Three to Play (10 page)

But Beth Taylor’s fate on the show might prove more difficult when it came to persuading Dustin to Clint’s side. Dustin might be a hard sell, but Clint never failed to get his friend back on plan, even with Dustin’s well-known stubbornness set in.

As Clint parked in the driveway, Dustin broke the silence.

“What the fuck is wrong with you!”

Dustin’s venom surprised Clint. The norm for Dustin ran from happy-go-lucky and jovial to, at very rare times, slightly agitated. But tonight, he sped past his norm to blazing fury. Clint needed to be calm, or his buddy might go into a rage.

“Dustin, we took things too far with Beth.”

“What a pile of horse shit. Something happened back there. I felt it. I think Beth felt it, too. But I doubt you felt anything.”

A storm brewed inside Dustin, a storm Clint didn’t want to but must face. His plan for their careers demanded it. So, he pressed on.

“I’ll tell you exactly what you felt, your hard dick in Beth’s tight pussy. Nothing else.”

“Fuck you.”

“Something did happen. We crossed the line, and that complicates things at the station. We broke our rule.” Clint chose his next words carefully.
 
“She’s a good announcer, but we have a team. Luckily, it’s not too late to fix this mess.”

“You and your rules can fuck off for all I care.”

“Dustin, we are a duo. That works for us. Sure, she’s been doing well for the past few weeks, but can she keep it up?”

“Clint, you can forget it.”

“Forget what?”

Dustin’s eyes narrowed. “Plans you have of deep-sixing Beth.”

“She can’t stay on mornings with us. It won’t work.”

“The hell it won’t.”

A pain exploded at the back of Clint’s head. The dream of making it to New York and burning up the airways with Dustin seemed to be evaporating. Beth succeeded in wedging herself between him and Dustin over the past few weeks. Clint should’ve suspected it, but instead he remained quiet, enamored with her, too. She was a smart woman, but he couldn’t let Beth win. Though he’d been stupid to let her stay as long as he did.

“That’s Candi’s decision, not mine.”

“You can cut the crap. I know you. I know how you operate. If you have your way, she’ll be knocked off the show in a month or two.”

More like Monday morning.

“If she’d been producing numbers that pleased the owners, we wouldn’t be here.”

“She’s got talent.”

“In the bedroom, yes. On-air some, but not enough.”

“Much more than some, and you know it.” Dustin’s hand clamped down on Clint’s shoulder and delivered a vise-grip of pain. “I want her on the show. Period.”

“Not possible.”

“You fuck with her, you’re fucking with me. Do you understand?”

Clint had never seen him so resolute about anything. The flexible friend he’d known morphed into an unflinching opponent.

“Dustin, can’t you see what her game is? She’s pulling our fucking strings and you’re falling for it.”

“You’re the one who likes being the puppet master, not Beth.”

“Really? When have we ever disagreed about the direction of a show?”

“She’s innocent in this. She’s done everything perfectly. Adding her to the mix forced us to be better at our jobs, pushed our limits, and the show has burned white hot. Hell, Candi told us what that survey found. What I don’t get is why you’re so adamant of getting rid of her with your love of high ratings.”

“Because she doesn’t belong on my
show.”

“
Your
show? Fuck you, Clint.” Dustin unbuckled his seat belt. “She stays. End of discussion.”

“That’s not for you to decide. You and I agreed a long time ago that I make the decisions about what’s best for our career as a duo.”

“Keep talking, and you’ll be managing a solo career.”

“You don’t get it. She’s manipulated both of us. I can prove it.”

Dustin opened his mouth to say something, but instead he turned and got out of the car. He slammed the door shut, and the car rocked.

He’d never seen Dustin so pissed.

Clint stepped out onto the driveway and closed the door with a more appropriate push.
 

“Best not to try me on this. You leave Beth alone, or you’ll be the one off the show.”

Before Clint could respond, Dustin marched up to the condo, unlocked the door, pushed it open, and pulled it shut with a loud boom.

Clint stood alone, looking at the door. What the hell could he do to change Dustin’s mind about Beth? She’d trapped Dustin with her body. Clint had barely gotten free of her web.

That’s it.

The plan formed in his mind. He must prove that Beth was not the innocent that Dustin thought. She’d been calculating on the battlefield, launching teasing sparks that ignited both he and Dustin, giving her the advantage. How could he have missed it?

Well played, Beth.

Still, Clint doubted that she’d ever faced an opponent like him. Tonight, he would fight fire with fire, with an ambush. He kept the tools that he needed in a black leather bag at the bottom of his closet, safely locked away.
 

Clint smiled, imagining how Beth might resist his education, but her body’s reaction earlier had portrayed her deeper desires. She would react to the pain and pleasure he’d dish out. Her mind would race, her heart would pound, her pussy would ache…as her mettle to resist crumbled, bit by bit, under his guidance.

