To Seduce & Satisfy by Abby Gordon
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental. To Seduce & Satisfy COPYRIGHT Ó 2011 by Abby Gordon All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written pe permission of of the author or Th The Wild Rose Press except in in th the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. Contact Information:
[email protected] Cover Art by Angela Anderson The Wild Rose Press PO Box 708 Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708 Visit us at www.thewilderroses.com Publishing History First Scarlet Rose Edition, October 2011
Dedication
To those who believe in love at first sight and make it last.
PRAISE FOR AUTHOR
Abby Gordon AND HER BOOKS
“Model Fantasy is full of sizzling erotic exploits steeped in growing love and devotion, ... delivers another racy BDSM themed story-line that scorches the pages and presents the reader with an amazing tale of one woman's journey to sexual fulfillment and a man's realization of what his heart desires.” ~Vicci, Night Owl Reviews, 5 of 5 stars “Impossible to put down, Model Fantasy seductively pulls you in from the first few pages. I thought Francine was a genuinely lovable character whose curiosity beams through the pages and Grant, as the dom trying to teach her, was written perfectly. Five Stars for Model Fantasy.” ~Emily, Sensual Reads, 5 stars “What a fantastic ride from page 1 until the very end. Sassy sex, a hot boss, BDSM, bad guys, friends, a mystery man… YEAH BABY! Ms. Gordon has penned a story worthy of awards! I was so pulled in that the real world just melted away and the story was my ONLY focus for the duration. And did you see that cover? WOW! Simple, sexy, elegant.” ~Seriously Reviewed, 19.5 out of 20 Named Beck and Call one of their top ten for 2010. “As a new author, Abby Gordon has managed to create
, by. The characters are wonderfully developed, the story is intriguing, and the sex positively sizzles. A definite must for the TBR list, especially for fans of the BDSM genre.” ~Fern, Whipped Cream Reviews, 4.5 cherries out of 5.
Chapter One Quincy paid the cab driver and nodded at the doorman. The agents of Hancock Securities were known to the employees of The Franklin Hotel. The desk clerk had his room key ready. He declined the offer of lunch from room service and headed up to the four-bedroom suite. Riding the elevator, he focused on trying to relax. He was in the States now. He didn’t have to look at everyone as if they were gunning for him. He took a deep breath and exhaled, concentrating on easing the tension in his muscles. He scowled at the panel of buttons. He was in a damn hotel. He’d been living in one hotel or another somewhere around the world or in a fucking tent, if he’d been lucky, for over a decade. He was tired of hotels and tents. His fellow agents were like brothers, but, dear Spirit, he was so damn tired of living in a hotel and being alone. Submissives at the Club were satisfying sexually, and he’d been content with that. Lately, though, he’d wondered if there was more. He kept telling himself he was crazy to even think like that, but he couldn’t help it. An image from three months earlier kept reappearing in his mind, taunting him with what he’d sworn he’d never want. The elevator doors opened and he headed down the hall.
Swiping the card, he went in and saw the arrangement of small statues on the coffee table. Watson and Jackson were in town. Pulling a similar statue out of a bag, he set it next to theirs. Dropping his two duffle bags at the foot of the bed, he peeled off his boots, socks, pants, sweater, and tee. He pulled the knife from his boot and tossed it toward the pillows. Leaving the clothes in a black heap, he collapsed onto the bed and closed his eyes, one hand on the hilt of his blade. Pounding on the door woke him and he jerked awake. He was rolling to the foot of the bed, knife in his hands without thinking. Before he could open a duffle for a gun, the door opened and two men appeared. Recognizing Jackson and Watson, he relaxed and sat back on his heels. Exhaling loudly, his smooth, muscled chest rose and fell. “Assholes,” he muttered, sheathing the knife. “I just got in. You can’t let me sleep more than…” he glanced at his watch. Not quite five o’clock. “Six hours?” His two fellow agents leaned against opposite sides of the doorframe. With their broad shoulders, they effectively blocked out any light from the suite’s living room. “No amount of beauty sleep could help your ugly mug,” Watson grinned. “Come on,” Jackson said, tossing him a protein bar. Quincy ripped the end off and took a large bite. “Time for an ass-kicking in the gym.” “You wish,” Quincy replied, digging through the other duffle “ ”
. “There’s some major shit going down at Keith MacLauren’s company.” “He runs a software company, Watson.” Quincy frowned, pulling on the shorts. Shoving his arms through the sleeves, he tugged the tee over his head. “What shit could happen there? A binary code error?” “Computer geeks,” snorted Watson. “You’re all the same.” Quincy pulled out socks and sneakers, muttering, “And assholes never change.” “Sexual harassment and intellectual theft is all we’ve heard so far,” Jackson filled him in. Tying his right shoe, Quincy put the left on and considered that. “MacLauren doesn’t strike me as a man who would put up with that.” “Word on the street has it that he’s fired half his programming division.” “In other words, if I ever get tired of putting up with your shit, Jackson, I could probably get a cushy desk job?” Quincy smirked. Standing, he gestured the two out the door. “Let the ass-whoopings begin. Who’s my first victim?” **** Hearing the ringtone reserved for incoming calls from his boss, Quincy was out of the shower and reaching for the cell phone on the bathroom counter. On either side of the phone sat his knife and watch. His left hand drifted over to the thick-handled blade next to the towel. Survival instincts died hard.
ea , oss e gree e s emp oyer. e gance a e watch that did so many things he often forgot its original function. The utility knife covered what the watch missed. Eight-thirty. He’d been in his room twenty minutes after a grueling three-hour workout with Watson and Jackson. “What’s doing?” “Meet me in the emergency room of St. Vincent’s,” came the clipped Bostonian accent of Ben Hancock. “Bring all your gear. It might be a while before you check back in.” “En route,” Quincy acknowledged. In ten minutes, everything he owned was packed into the duffle bags and he was striding into the lobby of the hotel. Pausing at the front desk, he handed the key card to the clerk. Watson and Jackson appeared with their gear as well. Immediately Quincy felt his ‘shit went down’ radar hit full alert. From the way the other two set their shoulders, he knew they’d done the same. “Checking out,” he told the woman on the other side of the counter. The other two agents put their cards next to his. “Bills go to Hancock Security.” “Yes, sir,” she nodded. “Come again to the Franklin, gentlemen.” Barely nodding in response, he headed to the underground garage and tossed the bags into the back seat of his extended cab truck. Punching the hospital into his GPS, he made a right as he reached the garage exit. The identical trucks driven by Watson and Jackson were behind him. What could have happened for his boss to call him back to
duty within twenty-four hours of completing an assignment? Hancock liked to give his men at least a week between domestic assignments and even more from international work. Quincy had just returned from a ten-week assignment in Egypt. Must be something serious to deprive him of what should have been two to three weeks off. “Shit,” Quincy whispered. “One of those bastards must have gone after MacLauren…” That would explain why Hancock was calling him back. If one of his best friends had been attacked, Hancock would assign his best to protect him. Pulling into the hospital parking lot, he backed his truck into a spot. Watson and Jackson pulled in on either side of him. In silence, the three men strode under the emergency entrance canopy. Ben Hancock, Matt Adams, and Will Cooper were waiting for them. “Here’s the situation…” Hancock spoke quietly. “I received a call from Keith MacLauren. His assistant was attacked in her apartment about an hour ago by one assailant that was seen by two of her friends, both of whom work for MacLauren. They heard her screams and came to her rescue. They were both injured. We’ll be providing round-the-clock security for the assistant and the two friends.” He glanced at Adams and rattled off an address. “That’s where the women live. All three on the third floor. See what the layout is like and if there are any unoccupied units on that floor. If not, you’ll be bunking with ”
Adams pulled out his small hand-held and began tapping. He smiled. “Boss, looks like the one next to the assistant is empty. I’ll call and secure it. There’s a parking garage half a block west.” “Good. Make the arrangements,” nodded Hancock. Adams hit dial and turned slightly away to talk. “Quincy, you’re on the other two. MacLauren’s company went through some internal crap today. I have no idea if this attack is connected, but this puts these women in the middle of some sort of shit. Let’s not have any more collateral damage. Start thinking about how to work your cover, if one’s possible.” Quincy nodded as Hancock’s phone beeped. Ben read the text message. “They’ve moved the women to the eighth floor. Let’s go, gentlemen.” They followed him, staying quiet and alert. Quincy didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Once on the eighth floor, they saw the knot of people clustered outside a room. “Looks like police and medics, boss,” Will murmured. “I’ll ID myself,” Ben said quietly. “The rest of you stay quiet.” On a plastic chair beyond the door, a young woman with short dark hair sat with a medic on one side and two officers on the other. “…yes, I know Mr. MacLauren is here,” she was saying to the medic. “But I’m not leaving Serena and Claire until I know that they’ll be safe.” Her gaze went to the six men striding down “ ” “
. , , . he’d called you.” Without a word, the five men separated while their boss stopped and faced the door. Quincy went to stand behind her. Hancock addressed the uniform near the door, showing his ID. “Ben Hancock. These are my men. Where’s MacLauren?” “He just went in with Miss Gardner. Miss Traydon screamed during the exam,” the officer grimaced in dismay. “Who could blame her,” shuddered the seated woman. She was holding an ice pack to her face. “That man attacks her for a second time…” “Allegedly attacked, Miss Sheldon,” the detective corrected. “He hasn’t been…” “Allegedly,” she rolled her eyes. Quincy liked that she didn’t back down. “Whatever. He’s on tape for the first one, and Claire and I caught him this time. I don’t know how anyone can say alleged.” She closed her eyes and turned her head. Pain and horror rippled across her face. She took a deep breath and regained control of herself. “He ripped her clothes off and was on top of her. He was strangling her and…” “And banged her head against the floor,” a second woman came from the hospital room and added. She walked over and sat next to Debbie. “When Debbie went after him, he threw her against the wall.” “Claire was smarter,” Debbie smiled, then winced and adjusted the icepack. From his position behind her, Quincy could see the swelling and coloring on her temple. A man had
done this to her, and she wasn’t cowering. She was pissed about what had happened and wanted justice. He liked the strength in her and respected that. “She jumped on his back.” “You’re the one who told me to grab his mask.” “You pulled it off?” asked one detective, glancing up from her notes. “I saw his face,” whispered Debbie. “Does he know you saw him?” “He was looking right at me. Yeah,” she nodded. “I’d say he knows I saw him.” “Quincy,” Hancock said quietly. Raising his gaze from the woman, he nodded at his boss, not needing to be told that she was his number one priority. His total focus, until Hancock said otherwise, was Debbie Sheldon. Claire sighed. “I just recognized his voice.” Keith MacLauren emerged from the room and Quincy listened as men were assigned to guard Serena Traydon. Watson and Jackson, on the next shift, headed to the elevator. “You’re sure?” the woman detective pressed. “I’ve worked for him for three months. Believe me, I know his voice,” she nodded. “How could you?” As the shriek echoed down the hallway, Quincy put a hand on Debbie’s shoulder and stepped slightly in front of her. Watson and Jackson had just passed the obviously upset woman in the corridor and raced back toward them. Debbie tapped the back of his hand and he glanced down at her. “That’s Keith’s cousin ” she whis ered. “Penn Davidson.”
He nodded as the petite blonde threw herself at MacLauren and pummeled his chest. “How could you do this to me?” she demanded, struggling to get away. “You’re pathetic! You’re jealous of Mark so you bribed Serena to lie. Just like all those other women lied about Duncan and the other men,” she cried, flinging her hands at Debbie and Claire. “So desperate for attention that—” “We did not!” Debbie yelled, rising to her feet. “We did not lie!” Quincy tensed, ready to step in front of his charge. He put his hand back on Debbie’s shoulder to be able to pull her behind him. “And you…” Penny turned on Claire. “You just want him for yourself so you—” “What?” Claire protested. “I’ve had a boyfriend for months. I wouldn’t date Mark for a million dollars.” “Look at us,” Debbie demanded. “Do we look like we had a good time with your fiancé? He attacked Serena more than a year ago and nearly raped her tonight, ripping off her clothes before we could get to her.” Penny didn’t move, shaking her head at Debbie’s words. “That’s impossible. Daddy and Uncle Ken said he was a good man,” she whispered. “He was the only one they’d approve of.” “Then your daddy likes a rapist,” Debbie told her, lowering the ice pack she’d been holding to her cheek. “Does this look made up?”
, moment then turned to Keith. Debbie sighed and shook her head. “That family makes mine look normal.” “Which family?” Quincy asked. “The MacLaurens,” Claire answered, studying Debbie’s bruise. “It doesn’t look like you’ll have a black eye.” “I hit the wall with the side of my head, not the front,” Debbie replied, shifting the icepack. She sat back down and put her hand on her ribs. “My right side is a bit sore. I think I’ll pass on kickboxing classes for a while.” “Good, then we can go to yoga,” Claire smiled. “I am not a pretzel,” Debbie rolled her eyes. Quincy listened to the women, wondering at their conversation. They were talking about being thrown against walls and bruises as if this were an ordinary day. As she was his priority, he studied Debbie and saw the effort to stay calm in her expression. She was so close to breaking, but she focused on staying composed and telling the police what had happened. The women linked hands. Quincy sensed a strong friendship between them, a loyalty and caring he’d never seen between women. Well, yeah, he reminded himself, because the only women you know are submissives at the Club or are part of Hancock’s family. Kind of tough to judge based on that experience. “…you have anyone who can keep an eye on her? If she sides with me, she could be in danger.” “Only myself.” Hancock sighed.
u ncy w ppe s ea aroun . at t e uc T e oss was going to protect someone? He saw Hancock’s hard expression and glanced at Adams who stood outside Traydon’s door. Adams was as surprised as he was—the boss ran things, he didn’t guard. Something was definitely going on. When two more men arrived, Hancock gave his agents the signal that they could maintain their positions. Claire rose and hurried to one of the men. His charge shifted in her seat, muttering under her breath. Quincy caught, “they’ll hurt her again,” before she tried to stand up. The medic caught her arm. “I want you to take it easy,” he frowned. “I’d feel better if you stayed overnight.” “Out of the question,” she said firmly, eyes on Claire in the embrace of one of the men. “I can’t leave Claire alone.” “Quincy will take you home,” Ben told Debbie, then looked at Keith. “You need to get home as well. You’ve been a busy boy today.” “And tomorrow looks like it will be just as much fun,” he sighed. “I hate Mondays. I really do.” He looked at Adams. “If she wakes up, call me.” “You got it,” Adams replied with a nod. Quincy watched Debbie as the group headed down the hall. When she started off after them, he caught her arm. “She’ll be all right.” “You don’t know anything about this,” she hissed. “Let me go!” “Not happening.” He shook his head. “I’m responsible for
your safety.” “Fine, then let’s go so I can stop Claire from making a huge mistake.” “I don’t know what the problem is, but where she goes is her decision,” he said quietly. “Let me go!” She stomped on his foot. He didn’t feel it through the steel toe of his boot and smiled as she winced. Sneakers couldn’t compete with combat boots in most situations. He liked her feistiness and wondered if her fire would be as hot in bed, preferably bound and waiting for him. He shook his head. Where the hell had that come from? She was his charge, not a submissive at the Club. “Why don’t we head to your place and…” “Claire and I are roommates. If you’ll stop being a pain in the ass, then I can stop―” Quincy groaned. “Oh, for Pete’s sake!” He looked at Adams. “Want to trade?” “Nice try,” Adams shook his head. “Have fun.” “Thanks,” he muttered. He studied her mutinous face. His palm twitched with the need to spank her. To combat that urge, he pressed it against his thigh. What was his problem? “All right, let’s go.” “I’m Debbie. Debbie Sheldon,” she said pointedly. “And your name?” “Quincy.” “ ”
“Quincy,” he replied, starting down the hall. As he hadn’t released her bicep, she trotted alongside him. “How many be bedrooms in your place?” “Two,” she answered, eyes narrowed. “Mine and Claire’s.” “Well, since she’ll be elsewhere, then I’ll take hers.” He raised his voice. “Hold the elevator.” Ben Hancock stretched his arm out as the doors started to shut. Quincy pulled Debbie in and held her firmly at his side. He nodded at his boss, aware of how Penny Davidson alternately glared at Hancock or studied Debbie. Silence reigned in the car until it came to a stop on the ground floor. The group split up. As soon as they headed to his truck, Debbie started up again. When she tried to pull away, his fingers gripped tighter and drew her closer. “I don’t need a bodyguard or…” “You don’t seem to understand the situation. So let me explain things simply.” He paused, looking around the parking lot. He didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. “You’re the only one who saw Hammond’s face tonight. That makes you his next target. If he makes bail.” “What?” She frowned, looking up at him. “Why…” He saw comprehension appear in her eyes. “No,” she shook her head. “He’s in enough shit as it is,” she whispered. “He wouldn’t want to add to it by coming after me. I mean, I could understand Duncan or one of the others coming after me, but not Hammond.”
u ncy recognz recogn ze e names, u n un un ers an w a s e meant. “Why would one of the men MacLauren fired today come after you?” “Because I’m the one who told Keith what was going on in Programming—the sexual harassment, the intellectual theft. I’m the reason they got fired. They might not know, but they’re not idiots. They’ll figure it out. I mean, I wasn’t harassed the way some of the other women were, but they stole my ideas and took credit for my work…” Quincy listened to her ramble and realized there was a helluva lot more going on with her than he’d thought. She had not only stirred up the hornet’s nest at MC but she was also the only one who could pin the attack on Hammond. Which meant a lot of pi pissed-off -off men could be be gu gunning for her. Fr From what he gathered from the conversation between MacLauren and his cousin, Hammond had the support of many in the MacLauren family. That meant they’d probably be bailing him out and publicly supporting him. “Look, we might need to leave the city,” he murmured, increasing his pace. He nodded as Hancock drove past him. “I’m not going anywhere,” she stated firmly. “Keith put me in charge of a project that’s due in six weeks. He promised that MC would meet and fulfill all our contracts. This one is the bi biggest we’ve got due. I’m no not letting him down. This whole thing is my fault as it is.” “How do you figure that?”
“Weren’t you paying attention? He fired those men and…” He raised the remote and unlocked the truck. Putting her in the front seat, he closed the door and hurried around to the driver’s side. Climbing in, he started the engine. “That doesn’t make any of this your fault. He’s the CEO. The responsibility is his.” He punched the address into the GPS be before giving her a solemn look. “From hi his reaction, he looks like he’s accepting it. He’s doing what he needs to do. You worry about what you need to do.” “And number one is making sure Claire doesn’t go off with those two perverts,” she muttered. Quincy clamped his jaw shut. He’d recognized the two men as members of an exclusive sex club where he’d gone undercover three years earlier. It had been the perfect assignment for him. He was a sexual dominant, although some of the scenes he’d been involved in were more extreme than he’d ever done or would do again. The owner had been sufficiently grateful for his discretion and recognized his natural dominant tendencies and had sponsored him as a member. Already, he wondered what it would be like for Debbie to surrender. He could just imagine her on her knees, wrists bound at the small of her back, her mouth open to receive his cock. He took a deep breath. He was to protect her, not seduce her and make her his submissive. She was feisty, stubborn, and… loyal, protective, and intelligent. And what the hell was he thinking? He was a loner. Lone wolf. A single hawk in the sky.
in any way, shape, or form. He glanced over at her and saw her shivering despite her thick pa parka. We Well, ye yeah, id idiot, he he to told hi himself. Un Underneath she ha had on on light track pants and a T-shirt. He reached up and turned on the heat. “Thank you,” she whispered, stretching her hands out. “You always dress like that?” “We had just come back from kickboxing class. We were about to knock on Serena’s door and see if she wanted to order Chinese with us when…” she sighed as her voice drifted off. “Please? Can we hurry so I can stop Claire from going off with those…” “Perverts?” he murmured, calling on all his control. He hated it when people criticized what they didn’t understand. Figures that a woman he was itching to dominate seemed disgusted by one pa part of the scene. “Onl Only one claimed to be her boyfriend.” “That asshole Paul seduced her so she would be with him and David. They planned this all along.” “And you have a problem with that?” “He tricked her… What? What do you mean, do I have a pr problem wi with that?” she demanded. “How could I not have a pr problem with that? Two men…” “Some women like being with two men,” he replied. “Some men like being with two women.” At a red light, he glanced over and caught her shocked expression. But also noted the way her tongue darted out ’
. , , . just how much of her reaction was outrage and how much was her own submerged need, he decided. He’d discovered that many people were just scratching the surface of their sexual needs. His conscience pushed down the brief thought that he was taking advantage of the situation. But, damn! Instinct told him that Debbie had little experience with sex and was ripe for the picking. Just how fast could he move on her though? Reel her in soft and easy, he thought, choosing his next words carefully, as if reflecting to himself. “Some people like giving up all control to someone they trust. Or being spanked or tied to the bed or someone using toys on them.” He paused. “Sometimes all of that. At once.” She shifted on the seat and exhaled shakily. Her tongue wet her bottom lip before she caught it with her upper teeth. Bingo! He dropped his gaze and saw her thighs rub against each other. Debbie was turned on despite her disgust for Claire’s situation. He reviewed what he’d seen of the lawyers at the Club. Not everything added up, but he remembered enough to know that Paul had similar tastes. Oh, this was so damn perfect he could hardly believe it. “Now, I’m assuming you don’t have a boyfriend since you didn’t mention one when Claire did?” That should force her off balance a bit. “No, I don’t,” she frowned. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“You’ve got one now.” He tapped the brakes as an idiot decided to jaywalk. “Asshole,” he muttered. “I’ll be a freelance computer security specialist and, when you called me about tonight, I decided that I wasn’t risking you being attacked and…” “You went all caveman on me and insisted on moving in?” she said sarcastically. “That’s perfect,” he grinned, nodding and glancing at her. “It gives us something in common besides a wicked sense of humor. Now, how would we have met?” He stopped at the next red light. “Where do you usually hang out when not at work?” “Clubs or the gym, so that won’t work because it’s a regular crowd,” she frowned. “And they’ll ask why they haven’t seen you around. I mean, even asshole Paul went to the clubs with us a couple times.” Her mouth made a moue. “He even got us into one of the more exclusive ones and insisted that we go there even if he wasn’t with us. He said he knew their security and we’d be safe there.” Quincy frowned. How many exclusive clubs could Paul have taken them to? One in particular came to mind. He smiled slightly. She’d already been exposed to the scene and didn’t even realize it. That meant she probably hadn’t been there after a certain time, which was probably Paul’s influence. “We’ll say I’ve been out of town the past couple months doing fieldwork, which is the truth.” In a manner of speaking, he thought. “We talked and emailed a lot and, when I’ve been able to be in town we didn’t o out.” He smiled.
“That might work.” She nodded slowly, frowning in thought. “I’ll have to tell you when I wasn’t out so we can coordinate that. But we still have the problem of when we met.” “Have you been anywhere else the past few months that would be plausible?” he frowned. Shit, this might be harder than he thought. “Maybe just with Claire or the victim tonight?” “Serena,” she told him, voice quiet. “Her name’s Serena.” “All right,” he nodded. “Serena and Claire. Or your hometown? Maybe I could be an old boyfriend from…” “No!” She shook her head, surprising him with her volume. “Okay, what’s in your hometown that you don’t want anything to do with?” She slumped in the corner. “Everything.” “This is getting complicated,” he muttered. For a couple blocks, there was silence. She sat upright and turned toward him. Quincy nearly drove off the street when he felt her hand on his arm. “Madison Square Garden.” “For what?” he frowned. “I’m not into basketball and the season’s barely started.” “You are now into mixed martial arts,” she grinned. “The fights were…” “Three months ago,” he grinned back at her. “Would you believe I was there?” “You’re shitting me?” she stared. “Where were your seats? No, don’t tell me,” she held her hand up. “Front row, where you ”
. “Pretty much,” he nodded. “I am so jealous,” she sighed. “I practically spent a paycheck and barely got on the floor. But it was so worth it.” She sighed again as if in rapture. “What about the people you were with? Won’t they…” “They were the guys you just met,” he assured her. “All I have to do is text them a few deets about what you were wearing and they’ll invent an entire conversation if asked.” “Cool,” she sighed, settling back down. She gave him a sly look. “You might not be so bad after all.” He grunted. “Thanks. You take kickboxing classes. You might not be so bad either.” He gave her the sly look right back. “I can’t handle whimpy, whiney women.” She grinned back. “Now, tell me why we need to do this charade again.” “So far, your name hasn’t shown up in connection with any of the charges directly related to the shit that went down at MC today. If the men fired don’t connect you with anything, then they won’t come after you. If you suddenly have a bodyguard, then someone might start putting pieces together. We cover that angle with a boyfriend who uses this as an excuse to move in with you.” “Let me guess,” she drawled as he turned into the parking garage. “You’re suddenly over-protective and think that I’m the perfect woman.” “That sounds good,” he nodded. Ignoring the stunned
express on on er ace, e ro e s w n ow own. ean ng toward the booth, he spoke to the attendant. “Name’s Quincy. Three month pass was called in about half an hour ago.” Nex Next to him, he heard Debbie choking an and glanced over his shoulder. She had her hand over her mouth, her eyes bugging out of her head. “Here you go, sir. Payment just came through a minute ago,” the older man nodded, extending an envelope. Quincy turned ba back around and took the envelope. “Security car card works for bo both the the entrance over there,” th the man’s hand gestured to the right. “As well as raising the arm. Your slot is three-fourteen.” “Great. Have a good night.” “You, too, sir.” As they pulled forward, Debbie burst into the laughter she had suppressed. “I’m going to regret this, but what is so funny?” “Me being the perfect woman for anyone. Trust me—no one who knows me is going to buy that.” “My answer to that, if anyone is stupid enough to bring it up, is that they obviously don’t know you the way I do.” “I don’t think you understand. I don’t even buy it.” “Why?” That seemed to stump her. Finding the slot, Quincy backed in and shut everything off. Turning to her, he found her knees drawn up with her heels resting on the edge of the seat. Her arms were wrapped around her shins and her cheek rested on her knee. He released her seatbelt and turned her toward him. In the
florescent light of the garage, the bruising seemed garish on her delicate features. “Why do you find it hard to believe that a man might see you as the perfect woman for him?” “Because I’m not perfect,” she whispered. “I’ve screwed up everyone’s life that I’ve ever been involved with. There’s no way anyone, any man, would think I wouldn’t do the same to his.” “No one’s perfect,” he said slowly, having no idea where this was coming from. “And I find it difficult to believe that you’re that bad.” “Two examples—Serena was attacked and Claire is about to go live with…” saved Serena and Claire is a grown “Correction—you sa woman responsible for her own life,” he admonished. “You don’t understand now, but you will. Trust me, you will,” she assured him, opening her door and sliding out. “Goddammit!” he swore, bolting out and around the truck. He caught her arm and gripped her tightly. “You do not go anywhere without me,” he ground out, staring down into her brown eyes. “Is that clear? You are under my pr protection and and I take that very ser seriously. Where you go go, I am there. Closer than your shadow. Now, stay here while I get my gear. Stay. Here. Understand?” “Yeah, yeah,” she grunted. She scowled as he backed up, taking her with him. Grabbing his duffle bags, he hoisted one over his shoulder, secured the
. . Deciding discretion was the better part of valor, not that he had much of that, he ignored the obscenity she muttered under her br breath. “Do I get to pee and poop without a chaperone?” “Depends on where we are.” “You are insane.” “No,” he shook his head. “As much as possible, we’re keeping to your regular routine and…” “That doesn’t include a caveman for a boyfriend.” “Enough,” he told her, shaking her arm slightly. “My boss told me to protect you, so that’s what I’m going to do. You don’t like it, then talk to your boss.” “I just might do that.” “Well, until tomorrow, you’re stuck with me.” As they marched toward the brownstone, Quincy could hear her grinding her teeth. He gave himself even odds—spanking her be before he fucked her. And he wanted to crawl inside those slippery pants as fast as he could.
