by Chloe Lang
Dustin recalled Paris’s mother’s death. She’d died from anaphylactic shock back when Paris was sixteen and had just graduated from high school. They’d still been together then, and he and Mick had tried to comfort Paris through the overwhelming loss.
“You can’t blame yourself.” Dustin looked at the man who he’d admired since childhood. “That was different, Doc.”
“Was it, Dustin?”
“Of course it was. Your wife went into anaphylactic shock after eating shrimp. You came home and found her on the floor. It was too late.”
“My sweet Vera still had a heartbeat when I arrived. For the longest time I was my own prosecutor, scrutinizing every detail, looking for the mistake I knew was mine that had ended her life. You’re so like me, Dustin—a perfectionist.”
Trying to lighten his mentor’s mood, he smiled. “And that’s a bad thing?”
“It can be at times.” Dr. Cottrell’s eyes welled up, which was uncommon for him. “Losing my wife flattened my soul and filled me with doubt just like losing that young woman has done to you. I had been practicing medicine for decades. You hadn’t even finished your residency. No wonder you’re carrying such guilt. No wonder you’re broken. I was broken, too. Sam helped me out of the darkness into the light. He can help you, too. Paris loves you and Mick both. The three of you belong together. I don’t believe that she and Mick would be able to build a family without you, Dustin. They would feel nothing but guilt. Please, son. Promise me you’ll go see him.”
“If anyone else asked me, I would say ‘no,’ but because it’s you, I promise. I’ll go see Sam.”
Is it possible Sam could fix me so I could be good enough for Paris?
Chapter Seven
Choking back tears, Paris knew what she had to do, even though it would rip her heart to shreds.
I need to call Dr. Champion back. I need to make it official that I’m accepting his offer.
She grabbed her cell and saw she had a text from her dad.
“Just boarding the plane, sweetheart. Learned about your job offer in Nevada. We need to talk.”
Her heart seized in her chest. How had her father found out about the offer? Mick was the only one she’d told. But once one person in Destiny knew, the whole town knew shortly thereafter.
That secret is out. The other one about her being a surgeon was safe—locked away deep inside her.
Thankfully, her dad was in flight. She needed to call Dr. Champion now before she lost her nerve and definitely before she talked to her dad, who would ask her to reconsider. She didn’t want to reconsider. She couldn’t. Things were spinning out of control fast.
Before she could make the call, a knock on her front door startled her. She stood and pulled her pistol out of the cabinet drawer. Things had been quiet in town since Lunceford had been killed, but old habits died slowly. She clutched her gun, since she wasn’t expecting any visitors.
As she walked quietly to her front door, another knock, louder than before, echoed through her living room.
Her heart thudded in her chest. “Don’t let your imagination get the better of you, Paris. It could be anyone.”
She peered through her peephole and saw Mick standing on her front porch.
Relieved, she placed her pistol on the table.
She opened the door. “What are you doing here?”
“This.” He pulled her in tight, pressing his lips to hers, making her toes curl. When he released her, he captured her full attention with his green eyes. He knelt down on one knee. “I’ve come here to ask you to marry me, Paris Cottrell.”
“Mick, I just can’t say ‘yes.’”
“Then just don’t say ‘no.’” He grabbed her hand and squeezed, sending an electric spark up her arms. “Paris, we’ve waited for Dustin to come around. Both of us. It’s not fair to you or me.”
She closed her eyes, fighting back the loss of her dream. It felt like a massive lead weight in the center of her heart. She’d been avoiding this for far too long, holding onto a false hope. “I know it isn’t, but what else could we do? I love him and so do you.”
Mick stood, sweeping her up in his arms, kissing her with such intensity it completely overwhelmed her.
She melted into his arms and the tears fell. Unable to resist, she kissed him back. “Oh Mick, I love you so much. I wish I could say—”
“Baby, it’s okay.” He traced his fingers over her lips. “Don’t say anything. I just need you.”
“I need you, too. But—”
“Let’s just be tonight. Forget the ‘buts’ and ‘what-ifs.’ We can worry about all that later. Right now, we both need each other.” She sensed the depth of emotions he was keeping under control in every word from him. He was at a breaking point, just like she was. “We deserve to be together. Tonight.”
Is he right? “Mick, I know the past ten years have been hard on you.”
“On both of us.”
“And on Dustin, too, I believe.”
“This isn’t about Dustin, baby. This is about us. I love my brother, and I know you love him, too. Any other woman would’ve given up on him long ago.”
“I broke up with you guys. Didn’t I give up on him then?”
“Not a chance.” He feathered his lips over hers, causing her heart to skip several beats. “I knew you still believed he would come around, just the same as I did. But like I said earlier, we both have to accept that Dustin is Dustin. He’s not going to change.”
Mick carried her to her bedroom. She knew she should resist, should do the right thing, should say good-bye now—but she couldn’t. Every kiss and caress from him enflamed her desires for him.
He lowered her onto her bed.
I can stop this now. If I tell him to go, he will.
She looked deep into his green eyes and realized how much he wanted her. She wanted him, too. Tonight would be a chance to create a lasting memory that she could take with her when she left Destiny, although she knew it would rip her heart apart when she finally said good-bye.
