Essential Master (Doms of Napa Valley) (16 page)

“No worries.” She fled down the hall,
barely aware of both men’s eyes boring holes in her back. Slipping into the
bathroom, she leaned against the door. What the hell was she going to do?
Allison wanted her to testify against Zebadiah. The same man who had managed to
slip into her heart, with not only his bravery in trying again, but also his
humor. Coupled with his submissive nature and the intense chemistry between the
three of them, it was no wonder she’d fallen for him. What the hell was she
going to do? Sinking down until she was sitting on the floor, she covered her
face with her hands. What the hell was she going to do? Because sure as the sun
rose in the East, if she testified on Allison’s behalf, Zebadiah would see it
as a betrayal, and ruin any chance she had of being Zebadiah’s new mistress.

“God damn you, Allison Teelen. You’re even
a bigger pain in the ass now, than when I had to guard your spoiled ass in
college.”

Chapter Fifteen

“All right what’s going on, Steph?” Nicky
asked as he held the heavy bag for her. Since it was three in the morning and
he’d found her in the exercise room trying to work her frustrations out on the
equipment, it was a logical question. “You’ve been an uptight bitch since our
outing with Zeb last week.”

“Nothing,” she huffed, continuing to pummel
the bag, sweat coursing down her body. She wasn’t ready yet to tell her Dom
that an old assignment from hell was about to ruin their chances with Zebadiah.
Instead, she’d focused on the here and now. Hording their stolen moments with
him, like the priceless gems they were.

“No, it’s not nothing…” Nicky straightened
and crossed his arms over his chest, looking every inch the pissed off Dom, in
athletic shorts he’d obviously pulled on before joining her. At first he hadn’t
said anything as he’d braced the bag for her, allowing her to pummel it until
she was a sweaty mess. But evidently, he was tired of holding his tongue. “…and
unless you want to spend the next two hours bent over my lap getting your
bottom warmed, I suggest you tell me. I’ll allow no secrets between us.”

Dropping her hands, she glared at him.
“Don’t push, Nicky. Just don’t push.” She turned to leave the exercise room,
only to find her sweaty self pressed up against the door, with Nicky’s warm
body pinning her in place. Any other time, she’d have wiggled against him,
savoring his closeness, but this time she was pissed. He was trying to force
what she was sure was going to be the beginning of the end. Straightening her
arms, she tried to lever herself away from the wooden door, only to be pushed
back by her master. “Let me go, dammit. Don’t make me hurt you, Nicky. I’ll
talk about it when I’m ready. Not before.”

“That’s what you think, slave.” His hand
swatted her hip. “You gave me this body the day you accepted my collar. And if
I want to keep you pressed against this door the rest of the night, I will.”
His teeth nipped at her ear. “Which is exactly what I’m going to do - until you
tell me what’s eating at you.”

“And if I safeword?” she whispered, tears
stinging the back of her eyes.

She’d have to give Nicky credit. He barely
paused at her threat. He buried his right hand in her hair, jerking her back
until she had to meet his intense stare. “Then I’ll let you up, and we’ll go
upstairs where we
will
talk this over
like civilized humans. But either way we’re getting to the bottom of this. I
want my
cara mia
back, not the
distant woman she reverted to.” His hand rubbed over the spot he smacked. “Let
me in, Stephanie. Quit shutting me out.”

The dam that’d been holding everything
back, cracked. “I can’t. You’ll be disappointed, and Zeb….probably won’t speak
to me … maybe either one of us, ever again.” A tear escaped, running down her
cheek.

“What? This has to do with the papers you
were served while we were in Vegas, doesn’t it?” She suddenly found herself
spun around to face him, his hands hard bands around her upper arms as he gave
her a gentle shake. “You fool. Zebadiah realizes you have no choice in the
matter. You were served for fuck’s sake. You’ll go and tell the truth and then
come home to Zeb and me.”

Her eyes widened. “He knows? But he’s still
talking to me…”

“Of course he knows. I explained it to him
while you were in the bathroom. He didn’t understand why you lit out of there
like your ass was on fire.”

