by T. Cobbin
“No, my mate. Client confidentiality and all that. But I need to go see him in person to make sure he never speaks a word. And I want to confirm that he gets rid of whatever paperwork he has on you.”
“You can’t just phone him?” Danielle asked, not wanting Leo to go anywhere.
“No, love. I need to look in his eyes. And I want to actually see him shred all the paperwork. I won’t be gone more than a few hours, I promise. I have a chopper on the way to pick me up, and I’ll return on it too.”
“A few hours,” she echoed.
The thought of Leo not being there had her feeling the same fear she’d felt the first five years she’d spent on the island alone. It was only then that she realized how much this place had now come to represent home and safety. Leo had done that. She was safe there. Well, she had been. Seeing Leo’s face so tortured, she could almost feel the war going on inside him—to go or not to.
Finally, Danielle nodded. “Go. You need to do this.” Not only did he need to do this, but she wanted him to make sure whatever that lawyer had dug up stayed in the past. “I want you to do this,” she added, sounding braver than she felt.
Standing, Leo bent over and cupped the back of her head, bringing her face forward to his own.
She fought against his hand and looked him in the eye. “But when you get home, mate,” she said, emphasizing the word, “I want to be yours.”
Leo frowned. “You are mine.”
“No, silly, I want you to bite me.” She lifted her trembling hands and cupped his face. She ran a finger along his top lip and pressed lightly where his fang lay behind it. “I want to be like you, to be yours through and through.”
Realization crossed Leo’s face before it broke into a huge smile of pleasure. “All the way?”
“All the way,” Danielle repeated and beamed back.
Leo pulled her to her feet and wrapped his arms around her waist. Her feet dangled in the air as he whooped with joy. The room spun. He circled and spun until she felt dizzy. Finally, when she thought she might throw up, he stopped and lowered her back to her feet. His sparkling eyes met hers, and then he kissed her. His tongue slipped through her lips and fucked her mouth, and she could feel the promise that when he returned he would love her like there was no tomorrow. They would both seal the deal and be mated forever and a day. Her pussy slickened, and her nipples hardened, wanting his cock and body now.
Drawing back, he stared at her with pure glee all over his face. “I’ll be as quick as I can,” he promised. “I can hear the copter, I’ve gotta go. But, sweetheart, be waiting for me, because when I get back I’m going to take my sweet time making you mine.”
The way he said mine made a delicious shiver tremble through her body straight to her clit. Leo placed a brief but loving kiss on her lips before turning toward the office door. Danielle followed him with sadness filling her heart. It’s just for a few hours. Pull yourself together, she chastised herself. Shit, she’d been through more than her mate leaving her for a time.
They walked to the front door of the house, and once again Leo turned to look at her. His eyes said he’d miss her as much as she’d miss him. “Stay inside and keep warm. I’ll be back soon.”
Tears brimmed in her eyes, making the snow seem brighter. Leo looked as if he were warring with himself. If he stays, things could get worse. Swallowing her anguish, she inhaled deeply and nodded, feeling a little stronger.
“Go. We’ll be here waiting. Don’t be too long, or I’ll have to find someone to fill that space in my bed.”
She giggled at the long, possessive growl that left Leo. He winked, kissed her lightly, and ran off toward the east side of the island where a helicopter was landing.
“I love you,” she called out after him.
“Dee-Dee, where’s Pops going?” Gracie asked, sidling up beside Danielle.
“He just needs to pop over to the city. He won’t be long,” Danielle said, shutting the front door and rubbing her cold hands together. “Let’s sit in front of the fire until Prue and Ollie get back, then perhaps we can make a banana cake for your pops when he returns.”
“How about we make some now?” Gracie asked, grabbing Danielle’s arm and pulling her toward the kitchen.
“Some? Now?” Danielle giggled at the girl’s antics.
“Yeah, some. You know Pops eats all your cakes as soon as they come out of the oven. I swear he burns his mouth on them, but he keeps eating.” Gracie turned her head to stare at Danielle. Her look said tell me I’m wrong.
