The Dom with the Dragon Tattoo (Masters of Submission #5)(18)

He held up the small bottle. “Most ladies prefer chamomile. It makes an excellent balm to soothe sore limbs.” Tyler sat on the bed next to her, and poured a little oil into a cupped hand. “Lie back, honey. I’ve been told I have the magic touch. I’ll soon soothe away any aches and pains.”

Rebecca stretched out on her back and sighed blissfully as he massaged the chamomile lotion over her stomach, hips, and thighs, never once taking his eyes from hers. “It’s cold.”

He laughed. “I know, honey. The stair treads have left some nasty indentations on your beautiful creamy thighs. I’ll soon get rid of them.”

“Thank you, kind sir. Ah, that’s sheer bliss.” She closed her eyes. “You’re making me so relaxed, I could easily go to sleep.” She opened one eye and teased, “You wouldn’t mind, would you?”

She could see he was still sexually aroused. His eyes burned like amber pools of molten lava, while his hair fell disheveled about his masculine face, giving him that devil-may-care look she liked so much. Tyler was incredibly sexy, and that thought alone made her wonder just how many women had lain exactly where she was now. She decided to ask—albeit in a roundabout sort of way.

Supine on the bed, she dreamily ventured, “Your home is very masculine. There doesn’t appear to be much feminine influence.”

Even with her eyes closed, she knew Tyler smiled as he sensuously applied the soothing balm. “This should stop any bruising. As for feminine influence, why don’t you just ask me what’s really on your mind?” She opened her eyes again and watched him sit back and fold his arms across his chest, waiting expectantly.

“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” she said with a mock indignity she knew wouldn’t fool him.

He laughed. “Oh, come on. You just want to know about the women in my life.”

“No I don’t.”


He raised a brow. “You don’t?”

“Okay, so I’m curious. That’s hardly a crime, is it?”

“No.”

“Well, go on then.”

“Patience.” He waited a good ten seconds before continuing, letting her know who was in charge. “Her name was Lucy. We were together four years until we went our separate ways some three months ago. It was an amicable split.”

“Amicable split? Huh, there’s no such thing. That’s a cop-out if ever I heard one.”

“Ah, I see, still fishing for more information. Well, okay then, I guess you could say I finished the relationship because I lost interest in her.”

“Go on.”

“With hindsight we weren’t really suited to each other. She wasn’t really into the D/s scene like I was.”

“She was your sub?”

“Yes, but she was too selfish and immature.”

“Then I can see why you’ve taken an interest in me. After all, I’m a woman in my prime.”

He dripped oil into a cupped palm then massaged her breasts, painfully drawing out her nipples until they peaked. “In your prime, huh. So you are, and all the better for it.” His eyes sparkled mischievously as he looked at her, and she figured he had plenty of questions of his own.

Now thirty-three, Rebecca had spent most of her adult life pursuing a career. Unable to bear children because of an illness, she’d focused solely on her sphere of expertise, to the point of obsession. She believed herself to be one of the top five software designers in the US. Tyler believed this, too, which was why he’d agreed upon an extremely attractive employment package in order to bring her talents to Cerberus Technology.

Tyler’s strong, athletic body stretched out beside her on the bed. They were both still naked, and his remarkable powers of recovery meant he sported another impressive erection. He drew her into his arms, and she snuggled happily against his chest as he drifted his fingers through her hair. “Feeling relaxed?”

“Mmm.” Rebecca smoothed a hand over his bare chest, enjoying the thrill of sculpted physical perfection and not middle-age spread beneath her fingertips. For a guy of thirty-nine, Tyler kept himself in extraordinary shape.

“I like a man with stubble.” She idly ran her fingers across his jaw. “Although we’ve f*cked, I guess I know very little about you, Tyler. What were you doing at Club Submission that night, and where did you get the dragon tattoo on your back?”

He laughed and slanted her a look. “So many questions. If I answer yours, then you are gonna have to answer mine.”

“Deal.”

He kissed her cheek and pulled her closer still. As he spoke, she felt the vibrations of his strong, deep voice, filtering from his body into hers.

“As you’ve probably guessed, I’m a natural Dom. I’ve been a member of a fet club in Houston for over ten years. While I was visiting Boston to interview you for the job, I stumbled upon Club Submission. It was advertised on a book of matches that a previous guest had left in my hotel room. So I suppose you could say it was just by pure chance that I happened to be there the same night you were. Coincidence or what?”

“Huh, coincidence? Sounds more like a lazy maid to me, but without her lack of care you’d never have discovered my secret life.”

He tenderly kissed the top of her head. “Probably not. But I like to think that fate played a hand in bringing two like-minded people together.”