Servicing the Target

by Cherise Sinclair

  No, but she had a hell of a temper when she actually let it loose.

  She’d worked her ass off to be an outstanding fugitive recovery agent and Mistress. To have everything she’d built questioned by idiots like her uncles and father. And Cullen. Hell, he couldn’t blame her for blowing her stack.

  Travis said she tended to retreat when wounded. But she wouldn’t stay away from her family and friends. Not long. “She’ll be back to her friends—and the Shadowlands—when she’s ready. Anne doesn’t lack courage.”

  If she was all right.

  She had to be all right. “When she returns…” Ben hesitated. “Z, I’ve seen you step in when things get fucked up. Will you help out?”

  “No,” Z said gravely.

  Both Ben and Jessica stared at him.

  “Benjamin, you have all the talent and determination required to see this through. Whether you two part ways or not, I know you’ll support her until she’s steady again.” Z’s smile was fleeting. “Whether she wants you to or not.”

  “She won’t,” Ben muttered. But, dammit, if she needed help, he’d see she got it. And she’d take that help, like it or not.

  Although, it’d be easier on him to simply kill everyone who’d hurt her. He’d start with her cousin. Meantime, he had to find her. “I’m going to have Ghost take over the desk this weekend. Okay with you?”

  Z nodded. “Of course.”

  Ben finished off his beer and rose. “Sorry to have cut into your evening, Jessica. I’ll get out of your way now.”

  “I’m glad you came by,” she said. “I’ll talk to the other Shadowkittens and try to give you some ideas.”

  “Thanks.” As he let himself out, he saw her turn and bury her head against Z’s chest.

  Anne had done that too, taken comfort from Ben. Had made him feel needed and powerful, as if he could keep the world from harming his woman.

  Fuck, he missed her.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  “You’ll get calls from them, Joey,” Anne said into her house phone. The two Dommes she’d spoken with earlier were sadists. And both were open to taking on a new slave.

  “Thank you so much, Mistress Anne.” He was so thrilled he sounded almost breathless.

  “You’re very welcome. You take care—”

  “Are you going to be at the Shadowlands tonight?” he asked before she could say good-bye. “It’s Saturday. And you weren’t there last night.”

  Actually, she’d planned to be home last night, but the small matter of the SUV’s cracked radiator had kept her in St. Augustine an extra day.

  Not that she’d have gone to the club anyway. She wasn’t a member any longer. “No, I’m planning a nice, quiet evening at home. I’ll sit on the deck and watch the storm coming in.”

  “Ugh,” he said.

  She smiled, imagining his shiver. He hated storms. If he were smart, he wouldn’t share that information with a new sadistic Mistress. “Good night, Joey.”

  Anne set the phone down and frowned at the blinking message machine. She had a myriad of calls.

  But…she’d endured enough phone time for now, especially since the messages were from her family and maybe some of the Shadowlands members, including—she winced—Z. She’d already listened to two messages from Travis and Harrison. With each punch of the play button, she’d held her breath, hoping the caller was Ben, and then suffered through the pain when the voice hadn’t been his.

  She couldn’t take more right now.

  * * * *

  In the deepening twilight, under the rumbling sound of thunder, Anne heard someone walking the stone path that ran beside her house. Her heart leaped. Ben?

  From her sprawling position on the lounge chair, she pushed up on one elbow.

  The tops of three heads showed, coming around the front of her high deck. Not Ben. Women. She exhaled in a sad little huff.

  She recognized her visitors just from their hair. Sleek hair so black it glinted blue—Kim. Thick, wavy blonde hair—Jessica. Gleaming black with crinkles—Uzuri.

  The Shadowkittens were here to…to what? She frowned as they came up her steps.

  “Hey,” Jessica called. “Will visitors be forced to walk the plank, Ma’am.”

  Anne’s lips curved…slightly. “This isn’t a ship; it’s a deck. But come on up. I’ll decide about the plank after hearing what crimes you’ve committed recently.”

  Only Uzuri looked worried. Kim actually laughed.

  Anne felt like pouting. Her rep as an evil Mistress had just plain gone to hell. Then again, that was what happened with good friends, wasn’t it? “To what do I owe the honor of this visit today? And how did you know I’d be here?”

