Her mom was out of control, but Brooke loved her with her whole being. “Good-bye, Mom. I promise we’ll talk later.” She winked. “Keep safe and don’t talk to strangers.”
“Tsk, tsk.”
“Bye, Daddy.”
She rushed out. Gavin held open the car door, and she looked up at him. “Sorry about that.”
“I think your parents are delightful. I can see they love you a lot.” He jogged to the other side of the vehicle. Just as she slipped into her seat, she spotted him scanning the horizon. A moment later, he slid in and stabbed the key in the engine.
“What were you looking for?” she asked.
“Just surveying the land to see how easy it would be to hide around here.”
Given there were only a smattering of trees on their large spread, she bet her folks were quite safe as long as they locked their doors and windows.
“And is it?”
“Yup.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Very glad.
“You still want to pick up your computer?”
“Am I grumpy without my required amount of caffeine in the morning?” He’d accused her of that a few hours ago.
He laughed and headed down the long drive. “I’ll take that as a yes.” When no one appeared to be following them, she relaxed.
Twenty minutes later, he parked in front of her store. “Let’s be quick.”
As much as she wanted to make sure all was well inside, the longer she stayed in town, the higher the risk someone would spot them. She unlocked the door and went in. “I’ll be right out.”
Gavin stood watch as she rushed to her office. Paper was strewn over the floor like she’d left it. She let out a breath, thankful her life hadn’t ended here. She picked up her computer, shut off the lights, and hurried back. “I’m good.”
Fifteen minutes later when he punched the button to open the garage door she spotted her car in the bay and smiled.
“Wow. Your people move fast.”
The corner of his lip turned up. “They’re all experts in what they do. Come on. I have something planned for you.”
She liked the sound of that. Brooke carried in her laptop and placed it on the kitchen table. “What is it?”
He placed his hands on her shoulders. “I’m sure you will never need this, at least I hope you won’t, but I want to give you a few self-defense tips.”
“Why?” She couldn’t help but question things. It was her logical nature.
“One never knows what will happen in the future. It’s best to be prepared.”
“I agree, which was why when Justin and Tom brought in a self-defense expert two years ago and offered a free class at the Mountain View, I went. There must have been twenty women there.” It was fun. For the first time in her life, being short actually helped. She had good balance and was surprisingly strong for someone who didn’t lift weights.
“I’d like to see what you learned.”
“I’m not sure I remember all that much. You lose what you don’t use, but I’m game.”
He grinned, and she liked that she could please him so easily.
“How about changing into something you can move in. I have a wrestling mat in the basement.”
Her mind instantly shot to sweaty, lusty sex. “You bet.”
Chapter Seven
Once she and Gavin changed into their workout attire, he led her through a door she’d assumed was a hall closet. He flicked a switch and a row of recessed lights lit up, exposing a finished basement.
“Wow. I had no idea this was down here.”
She followed him down the steps. To the side sat more doors, but in the center was a full gym.
He smiled. “We work out at all hours, so it’s more convenient to have our own equipment.”
“Very impressive.”
She knew what the weight bench was for, but there were other contraptions that would be better suited in a dungeon. On a shelf along the back wall, she spotted some rope, a few handcuffs that were covered in a soft-looking material, and packages like the ones she’d spotted in Danielle’s sex shop. She’d only gone there because the shop carried underwear in hard to fit sizes.
Liar. You went there to play with the sex toys. She never had the courage to actually buy anything, however. Without a man around, what would be the point?
“Step on the mat.” Gavin led her to the middle.
“Ooh. It’s nice and cushy on my feet.”
He inhaled as if he needed a moment to think about where he wanted to begin. “The most important thing is if someone attacks you, go for the eyes like this.” He curled his fingers and demonstrated. He gently placed his fingers on her closed lids, pressed lightly, then let go.
“I don’t think I could do that to anyone.”
His lips firmed. “You could if he was about to kill you.”
