dakota_trace_his_christmas_gift_myrnas (8 page)

Dusting his hands off, he settled into the chair
adjacent to Myrna’s. He murmured his thanks when she handed him a cup of the
Irish coffee sans Bailey’s. The creamy taste of the half-cream laced coffee
tasted wonderful after the sharp bite of the Guinness he’d consumed with
dinner. Cradling the warm cup in his palms he took a second generous sip before
setting it down on the table between him and Myrna.

“So, I contacted the bank this morning. I have some
rather disturbing news.” He watched her face very carefully as he told her of
the results. “They claim you called them and approved of the release of your
funds into an American account in Grant’s name. According to Mr. Spurnman, the
teller spoke to a woman who identified herself as you and provided your
security code.”

Her eyes grew wide before they narrowed. The furrow
of her brow before she slammed down her coffee cup told its own story. There
wasn’t even a remote possibility Myrna would’ve given a single Euro to Grant.
Not after he financially wiped her out when he left and Amery knew it.

“I never called the bank and authorized anything.
Surely you don’t think I would be that stupid!”

He placed a comforting hand over hers. “No. I don’t
believe it for a moment. That leaves only one other option. Someone either
hacked into the bank’s computers to give your access code to the bank employee
who closed the account, or Grant’s one lucky son of bitch to have guessed your
password.”

Her eyes flashed with ire. “There’s no way Grant
could’ve figured out my password.”

Compassion filled him. “I’m not blaming you,
sweetheart, but Grant was your husband and master for over ten years. If you
used a date or name, he might’ve gotten lucky.”

A bitter laugh escaped her. “Not bloody likely. I
used a date significant only to me, and
your birthday
along with my age
at the time he left me: 12-18-MAY 13 -30. Nothing in it is of significance to
him.”

Amery felt his face heat even as the idea of her
using something of his intrigued him. “Why did you use my birthday and what’s
so important about December eighteenth?”

She shrugged before answering the first part of his
question. “What can I say, I saw you as my knight in shining armor, Amery. I
honestly don’t know what Caelan or I would’ve done if you hadn’t helped me after
Grant left us.”

“There was always a chance Grant would remember my
birthday, Myrna.”

She shook her head. “Not likely though. He couldn’t
even remember my birthday or our anniversary, so the likelihood of him
remembering your birthday was minimal. Even if he did, he’d only have two
pieces out of the three.” She lifted the cup to her lips. “He had to either
have someone at the bank on his side, or he  managed to hack into the bank’s
computer.”

He cocked his head before nodding. “That’s a
possibility I’ll mention to Mr. Spurnman when we visit him on Tuesday.”

He watched as she nodded then lifted the cup to her
lips. His loins stirred as rapture washed over her face. When she licked the
traces of foam off her lips with her tongue, he scrambled to distract himself.
“You never did say what the other date was for – the one Grant wouldn’t know
about.”

She stared into the flames while fingering the
porcelain cup in her hand.

“No, I didn’t.”

When she didn’t continue, his frustration rose.
“And?”

She finally looked at him, her eyes hooded. “Do you
honestly want to know?”

He raked a hand through his hair. “Of course, I
wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t.”

She nodded before setting the cup down on the stand
by his. Her cheeks began to redden. “If I tell you, you have to promise you
won’t take it as a come on or an advance on my part.”

Now he was intrigued.
What could she have possibly
based the date on that would bring a flush of color to her cheeks?

He leaned forward and assumed his Dom persona – his
voice dark and sensual. “Tell me.”

“Do you promise?” Her breathing was rapid.

He gave her a short nod. “I promise for tonight I
won’t take anything you tell me as an advance.”

She took a deep breath. “December eighteenth was the
date I first realized you were the Dom I wanted – not Grant.”

His sharp inhalation and the way he gripped the arms
of the chair as he processed what she said had her hands trembling. From the
grimace which crossed his face, she had a feeling he was barely controlling the
urge to take her response as an acceptance of his earlier offer.
Ah, maybe I
should have just made something up or refused to tell him.

His response proved her right.

“You’re damn lucky, Myrna, I’m a man of my word.”

She nodded hesitantly. “And I thank you for that.”

Chapter Six

Myrna opened her front door, took a cautious step
outside, and looked around. Seeing nothing out of place, she headed for the
small compact covered in a layer of falling snow. She had half expected Amery
to be lurking on her doorstep. It’d been a couple of days since their chat.
She’d hid from the world all weekend, including ignoring Amery’s promise that
all bets would be off with the beginning of the new week. Although now she had
no other choice about leaving her sanctuary as she needed more half-cream and a
job. She had a feeling the half-cream was going to be easier to procure than a
job – especially after her argument with Amery about the staffing service.

Who’d have thought he’d take the fact that I found
him attractive as a Dom in stride, but would blow a gasket about my going back
to work? I refuse to take any more of his money. He’s just going to have to get
over it.

Walking briskly to her car, she slid inside after
brushing the snow off the front windshield and the hood. Starting it, she reached
to turn on the wipers to clear the snow blocking them when there was a tap on
the driver’s side window. Her startled yip filled the interior as the bundled
figure crouched down next to her car. Without thinking she rolled down the
window, knocking the snow onto the man. Even as edgy as she was, a nervous
giggle escaped her. She couldn’t believe how anxious she was feeling. Between
her confession to Amery, and another call from Grant yesterday she was ready to
crawl out of her own skin.
Perhaps I should’ve told Amery about Grant’s call
– Grant sounded more determined than ever. It doesn’t look as if ignoring the
arse and letting him talk to the answering machine is going to make him go
away.