  No one knew she’d be here. Well, aside from Joey. Come to think of it, at one time, he’d been the token male submissive in the Shadowkittens. “Joey called you,” Anne said flatly.

  The three exchanged glances, silently electing Jessica as spokesperson.

  “Everyone was worried when you disappeared.” As the gusting wind whipped at her clothes, Jessica perched on a chair, her hair gathered in one hand.

  Kim said, “Raoul and Cullen are really upset with themselves. Cullen says he stuck his foot in his mouth. Again. He’s trying to think of ways to apologize.”

  “No apology necessary.” Anne felt the pang of loss as she added, “I’m not liable to see them anyway.”

  “No!” Uzuri pushed past Kim, and suddenly Anne had a submissive kneeling at her feet. “Please, Ma’am, don’t let a quarrel change your life for the worse.”

  The memory of Ben kneeling…right there…stabbed into her heart.

  “It’s more than a quarrel.” She’d thought she’d moved beyond their betrayal, but…it still hurt. “They thought I was dishonest and cheating on Ben.”

  “Anne.” Kim’s soft voice held the sweet stubbornness that Raoul adored. “They were just guys rallying to defend their bro. We women do it all the time. And Raoul realized even before you walked away that Ben wasn’t the only person in your relationship who was hurting.”

  Anne blinked. Replayed the conversation. Yes, Cullen had been protective of Ben. And they hadn’t heard any of what she and Joey had said, had just seen her with him, and how Ben had stormed away. They’d jumped to conclusions.

  Stupid, true, but hey, males, right? Apparently, they’d bought into the cold-hearted Mistress image she’d created.

  The ugly coil of pain in her chest unwound. “They rallied, and I lost my temper.” She helped Uzuri back to her feet.

  “Actually, I thought you held it together pretty well,” Jessica said and settled further into the chair as Kim took the one beside her. “I’d say you had just about the worst evening known to womankind. Your job, your family, and then the club.”

  True. Anne observed them for a moment. “How do you know about my evening?”

  “Oh, girl.” Uzuri sat on the swing. “The Shadowlands is even gossipier than the little town where I grew up. Your brother talked with Ben, who talked with Z who told him what Cullen and Raoul had said.”

  “I called Joey,” Kim said, “and he added in the rest.”

  Travis had told Ben what had happened? Head spinning, Anne held up her hand. “I got the picture.”

  “Ben’s worried about you,” Jessica said.

  Would it matter? He cared about people. Just because he’d broken it off with her wouldn’t make him stop caring.

  Someone should let him know she was fine. Kind of fine. “Did someone inform him that I was home and all right?”

  “No. We wanted to talk with you first.” Jessica gave her a soft smile. “You might be a Mistress, but you’re also in our gang. And a woman needs her posse around her when things go bad.”

  Jessica’s affection lapped over and into the empty recesses of Anne’s heart. She had good friends. A look at the other two women showed they felt the same, even before Jessica added, “Everyone wanted to come, but we were afraid you’d feel invaded.”

  “Wh
en Sally lost out, boy, you should have heard the swearing. And Olivia said she’s going to beat our asses at the club for not letting her come.” Kim’s lips tilted up. “See how much we love you?”

  And here she’d been feeling bereft. “Thank you. Thank you all.”

  “Right. So—do you have a blender?” Uzuri picked up the brown grocery sack at her feet. “We can’t share disastrous relationship stories without alcohol.”

  They’d have to do the drinking for her, but okay. Laughing, Anne rose and led the way inside.

  * * * *

  Watching the black clouds cover the sky, Ben pulled his phone out of his rear pocket and answered without checking the display. “Yo.”

  “Ben? Travis.”

  Ben froze. “News?”

  “Yeah. Lights are on at her place.”

  “Did you stop by?” Ben asked.

  “No, Harrison’s wife noticed and called me. Dad and I are in Tampa and heading there now, so if you want to see her before us, this is your chance.”

  Ben smiled. Good man. “Copy that. Thanks.”

  “No thanks needed. Just be aware that if you don’t make her happy, I’ll break your neck.”

  If he fucked this up, he’d welcome an early demise.

