Master No (28 page)

“I’ll sleep on the couch tonight unless you would rather go back to Theo and Erin’s. I can drive you.”

Her face fell. “You want me to leave?”

He looked back down at his computer screen. “You certainly don’t have to. Like I said, take the bed. I’ve got a ton of work I need to get through.”

Faith sighed and walked into the room, standing in front of the desk. “Ten, I’m sorry. I was harsh. I know my sister can be a lot to take. She’s not the easiest person to get along with. She was probably rude to you.”

He composed himself. It looked like she wasn’t ready to get rid of him. There were a couple of weeks left on their contract, and it would likely be difficult to find another Dom. He might still pull this back. “Not at all. I don’t have feelings about your sister one way or another. I was simply putting things together in my head. You’re the expert here. If you say it isn’t possible, then I’ll drop it.”

“She wouldn’t hurt me,” Faith explained. “It was all coincidence. Besides, it all turns out to be for nothing because the vaccine was exactly what it was supposed to be.”

Unless her sister had gotten the name of the lab and bribed or coerced them to change the results. He kept that bit of logic to himself. She wouldn’t want to hear it. She’d made up her mind. He had to be satisfied with the fact that it didn’t seem she was going to turn out her temporary Dom.

Cold. He felt freaking cold.

Why had he pushed?

“You’re right.” It was time to smooth everything over and get her back into bed. Once he was inside her, giving her as much pleasure as she could take, she would let the last few minutes go and they would be right back where they needed to be. He would convince her to go to the islands in a few days instead of weeks and they could get this whole thing over with. He would investigate the sister, of course. He was right about her. And he’d been right about Faith. She chose her family and would do it again. “I’ve been working this job for far too long. I won’t mention it again.”

Her teeth worried her bottom lip. “You don’t understand my family.”

“No, I don’t.” He should move close to her, overwhelm her. So why did he find himself stuck in his chair? “I’m going to clean up some paperwork. You should rest. If you’re still interested, we’ve been invited to a private session at Sanctum on Monday. Think about it.”

“Please don’t push me away.”

He stopped. “I’m not pushing you away. I’m going to get some work done. Go to sleep. We can talk more in the morning.”

He felt her hand on his back and heard her sigh. “You are pushing me away, Ten. I know you were only looking out for me. I came off as harsh, but I wasn’t judging you. Can I think about what you’ve said? Do I always have to agree with you?”

He didn’t like anything about this conversation. He’d rather be anywhere but here with this nasty, restless feeling roiling in his gut. Why wouldn’t she leave well enough alone? “Feel free to think about what I said, but also know that I won’t mention it again.” He forced a smile on his face. “Hey, we’re just having a good time. I apologize for making you uncomfortable.”

Her hands were fists at her sides. “God, you’re making me crazy is what you’re doing. Stop. Stop with the whole thing. Do you think I don’t know what you’re doing? You’re placating me. I don’t want that.”

“I’ve apologized,” he said, his voice going cold. “What more do you want from me? Perhaps you should think about it and write out a list so you don’t forget.”

“Well, at least that’s honest,” she shot back. “You’re mad. You’re pissed off that I put myself in danger again and now I won’t listen to you.”

“Don’t forget the fact that you questioned my intelligence.” Really more like his sanity, but hey, he wasn’t being picky.

She nodded. “I did. I did all those things and if you had tried to tell me how to treat a patient, I would have told you to go to hell. I tried to tell you how to do your job.”

He attempted to relax. He didn’t want to escalate past where they were. He was angry about a lot of things she couldn’t really control. “You’re not my client. How about we agree to leave business out of things. I’ll back off.”

“You won’t. You’ll be more careful next time though.” She eased her way around the desk. “If you really think I’m in danger, you’ll do whatever it takes to protect me.”

He moved back, sliding the chair away from the desk so he could face her. “Maybe you don’t know me as well as you think you do.”

She took advantage, easing down into his lap. His cock responded immediately, lengthening, hardening, preparing for her. She looked up at him, those innocent eyes kicking him in the gut. “I think I know you pretty well. You’re one of the good guys.”