Chapter Two Finally at her apartment, Debbie got into a hissing argument with her roommate. As they debated in Claire’s room, Quincy checked out the security of the apartment. On the third floor, he shouldn’t have had too much to worry about, except that Serena had lived down the hall. That made him wonder about overall bu building security. He hadn’t seen any cameras and the simple combination for the primary entrance would be easy for someone to bypass. Debbie’s bedroom windows were locked, so he retrieved his sidearm from his duffle bags. “I’m going to assume you have a permit for that,” Paul murmured from his seat in the open living room. “T’s crossed and I’s dotted,” he nodded, checking the ammo and sights. “How well can you protect Claire?” “Black belt in jujitsu,” he replied, shrugging. “Once inside my bu building, she won’t need to leave. Allen’s got the place more secure than Fort Knox.” “You live in MacLauren’s building?” Quincy questioned, glancing over his shoulder. At Paul’s nod, he grunted and shrugged into the shoulder harness. “The security in this place is for shit. Hammond got in way too easily.” “You going to keep Debbie here?” David frowned, pacing in
front of the fireplace. “Or use her?” “You mean am I going to use her as bait to get Hammond?” Quincy asked, standing and tucking his 9 mil into the holster. He noted that, despite Debbie’s obvious aversion to them, both men were concerned about her. That told him quite a bit about them that he liked. “No. If I think things are compromised here, I’ll move her.” The two men exchanged glances. “So, you two plan on sharing Claire?” “What’s it to you?” David wanted to know. “Not a damned thing unless it gets Debbie so riled up that it makes her difficult. A charge who is upset is more apt to do something stupid.” He leveled a stern eye at the pair. “I have serious problems with stupid.” “I can understand that,” Paul nodded slowly. “Let’s just say there’s more to our situation than I’ll get into now.” “How the hell did either of them even know?” David muttered. “Did you say something to Claire?” he glanced at Paul, who shook his head. “Of course not.” Paul’s eyes went to the open bedroom door. “Tonight’s not the time to get into that. She’s dealing with enough, what with everything at work and now Serena being attacked. This might change things.” He grunted and looked at Quincy. “And you?” “None of my business except how it affects my job,” Quincy shook his head. “One of you going to take charge of this ” “’
. one of you takes charge of things.” Both men glared at him. “Back off,” warned Paul. Quincy laughed, although there was little humor in the sound. “Don’t get your pants in a twist,” he told him. “There are all sorts of rumors about the two of you at the Club,” he lowered his voice and smiled at their startled expressions. “A few years ago I did a job there…got Madison expelled.” They nodded. “The Board asked me to join. I’ve seen both of you with various women.” He glanced at David. “Weren’t you with a redhead most of last year?” David stiffened, his jaw clenching. “I’ll wait outside.” Quincy raised a brow as David closed the door behind him. “Gee, something I said?” “Christ,” muttered Paul, standing. “Shit, what a night,” he sighed, running a hand through his hair. Striding across the small living room, he stopped at the open doorway. “Claire, are you coming with me or staying here?” “Coming,” came a firm, low voice. “Claire!” Debbie protested. “Shut up, Debbie,” snapped Claire. Paul bent slightly to pick up the two suitcases and stepped back. Claire left the bedroom and he followed her to the door. Quincy looked over and saw the pale, stricken expression of his charge. Shit. His night was going to get worse before it got better.
a re, p ease, w spere e e, o ng er snea ers n her hands. Without a word, Claire left the apartment. Paul paused in front of Quincy. “Don’t say anything to her,” he said under his breath. “And have a nuclear explosion on my hands? Not a chance.” He secured the door and turned to see his charge staring through him.
Chapter Three Debbie stared at the door as it closed behind Claire and Paul. She had to stop Claire from leaving. She had to get to Claire. Quincy bolted and chained the door before turning around. “What the hell are you doing?” she shrieked. “Protecting you,” he replied calmly. “It’s my job. Just in case you forgot.” “I’m not the one who needs protecting,” she argued. “Claire just walked out of here…” “With someone MacLauren feels is capable of protecting her,” he cut her off. With deliberate steps, he came to stand in front of her. “And she won’t be the one someone comes after anyway. You are. You’re the one who saw Hammond’s face.” “I don’t care about that,” she snarled, feeling a sudden need to push him, to get some emotion. A rousing, knock-down, drag-out argument would help relieve some of the tension that had been building up in her. “It’s none of your business anyway. You’re just a hired gun and…” “Are you always this much of a brat?” “What?” she blinked as his hands gripped her shoulders. “I said,” he smiled, bringing his face inches from hers. “Are you always this much of a brat?”
“And if I am?” She couldn’t resist taunting him. There was just something about him that told her he was as tightly coiled inside as she was. “What are you going to do about it?” His hands stroked up and down her arms and she could see fire in his eyes. She wasn’t one for casual sex, but this man was something she’d never experienced before. Quincy was infinitely more mature and confident than the men she met at the clubs. He didn’t seem to worry about what other people thought. And she’d never felt this way around a man. An instant sexual attraction so potent that her nipples got hard when he looked at her and her pussy clenched when he spoke. Now, instinct told her that he most definitely would take control of sex and it would be incredible. Didn’t a woman deserve a hot fling of wild, debauched sex while she was young? Besides, he was supposed to be her boyfriend. It was okay. Yeah, if she repeated that to herself a few thousand times… “I know just how to deal with little girls like you. I spank them,” he whispered, his hands pulling her closer. “And I think you are in definite need of a good spanking.” “No,” she shook her head, unable to believe what she’d just heard. “I don’t like being hit.” “Big difference between hitting and spanking,” he told her, hands sliding down her back to hold her hips against him. She could feel his erection through his jeans. Oh, God, he was ready to go for it. Her pussy tightened just at the thought of that length in her. “ ’ ”
, ear. “A woman can orgasm from it.” “I don’t believe you.” Heat flared in his eyes. The flush of her desire filled her face and tugged her womb. “Bad girl,” he breathed. One of his hands left her hip and came down on her right ass cheek. She gasped. “Rule number one—I’m in charge.” “You mean I just do whatever you say. I don’t get to ask questions or…” “Right now, you are to be quiet and accept your punishment.” Her jaw fell open. Before she could speak, he picked her up, tossed her over his shoulder, and strode into her bedroom. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he set her on her feet. Dizzy from the rapid movements, she couldn’t protest as he easily stripped off her track pants, cotton panties, sports bra, and tee. “Very nice,” he murmured, dark eyes roaming her lean body. His strong fingers reached out and pinched her nipples. “No,” she breathed. “No?” he echoed softly, one hand covering her pussy. His fingers combed through the damp curls. A knowing smile curved his lips. “You sure?” “No,” she sighed as a finger circled her entrance. “Please.” “I intend to,” he told her. In another sudden move, he pulled her closer and facedown across his lap. One hand spread across her upper back between her shoulder blades. The other stroked her buttocks and the
ac s o er g s. “Why?” she whispered. “Because it’s what you need. What you want.” “I don’t want to be spanked or…” His hand smacked her ass and, as she gasped and twisted to get off his lap, he continued to spank her. “Really?” he probed. “You want someone to take control of you, but also take care of you. That’s why you’re so upset about Claire. She has what you want.” Her whole body froze. Was she jealous of Claire after her friend had hinted about how Paul liked sex? Even of Serena and her new lover? Was that why she’d acted so ungrateful during their shopping trip that morning? While her mind tried to wrap around that thought, her body reacted to Quincy’s punishment. The spanking was warming up her ass. The heat and her vulnerable position added to the fire in her belly. His hand came down again and her thighs parted slightly. “Much better,” he said approvingly. His hand struck lower, just above her pussy. A moan escaped her lips. She thought she heard a growl before he began caressing what he’d been spanking a moment earlier. Slowly he stroked her folds and teased her clit. Her breathing became shallow and her body trembled in need. “How is this possible?” she whispered. He turned her over and smiled. As his right hand continued its sexual torture of her pussy, his left arm raised her upper body. His head lowered and his teeth nipped her ear lobe. She
whimpered as his mouth continued down her throat. By the time his lips closed around a taut rosy nipple, she was on the edge. Her body was damp from its own heat. “Please,” she begged, covering his hand at her pussy. “Please, Quincy.” “What do you want, little girl?” “I need…” His thumb brushed over her clit and she cried out in desperation. “Tell me what you want.” “I…” Again, his thumb teased the hard nub and the words caught in her throat with a sob. He chuckled. “Tell me what you need.” Her hands tangled in his dark hair and tugged at his head until she could see his expression. “Please. Please.” He was silent, waiting. Her mind struggled to find the words. “Please, take control of me. Please, take care of me.” Slowly he nodded. “Good girl.” The hard length of his erection added more heat to her throbbing ass. She groaned at the thought of his large cock driving into her pussy the way his fingers were. The heel of his hand rubbed her clit. His mouth ravished her breasts. As if he was as desperate as she was, his fingers stroked in and out of her—hard, deep, and fast. Gasping for breath, she held onto him
this. He knew how to get a reaction from her, to seduce her and bend her to his will. And, as she felt her body race up the mountain to the peak, he knew how to satisfy her. “Come for me, Debbie,” he whispered, mouth hovering over hers. “Come, baby.” His tongue swept into her mouth, possessing and claiming. His fingers filled her and suddenly all she saw was a brilliant light as her body jerked in his arms. It wasn’t enough for him though. Mouth to her ear, he kept his fingers in her and kept up the friction on her clit. “One more time. There’s still too much tension in you. One more…” On command, her pussy tightened, electricity raced through her and she relaxed with a sigh as a second climax rolled over her softly. Snuggling into his arms, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Chapter Four Debbie reached over and whacked the snooze button. Snuggling back under the covers, she squeezed her eyes shut. What a nightmare. Burying her head in the pillows, she felt the cotton against her face and winced. Shit! It hadn’t been a nightmare after all. Shifting her head so nothing pressed against her throbbing temple, she tried to convince herself that, despite her body’s aches, it really all had been just a horrible dream. The alarm went off again and she heard someone moving in the other bedroom before moving toward the kitchen. With a groan, she turned the clock off and swung her legs off the bed. Coffee, coffee, coffee, she thought with each step. She’d be able to function once she had her coffee and talked with Claire. Nearly to the bedroom door, she froze as more reality slammed into her. Claire wasn’t here. It was…Quincy. Reaching out blindly, Debbie caught at the doorknob to keep herself upright. That had to have been a dream. Had to be. No way would she have acted that way in real life. Resting her forehead against the door, she closed her eyes. She hadn’t been attracted to the brooding muscular man the moment she’d seen him. She hadn’t been secretly thrilled when Ben Hancock had
assigned him as her bodyguard. She hadn’t acted like a bitch when they’d reached the apartment and she’d found Claire packing her suitcases to move in with Paul. And she most certainly hadn’t taken her frustration out on Quincy. She frowned, realizing she had on her favorite nightshirt. He really had stripped her and… With a low moan, she ran her hand under her over-sized tee and covered her own breast. It might have been her imagination, but she could still feel it throbbing. Holding her breath, Debbie slid her other hand over her pussy and slipped a finger along the dark curls. Pressing her lips together, she moaned. She was wet. Wet from just thinking about what he’d done. How the hell was she supposed to face a man she’d let spank her within an hour of meeting him? How was she supposed to act after letting him fingerfuck her to two shattering orgasms? “Oh, God, what the hell were you thinking?” she muttered. “Well, that’s a rhetorical question. You weren’t thinking. You saw a good-looking man and practically jumped his bones the minute you were alone with him.” She smiled and snorted. “And now you’re talking to yourself like Serena does.” Serena. The image of her friend’s half-nude body under the burly man flooded her. Hammond banging her head against the floor before standing to confront her and Claire. How easily he’d tossed her aside. And Claire—don’t-hurt-a-fly-Claire—had jumped on his back, screaming like a banshee. Debbie smiled. Okay, if Claire had done that, she could certainly face the man in her kitchen.
With that determination, she opened her door and strode down the hall. At the kitchen archway, she froze at the sight of him standing at the counter with his back to her. How the hell had she forgotten how big he was? Nearly a foot taller than her own five-four, he was probably double her weight and all rippling muscle as he poured his coffee. The ridge of his spine led between the flexing heavy mass of his back to black briefs that clung to a tight ass and thighs as thick as tree trunks. “You keep staring at me like that and you’ll make me blush,” his deep voice teased her. As she stared at the strip of black cotton that was all he wore, he turned around and her gaze landed on something just as impressive as his back. The purplish head of his cock poked up from the waistband. Ignoring her weeping pussy, she raised her eyes to his face. Tanned skin stretched over a high forehead, narrow nose, and prominent cheekbones. His eyes were nearly as black as his shoulder-length hair. Swallowing his coffee, he smiled at her. “Morning, little girl,” he greeted her in a husky tone. Her eyes dropped to his broad chest, and the crease of his six-pack took her right back to his thickening erection. Gasping, she whirled around. She heard the thump of his mug on the counter. Knowing that he was going to come after her, her mind ordered her body to move, to run back to her room. Her body ignored that direction. Her toes twitched, but that was all the movement she managed before his hands caught her shoulders. ****
Quincy wasn’t putting up with any games. From the moment he’d seen her talking to the detectives, he’d been drawn to the woman struggling to hide her vulnerability with a cloak of toughness. He’d developed an instinct for good submissives— male or female. More than a few men had been insulted when he suggested they switch from top to bottom or bottom to top. But those who had listened to him had been grateful, as had the women. Her response last night had been more than he’d expected, but he hadn’t hesitated to take advantage of the situation. Her feistiness had demanded his strength. She wasn’t a woman to respond to weakness. Her honesty had been refreshing. Most people would have denied his comment about her jealousy of Claire. Her stillness had told him that she was processing his comment, considering how close to the truth it might be. Her surrender had been incredible. He’d come close to staying in bed with her, holding her close and taking her during the night. It had been hard as hell, literally, considering his demanding dick, to tuck her under the covers and leave her there alone. He’d thought about masturbating, but he wanted to be in her pussy. He had checked her bathroom and found the birth control pills. Fortunately, he had just bought a box of condoms with plans to go to the Club that weekend. Now, with her slender shoulders beneath his hands, he wasn’t waiting any longer. Turning her around, he tangled a hand at the
ac o er ea . T e so t ac stran s were e s . er eyelids fluttered down and her lips parted slightly. He smiled. Could she be any more perfect in her submission? Beneath the worn cotton of her over-sized tee that trumpeted the mixed martial arts championship at Madison Square Garden, he could see the hard points of her nipples. “Debbie, look at me.” Slowly she opened her eyes. “Take your shirt off. Now.” Crossing her arms, she caught the hem of her tee and pulled it over her head. Releasing her as she did, Quincy shoved his briefs down and kicked them off. His erection bobbed in eagerness, pointing the way. Reaching back he plucked one of the foil packets off the counter. Ripping it open, he rolled the condom on. His hands went under her arms and lifted her. Her legs wrapped around his waist as his mouth found hers. Her hands clutched at his shoulders as he devoured her. She wasn’t passive either. Her hands roamed his body. He didn’t mind that, but he was in no mood to play. “Not waiting,” he growled. “Huh-uh,” she agreed, mouth nuzzling against his neck. Backing up into the kitchen, he rested her hips on the counter. She guided him to her and the heat of her around just the head of his dick pushed him past the point of no return. Driving into her, he lifted her off the counter. Side-stepping to the left he turned and pinned her against the fridge. With her trapped, he unleashed the hunger that had kept him awake most of the night. Pounding into her, he felt the heat, the dampness, and the friction of her
tight walls. His mouth plundered hers, demanding complete surrender. In the back of his mind, he was aware of her clinging to him, arms and legs wrapping around him, letting him do whatever the hell he wanted. He could hear her pants, her moans, and the sweet pleas for more. Near the edge of control, he reached down and teased her clit. Her cries increased in pitch and her nails raked his back before digging into his shoulders. Her hips jerked forward and her pussy walls clamped tight around his cock. Her entire body tightened as a low, deep moan vibrated in her throat. “Oh, God, Quincy,” she gasped, shuddering as she clung to him. With an animalistic snarl, he released into her, driving her back with such force that the fridge rocked against the wall. Panting, damp with sweat, he held her as he rested his chin on the top of her head. “You okay?” he finally spoke. “Morning to you, too,” she whispered. She pressed a kiss on his chest and he smiled. “I usually don’t mix sex and coffee, but if this is what it’s like, I think I’ll do it more often.” “I’m good with that.” “As long as a certain little girl doesn’t misbehave,” he added, wondering what her reaction would be. “Mmm.” She lifted her head. “About that…” “You going to tell me you didn’t deserve a spanking?” he
. “I was wondering what did and didn’t deserve one.” For a long moment, Quincy just stared at her. There was the barest hint of a gleam in her eye. She wanted to know so she could get spanked again. She liked being good, but the idea of him punishing her appealed to her just as much. She was more submissive than he’d thought. God, this would be fucking perfect. Literally. In a heartbeat, he changed his plans. Forget taking things slow, semi-playful. She was his and he was going to make sure she understood that. He’d start her with the basics for now and expand on them throughout the week. And by Friday, his eyes narrowed, yes, by Friday, she might be ready for a fully equipped playroom at the Club. His cock twitched just at the thought of having her in a secluded, soundproof room. “From now on, you don’t touch yourself sexually. You don’t orgasm without permission. You do what I tell you when I tell you and how I tell you. Oh, and if that mouth of yours gets out of line like it did last night, I’ll gag you before I spank you.” The shock in her eyes made him wonder if he’d gone too far. “And if I’m good?” Oh, lord. He mentally rubbed his hands together. She was his —hook, line, and sinker. “If you’re good, I have special toys for you. Toys that tease you all day or night. If you’re very good, I’ll take you out and tease you with them in public.” A thought occurred to him and he put his mouth next to her ear. “If you really please me, I’ll make
you come n pu c. “We’d get in trouble,” she whispered, eyes wide at the thought. “I wouldn’t let that happen,” he promised. “I won’t let anything happen to you, little one. I’m here to protect you, remember?” A short laugh came from her. “You protect every woman like this?” “Nope,” he shook his head. “You’re the first woman I’ve protected.” Debbie studied him and Quincy wondered what was going through her mind. Most of her emotions showed in her expression, but he sensed there was much more to her. “So, what do we do today?” He smiled. “How do you take your coffee?” She blinked and smiled, turning her head to see the mug he’d used. It was the only one not covered in flowers he’d been able to find. And it had been all the way in the back of the cupboard. As it had the Harvard seal on it, he figured it belonged to Claire’s boyfriend. “You didn’t want anything girly?” she guessed. “Not hardly,” he snorted. Reluctantly, he pulled out of her and set her feet on the floor. He carefully took the full condom off and put it in the trash can. “So what do you do at MC?” “I was just promoted to senior manager,” she replied, frowning slightly as she took a mug from the hooks under the
cabinet. “I’m not saying this to get in trouble, but…” He watched her pause as if trying to figure out how to say what she wanted. “I mean, I am glad you used a condom, but…” “I’m clean,” he answered, picking up his mug and drinking. “So am I,” she nodded, then tilted her head. “You always have condoms with you when you get your morning coffee?” “I couldn’t wait to fuck you this morning,” he stepped up behind her. His semi-erect penis nestled happily in her ass crack. “So I brought them in here with me.” “Okay,” she managed, dumping sugar into her mug. His hands covered her breasts and kneaded. She moaned low in her throat. The spoon clattered to the counter as he pressed her upper body down. Like a soldier springing to attention, his cock saluted and wanted back in the action. “Ready for more?” “Would it matter if I said no?” A wide thigh nudged her legs apart and rubbed against her pussy. He smiled against her nape. “Lying to me is bad and gets you a spanking,” he warned, reaching for the second condom. “And you don’t get an orgasm after.” “Then I won’t say no,” she managed, her head moving as she tracked his motions. “Good girl.” He dropped the empty packet on the counter where she could see it and heard her breath catch as she realized that he was
trim backside before him. Hands on her hips, he lifted her lower body slightly and plunged back into her pussy. Even though it had only been minutes since his last release, his need was just as great. The edge was still sharp, even more so as he knew how hot and eager she was. “Quincy, please,” whispered Debbie. Sheathing his cock in one stroke, he held still, savoring the moment. His hands continued to play and pinch her nipples. Debbie wriggled, trying to get him to move. Removing his hand from her breast, he smacked one thigh. “Stay still,” he ordered, gripping her hips. “I’m going to fuck you hard. Remember, don’t come unless I give you permission.” With a groan, she nodded. “I’ll be good.” Leaning over her, pressing her flat against the counter, he pressed his nose against her hair. The faint smell of flowers made him close his eyes. No perfumes, no fragrant lotions or heavily scented shampoos for her. Just simple, straight-forward Debbie. “We’ll see how long you last, little girl.” **** Debbie moaned at the husky voice in her ear. It was both a threat and a promise, and she knew he would keep both. Rationale flew south for the winter as she turned her body over to a man she barely knew. She had no idea how old he was, where he was from, if he was married, divorced, or a committed bachelor. Nothing, nada, zip—that described what she knew of
. she was protected. But even before that, she’d seen those nearly black eyes on her, seen the way he watched her and felt a tingling in her body she hadn’t felt before. When she heard his voice, her body reacted. She might not have understood, but her body had known. And so had he. He nearly pulled out of her and slammed back into her. God, how deep could a man drive into a woman? Quincy was doing it. He was filling her, stretching her, and heating her up faster and more thoroughly than any man had ever done. And her entire body was revved up and wanting everything he could do to her. Her hands splayed on the counter to hold her upper body still. Her lower back arched, opening more to his driving cock. Deeper he went into her and her womb contracted, trying to hold him in. He pulled back out and she whimpered in need at the emptiness. The wild pounding continued and she could hear his heavy breathing in her ear. Despite being pressed against the cold counter, her body was hot and she could feel his chest slick as it moved over her back. His right hand tangled in her hair and lifted her slightly off the counter. His mouth met hers and she sighed as he plundered her. His left hand went to her clit. At his touch, the heat in her pussy gathered, ready to explode. It was as if he’d found a switch for her body and could release an orgasm anytime he wanted. And…he pushed her clit and released the dam. Oh, yeah, she thought, as fire consumed her. She could definitely handle this with coffee. As she floated, Quincy drove into her, shuddered
and was still, pinning her hips against the cabinets. His mouth left hers and she collapsed back onto the counter, then winced as it collided with her temple. “Ow,” she moaned. He immediately turned her around and studied her face. Holding her chin, he gently traced the bruising from her temple to jaw. “I get the sonuvabitch alone for a minute and they won’t need to worry about a trial,” he muttered. “I don’t understand,” she frowned. “You spanked me. What’s the difference?” “Very different situations,” he shook his head, reaching behind him for her tee. Carefully, he pulled it over her head and helped her sort out the sleeves. He took the condom off and stretched to put it in the garbage. “What I did was for sexual stimulation. What he did was because you caught him trying to rape and murder another woman.” His eyes narrowed in anger. “I might be into some kinky shit, but I’ve never forced a woman and I sure as hell have never hurt one like he did. Or those other assholes you worked with.” Debbie smiled a little. The man was such a puzzle. “There’s more to your kinkiness?” she murmured, lightly tracing her fingers over the scars on his chest. “Besides spanking, demanding absolute obedience, oh, and threatening to gag me if I argued with you, of course.” “You forgot about the toys,” he replied, seemingly fascinated b the caresses. “I love to la with to s.”
“Now, see, there you lost me. Sarah at work gave me a dildo for Valentine’s Day, but she had to explain how to use it and…” “You have a dildo?” He smiled and stepped back. “Get your coffee. I’ll try to keep my hands off you.” “I’m not complaining,” she reminded him dryly. She poured her coffee and raised the mug to her lips. “Toys?” she prompted. “My toys are probably smaller than your dildo.” His dark eyes slowly went up and down her body. Her breath caught in her throat. “I could put some on you today.” “You always carry sex toys with you?” she frowned. “Everything I own is in those two duffle bags,” he told her. “A man needs to be prepared. Guns, ammo, condoms, and sex toys.” He gave her cocky grin. “Takes care of a lot of situations. Now, I have a few that I think you would like.” “Like what?” “A mini-vibrator that nestles right up against that sensitive clit of yours.” A devilish glint was in his eyes. “I’d have the remote and could turn it on and off at will.” “Oh,” she whispered, feeling heat start up again in her pussy. If he kept this up, she’d be a blithering idiot at work. “Or nipple stimulators. They do the same thing.” “All the things a girl needs,” she managed, feeling her legs tremble. She downed a large gulp. “But I’ll be surrounded by other programmers or maybe even meeting with Keith. That might not be a good idea.” “You don’t think you could control your reaction?” he smiled. “ ’ ” “
, , . pressure everyone’s under right now, I need to focus on our projects. Keith put me in charge of the three with the earliest deadlines.” She bit her bottom lip and drank more coffee. “I don’t know if that’s good or bad.” “Why would it be bad?” “Because he could really be mad at me because of yesterday and want me to fail so he can fire me.” “You lost me,” Quincy shook his head. “I’m the one who told him what was going on in Programming. Yesterday morning, Serena insisted and dragged me into his office, but I’m still the one who told him. I’m the one who―” “May have saved his company from several sexual harassment suits. Sounds like putting you in charge of the projects is a ‘thank you.’ Why would he be mad at you?” “The men are suing for wrongful termination,” she countered, shaking her head. “After Keith’s press conference at two, they had their own and their lawyers were already there. Hammond was VP for PR and when he got wind of what was going on, he got into an argument with Keith and spilled the beans on what had happened between him and Serena a year and a half ago.” She saw the question in his eyes over his mug. “He attacked her in his office after hours. She filed a report, but the police think Hammond and Keith’s brother paid the police chief to bury the paperwork.” “None of that is your fault,” he told her firmly. “You didn’t ask
t ose men to sexua y arass you an t e ot er women. r to steal your ideas and pass them off as theirs. Nor did you have anything to do with Hammond’s attacks on Serena.” Debbie listened but couldn’t accept his words. Deep down she knew he was right, but then she closed her eyes and saw Serena’s body under Hammond, saw the bruising and swelling, and felt bile rise up in her throat. Lurching toward the sink, she heaved. As there was nothing in her stomach, nothing came up besides the coffee. Quincy came up behind her and carefully held her. Trembling, she leaned against him. Strength seemed to flow into her and she sighed. “Sorry,” she whispered. “All I could see was Serena lying there with him on top of her and…” “I can understand flashbacks,” he murmured. “You have flashbacks?” She lifted her head. “About what?” She could see his jaw tense and a mix of anger and pain flooded his eyes. A calm mask dropped over his face and he shook his head. “Let’s not go there,” he suggested. “Not considering the way the day started.” Nodding, she relaxed against him. His cock twitched at her closeness and he snorted softly. “I think we better take separate showers. Or we’ll never leave the apartment.” “And I have to get those projects done for Keith,” she sighed. Reaching out, he picked up her mug and handed it to her.
“Get going,” he told her. “We’ll figure out what food is on the breakfast menu once we’re both dressed.” “What besides food would…” He chuckled and tapped a finger against her lips. “How much sexual experience do you have, Debbie?” “Not much,” she admitted. “Prom date right before high school graduation and maybe spring break when I was a senior in college.” “Maybe?” The heat of a blush swept up her cheeks. “I’ve never been very good with alcohol. I’m pretty sure something happened, but I’m not sure what.” “Mmm,” he murmured. “A novice.” “Is that good or bad?” she wanted to know. She saw the speculative light in his eyes and felt a delicious thrill of…well, she wasn’t sure what it was, but she would bet her new raise that whatever he was thinking involved his rules and toys. “For us? Very, very good,” he smiled. “As long as you trust that I will never do anything to hurt you in any way.” She saw the serious certainty in his eyes. “I won’t, Debbie, I promise.” “I believe you,” she whispered. Beyond him being her bodyguard, she knew that during sex, he wouldn’t hurt her. “If something hurts, I’ll tell you.” He nodded. “We’ll come up with special words for later.” He turned her toward the archway. “Now, unless you want me to start your ”
, . “And if I don’t move,” she smiled, taking one step, but stopping and looking over her shoulder. “Does that make me a brat or a bad girl?” “A smart-ass,” he retorted. Laughing, she stuck her tongue out at him before practically skipping out of the kitchen. Reaching her bedroom, she smiled. He was laughing as well.
