The Hunter (Mistress & Master of Restraint) (10 page)

“After we nap. You get back to writing, I want this memorialized,” Marcus demands. A shocked burst of laughter is torn from my mouth- tender moment broken, manhood regained.

“Yes, Master. The muse is riding me almost as hard as I
just rode you.” Hours later… I can still hear Marcus’ thrilled laughter.

The Hunter
: Past
-Chapter Ten-

I smile to mysel
f as I walk into the nursery. Marcus hadn’t lied about how I would forever be his cocksucking bitch. I’ve given countless blowjobs to the man, and most of them were not by my choice. I have no say in the matter since I made that stupid agreement with him years ago. Who am I kidding? I will finally admit that I love every second of his cock ramming down my throat, suffocating the life out of me, just as I did that very first time. I shake my head to clear the deviant past from my thoughts, and I look to my future that is sleeping soundly in their beds.

I ki
ss the tiny blond head first. Baby Ez smells like baby powder and sweetness. He presses into my touch, but doesn’t wake. I smile when he murmurs, “Da,” in his sleep. Behind those paper-thin sleeping eyelids are the replica of Ezra and my gray eyes. My heart blooms and bursts with happiness every time I witness the miracle of my children. Spending time with this little guy deepens the guilt I feel over Zane, causing the ache to intensify. Never will I get those stolen moments back because Ezra didn’t trust me enough with the truth. Moment tainted with dark thoughts, I leave my son to rest in peace.

My demon-child is awake
, impatiently waiting, fists clenching and unclenching as they reach for me. Azriel’s big, green eyes look at me with no doubt or confusion. I wish I was as clearheaded as my progeny. She doesn’t cry or yell as she would for anyone else, even her mother. Az eagerly awaits me to pull her from her crib and cuddle her to my chest. I sit in the chair and gently rock us.

“How’s my baby girl tonight? Why
aren’t you asleep?” I brush Azriel’s flaming hair from her forehead and lay a kiss on the softest skin I’ve ever touched.

“
Ava,” Az perfectly utters. She is a wonder. My daughter’s tiny mind works as fast as mine. It scares the hell out of me. I worry about Ava, but she is almost grown and I can still boss her boyfriend around. I’m not sure Azriel will allow me the pleasure. She is strong-willed like her mother and hardheaded like me. It’s a disastrous combination.

“I’m on my way to
see Ava next,” I say to ease Azriel’s concerns. No doubt she picked up on Ava’s worry over my bad behavior- my shameful behavior. Witnessing your Dad have a psychotic break of lust at the dining room table where your boyfriend is sitting… is insanity. Worse is when the lust is because of your grandfather. I should get another therapist on retainer right now.

I rock us for a long while until Azr
iel’s soft snores combine with Baby Ez’s and until my mind is clearer on what is truly important in my life. I gently place Az back into her crib, and I’m thankful she doesn’t wake. Azriel is a bearcat when she is ripped from dreamland. I kiss both mops of hair and make my way to my daughter. I drag my feet since it’s a conversation I’m dreading.

“Are they asleep?” Diane asks a
s I quietly shut the door to the nursery.

“Yep, I just rocked Az to sle
ep. Both are out like a light,” I pleasantly say as I try to walk away from Diane. Even though I grew up in this house with Diane as my guardian, I’ve never been comfortable in her presence. I know she won’t hurt the kids and she’s never been mean to me per se, but there is something that rings alarms in my mind. Why was she lurking outside in the hall and by which door? The game puts me on a constant state of alarm. I must determine every motivation for every action, even from my family members.

“Good night, Diane,” I
politely say in passing, and keep walking. I could tell she wanted to speak with me, and I’ve had enough hard conversations for one evening.

“I miss you, too. I know it’s necessary, but I don’t like smearing your name.” Marcus’ voice rumbles from his bedroom. I lean in the open doorway and he looks up to me, but doesn’t stop his conversation. It feels nic
e that he trusts me that much.

“I love you, too.” I raise my eyebrows at that.
Marcus must have convinced Regina to take his dumb ass back.