The familiar muttered curses as the man brushed the
snow off of him had her jerking. Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the
steering wheel tight before she forced her hands to release it. She took a deep
breath before turning to face the one man she’d been hoping to avoid even more
than her estranged husband.

Despite the snowflakes partially covering his
shoulders, Amery was turned out impeccably as always. Even dressed casually in
a pair of tan woolen trousers and a cream turtleneck that peeked out of the
open vee of his dark winter coat, he still looked wonderful. A light dusting of
snow even coated his hair, since as usual he’d forgone any kind of hat.

Deciding that casual was the best defense, she smiled
at him. “Are you trying to catch your death of a cold, Amery? Where’s your hat?
I know I gave you one last year for Christmas.”

He leaned into the window. “I suppose it’d be in the
same place as the other five hats you’ve given me – the hall closet.”

Before she could ask why there, his firm lips brushed
hers as his hand cupped the back of her head – holding her still for his kiss.
The immediate rasp of his cool lips against hers had them parting on a gasp of
surprise. Even with his warning, she hadn’t expected this. The damp feel of his
tongue exploring the sensitive inner curves of her mouth had her squirming.
Oh
dear Lord in Heaven, this man can kiss.
Her body swayed forward trying to
get closer to his as her lips parted and his tongue thrust forcefully inside to
tangle with hers. He tasted of mint and coffee and she feared she’d soon grow
addicted to his unique taste. She wanted to get even closer.

Frustration grew as the car’s door impeded her. She
fumbled for the handle only to have his free hand catch hers. Against her
mouth, his order to ‘be still’ had desire rushing to her core. The pure mastery
of his mouth against hers along with his controlling hold on her hand had her
body awakening in a way she’d sworn it never would again. His hands held her
completely as he took what he wanted from her mouth. Under the bulk of her
sweater and coat, her breasts swelled and ached for the special touch of his
hands. Her thighs trembled as her folds grew damp against the restraining cloth
of her panties and jeans. She longed to feel his thick fingers find and tease
her aching female flesh – to dip inside of her wetness before smearing it over
her aching clit.

It had been so long since anyone other than herself
had touched her body. Not to say she’d been a saint. She hadn’t, but a few one
night stands and one very brief affair with a vanilla man a few years younger
than her, had left her feeling very dissatisfied. So she’d gone out and bought
a vibrator and a silver bullet, deciding that intimacy with a man wasn’t worth
the hassle. She’d gotten more satisfaction from her own stimulating
administrations than she had with any man since Grant. But now – in an instant
-- everything had changed.

Her breath came out in a raspy plea when Amery
finally lifted his head. His grey eyes were dark with desire while the swollen
fullness of his mouth had her wanting to kiss him again. When she leaned
forward, his hand tightened in her hair. Even with a protest on her tip of her
tongue, she froze. Her heart was racing at the possessive look on his face.

“You’re going to be mine.”

She stiffened. “You promised.” Her whisper was full
of anger. “You told me that you wouldn’t take what I told you the other night
as an overture towards…”

“Stop!” His fingers rubbed over her scalp before he
released her. She stared up at him when he jerked her door open. “I promised I
would do nothing Saturday night. This is Monday. You were warned that the kid
gloves were coming off.” His voice hardened. “After spending the last two
nights fighting with the deep desire to tie your arse to my bed until you give
in, my patience and your time has run out.” Lifting her out of the car, he
pressed her body against the hard length of him. “I’m tired of you hiding
behind your fear, so if you won’t face it by yourself, then today we’ll face it
together.”

Held tightly against his torso, she could feel every
bit of his need and determination. The sheer domination in his voice along with
the erection pressed against her stomach had her wanting to sink down to her
knees in front of him, take his cock out of his pants, and suck him until he
came down her throat. The overwhelming force of her desire to give her
submission to him shocked her.

When his low groan reached her ears and his hands
tightened on her, she realized he’d read her mind and her need easily.

“You’re not ready for that, Myrna, and so help me
God, if you kneel in front of me, I’ll have you right here and now – and to
hell with my good intentions and your sensibilities.”

“I…” She was at a loss for words. Despite her fear of
submitting to him, she still found she had an overwhelming need to please
Amery.
But how can I please him without giving him my total submission?

Even as she was pondering the idea, she realized he
was leading her to his idling car.

“Where are we going?”

He gave her a sharp look. “To the club. I’m going to
get past this fear of yours one way or the other.”

Dread filled her even as her desire to please him
grew. It’d once been her dream to have him take her to the club. Thirty-five
years ago, she wanted to prove to everyone, including Grant, she could not only
please Amery, but keep his attention afterwards. But the situation was much
different now - even as she wanted to make Amery happy, she knew once she had
satisfied him, he’d leave her just as he had numerous subs before her. As he
started the car, she stared out the window in despair, knowing there was no
reasoning with him.

* * * *

Pulling into the snow covered lot behind The
Sanctuary’s Lair, Amery cursed himself as ten times a fool. His original plan
of inviting Myrna to attend a Founders’ meeting had gone to the wayside when
he’d arrived to find her leaving. His blood pressure had sky-rocketed, as what
little patience he’d retained, after forty-eight hours of fighting with his
natural inclinations, had evaporated in an instant. The idea that she was still
entertaining the notion of returning to work had his inner Dom seething and
he’d simply reacted. Instead of asking her to attend with him, he’d pounced on
her. Not only had he kissed her but he’d yanked her out of her car to drag her
to his. While he didn’t regret the kiss they’d shared, her eerie silence since
entering the car worried him. Had he been too rough in his handling?

Shutting the car off, he turned to face her. “Myrna.”

The silence was deafening. Her voice was very brittle
when she finally spoke. “I don’t want to go in there.”