Danielle sucked in her bottom lip, trying hard not to laugh. But she failed, badly. Her laugh filled the air along with Gracie’s.
“How old are you again?” Danielle asked, shaking her head at the girl’s sassy mouth. She had Leo down to a T. If Danielle was cooking banana cake, he was right behind her. As soon as one was done and on a cooling tray, he would pick at it until she slapped his hands or it was all gone.
“I’m right,” Gracie simply answered while letting go of Danielle’s hand to reach into the food cupboard.
Danielle hummed. “Okay, a couple then. It’s a good thing Prue will be bringing in fresh bananas with the shopping.”
A few minutes later the kitchen was filled with the smell of the oven heating up and the sound of giggling. Danielle was mixing a bowl of cake mixture while Gracie mashed what bananas were left in a bowl. Suddenly, Gracie froze. Danielle followed the turn of her head toward the front door. Prue and Ollie must be back, she thought with a smile. But then why had Gracie froze and not run off to greet them as she normally would?
“Mummy.” The frightened voice of her son had cold shivers shooting down her spine.
“Ollie?” The bowl Danielle was using slipped to the floor, splashing its contents everywhere, when a dark shadow loomed in the hallway. She knew, she just knew, who that shadow belonged to.
“Hello.” She heard Master’s dark, seductive voice before he came into view, his hand holding her son’s shoulder firmly.
She had to admit Master’s face was as handsome as when she’d first seen him in the bar. Each of his features—his bright blue eyes, his broad nose, his high cheekbones, his thick lips—added to his good looks. But Danielle knew what lay in the mind of this handsome man...she knew it very well.
His lips lifted at the edges in a sickening smirk. “It’s good to see you again, Violet.”
Danielle looked down and into the frightened eyes of her son. His chubby cheeks were streaked with tears.
“Dee-Dee?” Gracie asked.
Danielle glanced briefly toward Gracie before returning her gaze to Ollie. Master was there. Oh dear God, the man in her nightmares was actually there, and he had his filthy hands on her son. She couldn’t allow him to get his mitts on Gracie too.
Turning toward the little girl, Danielle shouted, “Run, Gracie! Find Prue and hide.”
If Master killed her for Gracie going free, and then took her son, Danielle knew deep down that Leo would never stop looking for Ollie, and he would find him.
Master moved, coming into full view, his tall stature casting a black shadow over the room. “Don’t move, girl, or I will kill your little friend here.”
Danielle reacted before thinking. She dived for her son, shouting at Gracie, “Run!”
Danielle’s hands touched her son’s torso, but before she could grab him, Master’s leg kicked out, catching her cheek. She felt the bone crack as she was propelled backward. Pain filled her head as it connected with the kitchen cabinet. Black dots flashed before her. Breathing became harder. Blackness loomed at the corner of her eyes. No, she had to fight, her son needed her. Ollie’s frightened face was the last thing she saw before the darkness took over.
Chapter 13
Pain in Danielle’s side had her breath blasting from her lungs and bringing her to some awareness.
“Wake up, bitch!”
Danielle tried to open her eyes, but only one cooperated. Her right eye and cheek where Master’s foot had kicked
her stung and felt swollen. The thought of her son and Gracie being alone with the monster stirred her mind into waking up fully. Through her open eye she could make out Ollie sitting on a dining room chair, but looking around, she saw no sign of Gracie.
Master’s handsome face appeared in front of hers. “If you’re looking for the little brat, she’s gone. Oh, and…” A malicious grin appeared on his lips. “Don’t even think about looking for the tutor, she has been taken care of too.”
Oh God, Prue. What did he do to her? Then something clicked inside Danielle’s mind—how did this monster know Prue was the tutor? Had he asked her? Had he been watching them?
“Prue is a visiting friend,” Danielle stated, trying to learn just how much Master knew.
A sudden slap across her face made Danielle’s head swing to the side. Her left cheek burned from the fresh handprint she guessed covered it.
“Think I’m thick? Think I don’t know who is on this god-forsaken island? I know more than you fucking realize, woman. Now, don’t you have something to tell me?”
