Master No (45 page)

“Hey, I can’t get anyone interested in food. Do you want some eggs? I think I saw some sausage in there. I can whip up a frittata or some kind of casserole for later, but I could get you something quick now.” Sean Taggart wasn’t as big as his older brother, but he had what she liked to call the Taggart presence. Even in his obvious grief, he was solid.

She shook her head. “No, I’m fine. I guess I’m with the rest of them. It’s not a long flight back to the States. I’ll get something once we’re there. Besides, I have no idea how good a pilot Nick is. I don’t know how well I do in small planes.”

They would be using a four seater to get to Miami. From there they would catch a commercial flight to Dallas. According to Sean, everything was set up and she had false identification and tickets on a night flight. Once she got to Dallas, she would be staying with Jesse and Phoebe Murdoch.

Surely Ten would come and see his sister after he was done with his mission. She might get to see him one last time.

“It’s about two hours to Miami. You’ll be there in no time,” Sean assured her. “And I think Nick’s staying here. Some of our plans have changed, but you would have to ask Ten about those. He wants to make the decisions when it comes to you.”

“Shouldn’t I get a say in that?”

Sean’s hands came up. “Hey, you always have a say, but I think you should work that out with him. He’s your Master after all.”

He gave that up when he decided to leave her. And the world was far more complex than some contract she signed long before she knew what was going on—and under false pretenses. Tennessee Smith thought he could have his cake and then not have to eat it, too?

The shock of the events of the previous day was starting to wear off and Faith thought it was pretty good timing. If she waited much longer to confront Ten, he wouldn’t be around to argue with. He would shove her on some plane and tell her it was all for her good and then traipse across the planet on his revenge mission that wouldn’t bring back anyone.

“I think I will,” she vowed and turned to leave the kitchen.

She walked quietly through the living room, not wanting to disturb Erin, who finally looked like she’d passed out on the sofa. Case sat with Hutch at the table, looking over some kind of records.

That was when the door opened to the office and Ten came striding out. Despite everything he’d been through, he looked so gorgeous to her. With his tan skin and golden brown hair, he was the all-American hot guy. All that beauty masked his darkness, his need to stay in the shadows. His eyes caught hers and he stopped, his mouth turning down.

He wasn’t happy to see her? Well, she could make that frown meaningful because he wasn’t getting off so easily. She wasn’t about to be shipped out without having her say. And maybe she wouldn’t allow herself to be shipped off at all.

“Hey, I was coming to find you.” His face softened. “Is everything all right? You look upset. Did Sean say something?”

“Sean said a lot of things that we need to clear up.”

“Okay,” he allowed. “We probably should. Faith, I do have some things to say to you, and you might have a hard time hearing them at first.”

So he was planning on spending their last hours together telling her all the reasons why he was leaving her. “Can your speech, Ten. I think it’s time you listened to me for once.”

His eyes narrowed. “Do you forget who’s the top, Faith?”

“Oh, the first thing we’re going to talk about is our contract. Null and void. You voided that contract the minute you started lying to me, so don’t pull the Master crap. Besides, this goes far beyond our D/s play.”

He loomed over her. “Yes, this about the fact that we’re still in a dangerous situation and whether or not you like it, I’m still the top here. You can throw that contract in my face all you like once we get back to the States, but you will not disobey me here. You will get on that plane when I tell you to and there will be no arguments and no negotiations when it comes to your safety.”

She brushed past him because she wasn’t having this conversation where everyone could hear her.

Ian Taggart was lounging in the doorway. “You should give him hell. He deserves it.”

“What the fuck?” Ten cursed behind her as she moved along. “What happened to all that brotherly love shit?”

“I’m ridiculously mean,” Tag allowed. “Ask anyone.”

She wasn’t getting involved in their male bonding. She strode into the room they’d shared the night before. She’d curled up beside him and accepted that he would be gone. She’d accepted it the same way she’d accepted things all her life. She was done with that.

No one ever fought for Tennessee Smith. Well, he was about to find out that she would, but she didn’t fight fair.

