For the Sub (16 page)

“That’s high praise coming from you.”

“But now I think he’s an asswipe since he hasn’t called you.”

“I didn’t say that,” Brandy protested.

“You didn’t have to. Let me know if you want to have lunch or a drink. I’d suggest a hike but my feet hurt like hell from the new heels I wore yesterday.”

“I’m good.”

“If you fucking mope like you did after Reyes, I’m kidnapping you and taking you shopping until you max out your credit card.”

“Because you’re hoping I’ll be depressed enough to buy you some new shoes.”

“There is that.”

“We can drop this. I need to be a grownup. We never agreed to contact each other.”

“Who are you trying to convince?”

She was silent for a moment. Then, because she knew Margot would ferret out the information anyway, Brandy admitted, “He invited me to a party at the Moline.”

“Ha! I knew there was more to the story. You turned him down and broke his heart and you want me to take your side, so you make it sound like he dumped you on your ass.”

“That’s not the way it is.”

“No guy would willingly put up with me unless he was really into you. Argue with that.”

“I got nothing,” Brandy said with a laugh.

“He’s not like Reyes,” Margot said. “Not that I’m taking his side or anything.”

“And not that you like him.”

“Never will. Go with him. He’s already fucked you and beat you, how much worse can it get?”

“When you put it that way…”

“Call me,” Margot said. “I could use a margarita at Teddy’s Lodge. Or some retail therapy on your card. Or, better yet, invite that pirate to come with us.”

“Gregorio?”

“Swoon.”

“You think BDSM demeans participants,” she reminded her friend.

“Maybe I should be more open-minded. He has an earring. Can you imagine him with an eye patch?” With that, she was gone.

Every fifteen minutes throughout the morning, Brandy checked her phone. No calls. No texts. No emails. It was as if the damned thing had lost service.

Then, mid-afternoon, a delivery van arrived.

She frowned as she signed for the large, odd-shaped package. There was no return address on the box, and she took it inside and sliced through the packaging tape. Two more boxes were inside the first. She opened the smallest one to find a human-sized rubber foot inside. “Oh my God.” She gasped and laughed. “I think this is for you.” She gave the toy to MW.

Dana looked at the smaller dog then the foot, then she backed away. MW attacked the rubber toes as if they were an enemy.

The next box was heavy, and it contained a gigantic bone. Dana started sniffing and strolled over. “You didn’t get left out,” she said, putting the thing on the floor.

As she went to throw away the box, something else caught her eye. A soft toy turtle, coloured bright blue and green, lay on the bottom. She pulled it out, along with a tube of catnip. Whisper began his unholy cries and rolled onto his back. And that was before she filled the turtle. “I think you can have this one outside.”

After she took the toy and the cardboard outside, she came in to find her phone had a received a text message.

Is my bribe working?

She pressed the phone to her chest. Goofy, ridiculous, fabulous man. Using her pets to get to her?

The burst of energy that shot through her after hearing from him carried her through the rest of the afternoon, and she met every one of her deadlines.

The next time her phone chimed, the message was from Margot.

Margaritas?

She tapped out a quick reply, saying he’d sent a rubber foot to MW.

The man tolerates me and that little monster? He’s a saint.

The next day he sent her a short but demure black dress. In the right size.

He’d included a short note.

I booked us a room at the hotel
.

On Wednesday a pair of heels arrived.

She tried on the outfit and stared at herself in the mirror, looking for flaws. Even though she was her own worst critic, she had to admit he’d chosen well. That first night at the Den, she’d worn a black dress, and the material had clung to her curves. This one flowed over her body. The neckline would reveal the barest hint of cleavage. And if they danced, the dress would move with her. It was perfect.

Through his website, she sent him an email, complaining that he didn’t play fair.

The bastard didn’t respond.

Thursday’s delivery of lingerie pushed her over the edge. Stockings, a garter belt, a bra, even panties were nestled in layers of tissue paper.

She would have expected him to demand she wear nothing beneath the dress. The fact he’d realised she’d get a confidence boost from attending as his date rather than as a submissive spoke volumes to her.

