such a sign of weakness was enough to tempt the beast lying within him. But she couldn’t take it back now.
“What did you want to talk about, Mr Barrett?” She tried to use her most professional tone, hoping to address the reason he’d first approached her and get out of this room as fast as possible. But the husky sound still penetrated her voice at the mere proximity to her Master.
“I wanted to talk to you about the question I asked last night.”
Oh no. Cold instantly surrounded her, shivering across her skin. Locking her knees to remain upright, she dropped her eyes to the ground, unable to look at more than his boots and maintain her composure. Why was he bringing this up again? It had been torture for her to leave him last night, to stay alone in her hotel room when her Master was only a few short floors away. She’d walked away for a reason, one that couldn’t be changed overnight. What more could there be to say?
His iron grip wrapped around her cheek, directing her eyes up to his and not allowing her to escape his gaze. “I don’t think I was clear last night.” He rubbed his thumb across her cheekbone, the honest emotion in his eyes stealing her breath.
“Yes, I believe marrying you would help with the merger, maybe even in future deals I haven’t begun yet. But that’s not the reason I want to marry you.
“I want to marry you because I know this isn’t enough for me anymore. I want you in my bed every night. I want to wake up to your soft body pressed against me each morning. No more sneaking out before daybreak, no more only one week a year. I want all of it. I want all of you, my pet.”
She locked her jaw, forcing back the whimper threatening to escape her throat. The urge to lean into him, to press her face into his neck and whisper how all she wanted was the same was almost too hard to resist. But she couldn’t.
She shook her head. His words, while beautiful, weren’t enough to change the differences between them. “I can’t.”
“Why not?” His tone was commanding, fierce, definitely that of her Master. Yet even his dominant tone couldn’t disguise the pain in his voice.
“I’m not the right woman for you.” Her voice croaked, pain slicing through her heart. No matter how truthful it might be, it still hurt to admit. “I’m not the kind of woman who should be on the arm of a man like you. I’m not beautiful or sophisticated. I’m not like the women you’re used to dating.”
He grasped her chin between his thumb and forefinger, forcing her head back with enough strength to send a tingle of electricity down her nerves. Her nipples prickled and her pussy dampened at the touch. They’d only spent one night apart, yet to her body it had been a lifetime. Already, with just the forceful touch, she was shaking and on the edge, desperate for more.
“I don’t want to ever hear you talk about yourself like that.” His voice was deep and husky. His eyes flared down at her. “You’re just as beautiful as those women. But you’re so much more than a pretty face.
“Those women might have been perfect for a society function. But they could never give me what you do, your trust, your submission. It’s more stunning than all those women combined. And the way you offer it to me so completely, without reservation, takes my breath away each time.”
Her Master pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her temple. “I never wanted any of those women. Not like I want you. Why do you think I always came back to you?”
She’d never really thought about it. Always assumed she was just easy or convenient. But even in its unconventional nature, it was the longest relationship she’d ever had, and from his question, she guessed her Master could say the same.
“I haven’t played with another woman in years.”
That can’t possibly be. Her Master was gorgeous, rich and powerful. He’d have subs hanging all over him if he stepped within fifteen feet of a club. Could he really rise above such temptation? Could any man?
Her Master had never lied to her before, and she wanted more than anything to believe him, but the questions remained. “What about the pictures of you on page seven exiting Burnt Thorn?”
He smiled. “Saw those, did you?” She tried to duck her eyes again, but his grip wouldn’t allow her gaze to fall too far. “I just had a drink with Dante at the bar. That’s all.” He slid his finger down her throat, his touch teasing, and her knees shook, her body weak beneath his touch. “I still go to the club some. That’s where all my friends spend their nights.” He winked at her. “I taught a few instructional sessions, and helped a few other Doms, but I haven’t taken on another sub since the first day we met.”
Serena released a breath she hadn’t even known she’d been holding. Could it be true? Did he really not want anyone else? Was it possible he’d not dominated anyone since the beginning of their relationship? She hadn’t been with another man since allowing him to top her. She’d tried at first, gone on a few dates, attended a few parties, but no one compared to her Master. It was easy to believe she spent her nights alone on her couch watching crime shows, but he was a different story. He was gorgeous and forceful and rich. How could he not have women falling all over him? Begging for his mastery?
“What about the women I saw you photographed with?” Her voice shook, her whole body quivering, as she waited for his answer.