“No, we can’t see each other yet. It would blow it. Trust me for once. I know how you love to be in control. I let you try it your way and it didn’t work. It’s my turn. Give me a few months, that’s all I ask for.” Another l
ong pause where I assume Regina is trying to convince him otherwise by the pinched expression on his tanned face… and everyone calls me stubborn.

“I’ll spea
k with you soon, good night.” Marcus places the phone on his nightstand and shakes his head at me.

“Not yet…soon…
but not yet… Regina’s gonna give up on you eventually, Marc. Just bite the bullet, divorce the hallway eavesdropper, and marry your woman.” I don’t press any further because Marcus would only get pissed and lose all his trust in me.

“Do you remember everything we talked
about in the woods tonight?” Marc’s face betrays his curiosity. I smirk.

“Yeah, I remember everything. Ezra was waiting for me when I got back inside.” I sigh heavily and lean my head against the doorframe
in defeat.

“I know. I overheard.” Marcus
arrogantly looks at me without a lick of shame, as if he’s waiting for me to bitch and throw a fit. In Marc’s defense, bitching is my favorite hobby.

“
My… my… my… isn’t everyone an eavesdropper this evening?” The snide tone in my voice is eclipsed by worry. “How much did you overhear?”

“A
ll of it. I followed you to the house to make sure you were okay, and I overheard you and Ezra talking. I honestly didn’t think Ezra knew about our first time. He was very good at hiding his reaction, I’ll give him that. I was shocked to say the least. I guess you better not tell Ezra you’ve already kissed me.” Marcus puckers up, taunting me. “Repeatedly… and daily,” he says with a wicked smirk and a strong undertone of lust.

Watching Marc’s cheeks pinken causes warmth to bloom in my chest. I feel powerful and worthy because Marcus truly wants me- it’s a heady sensation.

“I assume Ezra
meant from that moment on, asshole,” I snarl to cover up the embarrassed regret that is suffocating me. I always throw up a shield of amused indifference.

“You’re killing me, Cort
,” Marcus sighs out as he fists his blankets. “I don’t get it. I want you, and I have no idea why. Not that you aren’t handsome… because I know you know you are. I’ve wanted you since you started teasing me as a teen. Now there are two of you clambering for my attentions- Regina and you. I want to meet both your needs, but you don’t truly need me. We aren’t good for each other because we aren’t right for each other. You have everything you could possibly need in the room next door, and it’s yours for the taking if you’d let go of your pride and spill what is stopping you. You need to admit it out loud and to yourself.”

“I know. I agree.
I came to the same conclusion while I was rocking Azriel to sleep.” I sigh, leaning heavily on the doorframe. “Are you saying you don’t want to play with me anymore?”

“No, I’m having fun with you
, and you know it. Hide-and-seek was one of the hottest things I’ve ever done. I think I will invite Katya next time. I could chase you both. All three of us could be naked. And yes, I’ve masturbated to this idea three times since I left you and Ezra to talk.”
My eyes flash down to Marc’s crotch and he is ready again, thick and ruddy and dripping with eagerness. I lick my lips because all I have to do is look at that cock and my mouth waters. Marcus knowingly grins at me, guessing the direction of my naughty thoughts.

“He’s a bit sore from my grip.
” Marc’s lips twist into a devastatingly wicked smirk, promising a world of hedonistic fun that my mind could never conjure. “We’ll postpone that thought until tomorrow… now that we have the go-ahead to play.”

“Hadn’t we had the go-ahead since you took us all as your minions?” I fold my arms across my chest and my legs at the ankles. I lean against the doorframe and pose for Marc. He
uncomfortably shifts on the bed, sore cock swelling to reach far above his belly button. There is power in seduction, and at this moment, I bloat with the sensation.

“I’ve been your master since you dropped to your knees before me and sucked my cock. Ezra’s since he tried the same damned thing at his mother’s request and I denied him. I expected nothing less from my boys when you gave me your wife. You’re all mine to do with as I please. And it would please me
very much if you’d be happy together- all three of you with your children.”

Marcus pulls the
sheet up that had pooled to his thighs, he covers himself all the way to his chest. He runs his fingers through his curls again and heavily sighs, I can tell he has another hard truth for me.

