Iron Cross: The Dartmouth Cobras #6 (20 page)

“What are you doing out here?” Her pulse quickened as he trailed a gloved finger down her cheek, filling her senses with his presence. Leather, a faded musky cologne, heat and power. “Were you waiting for me?”

“Yes.” His finger ran lightly over her closed eyelids, her nose, her lips, as though he was memorizing every detail of her face. When his hand left her she opened her eyes, then let out a surprised laugh at his half-smile, the way his hair fell across his forehead making him look less intimidating and more…human. It was strange how the supremacy of a Dom could make them seem almost godlike. But for an instant, Raif was simply a man. “I didn’t come outside only for you. I smoked when I was younger—it’s been a long time since I quit. The hardest part was not having an excuse to go outside, no matter what the weather or time of day. Once I decided I didn’t need an excuse, it was much easier.”

“But you had an excuse this time.” They were standing too close together for him to act
…real. She wanted the godlike presence. The man who would take control before she did something she’d regret.

“I suppose I did.” He took her hand in his, drawing her in so
their bodies aligned. “Are you cold?”

More like blazing hot, but she was trembling. The surge of lust every time he touched her made her plans that much harder because she shouldn’t feel this way. She shook her head, staring at the wall behind him, hating that she could still think at all.

Chicklet would have known, would have seen that she needed her brain to shut down. Why couldn’t Raif see it?

You don’t need that. Focus!

“I’m not cold, but I do need to talk to you.” She flattened her hands on his chest and his muscles flexed. Hell, she could feel the solidness of them even through all the layers. “I need to—”

“You respond to me, Laura. Like any woman would. But it seems to make you uncomfortable. I can see you struggling with your own desire.” He kissed her cheek, the gesture more comforting than anything. “You haven’t come for release. Why are you here?”

How could he be so wrong? She tipped her head back and she wanted those soft lips on hers, turning hard and rough as he took her mouth. She wanted to feel his solid grip on her arms, in her hair. For him to tell her to forget about everything else.

And yet
…where would that get her? If she gave him control, gave him this one night to do whatever he wanted to her, tomorrow things would remain the same. If she could make him see that Tyler could belong to
him,
they would all be happy in the end. She just had to keep reminding herself why she was here.

Maybe it would help if she told him at least a bit of the truth. “I’m here for Tyler.”

Raif’s expression shifted, his eyes narrowing and his body becoming stiff before he moved away from her. His gloved hands tightened into fists. His lips curved in a bitter smile. “Has he sent you to help him with the task your Mistress assigned him? I will tell you what I told him. Find another Dom—I’ve no interest in this game.”

“This isn’t a game! Raif, please listen to me.” She bit down hard on her bottom lip when he motioned impatiently for her to go on. She hadn’t anticipated Raif’s reaction. Almost as though he resented her trying to help. She chanced putting her hand on his arm, relief filling her when he didn’t brush her off. “Chicklet sees what Tyler feels for you. So do I. The way he talks about you
… I don’t know, maybe I’m wasting my time because he’s still young and he clearly can’t tell anyone what he really wants. Being young
and
a sub? It would take a very patient Dom to deal with—”

“Careful, Laura.” Raif’s tone was sharp and his level look froze her. “The only thing that will displease me more than being used is any attempt to manipulate me. Be up
front about what you want from me.”

“This is about what I want
for
him. When Tyler touches me, I know he’s desperate for something I can’t give. He’s always attentive to my needs, but I can see his aren’t being met.” Granted, that was only during their quickie the other night, but the specifics weren’t going to help her case. “He told me what you expect from him.”

The anger faded from Raif’s eyes as he released a soft laugh. “Did he? I’m guessing Chicklet wasn’t there when you had this
…conversation?”

Laura blushed and shook her head. “She’s taking care of her dad’s bar.”

“And when the cat’s away… But you have claws too, don’t you, my little mouse? I’m not sure Tyler knows how dangerous sharing his feelings with you is.”

“I’d never hurt him.”

“But I could, and I don’t think you care. Be honest. The second you became aware of his interest in me—” his tone changed, became slow and sultry, contrasting his blunt words “—you saw a way to get rid of him. To have Chicklet all to yourself.”