He smiled down at her, brushing his thumb across her bottom lip in a smooth motion that set her heart pounding. “Most of those were arranged by my public relations team. They were nice and all, but they didn’t interest me. They certainly couldn’t build me a transatlantic flier that uses eight per cent less fuel.”
She glared up at him. “I thought you couldn’t have your wife working for you?”
He shook his head. “That’s what I thought. But the more I considered it, the more I realised I want a wife who I can share everything with. A woman I can share my ne
ed for domination and control with, as well as someone who can understand the thrill of gliding above the clouds.”
He slid his fingers down the sensitive skin of her throat, and she fought to focus on the conversation. “I’m not saying it’s going to be easy. I don’t quite know how we’ll work it out. But I know I want you. All of you. And the rest we’ll figure out as we go. As long as you promise to tell me what you want.”
He stared into her eyes, his gaze so profound and focused that she actually believed him. She believed he cared for her. She believed he wanted more from her than to adorn his arm. He needed more than a gorgeous woman he could pull out for parties and show off to the reporters. He wanted someone who could submit to him, who could accept each one of his darker urges and enjoy them just as much as he did.
But could that really be enough? Could that be enough to keep him? Enough to build a whole life around?
“I got something for you.” He pulled a long red velvet box from behind his back, holding it out before her.
She lifted her hand, about to reject the gift. She didn’t need treasures from him, she had her own money to buy jewellery. That had never been why she’d been with him. But before she could say a word, he popped open the case and she couldn’t breathe, let alone speak.
“Do you know what this is, pet?” He reached out to stroke along the length of diamonds housed in the box.
She shook her head. She had an idea. At least she hoped she did. But she wanted to hear him say it. She needed to know in his words what the contents meant to him.
“This is a collar. It tells the rest of the world that you are mine.” He pointed to the ruby bird at one end and the small golden stick at the other. “When the two ends are connected, nothing can remove the necklace but a key.” He reached into his shirt collar and pulled a thin golden chain from around his neck, revealing a dangling key, as small and dainty as the bird and its golden perch. “This key.”
“It’s beautiful.” She reached out to touch the necklace. Her fingers shook across the cold hard stones.
“I wanted to give you something special, something no one else had. And I remembered you liked birds. You told me once you based every one of your designs on how nature has engineered them to be the perfect fliers.”
She looked up at him, surprised. “I said that during my interview. That was over five years ago.”
He nodded again. “It’s what made me want to hire you. Your passion.” He took a step closer, and her body sagged, desperate to be in his arms again. If only she could be sure her body was right, she’d jump in his embrace right now.
“It’s also what made me take you to my bed that first night.”
She sighed, remembering that night. The light drunken feeling created by a few too many glasses of champagne as she had talked up the boss about all the ambitions she had for her division, all the ways she wanted to improve their planes, make them faster, stronger, bigger. And then the sensation of floating when the man she’d lusted over for a year had not only taken her to his bed, but shown her a mastery of her body that had made her toes curl.
Even from the first night, from their first kiss, they’d been perfectly matched in every need and desire.
“Can I put it on you?” he asked with such hesitation and concern that it almost broke her heart. She wanted nothing more than to kneel at his feet, press her face to his chest and let him pin that gorgeous collar around her neck. She wanted the whole world to know she was his, to make his ownership of her as official to the world as it had been to her the first time he’d touched her.
But she paused, unsure. This step was a large one, especially considering how limited their relationship had been before. Could they really go from only seeing each other once a year to every day? Was that even possible?
Richard stepped towards her, wrapping his hand around her nape and tipping her gaze up to his. His eyes were fierce. His lips set in a determined line. “I know it won’t be easy. But I’m determined to make this work. I can’t live with only a little bit of you anymore. I want all of you, I need all of you. The rest we’ll work out as we go.”
“Are you sure?” The quiver in her voice gave her away. There was no question in her mind that he was the Master for her. He had been since the first moment she’d met him. The safety and security she’d felt around him had freed her in a way she’d never been before, allowing her to push her boundaries further, knowing he’d always take care of her. But she’d never been as sure of his emotions. And if they tried this and failed—if she failed him, she wasn’t sure she’d survive.
