His to Control (Cape Falls) (3 page)

He grabbed the brandy and swallowed it down in one gulp.

“Her mother is a bitch. I mean of the highest order. The little I know about Daisy is the fact her dates have taken her out on one date, but once they met the mother, that was it. Nothing.”

“This woman sounds seriously messed up.” William put the glass back on the counter.

“She is messed up. A bitter old woman is a better description.”

“And let me guess, Daisy ends up taking a lot of the blame for all the wrong in her mother’s life.”

“Pretty much,” Peter said.

“Figures.” William stared at the phone. The anger inside him was the only thing stopping him from calling the Steer brothers. He wanted to give them all a fucking hiding.

You’ve got feelings for Daisy. You want to protect her.

Shut up, you sick fuck. She’s twenty-five years old.

“I wanted to apologise for what happened earlier, William. I’m not used to dealing with this stuff every day.”

“I understand. You’re used to watching Laura being hopelessly in love with her husband and realising you can never have her, right?” William said.

Peter stared at the floor. “I care about Laura.”

“You’re not kidding anyone. You’re in love with Laura, and it hurts you constantly to know she’ll never love you the same way.” William reached out and tapped the younger man on the shoulder. “I can’t give you any advice on this. I’m not perfect, and there is no cure for love, my friend.”

“My friends are either married or leaving Cape Falls. I’ve tried to leave. I’ve packed a bag and tried to move on. I can’t seem to leave this town. Yes, I love Laura. I ruined any chance I had, but I can’t leave her, just in case. This is the next best thing,” Peter said. His eyes were wet as he fought the tears. William knew how hard it was to cry. He hadn’t cried since he was a boy.

Crying was the last thing he wanted to do.

“I’m not a psychic or a therapist. I have no cure or advice to give you, Peter. You’ve got the makings of being a good Dom. I like you, and I know submissives will flourish under your care when you’re ready. Sometimes, we can’t move on until we’re sure of what is going to happen. You’ll be fine, Peter. Just allow your heart to accept love when you find it. Don’t hold out for Laura. She’s happy.”

Peter nodded his head. “Thank you. I needed to hear that. I’m going to go to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.” Peter turned to leave. He stopped at the end of the bar. “Paul and David will be waiting tomorrow. Why don’t you get some sleep and then talk to them? It might be best for you all if you’ve got some sleep.”

William laughed, raised his empty glass in salute. He watched Peter leave and heard the doors closing. Putting the glass down on the counter, he stared at the phone. All he’d get now was a lot of anger. Paul and David were under a lot of pressure. Anna was not in a good position either. Shaking his head, he put the phone and glass away then made his way back to his own side of the house. He loved getting straight into his work, and living within the club had its benefits.

He locked the connecting door to his home and made his way into his own kitchen. William flicked the kettle on and filled a mug with some herbal tea. He enjoyed the sweet taste of the fruity herbal mixture before bed. Once he made his drink, he walked up the stairs to where he’d locked Daisy inside his room. He pulled on the lock and entered the room. She lay on his bed. Not a sound was coming from her. He put the tea down on the floor next to the bed and stared at her.

If she woke up now she’d scream the place down. An older man looking down at her while she slept did not help matters. William grabbed a chair from the corner of the bedroom and placed it next to the bed. The sweat pants and long shirt hadn’t done what he wanted. He’d chosen the biggest clothes he owned to try to hide her generous curves and luscious body. While she slept, the shirt had ridden up over her stomach to below her breasts, and the pants had ridden down low on her hips. He didn’t see anything other than the temptation they offered for him to remove them.

Wait until she’s able, William. She drank a shit-load of alcohol. Give her time.

He picked up his cup and watched her sleep as he did. She looked peaceful and calm. Her lips were open as she took in breaths. Her hands were laid on the pillow in front of her. His instincts had been right on the mark. She’d needed to feel tied to someone. He’d seen it in her eyes. Her life had been filled with the rejection that she expected it at every turn. The rope offered her more than being bound. It offered her the comfort of knowing she couldn’t go anywhere. It was strange how certain BDSM or kink methods could help certain individuals.

William finished his drink then stripped off his clothing. He usually slept nude, but this time he settled on a pair of sweat pants. His cock was thick, and he ignored the need within him for release. He settled behind her and reached over to release the rope. It was useful for while he wasn’t in the room. William was here now, and the rope was useless. He’d hold her while she slept.

Daisy did not stir as he untied the rope. She snuggled closer to him after he threw the length away from him. He wrapped his arms around her and secured her next to him. Her sigh undid him. She’d been without so much in her short life that he wanted to give her something in return.

She turned over to face him. Her face looked so relaxed in sleep. He would take care of her if it was the last thing he did.

He closed his eyes and allowed sleep to claim him.

****

Daisy woke to the sunshine pouring through the bedroom window. The scent of coffee wafted through the bedroom. She opened her eyes, stretched and tried to fight through the hammering pain inside her head. She felt like several little men were hacking at her brain.

Turning over, she sat up, and the events of the previous night swept over her. Her ass stung from the slaps of William’s hand. She stared at her hands where he’d tied them to the bed. There were no marks on her flesh.

She was in William’s house and his bed. The sweat pants she wore covered every part of her body. A note lay on the chair next to her. She picked it up and began reading.

“The bathroom is in the next room, and I’ll see you in the kitchen. Don’t forget to comb your hair. W xxx”

Daisy smiled and went in search of the bathroom. She flushed the toilet and gazed in the mirror. Her hair looked like it had a mind of its own. She drank whisky, and from the look of her hair, the alcohol had gone straight to her head.