An hour after the delivery, he finally called.

She stared at his name on the caller identification screen for a few seconds, resisting the impulse to answer on the first ring. The dogs jumped up and barked, adding to her racing heart. She shushed the animals. Dana settled right away. MW continued to turn in crazy, loud circles. Maybe a break from this wouldn’t be all bad.

Right before her phone would switch him over to voicemail, she answered. “You are relentless,” she said by way of greeting.

“I gave you fair warning.”

She sank onto a kitchen chair.

“I’ve missed you this week,” he continued.

His voice curled through her like the ribbons he’d used on his packages. Rough, gruff, but somehow refined at the same time. The contrast drew her closer and closer.

“Tell me you missed me, too.”

She’d been raised by her father, and he’d protected her. She hadn’t been allowed to date until she was almost ready to graduate from high school. Her first serious relationship had been with a guy named Sam, and he’d introduced her to BDSM. Not that she’d needed a long courtship with his lash or pleasing him. He’d been drunk on power, and he’d used kink as a way to get her to do all the chores, cooking, cleaning and taking care of him at the expense of her own success.

Gregorio had set her straight on that.

Too bad Reyes had reinforced Sam’s message.

“Tell me you missed me, too,” Master Niles urged.

“I missed you.” And she had. Now that she’d admitted it, the reality of it rushed in. All week, she’d tried to keep the feelings at bay. She knew Margot and Gregorio worried about her, and truthfully, she did, too. Despite her reassurances to her friends, she knew she was susceptible to the power that Doms exuded. Her need to protect herself was at odds with her need to care and nurture others. As Master Niles had surmised, there was a reason she had a houseful of abandoned animals.

“I can’t endure tomorrow night unless you’re there. I’m throwing myself on your mercy. Take pity on me.”

She laughed. “There’s not a more competent man on the planet, Sir. But you win.”

“Brandy, if I do what I’m supposed to, there will be no doubt in your mind you’re the one who won. You’ve got my undying gratitude.”

No doubt she was falling for him. Her heart was still racing, and the idea of being at the event with him sent adrenaline spikes through her. To diminish some of the impacts, she paced the floor.

MW dived for her toes. She scooped up his rubber foot and tossed it into the living room, sending him skidding after it. For this toy alone, she loved Master Niles.

“I can drive up to get you,” he said.

“That’s ridiculous, Sir.”

“I don’t want to ask you to make the drive by yourself.”

“The weather forecast is clear.”

“You checked?”

Several times over the last twenty-four hours.

“When did I have you?” he asked. “Was it the dress?”

“It was the rubber foot, Sir. It will save my pedicures.”

“I knew it. The dress fits?”

“As if it were made for me.”

“It was altered for you.”

She stopped pacing to collapse against the refrigerator.

“If you change your mind, I’m happy to come and get you. Otherwise, if you want to arrive around noon, the hotel has a spa.”

“That’s a little outside my budget, Sir.”

“It’s part of the package deal with the room. It includes hair styling, manicure, pedicure, facial, massage. Hell, there’s stuff on this brochure I’ve never heard of. Hot stones? Some of it scares me a little. I’d hate to see them go to waste.”

She wondered if she could leave right now.

“Are your pets taken care of? Or do I need to find someone?”

Her heart melted. “I can get a neighbour. We help each other out.”

“Your work schedule is clear?”

“There are a couple of private functions at the Den this weekend. I’m not due in until Sunday night.”

“Perfect. Let me know when you’re on your way. Oh, and Brandy? My cock’s been hard since I left you. I can’t wait to be buried in you.”

Now it was the only thing she could think of.

After finishing her work, she took the dogs for a walk to burn off some energy. She stopped by her neighbour’s house rather than calling him and made arrangements for him to care for the house.

“When will you be back?” Martin asked.

“I’ll let you know if I need you to look in Saturday night or Sunday morning.” Her fingers were secretly crossed that she wouldn’t be back until Sunday. That was presumptuous, though.

That evening, she showered before going to bed with her vibrator.