“And he’s not angry with me? How can he not
be mad? I’d be furious if I was in his place…”

He shook his head before lifting her up in
his arms. “Obviously you’re not going to take my word for it. We’re getting him
on the phone. I’m going to put an end to this right now.” Carrying her up the
steps and down the hall, he moved through his study and into their room.
Tossing her on the bed, she landed after bouncing twice. Rolling to her side,
she eyed the open bathroom door a few feet away from her. But before she could
scramble into an upright position, she found herself restrained by the leather cuffs
Nicky had attached to each corner of their bed.

“Is this really necessary? It’s three in
the morning. He’ll be sleeping.” She rattled the silver chains attached to each
cuff.

Sitting down beside her, he reached for the
phone on the nightstand. “Yeah it is necessary. I’m sure he’s just tired as I
am of your evasions. It’s best to get this out in the open. The chains are just
to assure myself you’re not going to lock yourself in the bathroom again.”

She glared at him as he dialed the number
then placed it on speakerphone. How the hell had he known she was going to try
that?

“And don’t deny it. Because I know you. You
may be a brave when it comes to risking your life to protect others, but the
minute you think something is going to hurt emotionally, you close yourself
off.” He leaned over her as the phone rang. “But I’m not going to let you do
that this time.”

A few moments later, a rather sleepy
sounding Zebadiah came on the phone. “Hmmm….yeah?”

“Sorry to wake you up,
il mio colibrì,
but I need your help with Steph. It seems your
ma’am is under the impression you’re angry with her.”

There was a pause. “Excuse…” a loud yawn
filtered through the phone. “…me? Why would I be angry with her?”

“She thinks she’s going to lose you because
of this situation with Allison.”

“Really?” Zeb seemed to be waking up fast.
“And why the
fuck
would she even
think such a thing? My former mistress is a bitch, and like all spoiled brats,
she’s looking for a way out. That’s all the subpoena is. She’s hoping by
bringing Steph in as a character witness, she’s going to be able to distract
the jury from what she did to me. ” There was a rustling sound as if Zebadiah
had kicked the covers off.

“But…if I’m honest and you end up losing…”
Steph stammered.

“Then that’s the way the cards play out.
But somehow I don’t think you’re believing me. So maybe you’ll listen if I tell
you face to face. I’ll be right there.” A loud click echoed through the room.

“Aw hell, he’s coming here, isn’t he?” She
swallowed hard as Nicky gave her a wicked grin.

“Somehow I don’t think a herd of wild
horses will keep him from showing up.”

* * * *

Shoving
the car into park, Zebadiah parked his little Honda between the two SUV
s outside of Steph and Nicky’s home. As he got out, he sighed.
He couldn’t believe Allison was, once more, trying to ruin something he wanted.
It pissed him off to no end knowing the woman couldn’t leave well enough alone.

Jogging up the walk, he barely paused as he
vaulted onto the porch, only to be greeted by Nicky. Brushing by the man, he
placed his hands on his slender hips. “Where is she?”

Nicky clapped a hand over Zeb’s shoulder.
“She’s in our bedroom. But before we go and join her, we need to have a quick
talk.” Nicky steered him towards the kitchen. As the man flipped on the light,
Zeb’s jaw nearly hit the floor. Pausing in front of the fridge in nothing but a
thin pair of shorts, he made Zeb’s mouth water. It was the first time he’d seen
so much bare skin. The urge to explore the muscled contours of Nicky’s back was
an impulse he barely controlled. He was here to set Steph straight.

“Water? Coffee?” Nicky asked over his
shoulder. “Or we have some grapefruit juice if you like that kind of thing.
It’s Steph’s….” Nicky shuddered. “I don’t know how she drinks it.”

A smile tugged at Zeb’s lips. “I hear it’s
an acquired taste.” He joined Nicky at the counter. “Water’s fine.”

Pulling two bottles of water from the
fridge, Nicky ushered him over to the table. “Sit, please.”

Pulling out the chair, Zeb flipped it
around and straddled it, resting his arms on the back of it as he gazed at
Nicky.

“So what do we need to go over, Sir? I
thought I was coming over to put Ma’am straight about this thing with the
subpoena.”

A smile tugged at the corners of Nicky’s
sensual mouth. “You are. I just don’t think it’s only this situation with
Allison serving her. I think it has to do with the fact that while you may call
us Sir and Ma’am, Steph is struggling with the fact we’re not in a committed
relationship yet.”

Zeb frowned, his mind trying to wrap around
what Nicky was saying. “So in other words, you think she’s doubting her place
in my life?”

