Servicing the Target (Masters of the Shadowlands #10)(115)

“That wasn’t what was happening. Actually, I’d totally zoned out and was thinking about you.”

His brain was having trouble keeping up.

“I’ve already found Joey a couple of Dommes who will suit him better.”

Jessica had been right. Damn. Ben felt as if he’d been pushing a boulder uphill and reached the top without realizing. After a few thousand seconds, he caught up. “I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions.” He stared at the window, out at the black water, seeing the faint rim of white on the waves like a touch of hope.

But he needed to clear away the past first. He took her hand. “You weren’t even tempted to go back to Joey?”

“Not even. Our needs don’t mesh any longer, although I didn’t want to admit how much I’d—”

“Changed?”

She made a tiny growl. “There’s that word again. You know how I feel about change.”

He snorted. “Pretty much how most people feel about necrophilia.”

She gave a startled laugh and leaned into him more fully. Fuck, yeah. He released her hand and lifted her onto his lap. Bronx gave him a disgruntled look

But this was where she belonged. She fit perfectly in his arms.

“But yes, as my anger at men died, so did my enjoyment of hurting them.” Her hand curved around his jaw firmly enough to give him a surge of pleasure. “I’m still quite, quite fond of domination, though.”

“I never doubted that for a moment, Ma’am.” He considered her confession—because that was what it sounded like. He grinned, remembering how she’d said once that her anger had started with God for not making her male, expanded to her father, brothers, uncles, grew to include the government for not allowing women in combat, and on and on. “So, you took out your annoyance on those poor helpless slaves?”

Her frown stopped just short of a scowl. “So it seems. I’m not happy that I used them that way.”

Raoul hadn’t thought her motivation was unusual. He shrugged. “Seems as if everyone has a shitload of reasons for doing what they do—from getting up in the morning to pounding on someone. You never dished out anything that the slaves didn’t love and beg for.”

“Until you.”

He pulled her closer, kissing the curve between her shoulder and neck. “I’ve liked everything you’ve done to me.”

“Just not full time.”

“Not full time.” His arms tightened. “Anne, I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions. I should’ve given you a chance to explain.”

“This is very true.” Tears shimmered in her eyes before she blinked them away. Her tone turned judicious. “I’m afraid I’ll need to punish you for that. Bear it in mind as we talk.”

The way his cock shot to full arousal, it was liable to sprain something.




The lovely bulge beneath Anne made her want to smile. Made her want to start some action right then and there. But their conversation wasn’t over, and burying problems hadn’t worked well for them.

She indulged herself for just a tiny second, nuzzling his neck to inhale the lingering fragrance of his earthy aftershave and his own underlying, totally masculine scent.

His arms tightened…and the erection beneath her thickened.

Oops. She cleared her throat. “I believe it’s time to move into thinking about you and me and how you asked to keep the D/s within a sexual context.”

Every muscle on his body tensed.

Her realization of the depth of his need was glorious and humbling.

“Anne, if I thought I could take the full time, I—”

“I think it’ll work,” she said quickly. “I want to try.”

His arms turned to steel bars around her as he rasped, “What?”

“Disgusting as the word is, I’ve changed. I don’t need to control everything and everyone any longer. I suppose the need for full-time domination arose from my own fears.” She rubbed her cheek against his shoulder and barely resisted a nibble. “But I’m still totally a sexual Dominant.”

He huffed a laugh. “I’m good with that.”

“It might be nice to live with someone who isn’t a slave. You like me as more than a Mistress—as Anne. I can relax with you.”

She lifted up far enough to capture his lips, those firm knowledgeable lips. God, she’d missed kissing him, missed the way he could make her feel both delicate and powerful, like the time she’d ridden a Clydesdale, knowing the huge horse could easily kill her if it had wanted.

After a minute or more, she sat back. Holding his gaze, she ventured even further out of her comfort zone. “Would…would you like to move in?”

His answer came instantly. “Hell, yes. I love you, Anne.”

Her breath halted as her heart swelled until it took up all the room there was in her chest. He’d said it.

“Ben.” The word was barely audible, and she had to blink back tears. Damn hormones.

His big hand stroked her cheek. “Since we got all that settled, now can I beg the Mistress to take me to the bedroom and punish me?”

“I suppose I can fit you into my busy schedule.” She had a second of grief for the knowledge that she didn’t have a schedule any longer, or a job at all. Then she pushed her worries aside under the rising tide of desire.