  * * * *

  As Uzuri concocted daiquiris with the fresh strawberries she’d brought, Anne took charge of adding rum to each drink.

  A salt-laden, wet wind gusted through the screen of the open deck door to announce the storm’s arrival. A minute later, rain pattered on her deck and grew into a noisy drumming. “You got here just in time,” Anne raised her voice to be heard. “It’s turning into a mess out there.”

  Kim wrinkled her nose. “No driving in that until it calms down a bit.” She accepted her glass.

  No driving, period. Smiling, Anne handed over the other two rum-heavy drinks. If her friends tried to get behind a wheel after they’d been drinking, they discover what a hardass Domme she really was.

  She picked up her rumless drink, heaved a sigh, and plopped in three extra strawberries to make up for the absence of alcohol.

  After using the remote to start her moody playlist, she settled into her favorite armchair. Over the low strains of Enya, rain slapped against the night-darkened window.

  Cross-legged on the couch, Jessica leaned toward Anne. “I saw Ben on Thursday. He looked really wrecked about you two not being together.”

  Anne blinked at the straightforward approach and then narrowed her eyes. “Aren’t you supposed to build up to grilling someone about their relationship? You know, be gentle with vulnerable, upset friends?”

  “You’re right. God, Jessica, were you raised on the docks?” Kim shook her head and smiled sweetly at Anne. “Don’t you just love how pretty the weather is today?”

  Anne glanced out the arched windows to the white-capped waves slamming into her beach. Over the black ocean, lightning created stark ribbons of jagged light. The sound of the palm trees whipping in the wind could barely be heard under the thunder.

  Uzuri followed her gaze and—giggling—told Kim, “You’re an idiot.”

  Kim scowled. “I like this kind of weather, although it’s better when I have Raoul to wrap around.”

  “See? That’s what I’m saying. Anne needs her giant, studly teddy bear.” Jessica nodded. “Are you going to take him back? Give the poor man a break?”

  Take him back? He broke up with me.

  “Maybe she wants younger—or doesn’t want a huge guy,” Uzuri said.

  The other two gave her looks of disbelief.

  Uzuri lifted her chin. “Hey, some of us prefer normal men. Besides, those pretty boys of hers were gorgeous and built and in their guy prime.”

  “You have an excellent point.” Kim raised her glass to her friend. “Joey’s butt? Work of art.”

  “This is true,” Jessica said with due consideration. “And yet, maybe Anne got fond of that big build. There are a lot of pluses to older and bigger. More muscles. More experience. Bigger…masculine attributes.”

  Kim hummed. “Larger masculine attributes can’t be discounted lightly.

  “It’s actually a detriment, in my opinion, unless the male in question knows how to wield it.” Uzuri sniffed. “And everything else as well.”

  Anne swung a leg over the arm of her chair. If she stayed silent, these three might settle all her concerns.

  Unfortunately, all three turned to look at her expectantly.

  “Ben can definitely wield all his weapons superbly.” Oh, he could. “And I did get fond of his build—as well as his masculine attributes.” Time to actually share, not something at which she was experienced. “But he doesn’t want to be a slave. He’s more of a sexual submissive.” Final confession. “And I hate to change.” She hadn’t moved fast enough.

  When Kim nodded, obviously unsurprised about Ben, Anne asked, “You knew?”

  “He’d talked with Raoul. And Raoul was worried about you two. He wasn’t sure you’d accept a sexual submissive rather than a slave.”

  Raoul’d been worried? Anne tried to remember. After Ben had dumped her and left, Raoul had come over. Frowning. Had his expression held more concern than disapproval? She sighed. Unsettled emotions really could mess up a person’s ability to read body language.

  “I hear you on wanting things to stay the same,” Uzuri said. “But when I…had…to move to Florida, I learned change can be good. Open new worlds, new possibilities.” She smiled at the others. “Bring new friends.”

  “You don’t really want your life to remain the same forever, do you?” Jessica’s smile was soft. “I’ve seen you with Sophia. You want one of your own.”

  “I do.” Anne sighed. She had wanted a child—and now, here she was. Pregnant. It almost made her feel guilty, as if her yearning had resulted in her pregnancy. “I’d like a baby—no matter how much my life would be altered.”