Chapter Five As the hot water sluiced over her body, Debbie tilted her head back into the flow. Running her hands through her hair, she began shampooing. None of what was happening made a damn bit of sense. After all her arguments with Claire about jumping into bed with Paul, here she was having sex with her bodyguard the morning after meeting him. No, back up a bit, Debbie, she told herself, rinsing the suds out. Working the conditioner in, she put the night before first in the timeline. She didn’t think she’d be able to convince anyone that she hadn’t lost her mind. She’d let a stranger toss her over his shoulder, strip her, touch her, and then spank her. Pouring her body wash onto the loofah, she rubbed her body briskly. Washing her face, she stepped back to rinse off. Maybe she did have a concussion. Or some other mental condition from being thrown against the wall. Turning the water off, she opened the door and took her towel off the hook. She wrapped her hair up and began rubbing the cocoa butter on her legs. One thing she knew for sure—she couldn’t wait for her next lesson. **** Quincy was amazed that he had managed to shave without
nicking his face. He didn’t think he’d showered that fast since basic training. Ideas had been percolating in his deviant brain and he wanted to try one in particular out. Dressing in black slacks and black turtleneck, he pulled on socks and boots just as the water from her shower stopped. Going to his duffle bag, he dug around and found what he wanted. Tossing the small, cloth bag in his palm, he smiled. He could just imagine Debbie’s reaction to these. Grinning, he left his room and knocked on her door. “Just a moment…” she replied as he walked in. Her gasp and scramble made him laugh. “Let me get a robe on,” she squealed, scrambling about and partially closing the bathroom door. “I’ve seen you naked and given you a few orgasms, but you want to put a robe on?” “I’m not used to this,” she mumbled on the other side of the bathroom door. Crossing the room, he pushed the door slightly. One brown eye peered out at him. “I want to see your body,” he told her. “From now on, if it’s just the two of us in the apartment, I want you naked.” “What?” She stared in amazement. He entered the bathroom and put the bag on the counter. Easily, he pulled her robe open and whistled softly at her damp body. “This will work out just fine,” he murmured. “ ”
. “Your toys.” He pulled the vibrating nipple rings out. Debbie was shaking her head. “I thought we agreed that…” “I’ll only do them when we’re alone,” he smiled. “But the two of us will know that these are on you.” Hands on her nipples, he began plucking them until she moaned as they stiffened into hard peaks. “God, I am going to be hard all day,” he muttered, picking up one ring. He secured them both and stepped back. “Gorgeous.” He held up the remote. “This is what they’ll feel like.” He hit low and smiled when her eyes widened. “Quincy, I’m not sure this is a good…” “And then there’s the clit and pussy vibrator,” he spoke as if she hadn’t said a word. “The what?” she breathed, staring at the items in his hand. His other hand pulled out a harness. “What are you going to do with that?” He knelt in front of her and placed the harness around her waist so the straps dangled properly. Sliding the devices through the ends, he inserted the small dildo into her pussy and the cup over her clit. Turning her, he brought the straps between her thighs and adjusted until satisfied. “What happens when you turn them on?” she asked softly, almost breathless. Standing, he pushed the button. She gasped and caught the edge of the vanity. Smiling, he increased the power and watched her in the mirror. She was so sensual, so willing to trust him. He
wou no vo a e a rus , even as e roug er ur er n o his world. She would be his submissive in every way. When she was close to orgasm, he turned it off. She caught her breath and gave him a dirty look. He laughed and smacked her bare ass. “That’s going to earn you at least one punishment tonight,” he warned her. “At least ten minutes of you begging for an orgasm before I let you come.” “How?” she whispered, as if she wasn’t sure she wanted the answer. “I’ve other toys,” he told her, enjoying the way her eyes widened. “Toys that can keep you just on the brink of orgasm for as long as I want.” He stepped up behind her and pulled her ass against his cock. “So that when you finally come, you think you’ve died. The French call it the little death.” “You’ve done that to me already,” she told him, resting her head on his shoulder and meeting his gaze in the reflection. “More than once.” “Not like this,” he promised. Unable to resist, he pressed his lips to the bruise at her temple, kissing his way down her neck to her shoulder. “What about you?” “What about me?” he frowned. “What do I get to do to you to make you feel that way?” “Wear the toys,” he replied. “Knowing that they are where I want my mouth to be or where I want my cock is going to keep me hard and on edge all day.” His fingers brushed over the
aching nipples. “Be warned—if my temper starts to fray, then you better consider ending whatever you’re working on so we can get back here. As it is, I might try out the back end of my truck.” His hand spread across her toned stomach. “Ever fuck in a truck before?” “No,” she whispered, trying breathe normally. “The trick is to not sway the truck so much that people know what you’re doing.” His free hand moved over her hip and squeezed an ass cheek. In a day or two, he’d put a butt plug in her to get her ready for him there. He could just see her expression—wariness, a little fear, and growing anticipation. “Or I might move the seat back and have you kneel between my legs to suck my cock.” She nibbled on her lower lip. “Ever given a blow job?” She shook her head. “Teaching you is going to be incredible.” “You sure?” came her worried question. “I thought most men wanted experienced women. Women who know what they’re doing and…” “Don’t worry about other men,” he told her, teasing her ear with his tongue. “I’d rather teach you exactly what I want. Just focus on what I tell you.” “Okay.” “Any other questions?” “What if I have to pee?” she frowned. “What do I do with the toys?” “You put them right back where they are,” he told her. “I’ll ” “
you’ve been a very good girl, I’ll take you just to the point of coming.” “You’re teasing me,” she whispered, ducking her head. “Yeah,” he nodded, nibbling her ear. “Because you’re adorable when you blush.” “You’d think I’d be over that by now,” came her complaint. Chuckling, he shook his head. Stepping back he swatted her butt and left the bathroom. “Let’s get a move on.” “I hear and obey,” she tossed back. “That’s what I like to hear.” “Don’t hold your breath to hear it again!” she hollered, closing the bathroom door. **** Quincy checked the hall and nodded. Debbie stepped out of the apartment and watched him put a paper clip near the bottom of the door as he closed it. “In the movies, they always go near the top,” she commented. He smiled and took her arm as they went down the stairs. “And if someone jiggles the door, then they see the paper clip when it falls and put it back. If the paper clip is lower, then odds are they won’t see it. If it’s on the floor when we get back, I’ll know someone at least tried to get in.” “And if that happens?” “I get you the hell out of here and alert Hancock.” “Why not the police first?” “ ”
. , , he told her. “I’ll let him deal with that.” He pulled her behind him as they reached the ground floor. Satisfied, he opened the door and gestured for her to follow him. He repeated the maneuver at the outside door. Once down the steps, he took her arm and set a brisk pace. Debbie trotted along beside him. “Anything else I need to know?” she wondered. Quincy’s eyes never rested, constantly moving to take in their surroundings. “When I tell you to do something, do it. Don’t question or complain. If I say run, run as fast as you can no matter what happens. If I say get down, don’t get up until I tell you.” “You’re scaring me more than Hammond did last night,” she whispered, shivering. “Good,” he nodded as they reached the garage. He swiped the card and they went inside. “I’ve no idea if they’ll try to intimidate you in any way.” “You think they will?” He raised the remote and unlocked the truck. Once she was in, he checked the exterior and climbed in. “Do you think Hammond would try to intimidate me in any way?” she repeated as he started the engine. “Hancock and MacLauren seem to think it’s a possibility,” he replied. “Quincy,” she whispered. He looked at her and saw the fear in her wide brown eyes.
Reaching over, he held her jaw in his hands. “Anyone getting to you is going through me,” he promised. “Got that?” “Got it,” she smiled slightly, nodding. He brushed a kiss on her lips. Again, he wondered at how fast she’d gotten to him and worried that he’d majorly screwed up by, well, screwing her. He’d broken the number one rule—no emotional involvement with a client/charge. Driving out of the garage, he tried to convince himself that it was just sex. He was still trying to settle that internal argument when he pulled into the underground garage at the MacLauren Building. A fellow Hancock agent was in the booth with the normal guard and the bar was raised for them to enter without a problem. “I’ve never been in the basement before,” Debbie commented, as he backed into the spot. “Really?” She shrugged. “I don’t have a car. I’m not even sure where the elevator is.” “To the right, one hundred twenty feet,” he told her, shutting the engine down. He turned to her. “Couple more things. If you see Hammond or anyone you’ve seen with him, tell me. Same thing for the others fired yesterday.” Debbie nodded. “When we’re in the elevator and someone else is there, stay behind me. Put one hand on my lower back so I always know exactly where you are.” She nodded again. “What are the rules?” “Do exactly what you say without hesitating or questioning. Run without sto in sta down without ettin u until ou
say,” she said. “In the elevator, stay behind you, one hand on your back.” “Good,” he nodded. “Odds are nothing will happen while we’re in this building. And once we’re on the floors for MC, then that’ll go down even more…” “But you want me to be ready for anything that could happen.” “Exactly,” he smiled slightly. He’d scared her enough. Time for her to think of something else. “Oh, and one more thing.” He pulled the remote out of his pocket. “Just to remind you of something.” He pushed the button for the first level and she gasped, closing her eyes and shuddering. “Quincy,” she moaned. Chuckling, he got out and helped her out. “I’m leaving them on until we get to your floor.” “But that’s number twenty-nine!” “Really?” He ignored her mutters as they walked to the elevator. Despite the relative safety of the building, he stayed alert as a few more cars came down the entry ramp. Going inside the elevator to a corner, Debbie leaned against the back wall and let him push the correct floor. Turning, he smiled. She was biting her lip, eyes closed as she tried to control her body’s responses to the sensual stimulation. As the car started up, he braced his arms on either side of her head. She opened her eyes and their gazes
. , being primed, Quincy felt his cock stiffen. “Quincy,” Debbie whimpered. “Please. I can’t…” “Shh,” he murmured, brushing his lips over the bruise. What was going on with him? He had risked being fired several times over, but Debbie was pulling things from him he’d never felt. “I won’t while we’re around others.” He took her hand and put it over his erection. “You’re very tempting, Debbie.” “Is that good or bad?” she wondered, her fingers curling over him. “I’m still trying to figure that out,” he admitted as the car came to a stop. “That was fast.” He raised the remote and turned off the toys. “It’s early so there were no other stops,” she said as the doors slid open. MacLauren was pacing in the hall. “Morning, Keith.” MacLauren turned toward them. “They said you were pulling in downstairs,” he said. “I’m glad you came early. Can you meet me in my office to go over your projects?” “Sure,” she nodded. “I just need to get my notes.” She hurried through the door across from the elevator. Quincy glanced at Keith. “You get any sleep at all last night?” “About an hour or so,” the CEO shrugged. “See you upstairs.” He went to the stairwell as Quincy followed Debbie into a
arge room o cu c es. At t e ar en was an open area w t free-standing whiteboards and a conference table. “Big room,” he commented, weaving around to a row near the windows where the noise of her opening filing cabinets came from. Her head appeared over the divider. “Duncan changed it when he took over,” she replied. “He put in the dividers and separated people.” Quincy frowned. It didn’t sound bad in itself, but not considering what had happened the day before. “Separated how?” Debbie grimaced. “He isolated the women. Surrounded us by men. And we were far enough apart that we couldn’t hear what was being said.” “Or possibly done?” She nodded, holding two notebooks. “Do you want to put your coat here?” she gestured to the hook where hers already hung. Coat removed, they headed back out to the hall. As Keith had, she headed for the stairwell. On the upper floor, there were a few more people and office doors were already open. “Keith’s at the far end,” she told him. “PR is there,” she pointed to an open door just ahead of them. “Finance up there and Legal beyond them. HR is on the floor below Programming.” They were halfway to the CEO offices when elevator doors opened behind them.
“…ridiculous!” came Penny Davidson’s voice. She came striding out, followed by a clearly pissed-off Ben Hancock. “There’s nothing wrong with this dress. And since when did you become my fashion stylist?” “I like it,” Debbie offered as the pair approached them. No matter what her problems with Penny were, she figured the other woman needed some female support. Ben was glaring daggers at her. “I wish I could wear that color blue.” “Thank you,” beamed Penny, linking arms with her. They continued down the hall. “I owe you a huge apology for the way I acted last night. Given the way that everything came out yesterday, I should have known better. I’m sorry.” “Forgiven,” Debbie smiled. “How long have you been in?” Penny asked, seeing the notebooks. “Just a few minutes. Keith was waiting outside Programming and wanted me to go over the projects due next month.” Penny nodded. “I wonder what he’ll have me doing.” “How about using your social contacts or…” “If any of them will talk to me. Once word gets out that I’ve sided with Keith, I might be an outcast.” “Does that bother you?” “A little,” Penny sighed, then shrugged. “At least I don’t have my father, uncle, and cousin telling me what to do. I’ve still got him, though.” She jerked her head to indicate Ben as the men walked behind them. “ ’
. , doing everything Quincy tells me to do,” she replied, smiling over her shoulder. Keith appeared in the doorway. “Perfect. I get both of you ladies. Gentlemen, you can wait in Serena’s office or…” “I’ll go check in with my main office downstairs and with the rest of my men,” Ben said. “Assuming Penny promises to not wander off.” Penny rolled her eyes and followed her cousin into his office. Debbie looked at Quincy. “I promise too,” she grinned. “I’ll talk to you later.” Quincy smiled as she entered the office. Hancock grunted.
Chapter Six “Dammit, Quincy, what the hell are you thinking?” Hancock sputtered in anger. Sitting at Serena Traydon’s desk, Quincy looked up as his boss returned to the office. “MC has some pretty sophisticated protections for their systems,” he replied, glancing at his laptop. “It took me thirty minutes to get through the first firewall and nearly that for the second.” “That’s not what I meant and you fucking know it. Rule number one—keep your distance. The way she was looking at you, I’d say you’ve crossed the line.” Quincy gazed at the monitor for a moment, reining in his temper. This man had been his commanding officer in Afghanistan and had saved his life several times. When the group had been ambushed and the Taliban captured Hancock, the men had gone against orders and tracked them down. Quincy had no regrets about that. Hancock was one of the best men he had ever met. Quincy owed him, but he didn’t like being pushed about Debbie. “I know,” he nodded. “But I’m not asking questions about you and Penny either.” He could hear Ben grinding his molars and allowed himself a
small smile of satisfaction. “Dammit, Quince,” he muttered, planting his fists on the desk and leaning forward. “You just met the woman last night. How the hell can you think about it, much less have already acted on it?” Quincy considered that. Yeah, okay, that was a good point. Things had gone so fast, it took his breath away. “Instinct.” Hancock nodded. Quincy leaned back in the chair. “I’m not saying I understand it, but I’m going with it.” “Shit, Quincy,” Ben whispered. “I’m surprised you haven’t spanked the candidate for spoiled brat of the year, yet,” Quincy retorted. “After the way she acted last night and what I’ve seen today?” He gave his boss an amused look. “I didn’t think you had that much patience.” “I usually don’t,” Ben ground out, glancing at the CEO’s closed door. “God help her when she pushes me too far.” “From past experience, I’d have said she’s done that already. What the hell are you going to do with her when you say ‘enough’?” Ben just raised a brow. “I’ve a few ideas,” he replied. “It’s only Tuesday, Ben. She’s going to rack up quite a few punishments without even realizing it.” “She knows exactly what she’s doing,” Ben assured him. “Watch her face next time she pushes my buttons. That little witch is trying to get me to lose my temper so she can complain to Keith.” “ ’ ”
, . “Yes and no,” Ben replied with a smile, then gave him a hard look. “But so does yours, and stop trying to distract me. I’m going to assign someone…” Ben pulled his cell phone out. “Fuck that!” hissed Quincy, standing up and smacking the desk with his palm. “I’m not leaving her, so don’t even fucking try to assign someone else.” Ben frowned and studied him as Quincy sat back down. Quincy opened, then shut his mouth, stunned at his own reaction. “I’m lost here. You just did a one-eighty on what you’ve always said your life would be. Lone wolf and all that. Clue me in here, man.” Quincy stared at the monitor without seeing the code that flashed across it. He wasn’t sure he understood it, so how the hell could he get Ben to? “You’ve got your family, women falling all over themselves to get to you, friends you’ve known all your life,” he started quietly. “I’ve got none of that. It was never important to me. At least, I acted like none of it was.” “But it is.” “Yeah, it is.” “Okay, I buy that,” Ben nodded slowly. “But what brought this on?” “Been feeling like something was missing, like I wanted more, but I didn’t know what it was.” He smiled slightly. “I saw Grant Franklin and his new wife at the mixed martial arts championship three months ago.”
ea , e erm o ew or y a ng ea over ee s n love with a supermodel,” Ben grinned. “So, what, you want to settle down, get married, and have a family of your own? You’ve always said you weren’t into that.” “I hadn’t thought that far about the marriage or family part,” Quincy frowned. Fate was strange, Quincy realized. Debbie had come into his life just as he had been feeling that something was missing. Had he seen her at the Mixed Martial Arts Championships and not even realized it? “I think that’s something to discuss with the woman involved.” “But…?” Ben prompted. Quincy leaned forward and rested his forearms on the desk. “I’ve never seen women stick together or take care of each other. Like what we did in the field.” Hancock grunted with a nod. “That’s what happened last night. Those two women didn’t hesitate to go after Hammond to save their friend. There’s strength in her, Ben. She wants to take care of those around her, even though she’s scared of letting anyone get close to her.” Hancock considered that a moment before sighing and shaking his head. “Be careful. This could boomerang on you. If she gets skittish and backs off, then a helluva lot of people could have their lives exposed.” A corner of Quincy’s mouth twitched. “I don’t think she’ll say anything. I put toys on her before we left this morning.” “You did what?” Ben’s eyes bugged out a bit.
“She’s a bit nervous about them.” “I need a drink. A double Scotch might work,” Ben muttered, shaking his head. “I don’t fucking believe this. And Brian says I have balls for brains.” “Try it with Penny,” Quincy suggested. “She’s got enough problems with her family. She doesn’t need more to deal with right now.” Quincy nodded. The MacLaurens were probably the dictionary’s definition of a dysfunctional family. That made him realize that he knew nothing about Debbie’s family besides the tidbit she’d dropped about her hometown. He made a mental note to bring that up fairly soon. Backtrack that thought. Families were not something he wanted to discuss. “The big man in there doesn’t need any more either. From what I heard,” he paused to let Ben realize the door had been closed. “Penny’s father called. Keith MacLauren can put together an excellent string of obscenities.” “Her father is an unmitigated asshole,” growled Ben. “Plus there’s the whole fiancé issue.” “ Ex-fiancé,” corrected Ben. Quincy blinked at the fierce blaze in his boss’s gaze. “Hammond was using her. Her father, uncle, and cousin Kevin want to use her.” “Why?” “Damned if I know.” “Does she?” “No. She doesn’t understand what’s going on and, until that’s ’ ’
got enough to deal with.” Quincy nodded, keeping his thoughts to himself. From what he’d seen of the way Penny Davidson looked at his boss, she wanted him to explain a few things to her. Ben’s explanation probably wouldn’t be what she was expecting or hoping for, initially, but Quincy could see the two of them together as master and submissive. He’d never seen Ben so worried about anyone in or out of uniform besides one of his men. Nor had Ben ever been so restrained when it came to a woman he wanted. If Penny did something exceptionally stupid, Quincy could see Ben locking her in his playroom for weeks. “Hey, Ben,” Allen O’Dougall stood in the doorway. Chief of the building’s security, Allen was a legend in all things in the field. It was like the old commercial—when Allen talked, everyone listened. “Everything quiet from your end?” “So far,” Ben nodded, going to shake his hand. “I’ve got five men in the lobby watching all the doors at all times. Plus three more in cars in the garage. Four-hour shifts.” “I appreciate it,” Allen replied. “I just got a call from the PD’s senior detective. Hammond’s been denied bail, but the MacLauren family are appealing to the next level.” “There’s something going on there,” muttered Quincy. “I agree,” the older man nodded. He smiled at the seated man. “You ever get tired of working for this asshole,” he jerked a thumb at Ben. “Give me a call.” “Hey, hey!” Ben protested with a smile. “Stop stealing my ”
. Allen winked at Quincy who grinned back. “I’ll let you know if I hear anything else.” **** Following her through the maze of cubicles, Quincy picked up the whispers she didn’t. She sat gingerly in her chair and he bit back a smile. The clit clip and vibrator didn’t let her just flop into a seat and get comfortable. He went to the conference table and pulled a chair back to her cubicle. Sitting behind her, he tapped her shoulder. She swiveled around. “Everything okay?” she wondered. “I know you’re probably bored, but…” “Everything’s fine,” he assured her. “I was just wondering why people were commenting on what you’re wearing.” “Oh. That.” She twisted her hands on her lap. Fascinated, he watched her face turn bright red. Quincy had a feeling this would be a doozy. “I guess what I’d been wearing to work was, um, well, Serena called them better suited for working a street corner.” “What?” His gaze went over her emerald turtleneck tucked into brown striped pants that matched the jacket she had draped over her chair. “Why?” “I guess I subconsciously thought I could distract those assholes from messing with the others if my clothes held their attention,” she whispered, tears filling her eyes. “Shh,” he murmured, putting a hand over hers. “When did you get these?”
“Keith thought it would be a good idea if Serena and I weren’t around yesterday.” She exhaled and smiled slightly. “Before I knew what was happening, Serena had dragged me into the store she goes to.” Her chin dipped then came back up. “I was horrible to her yesterday. She’s been like a big sister to me and so patient. She wouldn’t let me pay for any of it. Or for lunch.” She swallowed. Her hands turned and held onto his. “I spent yesterday afternoon bagging up all those trashy clothes. While Keith, Serena, and Claire were here dealing with…” “Shh,” he whispered again. “We’ll figure out a way to pay her back if that’s what you want, and you can talk to her today.” She looked up with such a hopeful expression he felt his heart tighten. “You didn’t bag everything, did you?” A nervous giggle escaped her lips. “I kept some of my favorites.” “Good,” he nodded. “You’ll have to put them on for me.” “Debbie, I’ve got a problem with section four,” came a shout. “Go,” he urged. He followed her, amazed at how she answered questions from several different sections for each of her projects in rapid succession. Feisty, sexy, smart. And she was his. **** Debbie bent double in the stall, trying to get the damn clit cup back on. It was nearly eight and Quincy’s temper was, as he’d warned her that mornin fra ed. That was uttin it nicel . At
six o’clock, he’d snarled at two of her co-workers who promptly shut down their computer stations and left. She knew that as soon as she got back to her cubicle, he was going to say it was time to leave. She also knew that he was going to check and make sure the damn toys were in place. Nervous anticipation made her fingers tremble and the damn cup wasn’t staying put. Sitting carefully on the toilet set, she took a deep breath and tried to remember what she’d done the first three times. Okay, get it nearly there, tighten the straps and then tweak it into place. It took her a few more minutes but finally she was satisfied. Pulling up her slacks, she zipped and buttoned then left the stall. And froze. Quincy was resting his butt against the vanity just across from the stall. He gave her a feral smile and held up the remote. “What…what if someone comes in?” she whispered, feeling her pussy flood at the thought of what he would do with that small black device. “Everyone else left as soon as you came in here.” He bounced the remote in his palm a few times. “Come here, little girl.” At the huskiness of his command, she felt her knees turn to jelly. She stiffened her legs and managed to make it to the spot he pointed to at his left. At his gesture, she faced the mirror that was ten feet long and went to the ceiling. He stood behind her and put the remote on the counter. His hands went to her hips and held her still as he shifted forward. Feeling his erection against the small of her back, she wriggled her ass and leaned
. “Quincy,” she whispered. “Let’s see how quiet you can be,” he suggested, picking up the controller. “Be a good girl, sweetheart.” She opened her mouth as he pushed a button. The nipple rings stirred to life and she bit back the first whimper. Another button was touched and the clit cup vibrated. A third and the thumbsized dildo moved inside her. After a moment, he touched them again and the movements increased. She trembled as her most sensitive nerves were stimulated. Perspiration appeared on her upper lip from both her arousal and her effort to stay silent. Her hands fluttered and gripped the forearm at her waist that held her to him. Another level and she let her head fall forward. The heat was building. She could feel her panties grow damp from need. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his thumb move again. A shudder swept through and her body convulsed. “Please!” she gasped. He spun her around. She caught a glimpse of rich satisfaction and deep hunger in his dark eyes before his mouth landed on hers. One hand—she thought it had to be the one holding the remote—went to the small of her back, pinning her to him. The other caught the back of her head and held her still. He ravaged her mouth as the toys increased their tempo again. Unable to hold back, she moaned into his mouth. Burning up, she felt her pussy clench tight and sighed blissfully, thinking he would shut the toys off. He didn’t. He held her to him, ground his
coc aga nst er pe vs an uppe t e power aga n. Trappe , helpless to his sexual power, she felt her mind check out and her body’s needs took over. She writhed as sexual desire gripped her. Her body tightened, like a spring just waiting to be released. Moaning into his mouth, she trembled, feeling her nipples ache as her pussy clenched, wanting his cock. “Come for me, Debbie,” he whispered, his lips barely leaving hers. As he smothered her with another kiss, the orgasm kicked through her tense body, making her spasm for several heartbeats. Finally she collapsed in his arms. Slowly, the vibrating was decreased. She could still feel them, but her body was nearly numb. Through an erotic haze, she felt him cradle her. She thought she felt his lips on her forehead. “So fucking hot,” he whispered. “So damn submissive I can barely stand it.” “Not,” she protested. “Which?” “Both.” “What did I say about arguing with me?” “Not arguing,” she sighed, wishing she hadn’t said anything. “Just facts.” His hands framed her face, being careful of her bruises. There was such certainty in his expression, such…she wasn’t sure what it was, but she had always wondered what it would be like to have a man look at her like that. Like she was the only thing that
mattered to him. Like…she belonged to him. Oh, no. She didn’t belong to anyone and… “You are hot,” he told her, catching her bottom lip with his teeth and gently nipping her. “And you are incredibly submissive. You let me take control and trust me not to let anything happen to you.” He planted a soft kiss on her forehead. “You’re mine, Debbie. You can argue it all you want, but all you’ll get is punishment for it. And I’d much rather reward you for being such a good girl today.” Torn, she looked at him. Damn the man! He’d said that on purpose. Yes, she liked being spanked, but she definitely preferred his rewards to being teased without being allowed to orgasm. “If I’m submissive, what does that make you?” A slow sensual smile curved his lips. “I’ll explain when we get home.” “Home,” she repeated softly. “I’ve never thought of it as home. Claire does, but…” “Why don’t you?” Uncomfortable at the question, she shook her head. “That’s another discussion not for the office.” “Or for the ladies’ room,” he nodded. He tucked the remote in his front pocket. “Let’s get going then.” Debbie was tucked under his arm as they left the bathroom and returned to the now dimly lit Programming division. As she shut down her computer, the phone rang. “ ’ ”
, , . and she picked it up. “Sheldon.” “Debbie, it’s Keith. You folks need to head home.” “Everyone else has left. We made some good progress. I think we might even finish the Georgia contract a week early.” “I needed to hear some good news,” he sighed. “Were you able to see Serena?” “Claire and I took a late lunch to see her,” Debbie nodded as Quincy picked up her coat. He held it for her and she slid one arm into a sleeve. “She seemed tired and a bit distracted, but that could be from her concussion and everything that’s happened.” “Understandable. Did you tell her not to come in until Monday or whenever she was ready?” “Claire did. She heard, but I’m not sure she was really paying attention to anything the two of us said.” She frowned. “It really wasn’t like her at all. I didn’t know what to say or do.” “I’m not sure either,” he muttered. “This whole thing is such a fucking mess. Sorry about that.” “It’s okay,” she whispered. “Keith, I’m sorry.” “About what?” “All of it. All of this is my fault.” “Bullshit!” he exploded. This time he didn’t apologize for swearing. “Debbie, you did exactly what you should have. You’ve nothing to be sorry about. I’m the one who’s sorry. I should have known what was going on in my own company.” There was a heavy sigh. “I’m sorry for so many things.” He was
que an e e gance a uncy, uncer a n o w a o say. “You head on home now, Debbie,” Keith finally said, back in control of himself. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” “Good night,” she said softly. “He’s taking the blame?” Quincy guessed, helping her with the other sleeve. “Completely,” she nodded, then snuggled up against him. His arms went around her and she relaxed. For the first time in her life, she felt safe and protected. Quincy really wasn’t going to let anyone hurt her. He wouldn’t hurt her. “Let’s go,” she murmured. “I need to learn how to give you a blow job.” She stepped away, but he caught her hand and pressed it to his zipper. She felt him hard and hot under her palm and looked up. “Wow,” she breathed. “Yeah,” he nodded. “Wow.” He bent slightly and rested his forehead against hers. “I’m really tempted to bend you over that desk and fuck you right here.” “Really?” She felt her heartbeat pick up. “Yeah, really. Except I’d rather not give Allen and his security team a show like that.” Debbie nodded. Previously, surveillance cameras had only been in the halls. Saying he preferred to err on the side of caution, Keith had asked Allen to install cameras in every MC office except the bathrooms. He’d sent out an email giving his tenants the same option. “But you said you might make me come in public,” she
frowned. “That’s a different plan,” he smiled, tucking her back under his arm. “Let’s go, little girl.” “Why do you keep calling me that?” she asked as they paused at the door. She turned the lights off, closed the door, and set the security code. “Quincy?” He was focused on the hall and she was quiet until they were in the elevator. “Quincy, why do you keep calling me that? I’m twenty-three and…” “That’s one of those things to discuss somewhere else,” he replied. “I need to make a list,” she muttered. That got a chuckle from him as the car slowed. They were only halfway to the basement garage. Debbie remembered what to do from Quincy’s instructions that morning. She moved back into a rear corner and put one hand at the small of his back, just above his belt. She could feel the handle of a gun in its holster. His broad shoulders cut off her sight of who was joining them. “It’s Quincy, right?” a man’s voice questioned. “One of Ben Hancock’s men.” “Yes.” “We met a couple years ago. I’m Brody Custis.” “I remember,” Quincy nodded. Debbie felt him relax slightly as she tugged on his coat. “Who are you hiding back there?” the deep voice rumbled. “Debbie Sheldon. Senior program manager for MacLauren Computing,” she answered as she waved past his shoulder
Quincy moved slightly and she peered around him. The tall blonde man reminded her of a Viking. “Hello,” she smiled. “Sorry about the cloak and dagger.” Sharp, blue eyes went from her face to Quincy’s, then came back to her. “She’s involved in yesterday’s activities.” “Yes,” Quincy nodded. “I don’t remember hearing your name mentioned in any of the complaints,” he murmured, eyes narrowing. “But I did hear about two women saving Keith’s assistant. Given that bruise, I’d say you were one of them. Good for you. Sorry you got hurt though. Hammond should have his balls cut off.” “Not enough pain involved,” Quincy grunted. Brody nodded again, his gaze taking in the two of them. He smiled slightly as they reached the basement. The doors slid open. “I’m sure I’ll see more of you. Have a good evening,” he wished them, exiting and turning right. Debbie stayed silent as Quincy guided her to the left and put her in the truck. She felt sure that the two of them knew each other, beyond Quincy working for one of Brody’s friends. Custis’ reaction to Hammond attacking Serena and hurting Debbie and Claire was similar to Quincy’s, Ben’s and Keith’s. The light bulb went on and she nearly smacked her forehead. It had all been there right in front of her. The alpha male attitude, his self-control, the spanking, his knowing how to touch her, the toys, the rules, his comment about her being submissive.
