Her Highland Master (The Dungeon Fantasy Club Book 1) (17 page)

She was the first woman he had brought into his bed since he was an unschooled youth. Not even his ex-fiancée had scaled the walls of his heart enough to breach his sanctuary. Zoey looked right in his space, like she belonged there. Declan had the meal she cooked for them delivered to his room.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Zoey asked as she knelt on his bed.

"I just like looking at you." He studied the full menu she had hand-crafted. They were all finger foods, succulent bites of beef and other juicy tidbits. His decision made, he rearranged the sitting area of his room, laying blankets and pillows near the fireplace.

He set the trays and platters on the blankets before he held out a hand to Zoey. "Come, sweet lass, have a picnic with me."

She slid off his bed, her breasts swaying. He enjoyed her nubile, luscious body. Amazing that after all she had experienced with him this week she could still blush. "So we are having a naked picnic?" she asked.

"Lass, it will be a picnic unlike any you've experienced before." Taking her hand, he led her to the blankets. He pulled her down until she was reclining on a pile of pillows. He planned to dine on her flesh, using her body as his table. Her breasts were lovely in this position, the pert globes practically begged for his attention. Unable to resist, he captured one of the rosy tipped nipples between his teeth with a small nip.

"And how is this picnic going to work, exactly?" she asked breathlessly, her desire for him masked within her gaze. She tried to keep him in that position, but he sat back on his haunches.

"What do we have on our menu tonight?" he asked.

She growled in frustration when she realized he wasn't going to further indulge her desires, at least not yet. A bit pouty, she replied, "I made a beef brochette with a horseradish aioli, spinach and ham croquettes with a cumin aioli, calamari with a romesco sauce, paprika roasted almonds, baked goat cheese with garlic bread, and a homemade sangria."

"It all looks delicious. A good Dom takes care of all his sub's needs."

He popped a croquette in his mouth, savoring the morsel. He settled himself next to her. "Why haven't you considered going back to culinary school until now?"

"I don't know." She rolled her shoulders, avoiding the topic. "I've had my sister to take care of, and the career I was working toward seemed to be a good choice but—"

"But, what?"

She seemed to choose her next words carefully. "It wasn't making me happy. My parents were always very down-to-earth, respectable, stay inside the box type of people. Don't get me wrong they were wonderful parents to Ophelia and I, they just…"

"Wanted what they saw as best?" he completed her sentence, bringing a bite of beef up to her lips. "Well, I can say, after tasting your culinary skills, you need to go after what you want. I'll help you in whatever way I can."

He spied tears in her eyes and felt pleasure in his chest. She was a woman to be treasured and adored. Needing to bring a smile back to her lips, he fed her morsels with his hands and teeth, making her laugh and moan as he delightfully tortured her.

And then, as night settled over the manor, he proceeded to show her, repeatedly, just how much he wanted her, until they were both too spent to move.

Chapter Ten

Zoey woke alone in Declan's bed. The silk sheets abraded her tender flesh. She spied a single red rose on the midnight pillow where his head had been not long ago. Beside the rose was a folded note; the cream paper lay like a beacon.

My little sub,

You looked so peaceful, I had not the heart to wake you, lass. I have some business to see to but if you would meet me in the library for brunch, I would like to discuss some amendments to the terms of our agreement.

Yours,

Master

Her belly quivered. Did he want her to stay? Was that what he wished to discuss with her? 'Change the terms of their agreement'—her breath caught in her throat. If she wasn't in love with him before, last night had solidified her feelings for him.

She borrowed a robe and hurried to her room to dress and shower, wanting to look her best when she accepted his offer to stay. Last night had deepened her feelings and affirmed that it wasn't just lust she felt for him. She did desire him more than any man she'd ever met before, of course—just thinking about the man made her wet, which seemed nigh on impossible as many times as she'd orgasmed the previous night.

