[Masters of the Shadowlands 01.0] Club Shadowlands

by Cherise Sinclair

  Her gaze turned to the bed, and the ugly feeling in her chest grew. How many of those women downstairs had been in his bed? Ben’s words ran through her mind: Women fall all over him, and in his world, he’s known as the best master around. And that’s according to the subs, who would definitely know. Lots of subs apparently.

  Would that gorgeous blonde be up here tomorrow? Jessica’s hands closed into fists, but who should she hit? The blonde? Or herself for being so stupid and letting herself get more involved than she should have? He’d never indicated that he wanted her for more than just sex, after all. And she’d enjoyed the sex, hadn’t wanted anything else at first. But every time she learned something about him, she liked him more.

  She wanted there to be a them, but he didn’t feel the same way.

  There was no future with him. She walked to the wall of windows and gazed outside. Black clouds were moving in, shrouding the moon and stars in darkness. It would be pouring rain before morning.

  She wrapped her arms around herself as unhappiness twisted her stomach. Really, she should leave now; she’d learned the folly of driving on country roads in a storm. And there was nothing for her here.

  She glanced at the bed, and her throat tightened. She would hurt even worse if she went to bed with him now, let him make love… No, what they had wasn’t love, and that was the problem, wasn’t it?

  “Jessica?” He stood in the doorway. She caught the puzzled look in his eyes, the frown, and then he leaned against the door frame, crossing his arms and waiting. Watching her with an intent gaze. Master Z.

  She didn’t even know his name, she realized, feeling as if the storm had already started. No, she needed to get out of here before she made a fool of herself.

  “I think it’s time for me to leave,” she managed to say.

  His head tilted. “I didn’t design my bedroom to make a woman sad, kitten. Or to make her want to run.”

  “I’m sorry, Sir. It’s just… It’s been a long night.” Her chest hurt so bad she wanted to press her hands to it. “I’m going home now.”

  “No. You’re not.”

  She blinked. “You can’t—”

  His mouth curved in a faint smile. “No, I won’t push you down on the bed and have my way with you, tempting as I find the thought.”

  The image sent heat pouring through her veins.

  “But I also won’t let you leave while you’re still under the influence. I wouldn’t have given you any alcohol at all if I hadn’t thought you’d be spending the night.”

  “Oh.” Well, she probably had drunk more than she should have. But damned if she’d stay here with him. “I’ll drive slowly.”

  His eyes darkened, the muscles in his jaw tightening. “I’ll chain you to a wall in the dungeon before I let you leave like this.”

  The image actually made her dampen, and she closed her eyes. She couldn’t stay in his rooms. Or go back to the club and be in that sex-charged atmosphere. “Um. Maybe I’ll just go for a nice walk.”

  He shook his head with a hint of exasperation, then held out his hand. “Come, pet, I have a better idea.”

  She hesitated.

  “No sex involved.”

  Why did his easy compliance feel so disappointing? “Okay.” His hand engulfed hers, warm and hard, and just touching him made her want him more. Oh, this had to stop.

  He grabbed a bottled water from the refrigerator, then led her to the back door, and down the steps to the backyard.

  She frowned. “This isn’t the same area we were in before, is it?”

  “That was the side yard; this is the back. This area is only for my use.” He tilted her chin up, kissed her. “It’s very private.”

  God, he could kiss. By the time he pulled back, her arms were wrapped around his neck, and she was pressed against him all over. She felt so good in his arms—warm, safe…stupid. She shoved him away and took a step back, trying to control her breathing. “No sex?”

  He chuckled. “I don’t consider kissing to be sex.”

  “Kissing is sex.” She glared at him. If kissing wasn’t sex, she wouldn’t feel so turned on.

  “Since you aren’t interested in sex”—he gave her a bland look—“you might as well finish relaxing.” He led her past flower beds illumined with solar lanterns to a bubbling Jacuzzi. Heat rose from the water. After setting the bottle down, he pulled her nightie over her head.

  “Hey!”