She was about to find out if he’d been honest with her. If she had any real power in the relationship.

“Faith, what the hell is this about?” Ten closed the door and then crossed his arms over his chest. His shoulders broadened and for the first time since they’d rescued him, he looked every inch the Dom. “You should know that if you give me trouble about getting on that plane, I’ll put you over my knee and no one here will stop me. You’re getting on that plane one way or another.”

She wasn’t afraid of him. Not physically. He could play that card with her all day and she wouldn’t back down. Now emotionally, emotionally he could savage her. It was all he’d known as a child, and she had to show him another way.

Which unfortunately included getting yelled at by his sub because that was sometimes what people in love did. “You’re an idiot.”

Way to go, Faith. Way to build up his esteem.

One side of his mouth tugged up. “I’ve been told so, yes. You want to enlighten me as to how I’m an idiot this morning? I’m going to warn you. I’m feeling much better. I’m still sore, but it looks like my dick is up and running.”

She looked down at his crotch. Sure enough, no amount of torture could keep that monster cock down for long. “I should look at it.”

His head shook. “Not until I’m ready to use it on you. And it’s fine. No scarring. Like I said, those drugs heightened everything and made it seem worse than it actually was, so I’ll be able to fuck you hard after I’ve spanked your ass silly for this stunt.”

“Stunt? You think this is some kind of stunt?”

“I think you’re willing to do anything so I won’t put you on that plane. It won’t work.”

Tears threatened. “Because you’re a moron.”

“You are digging yourself a deep hole.”

He was so calm. It was infuriating. “You don’t have any right to spank me. I will get on that plane and I will go back to Dallas. I’m not stupid. I know what can happen, but do you? Do you even care?”

“About what happens to me? I often have not,” he replied calmly.

“Because you don’t think you’re worth anything.”

His face was blank for a moment. “When you start life in a trashcan, it makes you question your worth. I will admit that. I went through so many homes, I couldn’t help but think I was disposable.”

“You’re not. You have so much to give.”

“What do I have to give, Faith?”

This was it. She would either convince him or lose him, and she suddenly knew she wouldn’t survive losing him. No matter what had happened, she loved this man. He might have been a shit to her in the beginning, but he’d protected her at the cost of his mission. She had to make him see that it could work. “You’re so smart, Ten. You’re smart and funny, and I like who I am around you.”

His face softened. “I like who I am around you, too. I’m a better man around you.”

That was good. “I don’t think you should keep pursuing my father. Not like this. I think you could take him down through research. I’ll help you. I’ll give you everything I know because I want to stop him, too. But it’s too dangerous to do it this way.”

“You think we can take him down using good investigative work?”

She nodded eagerly. “Yes. I think if McKay-Taggart wants to find information, they’ll find it. It simply takes patience. I know you want to take him out because of what he did to your brother, but could you be happy with sending him to prison?”

“Yes, Faith.” His voice was sure. “I could be happy with that. But that doesn’t change the fact that you’re going to be on that plane this afternoon. You will go back to Dallas and you will lay low until I figure this out and I can be sure you’re safe. I’m going to use the time to keep you naked as much as possible.”

“Somehow I think your sister won’t like that much.”

“My sister can get used to it. As often as I’ve caught sight of her and Jesse doing it at Sanctum, she can get used to my wife being naked. And she knocks. We’ll keep the door locked.”

She stopped. “You said I was still getting on the plane.”

“Yes. I did and you are. I will be your pilot for today, ma’am. You should know that I only accept tips from beautiful doctors.”

Now the tears were flowing in earnest. “You called me your wife.”

“I was hoping we could negotiate that contract, darlin’. I’m not getting any younger. I love you, Faith. Is there any way you can love me? Even a little. I know I don’t have a lot to offer, but I’ll give you everything I have. I’ll be the man you deserve, and that starts with getting on that plane with you. It starts with choosing you. I choose you, Faith.” He stepped forward and his hands cupped her face, staring down at her. “I pray that you’ll choose me, too. Forgive me. I was an idiot.”