Master gripped hold of her hair and pulled her painfully up to her knees, until she was facing Ollie. His scared little face had Danielle’s heart breaking. Determination began taking over her sense of fear. There was no way she was going to let this male hurt her son. Or Gracie.
“Something to tell you?” Danielle asked.
“Ollie is my son, isn’t he?” Was that pride on the man’s face and in his voice?
Danielle refused to answer, and again her head rocked to the side and fresh pain from a slap crossed her cheek. A glint of light caught Danielle’s eye. A knife lay on the kitchen counter where she’d been cooking. If she were to stand, she could reach out for it.
“Well?” Master shouted, making her son flinch.
“He has a father,” she said defiantly.
She clutched her sore ribs and began to stand. Her aim was to grab the knife and use it. But first she had to do something to get Ollie out of the kitchen so he didn’t witness what was to happen. Danielle howled out in pain, her hands reaching upward, when yet again her hair was tugged, dragging her up bodily until she was standing on her feet. Her ribs screamed in pain. Instinct had Danielle banding one arm around her ribs and her other hand reaching up to detangle Master’s fingers from her hair. His furious face appeared an inch before hers, his eyes burning with anger.
“You hid my son away from me,” he spat out. “Just think what I could have already taught him. How much of the world I could have shown him. But instead, he had to learn the soppy lovey-dovey shit, because of you.” He yanked on her hair, trying to make her scream. But with Ollie in the room, Danielle bit down on her bottom lip and refrained.
Master released her hair and turned back to her son. Danielle slumped to the floor, trying to suck in precious air. The pain streaming from her ribs was making it hard to do so.
“But at least you didn’t have him for too long. Now I can shape him up to know the real world. My world. Can’t I, son?”
Danielle watched her son flinch, his scared eyes seeking her out on the floor.
“You don’t need to flinch from me, boy. Wipe those tears away. I’ll make a man of you yet.” Master moved in front of her son. She was sure he’d done that so Ollie couldn’t see her.
Danielle’s attention was drawn to the back of Master’s tall figure. Her gaze traveled from his finger-length, just-fucked hairstyle, down to his expensive tailored suit, then to his shiny, black shoes. She’d become well attuned to Master’s body when she’d been his captive. She noticed his muscles bunch as waves of anger palpated from him.
“Ollie, why don’t you go to the playroom?” she asked, trying to get her son out of the room.
She instantly knew from Master’s intense growl and body language that she shouldn’t have spoken. She’d grown to know his emotions, and she could tell when he was angry, or generally happy, and especially when he was about to lash out.
Seeing Master’s body suddenly tense, Danielle gritted her teeth and readied herself.
Master turned back to her, his voice low and hateful. “You will speak when asked to and not before. Has the time away from me made you forget? I will have pleasure teaching you again, woman.”
As if in slow motion, Danielle watched Master’s foot as it raised and kicked out at her. She arched herself backward, leaning with both hands behind her. She felt the waft of a breeze as his foot skimmed over the top of her face. Then, as if someone had hit fast-forward, time moved again at its normal speed.
“Bitch,” Master angrily spat out as he spun around. He lost his balance and stumbled, his hand reaching for the kitchen countertop to steady himself.
Danielle knew this was the time to knock him on his arse, grab her son, and run. She had no idea how far she’d get, but for her son, she’d bloody try. Danielle jumped to her feet, and despite the pain that rocked through her mid-section, she ran toward Master and hit him head-first in his solar plexus.
Satisfaction thrummed through her as she watched his hand miss the countertop and she heard the gust of wind as it left his body with a groan. With disgust, she landed on top of the man who’d raped her over and over for a year, feeling once more his hard muscles.
Looking up toward her son, she yelled, “Ollie, run!”
A moment later she was spun and her head bounced off the kitchen floor when she landed on her back with Master’s face appearing over her.
“You bitch,” Master swore at her. He looked up and she followed his stare and saw her son running down the hallway toward the front door. “Ollie, come back here, boy,” he yelled.
Danielle was more than happy to see her son keep running like the wind.
