On Becoming Her Sir (11 page)

“I understand enough to know what some men want.” My God she hadn’t felt so naked, so tasted by a man who didn’t know her in years.
Jerk off. Asshole.
The words flowed freely in the back of her mind. Jessie licked out the last of her champagne and inhaled deeply. Being this close to the man was not only irritating but infuriating. She loathed him and there was no rational explanation why other than his rude comment to Luke. Her gut told her Bart wanted to best Luke in every way possible.

“Well then. Why don’t you tell me what men want? I’d love to hear the answer, especially coming from a well educated woman such as yourself.” He shook his head and looked away.

The words were meant as a cut and Jessie rolled her eyes, cognizant of the electricity floating between them. For a few seconds she thought about punching him but knew he was goading her. Very slowly she turned to face him, a purposeful look of amusement riding her face. She wanted him unnerved. Taking a step closer, she fought her natural instincts to inflict damage on his far too perfect face, choosing instead to give him a look of disdain. “Men who have no self confidence and very little dicks often want what they can’t have and what other, very powerful men nurture, as well as garner real respect.”

“You generalize about every man. Fascinating that you’re such an expert. You act more like a Domme than a submissive and I think that’s to push men, including Luke away. You have to challenge to make certain you keep every man at arm’s length. Don’t you, Jezebel?”

A shiver raced down her spine. She wanted to claw his eyes out. “As I said, I know what men think.”

“Fascinating. I had no idea you had partaken of so many. I wonder. Does Luke know just how many men you’ve tasted?” Bart gave her a sly grin before taking a long sip of his drink. “I can tell you want more, need more. Don’t you?”

The words ‘fuck you’ were on the tip of her tongue.

“Don’t you want every man under your spell, Jezebel?” Bart inched closer.

Heat. Electricity. Jessie fought the nervous tick that so wanted to appear with her hand, her index finger that gave her away when she was nervous. “I have told you before, I have no problem succumbing to a man who deserves my devotion.”

“Yes. Devotion. I love the word. Few women understand the requirements.”

“You make it sound like a job.”

Bart’s eyes flashed. “You’d be exactly right. The art of submission is very much an art form.”

“As in being a good Dom. I know so few.” She knew the challenge was there. Jessie could tell he was feeling out of his element. She was quite pleased she wasn’t flustered. And she wanted to laugh. As he moved closer, the rich scent of him, the way he looked at her was overpowering.

“You will learn that knowing several men means nothing. Few hold the key.”

The key? Jesus Christ he was an arrogant son of a bitch. She didn’t flinch and in her high heels she stood eye to eye with the asshole. Tilting her head, she gazed down the length of him and back up, concentrating on his crotch for a full minute. Finally looking back into his eyes, she feigned a yawn. “It’s not about knowing a lot of men. It’s about knowing you. You’re that little man. Very little and you will never have what you so crave.” The words didn’t seem to be sinking in but she knew they would. Giving him a curt nod she walked away, purposely allowing her arm to brush against his.

The hard jerk was enough to push a whimper from her lips, the action with enough force she dropped the glass. As the crystal stem shattered on the concrete, sending shards across her feet, she glared at him. The look on his face wasn’t just one of anger. It was a telling. He was going to take her with or without Luke’s permission. As his fingers dug into her skin, she refused to flinch. This man wasn’t going to break her in any way, shape or form.

“Be careful woman. You don’t have any idea who I am or what I can do.”

“And do you think Luke will allow your filthy hands to touch me?”

Bart smiled and leaned over, the whisper husky and ominous. “There will be a time when Luke has no say. I will have what I want. And when I do I’m going to take all of you. You could be a very good slave.”

Chilled, she lifted her face in defiance and the move pushed her lips closer to his. The smell of bourbon was nauseating. Still, she kept her stance. Bart tugged her arm and she was just off balance enough she had to reach out and palm his chest. “Don’t try it. Don’t think it. This will never happen.”

“I take what I want and you deserve a man who can handle you, a Dom who understands you. You wear his collar yet you have no understanding of what he’s asking, what he’s going to take from you. His demands are very dark my dear, bordering on heinous. And he doesn’t take no for an answer. Men of power never ask. They never have to.”

