Dominance Never Dies (Masters and Mercenaries #11)(52)

“He knows.” Michael wouldn’t accept an apology from her. In his mind, he wouldn’t see that she had a thing to feel sorry about, but Case knew the difference. If Michael had died, Mia would have to live with it forever. He didn’t want that light dimmed. “But if you do it again, we’re going to have a real problem.”

She brought her hands up to cup his face. “I can handle the spanking. Hell, I needed that. I…struggle sometimes to let go and cry the way I need to. I feel better, lighter than I did before. So you feel free to spank me when I need it or when you need it, but you can’t walk away from me again. I can’t handle that. I need to know you’ll work it out with me if you get mad.”

He couldn’t imagine that she could do anything to make him walk away. Now that he looked at it, he’d been afraid of her, afraid she couldn’t handle what he needed, afraid she would reject him, and he hadn’t been able to handle the thought at the time. He’d been overwhelmed with losing Theo. Their timing had been shitty. He wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice. “I promise. Are we going to do this? I want you, Mia. Not just for a night. Not just for the op. I want you to try with me. I want you to come back to Dallas with me and we’ll get a contract in place and we’ll work everything out. If you don’t want that, then we need to stop here and now. I don’t want a taste of you. I want a full meal and I’ll want it all the time. I won’t be that sad-sack boy toy who follows you around. I’ll be demanding and I’ll need you more than you can know. I’m willing to give it some time, but eventually I’ll want you to move to Dallas and be with me. I’ll want you to sleep with me. You’ll go to sleep after I’ve f*cked you senseless and you’ll wake to my cock in your *. That’s what it’s going to mean to be my woman. So you think about it because once we start this, I won’t hold back again.”

“I don’t have to think. I’ve been thinking about it for months. I want you and not for a night. I think I might want you forever.”

That was good enough for him. He picked her up, tossed her on the bed, and got ready to claim what belonged to him.





CHAPTER SIX





Mia winced as she tumbled to the bed. He hadn’t gone easy on her ass, but she didn’t mind. She’d felt. Felt hurt. Felt her fear. Felt the freedom that came with letting it all go so it didn’t burden her. So many years she’d hidden what she felt because the world seemed so out of whack. One moment she’d been beloved and safe, and the next the world had been filled with pain. Her childhood had turned out all right, but it was still defined by that moment when she realized the world she’d known was gone.

So she’d buried her needs and tried to fit in. Eventually she’d understood it was all right to show some emotions. Happiness, anger, sympathy. But hurt and fear were still hard for her.

Case had given her that gift. He’d known what she’d needed.

She looked up at him. How could he think for a second she wouldn’t want him? Because he had some scars? Maybe she was a pervert, but she liked them. He would be far too pretty without them.

“Spread your legs for me.” He used that super-dark, rich-as-velvet voice on her.

Sex had always been something hurried or casual. Even when her heart had been involved with the man, the sex had seemed rushed, like something they should do and enjoy but not get lost in. Not with Case. Case seemed willing to lavish her with intimacy, to make her feel like sex was a language between them they should learn and use. A language only the two of them knew.

Slowly she spread out on the bed, feeling the air on her skin. It was cool, but his eyes were hot as her legs opened for his gaze. Mia knew she would feel awkward and weird with another man. Case was it. He was the one for her.

He stood at the foot of the bed, his eyes between her legs. “Touch yourself. I want you to feel how wet you got from that spanking. How hot it made you.”

She knew. Even as she’d cried on his shoulders she’d still felt desire. She wondered if it would ever be simple with Case. There was no one emotion she felt for the man. She could feel so many things at once, it made her head spin. But now that he’d gotten rid of her anxiety and stress, lust seemed to rule her brain.

Never taking her eyes off him, she let one hand slide down her body to the apex of her thighs. She was well aware she was putting on a show for him, and hell that made her even hotter.

Mia let her fingers slide across her mound, pressing down briefly on her clitoris. Even the slight pressure she applied made her sigh in pleasure. The spanking and emotional outburst that came after conspired to make her languid and ready for an orgasm.

“Don’t you f*cking dare,” Case growled, though he made no move. He didn’t need to. He was perfectly, sexily intimidating from where he stood. “You make yourself come and I’ll have you tied up and taking an anal plug before you can take another breath. That’s one of the rules and an important one.”

She stared at him. He was so hot when he was threatening her with dirty sex. “You brought an anal plug?”

“And lube, princess. I learn from my elders. I’ve always got a bag packed in case a gorgeous blonde shows up in need of help. I have to be able to discipline her in any way I see fit. I’ve got some rope in there, too.”

She wasn’t sure she liked the sound of that, but she didn’t stop what she was doing. After all, if he did have a plug, she would bet he wouldn’t hesitate to use it. “I’ll have to remember to be good then.” She took a long breath because her * was soaking wet. “I bet I did a number on your jeans, Sir.”