Holding her breath, she placed her hand on the side of his face, feeling the prickle of his stubble on her fingertips. I will never forget you. “For tonight, Mick. Yes.”
“Not just for tonight, but for forever.”
“Mick, please. Let’s not think about tomorrow.”
He smiled and crawled in next to her. “The best thing to happen is to get you to stop thinking, baby. That brilliant mind of yours is spinning like crazy. I plan on helping you with that.” He pressed his lips to hers, sending his tongue into her willing mouth.
She closed her eyes, enjoying the taste of his lips. Dizzy with heat, she kissed him back, sending her arms around his neck. The intensity of her desire, which had been buried for so long, flooded out of her. He moved on top of her, his weight pinning her down. She wrapped her legs around his muscled frame, and though still fully clothed, felt her pussy get wet and her clit begin to tingle.
“I love you, Paris.” He kissed her neck, sending shivers up and down her spine. “I’ve never stopped loving you. I will never stop loving you. Never. You’re mine.”
“I love you, too. I love you so very much.”
He cupped her breasts through her top and began kneading them gently. Her nipples began to ache. She could feel them scraping against the fabric of her bra.
More kissing. Intense. Powerful. Demanding.
Her lips throbbed and swelled against his. He pulled her top over her head and unclasped her bra. When her breasts were free of any constriction, Mick bent down and licked her nipples, making her even wetter. His hands wandered up and down her sides, over her abdomen, and around her breasts as he began sucking on her breasts.
Her breathing became ragged and shallow. His caresses with his fingers and lips seemed to take every one of her breaths away.
He captured one of her nipples between his teeth, delivering a little sting that reminded her he was a Dom. It evoked a hot shiver that shot all the way down to her clit.
Now that she was crazed in his arms, she couldn’t wait to feel his rock-solid chest. “It’s been so long since I’ve touched you.”
He smiled, rolled to his side, and pulled his shirt off. “Touch me, baby.”
She ran her fingertips over his pecs and down his ripped abdomen. “My God, you’re even more muscled than before.”
He nuzzled her neck. “Ranching does that to a man. I want to see more of your gorgeous body, too, sweetheart.” He removed the remainder of her clothes.
When he pulled her jeans off, leaving her in only her panties, she felt a sudden flush of heat roll through her. She hadn’t been naked in front of him in a long time. Hell, she hadn’t been naked in front of anyone in a long time.
As his gaze went up and down her body, she felt a little tremble inside her. “My God, Paris. You’re even more beautiful than before.”
She grinned. “You’re just saying that. How in the world would you remember what I looked like?”
“I could never forget anything about you. Your body is perfection.” He bent over her, and his hot breath skated over her skin. “You’re everything that I’ve ever needed or wanted.” His lips moved down her stomach, and the fire inside her grew. He swung around on the mattress so his hips were in the perfect place for her to reach him.
When his mouth touched her pussy, the blaze became an inferno.
She reached between his legs and felt his massive cock through his jeans. Using her other hand, she unbuttoned the top button of his 501s. The long wait was over.
Mick’s tongue circled her clit but never touched, which drove her insane. He fingered her damp pussy until she was writhing on the bed.
When she unbuttoned the last of his Levi’s buttons, she pulled down his briefs and wrapped her fingers around his thick shaft. She pumped on his dick as he continued licking her into a frenzy of need. Her heartbeats came faster and faster as did her breaths. “That feels so good. Oh God, Mickey.”
“You haven’t called me that in a very long time, sweetheart. I love it when you do.”
He raked his tongue over her swollen folds and then captured her clit between his lips, applying the perfect pressure that sent her over the edge. The orgasm erupted and she felt a flood of sensations, electric and hot, rush through her. Her entire body shook as he parted her pussy’s lips with his fingers and sent two of them into her channel.
Sliding her fingers up and down his cock, she touched its tip and felt a pearly drop. “I want to taste you, too, Mickey.”
He pulled his jeans all the way off and tossed them to the floor. He moved next to her until they were in the perfect sixty-nine position. “I need to kiss you more, sweetheart.”
She gazed at his cock, which was right in front of her. So very hard. Ten inches. She cupped his heavy balls and squeezed softly.
He growled his approval. “Yes, baby. That’s it. Just right.”
She ran her tongue up and down his shaft, enjoying the heat that warmed her mouth. Circling the tip, she tasted his creamy saltiness. She could feel his lips back on her pussy, which felt incredible. It was her turn to pleasure him like he was pleasuring her. Swallowing as much as she could of his length, tingles continued to spread through her from the oral assault she felt from him between her own legs.
He cupped her ass, squeezing it just right. A moan vibrated through her throat as she sucked on him with all her might.
When he circled her anus with his finger, her desires grew and grew. The pressure inside her returned. Another climax was close. More than anything she wanted him to come. She increased the pressure of her lips on him, tightening around his cock as she continued to slide up and down him.
He moaned and she felt his body stiffen. She swallowed every drop he shot down her throat.
He pressed on her clit with his thumb and she came like a spewing volcano. Completely lost in her orgasm, she clawed at his flesh with her fingernails, pointlessly trying to steady herself.