She filled the sink with water, washed her face and then her hair. Daisy dried her hair before running a comb through it. She hated her red hair. In school she’d been referred to as “Ginger”, and she’d hated the name and the title. Her mother had the same coloured hair. Just thinking of her mother made her want to vomit. That woman had never shown any ounce of compassion. When Daisy had run home crying about being bullied, her mother had laughed at her and told her to grow up. Over the years, Daisy had refused to go to her mother with any more worries. She’d lost friends because of her own attitude, and one day she’d looked in the mirror, not long after Anna’s birthday and seen she was turning into her.

The thought of ending up like her mother scared her.

She made her way down to the kitchen. William sat at the table reading the paper while sipping his coffee. The moment she walked in he put the paper down and stared at her. He wasn’t wearing a shirt. “I’m sorry,” she said.

“What are you sorry for, pet?” he asked.

He’d called her “pet” last night. Did he think she was some kind of dog? Was it a subtle way of insulting her?

“For the way I acted last night.”

“Ah, sit down,” he said. He got up and pulled a chair out next to him. She took the seat he offered, extremely conscious of his naked body at her back.

“I never drink that much.”

“I beg to differ. I’ve seen you drink a fair amount in the last few months.” She heard him move around the kitchen. He placed a cup of water and two aspirins next to her. “Take them. It will help with the pain.”

He walked off and then came back with a coffee and a plate of pancakes. “These will also help you.”

William placed the pancakes in front of her. There were four in the pile, and he poured syrup all over them. “Trust me, they’re good.” He took the seat next to her licking his fingers. She took the aspirin and then picked up her fork.

Daisy couldn’t stop staring at his chest. She hadn’t seen him naked before, and the guy looked like a god. He didn’t have any chest hair, and he was smooth to the touch. She wondered if he had his body waxed like she’d seen on a documentary.

“No, I don’t,” he said.

She stared up at him. His gaze was on the paper. “What?” she asked.

“I don’t wax. I’ve never had the problem of body hair. Some men have a problem with that. I don’t.”

“How did you know what I was thinking?” she asked.

“You’re an open book, Daisy. I know what you’re thinking from little signs you give away.”

She cut off another piece of pancake and put it in her mouth. What else did he know?

“I know a great deal. I know you enjoyed your punishment last night and you’re confused about how you feel. I also know that you don’t know why I call you pet. I’ve not got the best BDSM club around for my good looks, honey. I know what I’m doing.”

“You do background checks, and you know people.”

“I also have a great tool called observation and a knack for knowing a submissive when I see one.” He put the paper down and gave her all of his attention. “And you, sweet Daisy, are a submissive.”

Daisy put the fork down. Her appetite was gone. “I think I need to get home. I’ve got work in an hour.”

“I called in for you. I let them know you’re too sick to work today and will be resting.”

“What?” she asked.

“They were more than happy to oblige, Daisy.”

“They can fire me, William. That is the only job I’m good at,” she said.

“No, you’re not, Daisy. You’re an intelligent young woman. You could easily have gone to college. Why didn’t you?”

He was bombarding her with too many questions. She stared at the table, at the food, and tried to think past the panic. William leaned over and caught her hand inside his. “Look at me, Daisy.”

She gazed up into his eyes.

“I’ve got you. I’m not letting you go.”

All her life she’d been in control. Why was she struggling to keep herself in check?

“That is for you to find out, Daisy. I’m here, and I need you to talk to me. Do you remember last night? You said we could talk. You agreed to it.”

“I know.” Her hands were caught in his. She gave a tug on her hands, but he didn’t let go. Daisy took a breath and began to answer his questions. “My mother refused to sign the forms I needed and offer support. I couldn’t go to college when she took that away. A woman doesn’t need college. That’s what she’d told me in a lot more words.”

She heard him curse. “I hate this town.”

“I’m sorry,” she said.

He pulled her off her seat and into his lap. William cupped her face forcing her to look at him. “I hate this town, Daisy. I never said I hated you. You’re not the reason I hate this town.”

Tears shone in her eyes. “Why does my world feel like it is spinning out of control and settles down when I’m around you?” she asked.

“Because you know I can give you what you want.”

“Dominance?”

“Not just dominance, pet. I can give you control.”

“By taking my own control away?”

“No, there is so much more to it than that. You have so much more to give me than that, and you’ll gain more.”

She bit her lip and looked down at her hands. He’d let them go as his hands were around her back. “I’m tired of feeling this way, William,” she said.

“Then ask me for what you want, Daisy. I can’t give you anything without you asking.”

Daisy couldn’t form the words. She wanted to, more than anything. “I’m a virgin,” she said instead.

“I figured that out myself.” He smiled at her, stroking her cheek.

“Don’t you think I’m a freak?”

“Why would I think that?”

“Because I’m twenty-five and a virgin.”

“No, I don’t think you’re a freak. I think you’ve been the victim of your mother’s nastiness, and that has kept you intact all this time. She’s turned your whole world upside down, and you have no idea where to land, pet.”

Tears were streaming down her face. William was so much older than she, and yet their few meetings together had meant the world to her. He’d been the only person to stick around. She’d said some nasty shit throughout her life. The insinuation she’d made at Anna’s birthday party made her feel sick. She needed to talk to someone.

“I made out that I wanted to fuck David and Paul at their wife’s birthday party a couple of years back.” Saying the words made her feel sick. The tears fell from her eyes faster and harder.

“Do you want to fuck David and Paul?” he asked.

She shook her head.

“Did you want to fuck them back then, before you knew they were your brothers?” he asked.