. , started to put the key in the ignition. She reached out and covered his hand. “You want me to be your sex slave.” For a long moment, he didn’t move, before he slowly turned his head and looked at her. Debbie held his gaze, not willing to back down. She didn’t know what the hell to think. And couldn’t believe she wasn’t running screaming from the truck. “That’s what this is all about, isn’t it? You got assigned to protect me and decided to spend that time making me your sex slave.”
Chapter Seven Quincy considered how to answer her. She was extraordinarily close to the truth. He had known she was perceptive and brilliant, but hadn’t planned on her figuring things out this soon. It had to have been the encounter with Custis that had kicked her brain into gear. “Yes and no,” he finally answered. That didn’t come close to satisfying her. “That’s not an answer,” she said flatly. Anger and righteous fury radiated from every line of her slender body. “I’ll have you know right now that I am not about to be any man’s sex slave. It’s the twenty-first century, in case you haven’t looked at a calendar recently.” Quincy turned, caught her shoulders, and kissed her. Only when they were both breathless did he raise his head. “I don’t want you as a sex slave,” he rasped. “I want you as my submissive.” “Oh, and of course, that makes all the difference.” She glared, even as her chest heaved in a breath. “Like I have a clue as to what you’re talking about!” “A slave has no rights,” he said bluntly. “A slave knowingly enters a contract with his or her master and gives absolute
authority over him or her. The slave’s duties can be strictly sexual, but usually include running the household and other responsibilities. Masters of slaves are considerably stricter than a master of a submissive.” “What? How?” she whispered, clearly stunned at his words. “What’s the difference?” “Slave and master is usually a total lifestyle. Some masters will tie up a slave, put toys in him or her, and leave them like that for hours. Supervised, of course,” he added at her gasp. “The slave turns over everything to the master. And a slave’s master might limit how much they go out in public. If at all.” He saw her eyes widen and heard her swallow. “A dominant and submissive can be very different. Some may seem like a perfectly normal couple. Behind closed doors, the relationships vary. Some keep it strictly to the bedroom. Others let it spill over. There are clues and hints if you know what to look for.” He smiled. “I’ll bet you know relationships like that and don’t even realize it.” “I don’t think so,” she shook her head. “It’s possible,” he shrugged. “What do you want from me?” she demanded, shaking over her shock. “I mean, you started in on me as soon as the door closed on Claire last night and…” He smiled slightly and brushed his thumb over her lips to silence her. “How about I promise to explain when we get home?” he reached past her and pulled her seatbelt into place. “ ”
He turned the key and fastened his own seatbelt. “I’m not sure,” he said quietly. “It’s the first time I’ve used the word like that.” She stared at him until they pulled out of the garage. He wasn’t sure what to make of her silence. He knew it wouldn’t last though. He smiled slightly. Her quick mind, combined with an inability to keep quiet, would provide all sorts of opportunity to discipline her. And reward her. Her figuring things out could be played to his advantage. **** Debbie thought fast and furiously. This was way more than anything she’d ever been involved in. Quincy was deeper and, what had been his word earlier, kinkier than anything else she knew about regarding sex. And Brody Custis! He was a close friend of Ben Hancock and Keith MacLauren. She closed her eyes. She didn’t want to go down that road. Except that left her trying to figure out what to do with Quincy. She had to admit that, considering her life, there was something appealing about turning everything over to someone else and not having to worry about anything. To focus on one person and what that person’s needs were, knowing that person would take care of her. She would be safe, protected, desired, and taken care of in every way. But something inside her rebelled at the idea of being so totally under the control of a man. She’d struggled too damn hard to let a man dictate her life now. She was woman, hear her roar. As
er se -r g eous emns s rea u up s eam, s e rep aye s words. Submissive, he’d said, was different than a slave. And he wanted her as a submissive. Okay, that required a completely different train of thought. And, she chewed on her bottom lip, she didn’t know enough to make a decision. Except that she could not give up her life and have what he’d described as a slave’s life. But to be Quincy’s submissive? She considered what had happened so far. And realized she was thinking about giving up control, at least about sex, to a man she’d known less than twenty-four hours. “I don’t believe this,” she whispered, shaking her head. “What?” He spared her a quick glance, but the stop-and-go traffic didn’t let him do much more. “How did you get to me so fast? I don’t understand any of this, but I’m actually listening to you talk about…” She looked at his profile. “I’m listening to a man I’ve known less than a day, whom I know nothing about or even if Quincy is your first or last name.” She exhaled in a loud whoosh and tossed her hands up in a helpless gesture before making fists on her thighs. “I’m actually discussing this with you. I want to know more before I decide and that scares the hell out of me. I mean, I know I can’t do the slave thing you were talking about.” She shook her head. “I’ll tell you right now that won’t happen. I’ve worked too damn hard my entire life to stand on my own two feet and not depend on anyone. But…” She paused, trying to find the right words. “I’m feeling so much right now and I can’t figure any of it out and…”
Giving up trying to express herself, she rested her head back and closed her eyes. “Hey,” he said quietly, putting his right hand on her fist. “It’s all right to be confused. We’ll start talking tonight and keep talking.” “Really?” she turned her head slightly. “Absolutely,” he nodded. “Have you ever done anything like this?” She wondered at the jealousy that stabbed at her when he hesitated. “Nothing like what I’m considering with you,” he answered slowly. “I don’t follow you.” “I wanted to wait to discuss this when I wasn’t driving,” he reminded her. “Well, say what you can now and we’ll wait if we need to.” “I’m a sexual dominant,” he spoke slowly, as if he was choosing his words carefully. “I’m a member of a club, a sex club. Dominants and submissives go there. Some live there fulltime. The live-in submissives are trained to surrender to a dominant for his or her sexual pleasure. Sometimes a dominant may prefer to focus solely on a submissive’s pleasure.” “The way you did last night? Or in the ladies’ room before we left?” she whispered. “And yet, this morning, you said you weren’t going to wait any longer.” “I damn near didn’t leave you last night,” he sent her a wry smile. “You’re extraordinarily responsive and submissive. I really ”
She watched him snap his jaw shut and firm his mouth as he stared out the windshield. The idea of waking up with him next to her, on her or in her tugged at her pussy as much as her heart. And she didn’t think they would only be sleeping in the bed. “What exactly are you considering with me?” she asked, going back to the topic. “A dominant-submissive relationship,” he said, hitting the blinker to make the right turn into the nearest parking building to the brownstone just a few buildings away. He rolled the window down and inserted the card into the slot to raise the gate. Moving forward, he returned the card to the emergency brake well and rolled the window back up. “A permanent relationship.” Her jaw dropped. Of all the things he might have said, that hadn’t even entered her thought process. A permanent relationship? Did that include marriage? Or children? They knew nothing about each other and he was talking like this? What was more amazing—that he’d mentioned it as if he was serious or that she hadn’t laughed at him? Quincy backed into his spot, shut the engine off, and pocketed the keys. Releasing his seatbelt, he turned on the seat. She hit her belt’s release button and turned to face him. “Do you mean all that?” “Yes, I’m serious. I know it’s a helluva lot for you to deal with on top of yesterday and all your responsibilities at work.” He held up a hand as she opened her mouth. “I want you to keep working. If that’s what you want to do. If you ever decide you
, mountains, then we’ll talk about it then.” His hand cupped her jaw. “I’m not the easiest man to be around. I’ve been alone my entire life. The men in my military unit were the closest I’ve had to family. The women I’ve been around have been at extremes. Mostly either members of Ben’s family or submissives at the Club.” His thumb rubbed her cheek bone. “I know it’s crazy as hell, and impossible to explain rationally, but when I saw you in the hospital last night, I wanted you. Yeah,” he nodded, “at first it was a purely sexual reaction.” Heat rose in his eyes. “I didn’t know if I wanted you on your knees sucking my cock or spread out on a bed waiting for me to fuck you until we were both exhausted.” As her lips parted slightly, his thumb slipped inside. “Then it became more. You’re strong, inside and out. You’re intelligent, caring, fiercely loyal to your friends and your sense of humor is damned near as warped as mine.” “If you’re referring to the stress ball tossing, that was to relieve tension,” she replied, feeling her pulse race both at his tender touch and his words. A smile twitched at her lips. “We all needed it.” “You’ve got a wicked pitching arm,” he smiled. “I want all of that, Debbie. The public and the private you.” He grew serious. “I don’t know how I feel about marriage. I’ve never considered it before. Then again,” he exhaled. “I’ve never considered a permanent relationship before.” He pulled her head nearer. “You’re not the only one with new and confused emotions,
sweetheart. I’m surprised my head’s not spinning off my shoulders.” “That helps a little,” she smiled. “Knowing that you’re trying to figure all this out as well.” “Let’s get home and continue this conversation,” he suggested. “Before I joined you in the ladies’ room, I called Tino’s and asked them to have dinner ready for pick-up.” Before she could respond, he slipped out of the cab. When he opened her door, she just stared at him. “How did you know about Tino’s? What did you order?” “It was the top menu in the drawer by the phone. I told him I was your boyfriend and needed his help so I didn’t screw up a romantic evening,” he smiled. His hands caught her by the waist and set her on her feet. “He told me your favorite things and helped me select the wine and…” Debbie threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. With a groan, he pressed her against the truck’s cab and ground his cock against her. The toys began to vibrate. “Oh, God,” she moaned. “Quincy, not here.” “Yes, here,” he nodded, nibbling her neck. “We’re in the shadows and the door’s still open.” He lifted his head. “I could fuck you here and no one would see.” She inhaled sharply and he chuckled. “I can see I’m going to have to wait on that one. But in the meantime…” “Oh,” she whimpered as he increased the speed of the vibrations. “Sta uiet ” he warned. “We’re still in ublic sweetheart.
You get too loud and I’ll have to shut them down.” “I’m not going to be able to walk,” gasped Debbie. “I want you, Quincy. I want you inside me.” “I know, babe,” he smiled as the toys hummed faster. “And I will be soon. But,” his mouth hovered over hers. “I do love making you come.” Just like that, the vibrations increased to maximum. Her breasts swelled so that the nipple rings were outlined against her turtleneck. Her clit throbbed and her pussy flooded with moisture until she felt it dripping. She understood what flashfires felt like because one swept through her body before she even realized what was happening. As she arched against his cock, his mouth smothered her shout of release. For what seemed like ages, she clung to him as her entire body pulsed with ecstasy. And just like that, everything went still. The garage was quiet except for her panting. Quincy cradled her against the heat of his hard body, lips brushing over her forehead. “How can I react like this? I didn’t think it was possible to have so many orgasms.” “Your body has been on edge all day from the toys,” he smiled, wrapped an arm around her waist and closed the door. “Wait until we get home. Think you can walk?” “Your sense of humor is definitely more warped than mine,” she managed. Setting the truck’s alarm, he guided her out of the garage. ****
, turned on the nearest lamp. Holding the two bags of food and wine, she didn’t move from the door as he checked the apartment. Harsh reality collided with the sexual haze she’d been under. A little over twenty-four hours ago, Serena had been attacked. Quincy had entered her life. To protect her. Hammond had attacked Serena, but Debbie had seen his face. Hammond might come after her to keep her from being able to testify. Samuels and the other men fired might come after her for revenge. Quincy paced from Claire’s room to hers. This was real. As real as the way he’d been seducing her. Did she want to be his submissive? She couldn’t believe she was seriously considering it. The image of Quincy that morning came to her. All broad, deep, rippling muscles and a cock that had been ready to explore the deepest part of her. He wanted her sexually, yes, but was there more? The gleam of humor in his eyes when she’d chucked a stress ball at Pamela in the next cubicle and started an all-out stress ball battle with the staff. Most of all, she saw the want in his eyes when she’d emerged from the bathroom stall, whispering in her ear as she held onto him in the garage after her orgasms. She’d never wanted a relationship with a man. She’d been hurt too many times. But Quincy was different. She wanted to be with him. She wanted to be his. She wanted something more.
t s c ear, e state , eavng er room. ou o ay Debbie nodded as he took the bags from her hands and carried them into the kitchen. She hung up her coat. Turning, she saw the expression on his face. He wanted her now. Talk, she decided, as he came toward her, was going to wait. “Now that we’re alone,” she started in a soft voice. “What should I call you?” That stopped him in his tracks. “What would a submissive at the club call you?” “Master or sir,” he replied, sounding as if the words were hard to get out. “If they were in a relationship out of the club, what would a submissive do once she and her master came home?” When he just stared at her, she swallowed. “Quincy, I know we still need to talk, but I think we’re past a lot of it. I’m really trying here, but I need a little help from you. A little guidance on…” “Go take all your clothes off and wash your face. Pull the covers to the foot of the bed. Lie down and wait for me. Do not take your toys off. Once I’m there, don’t move unless I tell you to.” “Yes, sir,” she smiled, starting past him. He caught her upper arm and gazed down at her for a long moment. “Be sure, Debbie. If you go in that room and follow my orders, there’s no turning back. Once I take you like this, with you fully aware of what I want, I won’t let you go. You understand this?”
Debbie felt as if things in her life had prepared her for this. For him. To be strong with him. Something in her centered and it all fell into place. She didn’t know about love. But she knew she wanted him. She didn’t know him, but she knew trusted him completely. “I understand,” she nodded. “You might want to put the wine in the fridge.” She saw amused understanding in his eyes before he released her arm. In her room, she hurried to remove her clothes, hang them up, get done in the bathroom, and get on the bed before he came in. She’d barely placed her head on the pillow when the door opened. Her eyes widened. Quincy was nude, already erect with a condom on, and carrying a small black bag. Silently he opened the bag and pulled out two leather strips and secured her ankles to the footboard so her legs were spread wide. He pulled out two more, with a third dangling from the connecting chain. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he wrapped two around her wrists and fastened the third to the bedrails so the cuffs were over her head. Almost reverently, he removed the nipple rings. She gasped as blood flowed freely to her engorged flesh. His dark head bent and his tongue laved each sensitized tip. She moaned and trembled. He raised his head and for a long moment they stared at each other. Still holding her gaze, he unhooked the harness and pulled it away from her body. He set it aside. Always maintaining eye
, her thighs. Feeling his erection brush her hip, she lifted her pelvis, wanting more. He froze and she squeezed her eyes shut. Shit. He’d said not to move unless he told her to. “Why did you disobey me?” “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Please,” she murmured. “Please tell me I didn’t just screw up so badly that you don’t want me.” She searched his expressionless face. “I want you inside me. I need…” She struggled to find the words. “I need you. In me. On me. I don’t know how to explain it, but I need this so badly.” He blinked but that was the only movement she could see. “Please,” she whispered. “It’s as if everything I’ve ever wanted or needed, or not even known I wanted and needed, is right in front of me. And I’m terrified that it’ll be taken away before I realize what it is.” Quincy closed his eyes at the sound of her panic. Her words described their emotions, their situation, everything perfectly. It was how he’d felt when he’d first seen Debbie in the hospital— holding an icepack to her face and trying to simultaneously answer police questions, get examined by the doctor, and keep an eye on Claire and everyone around them. She’d drawn him to her with a heady combination of strength and vulnerability. He would take her, hold onto her, protect her, and take care of her. No one else but her. His eyes popped open at the soft sound. She was crying. Quincy felt his heart seize at the sight of tears slipping from the corners of her tightly shut eyes
e e, oo a me. e moane an urne er ea on the pillow. “Now.” He could feel her body shaking under his and forced himself to stay still. “Look at me, babe.” Finally, she turned her head and opened her eyes slowly. “You’re mine now, sweetheart,” he told her, raising his hips slightly. Slowly, he moved his body over hers, bracing himself so the only connection was the tip of his penis just above her mons. “You still want me?” she asked, disbelief in her voice. “Try getting rid of me,” he told her. “We’ll worry about your confidence problems later.” “I don’t have confidence problems,” was her quick retort. “Uh-huh, sure,” he nodded. “You also just earned a spanking for arguing with me.” He smiled. “That’s at least three or four for the day.” She opened her mouth, then snapped it shut. “You do learn quickly,” he smiled in approval. “I think that’s enough talk for a while,” he murmured. “Right now, I have a dick that wants to get thoroughly reacquainted with your heat.” “About time,” she smiled. He gave her a look that communicated “after all that, you mouth off?” “Oops,” she whispered, trying to look sorry and failing miserably. Pushing off her, he released her wrist cuffs and sat at the edge of the bed. “Come here,” he said, not looking around at her, but patting the mattress next to him.
Slowly, Debbie released her ankles and crawled around the bed and knelt next to him on the mattress. He patted his lap. “Stretch out like I had you last night.” Her eyes opened wide and she swallowed. Nibbling her bottom lip, she obeyed, spreading her body across his thighs. His cock liked that and bobbed against her sleek abs. His hands caressed her back, ass, and thighs. “Perhaps I should make this a nightly routine,” he commented, putting his right hand between her shoulder blades. His left hand rested on her ass. “You do seem to enjoy a good spanking before bedtime.” “No…” she started. His hand rose and fell and her body jumped slightly. “Don’t argue with me, Debbie.” He spanked her three more times in quick succession. With each slap, her thighs parted. “After your reaction last night? You’ve been needing a man to take control of you.” Two more swats and her left leg slid off his thigh and dangled. “And I am more than willing and able to do that.” His hand trailed along her right thigh to her pussy. “Mmm, are you wet, Debbie? Is your pussy ready for me to fuck?” “Yes,” she nodded, trembling as he brushed feather-light strokes along her ass crack. “Please, master. Fuck me.” With a groan, he slid his hand over her folds, parted them and plunged two fingers into her pussy. Debbie’s hips tucked under and her inner walls clamped down on his fingers as if they were
“So eager,” he murmured, stroking his fingers in and out. “Please. Please. Please,” she chanted each time his fingers filled her. Wanting more, he pulled his hand away. He heard her whimper, but was too focused on one thing—getting his dick into her pussy. He tossed her onto the bed and secured her ankles again. As he knelt between her spread thighs, she put her hands over her head. Bracing himself over her with one arm, he secured her wrists. “Master, please, fuck me,” she was whispering over and over. “Please, fuck me.” Hands on either side of her head, Quincy drove his cock into her pussy. Her breath caught as their pelvic bones ground together. He felt her body shudder at the invasion, then relax. Except for the hot, sweet walls that tightened around him. He flexed his hips and began an age-old rhythm. Up and down, in and just nearly out. Thrust in deep, until her moans became breathless pleas for more. Balancing with one arm, Quincy reached down with the other and teased her clit and felt her muscles clamp down hard around his cock. The expression on her face showed how lost she was in her need and he felt the dampness of her body as the heat in her rose. All the while knowing that she was his. All of her. From the slim, black brows over her lively brown eyes, down the slender nose to the full lips. From the hollow of her collarbone to the slight swell of her breasts, along the trim waist to the flare of her hips and lean
. . “Please,” panted Debbie. “I’m close. I need…” “Come with me,” he grunted, nearing his release. His body was a bow being pulled back as far as it could go. The arrow was his cock in her pussy releasing. His breathing increased and deepened as if he was about to make a long underwater swim. He wanted to hold out as long as possible. She was so hot. So tight. And nothing had ever been more perfect than being inside her. “Ohhhh, godddd!” he groaned. With a loud moan, Debbie’s pussy gripped him in her. Quincy felt his eyes roll back in his head as his brain focused on one thing—release inside Debbie. One of her spasms tripped his internal wire. Hands near her shoulders, he froze his upper body. His cock surged and pulsed. He stared at the wall over the headboard, concentrating on getting the very last drop into her. Finally, he felt his heartbeat slow down and his breathing return to normal. Sated, he gazed down at her orgasm-softened expression. Smiling, he reached out and freed her wrists. Nestling his hips against her, he kissed the sweat-dampened shoulder. “That might hold me long enough to feed you so you have energy for tonight.” One brown eye opened. “What happens tonight?” He smiled. “Your training begins in earnest.” “Training for what?” she frowned, opening the other eye. “For being my submissive,” he reminded her. “Granted, you’ve got the general idea, but there are a few things we need
to work out and clarify.” She gave him a long, studying look. “Is this your idea of pillow talk? If it is, you need to work on it.” “Duly noted,” he smiled. Reluctantly, he pulled out of her silken core, knelt between her thighs again, and released her ankles. “Ready for dinner?” “Definitely,” she smiled, sitting up and wrapping her arms around his waist when he would have moved. She felt his torso stiffen slightly and dropped her arms. “Sorry,” she whispered. “Hey,” he murmured, catching her arm when she turned away. “We’re both making adjustments here.” She gave him a wary, skeptical look. “I know I’m not the easiest man to be around, much less live with. And I’ve never lived with a woman. I’m not used to being touched.” “That’s okay,” she shrugged, pulling her legs under one hip. “I’m not used to it either. Or to touching a man. I’ll probably do something wrong again and get you so pissed at me that…” She stopped, her breath catching as ancient memories rushed up and took over. Trembling, she curled around her legs, hiding her face against her knees. “Debbie?” His fingers brushed against her hair. She squeezed her eyes shut. No! She wasn’t going to let the past get to her. She was stronger than that. She took a deep, shuddering breath and exhaled noisily. “I’m okay,” she whispered, slowly raising her head. “Just…” “L in to me ” he shook his head and sat back on the
mattress. “None of this will work if you don’t trust me. How am I going to know when something is hurting you? Or pleasuring you, if you try to deceive me with your body and your voice?” “I’m sorry.” She swallowed then shook her head. “I just don’t want to talk about it right now.” “You’re going to have to,” he told her quietly. “Your body language is saying what your mouth won’t. I’m guessing it’s something in your past that is big. So big it’s determining everything in your life right now. It’s why you reacted the way you did last night with Serena. And Claire. Why you didn’t go to MacLauren on your own. And why you seem to think that you screw up everyone’s lives.” He leaned forward and put two fingers under her chin. “Serena certainly didn’t seem upset this afternoon. Disoriented,” he nodded. “But certainly grateful. Claire might be irritated with your over-protectiveness, but she understands your concern for her. MacLauren has faith in you, otherwise he wouldn’t have made you responsible for his company’s next three deadlines.” Debbie opened her mouth to argue and his thumb pressed against her lips. “Shut it,” he said sternly. “He is a businessman. He is not going to set you up for failure because then it makes him look worse. Keith put you in charge of those projects because he’s confident in what you can do. Because he knows you’ve got something to prove to yourself, him, and the assholes he fired yesterday.” Debbie stared at him. She definitely wasn’t used to anyone ’
. an apartment together. Serena had tried yesterday but backed down when Debbie had resisted. Quincy didn’t know the meaning of back down. He just ripped the bandage off and left her exposed. “I…” She slumped on the bed and nodded. “You’re right. At least about Serena, Claire, and Keith, but you don’t know the rest. And you’re right. I just can’t talk about it right now.” “Not ‘can’t’,” he corrected. “Won’t. And that means you don’t trust me.” “No, it doesn’t,” she protested, temper flaring. She met his gaze. “It means I don’t want to deal with it right now when I’ve got all this other shit in my life to deal with.” “And I’m part of the shit,” he observed. “No, dammit! Don’t twist my words like that.” Furious at how things had gotten so out of hand, she rolled off the bed and stalked to the bathroom. At the doorway, she turned and glared at him. “And you don’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to trust. I still don’t know if Quincy is your first or last name or anything about you. I’ve trusted you a helluva lot more than you have trusted me!” She closed and locked the bathroom door, then collapsed on the toilet lid. Hands shaking, she rested her elbows on her thighs and put her head in her palms. What the hell had just happened?
Chapter Eight Staring at the locked bathroom door, Quincy wondered what the hell had just happened. One minute they were talking, then she over-reacted at him pulling back from her hug and then…he had over-reacted. Or under-reacted. Shit. He scowled. And she was right. He’d demanded she trust him more on faith than he should have. He didn’t want to deal with the questions she had a right to ask. He wasn’t used to having to talk about himself. He was definitely too used to the quiet ways of the club submissives. Not that he’d trade Debbie for any of them, he smiled. Quincy wanted her with all her fire, smiles, and quirks. Which meant, he ran a hand through his hair, he was going to have to straighten things out. Moving quietly to the door, he laid his palm flat against it. He couldn’t hear a sound on the other side. Good luck figuring out what the silence meant. “Debbie? I’ll start heating up the food. Come out when you’re ready. We’ll both feel better once we’ve eaten.” He listened intently. Still nothing. “We don’t have to talk about everything tonight. At some point soon, yes, but not tonight.” Silence. “What do you say to just eating dinner and getting a decent night’s sleep? I can try to just hold you, but no promises.”
He took a couple slow breaths before he heard movement. “All right. Dinner and sleep.” “All right.” “Does that mean I can’t touch you?” she questioned hesitantly. He heard the click of the lock and quickly turned the knob before she could change her mind. Against her pale face, the bruise from the night before seemed even more violent. All he wanted was to protect her. He pulled her to him. “If you really can’t help yourself, you can,” he smiled, burying his face against her neck. “But I’m not responsible if you seduce me.” “As if I know how,” she shook her head. “God give me strength when you try then,” he replied, kissing her swiftly. “Come out when you’re ready.” She nodded and he stepped back. The vulnerability combined with strength in her expression nearly had him hauling her back into his arms. He’d been through several kinds of hell. He could see in Debbie’s eyes that she’d been through another kind, one that had lasted for years. Leaving the bathroom, Quincy went to the other bedroom and pulled on a pair of black sweatpants. In the kitchen, he piled everything but salad onto two plates and put them on the doubletiered rack in the microwave. Punching buttons, he started that and took out the wine. Rummaging through the drawers for a corkscrew, he considered the situation. He wanted to protect ’
. do with these emotions he’d never felt before. He just knew that he didn’t want any other woman. He didn’t want any other man to touch her. He would beat any man to a pulp if they hurt her, and not just because it was his job. Pulling the corkscrew out, he screwed it into the bottle and scowled. His job. Once Ben considered Debbie safe, he would be reassigned. Out of the city, or the state, or the country. Away from Debbie. Twisting the cork, he grit his teeth. He’d heard a few elders in his family talk about how a man could become as territorial and possessive of a woman as any other male animal. Of how wolves mated for life. How a man who had found his true mate did what he had to in order to stay with her. Which meant, he realized as he poured the wine, he would need another job. Computers were the most likely area. He might not have an actual degree, but he’d more than held his own in the discussions today. He’d seen the respect and delight in Debbie’s eyes when she talked to herself and he’d thrown out an idea. She hadn’t hesitated to bounce ideas off him. He had a feeling if he hadn’t pulled her out of the office, she would have stayed until she collapsed. “Something smells delicious,” her voice came from behind him. “Talking about me?” he grinned, turning around. His jaw dropped. He’d seen her either naked, in loose work-out clothes, and a fairly fitted, professional suit with a turtleneck. Things that covered up, drowned, and hid her slender, strong body. He
never wou ave magne er wear ng w a s e was now. “Turn around,” he told her, not surprised at how hoarse his voice sounded. It was hard to sound normal when you couldn’t breathe because of the vision in front of you. “Slowly. Let me see you.” Swallowing, she obeyed. The short gown was a soft, silky navy material that clung to every curve and dip of her body. The spaghetti strings lead to a bodice cut low over her small firm breasts and the hem flared to tease him with a glimpse of her pussy and then her ass. His silence must have made her nervous because her palms smoothed down the front. The bodice strained over her nipples and he held his breath, willing the rosy tips free. “Do you like it? I know you said you wanted me naked when it was just the two of us, but I’ve never worn it and wanted to for you.” She caught her lower lip as she looked at him. “Serena gave it to me for my birthday.” Not trusting his legs, he extended a hand and crooked a finger at her. “Come here. Let me show you how I like it.” Relief appeared on her face as she quickly came to him. He took her face in his hands and kissed her. Quincy meant to just kiss her, then give her a glass of wine. Her tongue tangled with his and ventured into his mouth. With a groan, he knew that dinner would have to wait. Again. He didn’t care if he was worse than a dog around a bitch in heat. He wanted inside her. And like she’d said earlier, she wasn’t complaining.