  “I might eventually, too, but we’re not ready,” Kim admitted. “I’m still getting over the trauma of consenting to be married.”

  Uzuri snickered. “Anyone else would worry more about that collar he locked around her neck.”

  “Beth wants a baby too.” Jessica grinned. “Can you see Nolan’s face if he has to convert his customized, hand-crafted dungeon into a kid’s playroom?”

  Anne had seen his expression when he’d held Kari’s Zane. The big Master wouldn’t have any trouble clearing his life out for a child.

  “Babies undeniably transform your life.” Uzuri raised her brows at Jessica. “I know it’s early days, but did Sophia muddle yours up at all? Is Master Z still your Master?”

  Anne smothered a smile. Z had certainly looked like a Master on the day Jessica had taken Anne’s advice.

  Catching the twitch of Anne’s lips, Jessica turned red. After clearing her throat, she smiled at Uzuri. “I don’t think anyone could take the Master out of Z. But our relationship’s gone through some changes. We’ve had a couple of fights.”

  “Really?” Kim leaned forward.

  “Like the day that I got too tired. Well, we both were, really. Sophia was fussing, and the phone was ringing, and Z didn’t answer it. He was on his cell, but I didn’t know that and thought he was being lazy, and I blew up into a total hissy fit.”

  “Oh my God, you took on Master Z?” Uzuri looked terrified enough to have Anne frowning.

  Dammit, they really needed to work on some of those fears. No, Anne wasn’t a member of the Shadowlands any longer. Well, she’d give Z a heads-up. And…and she’d do some digging as a friend instead.

  “I wasn’t thinking of Masters or submitting or anything,” Jessica said. “I was just…I simply lost it.” She scowled. “But it was Master Z who spanked me, and it sure wasn’t an erotic spanking, but mean and merciless. I cried my eyes out. Would you believe he said I needed the release?”

  When Anne laughed—because Z’d obviously been right—Jessica wrinkled her nose. “I’d rather have had a different kind of release, right? But afterwa
rd, he held me and cuddled me. When Sophia started fussing again, he put me to bed and told me if I didn’t go to sleep, he’d spank me again.”

  Uzuri gave a contented sigh. “Okay. You had me worried for a minute there.”

  Kim frowned. “Aside from you yelling at him, that’s not much of a change.”

  “Right. That’s what hasn’t changed; he still takes total charge when he feels protective. When it comes to Sophia and the house, then I make most of the decisions. We decide a lot together, and if we don’t agree, the final say is his, and I prefer that. It’s…comforting.”

  Anne thought Z had a good handle on balancing everything. And Jessica’s contentment bore that out. Interesting. Was this what Ben wanted?

  “That’s what I had planned to try with Ben,” she admitted. All three gazes snapped to her. “Move the D/s more into the bedroom. Not make Ben twist himself to be a slave.”

  “Ben would be good at juggling everything, I think. Outside the bedroom, he’d insist on protecting you and supporting you,” Kim said.

  “And then hand you the whip in the bedroom,” Jessica added.

  “I wish.” Anne’s drink tasted like hopelessness. “That was what I’d wanted, but Ben said he’s vanilla. He thanked me for the taste of kink, as if he wanted to spit at what was left in his mouth.”

  “That was that night at the Shadowlands? And you believed him?” Uzuri looked at her in disbelief. “You’re a Domme—you’re supposed to read us better.”

  Jessica laughed. “Pfft, even mind-reading Dominants screw it up when their own emotions get involved. And that night, she wasn’t operating on all burners.” She glanced over. “Sorry, Anne.”

  “It’s the truth.” Anne hesitated as her anxiety and hope fought a battle. “What did I miss?”

  Uzuri frowned. “I was in the subbie section, watching. You were bending over Joey, holding his chin all sweet and Mistressy, and just…looking at him. A long time. And Ben saw that, and his face totally changed—like mad and jealous and hurt. He thought you went back to Joey.”

  Anne held up a hand as the memory seared through her, clear as crystal now. “He said that. ‘See you found your boy.’ I thought he meant I’d found Joey to talk with. But he thought I chose Joey, rather than him. And then he…unleashed.”