She instantly pictured the gray-hooded man. If he closed in on her waving a knife, she’d do what she had to. “Maybe I could.”
“Next, forget about any martial arts move you might know.”
She laughed. “I’ll be sure to keep my black belt at home.”
He chuckled. “Bites can be highly effective.”
“Ew.” She couldn’t imagine chewing on someone’s flesh. “Then again, if my choice is to bite him or die, I could turn vampire for a chomp or two.”
He smiled and nodded. “Other things you can do are grab his hair, kick, and punch him. Just don’t let him prevent you from moving.”
“That’s impossible.” A strong man could hold her down easily.
He held up his palms in a defense posture. “Try to grab me. Come on. Do whatever you can to take me down.”
She’d never be able to tackle him to the mat, but she might be able to grab him. She reached for his shoulders, but he blocked her hands with his. She tried again, but he ducked and twisted until he was out of reach. She huffed out a breath. “You have to stay still.”
He grinned. “That’s the point. Always keep moving. Now, I’ll try to grab you. I don’t know if you’ve ever had to corral a little kid, but that can be like picking up live fish. They squirm and slide around.”
“You want me to be like a fish?”
“If it means the man can’t grab you, then yes. But if you can’t get away, your ultimate goal is to attack him. Let’s do this in very slow motion. As I come at you, block my thrusts with your hands while trying to reach my face, but don’t let me touch you.”
But I want you to touch me. “Okay.” This was going to be impossible, but she was curious to see if she could do what he asked.
As he reached for her, she swatted his hands away. He moved forward, and she countered by ducking and stepping back. Darn. She didn’t get a chance to gouge out his eyes though.
“That’s good. Now I’m going to gently grab you from behind. Try to get out of my grasp.”
He stepped behind and hugged her. Instantly, her pulse sped up. Last night she’d dreamed of his chest pressed against her back with him holding her tightly—like now. With his strong arms around her, he’d place kisses all over her body, starting with tiny nibbles along her shoulder blade. Pretending she was naked in bed with him, she dropped back her head and let her arms hang loose by her side.
Gavin twisted her in his arms to face him. “Brooke? Baby?”
She snapped out of her haze. “Sorry. I was trying to remember what you said to do.” That was so lame.
“You can’t get distracted. It could mean the difference between getting away and being harmed.”
“I know.”
Light glinted off his forehead and for the first time she noticed a scar along his temple. She reached up to touch the old injury, but he caught her wrist and gently twisted it behind her back. Her breasts pressed against his steely pecs, and her nipples hardened under the pressure. “You need to focus.”
“Sorry. I’ll try not to get sidetracked again.” But that will only happen if you stop touching me. She looked up and slightly parted her mouth. Suddenly,
thoughts of learning to fight disappeared.
“Oh, baby. This isn’t going to work.” His lips captured hers.
He clasped her hands and held both in one of his. The feeling of being possessed caused the bottom half of her body to clench and pulse. Need soared through her veins. Maybe it was the all the stored up fear that hadn’t left her body since the crime, or the idea it was time to look for someone to be with for the rest of her life, but suddenly everything became clear. She wanted Gavin Kirkwood now.
She widened her stance and prayed he wouldn’t back off, claiming it wasn’t right to be with a client. Technically, she wasn’t a client—not until she paid him.
He leaned back. “I won’t lie. I want you.”
Joy rushed through her. His heavy-lidded eyes told her he was telling the truth. “Me, too.” She remembered the promise to herself to go for the gusto. She wanted it all, and she wanted it with him. “Tie me up.” Oh, God. She hadn’t meant for that to slip out. Something inside her snapped the moment she saw those ropes.
He tightened his hold. “You sure?”
“Totally.” He’d never hurt her. Her level of trust actually surprised her, but she’d never been more positive in her life.
