Devoted: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella (8 page)

What had he been through? Who’d hurt him? He was in his thirties so it was likely that someone along the way had broken his heart. They’d kept things casual during their meetings.

Dates. They were a lot like dates. Not the classes, but afterward he would take her to dinner and he always paid even when she offered. He would give her that look and she would find her hand moving away from the check. He picked her up before class—that was in their contract—and made sure to walk her to her door after dinner.

He walked back in, looking deliciously yummy in his slacks and open-throated shirt that showed off tan skin. She happened to know that smooth skin covered a lot of muscle.

Outside, the rain made the lights of Dallas look hazy and a bit surreal.

She wanted to feel good. It had been so long. Was it wrong to ask him if he wanted to feel good, too?

He stopped in front of her, his face softening. “Are you all right? Will told me I should call him if you started to feel pain.”

The accident had been minor. She hadn’t even taken an aspirin.

But she’d been scared as she’d gone into the oncoming lane and seen a truck coming her way. She’d realized that it sucked to be dying when she hadn’t even lived. She’d spent her whole life trying to please a father who couldn’t love her, living in the shadow of her larger than life rebellious sister, being dutiful, and what had it gotten her? She wasn’t happy. She’d taken over Slaten, but that had been about duty, too.

Couldn’t she have one thing that was just for her? It wouldn’t last forever, but for a while she could feel free.

“I feel fine.” That wasn’t being honest. “My body is fine, Flynn.”

He moved into her space but somehow his height, his overwhelming presence, didn’t intimidate her. It comforted her. “And the rest of you? Sweetheart, you’re crying.”

She had to chuckle at that. “I don’t do that around anyone but you, damn it.”

His big hand came up and cupped her cheek, thumb swiping away the tear. “I don’t want you to hide things from me.”

“What are we doing, Flynn? I know why we’re both in the class, but not everyone goes out afterward. Are we dating? It’s okay if we’re not. If we’re just getting to know each other so we can get through the class, that’s okay.”

He stared at her for a moment as though trying to figure out what to say. And then he moved in again, their bodies almost touching. “I’ve been trying to get to know you.”

“Because I’m your partner?”

“Because you’re the first woman to move me in a very long time and I want to know if that’s real or something I made up in my head because I’m lonely.” His hand found her hair, smoothing it back.

She was sure she resembled a drowned rat, but he was looking at her like she was something lovely. There was nothing he could have said that would have moved her more. He could have talked dirty or told her in sweet terms how much he wanted her. He could have told her he wanted to see where it went.

He was lonely. She was so fucking lonely, and somehow when he was close to her she didn’t feel it.

“Then I must have made it up, too,” she admitted. “I like being around you, Flynn. I don’t think about how shitty my life is when I’m around you.”

His gaze threatened to melt her. “What are you asking me for, Amy? Are you asking me to play? I can do that. Anything sexual between us is likely going to include D/s. Or I can simply take care of you. I started a shower. It should be warm by now. I can let you go and get cleaned up and I’ll be the perfect gentleman.”

She didn’t need a gentleman tonight. “Or you could be my Dom.”

“Your Dom is going to want more than to rub your feet. I don’t want to take advantage of you. You’ve had a rough day.”

“And playing would make it so much better, Sir. Please kiss me. Please make this shitty day have something good happen in it. I’m not asking for a collar. I want to spend the next couple of weeks exploring this with you. Maybe it works out. Maybe it doesn’t. We can still be friends if we make the choice at the beginning that if it doesn’t happen for us, that’s how we’ll end it. Hell, maybe we’ll find out we’re not sexually compatible.”

“Not possible,” he said, his lips looming over hers. “Let me off the leash, Amy. Tell me we’re playing. Our contract allows all manner of sexual play. Let me take control.”

All she wanted was for this man to kiss her. She’d kissed him the first time. She’d been in control and it had felt magical. What would it feel like when he was the one kissing her? Would he be dominating or soft and tender?