“Fuck it!” Master swore. He grabbed Danielle’s shoulders, his fingers gripping so tightly she couldn’t help but whimper. He raised them up and slammed them back to the floor, causing her head to once again bounce on the tiled floor beneath her.
Danielle’s vision swam, becoming fuzzy for a few seconds before clearing. All she could see was Master smiling down at her. His hands came to rest either side of her head, his legs either side of hers. His smile, which would undoubtedly make many women fall at his feet, was wide and to some seductive. But Danielle knew this man; he was the devil, he liked to cause women pain. She doubted the man was capable of feeling love.
“Don’t worry, once I’m done with you...” He ground his hips into Danielle’s, pushing his erection against her clothed clit.
Bile rose in her throat, making her gag. This male had nothing on Leo. Oh God...Leo. How did Master know Leo wasn’t there?
“I’ll go sniffing out my boy and take him home. You, of course, will be put where you belong—in your box to be used. I’m not going to kill you, because you’re worth more to me alive. I’m looking forward to your punishment for escaping. It will be long and hard, slave. There will also be no Master Two. Kevin was weak for letting you go. I wish I could have killed him instead of him committing suicide. Once you’re in your box, perhaps I will get you pregnant again.” Master raised a hand and pulled at her t-shirt. He tore it downward, revealing her bare breasts.
Danielle hadn’t put on a bra this morning. Leo had wound her up so badly, they’d been so close to making love, but he’d pulled back at the last minute. When he’d run off to the shower she’d gotten dressed in a huff and forgotten to put one on. In the back of her mind it was probably a ruse to frustrate Leo, thinking maybe seeing her tits wobble would have him slamming her against a wall and taking her hard and fast. Instead, he’d hidden in his office. She’d cleaned up the kitchen after breakfast, then gone upstairs to put on a bra. That’s where she’d been pacing when Gracie had come to get her.
“Well, well, well. Look at Miss Slut here, baring all for another male. That will cost you too, whore.” He gripped hold of her right breast and squeezed it painfully. Her tears slid silently down her temples. “I’m going to remind you who you belong to.”
Danielle remained quiet
. She knew no amount of begging would break his hateful heart. But she wasn’t going to let him take her back to that room either.
With her t-shirt torn, Master’s attention drifted upward from her breasts and around her neck. His fingers felt around as if he were looking for something.
“He didn’t bite you then?” he asked with a gleam in his eye and a smirk on his face. “I did wonder why you hadn’t shifted.”
Bite her? Shifted? Master knew about Leo? Danielle wished now that she had allowed Leo to bite her sooner, maybe then she’d be safe.
“I see that look.” He chuckled. “Yes, I know about…” He broke off and peered upward along the hallway. “Do you fucking women never know when to do as you are told or even die?” he growled.
Master stood, pulling Danielle up by her hair. She scrambled up onto her feet as quickly as she could. The pain of her hair being pulled matched the agony of her ribs and face. With her feet firmly on the floor, Danielle felt relief when her hair was released. However, the relief didn’t last long because Master’s fingers painfully gripped the back of her neck.
Through her good eye, Danielle watched Prue enter the house through the front door. She was naked. Shit! Danielle hoped she had no clothes on because she’d shifted and not because Master had raped her. Danielle could see what looked to be a stream of crusted blood down the side of Prue’s face.
“Learn your lesson, woman, and fuck off!” Master swore at Prue.
Not stopping, Prue continued to walk down the hallway. Danielle tried to shake her head at the tutor, silently telling her friend to run, but Master’s fingers gripped tighter.
“Learn my lesson?” Prue feigned a look of surprise. “You mean this little bump here?” She pointed to the side of her head. “Aww, did Daddy not teach you to hit harder?” she asked sarcastically.
What was Prue doing? Antagonizing Master was not a good idea. Danielle hissed a breath through her teeth when Master’s fingers dug deeper into her skin.
“One step closer, bitch, and I’ll gut her.”
Prue laughed...she actually laughed. However, Danielle noticed she did stop walking toward them.