Her hands went to the waistband of his sweats and pushed them over his hips. Before he could lift her, she went down, resting her knees on the sweatpants. “I’m not sure what to do,” she whispered. “I mean, I’ve read about it in a couple books I borrowed from Serena and seen movies, but I’ve never…” “Just stroke me with your hands,” he told her. “Put your sweet lips on my cock. Slowly take me in your mouth. Just…” he couldn’t believe how hard it was to breathe or talk. “Just touch me.” He could see the worry in her eyes and smiled as she tentatively wrapped her fingers around his erection. “That’s it, baby. Your turn to get me off.” Her turn, Debbie repeated to herself. Her turn to make him come. As she’d debated wearing the chemise, she’d thought of those erotic stories. The men had been putty in the women’s hands when the women paid attention to that part of their bodies. Now she put all that into reality. Fascinated by the jutting length, she explored it with her fingers. Beneath the velvet skin, his cock was rigid. She traced the pulsing vein along the side and under. Gently, she stroked him, amazed as it darkened and hardened beneath her fingers. With a groan, he leaned back against the counter. “Harder,” he whispered, his voice hoarse and deeper. “I don’t want to do anything that would hurt you,” she told him, looking up. Both his hands combed through her hair as he smiled. “
squeeze me tight.” She felt her pussy clench at his words. One of his hands wrapped hers around his cock at the root and moved it up and down. “Just like that, only tighter.” “All right,” she nodded. She stroked him like that, gradually tightening her fingers around him, loving the way his cock bobbed. Something from one of the stories came to mind and she decided to try it. She brushed her fingers along the heavy sacks below and along his inner thighs. When he inhaled sharply, she glanced up. His eyes were closed and his hands gripped the edge of the counter so tightly his knuckles were white. “Don’t stop. God, don’t stop now.” More confident now, she began stroking in earnest. Fast and slow, tightly and brushing lightly. At the edge of her vision, she could see his abs rippling and slowly becoming covered in perspiration. She rubbed her thumb through the liquid seeping out of the narrow slit of his cock and he moaned. She smiled. He wasn’t even in her mouth yet. Taking a deep breath, she kissed along his great length, focusing on how he felt and the heavy musk scent that was all Quincy. She rested her hands on his thighs and sucked the head into her mouth. Her tongue explored the ridge and licked at the tip. Above her, Quincy hissed. Looking up, she watched his chest heave and felt his thighs
. . Her cheeks sucked in and she felt his pre-cum slide down her throat. More, she wanted more of him. Leaning forward, she took him as deep as she could. One hand went to the base and wrapped around, squeezing in time with her sucking. The length of dick throbbed and pulsed. She wriggled her hips as hunger for that length in her own body increased, burning deep in her womb. Quincy groaned and she felt his hands on her head. His fingers threaded through her hair. “Touch yourself,” he whispered, voice husky. “Are you dripping?” She slid a hand through her nether lips and fingered her pussy. She managed a nod, even as she drew hard on him. His eyes rolled back and his entire body shuddered. “More,” he panted. “More.” Reveling in the power she now had, Debbie moved her hands to his tight ass. Holding him still as much as he was holding her to him, she sucked in, took a breath and sucked in again. When she inhaled, her tongue was flicking at the slit. The more she felt flow out of the opening, the more she wanted all of him. “Close,” Quincy grunted. “So close.” She dug her fingers into his ass, pulled him in deep, and sucked hard. In response, the grip on her head tightened. Tears came to her eyes at the pain, even as she felt her pussy clench. “Come on, baby,” he encouraged. “Almost there…almost… Aaahhh!” The moan was drawn out. “Oh, yes!”
His hands held her still as his hips jerked forward so his cock was fully in her throat. She choked but swallowed everything as it poured down. Unable to move, she felt the tension in his thighs and ass. It was as if every part of his body was involved in his orgasm. Spent, he used the hold on her head to draw her to her feet and into his embrace. “That was incredible,” whispered Quincy, lips against her hair. “Damn, you’re good, woman!” Smiling in satisfaction, Debbie wrapped her arms around his waist. “Not bad for my first one?” she wondered. “I might not make it to Friday,” he sighed, burying his head against her neck. Their stomachs growled and he chuckled. “Let’s eat so we have a chance of making it through the week. Otherwise,” his teeth nibbled on her shoulder. “I might have to eat up a certain tempting morsel.” “Excellent idea,” she smiled, giving her hips a little wiggle against his. With a groan, he smacked her bottom. “Come on,” she cajoled, taking out the flatware. “You know that sandwich you grabbed from the employee dining room on the way to the hospital wasn’t enough.” “If I’d had a better idea of what your days were like, I would’ve grabbed two,” he agreed, turning and getting the plates out of the microwave. “I’m definitely having two bowls of cereal tomorrow.” “We’re going to need to go grocery shopping at this rate,” she commented ausin as she arran ed the lacemats and na kins
on the breakfast counter. They sounded like a couple on some TV show, married and talking about normal family stuff. At least what she thought passed for couple-talk. She didn’t have much experience either personally or in watching others. She bit her bottom lip. So what had she done? Tried to keep Claire from being with the man she wanted and who had wanted her for two years. Some friend she was. “You want some music or anything?” He nodded, putting the plates down. “Candles?” She frowned, eyes going around the kitchen. “I think Claire has some somewhere,” she murmured, going to the living room. “I’ll look in here.” Turning on the stereo, she put in one of Claire’s jazz CDs. Putting the case back, she smiled and picked up two votives and one pillar candle. Triumphantly she put them next to the placemats. “Not those long ones,” she shrugged. “But it will work,” he nodded, striking the match on the box he’d found in the menu drawer. Once the candles were lit, he scooped her up and set her on a stool. “Stay here,” he told her. Turning off all the lights but the one in her bedroom, he came back to find her waiting patiently. Retrieving the wine glasses, he sat next to her. “To us. May I let you get more than four bites in your mouth before I decide to take you again.” Laughing, she clinked her glass against his. “Let’s talk,” she suggested. “ ” “ ’
, , . try that already?” “Yeah, but I meant talk about us in more general terms, not… um,” she stammered at the look in his eyes. “Us, in particular terms.” One dark brow went up. “That’s one way of putting it,” he muttered. “Okay, how did you end up working for MacLauren?” “Do I get to ask you any questions?” wondered Debbie. “You seem to know a lot more about me than I know about you.” “Like what?” he asked, warily. She chewed a bite of meatball and kept her gaze on his long fingers as they ripped the small loaf of bread. He tore it into bitesize pieces, dipped it in the sauce and pressed it to her lips. She sucked on his fingers. At his swift inhale, she smiled. “Your name?” she prompted. “Is Quincy your first or last name?” “Middle.” “That’s a lot of help,” she sighed. He put a large bite in his mouth. From the way his eyes narrowed, she had a feeling that he was going to go all Master on her. Huh-uh. That was so not happening. “Dammit. What’s your full name?” He gave her a stern look. “For the record, that tone of voice —” “Will be used if you withhold information that is basic and necessary,” she finished, shaking her head. He would dominate her in the bedroom, but she had the right to know stuff about this
man. tu e you e as ng me. our name, w ere you re from, what you did before we met.” He downed the contents of his wineglass and poured himself some more. Debbie was puzzled. She’d never been around anyone who got like this over something so simple. “My full name is John Quincy Stormcloud,” he said quietly. “My mother was from Atlanta and my father was Sioux. They met in Vegas. My mother was a showgirl. My father worked in construction. There was an accident when I was eight and he was severely injured. He became addicted to pain medication to the point that it no longer worked. He wasn’t rational most days. And at night…” Quincy paused and took a large drink of wine. Debbie could tell that the memories were not pleasant, maybe even painful. “At night he drank, so he wasn’t really rational then either. He took his rage out on us. I kept trying to get my mother to leave him, but she wouldn’t. Every few months, my grandfather or one of the other tribal elders would visit and try to convince my parents to move to the reservation. They wouldn’t. When I was twelve, I came home from school and they were dead. The neighborhood had been changing and the gangs taking control didn’t like Sioux or any other Native American in the area. They killed twenty people in a one-day purge.” Silently, Debbie put her hand on his where it rested on the counter. He nodded at her gesture. “My paternal grandfather came for their bodies and took me back to the reservation.” He took a deep breath and shook his head. “I thought we’d been
poor in Vegas. We lived like millionaires compared to the reservation. The school was all right but the best times were when my grandfather and uncles took me out. I learned a lot about hunting, tracking, and survival from them. The day after high school graduation, I left for basic training.” Debbie’s gaze went to their hands. His were so large and strong compared to hers, darkly tanned to her pale skin. “We both come from poor backgrounds,” she whispered. “My family’s from a coal mining town in West Virginia.” She shook her head. “I’m not sure it qualifies for the title of ‘town’ though. There are maybe eight hundred people there, living in rickety shacks that look like they’ll fall over in high winds. My grandmother was pregnant with my mother at seventeen. She barely graduated high school, so she was very strict with my mother.” Her mouth twisted. “Rules and my mother didn’t get along very well. I was born four months after my mother graduated from high school. She worked as a clerk at the general store and if she wanted more money she went to the bar to pick someone up. One night, the man came to my room after she passed out. I kicked him in the balls and got out the bedroom window. I lived with my grandmother after that.” She swallowed and shook her head when he opened his mouth. “I didn’t think there was anything else in life until my cousin got into West Point. He came back for a week two years later and he was a different person. I had so many questions and Rich
. could get out of that town and go to college. I took as many math and computer classes as I could and saved all my money so I could study for the SATs and advanced placement classes. I got into West Virginia University on a scholarship and majored in computer science. I stayed during summers and worked in the labs. I read every journal I could get my hands on. That’s how I first learned about MacLauren Computing. I talked to a professor about it and he said it was one of the best in the world. I didn’t think I had a chance of even getting an interview, but I sent my resume out anyway.” She chuckled. “An hour later, I ran back to the mail room to get the envelope back, but the mail had already been picked up. I couldn’t believe what I’d done and told myself that they’d never call.” “They did, though.” “They did,” she nodded, spearing another meatball. “There was a different VP then. Jay was great.” She grimaced. “His wife was diagnosed with cancer three months after I started and he left to take care of her so the division hired Samuels.” For a few moments, they were silent, reflecting on what the other had said, eating. Debbie drank some wine and realized something. “What did you do in the Army? How did you get so good at computers?” He grunted and wiped his mouth. “I passed the right tests in basic and joined Special Forces. For nearly two years, I was in
eren ypes o sc oo s. o ne ancoc s p a oon n arc of 2000. September 11th happened and we spent most of our time overseas.” “You were with Ben in the Army? And the others?” He nodded. “They’re my brothers in every way. Every one of us has saved the others so many times, we stopped keeping track.” “Against the Taliban and Al Qaeda?” she asked quietly, her gaze fierce. “I killed my share. Not that it matters anymore,” he shrugged. “It does,” Debbie told him. “The ones you killed, that your unit killed, they can’t kill others or hurt people who just want to live in peace.” Quincy smiled slightly. “Thanks,” he said quietly. “It means a lot to hear that.” “So why aren’t you still in the Army?” His expression shut down so fast she was stunned. For several seconds, he just stared at the plate. Without a word, he got up and began putting the food away. “Quincy,” she started, turning on the stool. “Talk to me.” She watched him a moment. “I know you wouldn’t have done anything that would have gotten you kicked out so…” “I did,” he said shortly. “We all did.” “I don’t believe you,” she whispered. He put the containers in the fridge and turned around. “I don’t,” she insisted. “There must have been some mistake if…” “We were ambushed. Out of twenty of us, six were killed in
the first volley. During the second, they isolated four, killed three and took the captain.” “Hancock,” she whispered. “Hancock,” he confirmed. “HQ told us to come back. We disregarded orders and went after them.” “Well, of course,” nodded Debbie. “You couldn’t let them take him.” A small, sad smile curved his lips slightly. “We were told the situation would be taken under consideration and someone higher up would make a decision regarding a rescue attempt. We knew that the longer they had him, the farther they got with him, the less chance there was of getting him back alive.” “So you went after him,” she nodded. “We pretended to have radio trouble so we couldn’t hear the orders to turn back,” he told her, resting a hip on his stool. “Three days later, we caught up with them. They were about to behead him for their video. His body was so broken I don’t know how he survived the trek back.” “He didn’t want them to have that victory,” she whispered. “Yeah,” he nodded. “Anyway, we got back, all of us wounded in some way.” Debbie nodded, having seen some of the scars on his torso. “We were all shipped out and, while we were in various stages of healing, were given court-martial papers.” “But you saved him!” she protested, righteous fury in her eyes. “ ”
“We disobeyed orders,” he told her. “Ben’s family got wind of what the Army was doing and protested to everyone they could get hold of.” He grinned. “And they know a helluva lot of people who listened and took action. To keep things from becoming a PR mess, the Pentagon decided to discharge us. Hancock hired every single one of us for his company. And that,” he gave her a smile, “is how I learned so much about computers. I couldn’t do much for three months while we were waiting for the powers-that-be to make up their minds. I found a manual someone had left and read it. By the time we were discharged, I was hacking into everything I could.” He grinned. “Inside a year, I was in a Pentagon conference room. Hancock loved it when the suits and generals had to listen to me tell them that their secure networks were about as tough to break through as tissue paper.” “I’ll bet Keith would hire you in a heartbeat,” Debbie said. “He needs people with your skills.” “I was planning on talking to him and Allen in the morning.” “And Allen? What?” She stared at him, realizing what he’d said. He had already thought about it? “Why? You’re serious?” “Once you’re safe, Ben will reassign me,” he pointed out. “The only reason I was in the city was because I’d just returned from an overseas assignment. Usually I’m not here more than a couple weeks at a time. I want more than two weeks with you every couple months or so.” “Really?” she whispered as he sat back down. “You really ”
“I am definitely going to have to work on your confidence,” he shook his head, pulling her onto his lap. “I see you very differently.” “How do you see me?” “Smart, sassy, and strong,” he ticked off. His fingers smoothed over her ass cheeks and squeezed slightly. “Sexy and submissive. Sounds like the perfect woman to me.” “You’re just saying that to make me feel better,” Debbie muttered. He had to be. But the words wriggled into her heart and the warmth spread. With his arms around her like thick bands of steel, she rested her head on his chest. “But, thank you.” “Once you’ve been around me more than twenty-four hours, you’ll see that I don’t say things I don’t mean,” he told her. “And I sure as hell don’t say things to make people feel better.” “Yeah, I can see that about you,” she nodded against his chest. Under her cheek, she could feel the steady rhythm of his heart. “Has it really been less than twenty-four hours?” “Yep. I’ve set all sorts of records with you.” “Like what?” She rested her chin on his chest to smile up at him. “Spanking a woman within two hours? Or having sex before you finished your coffee? Or putting sex toys on a woman ten hours after meeting her?” “Yes, yes, and yes,” he smiled back at her. “What made you decide to spank me so soon?” She cocked her head slightly. “Or anything else you’ve done?”
His eyes narrowed and she felt heat fill her body as her pussy clenched. “Instinct, mostly,” he murmured, turning her so she straddled his lap. He pulled her forward on his thighs so his cock nestled against her folds. “You were acting like a child who had lost her favorite toy, yet I saw the look in your eyes when Claire went to Paul in the hospital.” “That’s why you said I was jealous,” she said softly. “Yeah,” he nodded. “You were such a confused woman that I thought you might just respond to a spanking the way I wanted.” His hands slid under the silk and caressed her back. “I could hardly believe it when I touched your pussy and you were wet. I couldn’t leave you wanting,” he shrugged with a smile. “I woke up this morning thinking the whole thing had been a dream,” she admitted. “But my body felt different. And not just from when Hammond threw me against the wall.” Quincy’s fingers gently traced the bruise. “I couldn’t believe I’d let a complete stranger spank me and then…” she stopped, frowning slightly. “Fingerfuck you to two orgasms?” he suggested. “Yeah,” she nodded. “Of course, finding out how you take your coffee was a real eye-opener.” Quincy chuckled and ran his fingers along the crack between her ass cheeks. “Wait until you see what I like as a midnight snack,” he told her, his voice deepening. Debbie wriggled on his lap, rubbing against his cock. “Tell me ” she whis ered.
He reached around her to move the candles then set her on the counter. “How about I show you?” he suggested, spreading her legs wide.
Chapter Nine Debbie felt the hard surface beneath her ass. It was still slightly warm from his plate. Her heart thudded as she realized what he was going to do. No one had ever done that to her. No one had ever done any of what Quincy had done to her. She didn’t understand their connection. She had never responded to anyone the way she had to him from practically the minute she’d seen him. She’d been trying to figure it out all day. As his fingers massaged her inner thighs, she didn’t think she’d be able to concentrate much in the near future. In a daze, she watched him kiss the inside of her right knee. His lips, tongue, and teeth did a crazy seductive combination of nuzzling, licking, and nibbling along her thigh. When he stopped just short of her pussy, she moaned and grabbed for his head. “Oh, no,” he told her, catching her wrists. “I thought you might not be able to stay still. Or be quiet.” He straightened and went to the far side of the fridge. “What are those?” she frowned. “Cuffs and a gag.” Her jaw fell open in shock and he slipped the soft ball between her lips. She shook her head, protests muffled, as he secured it behind her head. Her hands came up and he caught
them, wrapping the soft leather around them before latching them behind her back. Glaring at him, she snapped her legs shut. “Oh, stop,” he shook his head. “You won’t be able to be quiet or keep your hands still and you know it.” Furious, she shook her head vehemently. “What’s really got you upset? The fact that someone else is in charge?” He leaned toward her, his hands planted on either side of her hips. “The fact that it really arouses you and all you’ve heard about bondage and submission is that only perverts do it? And you’re scared that liking everything I’m doing to you makes you a pervert.” Debbie inhaled swiftly and leaned back slightly to see his face. How did he know? “I know,” he said quietly. “Because that’s what most people think. Unless they’re actually doing it. Some play at it to spice things up in their relationship. Others do it once for a thrill and that’s all they want.” His hands went to her shoulders. “I don’t do it for spice or thrill. I do it because it feels right.” She trembled as his hands circled her upper arms and stroked up and down. “To have a submissive trust me completely. To know that I’m fully responsible for her pleasure.” His mouth bit slightly on her ear lobe and she moaned. “Or her pain. Be honest with yourself, Debbie, and then you can be honest with me. You want this. Not for spice or thrill, but because it feels right. Because you trust me. You know that when I seduce you, I’ll satisfy you.”
depths. He was right. On all levels. Some part of her had understood that last night, even before he’d been assigned as her protector. Taking a deep breath, she exhaled slowly and felt something settle inside her. She nodded. “Good. That’s a step we skipped over earlier because of the conversation in the car.” His lips firmed. “I thought you understood fully. You certainly acted like it. Do you now?” She nodded again. “Shall I go over the rules from this morning again?” Debbie didn’t move, eyes on his face. The rules. She’d hardly been paying attention because her body had been trying to understand what he’d done to her and put on her. What had he said? She remembered the parts about automatically obeying him in public and getting behind him in elevators as she’d done earlier. What the hell else had he said? “You don’t argue with me. Unless you’re sick or hurt, you don’t deny me. You certainly don’t cop an attitude with me.” He paused and frowned. Debbie held her breath, fear that she’d screwed up again racing through her. The hard look in Quincy’s eyes softened slightly. “This has been a lot thrown at you on top of everything else, hasn’t it?” The knot in her stomach loosened slightly and she nodded. Slowly, he raised his hands and removed the gag. “I’ve probably done everything wrong with you that I could.” “No,” she whispered. “Shh,” he murmured, his thumb brushing over her lips. “It’s
no your au n any way. s mne. now e er an s. ve rushed you into things that—” “I want this,” she insisted, wishing he would release her hands as well so she could wrap her arms around him. “Everything you’ve told me and shown me. Everything you’ve done to me —” “We need to slow things down,” he said, as if she hadn’t spoken. “Slow things down?” she echoed. “Quincy, how the hell can you say that now? In twenty-four hours, I’ve connected with you in ways I didn’t think possible. I’ve learned things about myself that blow my mind.” “Exactly,” he nodded. “You were vulnerable after the attack on Serena and then Claire leaving with Paul. I took advantage in ways that I can’t believe. I shouldn’t have.” Debbie didn’t know what to think as he stepped away and leaned against the other counter. Now he was pulling away from her? After everything they’d done and talked about and…not to mention leaving her on the counter with her hands behind her back. “So what do you suggest?” she whispered, unable to believe he was doing this. “We back off. We act the way we’re supposed to. My job is to protect you. Yours is to work for MacLauren.” “You’re serious,” she breathed. “After everything, you think we can just slam on the brakes and act as if nothing has happened.”
“We have to,” he stated. “Bullshit,” she shook her head. “No shit.” Debbie clenched her jaw, thoughts spinning through her head. She couldn’t, wouldn’t believe he was doing this. No way. From the look on his face, she would think he meant it. From the erection tenting his sweats, he was clearly of two minds about it. Fine. If that’s the way he wanted it, she could play that game and make up the rules as she went as well. “Fine,” she replied steadily. “Then uncuff me and get me off my own damn counter.” Now he was clenching his mouth shut as he stretched his arms around her and released the cuffs. As soon as she felt her feet hit the floor, she brought both her hands up and shoved at his chest. She caught him off-guard and he stumbled back a step. With emotion that had been bottled up for years, she charged him, hitting him everywhere she could reach. When he grabbed her wrists, she twisted and kicked out with her legs. He held her at arm’s length so she couldn’t reach him. “Stop this,” he said firmly. “You’re a tease!” she yelled, as furious at how easily he held her as the tears streaming down her face. “You took what you wanted and for all your spouting about taking care of me, you don’t give a shit. You just took something beautiful and made it trash. Let go of me and don’t ever come near….” He jerked her toward him. One hand caught the back of her
“I am thinking of you,” he ground out. “I want something that lasts, not a damn flash in the pan that fizzles out at the first sign of problems. I want us! I want something real and deep, not just sex and physical hunger. I’ve never had anything like this and I don’t want to screw it up.” The hand at her head left her, raking through his hair before resting on the counter behind him. “Debbie, I’m feeling things with you that I…” he grimaced, “I’ve never felt before. I’ve had subs before, but it never went beyond the scene. That’s why I said we should back off and take it slow. I don’t know what to do.” “For starters, you can’t decide everything all on your own,” she tossed back at him. The throbbing cock pressing against her stomach was a serious distraction but she managed to focus. Barely. “If you want us, then you have to talk with me. Not at me like I’m a child. The master stuff during sex is one thing, but for other stuff we have to talk and decide together. Couples do that.” She frowned, realizing how few couples she really knew. “At least those I’ve seen go beyond a few months do. They tell each other about how they grew up and what they like to do and…” “That’s what you were doing,” he whispered, groaning and rolling his eyes. “God, could I fuck this up anymore?” “Let’s not ask questions like that,” she advised. “Quincy, we want the same things. Talk to me,” she urged. “Talk with me. Don’t just arbitrarily decide on how things will be.” He opened his mouth and she shook her head. “If there’s danger, that’s ”
. . quick kiss to the bottom of his throat. “Maybe,” she swallowed. “Maybe you were right earlier. About dinner and getting a good night’s sleep. I think we’ve both been put through the wringer. Just one thing.” “Anything,” he nodded, voice low. “Hold me tonight.” “Just hold you?” he frowned. “Baby, I’m not sure…” “At least until midnight,” she murmured. “Then you can show me your idea of a midnight snack.” Visible relief showed on his face and his arms wrapped around her. “Is this how you felt when you closed the bathroom door? Like you’d damn near lost everything?” “Until you knocked on it,” she nodded, pressing a kiss over his heart. “I was scared to death that you wouldn’t want to be with me. That you were going to call Ben and have him assign someone else.” “I damn near killed Ben when he suggested that today,” Quincy told her, his mouth twisting slightly. “Of course, he was riding me about us anyway and I didn’t appreciate him questioning me like that.” Debbie blinked as those words registered. “You mean, Ben Hancock is a…” she snapped her mouth shut with an audible click. “Yeah, he’s a dominant also.” “And Brody Custis?” she whispered, not sure if she cared or
not when he nodded. “Oh, my God,” she closed her eyes. “I don’t believe this. Everything I thought I knew is being turned upside-down.” “People into this are not perverts,” he told her, hands gently stroking her back. “They’re just normal people who like something a little different when it comes to sex.” “Do I still fit in?” she smiled. “I’ve never thought of myself as normal.” “You’ll fit in fine,” he assured her. “This is probably a stupid question, but I didn’t hurt you when I hit you, did I?” “Nothing broken,” he smiled, moving his jaw around. “You’ve got a good right hook. I barely blocked it. If we don’t kill each other by Friday, it will be a miracle,” he sighed. “Okay, you go on and get in bed. I’ll double-check everything and be there in a few minutes.” **** Quincy didn’t take more than five minutes to secure the apartment and take care of his own needs in the bathroom. When he walked into her bedroom though, he immediately saw that she was already asleep. Curled up on her side, facing the door, she looked absolutely perfect to him. Carefully, he lifted the covers and slid in next to her. In the pale light from the bathroom night-light, he gazed down at her. He’d never had anyone like her in his life. She hadn’t hesitated to say that he couldn’t have done anything to deserve a court-martial. She hadn’t had a roblem with him bein half-Sioux. Instead she’d
mentioned how they’d both come from poor backgrounds and pulled themselves out of it. Sliding an arm under her head, he curled himself around her body and closed his eyes. Waking up later, Quincy knew two things—it was nearly midnight and Debbie was curled up next to him. It took two breaths to know that he had to have his snack. And he knew just how he wanted it. **** Debbie sighed. Someone was stroking her legs. Long, slow caresses along the inside of her thighs, right up to her pussy, but not quite touching it. And that same someone was leisurely kissing her breasts. “Quincy?” she murmured, not sure if she was dreaming or awake. At least, she tried to say his name. That’s when she realized that she was gagged and her hands were bound and secured over her head. She opened her eyes and realized she was blindfolded. Holy crap! “Shh, babe,” he whispered, shifting his body. “I didn’t think the neighbors would appreciate hearing you as you orgasmed.” Swallowing around the ball gag, she nodded. Yeah, the neighbors might complain about that. She wasn’t exactly going to win any awards for being quiet. “Now, I’m going to have my midnight snack.” Oral sex, the thought flashed in her mind. He was going to… Well, she had a vague idea of what he was going to do, but no
… His mouth began kissing where his fingers had been stroking her earlier. His hands lifted and parted her thighs so they were nearly perpendicular from her hips. Debbie closed her eyes as she felt the heat form a tight spiral deep in her core. Quincy’s thumbs parted her folds and his tongue began lapping at her dripping pussy. She gasped, then moaned. His tongue pressed into her before he sucked on her clit. She twisted slightly and his hands pushed her legs until her knees were near her shoulders. “Be a good girl and keep your legs there,” he murmured. “Don’t come until I give you permission.” Completely exposed, totally vulnerable, Debbie held her breath wondering what he was going to do. His fingers—she had no idea how many—slid into her pussy, hooking up to press against her nerves. His thumb flicked back and forth over her clit and fire built up inside her. The pressure inside her increased and her fingers clutched at the leather strap securing her. Desperate, she tried to hold on, to not give in to the rising urgency to explode. He pulled his fingers out of her pussy and she sighed in relief, trying to breathe normally. And felt one finger, wet with her own juices, push against her anus. Whimpering, she shook her head, even if he couldn’t see in the dark. The thought struck her. She had no idea if the lights were on or not. For all she knew, he had lights shining down right there so he could see her. Debbie trembled, not sure if she
was exc te or as u at t e t oug t. As his finger slid completely into her ass, his palm went under her butt. His middle finger, she realized, feeling two on each cheek. The thought of that long thick finger inside her aroused her. On their own, her hips wriggled. His mouth clamped down on her clit and tugged. Beneath the gag, she shouted as sensations of need shot through her. She was on the edge, determined to obey him and not orgasm until he gave permission. But it was growing harder with everything he did! His mouth moved and now he focused on her pussy. Lips, tongue and teeth, all combined to drive her crazy. The finger in her ass twisted slightly and ratcheted the friction. She felt control slipping and the orgasm build rapidly. She whimpered, frantic to hold back. Her thighs trembled as she tried to hold them up as he’d told her. Then he said the welcome words. “Come for me, baby. Come for me hard.” Released, she let her body soar. He was relentless though, nibbling on her clit to give her a second orgasm fast on the heels of the first. She floated as the euphoria filled her. She felt his body shift, his hands on her hips to lift them, then his cock was pressing into her pussy. Panting, she accepted his lust. She could do nothing else and wanted to do nothing else. She was his and wanted him to lose himself in her the way she just had. Her pussy tried to tighten around him as he thrust in and out. “So damn wet,” he moaned. “So fucking hot.” His mouth nuzzled the side of her neck and worked its way to
suck on a breast. Debbie moaned beneath the gag. Remembering what he’d said about how tight her pussy was, she focused on that part of her body. Her walls clamped hard on his cock as it drove into her. “Oh, Great Spirit,” he shuddered, mouth on the other nipple. He pulled out and held still, his cock barely inside her. “Do that again. As tight and hard as you can. That feels so damn good!” She nodded, delighted by his reaction. He thrust back in and she squeezed her muscles with everything she could. She felt his forearms tremble along the sides of her head. The bed jolted and he stiffened with a long, drawn-out grunt as his seed rushed into her, hips flexing with each pulse of pleasure. Quincy collapsed on top of her. Her legs splayed on either side of him as he caught his breath. Pinned beneath him, Debbie reveled in the feel of his heavy body, covered with sweat from his exertions. “God, I love fucking you,” he whispered, one hand finding the release to her gag. “You are so damn perfect for me.” Another flick of his wrist and her hands were free. “So submissive to what I want for sex and so smart outside the bedroom. Could a man ask for more?” “Could a woman ask for more?” she wondered in reply. “A hot man taking care of her in and out of the bedroom?’ She sighed and pressed a kiss against his sweaty shoulders. “How did I get so lucky?” He murmured something she didn’t understand and nuzzled against her neck. He lifted off of her and she heard the switch of
. profile. He had left the bathroom night light on. “I’m the lucky one, babe,” he told her. “I have you.” She opened her mouth to argue, but his mouth covered hers and she forgot what she was going to say. Rolling to his side, he held her close, one hand caressing her back in long, slow strokes. Body sated, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Chapter Ten Quincy was grateful for the busyness of Wednesday. After the initial fall-out, rush, and push of Tuesday, things started settling down. And everyone at MC realized just what the effects were. Debbie was at her desk or in meetings from the second she stepped into the building at eight in the morning until nine that night. Thoughts of dominating her in bed faded when she finally walked out of Keith MacLauren’s office after a late meeting and practically collapsed in his arms. “Tired, babe?” he murmured, not caring at the looks they were getting as other people filed past them “Yeah,” she sighed, closing her eyes. “Ready to go home?” “Home?” Claire’s voice came from the doorway to the hall. “You never call the apartment home.” Quincy felt Debbie’s shoulders rise and fall in a shrug before she lifted her head. “I’m starting to understand why you did.” Quincy was surprised by the wistful expression on the PR assistant’s face and sent a quick glance to Paul and David. In deep conversation with Keith, neither saw. “Yeah, well, that’s good,” was all Claire said. “At least someone has a home,” Penny’s waspish voice came
from Keith’s office door. “What is that supposed to mean?” demanded Ben from his position at Serena’s desk. “Why nothing at all,” she smiled sweetly at him. “I would hate to get you in a foul mood. At least, I’m assuming this is your good side.” She looked at Quincy. “Or is he always this incredibly charming and polite?” “I could get him in a really, really bad mood if you’d like,” Quincy told her. “It’s just you’re in the line of fire, so to speak, and I don’t want you to have to deal with it if you didn’t cause it.” She rolled her eyes. “Please.” she shook her head. “I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.” She leaned against the credenza and waved her hand. “Fire away.” “Uh-huh,” Quincy nodded. Glancing at Debbie, he saw it in her eyes before she nodded. He hadn’t had a chance all day to ask Keith and these sure as hell weren’t the surroundings or the people he would have wanted, but…he shrugged. “Keith?” “Yeah?” The weary-looking CEO glanced up. “Is there a problem?” “Just wondering if you could use another hand or two in Programming.” Forget the pin dropping. Quincy figured you could have heard an ant crawl across the carpet in the sudden quiet. Keith stared at him, glanced at Ben’s dumbfounded expression, then back. “Now or when…” “ ”
. “God dammit, Quincy!” Ben exploded. “I should have reassigned someone else yesterday when….” “No,” Debbie yelled. “I don’t want anyone protecting me but Quincy.” “He’s too involved and that…” “Means he’s even more alert and aware of what’s going on to make sure I’m safe,” she fired back, turning to face him. She stepped back against Quincy who put his hands on her shoulders. “Even if it’s just Brody Custis in the elevator.” Quincy managed not to laugh at the expression on the faces of Ben, Keith, Paul and David. Debbie couldn’t have aimed better. All four were stunned at her tone of voice and the implications. Keith swallowed. “So you don’t mind if Quincy splits his time, so to speak?” “I’ve been bouncing ideas off him already,” she said. “Keith, he saved at least fifty man-hours yesterday and the same today. You might as well put him on the payroll.” She leaned forward slightly. “Everyone on my team likes him. Make him a comanager with me…” “No,” Quincy shook his head, hands rubbing her upper arms. “Those are your projects, babe. You and Keith need to focus on those.” “But you’re practically leading now and…” “We can assign other projects in the new year,” Keith nodded, coming toward them, hand extended. “You sure you’re ready for this craziness?”