A thrill went through her system. The last time she’d been kissed it had come out of nowhere from a coworker. The sex that had followed after a couple of dates had been nice, but she hadn’t had this wild anticipation, her heart pounding, blood heating. She’d never wanted a man the way she wanted Flynn. She’d cared about a few men. She’d wanted sex before. But now it was all mashed up in an incredible need that she was pretty sure only he could fill.

She’d never been dominated by a man before. She typically took charge when it came to sex. She wasn’t sure if it was because she’d mostly found her partners at work and she’d been the boss’s daughter and then the boss. The first time she’d truly felt a spark for a man had been Frankie, who was wildly dominant.

What would it be like with a man who wanted her sexually? And yes, who she was really starting to like. She’d desired him the minute she’d seen him, but after a few dates, she was rapidly falling for the man.

Her skin tingled as she looked up into his handsome face. His jawline was perfectly straight and there was the slightest hint of a five-o’clock shadow.

“Yes, Flynn. Play with me. Take control.”

His mouth came down on hers. Pure heat flooded her system. Flynn didn’t seem to care that her hair was still damp. His hand fisted in it, drawing her head back to give himself better access. His lips moved over hers in an expert fashion. The man knew how to kiss. His tongue came out, dragging along her lower lip and tempting her to open for him.

She relaxed against him, allowing his tongue inside to play with hers. She let her hands find his waist. He was lean and muscular, and she was reminded of how long it had been since she’d been held by a man who wasn’t trying to comfort her.

This wasn’t about comfort at all. His mouth seduced her, tempted her. The hand in her hair tightened slightly. A flare of pain lit up her scalp and she could feel her nipples hardening to peaks. She couldn’t help herself. She moved against him, needing to press herself to his warmth.

His hand left her hair and slid down to her backside, cupping her and hauling her against his body. She could feel exactly how much he wanted to play. His cock was hard. She couldn’t resist rubbing her hips against him.

He hissed and stepped back. “Go take a shower, Amy.”

“What?” His words didn’t quite make sense.

“I said go take a shower. It should be hot by now. Don’t argue with me. You gave me control. You have a safe word we agreed on that first night. Either do as I ask or we’ll be done playing for the night. I’m not going to fuck you over the sofa after you’ve been in an accident. If you don’t give me a minute to calm down, that’s exactly what I’ll do and I’ll regret it. So go.”

She wasn’t so sure she would regret it, but he seemed determined to treat her like an invalid. He was being a gentleman when she so wanted him to be a nasty boy. Still, he’d explained. According to their contract he didn’t have to do that while they were playing. He was already bending for her, so she nodded and moved away from him.

“It’s in the back, through my bedroom,” he explained.

Well, it hadn’t been everything she’d hoped for, but that kiss had proven they were incendiary.

And that if she was going to get through the night, she needed some relief. She walked through the bedroom, not really seeing it. All she could think about was Flynn’s hands on her. The shower was running, steam coming out of what looked to be a truly spectacular bathroom. There was a massive tub that had probably been built for three and a shower that was big enough to have an orgy in. She shucked her clothes and stepped into the shower with one thought only—finding some relief.

She moved under the rainfall showerhead and sighed. Naturally he’d gotten it to the perfect temperature. Everything the man did with the exception of that first night was perfect. He even had the perfect excuse to not sleep with her tonight. She couldn’t complain since he was trying to ensure her comfort.

She would rather have him. He would be the perfect comfort after a shitty, shitty day.

He was likely out there right now calling in an order for Kung Pao chicken. They would sit in front of that god-awful enormous television of his and when he was certain she wasn’t going to die on him, he would drive her home.

Damn, but she wished he hadn’t changed his mind. She let her hand drift down, pretending it was his. His hands had been big and callused and they’d felt so right on her skin.

She could imagine them cupping her breasts, his thumbs flicking over her nipples. He would put his mouth there eventually, but the man seemed to like to take his time.

Not that she had much of it. He would probably think she’d slipped in the shower if she wasn’t fairly quick.

She let her hand slide down to her clit. She needed this. She needed him, but he’d changed his mind so this would have to do.

It wasn’t like she hadn’t handled herself before. This was how she’d dealt with sexual frustration since her marriage. There hadn’t been time for dating after the divorce so it had been her and her happy right hand.