  Ignoring her, he unbuckled the leather cuffs that were still on her wrists, then gathered her hair and twisted it into a loose knot on top of her head. Hand on her bare butt, he nudged her toward the water. “Get in.”

  Options were limited. Fight with him over her clothing or get in where the bubbling water would hide her.

  The heat engulfed her as she lowered herself to the seat. The water splashed gently around her shoulders. Her wrists felt light…bare…without the cuffs. She knew he’d removed them to keep them out of the water, but it still felt like he was removing her from his life. She bit her lip, forced a smile. “This feels really nice.”

  “Good.” He studied her face, a frown back on his face, then opened the bottled water, and handed it to her. “Drink this. I don’t want you getting dehydrated.”

  As she sipped the water, he stripped out of his slacks in his usual efficient fashion. Standing on the edge of the Jacuzzi, outlined by the glowing moon overhead, he looked like a god. Tall, shoulders so broad, muscles rimmed in shadow and moonglow.

  He stepped into the water and settled himself beside her. After stroking a finger lightly down her cheek, he leaned back, one arm resting on the concrete edge behind her head. An owl hooted from the trees as leaves rustled in the light breeze. The muffled sound of a car door, then a car leaving, drifted back into the yard. As the Jacuzzi burbled softly, Jessica let her head settle back onto the muscled arm behind her. She’d just let her mind clear, show him she was sober, and be out of here within an hour.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Zachary watched his little sub slowly relax, and the night’s stress and turmoil uncoil from her muscles. Quite an evening she’d had.

  One that had almost ended abruptly a few minutes ago. What had been in her mind up there in the bedroom? He shook his head. The ability to read emotions didn’t always help with understanding. She’d felt desire and then confusion and…resolution. Yes, that was it. And then grief.

  Grief as she’d said she wanted to leave. No anger at him, no dislike. He was missing some vital step in her reasoning, dammit. But he had gotten one message loud and clear; if she’d left right then, he wouldn’t have seen her again.

  He picked up her hand, kissed the fingers, and she only sighed. Letting her make such a decision when intoxicated and emotionally frayed… He knew better than that. If she still felt the same way when she woke, he wouldn’t stand in her way. Although he’d damned well get her to verbalize the problem.

  He was a psychologist, after all.

  Psychologist enough to know himself and that he didn’t want her to go. The opposite, in fact. He’d already known he wanted to see her again, but his thoughts hadn’t gone further than enjoying her in the club. But as the evening progressed, his intentions had changed. And when she’d bandaged him, warming him with her concern, he’d known he was doomed. He wanted more from her than a few evenings in the club. She roused feelings in him that he hadn’t felt in a long time.

  With gentle fingers, he pushed a damp tendril of hair from her forehead. She’d washed the streaked makeup from her face in the bathroom. Did she know how those tear tracks, that evidence of vulnerability, could pull at a Dom? She probably didn’t even realize how pretty she was now, her cheeks flushed with the heat, her lips soft and kissable.

  After she was half-asleep in the water, he pulled her out, dried her off, and tucked her into his bed, enjoying the way she unconsciously curled into him, soft against his side.

  He woke before dawn with the moonlight streaming through the window. She looked just rig
ht, he decided, her golden hair spread across the dark pillows, her rounded curves bringing his bed to life. He shook his head, bemused by her presence. The tiny room downstairs was where he took his women; they weren’t invited up here to his home.

  But unlike many, she hadn’t angled for an invitation. He’d wanted her here. Hell, he probably would have tossed her over his shoulder and carried her up caveman-style if she hadn’t agreed. She was such a fascinating concoction: the sheer intelligence, the logical mind and reserve that buried her passion underneath. The way her insecurities mingled with that affectionate nature was endearing. Her loyalty to her sister, her courage… She was something, wasn’t she?

  Even Galahad had given his approval.

  He ran a hand down the satiny skin on her bare shoulder and felt himself harden completely. He’d had a half erection all night, ever since she’d screamed in pleasure in the medical room, but she’d needed time to recover, and then whatever had bothered her had come between them.

