Mistress's Master: Men in Blue, Book 3 (23 page)

“Cold feet?” Clint took smarmy to a whole new level.

Matt refused to be dissuaded that easily. He stared at his partner as he redoubled his assault on Jambrea’s better sense. She relented by degrees, surprising him with an aggressive attack on his crotch.

Clint’s yelp seemed to indicate she’d taken them both in hand. Hell, maybe this could be a lot more fun than he’d assumed. Truth be told, the weeks of feeling at odds with his partner had taken their toll. He hated arguing with the fucker. Not that he’d ever admit it.

“My turn.” Masculine fingers prodded Matt’s jaw, separating him from his treat. Somehow the touch didn’t wilt his hard-on.

Watching up close and personal as Jambrea and Clint made out certainly didn’t affect him either. Unless it was to make him hornier. Could that even be possible?

His fingers toyed with the hem of Jambi’s nighty. About to make a break for her free breasts, craving the weight of them in his palm, he jumped when a crash from the doorway shattered the moment.

Clint rocketed to his feet, a little unsteady. He stepped in front of Jambrea, sheltering her from the intruders.

“What the…?” Mason glowered from beside the splintered wood that used to be Jambrea’s door. “Are you fucking kidding me? You three are so busy fooling around you couldn’t hear Lacey knocking or shouting out to you?”

“You could have called before going Rambo on the fucking door.” Matt admitted to himself he was more pissed off about the ache in his groin.

“We did, dumbass.” Tyler bustled Lacey in out of the night. “No one answered. We got worried.”

“I felt something moving in my pants but I, uh, didn’t think it was my phone.” Clint scowled. “Sorry.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Mason grinned as Lacey rushed over to Jambrea and smothered her in a hug. “We know all about that. Sorry to crash the party. We’ve got your stuff here.”

He tossed an insulated bag to Matt. “You better hit the road. It has to stay cold or it loses its effectiveness. Right, Jambrea?”

She blinked, dazed and overwhelmed. Matt wished he could tuck her into bed. Preferably one with him in it. And maybe Clint too. Maybe.

“Yes.” She waved her hands toward the mess on the floor. “I’ll take care of this. You need to give that to Lily within the hour. I’d feel better if I could examine her myself.”

“No.” All four men barked in unison.

“Don’t bother arguing.” Lacey rolled her eyes. “Save your breath.”

“Trust me.” Matt placed one hand on her shoulder. “She’s fine. I swear. JRad stayed with her. He’ll take care of her.”

“Oh, I bet he will.” Tyler singsonged.

Mason slapped the slighter man in the gut with the back of his hand. “Quit that.”

Clint spun toward the wreckage of the door after one last heated look in Jambrea’s direction. “This isn’t finished.”

“No, it’s hardly even begun.” Matt licked his lips, savoring the taste of her.

“We’ll board up the door and take Jambi to our house tonight.” Mason crossed his arms over his chest and planted his feet.

“Fine.” She grumbled. “As long as I can put Parker in his travel bowl. I’m not leaving him here alone.”

“Deal.” Tyler grinned. “This should be fun.”

Chapter Fourteen

Jeremy leaned his hip against a marble-topped vanity as he surveyed their haven. The rumpled bed couldn’t arrest his attention for long when Lily wriggled into a skin-tight, red leather outfit. A high collar covered every inch of her below her jaw. It didn’t diminish the plump mounds of her breasts, which the strategic squish of material over her ribs enhanced and showcased.

Ebony rope fashioned from her hair slithered along her spine, dusting her ass as she squirmed into the matching pants. Shit, he would have thought he’d never sport another boner after last night. Or this morning. Wrong.

“Would you like a hand?” He focused on relaxing his muscles. Out of sight he gripped the edge of the ornate fixture supporting him.

“Nope. I have a lot of practice at this.” Her dazzling smile punched him in the gut.

She sucked in her svelte stomach and yanked the laces holding the bodice on the suit before buckling the cinch straps that transformed her into a living, breathing—if shallowly—BDSM action figure.
Jesus Christ.

Tight globes reflected light off the shiny surface of her coated ass when she bent to retrieve her matching thigh-high boots with wicked six-inch stiletto heels.

A muffled gasp reached his ears when the material pulled tight between her legs.

“Still?”

“Only a three and a half now.” She winced over her shoulder.

