Authors: Brynn Paulin
Olivia nodded. Here it came. The directive to end things.
“Did he approach you?” Madison asked.
“Yes.” Was there a rule against dating someone who used the library? That could eliminate half the population.
The director shook her head and sighed. “I don’t care that you’re dating him, but I received a complaint. Someone citing inappropriate behavior—”
“Someone who’s an employee? In the children’s section?” Olivia asked sharply. She closed her eyes and rubbed two fingers across the center of her forehead. “I’m sorry. He’s been causing me problems.”
“What sort?” Madison asked, her tone a little too bland. She scooted her notebook closer and lifted the gold Cross pen the staff had given her for her fifteen year anniversary with the library earlier that year.
“He saw Colin and I out on a date, and now he feels he should have proprietary access to me. It was personal interaction, and none of his business.”
“That sounds as if he saw you having sex—Jesus, Olivia!” she swore when Olivia avoided her gaze. Shaking her head, she opened her top desk drawer and pulled out a bottle of antacids. “Go into library science, they said. No stress.” She popped two of the tabs in her mouth. “
How
is Todd acting inappropriately?”
“He grabbed me yesterday in the elevator.”
“What time?” She jotted on her paper.
“Closing. Right after the alert sounded. I didn’t have any patrons remaining on my floor.”
“All righty then. You all do realize the board had security cameras installed all over the library last summer, right? No? Well, that must be one of the only secrets about this place. It’s a regular soap opera lately. I’ll take care of this.” She smiled. “And behave. We’re watching you,” she added darkly.
* * * *
The rest of the day passed in a blur of wondering where the hell the cameras were and exactly who was watching—and what had they seen. When she’d broken the news to Colin, he’d been none-too-pleased. They’d decided any intimacies would have to wait until after work. By unspoken decision, Colin was coming to her house that evening, and she suspected he might just sleep over. Neither of them seemed inclined to part.
They were halfway home when his cell phone rang. While he spoke in a quiet voice, she couldn’t miss his half of the conversation. Something about “father” and the “A and E”. She knew from reading that in the UK, the A and E was the same as the American ER. Whatever was happening, it wasn’t good, and tension rolled off Colin in waves.
She stared out the window and tried to give him privacy. But she couldn’t miss when he said, “All right. I’ll be there.” She had no doubt Colin was going home, and this was turning into a cruddy day. Yesterday, he’d said his father was ill. She hoped he hadn’t taken a turn for the worse. She wondered if he’d tell her what was happening. He seemed rife with the British belief of privacy and bottling up. It wasn’t a bad quality to have, but she’d like her lover to be open with her.
To her surprise, he swore when he hung up the phone. “Bloody hell! Bloody damn hell!” He pulled into her driveway and stared at the garage while he gripped the steering wheel. After a moment of seething silence, she figured he was waiting for her to get out of the car. She reached for the door handle, but he grabbed her arm. “Wait.”
“What is it?” she asked, taking his hand and threading her fingers through his.
“My father. He’s on a bit of a…bender. Drinking binges. Driving. He’s jolly well cocked up things. Two accidents in two days. Who bloody well does that? And now he’s at the A and E
in serious condition. I need to get home.” He shook his head. “I need to catch a flight out tonight.
I’m sorry. I want to stay here with you.”
“But it’s your father.”
“I’m worried about you and Todd.”
She shrugged. “I’m a big girl. I’ve been taking care of myself for twenty-eight years. I think I can manage. Besides, someday, you’ll go home to the UK.” His brow furrowed and he stared at her, his eyes troubled. He shook his head. “We need to talk about this, but I have two hours to get my things and clear customs to catch the flight my brother booked for me.”
She forced a smile, feeling as if this was a forever goodbye. “Call me?”
“I’ll do more than call. You belong to me, remember? I’m coming back to you. Wait for me.”
She sniffled, overwhelmed by his declaration. “Yes, Mr. Smith. As you command.” And he kissed her, staking his claim and, silently, telling her to believe him. At least, that’s how she took it. But she still had to hold back tears when she entered her house, alone, with no prospect of seeing him for an indefinite time to come.
