Master No (Masters and Mercenaries, #9)(114)

“I think I will,” she vowed and turned to leave the kitchen.

She walked quietly through the living room, not wanting to disturb Erin, who finally looked like she’d passed out on the sofa. Case sat with Hutch at the table, looking over some kind of records.

That was when the door opened to the office and Ten came striding out. Despite everything he’d been through, he looked so gorgeous to her. With his tan skin and golden brown hair, he was the all-American hot guy. All that beauty masked his darkness, his need to stay in the shadows. His eyes caught hers and he stopped, his mouth turning down.

He wasn’t happy to see her? Well, she could make that frown meaningful because he wasn’t getting off so easily. She wasn’t about to be shipped out without having her say. And maybe she wouldn’t allow herself to be shipped off at all.

“Hey, I was coming to find you.” His face softened. “Is everything all right? You look upset. Did Sean say something?”

“Sean said a lot of things that we need to clear up.”

“Okay,” he allowed. “We probably should. Faith, I do have some things to say to you, and you might have a hard time hearing them at first.”

So he was planning on spending their last hours together telling her all the reasons why he was leaving her. “Can your speech, Ten. I think it’s time you listened to me for once.”

His eyes narrowed. “Do you forget who’s the top, Faith?”

“Oh, the first thing we’re going to talk about is our contract. Null and void. You voided that contract the minute you started lying to me, so don’t pull the Master crap. Besides, this goes far beyond our D/s play.”

He loomed over her. “Yes, this about the fact that we’re still in a dangerous situation and whether or not you like it, I’m still the top here. You can throw that contract in my face all you like once we get back to the States, but you will not disobey me here. You will get on that plane when I tell you to and there will be no arguments and no negotiations when it comes to your safety.”

She brushed past him because she wasn’t having this conversation where everyone could hear her.

Ian Taggart was lounging in the doorway. “You should give him hell. He deserves it.”

“What the f*ck?” Ten cursed behind her as she moved along. “What happened to all that brotherly love shit?”

“I’m ridiculously mean,” Tag allowed. “Ask anyone.”

She wasn’t getting involved in their male bonding. She strode into the room they’d shared the night before. She’d curled up beside him and accepted that he would be gone. She’d accepted it the same way she’d accepted things all her life. She was done with that.

No one ever fought for Tennessee Smith. Well, he was about to find out that she would, but she didn’t fight fair.

She was about to find out if he’d been honest with her. If she had any real power in the relationship.

“Faith, what the hell is this about?” Ten closed the door and then crossed his arms over his chest. His shoulders broadened and for the first time since they’d rescued him, he looked every inch the Dom. “You should know that if you give me trouble about getting on that plane, I’ll put you over my knee and no one here will stop me. You’re getting on that plane one way or another.”

She wasn’t afraid of him. Not physically. He could play that card with her all day and she wouldn’t back down. Now emotionally, emotionally he could savage her. It was all he’d known as a child, and she had to show him another way.

Which unfortunately included getting yelled at by his sub because that was sometimes what people in love did. “You’re an idiot.”

Way to go, Faith. Way to build up his esteem.

One side of his mouth tugged up. “I’ve been told so, yes. You want to enlighten me as to how I’m an idiot this morning? I’m going to warn you. I’m feeling much better. I’m still sore, but it looks like my dick is up and running.”

She looked down at his crotch. Sure enough, no amount of torture could keep that monster cock down for long. “I should look at it.”

His head shook. “Not until I’m ready to use it on you. And it’s fine. No scarring. Like I said, those drugs heightened everything and made it seem worse than it actually was, so I’ll be able to f*ck you hard after I’ve spanked your ass silly for this stunt.”

“Stunt? You think this is some kind of stunt?”

“I think you’re willing to do anything so I won’t put you on that plane. It won’t work.”

Tears threatened. “Because you’re a moron.”

“You are digging yourself a deep hole.”

He was so calm. It was infuriating. “You don’t have any right to spank me. I will get on that plane and I will go back to Dallas. I’m not stupid. I know what can happen, but do you? Do you even care?”

“About what happens to me? I often have not,” he replied calmly.

“Because you don’t think you’re worth anything.”

His face was blank for a moment. “When you start life in a trashcan, it makes you question your worth. I will admit that. I went through so many homes, I couldn’t help but think I was disposable.”

“You’re not. You have so much to give.”