“You promised to tell me when you need to come.” He tensed until the sharp edge of the table dug into his bunched thigh. “If you suffer, it’ll be because I decide to torture you, not because you’re depriving yourself without properly informing me of your condition.”

Strong enough to bury any discomfort, she could undermine his control whether on purpose or by force of habit. He refused to allow her the opportunity. She’d endured enough senseless pain before meeting him.

“I will.” She concentrated on fastening the dozens of metal clasps laddering her boots like an exaggerated zipper. The closures transformed the gentle curve of her cut calves into something formidable and undeniably sexy.

Lily inspected the flogger she lifted from a case beside the rest of her belongings. Her tools had to be immaculate before she’d use them on her stable. Jeremy respected her attention to detail and her commitment to serving the needs of those entrusted to her care.

No doubt about it. She was a consummate professional.

“I’m dying to watch your sessions.” His nostrils flared as she strapped a belt around her waist and stabbed the handle of the flogger into its holster. Wide strips of the fringe splayed across her leg like a plume of feathers on an exotic bird.

“I’m glad.” She drew on crimson leather gloves, flexing her fingers until they worked into the supple leather, which molded to conform to her figure as it warmed with the heat radiating from her.

Not many other people would have noticed her infinitesimal hesitation.

Jeremy abandoned his perch and flew to her side. He used her hair to position her face where required to stare into her gorgeous eyes. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“Not acceptable, Lily.” He tugged a little harder. “Everything is something when it pertains to you. You’ll share it all with me and leave it to me to decide what’s important and what’s not.”

“Yes, sir,” she whispered. “That’s going to take some getting used to.”

“I can be patient.” He kissed her maroon lips softly, uncaring about the transfer of the pigment to his own mouth. She tasted too good to stop after a nibble. “I won’t punish you. This time. Now spill.”

“Things will be different.” She dropped her guard. A curtain fell, revealing all the inner workings of her mind. Faint lines crinkled the edges of her heavily lined eyes. “By now rumors will have spread. Everyone in the complex will know about last night. They’ll talk.”

“Damn straight.” He couldn’t suppress his shit-eating grin. “You’re mine. No one can deny it.”

“So, how will that work?” Her bottom lip quivered for a moment before she bit it. “Will my slaves obey, or will they look to you instead? I can’t stand the thought of all their training evaporating. I may kneel for you, but they belong to me. That part of me isn’t changing. It’s who I am.”

“Hush.” Jeremy nuzzled her temple. “What happens in this room is between us. I won’t deny I crave you at my mercy. Part of what makes your deference so special is how strong you are. It’s the difference between domesticating a stray alley cat and taming a tiger—how naturally you could turn the tables and wield control. I adore the woman you are. All of you. I would never undermine your authority with your subs, though I would enjoy observing your handiwork.”

“Of course.” She nodded. “I’d like you to attend. I can’t think of any of my stable who would object. If anything, the boys will enjoy it.”

“That’s where it ends, Lily.” He fingered the seams of the outfit she wore, a modern marvel of fashion engineering. “Me. Watching. Looking after your safety. Hell, even my paperboy is bigger than you.”

“Hey.” Her chin rose. “I can take care of myself.”

“True, but it’s my job now. My pleasure.”

“Who the hell reads a newspaper anymore anyway?” She glanced at the pile of computer equipment in the corner before scoffing, “Don’t you have live feeds from at least fifty countries piped into your brain via some wireless connection you MacGyvered?”

“Misdirection?” He laughed. “A lame, entry-level trick. Don’t waste our time detracting from what’s important. I won’t stand for you to be harmed if things spiral out of control, but I won’t interfere unless you really need me. I promise.”

“Fair enough.” She smiled. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He fingered the ridge of leather between her legs. “Later you can demonstrate your gratitude. I’d kill to fuck you in this outfit. The pants open here, don’t they?”

“Yes, sir.” She sighed when he pressed the access panel in the general region of her clit.

“When we return, you’ll crawl into the bed. Wait for me on all fours. Better yet, put your face down and leave your ass up. Beg me to drive out all thought and replace it with pleasure. No one for you to look after. Only your feelings to consider when you obey me.”

A knock startled them both.