She envisioned that it was Flynn’s hand running over her clitoris down to her pussy. It was his hand getting her hot and wet.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

She screamed and nearly slipped. She would have fallen had Flynn not been there to catch her. In his very naked arms. Which went with the rest of his naked, muscular body.

Holy hell.

He lifted her up with ease and set her back on her feet. His dark eyes were staring down at her. They held her for a moment but then she couldn’t help but look at him. Because he was really there. So there. Beautifully, gorgeously there.

He had a big dick. It was hard and damn near reached his navel, which was attached to some spectacularly defined abs. Washboard abs. She’d heard the term, seen them on TV. God, that guy in
Dart
had gorgeous abs, but this was the first time she’d seen washboard abs up close and personal.

She kind of wanted to lick them.

“I asked you a question, Amy. I expect an answer. Eyes up here.”

She was fairly certain her whole body went a nice shade of pink. “I thought we were done playing. You’re naked.”

Smart. That was smart, Captain Obvious
. His shoulders were so broad. She’d thought they’d looked broad in his shirt. They were even broader without clothes. He shouldn’t ever wear clothes. He looked so yummy without them.

His hand came out, tilting her chin back up because her eyes seemed determined to roam his body. “I thought it was best since we were going to take a shower. I can see that you’ve made the wise decision to shower undressed as well. However, I think you’re about to find that deciding to masturbate was an unwise choice.”

She winced. He’d caught her masturbating. Shouldn’t she be way more embarrassed about that than she was? Seeing him naked had thrown her off her shame game. “I thought you were done. I thought you were sending me away and we were through playing.”

He shoved a hand through his hair, slicking it back. It reached the top of his shoulders and made him look a little savage. Yeah, that was hot, too. “I never said that. I said I needed a moment. I took it. I called in our dinner and it’s an hour away. That’s more than enough time for me to get you cleaned up and comfortable, and the play will last until I drop you off at work in the morning. It will begin again when I pick you up tomorrow afternoon. We’ll have dinner and then go to class and it will continue until such time as your car is replaced and I’m satisfied you’re all right. Do I make myself clear?”

She’d wondered how she would get to work in the morning. She’d been planning on calling in a rental. It looked like she wouldn’t have that expense. “Yes.”

A single brow rose over his eyes. “Yes?”

“Yes, Sir.” It was funny how she suddenly felt energized again.

“Did you not read the portion of your contract that stated when we’re playing you’re not allowed to masturbate unless I specifically ask you to? I seem to remember you had a name for that clause so I think you should recall it.”

Yep. She’d called it the anti-rubbing-one-out rule. “I thought the play was over.”

“It isn’t over until I say it’s over or you use your safe word. Now turn around and place your palms on the bench. I want your feet about shoulder width apart.”

“What?” He was kidding, right? He didn’t look like he was kidding. He looked twelve kinds of serious.

“Do it now, Amy. I’m planning nothing more right now than a warm-up spanking and for it to serve as a reminder, but if you say another word, it’s going to be a real punishment.”

He wanted to spank her. She’d thought a whole lot about that spanking. She’d played at it. Role-play was something she’d always loved, and she’d run through some scenarios with past boyfriends. She’d had her ass spanked by a couple of them and she’d enjoyed it. Somehow she thought this would be different from the light, playful smacks she’d had before.

Flynn would be serious about it.

Without another thought, she turned and put her hands flat on the tiled bench. Her backside was totally on display.

“You said you wanted to explore your sexuality, Amy. Is that still true?”

She’d told him that the first night when he’d asked why she was taking the class. “Yes, Sir.”

“Even if it means exploring it with me and me alone because for the duration of this class, if we’re involved in a sexual relationship, I want to be the only man. That’s a hard limit for me. You need to understand that.”

She didn’t understand it. Not entirely, but she’d begun to suspect that he’d been hurt in the past. Not that everyone hadn’t on some level. She kind of thought he’d probably been cheated on. It would explain some of his reaction in the beginning. The good news was she didn’t want to see anyone but him. “I’m fine with that, Sir. I would like to explore together and see where it goes.”