* * * *
Colin’s jaw clenched as he stared at his brother ten hours later. They’d lied. They’d all lied. Just to get him here and coerce him into following the family plan. His father, while deep into his cups once more, wasn’t injured, wasn’t in the hospital and he jolly well wasn’t in any legal trouble, either.
“You lied to me,” he growled.
“We need you here. Mum misses you. Grandfather still wants you to join his office staff to learn the political ropes.”
“I’m a writer.
Why
would I want to do that? I don’t even live here anymore. I’m moving permanently to the States.” He’d decided that on the plane when he’d felt as if he were leaving behind his heart. He’d sent Olivia a text message, letting her know he’d landed. She’d still been awake and had called then They’d spoken for a bit about nothing consequential, each avoiding their relationship but both needing to hear the other’s voice.
“Eventually, you’ll get past that phase and want a real job. Wouldn’t you like to have something there to fall into?”
He stared at his brother then finally shook his head. “You’re serious, aren’t you?” What would it take for these people to understand he was successful at what he did? “I’m a bestselling author. They’re making one of my books into a movie. Even if I never wrote another book, my investments would keep me going.”
“Dreamer!” his father declared. “You’ve never grown up. You spend your days with your head in the sky. It’s time to stop frittering away your time and come home, Colin.”
“I’ll be going home tomorrow as soon as I arrange for my things to be moved.” His father staggered to his feet. “I’ll cut you off!”
“Please… I haven’t relied on your money, or grandfather’s money, since I graduated school.” Why didn’t someone take away the man’s alcohol if he was such trouble? Yet here they all stood while he poured another tumbler of whisky from his crystal decanter.
Hefting his laptop and seriously pissed off at his family, he headed for the door. Though he had a room upstairs, he’d stay at a hotel in London.
* * * *
As it turned out, it took a week to arrange for his things to be shipped from the small storage facility he’d rented when he’d gone abroad. During that time, he and Livvy had discovered the joys of webcam. She’d been reluctant at first, but she was a very willing submissive and quite interested in pleasing him. Of course, besides cyber-sex, which wasn’t as fulfilling as he’d like it to be, they’d talked. Livvy had gleefully told him that Todd had been arrested.
“What?” he’d asked in shock.
“Arrested! Syb told me all about it when we had lunch. She’s feeling bad because she broke up with her Dom—is that what it’s call when you stop having a Dom? Breaking up?”
“He was her boyfriend.” He liked that she was spending time with Syb, but it worried him that the longtime couple had split. How would Livvy view it? Would it change her perspective on their own relationship?
“It’s sad,” she’d continued. “But anyway, Todd tried to go to the club even though he no longer has a membership. He made a huge scene. Threw a chair through that big plate glass window overlooking the open play area. Then several of the women from the club spoke up about him being a harasser… The whole thing is snowballing. It led Madison—the director at the library—to start reviewing the security tapes. I’m not the only one he was bothering and some of them were patrons. Underage.”
He smiled as the plane landed. Todd would be busy with his own problems for awhile.
Hopefully by then, he’d forget Livvy existed. No matter, he’d see that a restraining order was in place and that she had a security system installed.
Within minutes, he deplaned and was on his way up the concourse. Having already cleared customs, he was free to leave without delay. His heart sped up when he saw Livvy waiting for him. She hurried toward him as he cleared security and was instantly in his arms.
“God, I missed you,” he groaned then kissed her hard, the feel of her in his arms sheer heaven. She smelled of wildflowers and pure Livvy. His throat was dry for need of her. He could barely stop touching her as they made their way through the airport and she drove him to his house.
Livvy was in seventh heaven. Colin was finally home. Though he hadn’t been gone all that long and they’d been in constant contact, she’d missed him more than she’d imagined possible. She didn’t know how she’d cope when he had to return to his family permanently.
Her heart was flooding, all the same. The way he touched her, the way he looked at her, she knew he’d missed her as much as she’d missed him. She’d lain awake at night, thinking of him, touching herself, hoping maybe someday he’d love her as much as she loved him.
