McKenzie, Cooper - Jillian's Master [Club Esoteria 5] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Cooper McKenzie

  Jillian shook her head, unable to answer. How could she explain to anyone else what she couldn’t even acknowledge to herself? That she might be falling for Master Gunner without knowing anything about him.

  Grabbing Blaze’s hand, she dragged the other woman from the club before anyone could say anything further.

  * * * *

  Gunner woke and found himself alone. Rolling from the bed, he checked the bathroom and found it empty. Scanning the room, he saw the green chemise his little sub had worn was missing, as well. Then he saw the cuffs she’d worn laying on his pile of clothes.

  She’d left him without a word of explanation or a way to get in touch with her.

  He pulled on his clothes quickly and left the room. As he stalked down the balcony and descended the stairs, his gaze swept the main club room. No redheads wearing green. Just how long had he been asleep?

  He went straight to the bar while planning the punishment she would receive when he found her again.

  Taurus was busy at the other end of the bar, but when he caught sight of Gunner, he finished filling an order then joined him.

  “Where is she?” Gunner asked once his friend was standing across the bar from her.

  “Who?”

  “Jillian. I just woke up, and she was gone.” Gunner felt his temper bubble hotter as Taurus stared at him.

  “You lost your subbie? You really have lost your touch, my friend.” Taurus began to grin.

  “I’m going to tear this town apart if you don’t tell me where she went,” Gunner grumped, fighting the urge to wipe his friend’s grin off his face with his fist.

  “Excuse me, Sir?”

  Gunner turned to glare at the sub who’d approached silently.

  “What is it?”

  The young woman paled and dropped her eyes to the floor. “Jillian left about ten minutes ago. She came downstairs and was upset but didn’t want to talk about what had happened. She grabbed Blaze, and they left.”

  Gunner nodded, his anger backing off only minimally. “Thank you.”

  “Yes, Sir.” With that, the uncollared submissive walked away.

  Gunner hardly noticed. He’d already turned his attention back to the club’s co-owner. “How do I find her?”

  Taurus frowned at him. “What did you do to her to make her bolt like that?”

  “I didn’t hurt her, and we weren’t finished. But it was so intense between us…like nothing I’ve ever experienced before with a woman.”

  Taurus studied him for a moment before reaching for the phone. He dialed a few numbers then waited. “Jacob? I need the contact information on Blaze Richards’s guest. Master G will pick it up on his way out. Thanks.”

  * * * *

  Fifteen minutes later, Gunner pulled up in front of a small bungalow on the fringes of one of the most unique neighborhoods in New Bern. The lights were on, and an SUV was in the driveway, so she had to be home. Climbing off his motorcycle, he stalked up to the front door and knocked three times with a heavy hand.

  Just when he was ready to break down the door, it opened, and the tiny blonde submissive who was with Jillian stared up at him.

  “Yes? Can I help you?”

  Gunner took a deep breath to try and cool his anger. “Where is she?”

  “Who?”

  “Jillian. You were with her at the club tonight, and she disappeared before we’d finished our scene. Where is she?”

  The little blonde crossed her arms and planted her feet. “She’s not here. I took her home.”

  “Where?” Gunner barked.

  “No way. I don’t know what the hell you did to her in that room, but she couldn’t even tell me what happened. All she said was that she wanted to go home. Sorry, but there’s no way I’m going to tell you where to find her.”

  “At least tell me what her last name is.”

  Blaze shook her head again. “No way. Give me your contact information, and I’ll pass it along to her. Then it will be her decision about whether or not to call you.”

  Gunner growled in frustration as he pulled out his wallet and searched for a business card. “Here. Tell her I need to talk to her ASAP. I need to find out why she left.”

  Blaze accepted the card and nodded. “Good-bye, Master G.”

  Without another word, Blaze stepped back and closed the door in his face.

  Gunner stormed back to his motorcycle, and instead of returning to Club Esoteria, he roared onto Highway 70 and headed toward the ocean thirty miles away. Maybe watching the waves roll in for a couple hours would ease the pain of finding and losing the woman who just might have fit perfectly into his life.

  Chapter 5

  By the time Jillian walked into the bank Monday morning, she had convinced herself that Friday night’s attraction to Master G had been a fluke. A combination of birthday blues and the wine she’d drunk earlier in the evening. Plus the fact that she had not had a non-self induced orgasm in longer than she could remember.

  After arguing with Blaze, she had finally gotten her friend to leave without dissecting the evening. Jillian didn’t want to talk about what had happened or her reaction to it. She wanted to chalk the evening up as an experience then try to forget about the gorgeous Viking who’d made her feel so good. Problem was, every time she closed her eyes, she saw warm brown eyes and a golden mustache.

  She’d barely tucked her purse away when her desk phone rang.

  “Jillian Hall,” she answered.

  “Jillian, please come up to the conference room,” her father ordered brusquely.

  “Yes, sir,” Jillian responded automatically.

  Hanging up, she turned and found herself face to face with Nell Hopkins, her second-in-command. Nearly sixty, Nell had been working at the plant all her life, much like most of the employees. