Dominance Never Dies (Masters and Mercenaries #11)(46)

“Why?”

It would have been so much easier to answer him if he hadn’t asked the question in a tortured whisper. She couldn’t quite meet his eyes. “You can rip me up, Taggart. For the last seven months I’ve done nothing but think about you, and now that I’m here I realize how devastating you can be. You dumped me. You wouldn’t even talk to me. You didn’t want an explanation. You didn’t want to try. You walked away and if I hadn’t found this lead, you would never have spoken to me again.”

He ran a hand over his close-cropped hair. “You don’t know that. I don’t know that.”

“Did you have plans to see me?”

“No,” he shot back. “Mia, what’s going on? You’ve admitted you did all of this to get my attention. You have my attention. I get it. I was stupid to ignore you. I was upset about my brother and you lied to me. I lied to you, too. Let’s forget it all and go back to that first night. That was when I was real with you. That night we connected. Fuck all. We always connected. Even when we were lying, I could feel it. We made a real breakthrough and you’re telling me you’ve changed your mind.”

Yep, she was seriously alone in a room with him. “You don’t know me. You might not like me when you know me and you’re good at walking away.”

He stared down at her. “I explained that. Are you going to hold it against me? Are you going to cost us time? Because I’ve learned that time isn’t infinite and we’re not guaranteed a specific amount.” One of those callused hands came up, caressing her cheek. “I’d rather not waste more of whatever time we have.”

She didn’t want to waste a second, but she also finally admitted that she didn’t want one night with him. She didn’t want to screw him out of her system or prove that she could walk away this time. She wanted everything from him. “Case, I’m crazy about you. I don’t think I can handle it if you turn away from me again, so I need you to know what you’re getting into.”

“Mia, tell me what’s going on. What has you so scared?”

Maybe she should take this time. He was certainly right about there being no guarantee. She should know that better than anyone. The flight crew had been working for 4L for months. They’d lain in wait.

What if they hadn’t merely been there to take her in? What if this had to do with the Taggarts? She remembered the first time she’d met the pilot. He’d flown her and her brothers to New York a few months back. Why not take them all? If they’d only been out for money, why not force Drew to access his accounts in exchange for his life and his sibling’s? What if this wasn’t about money and was all about the fact that they had the first real lead on Theo?

This was dangerous. Really dangerous. Not only for her. This would be dangerous for Case. They were already one man down.

Did she want to waste the time they might have telling him her sad story? Hadn’t she learned at a young age to live in the moment?

It had been a horrible few hours. She’d taken charge because she’d needed to. She’d been strong because they’d needed her strength, but she’d discovered that there were times that she could give up all that wearying control and find another part of herself.

She looked up at him. “I’m afraid of so many things, Sir. I think I’d like to forget about all of them for a while.”

That ridiculously cut jawline of his tightened. “Fuck, Mia. I swear you’re going to kill me one day. We don’t have a written contract but that verbal one is in play here and now. Is that how Wade taught you to greet your Dom? Because I’ll have a real talk with him about that when we get home.”

She dropped to her knees, thankful the carpet was plush. Actually the room itself wasn’t half bad. It wasn’t the Four Seasons, but it was clean and neat. The bed looked far too small for Case, but she suspected he wasn’t going to complain.

Mia breathed in and released, letting the tension flow from her body. It had been months since she’d even tried to find this place. She’d enjoyed working with her training Dom. Javier had been a friend, but even when she’d trained with him, she’d closed her eyes and dreamed it was Case who held the flogger. It had been Case who spanked her. Case who tied her up.

She’d never allowed even intimate touching in her contract with Javier for one reason only. He hadn’t been Case.

“Is this better?” She lowered her head, letting her hands rest palms up on her thighs. They were splayed, and if she hadn’t been wearing clothes, her * would have been on display, ready and waiting for her Dom’s pleasure.

Her only Dom. She would have one and if it didn’t work with Case, she would lock that piece of herself away forever because he was it for her.

She might be able to get over him, might be able to move on and find another man she could click with. But she would never find another she would submit to.

“This would be perfect if you weren’t wearing any clothes. But I have a few questions while I’ve got you in this mood. I expect you’ll be less likely to hedge the truth with me while you’re kneeling at my feet.”

The tops of his feet came into view, old worn cowboy boots. She stared at the scuff marks. They were perfect for him, strong and battle-tested.

He was right about that. The simple act of settling into her position made her more willing to talk. “I’ll try, Sir.”