Looking over at him now, she wondered what he’d say if she were brave enough to blurt out how she felt about him. She opened her mouth to tell him, but he leaned over and kissed her again hard as soon as she parked the car. They couldn’t get enough of each other.
Finally, Colin disentangled himself. “Inside,” he grated.
“Yes. Hurry,” she begged. Ever since this morning, her body had been gearing up for his return. Her breasts were swollen with her need; her pussy was in a constant state of wetness. All she’d had to do was remember that she’d be in his arms tonight and quivers would plow through her. Working today had been useless. She’d finally asked Madison to leave early. The director had been so distracted by something, she hadn’t questioned it at all.
Colin leapt from the car. She climbed out before he could come around to get her, so he grabbed his bag. They rushed into the house like teenagers with two hours alone at home. She felt like a teenager, all hormones and urgency.
He dropped his small bag just inside the entry and pushed her against the inside of the door. In the darkness of his foyer, he swept his tongue into her mouth. They peeled off her jeans.
While she wrapped her legs around him, he fumbled with the closure of his pants. Deep guttural groans echoed in the shadowy expanse as his thick erection pushed into her. Every ridge seemed pronounced as he took her, stretching her convulsing folds.
“Colin!” she cried as her orgasm cascaded into her as he surged forward. “Yes! God, yes.”
Neither of them lasted as he grunted, and his fiery release flooded her. With a groan, he pulled free. “One…” he murmured against her ear. “Tonight you’ll have a climax for every night without my cock.”
“Please,” she begged.
They stumbled through the house to his room. Since he’d rushed out of town last week, the bed was still messy from their session there that morning. For some reason, the twisted sheets stoked her already out-of-control need for him.
With little force, he pushed her backward onto the bed. She licked her lips at the sight of him standing over her, his pants open, his arousal already partially erect once more.
“Now, we talk,” he said as he pinned her beneath him.
“Talk?” she asked slowly. “Is something wrong?”
He nodded slowly, his face stern. “Something that’s bothered me since I left. It’s almost all I thought about besides being inside you again.”
Ice ran through her veins as she struggled to come up with what it was. Had she done something?
“You seem to be under the impression that I’m going back to the UK and leaving you behind. That this is a lark for me to pass time.”
“Aren’t you? Going back there?” she asked.
“No.”
“No?” Hope blossomed through her. She pushed it down, wanting more than anything for it to be true but fearful of disappointment.
“No.” he started unbuttoning her shirt. “Livvy, I’ve looked for someone like you for a long time.” He paused and stared at his hands. To her surprise he started re-buttoning her shirt. “I don’t want this to be about sex. Not this part.” Kneeling up, he straddled her and reached into his pocket. A moment later, he held out his hands.
She gasped at the sight of the multi-tiered necklace hung between them, the twisted gold loops adorned with onyx stones.
“Colin…what…” she gasped, pushing herself up on her elbows.
“It’s my collar…for my submissive. I had it made a long time ago, so I’d have it when I found the perfect woman for me. We haven’t been together as Dom and submissive for long, but will you take this and wear it. Will you be mine?”
Nothing else seemed right. She wanted to belong to him more than anything. She lifted her hair and raised her chin so he had access to her neck. Her heart fluttered out of control. She couldn’t believe this was happening—but it was exactly what she wanted.
“There are no papers and no legalities, but to me, the collar is as binding as marriage. I want you to be sure. I won’t easily give you up.”
“I want you and this.” Her lips trembled as he fastened the necklace around her neck. She fingered the fine strands. “Colin…I love you.”
“Livvy,” he breathed. Kissing her, he pushed her back into in the bedding. “I love you, too. I’m so glad I found you.”
She laughed as he fastened her wrists into the cuffs at the head of the bed. “I’m never letting you go,” she promised, though she was the one held captive.
He reached into his pocket again. “Good,” he said.
His hands found hers and as his cock found her entrance again, pushing deep, he slid a ring onto her finger.
“Mine,” he whispered. “Mine to love. Mine to fuck.”
“Yours to whip with your very wicked whip.”
He lifted his brow. “You like it, slave.” He grasped her hair, gently tugging back her head. “You like being mine.”