She’d willingly go to another time slot after tonight.

Clint walked up to the closed door, opened it, and entered. No sign of Dustin in the living room or dining room. Clint went to the hall. Surprisingly, Dustin’s bedroom door was open.

Clint considered trying to talk to him again, but decided against it. Instead, he walked to the opposite end of the hall from Dustin’s bedroom into his. He opened the closet door, grabbed the black bag from the floor, and brought down the video camera from the shelf.

He needed proof to show Beth wasn’t an innocent. He’d get her to confess that she’d been working to split them up from day one, even if it took all night.

Chapter Nine

In her robe and slippers, Beth continued pacing as she’d been doing ever since Dustin and Clint left. She’d screwed up by letting the two hotshots into her bed. Now, Clint thought she’d only done it to keep her job, like she was some kind of whore.

She’d hoped that teasing them would keep them interested, but when they turned up the heat, she melted.

Oh God, how can I fix this?

She passed her wit’s end thirty minutes ago. A pounding on her door jerked her from her thoughts.

“Open the door, Beth.” Clint’s voiced boomed.

“Are you serious? At this hour?” Beth put her eye up to her peephole. His face came into view. He seemed to be staring directly at her through the tiny eyelet.

“Let me in, now.”

“Why should I? You made your point very clear.”

“Don’t make me bust it down. I will. You won’t like the punishment I’d give you for disobeying me.”

Beth’s mouth went dry, but her want grew.

She unlocked and opened the door.

“Come in, but only for a minute.”

“You like giving orders?” He carried a bag and a video camera. “That’s about to change.”

Her guilt rose in her throat. Had seeing her with Dustin enraged him? Could that have been the reason he’d lashed out so strongly?

This was first time she’d actually been alone with Clint since they met.

“So, why are you here?” The words came out sharper than she intended.

“Do you want to fight me, Beth? Give it all you’ve got.”

“What if I do want to fight you?”

He smiled. “You already know how that will end.”

“What’s with the camera?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.” He turned away from her toward the dining table.

“And the bag?”

Rather than answer, he sat the bag down, shielding its contents from her.

“Hey, what’s in that thing?”

“You really want to know?”

“Yes.”

Clint turned back around. He held something behind him. In a split second, he spun her so her back hit his front, pulling her arms toward him.

“What the hell, Clint?”

His large hand covered her mouth. Confusion slashed her logic to bits.

Beth felt something on her wrists. Clint handcuffed her. Panic scraped her insides raw.

“These are leather cuffs. They lock together. You won’t be able move your arms, so don’t try. No talking, unless I tell you to. Nod to let me know you understand.”

She nodded, her heart thumping full tilt.

“Beth, I know what you really need, and I will give you pleasure like you’ve never known before.”

His words ignited something inside her that caused her body to respond.

He untied her robe and slid it down to the handcuffs. She heard a snap. The feel of the leather left her wrists for a second, and her robe fell to the floor. He snapped the cuffs back together, restraining her again. The cold air hit her exposed skin, causing her to shiver violently.

With anyone else, this would’ve been torture, but not with Clint. She felt hunger and guilt. He must’ve come back because he’d sensed her wicked desire for this treatment earlier tonight.

Clint’s hand left her mouth. She heard him pull more items from his bag but dared not look back.

“You’ve been very bad, Beth. You drove a wedge between me and Dustin.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. She deserved anything he wanted to dish out.

“Clint, I—”

His hand covered her mouth, again, forcing her to silence.

“I told you, no talking. You said you understood. I guess you lied, or intentionally disobeyed me. Either way, you will be punished.”

Beth trembled. Desire rose up in her.

“I’m going to ask you some questions now. You can answer one of two ways, ‘Yes sir’ or ‘No sir.
’
Do you understand that?”

Every syllable threw more coals into the lusty fire inside her.

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Have you experienced bondage before?”

“Yes, sir.”

Only once, with her ex. She’d enjoyed it and wanted to experience more. He didn’t.

“Interesting.
Lifer
?”

“What’s a—Ouch!”

Clint pinched her nipple hard.

“You didn’t listen to my instructions, Beth. Yes sir
or No sir
.
That’s it.”

She held back her tears. “Yes, sir.”

“Better. Definitely not in the lifestyle. I think you played around a time or two with some asshole who didn’t have a clue about what real dominance and submission is. Right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I do know how to dominate. You want to learn more about that?”

“Y-Yes, sir.”

“Listen to me closely. I will not repeat this. With me, you won’t be experiencing some pseudo-bondage game. You will be restrained, blindfolded, gagged, and whatever else I deem necessary to train you into the bottom I know you are. You won’t talk, taste, speak, move, or even come unless I give the order. You will obey every command I issue you without question. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Did you and asshole have a safeword?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Everyone thinks they know BDSM. Bullshit. You will have a safeword with me, but you also need a safe signal because you’ll be gagged most of the time.”