But it was more than that. He was intelligent, funny, and truly cared about other people's well-being. Even without the sex, she wanted him. The sex was great, without question. And he had lived up to her every erotic fantasy and then some. But it was so much more. She loved feeling his arms around her as they slept. Loved how he treated her dreams as if they were his own. After tasting last night's menu, he'd convinced her that she needed to attend a culinary institute. He even said he would help her find scholarship and grant money if she wouldn't accept the gift from him so that she could afford to go. He was concerned for her not just today, but for the long term.

She spent extra time getting ready, showering, applying lotion that made her skin smell like peaches and vanilla, styling her hair into a pseudo messy topknot with a few tendrils escaping, giving him easier access to her neck, and even added some mascara and lip gloss. She chose a maxi skirt in rainbow colors that hugged her curves, and a black cashmere low-cut sweater that displayed her boobs rather nicely. The man couldn't seem to get enough of them. And with this top, he'd have easy access since they almost spilled out over the neckline. She opted to go bare again under her skirt. Declan had found it such a turn-on last night; he'd mentioned that the only thing he ever wanted on her pussy was his mouth.

Zoey left the confines of her room and headed to the library. She rushed, doing her best to have some semblance of decorum. It was just that she felt like her heart was about ready to burst. She could imagine staying there, and building a life with him.

Near the end of the hall, by the entrance to the library, she slowed her steps, hearing dual male laughter from inside. One of the voices was distinctly Declan's, the other voice sounded familiar, she felt like she should know it. A shadow passed over her exuberant mood, did Declan want to hand her off to someone else?

That thought brought her up short, making her hesitate, just as Jared came up behind her with a cart.

"Good morning, American lass. A right fine morning to ya. Sleep well?" he purred, his thick bur full of implications and sounding like a caress.

"Yes, I did. And you?"

"Like a wee babe." He winked and she felt the blush start. "By the way, the tow truck should be here for the rental car in the hour. Follow me, I will escort you on in."

"Thank you." She allowed him to lead the way into the library.

Declan and the unknown man were already seated at the far end of the table. Declan was wearing a light blue sweater and jeans, which made her want to lap him up with a spoon. The unknown man was seated in the chair she'd previously occupied so his back was to her. She only caught a glimpse of his sun-kissed golden head and wide shoulders, before she heard their conversation.

"If Gundle doesn't have too much impact on the screenplay, and honors the project as it was intended, the movie should be one of the finest I've ever had the privilege to work on." She heard the mystery man's voice, a familiar voice that set alarms off in her brain. How was
he
here? How did he know Declan?

Fear curled and slithered in her system and brought her up short. What should she do? Leave? Claim illness and beg off? Her head swam, her throat suddenly felt parched, and she felt her world tilt.

"Well, I'm sure you can charm the director into seeing your point of view," Declan replied, taking a sip of coffee.

The man chortled. "Quite right, you are."

Declan spied her, damn him, before she could retreat. "Zoey, I'd like you to meet my old friend, Hunter Clarke."

The unknown man's head swiveled until he spotted her. Up close, he really did look like the son of the gods Apollo and Aphrodite. His chiseled perfection had graced the big screen in countless blockbuster films.

She sucked in a strangled breath as Hunter's trademark emerald gaze hardened and he snarled. "You!" His face swung back to Declan. "Why is she here? Do you have any idea what that money grubbing viper did?"

Zoey gasped as if he had physically slapped her.

"Careful, Hunter. What are you talking about? Do you two know each other?" Declan questioned them both. "Zoey? What's going on?"

Tears filled her gaze and she tried to say something, anything, but Hunter Clarke, god of the silver screen, beat her to it.

"I'll tell you what's going on. She worked at my agent's firm in Los Angeles. She leaked client data, mine included, to the public, and all for money. Be careful with this one Declan, the only thing she's interested in is cold, hard cash," Hunter spat.

Tears spilled down her face. The room swam.

Declan's face changed, all of the warmth she had witnessed moments before replaced by an indiscernible mask. "Is what he says true, Zoey? You told me that you were considering your career options and had left your job of your own accord. Did you lie to me?"