“I would never abandon you guys. Ezra is my son no matter the connection to his mother. You and Katya are mine forever. I love the three of you
, and will always be here for you in any capacity. I think of your children as my own blood. My bond to the seven of you is stronger than blood or family. We have made a family of our own choosing. Ezra and you have had a lifetime to fuck it up and a lifetime to fix it. You have to pull it together, Cort, only you can. I love you, I love Ezra, and I’ve grown to love the woman that Katya is. But nothing you will ever do will take my love from the children. Zane, Ava, Baby Ez, and Azriel should come first for the three of you- it’s why Faith hates you and Ez and Katya right now. I need you to finally be honest with each other, tell the truth. I need you to be happy because I have something difficult to do, and when I’m done, one of you may hate me. I need the trust of the rest of you to hold Ezra up. Never doubt my reasoning. I am doing what is best for us as a whole.” Marcus closes his eyes and I can tell he is fighting tears.

“
You really are planning on leaving Diane, and you think Ezra is going to hate you when you leave his mother?” I’d leave Diane, too. I wish she’d move in with Pearl and Divina. The moment the thought passes my mind I feel guilty. This woman took me in when my mother died and allowed me to marry into the family to keep her fortune secure. I repay the debt of gratitude by cheating on her son with her husband and wishing she’d leave her ancestral home. I’m a fucking rat-bastard.

“It’s something like that. I watched your thoughts war across your face. Trust your instincts. Ezra is going to need you since he will undoubtedly cast me out of h
is life.”

“I trust you and I’ll trust you when the time comes
, too. Ezra knows his mother better than any of us. He will understand… But I still hate your punishments,” I joke, hoping to lighten the somber mood that floods the room. 

Ignoring the joke, Marcus concentrates on the truth.
“We have a lot of work to do to find a happy medium- this is a huge change and it affects a lot of people. I meant what I said. I won’t lose playtime with you, and I have to maintain my affections with Ezra. Regina can demand anything but that. If she does then it won’t work between us because she doesn’t truly know what is important to me. I’ve run too long, and now that I’m pushing towards forty, I know exactly what I want, and I will settle for nothing less.” Marc’s voice is sure and confident. It lends me the strength to find what I want at almost thirty-one. I’d rather do it now than in six years like Marc. I shake my head agreeing with him.

“I better get to bed before Ezra
thinks I’ve been abducted again,” I make light of our tortured past.  I walk over to Marcus and press my forehead to his lips. I feel pressure, a pleasant tingling, as he kisses me goodnight in the way he usually does.

“I don’t know how Ezra will react since with matters of the heart he is
extremely unpredictable, but I know Kat and I will follow you into the gates of hell and back. The kids think you hung the moon and stars. Hell, you’re the creator of our universe. Do what you must, because an unhappy master means unhappy underlings. You’re the head of our home, we can’t survive without you,” I quietly murmur, emotions clogging up my throat. 

“Yeah, and with both of us
emotionally fucked, we’ve been driving them mad when they need us the most.” Marc’s deep chuckle draws my attention to his luscious lips. I stare intently, longingly. The promise I made Ezra turns a simple need to kiss into my greatest temptation, a fierce hunger that is hard to deny.

Marcus
taps his finger to the side of his throat. “No mouth kissing remember,” he taps his neck again. “Here will suffice.” Marc’s voice is husky with need and his eyes twinkle with amusement. I slowly lean in and flutter a kiss to the smooth skin of his throat. Marcus trembles beneath my lips as I groan at how good he smells, musky and hot. I’ve never figured out what the smell is, but Katya and I both find it intoxicating. The smell of a powerful male.

“You better get the fuck out of here before I break every rule I’ve ever made and pull you into my bed. In the mood I’m in
, I don’t know who would be topping whom, and the thought thrills me. Go-” Marcus pushes me away from him, but in contradiction to his words and actions, he grips my shirt so I can’t leave.
 

“No,” Marcus
pushes me away again only to draw me back. His fingers loosen on my shirt and I quickly flee. I won’t go back on my word to Ezra and I’d hate myself if I forced Marcus to break his own vows.

I go while I still can.