Dungeon Games (Masters and Mercenaries #6.5)(63)

“She just had a couple of questions.” What had Maia said? Derek needed to be needed. It was an intrinsic part of who he was. It was why he’d sought out the lifestyle. It was why he’d become a Dom. Karina had been on her own for a very long time, but she remembered how it felt to rely on someone. “Sir, I’m very tired. Could you take me home?”

He stopped, obviously startled, and then he jumped into action like an eager puppy. “I’ll get the nurse.”

He practically ran out of the room.

He wasn’t trying to get rid of her. He was just a man who struggled to shift gears and it was her damn job to help him.

It was also her job to trust him.

If she loved him, she would risk losing him, but suddenly she thought she would take that bet. She had been strong. She had pulled herself out.

And sometimes, just sometimes, the universe rewarded a girl for that.





Derek held the door open for her. His house. He’d given her a cock-and-bull story about hiding out from the press, but the truth was he wanted her in his space for once. He’d been out of control all night, with her in danger. He wanted to f*cking control things for once.

She was so pale as she walked toward him. He had to remember that she’d been through hell. She’d been taken right out from under his nose. She had to have been terrified. She had to be pissed at him for letting it happen. Her arms had to ache. The f*cker had tied her far too tight. What the hell had he been thinking?

He’d been thinking about killing her. She’d almost f*cking died. She had to fight for her damn life, you idiot. So back the f*ck off and give her space.

He would take the spare bedroom. The bed there sucked, but she needed rest and he needed to know that she was comfortable. He needed her to be happy here because he was going to try to make sure she never left.

How the f*ck did he do that? How did he get her to forgive him for putting her in danger? His heart was still pumping, his adrenaline not anywhere close to normal.

What if he’d done something wrong? What if he forgot some tiny legality that meant Terry Mills went free?

Karina stopped in front of him, bringing her hand to caress his face. Damn, but everywhere she touched him turned soft and warm. Except his f*cking cock. “Are you okay?”

Naturally she would ask that. She was that kind of woman. “I’m fine. Are you hungry?”

She gave him a slight smile. “No. Avery and Ashley stuffed me with snacks.”

He’d made sure her friends showed up. He hadn’t been able to get hold of Serena, and Grace was dealing with a sick baby, but he’d gotten Avery and Ashley to the hospital. She needed her friends. She needed to know she was loved.

She’d been through something horrible. She should be surrounded by love. He just wasn’t sure she wanted his.

Karina strode through the door. She had only a small bag. Avery and Liam had gone by her place and picked up some clothes and essentials for her. She carried them in now. “Where’s the bedroom?”

He pointed to the master. He wouldn’t give her anything but the best. She would be secure there. He would watch over her for as long as she let him. “Right back there.”

She sighed and walked toward the room. She stopped at the doorway. “Are you coming?”

“Uhm, I’ll get you something to drink.” He wouldn’t be coming for a long time. It might take a while for her to recover and then he needed to make sure she was ready. He needed to make her understand he was serious about this relationship and that he wouldn’t accept just being her boyfriend.

Had he earned that? Had he truly earned being her Master and husband?

He sounded like a f*cking idiot. He was going to get her a drink? A drink for a woman who never drank?

It was a thing he added to his list of ever growing crap he needed to fix about his life, all of it concerning Karina.

She walked through the doorway, leaving it open. Damn but she should have closed it because he could sort of see her. He watched as she put her bag on the bed and then shrugged off her clothes. Her perfect skin came into view. She was naturally tan due to her DNA. He would bet she wasn’t entirely Caucasian. Her skin was rich and had a glorious olive tone. His exotic girl. A harem of one because he didn’t need anyone but her.

He was a jerk. He shouldn’t be thinking of her that way. She’d been stripped down and hurt. She didn’t need another man thinking about using her.

He would take his time. He would let her know that he was here for her. He would handle the case and then she would know he cared.

Yeah. His dick hated him.

She walked through the doorway and his eyes went wicked wide. “Karina?”

She was standing there completely nude. Her full breasts were pointed out, the nipples so sweetly puckered his dick couldn’t help but respond. She gave him a “goddess of the earth and sea and sex” smile as she stared his way. “Hey, baby. Can you come to bed now?”

His cock damn near jumped off his body and ran to her, but he owed her more. “You need to rest.”

Her smile dimmed. She was still naked, but she looked vulnerable. He still thought it was so f*cking sexy. “My mom died when I was five.”

He went utterly still. “Really?”

“Yes.” Her face had flushed. Her whole body really. She stepped into the living room, her body moving with the grace of a person who didn’t care that she was undressed. She lowered herself on his couch gingerly, sitting on the edge. “I was just a kid. I didn’t find her. I came home from school and the social services woman was there. She was a good mom but she liked to get high. She did a lot for her drugs.”