She was either incredibly naïve or she knew exactly what to say. No. She was naïve. He was going to stop fooling himself. She wasn’t involved. She wasn’t some agent who would stab him on the way out the door. She wasn’t Dawn. She was Faith, and despite the fact that she would pick her family over him, he didn’t want to see her hurt.

“The fact that you can say that proves you don’t know me at all, darlin’. I’m not a good man, but I’m your man for as long as you want me.”

Her hands found his face and she seemed to be looking for something there. “Do you mean that?”

Every word. He simply happened to know that she wouldn’t want him for very long. “I do. I have zero interest in the relationship ending. I would like more time with you. Maybe even more time away from work. Why don’t we go somewhere? We can invite Erin and Theo and go relax somewhere. No work. No problems. Just you and me and some friends.”

As he said the words, he realized he really meant them. In that moment, if she’d said she wanted to go to the ass end of Thailand, he would have gotten on a plane with her.

“We could go out to the island,” she offered. “If we wait, it’s going to be crowded with family and my dad’s friends. If we leave in a couple of days, we’ll have the place all to ourselves for a week or so.”

He let his hand slide along her thigh, his mind already fuzzy from lust. “I’ll pack tomorrow. I want to be with you, Faith. And no, you don’t have to agree with me. I’m sorry for how I reacted.”

“Me, too, Master.”

He felt the shift in her. Her eyes softened, her body curling into his. She wanted to play, needed to play.

Fuck it all, so did he. He needed this. It started as a cover and he’d gone through the motions with the submissives he’d trained on, but it had rapidly become something he craved when it came to Faith.

He let his hands curl in her hair, loving the soft feel of her tresses against his palm. So soft. And he was hard. In every way possible. He tightened his fist, watching her eyes. He saw the moment her scalp started to burn. That much and no more. He only wanted to give her the pain that was required to jump-start her pleasure. She liked having her hair pulled. He would tug on it and those eyes would soften, her pupils dilating in a way that let him know she was responding.

“You want to play with me?”

She nodded. “God, yes, Master. I always want to play with you.”

“And if I’m feeling rough tonight?”

“I think I can handle it. I’m sure I can. I think it would be a good way for both of us to relieve some tension. I could help you with your stress, Tennessee.”

Oh, she certainly could. He tugged at her hair, eliciting a sweet moan from the back of her throat. “You’ll do as I tell you to, Faith. Who’s the Master here?”

“You are.”

He let go of her hair. “Take off the shirt.”

She obediently tugged it over her head and sat naked in his arms. She was so fucking beautiful, and every inch of her was his—for now. He shoved that thought out of his head. It didn’t matter. Time was meaningless. He was going to live in the now, and the now included playing with his hot sex toy.

“Sit on the desk.” He reached over, shutting the laptop and moving it to the side. He kept a neat desk with nothing on top but his computer, a lamp, some pens, and a pad of paper. They were easily shifted to make a place for his toy.

Faith moved to the desk and sat down, never questioning him, never showing any sign that she was uncomfortable in her skin. To the contrary, she always seemed to calm when he got her clothes off. He’d taken to ordering her to be naked during the day. When no one was around, she would relax and read without the encumbrance of unneeded clothing. He would work and catch glimpses of her, heart-stopping sightings of her breasts or that pretty pussy. He made sure there was a robe or a pair of her yoga pants and a T-shirt always around in case someone knocked on the door.

It was a nice way to live.

“Lean back and spread those legs.”

She did as he asked, her knees moving apart with grace and offering up the petals of her sex for his perusal. Already they were soft and puffy with arousal. He could slide inside her body and ease his own need.

But that wouldn’t be much fun. Damn. Tag had ruined him for vanilla sex.

“You know there was a time when penetration was really all I needed,” he grumbled. “Now I need something more. I need you to moan for me.” He reached out and gripped a nipple hard, twisting it until he got what he wanted. A low moan came from her and the nipple was a lovely shade of pink. “Spread your legs wider, Faith. All the way.”

She moved her knees farther apart, as far as they would go. Her body was open to him, begging him to play with her. He sat back. There was no rush. There had always been a bit of a rush before. Sex had been something to get to, to drive toward. Now he finally realized sex was something to indulge in, to sink into and occupy for long stretches of time.