s no e moun a ns o g ans an, uncy sm e , r g hand moving. His left arm tightened around Debbie’s waist. “I can handle it.” Across the room, Ben muttered under his breath. Penny had a gleam in her eye. Quincy saw the lawyers glance at Claire, who whirled around and out of sight. The thud of her footsteps faded down the hallway. “Claire?” Debbie whispered, her eyes hurling accusatory bolts at Paul and David. “What are you two doing to her?” “Debbie, not here,” Quincy whispered. Penny’s interest was aroused immediately. “The two of them…” she echoed. “It didn’t occur to you that she might be worried about Serena coming home tonight to the apartment she was attacked in?” Paul tossed back. “And being alone?” “Oh, God,” Debbie groaned, closing her eyes and sagging back against Quincy. “Serena. I’ve got to call her.” Pulling her cell phone out, she moved to the doorway Claire had been in. Quincy saw what he thought was pain and heartache in Keith’s expression before the CEO recovered himself. “Get her home,” he said quietly. “Make sure she’s getting enough rest.” “Pot meet kettle,” Quincy replied. “Kettle being ready to fall over on his feet,” Penny chimed in from behind them. “Keith, will you please leave the office with the rest of us tonight?”
“I’ll leave eventually,” Keith shook his head. “Quincy?” “I’ll take care of her,” he promised. “Good,” Keith murmured. “She would want that.” Quincy frowned as the CEO turned around and reentered his office. Penny turned to follow him. “Not going to give me two weeks’ notice?” Ben snipped. “If I tried, you’d refuse and fire me,” Quincy replied. “Damn straight,” he glared. “You’ve known her forty-eight hours, Quince. And…” “I’d like to spend more than that with her every couple months.” His former commanding officer stared at him. “You’re fucking serious,” he frowned, as if trying to understand it. “In two days —” “Ben, don’t go there,” warned Quincy. “I’m not going to try to explain it to you or anyone else.” Hancock glanced into MacLauren’s office then back at him. “How serious is this?” he asked in a low voice. “I mean, if you just want to play for a couple months and then…” “I’m taking her to the Club on Friday,” Quincy told him. Silence filled the room as Ben, Paul and David—all three dominants—absorbed that statement. “Yeah, it’s pretty damn serious.” “Everyone always said you’d either be the first or the last to fall,” Ben muttered, shaking his head. “That depends on how you look at it,” he replied with a shrug “ ”
“She’s drained and Claire got in the elevator,” Debbie replied, going to Keith’s door. “Which one? Resident or business?” Paul frowned. “I couldn’t tell,” Debbie glared at them. “Why are you doing this to her?” Paul and David swore and took off. “Well, that’s something at least,” Debbie shook her head and went to Keith’s door. “Excuse me, Keith, but Serena said she could be in tomorrow if you wanted her to be. All you have to do is call.” Quincy couldn’t hear Keith’s reply, but Debbie nodded. “All right. I’ll go make sure Quincy eats food before he starts gnawing on the furniture. Good night.” There was a short bark of laughter from Keith before he replied with a good night. Quincy gave her a droll look as he wrapped her coat around her shoulders. Putting his arm around her to tuck her against his side, he started for the door. “Actually, babe, I was thinking about a small snack,” he murmured as they left the outer office. “Quincy,” she squealed as he nibbled on her ear. “Gnawing on the furniture?” he murmured as he pushed the elevator button. “You know damn well I wouldn’t do that.” “I was trying to get a smile from Keith,” she explained, burrowing under his coat. “You should have seen his face when I said all he had to do was call Serena and she’d be in.” Shaking her head, she looked up at him. “I’ve never seen anyone look as if it was the one thing they wanted more than anything else in the ’ ”
, . Quincy felt the shaft tremble as the elevator approached their floor and gave her a quick, deep kiss. “All right, babe,” he smiled. “I’ll let this one go.” The doors slid open and she stumbled forward. “Sorry,” she muttered as he caught her. “Guess I’m more tired than I thought.” “Don’t apologize to the man who’s responsible for not letting you sleep through the night,” he told her, pushing the button for the garage. Leaning against the wall, he pulled her to him. “Leftovers?” “Think we have enough from last night?” she wondered. “Yeah,” he nodded. “You going to be all right for Friday?” **** Debbie closed her eyes. Friday. The night he was going to take her to his sex club. Thursday was her night for clubbing. Obviously he was more concerned about his. It made sense— she was pretty sure there were a lot more things to worry about. Beyond the fact that he was going to fuck her ass. Reflexively, her cheek muscles tightened around the plug he’d put in her that morning. The harness from Tuesday had been placed around her waist, and, as she’d spread her legs wide and rested her upper body on the bed, he’d placed a well-lubed one-inch long and half-inch thick butt plug into her. Naturally, her sphincter muscle had refused to relax. So, being the clever man that he was, he had teased her clit and pussy until she had gasped. And the plug had
slid right in. One strap had gone from the back, looped through the circle at the end of the plug and then split to be secured in the front. But that wasn’t enough for her sexual master. Oh, no! He’d decided that she should have Tuesday’s dildo in as well as the clit cup. As she’d found out on the way in, all three vibrated with a click of the remote he kept in his pocket. “I’m not sure how I survived today,” she sighed. “I’ve been on edge in more ways than one.” “Well,” his deep voice rumbled in her ear as his hands stroked her back under her coat. “I’ll have to take care of that to make sure you get a very good night’s sleep.” “And still have a snack?” she wondered, flushing at the memory of his last “snack”. “We’ll see, babe,” he replied. “I don’t want you sore for Friday.” “Sore? I…” “It can happen,” he told her. “I think tonight I’ll start teaching you to be ready for then.” “To make sure I don’t mess up?” “It will keep you safe,” he nodded. “I’ll be safe,” she smiled as the elevator doors opened and he pulled her out into the garage. “I’ll be with you. “There are certain rules that a submissive is to follow,” he nodded. “What about dominants?” she wondered. “What about them?” he asked, raising the remote to unlock the doors. He lifted her in and went around.
“Aren’t there rules for them as well?” “Yes, but I’m talking about—” “No one would be able to touch me besides you, right?” she pressed, turning on the seat. “Or join us just because they wanted to? Or spank me or—” “No, no one would be allowed to touch you or join us without my permission.” That floored her. Was he thinking about letting someone touch her? Or fuck her? Or punish her? She stared at him, feeling doubt creep in for the first time. “And would…” she swallowed, pulling back against the door. What if he answered in a way she couldn’t handle? What the hell was she going to do then? She had to ask. “Would you give permission?” Inserting the key in the ignition, Quincy froze and turned his head to look at her. “I ought to spank you until you can’t sit down for asking that question,” he growled. “I damn near took the head off of a man I would die for when he suggested someone else protect you. Why the hell would I let someone else fuck you?” “I’m sorry,” she gasped, stunned at his explosion. “You’ve never said anything. You defended Paul and David for sharing Claire and…” She had had no idea he’d had the gag in his pocket, but he pulled it out now. Reaching out with his right hand, he pulled her closer. The left hand pushed the ball past her lips and quickly
. hands behind her back. He set her firmly in her seat, slid it as far back as he could and reclined the back. Pulling the belt tightly over her waist, he leaned over her, right hand cupping her jaw. “You’re mine, Debbie. No one will ever have my permission to touch you, fuck you, or punish you in anyway.” He held the remote in front of her eyes. “I’m going to keep these going on you all the way home. You are not to come, do you understand me?” Gulping, she nodded. “And when we get home, I will release your hands long enough for you to take off every piece of clothing before I spank you.” His thumb stroked over the ball in her mouth. “And then, I’m going to fuck you until you can’t help but orgasm.” She shook her head. “Oh, yes, little one. The longer you hold it back, like last night, the more pleased I will be. Understand?” Swallowing again, she nodded. “Good. Your punishment starts now.” Her eyes widened as she watched his thumb move on the remote. Immediately, the vibrations began. She closed her eyes and moaned. Her body was hyper-sensitive to the slightest touch and already the orgasm was building. His chuckle was low and promised wicked things. She looked up and saw the gleam in his eyes. Oh, he wouldn’t. “I want to see how long you can hold out now.” Her gaze flew to the hand holding the remote and watched in shock as he pushed it relentlessly to the max. Almost immediately, her body jolted off the seat. Helpless, she writhed as the toys had their way with her most sensitive nerves. She
starte count ng, op ng t at wou wor , ut s e a t ony five when the first crest overwhelmed her. Her cry was only slightly muffled as her entire body spasmed. Moaning, she panted as the next one swept her, quickly followed by the third. Mercifully, he decreased the vibrations to half-strength. “Mmm,” he murmured, bending over her. “I could watch you come all day. You do try so hard to obey my orders, Debbie. What am I going to do about that mouth of yours, though? It keeps getting you into trouble.” Struggling for breath, she just looked up at him. He smiled gently and kissed her forehead. “It’s all right, babe. We’ve got the rest of our lives for me to train you.” Debbie closed her eyes as he straightened and started the engine. The rest of our lives. He really wanted her. As the toys continued their teasing, she focused on those five words. He wasn’t going to let anyone else touch her in any way. He wanted her for the rest of their lives. With a sigh, she relaxed her body. **** Quincy tapped the steering wheel, even as he kept his eyes moving. How the hell was she able to flip his switches like that? He knew he shouldn’t have reacted, but her thinking that because he hadn’t condemned Paul and David meant that he would share her had stung. Fury had roared through him and only experience had kept him from yanking her over his lap and spanking her right there in the parking lot. The toys were a better punishment. For both of them. She was kept at a fever-pitch and
he was tormented with knowing how hot and ready she was. When they got home, he was going to spank her, hard, and then make sure she fully understood a few absolutes in their relationship. After parking the truck, he removed the gag, raised her seat, and released her hands. “You’ve been good so far and I’m not as angry as I was, but…” he held up a finger in front of her face. “I am still going to spank you when we get home. I will then explain a few things. Understand?” “Yes, master,” she whispered. “I’m sorry. I don’t know if I could trust another man or woman to do to me what you do.” “I understand that,” he nodded. “Your trust in me is what makes this relationship work. If someone else does touch you, it will not be with my permission. We clear on that?” “Yes, master,” she nodded, smiling slightly. “We seem to go two steps forward, one step back, don’t we?” He nodded, holding her to him. “But we at least keep going forward.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Ready to walk home?” She swallowed. “Sure.” He chuckled. “You’ll be fine.” “Easy for you to say,” she muttered as he opened his door. “You’re not the one with toys vibrating.” He ignored her comment and went around to her door. Debbie curled her body into his and took it one step at a time.
toys pressed into her as she mounted the steps. Next time she was going to live on the ground floor. Quincy put the key in and glanced down at her. “You remember what to do as soon as you get inside?” She nodded. Strip off everything but the harness so he could spank her. He pushed the door open and she waited in the hall for him to check the apartment. Silently, he came back to her. Pulling her in, he put her just inside the door as he bolted it. Without hesitating or moving further into the apartment, she took her coat off and put it on the hook, before taking off her lowquarter boots. Not moving from where he had put her, she removed her clothes and piled them on the boots. After securing the door, Quincy removed his coat and pulled off his boots and watched her strip. Naked, she looked at him, not sure where he wanted her. The intense expression on his face had electricity zipping through her body. First he put the cuffs on her, securing her hands behind her back. He gagged her next, carefully checking to make sure her hair wasn’t caught in the strap. Then, as she stood by the door, he went to the stereo, changed a CD and turned it on. It was a New Age band with an erotic theme to their music. The volume wasn’t obnoxiously loud, but it would mask most sounds they made. That thought had her trembling. He turned the lever for the gas fireplace and stood. Turning to look at her, he pulled his sweater over his head and tossed it toward her pile of clothes. As her gaze went over the
musc es r pp ng w eac movemen , e un uc e s e , unzipped and unbuttoned and, in one action, shoved his pants and boxers down his legs. His cock jutted out, hard and ready to go wherever he wanted it. With deliberate steps, he came to her, towering over her. Still without a word, he took the blindfold from the side table and rendered her completely helpless. He stepped away and she shivered at the loss of his body heat. She heard him moving about the apartment but couldn’t tell if he stayed in the living room or went in a bedroom. Foil ripped and anticipation flashed through her knowing that he was putting a condom on. His long fingers gripped her upper arm as he took her into the living room. She stumbled slightly, then found her hips pressed against something. She thought it was the chair near the fireplace as she felt the heat on the left side of her face. Her upper body was pressed forward and down until her head rested on what she was sure were the throw pillows from the sofa. Her legs were adjusted until they were as far apart as possible. “Remember, little one,” he whispered, one hand stroking her back. “Do not come unless I give you permission.” She nodded and his hand gripped hers in a reassuring squeeze. “I want you to be fully aware of why I’m spanking you. I’m spanking you for doubting me. I’m spanking you to remind you that I am your master. No one else will ever do this. Any more than anyone else will ever fuck you as I will when I’m finished spanking you. Understand?” She nodded again. “The toys will stay on.” She
whimpered. “Oh, no, little one. Part of this is to see how long you can control yourself.” One hand lifted her bound wrists, forcing her up onto her toes and her head further against the pillows. The other hand came down on the slight curve of her left ass cheek. Then her right. Back and forth until she was sure her ass was hotter than the fire in the hearth. But not hotter than the tight coil in her belly. A spanking as foreplay would have seemed outrageous Monday afternoon. Now, after just two days with Quincy, she almost welcomed it. He was making sure she understood that she was his. His to protect. His to seduce. His to satisfy. His to dominate in any way he wanted. Because she trusted him. Her legs buckled slightly and she writhed against the chair she was bent over. Letting her hands fall to her back, his fingers worked on the harness. She felt the toys shut off just before they were pulled from her. From the soft thump near her head, she realized he’d dropped them there. His hands gripped her hips, lifted her feet off the floor and held her in the air for a moment. Hold still, she told herself. Hold still, don’t wriggle. It was so hard! She knew that his cock was near and she wanted that cock inside her! She gasped behind the gag as she felt the tip of him just outside her anus. Trust him, she thought. He won’t until you’re ready. Taking a deep breath, she forced her muscles to relax. Then felt him move lower, to her pussy. The next instant, he was balls deep inside her. His heavy upper body partially rested on
“Such a good girl in taking your punishment,” he whispered. “Such a good girl. My good girl.” Pleasure at his approval filled her. “Now, I’m going to fuck my good girl. I want my good girl to wait until I’ve thrust ten times. Then you can come. Understand?” She nodded eagerly, rubbing her cheek against his. He gently bit her ear. “Good girl.” She’d had no idea how hard waiting ten times would be. By the second, she was ready to arch back, screaming in satisfaction. By five, she was writhing against the pillows, eyes squeezed tight behind the blindfold. By eight, her teeth were clamping around the ball gag. Each thrust was hard and deep, filling her, making her want more. Ten! She let go of her control but clamped her walls around his cock at the next thrust. The friction as he moved into her sent her flying. Her torso arced up off the pillows and even the gag couldn’t silence her cry. “Christ!” he ground out. As his release pumped into her, she sighed, collapsing against the pillows. He cradled her, their bodies bent double. “I couldn’t have described the perfect submissive for me until you,” he murmured, gradually removing the gag, blindfold and cuffs. “Yes, you might drive me crazy at times, just as I’ll do the same for you…” “But it’s still perfect,” she murmured. “Absolutely,” he nodded, pulling out of her.
, condom and threw it in the trash. Helping her straighten, he picked her up and carried her into the bathroom. With a warm washcloth, he tenderly cleaned her and soothed her still smarting ass. Carrying her to the bed, he tucked her in. “Stay here,” he whispered, smoothing back the tendrils that clung to her sweaty face. “I’ll get us something to eat.” “I should…” she shook her head. “Shh,” he whispered. “Taking care of his submissive is something this master will do, understand?” Relaxing, she smiled, but held his hand to her cheek. “Try to stay awake until I get back,” he smiled. “Can I go to the bathroom?” The corner of his mouth crooked up. “Yeah, that’s okay.” Alone in her room, she hugged the pillow to her chest. Two days ago, she had been reeling from the swiftness of the terminations at work, followed by the attack on Serena. She had pent-up frustrations from having to deal with everything, including trying to understand her own feelings toward sex. And now, in forty-eight hours, she had the support and protection of a man whose sole focus was her. She had found incredible sexual satisfaction by letting Quincy do what he wanted. She trusted him completely. She smiled, slipping out of bed and grabbing onto the foot railing. Taking a deep breath, she tried to get control of her trembling limbs and moved forward. Obviously she had wanted him from first sight,
otherwise she wouldn’t have let him spank her. She frowned as she sat on the toilet. He’d been so right about her being jealous about Claire with Paul and Serena’s mystery lover. She just hadn’t wanted to admit it. She’d wanted someone to satisfy her that way. She’d known that Paul called all the shots, but hadn’t thought it might be like what Quincy was doing with her. Did that mean Claire was spanked? Or Serena? Given what she was learning… No, she wasn’t going there. Flushing the toilet, she washed her hands and face before gazing at her reflection. The difference was amazing. Monday morning she had been frustrated and scared. Now? She looked alive with sparkling eyes, kiss-swollen lips, and flushed skin. Now, life was fantastic. She couldn’t wait to see what the next forty-eight hours brought.
Chapter Eleven Quincy put the two plates on the tray, the two wineglasses on their sides and tucked the napkins and flatware in the side pocket. After loosening the cork, he put the wine bottle under his arm, picked up the tray and headed to the bedroom. At the door he smiled. Debbie had piled up the pillows for them to sit back against, then fallen asleep. “Still hungry?” he asked, moving to the bed. Her eyes flickered open and she gave him a sleepy smile. “I know you’re tired, babe, but you still need to eat.” Nodding, she pushed herself upright and looked at him. “What do I do when we go to your club?” “Two main things—keep your eyes down and stay where I tell you. If I leave your side, I will make sure you’re in a safe place or with someone I trust not to touch you and keep others from touching you.” She nodded as he put the tray over her thighs. Her hands straightened the wineglasses and he poured. “And the dominants?” “Obviously they have more freedom,” he smiled, sitting on the bed while letting his left foot rest on the floor. “As I told you, there are some permanent dominants and about two dozen
submissives or slaves in the club. It won’t be too hard to pick them out. The Doms are in black, brown, or navy. The subs are in light gray or blue and wear silver collars. The slaves are naked with black leather collars.” “Naked?” she whispered, eyes rounding. “What…” she swallowed. “What do they do at the club?” “Doms take care of any member who wants a submissive experience. They also train other Doms, subs, and slaves. The subs are available to any member who wants a dominant experience if they agree.” “What do you mean?” “The Club submissives can refuse a dominant if they want. The dominant may want a scene that they don’t so the submissive can refuse.” He could practically hear the wheels of her mind spinning. She ate two bites. “And the slaves? They can’t refuse anything, can they?” “No, they can’t,” he nodded. “Dominants are forbidden from doing any permanent damage to a slave that isn’t theirs.” He saw the color drain from her face. “They are also not to touch a submissive that isn’t theirs.” She nodded and he could tell she was slightly reassured. Briefly, he wondered if she was ready for the public areas of the Club. She might feel better if he explained that. “The pub area of the Club is like an English tavern. Paneled walls and such. The founder was English,” he smiled. “There are
. probably be that subs are in various stages of dress or bondage and the slaves are pretty much naked. The dominants or masters are usually in leather or loose silk pants.” He raised his wineglass and gave her a knowing look. “Pants that are easy to drop so we can fuck our subs or slaves whenever we want.” “In the pub?” she breathed. “That doesn’t usually happen there,” he admitted. “Or in the dining room. Most masters use those two rooms to show off their subs or slaves. There are rooms where a master can publicly discipline or fuck a sub or slave.” He took a large bite and swallowed. Debbie was slowly eating. “Those double as teaching rooms as well. That’s the first two or three floors. There are several floors with private suites. They contain bedrooms, fully equipped playrooms, and bathrooms. Completely private and sound insulated.” He waggled his brows at her. “I’ve booked one for Friday night.” When she turned beet red, he laughed. Reaching out he cupped her jaw. “Just think of it, babe. I can take you to the bar, show you off, then take you to our own room.” He put the wineglasses on the nightstand before putting the tray on the floor. Getting back on the bed, he pulled her legs straight and straddled her thighs. She pressed back against the pillows. He could see her eyes dilating and hear her breath come fast and shallow. “I’ve asked for a special spanking bench. I can secure you, put a dildo in that hot pussy of yours, spank you—because we both know you’ll do something to deserve a spanking—then…” he put his hands on either side of
er ps an n e on er nec . e e s ea w en s e whimpered. “Then, when you’re begging me, I can fuck that tight little ass of yours.” Her eyelids fluttered closed and she moaned. “Please, master,” she whispered. “What do you want, babe?” “For you to do what you want to me,” she sighed. “Please.” “Not yet, babe,” he smiled, sitting back on his heels. Her eyes flew open. “I told you. I want you to take it easy for a couple of days.” She was already shaking her head. “Don’t argue with me on this, Debbie. I have a number of things planned for Friday and if you’re sore from my fucking now, then I can’t do them then. The anticipation will be more than worth it.” He could see the arguments in her eyes. He could see the internal struggle before she finally sighed and nodded. “What do you say?” “Yes, master,” she murmured. Her hand came up and wrapped around his cock. “Do I still get to touch you?” “Tease,” he groaned, catching her wrist. “Am I going to have to bind you while we sleep to get you to behave?” “I thought a submissive took care of her dominant,” she said, the innocent act not fooling him for one second. “To make sure his every need was met.” Gritting his teeth, he caught both her wrists and stretched them over her head. “You’re really trying to earn that spanking on Friday, aren’t you?”