Put that way it sounded horrible. Her throat tightened and she shook her head. “No. I—”

“Hush. It’s all right. I understand. And I may consider helping you.” He took a few steps back and reached out for the silver handle on the glass door. “Will you come in now?”

Still dangerous, but she had nothing left to lose. Raif had her all figured out. Going in would mean letting go for a little while to a man without her
Mistress there to make it okay. But the night would result in so much more than giving Raif whatever he wanted from her. In return he’d give her exactly what she needed.

Which was the life she’d had with Chicklet before Tyler came along. Calm and controlled, Laura doing Chicklet’s each and every whim happily
, no matter how twisted and depraved they could be, because that’s what Laura lived for. To belong to Chicklet wholly.

To be the only one who did.

T
he last thing Raif should be doing was playing with a sneaky little sub, but he couldn’t let this slide. Part of him was concerned for Tyler because he knew the boy not only worshiped, but
loved
his Mistress. And if he didn’t love Laura, he at least cared for her deeply. He’d be shocked to find out that Laura would go to any ends to get him out of the picture. Worse, he’d be hurt.

And Raif refused to let that happen. If he had any say, Tyler would never find out.

Holding the door open to his condo, Raif watched Laura walk in and had to stop himself from telling her he’d changed his mind. He didn’t want her here. His home was the one place where he didn’t have to worry about all the bullshit that went on in the world. Jealousy and bitterness, always someone deciding you didn’t belong. Fine, Tyler’s situation wasn’t like the mess with the team—right now it was only one woman who didn’t want him around.

But that one woman could destroy the life Tyler had built for himself.

So could you, Zovko.

Yes, but the difference was, Raif would do everything in his power to avoid his boy facing the backlash of Pischlar’s sexual preference being exposed. Other than that, there was no risk. Even if Tyler’s interest involved nothing but curiosity, Raif would find a way to protect him.

From the team, the world…from her.
His jaw hardened as Laura turned in place, taking in the crisp modern décor of his living room. The place had come furnished, nice enough for his needs since he couldn’t be sure how long he’d be in Dartmouth.

Stopping midspin, she smiled at him, a dimple he’d never noticed before denting her right cheek. “I’d ask if you planned to cut and run soon if I didn’t know you’re a hockey player.”

He snorted. “I suppose the proper answer would be ‘I plead the fifth’ since you
are
a cop.”

“I’m afraid not. We’re in Canada, so the laws are a little different.” She wrinkled her tiny nose and walked over to the steel and glass bookcase on the wall at the far end of the room. The center shelves were spaced far enough apart to accommodate his 27 inch flatscreen TV. His favorite hardcover books and several photos of his mother
were spread across the tops shelves. Artifacts from all the places he’d been were on the lower shelves with photos of his father. Laura picked up the only photo of his parents with him as a boy—taken in Caro. “Let’s not talk shop. Are these your parents?”

Usually, Raif proudly nodded and told whoever cared to listen all about his parents travels. Friends or acquaintances, it mattered little. His parents had published books about everything from foreign politics to the conditions of hospitals across the globe. Their lives weren’t exactly private.

Still, sharing anything with Laura didn’t seem very intelligent. So he took the photo from her and replaced it on the shelf. “You’re not here to discuss my life, Laura.”

She went still. Bit the tip of her tongue. “No, I guess I’m not.”

“You implied you were trying to give Tyler ‘What he needs’. Is Chicklet failing him somehow?” Raif walked over to the plain, rectangular white leather sofa and sat. He put his ankle on his knee, his lip quirking up slightly as Laura began to pace.

Shaking her head, she stopped at the other side of the glass coffee table. “She gives him everything, but even she’s seen how much you have to offer.”

“Besides being a man who loves other men, I’m not sure what that could be.”

“You take his control.”

“So does she.”

“Why am I here if you’re not interested? I could give you a dozen reasons why you should give him a chance. He went from perfectly straight to considering something else because of you. Hell, he kissed one of his best friends!” She sneezed, and for the first time he noticed her nose was a little red. Not from the cold outside. “Damn him, probably why I’m sick.”

