The Dom with the Dragon Tattoo (Masters of Submission #5)(34)
The sun set quickly in this part of the world, and by the time she reached her house, the other coastal properties were lighting up, sparkling into life like Chinese lanterns floating in the night sky.
A set of stone steps rose from the sand and led to a low-walled sun-trap. It was a relaxing place to spend the early morning, when the first golden rays broke on the horizon. She’d often sit out here with a cup of strong black coffee, watching Mother Nature at her most magnificent. It saddened her to realize that such beauty meant nothing without Tyler beside her. After climbing the steps, she walked past the solitary sun lounger then headed toward the glass patio door.
Rebecca suddenly froze as her fingers curled around the handle. That was odd. The sliding partition lay open an inch or two, yet she felt certain she’d secured it properly when she’d left the house for her evening stroll less than an hour ago. She shook her head. In her current state of mind, she barely remembered to eat, and when she did, it was almost nothing. So maybe she shouldn’t be surprised that she’d left the door unlocked on the way out.
Still, purely as a precaution, she would check the place out, just to make sure no one had broken in. Despite its vitality and cosmopolitan nature, the area around Rio was rife with crime, so she needed to keep her wits about her. Carefully, and very quietly, she slid open the glass door and stepped inside. The interior appeared quite dark now, and mysterious shadows seemed to be everywhere, so she flicked on the lights. She put her hand to her chest in relief when the living area instantly flooded with a reassuring warm glow. It was just as she remembered, all perfectly kept, with its white-washed interior walls and golden terrazzo floor tiles. Her latest read, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, still lay open on the coffee table, at the exact page she’d left it. Everything was fine. It was just her imagination playing tricks on her. However, the rented beach house had two bedrooms and a bathroom, so just to be on the safe side, she’d check those out, too. Knowing full well that it would make a useless weapon, she grabbed the table umbrella from the stand by the door and held it out in front of her like a charging knight on horseback. How sad was that?
When she heard a door creak, she shouted out, “Quem está aí? Who’s there?” Her voice was shaky, and she didn’t think her tone would frighten anyone away.
Using the parasol as a tool, Rebecca tentatively prodded the door to the first bedroom. It swung wide open, revealing the simple rustic furniture inside. Nothing seemed amiss here, and she allowed a relieved outward breath to flow freely from her lips.
“Stupid woman.” She really was worrying far too much. It was obvious no one was here, but just to put her mind completely at ease, she would check the second bedroom overlooking the private pool.
Further down the hallway, and still holding the parasol out in front of her like a medieval lance, Rebecca used it to push open the door. This was her bedroom. She found it relaxing, especially when the pool lights automatically came on as darkness fell. They illuminated her sanctuary with a soft undulating blue glow that flickered a myriad of different patterns across the walls and ceiling as the water shimmered in the pool.
Before she could switch on the light, a large hand suddenly covered her mouth, and she was roughly pulled backward against a wall of unyielding muscle.
Panic in the form of bile began to rise in her throat. The guy behind her was so strong, she realized she had no chance of defending herself.
“You’ve been a very selfish, stupid, and naughty girl, Becca.”
In sheer surprise, her body froze and the parasol she was carrying clattered noisily to the floor. It was Tyler. She had never expected to hear his wonderful, deep voice again, and even though he was angry, it was the most beautiful sound she’d ever heard.
“That’s right, my little wayward sub. You have every reason to fear me now.” His warm breath feathered across her cheek as he leaned in and whispered ominously against her ear, “I’m going to teach you a lesson you will never forget.”
Firm pressure to the small of her back showed Rebecca that he meant business, and he manhandled her over to the bed. Tyler let loose a satisfied grunt as he forced her onto the mattress, where she lay sprawled facedown. “Oh, lady, you have no idea how I’ve longed to get my hands on you.” As she lay helpless on her stomach, he brutally yanked at her white linen slacks, tearing them from her. He used such force, her body lifted from the mattress as he ripped them away. “You deserve everything you get.” Tyler was incredibly angry, but however frightened she was, he still turned her on, and she was enormously pleased to see, hear, and feel him again. She loved him. She’d always love him.
As a mark of his power over her, he thrust the ruined trousers into her face before tossing them dismissively away. Christ, she’d never seen him so angry, and although he’d disciplined her many times before, it had always been part of their sexual role-play. This was entirely different. Tyler Stone was not playing. He was a man on a mission, and he forcefully tore her panties from her now-trembling body, too. It actually hurt as they snapped from between her legs. Although he was a natural dominant, the tone of his voice chilled the blood in her veins like never before. “Three weeks. It’s taken me three f*cking weeks to track you down, so believe me when I say retribution feels very sweet, lady.”
Even if he were the angriest man in the world, Tyler was here with her again, and she took comfort from that. He’d flown all the way from Houston to Rio de Janeiro to discipline her, and that surely had to mean something, right? He could have just forgotten her and moved on with his life, but he hadn’t. Her heart swelled with the realization that despite his anger, he might just want her back.