He was coming with her? He was leaving the island with her. He was choosing her. It was enough. “I love you, Tennessee. I’ll always choose you, too.”

She went on her toes and brushed her mouth against his, her whole body coming alive again. It had only been a few days, but it felt like forever since she’d kissed him. His hands moved, tangling in her hair as he took control of the kiss.

His tongue licked at her lips and she let him in. Faith molded her body to his, feeling every lean muscle. She let her hands slip down, easing over his shirt. She wanted to feel his skin, his warmth. She could never get enough of him. His tongue rubbed against hers as his hands explored. They seemed to want the same things, she and her man. Flesh to flesh. She tugged on the bottom of his shirt.

And then remembered what he’d been through.

“I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”

His eyes had darkened with desire. “Don’t even try that shit with me right now. I want you. I might be the tiniest bit uncomfortable, but that is nothing compared to what you’re going to be if you treat me like an invalid. I want to do something with you. Something I haven’t done in a long time. I don’t want any walls between us.”

She shook her head. She didn’t want anything between them either.

He backed up and pulled his shirt over his head. His chest looked so much better this morning. He would have new scars, but nothing could make Ten Smith anything less than gorgeous. She reached out and gently brushed her fingertips down his chest to the waistband of his sweatpants. They were slightly too large, having come from one of the other guys, so they rode low on his hips. His cock proved he was telling the truth. The man was feeling better, and she wanted to make sure he felt amazing.

“What do you want from me?”

He eased the shirt off her and her nipples immediately responded to the heat of his gaze. They pebbled for him, desperate for his touch. Her whole body was warming, softening and getting ready for him.

“Everything, darlin’. I want everything you’ve got. But first you’re going to have to get me ready to fuck you.”

Yes, he seemed to be having so much trouble in that area. She didn’t complain though. She’d apparently had terrible timing. If she’d been the slightest bit more patient, she wouldn’t have called her future husband a moron. Oh, he was at times, but it was kinder to let him think she didn’t know. She dropped to her knees and slowly dragged the sweatpants over his muscled hips. He wasn’t wearing any underwear, so his cock sprang free. Long and thick, he was right. It appeared they’d left this part of him alone. She sighed and studied him as she stroked his erection. There were a few places on his lower abdomen with healing spots from the day before. She leaned over and brushed them softly with her lips.

Her father had done this to him and he still wanted her.

She looked up at him. “Did you think I was involved in my father’s business?”

For a spy, he could blanch quite quickly. She rather thought that was only for her. In the field, Tennessee Smith would have the world’s best poker face, but here he was just a man who didn’t want his future wife to know he’d doubted her. “I might have had some thoughts on the subject, but that was all before I met you and realized you were far too sweet to ever be involved in anything like that. Then all I wanted to do was protect you.”

Yeah, she bet he did. She leaned forward and kissed his cock, warm brushes of her mouth over his flesh. “I wouldn’t blame you, Ten.”

His hand tangled in her hair. “Erin knew. She told me from the beginning I was a paranoid freak and you were innocent. I…I haven’t had the greatest luck with women. Suck the head.”

His hands twisted, right to the point where her scalp lit up and she felt the tug in her nipples. The man had learned her sweet spots.

“I can’t imagine you haven’t had hundreds of lovers. You should know I’m the last in that line, babe. I’ve got it on good authority that the women of Sanctum don’t share.” She gave the head of his cock a good long lick. It was perfectly plum shaped and a lovely shade of purply red. A drop of pre-come pulsed out, and she lapped it up before closing her mouth over his cock.

Ten shuddered. “Not hundreds and I wouldn’t call them lovers. They were a way out of myself, an escape. A couple of them were near-death experiences.”

“What?” Faith tried to talk more, but Ten guided her back to his cock.

“It’s kind of in the job description, darlin’. If you’re fucking for information you sometimes get burned. Or almost emasculated. Or sold to a terrorist group because the operative you’re living with is a double agent. It’s all an accepted part of spy life. Don’t stop, baby. That feels so good.”

“You’re not going back to that job,” she tried to say, but her mouth was kind of completely full of cock.