Faith didn’t speak, merely allowed him to stare at the beauty of her body. She was a work of art with her lovely breasts, pink-tipped nipples, soft skin. He took in the way her shoulders rounded, hair brushing her collarbone. He even liked her belly button and her knees. Parts of the body he never thought of as erotic were spectacular because they belonged to Faith.

“Tilt your pelvis up.”

Her hips moved, shifting so her pussy was slightly elevated. Full pink and coral colored petals were revealed. Glossy with her own arousal.

“You’re wet and ready to fuck, aren’t you, Faith?” He asked the question in an academic fashion. He knew the answer but he really did like to hear her say the words.

“Yes, Master.”

“I’m not ready.” A lie. He could fuck her hard, but he was in a mood. “My toy bag is back in the bedroom.”

“Should I go get it for you? I could do that.”

She would. She would happily run off and come back with all her favorite things. He wanted to get a little more creative. “I think I can find some things in here. This is a fully stocked office, you know.”

She ran her tongue over her lips. “I’m sure you have many interesting things, Master. But I could have the toy bag in here very quickly and you’ll probably need some condoms.”

“Oh, is my submissive trying to tell me something? What are you trying to tell me? That I don’t know what I’m doing? That I’m not prepared to take care of you anywhere we happen to be?”

Her skin flushed a pretty pink. “No, Master. Not at all.”

“I think you were. I think you don’t believe I can handle you without a set of perfect toys. I think I should teach you the error of your ways.” He reached over and opened the drawer, pulling out a foil-wrapped condom. “They’re all over the place. I made sure of it when I realized your enormous need to be fucked.”

Her lips curled up in the most delicious grin. “Such a kind and thoughtful Master.”

“I’m going to be a creative Master.” He pulled out a couple of binder clips and started to work with them. They were super tight. He had to loosen them up to do what he wanted with them. Faith enjoyed a bite of pain, not being wholly consumed by it.

“What are you doing, Ten?” Her eyes had widened. Yes, that got his dick jumping.

He smirked her way. “Making some pretty jewelry for you, darlin’.”

“Oh, god.” Her pupils were so large he couldn’t tell where her irises began.

He worked the metal until he was certain he wouldn’t hurt her. Not too much. They would bite and pinch but not do any damage. “Stay still. I don’t want you to move. If you do, I’ll have to punish you and start all over again. Do you understand?”

She bit that bottom lip again. So fucking sexy. “Yes, Master. I’ll stay still.”

He stood, the binder clips in his hands. Something had settled deep inside him and now he could focus on her. It was a good feeling to narrow his focus to her and only her. The world was a fucking gorgeous place because it only included Faith. Her body, her pretty face, her sweet soul—they filled his world in those moments when he allowed himself to sink into topspace. He only topped her. He would only ever top her.

He would probably see her face right before he died. Even as an old man, he would see her like this.

He shoved aside the maudlin thoughts. Live in the now. She’d given him reason for that earlier. He snapped the clip her way, enjoying the way her nipples seemed to peak in anticipation. He gripped her right nipple between his thumb and forefinger, rolling it. When he was satisfied with how round and hard it was, he slipped the clamp on.

She hissed and it was obvious she was stopping herself from cursing. A good thing since it would have given him the perfect excuse to punish her.

He gripped her other nipple. This wasn’t punishment. This was play. Hell, none of it was really punishment. He clamped her other nipple and then grabbed two more clips, these the larger of the two sizes found in his desk. He sat back down and began to work them, loosening them up.

“Master?” Her voice was a breathy huff.

He didn’t look up. He had work to do. “Yes, darlin’?”

“What are those for?”

He chuckled. “I think you know.”

“Master, I think we should talk about this.”

He glanced up, his eyes narrowing. “Where are we, Faith?”

“We’re green. Still green. Oh, are you really going to clamp my clit?”

“Nope. Not at all. So you can relax.” He was a bastard and he knew it. He was also ready. He dropped to his knees in front of her. The desk put her pussy right at the perfect level. “I’m not going to be so mean to your clit. I’m going to clamp your labia.”