She might like the challenge of computers and figuring out code, but she loved rough sex and bit of pain. None of the men she dated had a clue how to satisfy her though several had tried. Gavin and probably Riley seemed like the types who knew how to play rough with a woman. They’d take her to the edge of her climax and make her wait until she screamed. Then they’d plunge their cocks into her until she burst. She just needed to let him know what she wanted.
“Don’t move.” His sharp command melted her insides.
He jogged over to the shelf in back of the basement and grabbed the rope, cuffs, and a package she couldn’t identify.
He walked behind her. “Close your eyes.”
She obeyed his request. Weights clanked. She failed to figure out what he had in mind. The longer he took, the hotter she became. Imagining all the things he could do to her body had her nipples puckering and her pussy gushing.
“Open your eyes and take off your shirt.” He stood in front, inches from her face.
She thought he’d want to remove her clothes himself, but perhaps he enjoyed watching. If that was the case, she’d make sure to take her time. She crossed her arms and grabbed the hem of her long-sleeve spandex shirt and lifted it up inch by inch.
“I’m glad you’re not shy anymore, baby.”
She always had been until she met him and Riley. They’d changed her, made her more determined to enjoy life. When her shirt cleared her head, she looked for a place to put it.
“Drop it.” His voice came out strong and sounded urgent.
She did. Damn. Her sports bra wasn’t sexy, but then again she never thought they’d be making love. Somehow, she didn’t think Gavin even noticed. She slipped her thumbs under the bra material and lifted them over her breasts.
“Baby, you’re pushing my limits here.”
She smiled. “That’s a good thing, right?”
“If you were my cock, you’d know how hard it is to watch you and not ravish your luscious body. Our first time together, I want you to set the pace.”
If she had her way, she’d toss off her clothes then rip off his, but taking her time had its advantages, too. If Gavin saw something he didn’t like, he could always call a halt to their lovemaking.
She lifted her jog bra up and over her head, but as soon as the material covered her eyes, his palms slid onto her breasts. Her skin sizzled with erotic lust. He rubbed his hands up and down, and the calluses on his palms tickled. Not being able to see increased the pleasure. Since she couldn’t hold the pose for long, she tossed off her bra. So focused on his face, she didn’t bother noticing where her garment landed.
Her hair probably stuck out, but with Gavin inches from her face, she didn’t care.
He removed her glasses, stepped to the side, and set them on another piece of equipment. He held up a finger. “Hold that thought.”
He rushed up the steps and flicked off the bank of overhead lights. Daylight danced through the tall windows that rimmed the west side of the room, bathing the gym in warmth. While her vision wasn’t sharp, she could see him move about.
Gavin stepped in close and rubbed his thumbs over her nipples. She hissed and inhaled a big breath. He then lifted her breasts as if he wanted to weigh them or judge to see if they were equal.
“I’ve been dreaming of sucking on your nipples since I met you, and I’ve wanted to touch your soft, supple skin so bad, my cock wakes me up at night with my fingers itching to pinch the tips like this.”
The intense pressure brought much needed relief. “Yes.”
He smiled and leaned closer. “Do you like a man to take you hard?”
He knew! “Yes.”
“Keep your hands down by your side.”
“Yes, Master.”
He stilled. Oh, shit. Had she stepped over the bounds?
He lifted her chin. “Is there something you need to tell me, baby? Are you dying to be my little sub?”
She swallowed. None of the men she knew were real Doms, but a few pretended they were. There were things about their actions that appealed to her, but most of the time they were clueless about what turned her on. “Yes.”
He inhaled deeply as if he needed time to control himself. She glanced at his crotch, but between his thick jeans and her bad eyesight, she couldn’t tell if he was hard, though she bet he was. She ought to just grab him to be sure, but if he truly were a Dom, he’d punish her.
Do it.
His kind of discipline might not be a bad thing if done right, but she didn’t want to take any chances just yet. Going for the gusto all at once scared her.
“Do you have your own special safe word?”