Her fantasies were of Master Niles and the last time they’d gone to bed together. While there was never a doubt he was a Dom, the scene had had a decidedly erotic, rather than BDSM edge. He hadn’t restrained her in any way. Rather, he’d had her on all fours and driven into her, but then stayed still. Instead of it being a raw, physical act, the connection had given space for emotion to add to the dynamic. She’d felt closer to him during that act than at any other time.

She turned up the setting on the vibrator and rubbed it over her clit, remembering the pulse of his cock deep inside her, the feel of his hands on her body, the scent of power and restraint that had stamped the air.

With a cry, she jerked, lifting her pelvis, thinking about him and pressing the vibrator hard against her throbbing pussy. Her orgasm crashed over her.

Out of breath, she flicked off the switch and dropped the wand.

She closed her eyes and tried to settle. But she couldn’t. Restless energy gnawed at her.

All night, she tossed and turned, wishing away the hours.

The next morning, as coffee dripped into the carafe with agonising slowness, she realised she was so keyed up about seeing him that she’d forgotten to be nervous about the event.

Her phone rang before seven. This time when she saw his name appear, she didn’t even pretend to be an ice princess. She answered on the first ring.

“Sorry if I woke you,” he said.

“I didn’t sleep much,” she replied.

“You will tonight after a good workout.”

And in his arms. She rubbed a bare arm with her hand.

“I should have waited to hear from you,” he said. “But I couldn’t.”

“I’m glad.”

“Do you know when you’re leaving?”

“I have some work I want to finish up and a couple of loads of laundry to do. Around eleven, I hope.”

“I’ll count the hours.”

She wondered where he was. Home? An office? She wanted to be able to picture him in his surroundings, and she wondered if she’d have the opportunity. He hadn’t invited her to his house, and she told herself that was okay. They didn’t have a relationship. This was simply an overnight date. She was doing a favour for a friend.

Too bad she couldn’t make her heart listen to her head.

“Remember to call when you’re on your way. You know where you’re going and how to get there? The entrance for valet parking is off Champa Street.”

“I’ve already programmed my GPS, Sir,” she assured him. After they’d said their goodbyes, she grabbed a mug from a cupboard. Impatience made her grateful the coffee maker had the feature that allowed her to pull out the carafe and pour a cup without making a mess all over the countertop.

She carried her drink into her office and powered up her computer, intending to force herself to work if necessary. No way would she spend the morning obsessing about the upcoming fundraiser.

An hour later, she realised she wasn’t fooling anyone. She was staring out of the window more than she was getting anything done. Giving up, she refreshed her coffee, tossed a load of laundry in the washing machine then dressed in a skirt with tights. She added her favourite cocoa-coloured suede boots and a turtleneck sweater. Suitable for the hotel lobby, she hoped.

She managed to focus long enough to make some final notes on Master Niles’ website and logo redesign.

Then she fed the lizards and cleaned their tank before walking the dogs and checking on Whisper. Since he’d been given the catnip, he had periods of great energy where he moved like a blur in her peripheral vision followed by long naps. The toy had to be an every once in a while treat, she decided.

By nine, her bag was packed. She had all her makeup, two curling irons, three brushes and the gifts Master Niles had sent. She added an extra outfit, just in case.

An hour earlier than planned, she was ready to leave.

When she turned onto the main road from her neighbourhood, she called him. “I’m on my way.”

“Good. I’ll meet you in the lobby.”

The sky was a stunning, winter blue. No clouds obscured the sun. The roads were clear and dry, with light traffic.

She stopped for a vanilla latte in Frisco. Since she didn’t get to town often, it was a rare treat. If she sipped, it would last most of the way to Denver.

When she left the foothills and headed for the plains, she realised she should have asked for a decaf. As it was, she’d drunk most of a pot of coffee before leaving home.

She turned on the radio to distract herself, but she still gripped the steering wheel with white knuckles.

As she approached I-25, she turned off the radio so she could pay attention to the driving directions.

Master Niles had said he’d meet her in the lobby, but he was waiting in the valet area.