“Probably.” He reached over to grab the box of Kleenex he’d been using earlier that day from the end table and held it out to her. “It’s been going around.”

She turned away from him to blow her nose, whispering thanks when he held out a small trash can for her to toss the tissue. Then she groaned, sat on the other end of the sofa, and leaned sideways to rest her head on the back of the sofa. “Honestly, I don’t know why I came. I do think you and Tyler could be… It doesn’t matter. I’m pretty good at reading people and you’re not comfortable discussing this with me.”

You’re also very good at getting the reactions you want.
The implication that she was ready walk out had him thinking of ways to get her to stay. Not for the reason she likely believed, but he had to keep a step ahead of her.

She thought she could sway his decision of not taking things further with Tyler. He was curious to see how far she was willing to go. He held out his hand, waiting until she’d set her wrist on his palm to speak. “Are you willing to do more than plead his case, Laura?”

Her lips parted and her gaze shifted away from him, then back, as though she considered her next move. “Why would anything I do make a difference?”

He gave her a lazy half-smile. “I can’t possibly keep you both. I believe Chicklet would object. There’s a good chance any interest he has in me will be temporary, which is the very reason why I had no intention of pursuing him. But to play with you both? The experience would be worth the risk of wasting my time.”

“I could agree to that.”

Of course you could.
He inhaled roughly, in a way he hoped she took as arousal rather than bracing himself to do something he wasn’t entirely comfortable with. He wouldn’t fuck her, he had to have at least a fondness for a sub to be that intimate, but he could toy with her a little. Perhaps the right scene would give them the tentative bond he’d need to build with her to protect Tyler.

Be her partner in crime. Then Tyler will never be the victim.

The cold logic of the plan wasn’t enough. He couldn’t look at Laura, much less play with her, and remain completely detached. He used a finger to tuck a stray strand of soft, fawn-colored hair behind her ear and found his motivations changing. So often those in the lifestyle had hidden ghosts brought out with careful handling, bringing them peace that couldn’t be found with any kind of therapy. If he took Laura in hand, then spoke to Chicklet about the rift between her subs, maybe… Hell, he could be wrong, but either way, he would do no harm. In the end Chicklet would have two happy subs more than tolerant of one another.

Or she’d have only one. And she would understand why.

Dynamics like Chicklet had with Tyler and Laura could work, but didn’t always. Raif was drawn to Tyler and would care for him if the boy didn’t fit with the women in the end. But he wouldn’t hide his intentions from Chicklet. There were many ways they could make this work. He would be willing to share Tyler with his Mistress. If Tyler was open to it. Denying the possibility was in the past.

But first he had to eliminate the danger. In such a way that Chicklet wouldn’t see him as the enemy. Laura wouldn’t go for that. Not yet. So he would tread carefully, feigning that he liked her plan.

“Strip.” He kept his hand on her cheek and smiled at her, despite the uncertainty in her eyes. They were on his game plan now. And he had a feeling she would accept the new rules.

She rose too quickly. Glanced toward the door. Fisted her hands by her sides.

He waited for her to say no. She couldn’t do this. She’d gone too far and she’d changed her mind.

But she didn’t. Her shirt quickly hit the floor. Her bra, her jeans and panties, followed. She chewed at her bottom lip as he stood, but didn’t attempt to cover herself. Such a good little sub. His lips slanted with dark pleasure as he noticed the goosebumps on her pale flesh, up her arms and right over the swell of her luscious breasts. They would be heavy in his hands, soft as the rest of her, though he could tell there was considerable muscle under those feminine curves.

A woman who could arouse his body, no matter how jaded his thoughts. He arched a brow at the tiny smirk that flashed across her lips when she glanced down at the outline of his erect cock in his pants. His brain needed a little more blood flow to carry on with the scene. He stepped past her, beckoning her with a crook of his finger as he moved to the kitchen. An absent pat on the table and he went to the drawers to take out a few silk table linens. Long runners which would be perfect for his game. He dropped them on the table beside her, pleased that she was sitting up there with no need for further instructions.