  Now, however… He slid the covers down, baring her. Moonlight gleamed on her breasts, leaving tantalizing shadows beneath. Her waist curved in, then out into lush hips. The darkness between her thighs called to him. His hands traced down her body, touching lightly, his fingers lured into stroking the soft breasts. Her nipples pebbled into points. Her breath quickened. The scent of her arousal drifted to him even as her eyes fluttered open.

  Her body felt hot and needy.

  Where are my pajamas? she thought drowsily, then more urgently, Where am I?

  Blinking, she frowned as she remembered the club. Sir. A Jacuzzi. She’d been so sleepy. Was she in his bed?

  Her breasts were lifted into hard hands, and she moaned as intense sensations rippled through her.

  “Sir?”

  “We’re not quite to the sex part,” Master Z said. “You may tell me to stop if you want.”

  His face was above her, the moonlight shadowing its hard planes. He smiled just a little. She was leaving him, she remembered. Wasn’t going to do this again. Her heart ached at the thought.

  She could call this one last time a way of saying good-bye, right?

  “Don’t stop,” she whispered.

  He took a condom from the nightstand and covered himself. “Now, open your legs for me, kitten.” His deep voice was rough.

  Her legs parted.

  “Good girl.” His hand touched between her thighs. She was already wet, growing more so as his fingers spread the moisture. One finger stroked her clitoris, sending fiery shocks through her.

  She tightened, the heat rising quickly as if he’d already stoked the fire. She lifted her hips into his hand without thinking. When he chuckled, she felt her cheeks heat.

  How did he affect her this way? She had never been so uninhibited before.

  “I like the way you react to my hands on you,” he whispered, kissing her deeply, thoroughly, his tongue plunging into her even as he stroked her slit below. The twin assaults left her body shaking with need. He released her mouth only to shift to her breasts, sucking one nipple, then the other, into hard points, and the tugging of his mouth tightened her core.

  His fingers continued their slow slide over her clitoris, around and over until each touch sent her closer, until her thigh muscles tightened and quivered.

  And then he opened her, positioned himself, and thrust into her. Her swollen tissues flared with his entry. He pinched her clitoris at the same time, the one necessary touch she’d been waiting for, and she screamed, her hips jerking against his as waves of sensation exploded through her, as her womb spasmed around his thick, intruding shaft.

  He hummed in enjoyment, moving his hand to her breasts as he slid in and out of her very, very slowly. His thick cock and his fingers on her nipples never let her excitement quite die.

  “I didn’t think you ever made love in the normal way,” she whispered, her voice husky.

  He nuzzled her neck. His teeth closed on her shoulder in a light bite. Then he gently tongued the sting. “You miss being tied up already?”

  Involuntarily, her pussy tightened around him, giving him the answer she’d never have dared to speak.

  “Ah.” His teeth flashed white in the dark face, and he captured one wrist, placed it over her head, and then added the other. One big hand easily pinned her wrists to the mattress. “This should do it.”

  “No restraints?” she managed to ask, realizing she hadn’t seen any.

  “Don’t have any. I don’t bring subs up here.”

  But she was here, she managed to think, and then he increased the force and speed of his thrusts between her legs.

  She felt invaded and helpless to do anything. With her arms restrained, her body wasn’t hers to control; she had no decisions to make, nothing to do except feel. Each sensation seared through her, the slide of his shaft exquisitely opening her, his hard hand keeping her from movement, his other hand toying with her breasts, plucking and pinching the nipples to just the edge of pain. To just the point where each touch increased her now consuming need.

  Then, abandoning her breasts, he set his hand under one of her knees, pushing her leg up, opening her further. He began to pound into her, and the throbbing between her legs became overwhelming. Her orgasm ripped through her, hard and fast, an incandescent flame shooting through her. She moaned as she spasmed around him, as her knee quivered in his hard grasp.

  And then his grip tightened as he growled out his own release; the sensations of his cock jerking inside her made her gasp.