Hunter Clarke laughed sardonically, whipping out his phone. "Take a look, buddy. It's all over the news in America. She was fired and, last I heard, the feds were investigating her for the data breach. Why do you think I left the States? I have my agent selling my estate that was being bombarded with fans because of her."

She just stood there, shaking. It was happening all over again. Her world was imploding.

"Is it true, Zoey? Answer me, damn you," Declan snapped, fury emanating from his body.

She had no choice to admit how messed up her world was. "Yes, but—"

"Get out. You have an hour to pack your things and leave my home. Go," Declan uttered, his face and heart completely closed to her.

It felt like he had punched a hole straight through her chest with his words. She couldn't breathe or stop the tears as they clouded her vision.

"If you will just hear me out," she said through gasping sobs.

He pinned her with his look. "I never want to see you again, Zoey. Just leave."

The coldness of his gaze pinned her to the spot as his edict washed over her. Inside, she felt herself break and shatter into a million pieces. Forcing her body to move, she vacated the library and retreated to her room.

Shutting the door behind her, she stared at the place she'd come to love as much as its Master. She tossed her clothes into her suitcase, shoving everything inside in under fifteen minutes. She'd catch a ride to Inverness with the tow truck. Jared had said it would be there within the hour. She'd go wait by the car.

She double checked that her passport and wallet were secure in her purse and shoved her phone in the front pocket. Her tears no longer fell. She was too numb to cry.

A knock on the door startled her. "Come in," she said, her voice raspy. She held her breath as the door opened.

Jared waltzed in with a tray and set it on the coffee table. "Eat something before you go, lass. Declan said to give you this." He set an envelope beside the tray.

He seemed disappointed with her as he retreated to the door. Before he opened it, he asked, "Why, lass? Did you really do those things and lie to Declan?"

"I did," she said. His face fell and the open friendship he had offered her seemed to withdraw in a pained expression.

"But it's not what you think. I was set up by this guy at the firm. I can't prove it. It's my word against his. I loved my job. I didn't want to leave it, and had been gearing up for a big promotion. And if I lied to Declan, it was really more of an omission because I didn't want him to look at me the way you are doing now. I loved… tell him I'm sorry."

"Why don't you tell him that?" Jared asked. She was amazed he wasn't calling her a liar.

"You heard him, Jared. He doesn't want to see me. He never offered me anything but promises of pleasure. There were no declarations of anything. Just because I… We weren't even dating, I was just a woman he wanted to screw," she said, the truth cutting her heart to shreds. She wondered if a person really could die of a broken heart. She had to leave this place before she fell apart completely.

"That's not—"

She cut him off, shaking her head. It was over and done. The sooner she left this place the better she would be. She felt Jared's muscular arms around her, and he kissed her forehead. "Be happy, American lass." Then he withdrew and left the room.

On the tray lay a breakfast pastry, a banana, and an apple. All easily portable items. Zoey sent a prayer of thanks to Jared. She wrapped the pastry in napkins, and packed it with the fruit in her purse. Curiosity made her pick up the envelope and look inside. Ice settled into her heart. It was a stack of cash. From the looks of it, there had to be a few thousand dollars inside. There was nothing else, no note, nothing but the money.

She couldn't get air into her lungs. He was paying her for her services, for sleeping with him. Never once had she been ashamed of her actions since she had arrived at his home—until now. How dare he? She was the injured party here, and the bastard hadn't even given her a chance to explain. But his callous show of disregard with the envelope made her chest burn and anger fueled her actions. Zoey had been pushed around at her office as they had accused her, screamed at by the press, disparaged on the news, and now Declan in a single swipe had made her feel more horrendous than all the others combined.

Leaving the room without a backward glance, she saw red as her anger spiked. Her suitcase in tow, she stormed back to the library. Declan and Hunter were still enjoying a companionable meal. Parking her suitcase at the door, she marched over to Declan and tossed the envelope at him. It hit him square in the chest.

"Keep it," she said, her voice filled with ice. She stomped from the library with her head held high.