“Is that a threat, Mr. Reynolds?”

Bart smiled. “I don’t have to threaten and you already know that, don’t you?”

Jessie clucked her jaw and had to look away or get sucked into his bullshit. “Of course you do. That’s all you know how to do because women won’t give to you freely. You hurt and steal from men and women indiscriminately. You seem to think your money and your domineering ways garners you a red carpet. You’re very wrong. You prey on the weak only. That’s what you know.”

Taking a single step forward, the look on his face turned icy. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. None. I’d be very careful what you say around me. You are a submissive, bound by certain protocols. If you were mine I’d be disciplining you severely. You have no understanding of what it means to submit properly.”

“Properly? Here’s the thing,” Jessie said defiantly. “You’re a slick man. You think you know me, know the woman inside. You are so fucking clueless you make me laugh. I’ll never be yours. Period. Ever. Get it? I happily submit to a man who takes the time to get to know the woman and my needs. I would give Luke anything at any time, no matter what he asks. I do that freely because of his character, his goodness. You on the other hand seem to have no integrity. No matter what happens, you will never touch me freely.”

“Freely. You’re so naïve. You truly don’t have a clue about a true Dominant or Luke for that matter,” Bart snarked.

“I know enough to know what I want.”

“You know nothing because you’re blinded by the notion of what you believe to be the lifestyle.”

“Whatever Kool-Aid you’re drinking cut it in half,” Jessie chortled, but the meaning of her words was clear enough.

“Being a hard ass won’t get you what you crave.”

“What I crave? You have no idea.”

“That’s where you are wrong. I could teach you many things. And Jezebel, you know exactly what I’m saying.”

Jessie laughed. “Never.”

“And you know what they say, Jezebel. I know you and I can see exactly what you hunger for. Only I can take you to the next level.”

The words lingered, leaving a bad taste in Jessie’s mouth. She wanted nothing more than to rip the smirk off his face. “Fascinating words coming from a man who seems to have no clue. You could never understand, nor are you a real man. Taking what you want doesn’t make you anything but an asshole. Luke is by far a better man than you are.” Jessie managed to jerk her arm away. There would no doubt be indentations from his hold, bruises to remind both her and Sir Luke that Bart was in some unknown contest with Luke. This business they were going into seemed nothing more than a rouse, but she was in no position to tell Luke not to.

Bart didn’t try to stop her. He simply nodded and took another sip of his drink as she walked over the broken glass and toward the hotel entrance.

When he spoke the next words she was sucked into a vacuum.

“Honorable man? Is that what you call Luke?” Bart’s eyes flared. “Be careful of the man you speak so highly of. He’s not the person you think he is. In fact, the man is a killer.”

Jessie was ready to rip his heart out when the door opened and Luke walked outside. The expression on his face told her very clearly he’d been watching. From afar the incident could have looked like an intimate moment.

“Is everything all right?” Luke asked. He didn’t blink, simply moved closer.

“Fine. We were just catching up,” Jessie said. She didn’t need to look into Luke’s eyes to know he was pissed. She could smell an intense wafting of supped up testosterone.

“We’re doing very well, indeed. I was merely enjoying the luscious lady and her stinging quips,” Bart mused as he walked closer.

For a few seconds the electricity popped around them and Jessie was certain the two men were going to have more than just a battle of words.

“Jessie, go inside. We have guests.” Luke’s voice was quiet in his command.

She nodded and moved toward the door, thrilled to get the hell away from the asshole. When she grasped the handle she allowed herself to turn around and sneak a look. The two men weren’t just sizing each other up. They were formatting some sort of a battle. Jesus Christ. What darkness surrounded both of them? Nibbling on her shaking bottom lip, she walked inside and Bart’s words remained in the back of her mind.

Be careful of the man you speak so highly of. He’s not the person you think he is. In fact, the man is a killer.