  “Ah, little one,” he murmured. After letting her wrists go, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight against him, his weight full on her and ever so satisfying, his warm breath ruffling her hair. The scent of sex filled the room. She ran her fingers through his thick hair and pressed a kiss to his damp shoulder. How could she give this up?

  When he started to withdraw, she grabbed his butt, curled her fingers into the hard curve of muscle, and kept his pelvis against her own. “Don’t leave.”

  He kissed her, sweet and slow, before pulling away. “I’ll be right back, pet.”

  A moment in the bathroom, and he rejoined her, pulling her on top of him. It was apparently one of his favorite positions. He played with her buttocks, fondling and squeezing, the movements causing her tender clit to rub against him until she wiggled in his grasp.

  He chuckled. “You can go back to sleep now if you want,” he whispered, tucking her head down against his shoulder. His musky scent enveloped her; his arm lay heavy across her back, and one hand still grasped her bottom. She yawned, sliding down into sleep and safety.

  When she woke, lying on her back, he was on his side, propped on one elbow, watching her with those silvery eyes. Sprawled out with no covers, she was naked to his gaze. She made a futile grasp at the sheet, but his hand came down on hers.

  “Let me look,” he murmured, releasing her after kissing her fingers.

  Heat washed from her chest to her face, and she knew she’d turned bright red from the way his eyes crinkled. She frowned at him. “You’re bossy.”

  “Yes, I am,” he agreed, amiably. “Isn’t it a shame you happen to like that?”

  Huh. Hard to answer that one.

  After donning a condom, he rolled on top of her and slid into her with one hard thrust. She gasped as the shock of the sudden entry reverberated through her system.

  “All right, pet.” Resting on his forearms, he framed her face with his warm hands, forcing her to look at him. “Now that I have your attention, you may tell me what was going on earlier.”

  His gaze was stern, his hands unyielding. His heavy body pinned her to the mattress with his cock impaling her. There would be no evasion, either mentally or physically.

  She swallowed hard. She could get him to release her, she knew, if she demanded to be let free. If she walked out. The thought of leaving brought back the ache in her chest. She didn’t want to walk out.

  “Jessica,” he said softly, “haven’t we shared enough for
you to trust me with more than your body?” His thumbs stroked her cheeks. She could feel him, hard inside her, not moving, but joining them together in the most intimate of ways.

  But she knew how this would end, had to end. He’d lived alone for years. He had eager subs available anytime he wanted. Why would he change for her?

  His eyes narrowed. “All that thinking going on. Tell me, pet.”

  Pet. Anger flared through her, even knowing he’d said it deliberately. She wasn’t a damned pet to be taken home and then dumped at the pound if too inconvenient. Fine then, he could hear some truths.

  “That woman who knelt in front of you? I don’t like knowing she’ll be here with you tomorrow.”

  He looked confused, but she couldn’t hold back the next part.

  “I don’t want you to have other subs. Or women.” And then insecurity welled up in her like an ice bath. What was she doing? Like he cared what she wanted?

  She tried to look away, but he wouldn’t move his hands or his gaze. The only thing that moved was his cock inside her, just enough to remind her of their connection. “Don’t stop, kitten. What else?”

  He held her in place so easily, and her wakening arousal set off another spark of anger at her body’s weakness and at him for exploiting it. She glared at him. “Just one thing. Sir.” She almost spat the word. “There’s more between us than just sex, and you’d see it if you weren’t totally blind, dammit.”

  He blinked at her outburst. Then his lips curved.

  “Spitfire,” he murmured, his tone pleased.

  “I—” God, what had she done? She wet her lips.

  His smile widened at her confusion, and he brushed her lips with a gentle kiss. “It so happens that I agree completely.”

  “You do?” she whispered. There was air in this room somewhere, but she couldn’t seem to find it.

  Moving a hand from her face, he touched her nipple with one gentle finger, watched it bead into a point. “I do. And I think it’s time you gave me your phone number.”

  Her heart tugged inside her with the rising hope. She shoved it back down, trying to consider his request. Well, not a request, actually.