There was nothing steady, nothing still, nothing calm about this moment with him. Everything inside her vibrated like wild.
He flipped around on the bed, pulling her in close to his body. It felt good to be in his arms, naked and exposed.
She closed her eyes and placed her head on his chest. She could hear the strong beats of his heart.
God, I love him so much. How will I ever be able to leave?
They stayed in that position until her climatic shivers began to subside.
“I love you, Paris. No one means more to me than you.” He kissed her tenderly. “I want to be inside your body, baby.”
“I need to feel you inside me, Mickey.”
“Keep calling me that and you’ll get anything you want.” He circled her anus with his finger, turning her on beyond belief. “I remember you enjoyed this. Seems you still do, too.”
“Oh God.”
He raked his tongue over her erect nipples and then bit down on them, delivering a sweet sting. “I remember you liked this, too.”
“Yes. Oh yes.”
“Still a submissive in the bedroom, I see.” He kissed her nipples and continued circling her anus with his hand. “My perfect Paris, just like before only better.”
“Thank you, Sir,” she said, sliding comfortably into her sexual submissive side.
“Damn, woman. You know just what to say to get me going.” He pulled his jeans off the floor and removed the belt. He wrapped the leather around her wrists and fastened the strap to the center of her headboard, constraining the movement of her arms and hands. “Fuck, you look hot, Paris.”
“I’m on fire, Sir.”
He grinned wickedly. “And I’m going to make sure you burn, sweetheart.”
She trembled excitedly as he wrapped her right ankle with the top sheet and attached it to one of the posts on her footboard. He used his jeans as a makeshift restraint, tying her other leg to the other post.
She watched him scan his handiwork as his gaze went up and down her body. She was extremely turned on, dying for his touch.
His eyes zeroed in on hers, capturing all her attention. “You are the most gorgeous creature I’ve ever seen.”
“So are you, Master.”
“It’s been a long time.” His eyes narrowed. “How are you feeling, baby?”
“I’m good, Sir.” Remembering the safe words they’d chosen, she added, “Sustained.”
He laughed, one of those hearty laughs that came from deep inside. She always loved hearing him chuckle. “I forgot we used legal jargon for our safe words. Since I’m not practicing law any more, perhaps we should use colors, baby.”
She shook her head. “Please, Sir. It doesn’t matter to me that you are or aren’t. Those words were the ones we chose together. They mean something to me. They remind me of how it was.”
He kissed her deeply. “And how it will be from now on, baby. Okay. ‘Sustained’ tells me you are good with whatever we’re doing. ‘Objection’ will mean I’m pushing in the wrong direction and need to take a step back. ‘Overruled’ is our hard stop word.”
“Yes, Sir.” Anxious to continue, she repeated, “Sustained. Sustained. Sustained. Thank you, Sir.”
“You’re too much, baby.” He grinned. “Let’s see. What shall I do with you, sub?”
She giggled.
“I’ll be right back, sweetheart.”
“Mickey, where are you going? What do you need?”
He tweaked her nipples again, and the bite warmed her entire body. “Did I give you permission to ask?”
“No, Sir.”
He kissed her. “Trust me. You’ll love what I have in mind for us.”
He swung his legs off the bed and walked out of her bedroom.
She tested his ties. Given enough time, she bet she could get free of them, not that she wanted to be free. The truth was it felt wonderful to be un
der his control. All she had to do was just let him take charge and trust him with her body and mind. Like riding a bike, all of it came back to her. The protocols. The lowering of her eyes. How to address him. Master. Sir.
Her body continued to buzz as she heard him in her kitchen, opening drawers and getting into cabinets. What in the world is he looking for?
When he returned, she was shocked to see him carrying so many items. Before she could get a clear picture of the objects, he placed one of her dishtowels over her eyes, using it to blindfold her.
“What state are you in, sub?”
“Sustained, Sir.”
“Perfect. What shall I use first on you?”
Listening to him arrange the things on the bed next to her only added to her curiosity. What had she seen first? A bowl. What was in the bowl? She hadn’t seen. A clinking sound told her he’d brought something metallic from her kitchen. What? Utensils, maybe.
“Mmm…so many choices.” He was driving her mad, which she knew he had to be enjoying. “This will work to get us started.”
She held her breath, waiting for his first move. She jerked slightly as something tickled her nipples. He traced the thing down her abdomen, circling her navel. Every nerve ending began to fire as he traced her sides with it. She realized it was her pastry brush and wondered if she would ever be able to look at it the same way again. Would she be able to make her famous cinnamon rolls dipped in icing without thinking about this moment? I hope not.
She giggled.
“Something funny, sub?” Mick’s voice sharpened, but she detected a hint of humor there as well. This was part of the play. He was Dom. She was sub.
“No, Sir. Nothing funny.”
“Let’s see how this feels on these.” He pressed something hard and stinging on her nipples.
Instantly, she knew it was ice as the cold drops dripped down her breasts. He held them there until she was writhing in her restraints. He removed the little frozen blocks and replaced them with his warm mouth.
She moaned, enjoying the feel of his tongue and lips on her breasts.