Maybe it was time to come clean. “No. I need to tell you something.”
His shoulders sagged. “Anything.”
“I’ve never really been a sub before. I’ve only dreamed about it.”
“Baby, then we are in for a mind-blowing time.”
He never addressed her inexperience, and he didn’t seem put off by it either. She wanted one thing in her life to go well and prayed this was it.
He dragged his thumbs across her slightly tender nipples again, and they puckered under his attention. He rolled the tips back and forth and she moaned.
“I hadn’t expected you to be so responsive, but I love that you are. Seeing and hearing you enjoy what I do is a major turn-on for me.” He licked his lips and let his gaze linger over her breasts. “Did I mention you are magnificent?”
She had no idea how to respond to his compliment. “No. Maybe?” God, she tried to remember every word he’d said, but her mind was fuzzy from being in this dream, and having his hands on her body blocked all rational thought.
She thought he’d suck on her taut nipple and ravish her, but instead, he grabbed her hand and walked her over to a contraption that had weights on both sides. An overhead bar separated the vertical stands. “What’s this for?” She studied the large piece of equipment for a moment but couldn’t figure out how it worked.
“It’s called a cable crossover machine, but we won’t be using it for that purpose.” He picked up a rope he’d carried over from the shelf and placed on the bench and waved it. “You okay if I tie up your wrists?”
She’d already begged him to tie her up. “Yes.” Every erotic dream had her being held captive. Now that dream would come true.
He smiled as he twisted the soft material over both her wrists, tying them together rather loosely. “Not too tight?”
She gently tugged. The soft material was gentle on her skin. “No.”
He lifted her arms and tossed the rope over the bar and secured it.
He stood back. “Try getting out.”
She tugged and twisted, but her struggle only seemed to tighten the restraints. Brooke expected anxiety to
rush through her veins, but instead, it was pure lust. Maybe now he’d take her hard so she could love every pounding thrust.
He smiled. “You are so beautiful.” He shook his head. “My God. To think we could have been together a month ago. I should have asked you out the moment I saw you.”
She understood why he hadn’t. She wore the least revealing outfits to her store as possible, not wanting the customers to be distracted by her oversized breasts. “But I’m here now.”
His eyelids lowered and he stalked closer. “Yes, you are.” Her body trembled under his gaze. Hell, his mere presence awed her.
He glanced between her breasts and her lips. When he leaned down and nipped her bottom lip between his teeth, her knees weakened. Was this truly happening? Or was it a dream?
When he pressed on her nipples once more, streaks of pleasure shot through her so hard her knees bent. Thank goodness the rope kept her from falling. As much as she wanted to beg him to take off her pants and suck on her pussy, she wanted to give him all the control.
For once, she didn’t want to worry if she was doing something wrong.
“Take me, Gavin.” She’d never been so bold, but with him it seemed so right.
“Baby, baby.” He scooped her ass in his palms and lifted her until his hard cock pressed against her.
Her pussy dampened. When she inhaled to offer him her breasts, he latched onto a nipple and sucked hard. Spikes of desire ripped through her. She’d waited so long for a real man to possess her, and finally he was here.
“Harder.”
His breaths came out fast as if he’d gone a round with a heavyweight. He set her down and backed up a foot. “Let’s set some ground rules first.”
Rules were like computer code. Follow the order and the program ran like a charm. Go rogue, and errors occurred. “I like rules.” It was dealing with her emotions that was more difficult.
“We’ll start with your safe word. I’ll make it easy. It’ll be ‘computer.’”
That lightened the mood. She thought he’d pick something more sinister like drugs, shoot, or fight since those terrible words would remind her of the act of violence she’d witnessed. “I can remember that.”
“Secondly, when in my presence in the bedroom or in this case, in the gym, keep your gaze downward and only speak when spoken to. Can you remember those rules?”
Monroe, Melody Snow - Bodyguards of Pleasure [Pleasure, Montana 8] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 8