Chapter Five

Of course Luke knew Bart would be at the party, secure in his methods of take down. Bart had a rude awakening coming. Unfortunately Luke had invited his friends, including the asshole he used to trust.
Friends.
With friends like this… Luke knew without having Jessie tell him anything about what had transpired that Bart wanted a taste of her. He’d know that fact at the BDSM party. They had sparred during those years, vying to best the other on in business as well as pleasure, no matter what the outcome. Marla hadn’t been the first moment of competition between them and obviously she wasn’t going to be the last.

Bart was on the prowl and had his sights set again on what Luke had, no doubt Jessie first then stakes in his business perhaps? That bullshit wasn’t going to happen. He could tell by the look on Bart’s face the man was curious as to what he’d say or more pointed, how he was going to react. Nodding, he moved toward the iron railing at the edge of the building. The lights of the city were twinkling, the downtown below teeming with activity. Even from his vantage point he could see just how crowded the street was. People were enjoying the weather, the clear night, and the many clubs offering every form of entertainment.

“Why are you here?” Luke asked. His mood was in the toilet seeing the man at his gathering.

“Wally mentioned you had concerns about joining us.”

Concerns. Yes, he had a hell of a lot of them and they all had Bart attached to the reason. “I’m going through the books now, making certain that I know what I might be getting into.”

Bart snorted. “I assure you everything about the magazine as well as the corporation is on the up and up.”

“That may be, but I’m already taxed with The End Game. I simply need to make certain I have the time to devote to such a significant undertaking.” Luke had a sinking suspicion the man had an ulterior motive and seeing the way he was with Jessie, his gut was screaming what it was.

“That’s one reason I respect you so much, Lucas. You take your time with everything, making certain of every detail before committing to anything or anyone.”

The cut was obvious. Luke clucked his jaw. “As all good businesspeople should do, determine if the business or product is worthwhile to any degree. If you want this magazine to be viable then you’ll do the same thing. You’ll make certain of the choices you make.”

“Of course. The consummate professional. Always, aren’t you? You never falter and never allow anything from your past to interfere. Or do you?” Bart swirled his glass before taking a sip, his eyes locking on Luke.

Luke dropped his head, weary of the fight with Bart. Why in the hell had he even looked up his friends right now? Because he was missing something in his life? How could he be? He had a very successful business and a woman he adored. He had money and toys, a full bank account and good friends. Why did the magazine intrigue him at all? Why?
Because you’re no different than Bart. You hunger for full control of everything, everyone.
Cringing, he studied the street below. Seeing a limo pull up in front of the hotel, he grew curious. Perhaps the invitation extended to Trevone Williams was too good to pass up. If he could sign the man tonight, on the spot, he’d be set for the remainder of the year.
Then you can concentrate on the magazine.
Jesus Christ. What was he thinking?

“I have an idea that just might attract you to finalizing your business relationship with us.”

Giving Bart a sideways glance, he moved away from the railing. It was time to cut the bullshit and engage with all his clients, not just pine away for one. “I have things to do.”

“Hear me out. I think Jessie should be our first model.”

Hearing Bart’s words make Luke chuckle. “Forget it, Bart. She’s not up for sale nor is she into showing off the world that she’s my subsmissive.”

“Isn’t that why you brought her here? Isn’t that why she’s wearing your collar in front of your colleagues? I can tell you are expecting some big wig. Word is on the street you want to sign Trevone Williams. Is that true?”

“And where did you get your information?” Luke asked between clenched teeth.

“You know I have my sources. I wanted to know all about you and what makes you tick. I know what you want and in truth, I can get it for you. If you play with me.”

Luke rubbed his eyes. The old game was back with a vengeance. Fuck this shit. “Whatever the fuck you’re trying to do, I ain’t interested.” Hissing, Luke walked past him and was stopped by Bart’s hand wrapping around his arm. He glared down at the action then up into Bart’s eyes. The message was clear.

A smile curled in the corner of Bart’s mouth but he took his hand away. “I have been friends with Trevone’s family for years. Long before you and I ever met I knew him. Trevone and I go back a few years. I used to be his babysitter, if you can believe that. I taught him how to play football because his daddy was always traveling. In a way, the man owes me.”