“I want to marry you, pet.” He leaned his forehead against hers. His warm breath on her face and his strong hands on her body filled her with deep calm and security. “Not for the merger, not for a business deal, but because you are the pet for me. Because no other woman can keep me on my toes and submit to me so beautifully at the same time like you do. Because these stolen conference nights are not enough.” Their eyes met, his dark gaze enveloping her from head to toe. All that she was, all she could be, was his. “I want more.”
She nodded, her whole body shaking beneath the elation. “Yes, Master.”
His lips descended on hers, depriving her of the remaining oxygen in her lungs and sending her into oblivion.
He pulled back, his hand still holding the nape of her neck hard enough to keep her in place. He reached behind him, plucking the jewellery from its box. The radiant jewels in his hand filled her vision and her stomach flipped. Everything else vanished besides him and the promise held in his grip. He wouldn’t ask her again, and she didn’t care. She didn’t need him to ask. She wanted his collar. She wanted to be owned by him. Only him.
He wrapped the necklace around her throat. The fit was tight, perfect. The golden perch slid through the robin’s feet and the mechanism clicked, locking shut. Her entire body sagged. Her knees weakened. She leaned into him, needing the support, his warm hard body the only steady space in the room.
Nothing could make her feel more his than the row of diamonds around her neck. Not his ring on her finger, not his name on hers. Not his declaration to the press or the board. And not a wedding held in the white chapel down the street, with Elvis leading her down the aisle.
He wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her tight. “It’s all right, pet,” he whispered in her ear, “I’ve got you. You’re mine now.”
Her heart settled into a slow, easy thump. She was his now. His completely and forever. The rest was just paperwork.
Epilogue
“I’m so sorry, pet.” Richard dropped his suit jacket onto the hotel chair as they settled back into his room. “I told them I didn’t want any cameras. That we wanted a private ceremony.”
Serena shook her head, dropping the bouquet of roses onto the nightstand. Their wedding had been perfect, small and quiet, exactly what she had wanted, even with the paparazzi.
“It’s fine.” She pulled the pins from her hair, releasing the length down her back. “They’d need a picture eventually. Might as well be now.”
He came up behind her, his hot breath tickling along her nape, his musky scent weakening her knees. “Don’t lie to me, pet,” he whispered against her ear. Her entire body sagged beneath the power vibrating through his voice. She leaned into him, appreciating his strength against her. “You loved all those men calling your name, demanding your attention.” He fumbled along her back, finding the tab to her zipper and sliding it down with a quick aggressive pull.
She had, but not because she wanted the attention, or cared about having her picture in the tabloids. “I only love that you’d claimed me as yours, for everyone to see.”
“And don’t you dare forget it.” He shoved the layers of lily and snow down her legs, dropping the bulky wedding dress to the ground and setting every inch of her skin tingling.
“Never, Master.” She leant back against his shoulder. He placed his lips on her neck, just above the diamond collar he’d gifted her with.
“You remembered,” he released with a husky rumble that curled her toes. Pulling back, he stared down at her ass, naked beneath the garter belt encircling her waist. She wrapped her arms around her chest, cold without his support behind her. “You’re not wearing any underwear.”
“Yes, Master.” She smiled, proud of how she’d pleased him. “I could afford to sacrifice a few pairs a year, but not one every day.”
He chuckled. “Very smart, my pet.” He slid his hand up between her thighs, thrust two fingers deep into her cunt and she gasped. “Maybe, if you’re really good, I’ll rip something else off you instead.”
She shivered beneath his words. Dear God, please.
“But first, on the bed, pet. Lie down on your back, your legs spread wide.”
Her stomach fluttered at the steel tone. The one that said he wouldn’t ask twice. She pulled back from him, stepping to the king-sized bed on wobbly legs. She threw herself down on the mattress, spreading her legs wide, too turned on to give a damn about modesty. She’d let go of such emotions long ago, much preferring to pleasure her Master.
Turning her head, she stared up at him, waiting for him to remove the slip of silk from his pocket, or wherever else he might hide it, and cover her eyes.
As if reading her mind, he smiled down at her. “No blindfold this time, pet. Now that you’re mine, I want to see those gorgeous eyes looking up at me while I’m inside you.” He curled his hand around her nape, his hold commanding. “No more hiding.”
She nodded, wanting the same more than her own breath. She didn’t want to hide anymore, not from who they were, what they wanted. After today, the whole world would know she was his, and she’d never been happier.