Good thing or they might not have made it out of the room anytime soon and her slaves were used to routine. She and Jeremy had both agreed the location shift meant Lily had to regiment the rest of their training. Stick to their usual schedules. Calm them and assure them she hadn’t forgotten about them. Guarantee they were protected and untouched by Morselli’s taint.

Jeremy guided her toward the door by her elbow, placing her behind him when he cracked the entrance.

“JRad, let us in.”

He admitted Matt and Clint.

“You’re free to speak in here. I’ve got the room jammed.” He nodded toward the partners. They were sweating and breathing hard, as though they’d sprinted an entire mile.

“The antidote.” Matt huffed as he thrust a bag toward Jeremy. “Jambrea says Lily needs to take it soon, before it warms to room temperature. Morselli’s asshole security team raked over our car with a fine-toothed comb. Wasted over a half an hour and this place is fucking huge.”

Jeremy reached into the bag and tested the vial. Still chilly.

“I think you’re in time.” He uncapped the medicine and wrapped one arm around Lily’s shoulders. “Drink.”

She leaned into his embrace, tipping her head back, trusting him to hold her steady.

Fuck yes.

Jeremy poured the thick brown syrup into her mouth.

She gagged but kept the fluid in.

“Fuck, that’s disgusting!” Lily coughed and sputtered.

Clint jogged to the bar in the corner and poured her a drink. Jeremy gave the man credit for hopping over the fucking machine without comment.

“Here.”

She chugged the double shot of cola he returned with. “I could use something a little stiffer than that. What am I, a baby?”

“Hey, at least I didn’t make you a Shirley Temple.”

She smiled. “Thank you both. And Jambrea too.”

“Hopefully we didn’t get her in trouble.” Jeremy squinted when Clint and Matt shuffled their feet.

“Did you two finally make a move on her?” Lily perked up, straining against Jeremy’s forearm as she studied their reactions.

“Would have if supercops Mason and Ty hadn’t kicked the fucking door down.”

Jeremy laughed, imagining the look on their faces.

“Oh sure, real funny, JRad,” Clint grumbled. “You have your girl right here.”

“Amazing how that changes your perspective.” He turned and brushed a wisp of loose hair off Lily’s cheek. “Though right now, I would prefer you were somewhere safer.”

“Oh hell no, you’re not sending me away.” She propped her hand on her hip.

“No. I don’t think I could anymore.” Jeremy stroked her face with his thumb.

“Agent Sterns wouldn’t like that very much either. The dickhead was furious Lily took the drug. He said she should have faked it and kept the sample for the DEA to analyze.”

Matt’s disgust convinced Jeremy his boss had spouted more nonsense, which his friend filtered. Good thing Jeremy hadn’t heard it personally or he wouldn’t have held his tongue. “That bastard can go fuck himself.”

“I agree.” Matt sighed. “The only thing that shut him up was convincing him the two of you would find some more by telling Morselli she’s craving another hit…or maybe that you’re planning to dose her again whether she likes it or not.”

Jeremy squeezed Lily a little too tight. She squeaked.

When he peeked at her, he noticed the flush in her cheeks had died down and the fury in her gaze burned through the crystal clear lenses of her eyes.

“Damn, how fast does that shit work? I can see a difference already.”

“I thought it was my imagination.” She sighed. “I still want you. I always do. But now it doesn’t ache. The fire inside me is disappearing. I’ve got pins and needles all over. It’s okay, Jeremy, let them think whatever it takes to keep us in the game. We need some time. Free rein to explore, ask questions, dig for answers.”

“And evidence,” Clint added.

“Are you ready for your rounds, or should you lie down for a minute and see what happens?” They both knew going back to bed meant delaying their exit by an hour at least. Drug or no drug, the chemistry between them would always boil over.

The three men stared at her as though waiting for her to collapse. They should have known better.

She sliced her hand through the air. “No way in hell am I giving people a reason to call me weak.”

“They wouldn’t dare…” Clint smiled. “Mistress Lily.”

“And don’t you forget it.” She smacked his ass as she strutted from the room. Ben and Ryan grinned when they took in her cheery disposition.

“Clint, Matt, take over watch on our quarters. I’m guessing Lily will want these two with her?” He lifted his eyebrows at his partner.

“Damn straight. Let’s go, boys.” She strode away.

The men followed her, avoiding tripping over their tongues at the spectacular rear view she granted them.