As he left the room, he could feel her eyes on him. He went to his bedroom to fetch the two bracelets he’d purchased for a scene with a former sub, one who’d left him for a Dom who could offer a stable relationship, who had a normal nine to five job and wouldn’t leave her for weeks at a time.

Back then, he’d been relieved. He hadn’t been ready for commitment, but he’d aimed to make her happy. Now he couldn’t help but wonder if he could walk away so easily.

From Laura? Yes. He didn’t see himself getting too attached to the scheming sub. But Tyler?

Tyler isn’t here. Focus.

Thoughts of the boy usually got him hard as fucking granite. But one thought of what this whole scene was about had his dick soft and his mind perfectly clear. There was an edge to his tone as he stepped up behind Laura and fisted his hand in her hair to make her lay down on the table. “Choose a safeword, girl. Not the same one you use with your Mistress.”

“Off…” Laura blinked and stared at the wall. “Officer down.”

Damn it!
With a deep breath he reached out take her hand. “We can end this now. Perhaps it’s a bad idea.”

“No! No, I just wanted to use something we’d
both
remember.” She offered him a hesitant smile. “I’ll probably just use ‘red’ if I need to stop the scene, but if I’m in a bad place, saying that will make it clear. I know how this works. I’m not saying it now. I want to do this.”

“Good. But I won’t give you any reason to say either words.” He slipped the bracelets over her wrists. She gave him a questioning look as the tiny bells jingled. He chuckled. “I don’t want to hear these until you can’t hold yourself still any longer.” He lifted one silk runner, a deep red that contrasted nicely with her creamy flesh, and draped it over her breasts. “Do try your best not to move or make a sound unless I ask you a question.”

Her only answer was a quick nod. Her sharp intake of breath as he tapped her thigh and had her lift her butt made him smile. She shuddered as he covered her glistening pussy with the silk, black and gold this time, wrapping it around her hips and tucking the end under the fabric at her pelvis. The bells made a soft sound as she shivered, but he pretended not to notice.

“So pretty. I see you, and I think of what I know, and I can’t help picture you as untouched by any man.” He circled the table, briefly letting his fingers trail along her ribs, then down her thigh. “Chicklet claimed you, and then there was no other.”

“There were others. Whoever Chicklet chose and…and Tyler.” She didn’t move. The bells didn’t sound. She had control of herself. The shivering had stopped. “Tyler touches me all the time.”

“Does he, pet?” Raif let the sound of his footsteps as he circled the table, let her anticipation of where he’d touch her next, do the work for him. Hearing Tyler’s name on her lips made his blood run cold. He should have chastised her for speaking without being questioned. He wouldn’t let it slide again. “Do you even feel him when he touches you?”

She pressed her eyes shut. “Sometimes.”

“Then it doesn’t count. None of them count.” He put his hand on her throat with just enough pressure to make her aware of the potential threat. “My touch won’t be so easily dismissed.”

Her feet shifted on the edge of the table. She turned to face away from him.

“Don’t turn away from me.” He kept his expression neutral when she looked at him. “Keep your eyes closed.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“That was not a question.” He brought his fingers to the edge of the silk covering her breasts. Flicked the edge of the material. “Are you always this contrary?”

She shook her head, opened her mouth, closed it. Poor girl was confused. She swallowed hard and wet her lips. “I’m not trying to be. I always follow commands perfectly, but I accept whatever punishment you decide on for my breaking the rules.”

“I find that interesting. You ‘follow commands perfectly’. That would speak highly of how well your Mistress trained you, but between what I’ve seen here and Tyler’s behavior, she’s been quite lax in both your discipline. I think—”

Laura sat up, rage flashing in her eyes, the bells jingling as she held the red silk to her breasts and sputtered in indignation. “How dare you—she’s a perfect Domme! I do
everything
she asks of me, she’s taught me well, and she’s tried to teach him. He’s a silly boy and you’ll see how much trouble he is! Not that it will matter because he gets away with everything!”

“Are you saying ‘red’, my dear? Because, again, there was no question in anything I said.” Now he was being cruel, but he already had a better idea of what he was working with. And he wouldn’t tread any further without testing for emotional landmines. “’Yellow’ will suffice, but you will stop shouting at me.”