Servicing the Target (Masters of the Shadowlands #10)(22)

“She is, isn’t she?” Z’s quick smile faded. “Please be cautious on the drive home. Our country roads can be hazardous after a storm.” He hesitated and glanced at Ben.

Anne picked up her bag. “I’ll take care. You better try to catch a little sleep, Z, since it’ll be in short supply from now on.”

A smile softened his hard face.

She added, “And call me when you need a break. I’m good with babies.”





Chapter Four



Ben pulled his SUV into Anne’s drive, parked off to the side, and jumped out. Hands in his pockets, he regarded the area. He’d never seen her home in the daylight. Hell of a place.

The two-story house was dark green with white trim and raised high enough to provide a slightly sunken carport beneath—not a bad idea considering how close to the shore this was. From this angle, he could see a shoulder-high deck extended toward the water. She’d had a balcony off the master bedroom, hadn’t she? With beach houses, it was all about the ocean view.

As Anne watched him walk up the steps, her pissed-off expression made him long for a groin protector. He was in for it now.

“Choice A. You’re stalking me,” she said bluntly. “Choice B. Mama Z told you to shadow me home.”

He grinned. No flies on this woman. “B. Although I wouldn’t mind A, if it wouldn’t get me filled with bullet holes.”

His answer didn’t diminish the steam he could almost see coming from her ears. Damn, she was gorgeous when her color was up.

“Oh, honestly, Ben. That’s simply—”

“He knows you can take care of yourself in a fight. But you can’t lift a palm tree, and I doubt you carry a chainsaw in your trunk.”

“A chainsaw? Seriously?” She glanced at his Jeep Grand Cherokee.

“I’m in the wilderness a lot. Comes in handy.”

“Well.” She didn’t…quite…growl. “Right. Thank you then. This is a long way to come when you haven’t had any sleep.”

“You’re welcome, Anne.” He smiled slowly, thinking of Patton’s favorite quote, “Audacity, audacity, always audacity.” All right then. “I wouldn’t mind a cup of coffee if it wouldn’t be too much trouble.”

Considering they’d passed a myriad of stores and coffee shops, she knew he could find his own. His request was for something else, and being the woman she was, she knew that.

She crossed her arms and looked him over like a side of beef.

It took some work? but he stood his ground.

And then she smiled. “You are the pushiest submissive I’ve ever met. Why am I enjoying that?” She motioned him into her house. “Come on in.”

Submissive. The word—applied to him—made him pause, but only a second. And then he was right on her heels.

Inside, he caught a glimpse of her living room that seemed all sunlight and windows. She stopped in the foyer to remove her boots and went barefoot up the stairs.

After doing the same, he followed her. Three steps up, he paused to adjust himself. His jeans felt as if they were shrinking around his cock. Wasn’t it nice that he didn’t have to wonder how she’d react to a man’s hard-on? He’d never met any woman so straightforward about sex.

“You’re thinking too much, Benjamin.” Halfway up, she stripped off her shirt and tossed it down.

He caught the garment before it landed on his head—barely. His gaze had been occupied with the sight of her bare back. How her hips started to widen before being covered by her jeans. How her skin was so smooth and golden.

He took the steps three at a time and followed her into the bedroom. “Ma’am, I’d be delighted to serve, to help you”—strip naked—“with disrobing.”

“Aren’t you the generous one?” A dimple flashed in her right cheek, always the first one to show.

He intended to see both dimples displayed before the hour was over.

“Yes, Ma’am. That’s me.” He stepped closer and ran his hands up and down her arms, feeling the firm muscle beneath all that soft skin.

The slight tilt of her head told him to stop while he was ahead. She looked up at him, her eyes a clear blue-gray, like a sunlit mountain lake. “I think we’ll take turns disrobing, so neither of us misses out on the fun.” And she proceeded to yank off his Hard Rock T-shirt.

“Mmm.” Her husky voice held only approval as she ran her hands over his pectorals, ruffling his chest hair before tracing the narrow line down his belly to where it disappeared under his jeans.

And f*ck, the sizzle from her touch continued all the way to his dick. His cock surged upward, trying to burst from its confines. His shirt might be off, but he was radiating so much heat that he’d probably scorch her exquisite skin.

Smiling, she pushed one strap of her bra over her shoulder and smiled at him. Giving him permission.

The universe was looking favorably on him today.

With one finger, he teased her other strap off, and his pulse skipped a beat when her bra lowered far enough that he could see the edges of her pink-brown nipples. He might get eyestrain if he didn’t get her uncovered soon.

“I thought you were beautiful in the Shadowlands,” he managed to say. “In full daylight, you’re even more gorgeous.”