“Not necessarily her place in your life,
but your commitment to us as a couple. I think she automatically assumed you’d
toss her and therefore me, out of your life when you found out about Allison’s
stunt.”

Disbelief coursed through Zeb. “Why would
she think that? The person who’s subpoenaed has no control over that.” He
wrapped his hands around the spindles on the ladder back chair.

“Despite all her bravado,
il mio colibrì,
she shies away from
serious emotional entanglements. It took me nearly six months of fucking her
brains out before she realized I’d suckered her into a relationship with me.”

“But didn’t you two decide to ask a third
to join your relationship? How can she be leery of letting me in, but still
want me as your third?” A frown creased his brow. “Unless of course, she’s only
planning on it only being physical?”

He suddenly felt like he needed to puke. Of
all the things to come out of his trip to Nicky’s, finding out Steph wanted him
for nothing more than a dick to scratch was a shock.

“Whoa…slow the train down. I’m not saying
Steph wants to use you for just sex. I’m just trying to explain….fuck, I’m no
good at this shit.” Nicky set down his bottle of water. “We both want a
committed relationship with you, it’s just…Steph is stubborn about allowing any
person get close to her emotionally, and you, my dear Zebadiah, have managed
with barely an effort to slip past her defenses, and she’s scared.”

Understanding dawned on Zeb. “So in other
words, you want me to take care when dealing with her tonight?”

“In a way. I don’t want you to handle her
with kid gloves. The fact you came over to deal with the matter personally will
go a long way with her insecurities about our future together. But bowing down
to her will do more harm than good. Steph is a true switch, Zeb. She enjoys the
way you submit, but now’s not the time to show her your submissive side -
she’ll only think you’re doing it to placate her. No, tonight she needs a firm
hand, and reassurances that regardless of the outcome of your trial…”

“I’ll still want her.” Zeb nodded. “I can
do that. I may be submissive, but I’m not a doormat, regardless of what my past
actions might prove. And if I need to step outside of being a submissive to
show her, then so be it.” He stood. “Shall we?”

Nicky nodded. “Yeah. Just let me grab
another water for her.”

Zeb waited as Sir grabbed the drink,
wondering how he was going to convince Steph the damned subpoena was going to
have little effect on their budding relationship. As Nicky joined him at the
door, an idea formed in his head. It was risky, but it might work, no matter
how much his body protested the idea of topping Steph.

As Nicky joined him, he turned to the man
he hoped to one day call Master. “I have an idea, but it’s going to take a leap
of faith on both of our parts.”

“Really? Do tell?” Nicky sounded intrigued.

He took a deep breath. “I want to top her.
You said submissiveness wouldn’t work tonight. So…”

Nicky narrowed his eyes. “So by dominating
her, you’re hoping to show her you’re willing to go outside your comfort zone,
even if we’re not a committed triad?”

Zeb nodded. ”Yeah. If I’m willing to do
something this uncomfortable for me, shouldn’t it stand to reason a stupid
little piece of paper isn’t going to change things between us? But before I can
do that…”

Understanding filled Nicky’s face, along
with a mischievous gleam followed by a huge grin. “...you need permission from
me as her Master.”

“Exactly.” For a second, Zeb wondered if
he’d stepped over the line.

“Then consider it granted…” A cunning look
entered Nicky’s gaze. “…as long as I can watch.”

A chuckle escaped Zeb, at the man’s
stipulation. He’d expected nothing less. Zeb just hoped by doing this, he
didn’t unleash a can of worms he couldn’t control. “Of course. I’m going to
need you there for support.”

* * * *

Seething
was a kind word for the turmoil racing through Steph
’s brain. She’d heard Zeb’s car pull up nearly fifteen minutes ago,
and Nicky had left to greet him. Then she’d heard their voices from what
sounded like the kitchen. As they continued to talk, the uncomfortable knot in
her stomach tightened. She couldn’t make out their words through the two open
doors, but she had a feeling whatever they were talking about wasn’t going to
end well for her. She knew she’d been foolish to keep her fear from Nicky for
as long as she had, but Zeb was a totally unknown quantity. How was her Sexy
going to react to the fact she hadn’t come to him immediately?

“
Cara
mia,
Zeb’s here and would like to talk to you.”