“Well, I know you’ll feel better if I deserve it.” Quincy gave her a long, hard look. After a moment, she gave up and giggled. Smiling, he pulled her to him and closed his eyes. “Woman, I think we deserve each other.” “Just think of the people we saved in the process,” she quipped, snuggling against him. Kissing the top of her head, he tightened his grip on her. “Did you get enough to eat?” “I did,” she nodded. “Let me go put it away. You go to sleep.” He heard her go to brush her teeth, but by the time he returned to the bedroom, she was curled on her side in the middle of the bed, sound asleep. Smiling, he turned off all but the bathroom nightlight and climbed into bed. Pulling her into the curve of his body, he exhaled and was asleep almost immediately. **** Quincy opened his eyes to see Debbie standing at the side of the bed. In her hands was the tray with a large plate of scrambled eggs, sausage, English muffins, and two steaming mugs of coffee. “You’re kidding me,” he whispered, sitting up. “It’s about the extent of my cooking skills,” she smiled as he took the tray from her. She climbed up and sat cross-legged before taking her mug. “I wanted to take care of you.” He paused, the mug at his mouth. When the hell had anyone —
looked at her—silky black hair falling softly about her shoulders, brown eyes shining with contentment on many levels—and knew he had what he’d been so sure he didn’t need or want. A woman in his life. A woman who wanted him as a lover, a friend, and a master. A woman with intelligence, warmth, wit, and loyalty. “Quincy?” “Tell me about this club we’re going to today,” he said, forcing himself to focus on the future. Even if he now worked for MacLauren, he was going to make sure she was safe. “What’s the name?” “The Gray Shadows,” she said, picking up a fork and scooping up a large clump of eggs. He stared at her as she ate it. She hadn’t put those pieces of the puzzle together yet. “The Gray Shadows?” he echoed. “That’s a rather exclusive club. How did you start going there?” Her mouth twisted and her shoulders dropped slightly. That piqued his interest. That usually meant she was about to admit something she was embarrassed about. “Paul and David took Claire and me a few times for happy hour. They introduced us to the security people and the bartenders who promised to take care of us. Claire said Paul knew that I liked to go clubbing and that she worried about me. He knew the owner and security chief at Gray Shadows and that we’d be safe. He made her promise not to be there after nine if he wasn’t with her.” She scooped up more eggs and, fork half“ ”
, . … “Part of the Club?” he finished, swallowing the sausage patty whole. He nodded. “The son of the Club’s owner came up with the idea. Members can access a back door in and out.” “Oh, my God,” she breathed. “That means Paul and David are and Claire…” “Debbie, don’t go there,” he told her, reaching out and taking a nipple between his thumb and forefinger. She gasped as he pinched her breast. “Focus, Debbie. Focus on me now.” Her brown eyes flew to his face and she didn’t move. “Debbie, the reason Paul told Claire not to be there without him after nine is because many Club dominants go looking for people to seduce after that time. They’re quite aggressive and they know exactly what they’re doing. No one would touch Claire because the security detail would know she belongs to Paul. But you,” he squeezed her breast. “You would be a ripe target for them. Paul, despite all the anger you’ve shown him, was looking out for you. He was protecting you.” She closed her eyes. “After the way I’ve acted toward him,” she whispered. “He could have let me go there in ignorance, but instead he protected me.” “He did,” Quincy nodded. “I need to apologize to him. Thank him,” she murmured, shaking her head. “And to Claire. She had to have known and it must’ve killed her not to say anything to me.” She groaned. “God, I’ve been an idiot. All this time, I thought I was protecting her and she and the man I was ranting about were protecting
me.” “Do it quietly,” he advised. “To Paul. I think he might need the reassurance.” She gave him a puzzled look. “I think he and Claire have a few problems to work out.” “Because of David,” she snorted, grimacing. “Well, maybe I shouldn’t…” “Uh-huh,” he shook his head, pinching her nipple. “He still protected you.” “All right,” she sighed, dropping her head in submission. “Debbie.” She raised her head. “We’re going to the Gray Shadows after nine,” he told her. “And I am going to fuck you there. In a public place. Others probably won’t be able to see us. They probably won’t be able to hear us, but,” he leaned forward over the tray, “There’s always a chance they could.” Her lips parted slightly and he smiled. There was a little exhibitionist in her after all. She would probably never want to be on full public viewing, but the risk of being seen was enough to arouse her. “So, when I pull you away from others, you will know that you have permission to come whenever you need to.” “Thank you, master,” she whispered. “Move the tray to the floor. Get back on the bed, kneel and put your hands together behind you.” Setting the tray near the nightstand, she clambered back up and knelt where he pointed. “Intertwine our fin ers and stretch our hands behind ou ”
he instructed. “Lower your chin. Do not look up. This is how a submissive sits or kneels at the club.” She obeyed and her pert breasts were thrust upward. “Very good,” he murmured, opening the nightstand drawer. Pulling out the small pouch, he dumped the contents in the palm of his hand. Moving forward, he stood next to the bed. “I’m going to put something else on your nipples.” His free hand went between her shoulders blades as his mouth fastened on a breast. She gasped, struggling to stay in place. When he felt the rosy flesh harden in his mouth, he released her, quickly putting the clamp on. He did it to the other and then smiled at the sight. She would be permanently aroused with those on. She knew it as well. He could see it in her eyes. She was his completely even if she didn’t yet wear his collar. “Master?” Smiling, he climbed onto the bed. Yes, he was her master, and he had a hard-on that could fell trees in a single blow. Catching the back of her neck, he guided her to his groin as he sat and straightened out his legs. “Take care of me.” As her eager mouth and hands surrounded his cock, he leaned back against the pillows and closed his eyes. It wasn’t about holding back now. If he tried that, she might feel she was doing something wrong and they’d made too much progress for him to risk that kind of setback. Besides, he was too damn hot for her
. and stroked her hair. She moved slightly and her dark eyes met his. “That’s it,” he assured her. “Just like that.” Her delight in pleasing him lit up her eyes before she went back to her task in hand. He inhaled sharply as she lifted her hips up to change her angle. And took his cock as deep down her throat as she could. The heat, the tightness, the sensation of her doing this for him. He pulled on a last strand of control even as the instinct to hold her in that position and release into her throat. He was pretty sure she wasn’t ready for that. He groaned, his fingers tangling in the silky strands of her hair. “Debbie,” he ground his teeth together to control the need to shout. “That feels so damn good!” In response, she hummed around his cock and wriggled her hips. She couldn’t keep him that deep for long, but the fact that she’d tried as long as she had made him mentally run through every sexual reward he could do for her. Her tongue licked the slit at the tip of his cock and Quincy felt the shudder throughout his body. His hands pulled her head so their eyes could meet. “No more teasing,” he told her. “Use your hands and mouth on me.” She smiled and nodded. Her mouth took the head of his cock while one hand wrapped around the root and began to squeeze. With a groan, he closed his eyes as she took him to the edge. His hands fisted in the covers as he felt the familiar tightening
egn n s gro n. “Unnggh,” he dragged out the sound as he exploded in her mouth. Debbie, willing submissive that she was, tried to swallow everything. He tangled a hand in her hair, lifted her head and let the rest of his ejaculation spew across his abdomen. “Oh, my good girl,” he whispered, pulling her up and holding her to his chest. Debbie sighed and relaxed. **** Feeling the bass of the music through the walls, Quincy showed his ID to the bouncer at the door. The man twice his size tapped his name into his handheld device and blinked. “Welcome to The Gray Shadows, sir. Miss,” he said quietly, opening the door for them. Debbie’s small hand was in his as she waved the other at people she knew. “Hey, Debbie.” A man at the corner of the bar shouted as they passed him. “Looking hot, girl!” Debbie was wearing a red see-through blouse with a nude camisole underneath, a matching mini-skirt and thigh-high boots. Quincy had thought it a miracle he’d not tackled her to the living room floor and fucked her on the spot. Now, it would definitely take an act of God to keep him from beating to a bloody pulp every man who saw her. Quincy’s hand moved from the small of her back to her shoulder. Pulling her closer to him, he gave the man a warning glare. The other man looked startled.
“Hi, Scott,” she smiled. “Thanks.” “Who’s he?” Scott jerked a thumb at Quincy. “Her boyfriend,” he answered shortly. “Quincy.” “Wow. Really?” Scott’s gaze went to Debbie for confirmation. “How long has this been going on?” “Since the MMAs at MSG,” she replied, nestling against his side. “I wasn’t sure at first, but Quincy can be very persuasive,” she added, a hand running up and down the black tee he’d worn. She saw Scott’s puzzled look. “He moved in after what happened to Serena.” “Hey, I can understand that,” Scott nodded. “You want a beer, Quincy? Deb, your usual?” “Sure,” Quincy replied. “Thanks,” Debbie nodded. “What’s your usual?” Quincy murmured in her ear. “Rum and Coke,” she replied softly. “Got it.” So many things he realized he should have covered before they came. Taking the drinks from Scott, they followed him through the crowd. “How many people are we going to be with?” “About a dozen or so at time,” she told him. “I want to dance with you, Quincy.” “They say you can tell how a woman is in bed by how she dances,” he told her. “How do you think I’ll dance then?” she grinned. He chuckled, his hand cupping an ass cheek. “ ’ ’ ”
. His other hand reached in his pocket and she bit her bottom lip. Before she had dressed, he had put the harness back on. Her pussy was empty, but her ass had a butt plug and her clit had a tiny clamp. He’d pinched her nipples erect and put rings on them. Now, he set the toys to a low-level vibration. Just enough so she went closer to the edge. Before they’d left the apartment, he’d pressed up against her, pinning her to the door. His From whispered words had her hot and ready to skip the club— now on, I’m not using a condom when I fuck your pussy. Quincy was relieved that there were only a couple others at the table. He sat down and pulled Debbie onto his lap with her legs dangling between his thighs. For a couple songs, they sat and chatted as much as possible given the proximity to the dance floor. Ready to up the heat, he moved his left hand from her thigh and put it in his pocket. He saw her eyes widen slightly and felt her butt tighten as the vibrations increased. A song with an erotic beat and thumping bass came on and she looked at him. “Dance with me?” she whispered. Smiling, he nodded and she stood. Guiding her to the middle of the floor, he smiled. “Straddle my right leg and ride it.” She stared up at him in shock. He smiled. “Quincy,” she breathed. “That or I lift you and put my cock in your hot pussy.” Eyes closing, she trembled and moved her left leg to take his
g e ween ers. as s appenng o er ea , s e was wild compared to Claire and Serena, but nothing she’d ever done compared to what passed for normal in the club. She was about to enter a brand new territory and Quincy was her guide and constant. Would he really fuck her in public? On the dance floor? “Come on, baby,” his mouth was hot against her ear. “Move like you’re riding my cock.” Her fingers clutched his tee as her hips rubbed against his thigh. She heard and felt his amusement as his chest shook under her hands. “That’s not even close and you know it. Look around, Debbie. What I’m asking is nothing compared to what is happening around you.” She took a deep breath for courage and raised her head. Not only were a couple women now on their knees, but one woman was between two men who clearly had their cocks in her pussy and ass. While at first stunned at the total lack of inhibition, the more she looked around, the more aroused she became. Dragging her eyes from the sight of a woman braced against the wall as a man knelt in front of her, his head under her skirt, Debbie looked up at Quincy. He wouldn’t fuck her in public like that. She was certain. She was also very sure that once she’d humped his thigh to his satisfaction, he was going to take her someplace so he could get his cock in her without others seeing them. She decided to give him something to think about. “All right,” she nodded, rising on her toes and pressing her
body against his. “But just so you know, I’m thinking about your hard cock inside my pussy.” His breath hissed and she smiled as she lowered herself on his thigh. Her toes touched the floor and she bent her knees slightly. Eyes half-closed, she let everything take over—the erotic beat and words of the song, the man holding her, everything he’d done to her and everything he’d promised to do. Her body moved on its own, up and down, rubbing hard against his black denim-clad thigh. Pressing, desperate, she found herself trying to get the friction and pressure right so she could orgasm. Looping her arms around his neck, she tangled her hands in his hair and pulled his head down. Hungrily, she kissed him, wanting him to know how hot and ready for him she was. Her tongue made one thorough exploration of his mouth. His groan vibrated through her body before his arms tightened in steel bands around her and his tongue plunged into her mouth. One of his hands slid under her butt and lifted her. Eagerly, she wrapped her legs around his waist. She felt him move and buried her face against his shoulder. Feeling something hard against her back, she blinked as the volume hadn’t changed. Peering over his shoulder, she felt dizzy. He’d simply taken her to the side of the DJ’s booth. They were in a back corner, completely in the shadows, but anyone could come, probably with the same intent he had, and see them. “Quincy?” He held her up and slightly away from him with one hand
wait, she moved her hands from his shoulders to his waist. In seconds, the two of them had his dick free. Her hands went to the hem of her skirt and pulled it out of the way. For a heartbeat, their gazes held. Then he surged up and into her. Her head fell back against the wall as he filled her. “Yes!” she exulted. “Come on, baby,” he whispered, stroking hard and deep into her. “I want you to fall apart on me.” He held the remote and pushed the button. Debbie groaned as the toys went to what she knew was maximum. He’d never fucked her with the toys inside. She would indeed fall apart on him. The butt plug gave his cock something to rub against and the clit clip was a trip-wire for her nerves. And she was lost before it really started. Wrapping her arms and legs around him, she just held on for dear life. The wall braced her back as he hammered her pussy. “Quincy, I’m going to come,” she whispered. “Come, babe. Come for me.” “I can’t keep quiet,” she whimpered, pulling his tee into her mouth. “I…” His mouth found hers and gratefully she accepted his possession. With that stress gone, she relaxed and her body clenched with her orgasm. He wasn’t done. He was never done with her. The toys continued, keeping her at the height until he gave a final heave and his cock flooded her pussy.
, . “You spoil me,” she sighed, resting her head on his shoulder. “Absolutely spoil me.” “How’s that?” he wondered, breathing heavily as he rested his cheek on her head. “By taking care of me the way you do. Protecting me. Seducing and satisfying me the way you do.” Her fingers teased the ends of his hair where it curled near his right ear. “I think I could get used to it.” “You think?” She chuckled at the harsh tone in his voice. “Mmm, definitely,” she nodded. “I tell you everything and your ego could become too big for me to deal with.” “Everything?” “Yeah,” she said softly as he looked at her. She smiled. “Quincy, until Monday night, the only orgasms I’d ever had were from the dildo Sarah gave me.” “Really?” he smiled. “I like that.” “See?” She shook her head. “I knew I shouldn’t have told you.” “It’s all good, babe,” he assured her. “A man likes knowing things like that. It lets us know we’re taking care of our woman.” “Definitely,” she nodded. “Quincy?” “Mmm?” “Can we go home? I think I’ve had enough of clubbing.” “Excellent idea,” he nodded.
Chapter Twelve Friday morning, Debbie pulled on her seatbelt and fell asleep before Quincy had turned the ignition. “Dammit. What the hell is that asshole doing?” Jerked awake, Debbie looked around and froze. A delivery van was swerving in the road. As she stared in horror, he crossed into their lane, sped up, and came straight for them. Quincy’s eyes darted around and he swore. Blasting the horn, he jerked the wheel toward the sidewalk. The pedestrians gawking at the van in apparent disbelief now scrambled to get out of the way of the truck. Debbie felt his hand between her shoulder blades and let him pull her toward the middle of the cab. As flat as she could, she stayed silent as the truck came to an abrupt halt. Over her head, Quincy was swearing. She put a hand on his thigh and caught her breath at how tightly his fingers gripped hers. “You all right?” he asked. “Yes,” she whispered, tilting her head up to see his fierce, angry expression. “You?” “Fine.” His hands caught her shoulders and pulled her upright and then against him in a tight embrace. “Jesus H. Christ, I can’t
believe that idiot.” “What happened? Where is he?” She held onto his jacket. “Was anyone else hurt?” “He took off,” Quincy replied. Holding her with one arm, he carefully backed the truck back into the street. “Stay here while I check on things.” Nodding, she watched him climb out and click the alarm on. As traffic was starting to pick up, a mounted police officer arrived as Quincy stepped out. She watched Quincy pull out his cell phone and wondered who he’d be calling if the police were already there. A few minutes later, another black truck parked across the street. Debbie watched four men get out and trot across the street. As they talked with Quincy, she froze. They worked for Hancock Security. They thought this was an attempt on her . Trembling, she wrapped her arms around her and fought to stay calm. She could get through this, she told herself. She was not going to fall apart because some asshole was trying to kill her. “Focus, Debbie, focus,” she whispered. “There has to be another reason that four Schwarzenegger clones are standing on the street with Quincy. It’s New York City, for Pete’s sake. The place is filled with crazy people who don’t know how to drive. They’re just being hyper-cautious with security and…” One of the men glanced her direction, his mouth moved and Quincy’s head turned toward her. She could see a myriad of emotions on his face. As he and two of the men headed toward
, wrong. Quincy opened the driver’s door. “Hammond,” she stated quietly. “Looks like it,” he nodded, climbing in. The men climbed into the back seat. “Hancock and MacLauren are going to be all kinds of pissed.” “You would have known if you hadn’t…” one man in the back started. “That’s fucking bullshit and you know it, Ryan!” Quincy snarled, shooting a hard look over his shoulder. “If Hancock knew there would be an attempt on her and didn’t tell me, then I’ll have his fucking ass on a stick to roast over a bonfire.” “And I’ll light it,” Debbie whispered. As all three men looked at her, she kept her gaze on Quincy. “Ben wouldn’t do that and you know it. This was either random or Hammond getting desperate for some reason.” She turned around and gave Ryan a look that should’ve dropped him like a stone. “And you can shut your mouth around me. Don’t say one bad thing about Quincy around me.” The man stared at her incredulously, then looked at Quincy. “Is she fucking serious?” A long arm shot out and caught the man’s jacket, jerking him to the middle of the cab. “I suggest you do what she said. Got it?” Ryan nodded and the other man whistled, raising his hands to form a T. “Okay, focus, fellas. Bad guy just made an attempt on
someone s e. e s ma e sure e oesn ge ano er c ance. “Good point, Oscar,” Quincy nodded. Gunning the engine, he headed down the street. Debbie stayed turned in the seat, eyes on him. “We’ve got to report to Hancock and MacLauren. Allen will need to increase building security.” “Not Serena,” Debbie whispered. “Make sure that whoever is guarding Serena knows not to say anything around her. She’s dealing with enough. Her new boyfriend hasn’t called since the attack and she thinks that it’s because Hammond nearly raped her.” “That’s what she said when you called her this morning?” Quincy frowned, making the right turn into the building’s garage area. “Yeah,” she nodded, slumping against the back of the seat. “She had one weekend of incredible bliss and he said he’d be over Monday night, Hammond attacked and she hasn’t heard from him since. She calls and leaves messages, but he never picks up and never calls.” “Asshole,” muttered the man behind Quincy. “It wasn’t her fault, whether or not Hammond did rape her. You and Claire saved her and…” “I like you,” Debbie grinned. “Thank you,” he winked. “Ryan’s not really a bad guy, just a bit of a chauvinist. Not his fault. His father was an asshole.” Debbie glanced at Ryan, who was glaring daggers at Oscar. Deciding that everyone had enough to deal with it, she decided to let it pass.
“It happens to the best of us,” she nodded, looking at Ryan who gave her a wary look. “Guess we both need more caffeine before we’re around people in the morning.” Quincy backed into his spot and shut off the engine. In the way she was beginning to love, he caught the back of her head and looked at her. “As long as he doesn’t take his coffee the way I do mine,” he murmured before kissing her. “Yeah, okay, find a room, you two,” Ryan muttered. Chuckling, Quincy released her. Winking, she waited for him to come around to her door. When the elevator doors opened, both MacLauren and Hancock were waiting. Word had definitely gone ahead of them, she realized. “Hammond made bail?” Quincy asked as they headed down the hall toward Keith’s office. Paul and David were already there, standing by the windows. “He’s roaming the streets?” “Supported by my half-brothers and others in my family,” muttered the CEO. “Dammit, I don’t understand how they can keep doing this. There has to be a reason.” He paced about his office before sinking into his chair. “We have to assume that, having failed at this, he’ll try an attack at Debbie’s apartment,” Ben started. “It’s not safe for them to go back there.” “What?” Debbie whipped her head around. “I live there and…” “You’ll move in here,” Keith interrupted. “There are several ’
Kendra, the concierge. She’ll be here in a few minutes to take you around. You can have whichever one you want. “What about Serena?” Debbie whispered. “I don’t want her to know about this. She’s dealing with enough, but is she going to be safe? She’s just down the hall and Hammond’s already gone after her once.” “She can’t positively ID Hammond as her attacker this time,” Paul said. “Claire can only say that he sounded like her boss. That can be argued against as Claire didn’t like her boss, et cetera. You actually saw him. You are the one a jury would have to weigh his alibi against.” “Serena’s got three of my best men either with her or in the next apartment,” Ben assured Debbie. “She is never alone.” Nodding, Debbie relaxed slightly, then trembled. Wrapping her arms around her body, she glanced at Quincy. “Adrenaline let-down,” he murmured, stepping up and holding her. “Keith?” Debbie saw a curvy, fortyish woman in the doorway. Dark brown hair curled around a heart-shaped face with lively, pale blue eyes that were startling against the light, coffee-colored skin. “Kendra, this is Debbie and Quincy. Please show them the apartments on the list I gave you and give them the keys to whichever they choose,” Keith spoke. “Quincy.” Debbie saw an index card passed and frowned. Her curiosity was piqued when Quincy blinked then smiled. Kendra beamed. “ ” “’
, . up with some nice people. Now, you just come with me and I’ll show you around. Some already have some furniture in them while others are completely empty.” Realizing she wouldn’t be going back to her apartment, Debbie froze. Her gaze went from Quincy to Keith and Ben. Her boss nodded in understanding. “I’ll send men over now. They’ll pack everything up and move it to whichever apartment you pick. I just need your key.” “Thank you,” she nodded. She slid the apartment key off the ring and handed it to him. That reminded her of something else. Leaving Quincy, she went to Paul, who gave her a suspicious look. When she crooked her finger, he lowered his head so she could whisper. “Quincy took me to Gray Shadows last night. I’m sorry about the way I’ve been. And thank you for looking out for me.” His hazel eyes bore into hers for a long moment. “Claire cares about you,” he said simply. “And I care about her,” she replied. He nodded and she returned to Quincy. As they followed Kendra, she heard Keith ask, “Is that something I want to know about?” Debbie didn’t mean to be indecisive. But with everything that had happened, she barely paid any attention to the first three apartments Kendra showed them. Only as they stood at the door of the fourth and a little boy ran out of one of the other two doors on the floor did Debbie blink and become aware of her
surroundings. He whooped and ran to them, touching the door and then running to the elevator. “Alec Lexington,” a woman shouted through the open door. “Come back here.” “I win,” he crowed, clapping his hands. “I reached the box all by myself.” A harried, slightly overweight young woman appeared. “Alec, what am I going to do with you?” she gasped, shaking her head as she smiled at the boy dancing in the hall. “Your mama and Aunt Rose are going to go crazy when they realize…” her voice trailed off as she saw the three at the other door. “Good morning,” she whispered. “Hello, Kendra.” “Good morning, Elle,” Kendra smiled. “Keith asked me to show Debbie and Quincy some of the empty apartments.” Pale blue eyes lit up. “Neighbors? That would be wonderful!” “Yeah,” Alec shouted. “Neighbors.” Elle scooped him up in her arms. “He’s not always this loud,” she said hurriedly, backing up into their apartment. “He’s really a good boy. Really.” “I’m sure he is,” Debbie smiled. “It was nice to meet you.” Elle turned bright red even as she smiled back. A second later, the door closed over Alec’s protests. Debbie looked at Kendra. “Who are they?” “Alec Lexington, son of Lily Lexington, and Elle CustisJefferson,” came the reply as she keyed in the access code. “Ms. Lexin ton is…”
“I know her,” Debbie nodded. “She’s my financial advisor. I heard she had a son, and that Rose Custis lived with her. Is Elle a relation?” “A cousin,” Kendra nodded, opening the door. “I don’t know the details.” Debbie smiled. “And even if you did, you wouldn’t gossip about them,” she murmured. “I can imagine the tales you could tell.” “If I thought about it,” Kendra replied smoothly. Debbie looked around the entryway. She’d heard all the rumors, practically from the moment she’d started working for MC. Nearly five years ago, Brody and Rose Custis’ parents had been killed in a helicopter crash in the Rockies. Brody had done a complete personality change and become a tyrant over his younger sister. As soon as she’d turned eighteen, Rose had moved in with Lily, one of her trustees. Lily had been pregnant, refusing to name the father. None of the three involved had ever commented on the rampant gossip that Brody was the father and refused to believe it and Rose had been reduced to near poverty because she took Lily’s side. Debbie couldn’t remember a cousin named Elle but that certainly added a new twist to things. Twist. Debbie came to a full-stop in the middle of the kitchen. Brody was a sexual dominant. If their names had been linked, that meant Lily had been his submissive. They both lived in the same building. Keith was friends with Brody, Ben, and… suddenly ’
apartments Kendra had shown them had in common—a room with a coded entrance. At first she’d thought they were panic rooms she’d heard the famously wealthy had. Now, with her growing knowledge of those around her, she wondered if they were something else. “Problem, babe?” Quincy asked, coming in from the dining room. “I like this one better than the others. I like the fireplaces,” he smiled. “And the coded rooms?” she whispered. He paused, looked at her and nodded slowly. “This one,” she stated. They were in it at the moment, and it felt right. And the other apartments had been on floors with no other occupants. Debbie was too used to some activity, to having neighbors nearby. And for some reason, something about the startled, pleased expression on Elle’s face tugged at her. “I want this one. I don’t know how much it is, but…” “I’ll work it out with Keith,” he smiled, kissing her swiftly. “Go to the coded door while I talk to Kendra.” Nodding, she went down the hall while he returned to the dining room where Kendra waited. She saw the woman briefly as she passed through the hallway before Quincy came striding down toward her. He pulled out the index card. “What is it?” she whispered. “A soundproof room,” he replied, punching in first one code, then a second. “To enter this room, your birth month, then mine.” She nodded as he slid the door to the right. “Nice.”
e e staye n t e oorway an oo e aroun . As t was in a corner, two walls were mostly windows, floor to ceiling, revealing stunning views of Battery Park and the rest of Manhattan. One wall was mirrored while the other, that had the door in it, had a large cabinet to the right that had several drawers and doors in it. Quincy paced the perimeter, muttering to himself, spreading his arms out as if measuring and mentally placing things. “Quincy?” “Welcome to the playroom,” he smiled, looking around. “I can arrange for a number of interesting things in here. A spanking bench. A St. Andrew’s cross.” He held out his hand and she joined him at the window. “All sorts of wonderful things we can try out at the Club and if we really like them, we can order our own and put them here.” Debbie felt the heat coil in her pussy as he pulled her against him. She could feel his hard cock pressing against her and wriggled, wondering if he would take her. “Not yet, babe,” he murmured, even as one hand slid down her back and gripped her ass. “But, by the time we get back after work tonight, I can have some things in here. That way I can properly spank you when you’re a bad girl.” “Me?” She batted her lashes at him. “When am I a bad girl?” “Right now,” he growled, his mouth trailing kisses down the side of her face. One hand pulled the silky cloth of her turtleneck down and his lips fastened on her pulse. She cried out as his other hand kneaded her ass cheeks.
“Please,” she panted. “Please, master. Fuck me now.” His teeth scraped her skin as his hand left her ass before returning with a hard smack. “Behave,” he warned. Whimpering, she nodded, relaxing against him. “Yes, master. I’ll be good.” “For now,” he observed dryly. When he raised his head, she could see the heat in his eyes. It was mildly comforting to know that he was tempted to forget his plans and fuck her right there. He looked around and his mouth twisted in a smile. “First thing I’ll do is order a spanking bench and a few toys to use on you. I’m sure you’ll continue to earn spankings on a daily basis.” “Well, when you’re so good at giving them,” she replied saucily, wriggling her hips against his cock. “How can I not be torn between wanting to be absolutely perfect or absolutely horrible?” She twisted and slipped away from his grasp. She got to the door before he replied. “Debbie, we’re going to be alone all weekend. And have a room where no one can hear you.” Blindly, she reached out and caught the frame. All weekend. Alone. No one but Quincy to hear her pleas for him to take her. To do what he wanted to her, but, to please, please fuck her. Her fingers tightened on the wood as she fought the urge to turn around and beg him to take her right then and there. The effort had her trembling and she leaned against the wall, head bowed
. in five days? One week ago she would never have believed anyone if they’d told her in seven days she would do anything for one man. And not just because of the sex. They were perfect for each other in so many ways. “Debbie?” She hadn’t heard him cross the room. He stood next to her and she looked up at him. “Do we still have to go to the Club?” she whispered. “Can’t we just come up here when we leave the office and…” She saw the relief in his eyes and realized he had been afraid she was going to call off everything. As if! “Oh, no, babe,” he smiled, turning her and bringing her back against his front. His palms covered her breasts and she was very aware of the nipple rings. “I’m showing you off and claiming you as my submissive publicly.” His lips brushed her ear. “I can’t tell you how much I want to do that. I’ve something special planned.” “What?” “You’ll see.” Debbie pressed her lips together in frustration, fighting the urge to ask more questions. She already knew it wouldn’t do any good. Except get her more spankings. And she had a feeling she’d get enough of those without adding to them. By four o’clock, she was convinced she’d done more in eight hours than she’d ever done in her life. She’d gone back and forth between meetings, leading her groups on the projects, and up to
e apar men a ree o e e men w ere o pu ngs. a meant getting hold of Claire because everything had been packed up, not just her things. “I don’t care what they do with my things,” Claire told her over the phone. “Throw them out, donate them, whatever. I don’t care.” “Claire, honey, talk to me,” Debbie whispered, curled up on the chair by the living room fireplace. “Is it Paul and David? What’s happened? “ “It’s…it’s complicated.” “Yeah, I knew that already,” Debbie drawled. “Claire, I know about Gray Shadows. I know about the Club. Talk to me.” Claire gasped, then gave a little moan. “Quincy’s like them? Oh, Debbie, I’m sorry. I…I can’t talk about it.” The line went silent. When Debbie called both the office and Claire’s cell phone number, she went to voice mail. “Dammit,” she muttered. “Miss Sheldon?” one man asked. “What should we do with those boxes?” “We’ll put them in the far bedroom down the hall,” Debbie decided. As the men began carrying the boxes, Debbie called another number. “Paul Jensen.” “You hurt her.” “No.” “Paul, I just talked to her. I told her I knew about Gray Shadows, she said she was sorry and then hung up on me. Paul,”
she wailed. “Claire’s my friend. My best friend. I swear, if you and David have hurt her…” “Debbie, I swear to you that we haven’t. Things are complicated.” “Complicated like the man she thought loved seducing her only to be in a threesome with his best friend?” Debbie lashed out as Quincy appeared in the entryway. “Like the two of you just wanting her as a sex slave or something?” “You don’t know anything about it,” Paul’s tone was cold and forbidding. “And we certainly are not treating Claire like a sex slave. I have to go.” The line went dead again. Debbie let her cell phone fall to the floor as she curled up and cried. “What the hell are you doing?” “They brought Claire’s things as well,” she sobbed. “I was trying to find out what she wanted done with them. She…” Quincy came to her, kneeling next to the chair and holding her. Debbie buried her face against his shoulder. “How can I be so happy while my only two friends are so miserable? They’ve always been there for me and I can’t do anything for them.” “Shh, babe,” he murmured. “It’ll work out somehow. Maybe not the way you want, but the way it has to.” She protested slightly even as she nestled against him. “Now, you have one more meeting to get through before we get the weekend to ourselves.” She nodded and raised her head. Oscar and Ryan were in the
“Yo, Quince,” Oscar called. “You wanna tell us where to put this? It’s a bit on the heavy side.” “Yeah,” Quincy replied with a nod, standing. He helped Debbie to her feet and whispered in her ear. “Your spanking bench and some extra toys. Plus what you’ll wear to the Club.” Her jaw dropped. He winked at her before leading the two men down the hall. “Everything’s set, Miss Sheldon,” the original moving men came back to the living room. “You need anything else?” “No,” she shook her head. “No, thank you so much.” They left and she paused to gather herself. She wasn’t just some poor girl from the coal-mining hills of West Virginia. She was Debbie Sheldon, senior project manager for MacLauren Computing. A woman who was strong and intelligent, and submissive to a man who was even now preparing a room so he could spank her whenever she deserved it. She smiled broadly, before giggling to herself. Who would’ve thunk it? Grabbing her purse, she whisked out the door and took the stairs to the Programming Division five floors below. “Where the hell is she?” Quincy frowned as he paused at the living room archway. “Did you tell her to wait for you?” Oscar wondered. “No, and she probably headed down for the meeting,” he muttered, pulling out his cell phone. About to push the button, he shook his head and put it away. “She turns it off for meetings.” “You seem to have picked up on a lot of things about her,”
. button for the resident elevator. “Not to mention changed your plans completely in one week. You’re sure about all this?” “I’ve only been absolutely certain about a few things in my life. Joining the Army, going after the Captain, and making Debbie mine in every way possible.” The elevator door slid open and Quincy saw the woman and boy from that morning. “Oh,” she gasped, eyes widening at the sight of the three men. Her hand tightened its grasp on Alec as she pulled him closer. “Hello.” “Hello,” Quincy said quietly. “Elle, isn’t it? We met this morning.” “Yes,” she nodded, eyes darting from one man to the other. “You were with Kendra.” “We’ve pretty much moved in,” he told her, stepping back so she could exit the car. “I think seeing you helped Debbie make up her mind. Thank you.” “Really?” Elle seemed astonished at the idea. “I helped?” “I think so,” he nodded, winking at Alec who grinned back at him. “Coming back from the park?” “Yes,” Alec beamed, bouncing on his toes. “A storm is coming in tomorrow and Elle wanted me to get lots of fresh air.” “Sounds like an excellent idea, except you still seem full of energy,” Quincy commented. “I’m like a bouncy ball,” he giggled. “I bounce and bounce and bounce!”
“And I get worn out,” Elle shook her head as Alec pulled her to their door. “I tried,” she smiled. “It was nice seeing you again.” Quincy stepped in with Oscar right behind him. Ryan’s head was turned to watch the pair. “Ryan? You coming or going to stand here and enjoy the view?” Startled, Elle’s head whipped around. Ryan winked at her before joining the two men. Oscar shook his head as the door slid closed. “Must be something about this building,” he muttered. “What was that?” Quincy frowned. “What the hell is it about this building? Every man in it looks at a woman and wants to fuck her.” “Maybe because we know how and can get it better than you,” Ryan retorted. Quincy tuned out their verbal sparring, focusing on how soon he could get to his woman and fuck her .
Chapter Thirteen Sitting on the mammoth bed in their bedroom, Debbie had thought she’d finished with the “I can’t believe I’m actually doing this” list. Quincy proved her wrong. Again. She was dressed in a white satin slip-dress similar to the navy slip she’d worn for him. Had that really only been Tuesday? Covering her from shoulders to feet was a black cashmere cape. On her feet were white ballet flats. She wore nothing else. No harness, no toys, no jewelry of any type. Quincy came from his large closet and she stared. The night before she’d thought he’d looked incredible in his dark jeans, black tee, and black leather jacket. Now, though, he looked like the bad boy in every girl’s darkest dreams—black leather pants, boots, black silk shirt, and a long black trench. His dark hair hung loose and she swallowed down the delicious thrill that zipped up and down her spine. He came toward her without a word. Pulling the hood over her head, he gently grasped her shoulders and stood her up. “Any questions?” “No, master,” she whispered. “All right,” he nodded. “Remember, no talking, keep your eyes down, and stay where I put you.”
“Yes, master,” she nodded. His fingers traced her jaw. “The car’s waiting. Let’s go.” Keeping her eyes down, Debbie simply went where he guided her. Into the elevator, out a few steps in the garage, and ducking down to enter a car. He was silent the entire drive. When the car stopped, he exited and reached a hand in to help her out. They entered another elevator and he punched in a code. When the doors opened, Debbie saw polished dark floors. Quincy’s hand on her shoulder pressed her forward. “Good evening, Master Quincy,” a man’s voice greeted him. “Hello, Steve. Is the Board ready?” “Another fifteen minutes. They suggested you wait in the Pub.” “Of course,” Quincy replied. “Thank you.” Debbie counted forty steps before a right turn. The sound of low jazz music grew and she lifted her eyes slightly to get a feel for how large the room was. From a quick glimpse, she got the impression of something the size of the MC employees’ dining room. The Club was that big. Everywhere was the murmur of multiple conversations. “Master Quincy,” another man greeted them. “The Board asked that a booth be reserved for you while you waited.” “Thank you.” When they paused again, Quincy gently pressured her to sit down. Gratefully, she sank onto the soft leather seat. Her hood was lifted off her and his face came into her line of sight. “There’s someone I need to talk with. Stay here. You’re in a ”
. . She nodded, wishing he wouldn’t leave her alone. Seeing that in her eyes, he smiled slightly. “You’ll be all right, babe. Eyes down and sit still.” Nodding again, she kept her eyes on the table. She felt him leave her and began counting to stay calm. She reached forty when she saw someone stop in her peripheral vision. Was he back so soon? Had it been a test? She felt fear race through her. The thick fingers reaching toward her were not Quincy’s. “He left you unguarded,” a man growled. “He’s a fool.” Debbie shrank back against the leather, raising her gaze to see a leering expression. “This is a safe booth,” she whispered. “Leave me alone.” “I don’t think so,” he shook his head. “I’m a master and you are going to be mine. Now.” He grabbed her arm and dragged her from the booth. “Leave me alone,” she shouted. “Quincy!” “Monroe,” rang Quincy’s voice from across the room. The man just laughed and yanked the cape from her shoulders. “Such a sweet morsel,” he sneered, groping her breast over the satin. “Leave me alone, you sonuvabitch,” she yelled. Pulling her hand back, she curled her fingers as her arm swung around. Her fist caught him at the temple as her knee collided with his balls. “God damn, bitch,” he howled, doubling over.
s gr p on er arm oosene an s e er e away rom m. He kicked out at her and she tripped, sprawling on the floor. Scrambling, tears blurring her vision, she searched the moving shadows for Quincy. “I’ve got you, babe,” he whispered, suddenly there. Pulling her to her feet, he put her behind him. Ryan, Oscar, and a couple other men she recognized from Hancock Security surrounded her. “Stay here.” “You told me that already,” she muttered. Oscar’s hand gripped her shoulder. “He’s about to kill a man,” he said in her ear. “You might want to hold off on the bitchy comments.” Debbie gasped as she saw a flash of silver in Quincy’s hand. In shock, she watched him grasp the front of Monroe’s dark shirt and yank him to his feet. “What the hell were you doing with my submissive?” he snarled, giving the shorter man a shake. “She’s not wearing a collar.” “You saw her come in with me,” Quincy shook his head. “You saw me place her in a safe booth. You went after her because you knew she was mine.” “I want her punished,” Monroe screamed. “She attacked a master. She…” Quincy shoved him away and Monroe crashed into a table. He fell to the floor only to look up and see Quincy standing over him. The length of the blade seemed even more dangerous as he knelt next to the other Dom. Debbie glanced around as she
considered the very real possibility that Quincy would kill this man. No one else was moving or seemed surprised. “Did you really think a submissive of mine would let anyone but me touch her? Be unable to defend herself? You should be punished for touching a sub who was clearly not meant for or interested in you.” “Agreed,” rumbled a deep voice to the right. Debbie looked up and saw five men in dark gray leather. She ran through the colors Quincy had told her about. There’d been nothing about dark gray. The Board, she realized. Quincy stepped back from Monroe, picked up her cape, and joined her. Debbie felt the warmth of the cashmere surround her as he wrapped it around her shoulders before holding her to his side. Grateful and relieved, she leaned against him. “Quincy, there are more than enough witnesses here,” the man in the center of the five men spoke again. “Claim your submissive if she’ll have you.” Debbie saw the corner of Quincy’s mouth twitch. Okay, she thought. That last was obviously part of some ritual as it was obvious she wanted him. “Kneel,” he said quietly, taking the cape from her again. He passed the cape to Oscar. “Facing me.” Feeling exposed in the white satin, she knelt before him. “I am John Quincy Stormcloud,” he said in a strong, sure voice. “I am a master and I lay permanent claim to Deborah Alicia Sheldon as my submissive.”
“Miss Sheldon, I am Master Grady, leader of the membership board. You may look at me.” Debbie tilted her head back and recognized him from somewhere. Maybe he’d been in The Gray Shadows and she’d seen him. “Do you accept the responsibilities, duties, and rights of a submissive?” “Yes, Master Grady,” she whispered, nodding. “Do you accept the permanent claim of John Quincy Stormcloud as your master?” “Yes, Master Grady.” With a slight smile, Master Grady stepped back. “Collar your submissive,” he said to Quincy. Dipping his right hand into his pocket, Quincy pulled out a thick silver chain. Debbie saw blue and black stones alternating in the links—turquoise for his Sioux heritage and opal for her coal-mining background. Sweeping her hair over her shoulder, Quincy fastened the collar around her throat. For one long moment, their gazes held. She felt his hand slide around her neck and smiled as his fingers tangled in her hair. “Mine,” he stated firmly, pulling her up and toward him. The kiss was one of pure possession, claiming her before everyone watching. His tongue swept into her mouth, tangling and tugging on hers. Her eyes drifted close and she whimpered in her need as the fire began burning in her. “You need something, babe?” he murmured, lifting his head slightly. “Just you, Master,” she sighed. “’ ”
,
,
arms. Master Grady’s brown eyes sparkled with humor as Oscar draped her cape over her so she was again covered from head to toe. “We’ll deal with Monroe,” Grady told Quincy in a low tone. “You enjoy your night.” “Thank you,” Quincy replied. Curling into his chest, Debbie closed her eyes. She felt the long strides moving them across the room and back into the hall. The elevator was waiting for them. He entered and turned toward the control panel. “Push eight,” he told her. Her hand snaked out, jabbed at the button, and disappeared back under the cape. “You’re not angry with me?” she whispered. “God, no.” He shook his head. “I’m pissed at myself, at others who did nothing to protect you, and the damned Board itself for not being ready when we arrived.” He brushed a kiss against her forehead. “But I am not pissed at you, babe.” He smiled. “I couldn’t be more proud of you.” The elevator doors opened and he strode out, going to their left. “Let’s see how long you manage to hold out when we get to the room.” “Hold out against what?” she wondered. He paused at the door. “Inside my right coat pocket is a key card for the door,” he told her.
She retrieved and inserted the card into the key mechanism. The light blinked green and she turned the handle. He stepped inside and used his back to close the door behind them. He set her on her feet, tossing the cape onto a nearby chair. She kept her eyes on him as he removed his trench coat and added it to the chair’s burdens. “How long you hold out against that,” he smiled, turning her around. She gasped, pressing back against him. The room was empty except for a dresser and a chair to the right of the door. And the object in the middle of the room. “What…” “It’s a spanking bench,” he whispered in her ear. “I strap you in so you’re completely helpless. I’m going to set the machine with a dildo so it fucks your hot little pussy while I spank that sweet ass of yours until it’s bright red. Then,” he caught the hem of her slip and pulled it off her. “When you’re hoarse from begging me to take you, I’m going to fuck your ass.” Debbie closed her eyes, feeling her legs go weak. He picked her up and carried her to the contraption in the middle of the room. In a matter of moments, she was on all fours, her torso supported by a leather-covered pad. Leather straps went over her ankles, just below her knees, wrists and near her elbows. Then he strapped her waist down. Her head hung down, her black hair like a veil on either side of her face. “Very nice,” he murmured, teasing her clit. “Master ” she whis ered turnin her head to look at him.
“It’s a little early for you to be begging, babe,” he smiled, standing. He removed his clothing, piling his things on top of their outer garments. Going to the nearby dresser, he pulled out a paddle. “Now, one of the things we’ve never discussed is a safe word. If you need to stop something, whether something is too painful or you realize you really can’t handle what we’re doing, say ‘gigabyte.’ And if you’re okay with what’s happening, say ‘monitor.’ Repeat those.” “Gigabyte means stop. Monitor means okay,” she repeated. “Very good,” he nodded, walking around her. She felt his hand stroke along her back. “Now, what do you think you’ve done today to deserve a spanking?” She let her head hang down. “I kept teasing you at work,” she said quietly. “And in the apartment I tried to go into the playroom when you told me not to.” “Very good,” he said with approval. “Discretion, babe. We have to use discretion, especially about the dominant-submissive side of our relationship. People would have trouble accepting the fact that I spank you as part of fucking you.” “I’ll be careful, Master,” she promised. “I know, babe. And when I buy new toys, you will wait until I decide to give them to you. Or use them on you,” he replied. “Let’s see what you think of the dildo fucking your pussy.” Quincy squatted and adjusted the dildo, carefully putting it just inside her. A soft whirring noise and it began sliding further into her. Debbie’s breath caught in her throat and she wasn’t sure she
. the machine. It would slide in and hold still for a heartbeat before pu pulling nearly all the way out and pushing bac back into her. “Oh, God!” she groaned. “You like it,” he chuckled, tapping her ass with the paddle. “Let’s see if you can hold out for ten.” “Yes, master,” she managed to gasp as the dildo began moving faster. He chuckled again. Whap. She cried out, her head going ba back. “Count, Debbie.” “One.” Whap. “Two.” By five, she felt as if she’d fallen into an orgy. Her pussy was weeping in its need to orgasm and she knew she wouldn’t make it to ten. Whap. “S…Six. Master. Please. Fuck me, master. Please, fuck me.” “Four more.” “I can’t,” she sobbed, tugging at the straps. “Please, master.” Whap. “Seven. Please, I need you to fuck me. Please, I…” Whap. The dildo was ravishing her pussy and she screamed. “Eight. Master, please. I love you. Please, fuck me.” The room went suddenly still, except for her sobbing and his harsh breathing. Debbie closed her eyes. Oh, shit! Had she really said that? He’d never intimated anything about emotions. It had always been the physical and mental connections with him. Her ass cheeks throbbed from the eight smacks she’d already
rece ve an s e race erse or t e ast two. Instead, she heard the paddle clatter to the floor. She heard something that sounded like a rubber band snapping and then something else hit the floor. His hands grasped her hips and the next she felt was his finger pushing into her anus. He pulled it out and a second later, she felt his cock at her tight hole. Covered with a condom and lube, his erection demanded entrance. The dildo continued to fuck her pussy. His heavy torso rested on hers as she waited, tense with nerves. “This is the closest you’ll ever come to having two cocks in you,” he whispered, “You’re mine, Debbie.” A hand in her hair turned her head toward his. “I love you,” he told her. “I love you.” Quincy reached under her, found her clit and teased it. “Come for me, sweetheart,” he commanded. “Now.” Relief swept through her at his words. He loved her. As her muscles relaxed, the orgasm uncoiled and rushed through her. It was like stepping on a live wire as her body jolted. She moaned and gasped for breath. Another orgasm swept over her as he kissed her. Electricity was still zipping through her as he sheathed his cock fully in her ass. She panted as he waited a moment for her to adjust. “Ohhhhh,” she moaned. She was full, stretched, and so turned on she thought she’d explode in the need to have everything he would give her. “Master.” She twisted her head so she could see him. He adjusted the machine and met her gaze. His hands gripped the bars of the be bench and he pulled nearly out of her.
“Are you all right?” he asked, concern in his voice. “What’s your word?” “Monitor,” she smiled softly, letting her head drop down again. His hands held her hips as he slowly pressed back into her ass. Her body began a constant trembling at the feeling of him filling her. His hands stroked her back as the dildo’s pace increased. The coarse hair of his groin teased her folds and she realized his cock was fully inside her ass. She felt the hard length inside her and wanted more than the easy, slight strokes he was making. She needed to feel him drive into her, to know that he’d taken her in the last place he could. She needed to know she was totally, completely his. His hands brushed the sides of her br breasts and and then as as he he swept the them down he her sid sides, one teased her clit. Driven nearly crazy with the building heat, she wiggled her hips. “Master, please,” she whispered. “Please, fuck me.” His hands smoothed over her from shoulder to thigh before gripping her waist. “I think you’re used to me now,” he murmured, He alternated his strokes with the dildo. She closed her eyes and surrendered to the fucking. Her master had collared her. The man she loved had said he loved her. No one else would ever touch her like this. “Come for me, Debbie. Come for me.”
that rolled over her. Quincy’s shout as he released in her pushed her over one last time and she passed out. His sweet, incredible submissive, Quincy thought, pulling out of her. After carefully cleaning her, he dressed, then unstrapped her, and wrapped her up in the cape, the white silk tucked in one of his coat pockets. The car was waiting to take them back to the security of the MacLauren Building. He had all weekend to seduce and satisfy her.
About the Author
Abby Gordon believes in love at sight, pursuing dreams until they come true, and that having flowers nearby makes waking up easier. Visit Abby at http://abbysgardennook.blogspot.com http://www.facebook.com/mobileprotection#!/profile.php? id=100001050773624 To chat with Abby Gordon and other Wild Rose Press authors of erotic romance, join us at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/thewilderroses.
Also Available
Model Fantasy by Abby Gordon Supermodel Francine is the sexiest woman alive, and she just found her fiancé cheating on her. A tipsy conversation about her erotic fantasies brings about the sexual encounter of her dreams. Having withdrawn from society life, Grant seizes the chance to dominate the woman he’s lusted after for years. But afterward, Grant must again deal with the spotlight when Francine’s ex strikes back at her publicly. Can they overcome life’s obstacles to make fantasy reality?
Chapter One Raising his glass, Grant Franklin sipped his water and nodded to a business associate at a nearby table. Everywhere he looked at the high-end, damn-near-impossible-to-get-a-table restaurant were people who came to see and be seen. Elegant furniture, classical music, polished silver, linens pressed to perfection, and fresh flowers on every table. It was the perfect setting for those who wanted their business and social peers to consider them just like everyone else. People like those at his table. “Damned near drove off the road into the mailbox,” Ben Hancock was saying. “Thank God I was going slow. The bump as we hit the curb gave me enough time to straighten out.” “You mean,” Grant’s cousin Bronson laughed. “Thank God there was no one on the sidewalk at two in the morning.” “You didn’t tell him where he was headed?” Ben’s older cousin Brian frowned. “I didn’t have a clue where we were going. I was too damn bu busy looking at the damn billboard!” The men all laughed. “And she wasn’t a brunette? Bron, I’m impressed.” Grant grinned, leaning back in his chair.
“God, what a woman.” Ben shook his head, picking up his glass. With impassive faces, two waiters smoothly cleared their soup bo bowls and set their entrees before them. Kei Keith MacLauren nodded. “I heard that it’s already in the top ten downloads of all time,” he offered his expert opinion, having an international innovative software company. “It nearly crashed the servers in Japan.” “No woman’s that beautiful.” Grant finally shook his head. “You have to be exaggerating.” “Actually,” Brian spoke up in his heavy Boston Brahmin accent. “They’re not too far off the mark.” He reached down and lifted the old-fashioned leather briefcase he used. Flipping it open, he pulled out a heavy business journal and handed it to Grant. “Open and drool at your own risk.” Giving the younger man a sardonic, yeah-right look, Grant lifted the front cover, blinked and promptly turned the magazine to get the full effect. Slender, blonde, and a come-get-me-if-youthink-you’re-man-enough expression on the most perfect face he’d ever seen, with roses strategically placed on her breasts and the juncture of her thighs. “And God created woman,” he breathed. “I’ll take one, pl please.” “I saw her first,” Ben objected with a laugh. “What’s her name?” Grant wondered. “Francine,” Keith told him. “Lincoln, but I think she’ll only ’
. magazine with a two-page spread of the advertisement and…” “Ad? Who gives a fuck what she’s selling?” Bron grinned. “This is how to get a hard-on,” murmured Grant as he felt the be beginnings of of one st stir in in his sl slacks. “Ca “Can n you imagine ha having her in your bed? You’d never leave. Never get any work done.” “Just your bed?” Boone queried in his low rasping voice. “Good point.” Grant nodded with a slight smile. “Having her in your bed might be an afterthought.” Those at the table chuckled. They were all members of an exclusive, secretive club that had been founded over fifty years earlier for those with certain sexual tendencies. While the Club catered to a variety of tastes from the mild to the extreme, the men gathered leaned toward sexual domination. Grant had been sponsored by a maternal uncle and, in turn, had sponsored the others dining with him. All highly successful in their professional lives, they helped each other maintain the façade of normalcy with public appearances, including their weekly lunches. As the conversation swirled about him, Grant sipped his water and studied the model. He could just imagine her in his pe penthouse pl playroom. Th That sl slender bo body draped ov over a spanking be bench as she waited for whatever discipline he’d decided on on. Or Or secured to the St. Andrew’s cross, with the cascade of gold hair framing her face as he teased her with a soft leather crop. Or slung in his newest addition—a swing that left her pussy, ass, and mouth available, depending on how he wanted to fuck her. “Back to earth, Grant,” Bronson murmured. “Having her
wou garner a e uva o more a en on an you e. Grant’s body stiffened at his cousin’s words and he gave him a hard look with blue eyes that had been compared to the Titanic’s iceberg. His cousin knew better than to refer to the hell Grant had been through five years earlier. A former girlfriend had created a scandal by claiming she was pregnant with Grant’s child. The paparazzi had surrounded the entire Franklin family like piranha for weeks. Their younger cousin Heather was just now emerging from the shell she’d retreated into. Bronson had turned the event into a reason to make stalkers and paparazzi cases his priority and Grant had withdrawn from society completely. These lunches were practically the only time he went anywhere besides the Club. “Yeah, it would.” He slowly nodded. He closed the magazine. “She probably wouldn’t be much anyway.” “Hey, Brody finally decided to show up.” Ben smiled, seeing the last of their group weaving his way through the tables. Collapsing into his chair between Grant and Brian, Brody reached for the drink they’d had waiting for him. “Mondays should be outlawed,” he growled. “Let me show you something to cheer you up,” Grant suggested, starting to open the magazine. “Seen it, not interested.” Brody shook his head. “What’s your problem?” Brian wondered. “Rose moved out.” “So? She’s eighteen now.” Bronson frowned. “It’s only natural that your sister would want to move out on her own.”
“She moved in with Lily,” elaborated Brody, finishing the drink and raising the glass to signal for another. “One of her trustees and a secondary guardian.” Bronson nodded. The lawyer of the group, he shrugged. “At least you know she’ll be well supervised.” “Not hardly,” snarled Brody. “Lily’s pregnant and says it’s mine.” None of the men moved. Grant’s eyes skimmed over the stunned expressions at the table. Pulling from his memory, Grant tried to recall Lily’s face and could only picture her with her arms around Rose at the funerals for Brody’s parents. “I don’t even remember seeing you with her in public,” Grant said slowly. “That’s who you’ve been with at the Club,” Ben whispered, dark eyes widening in shock. “Your father’s financial protégée? Shit, Brody!” “It’s not mine,” stated Brody firmly. “I’ve been told by someone I trust implicitly that she hooked up with someone in Tahoe when she went there…” Grant held up a hand and Brody fell silent. He took a deep breath and chose his words carefully. God knew he’d been innocent against Sheila’s accusations, but if Brody had actually taken Lily to the Club and been seen with her by Ben and probably others, then there was a chance she was telling the truth. Grant knew better than to automatically paint her in the same light as Sheila. “
care of your sister after your parents were killed in a helicopter crash, and you’re saying she fucked someone and is trying to pass the baby off as yours. I get that right?” “In a nutshell, yeah.” Brody nodded. “Have you lost your fucking mind?” Brian asked him, his shock as obvious as everyone else’s. “How can you be so damned sure it’s not yours?” “I just know, all right?” insisted the man as a second drink was placed before him. “Better bring another now,” he told the waiter. “Of course, sir,” came the quiet murmur. “I know I’m not the father,” Brody whispered. Grant could see the anguish in his eyes. “Yeah, Ben, I took her to the Club. We knew we had to keep it quiet, but…” He downed the drink. “I sure as hell never expected her to do this. And for Rose to take her side.” He shuddered, but Grant couldn’t be sure if it was from the drink hitting his stomach or the emotional pain. “I’m not sure which hurts more. My sister, for crying out loud!” “Shh,” Grant warned him, glancing around as a few heads turned. “I haven’t heard about any of this, so I’m assuming Lily’s keeping it quiet.” “For now,” Brody replied, mouth twisting. “Until she realizes that having Rose will cost both of them.” “What do you mean?” “I just talked to the other trustees. We’re reducing Rose’s allowance by half.” “ ”
, . “Because if Lily sues for a paternity test and it’s proven that you are the father, then both Rose and Lily will have your ass.” “It’s not mine,” Brody said quietly. Grant could hear the pain and conviction in his voice. “All right.” Grant shook his head at Brian who had opened his mouth. Ben looked like he was also in shock. The Hancocks were a tight family who put each other first, and he could see how upset the three were with the situation. Brian and Ben seemed pissed on Brody’s behalf, but Grant was surprised to see Boone glaring at Brody. “We get that, Bro. What next?” “Next?” “What are you going to do now?” “Get drunk,” Brody replied with a sigh, apparently already feeling the alcohol. “Sounds like a good idea.” Ben nodded. “There are times in life when getting stinking drunk is the only logical action. I think this might be one for Brody.” His gaze swept the table. “I don’t have anything planned so I’ll stick with him.” The other men nodded. Lunch continued, a bit more solemn as everyone kept an eye on Brody. Leaving the restaurant, Grant, Keith and Brian walked the four blocks to the building Keith had inherited from a maternal great-aunt. MacLauren Computing occupied three floors from the thirtieth down, while Grant’s executive headquarters for Franklin Enterprises had the two below. Below were other offices, including Bronson’s legal suite. Above the business section were elaborate apartments and
penthouses. The New York contingent of their lunch party lived there. Brian lived in Boston, while Boone preferred his cabin in the Connecticut woods. “Good afternoon, sirs,” the doorman greeted them, stepping aside as he opened the door. “Hello, David,” Keith returned. “Anything new happening?” “Mr. Henderson just arrived with Mr. Ashby and Miss Traydon.” “Excellent,” nodded Keith as they entered the building. “Henderson’s been in California for a month.” “Expanding again?” Grant wondered. “Lots of opportunities out there,” the younger man told him. “I’m surprised you’re not out there already.” “Don’t give him any ideas,” Brian warned him. “I’m not sure how he keeps track of everything as it is.” “Delegation, my dear boys,” Grant replied with exaggerated pomposity, placing his hand on his chest. “Delegation, a firm priority list, and regular visits to the Club to relieve stress.” “I’m not at the point where I’m so big that I need to delegate,” Keith smiled. “Serena, hold the elevator!” he called to a slender blonde ahead of them. Her head swiveled and Grant saw the startled recognition in her eyes. “Speaking of stress relief,” Brian murmured as the woman stepped in and reached out to hold the doors open. “Who is she?” “Serena Tra don ” Keith re lied as the oined her. Two
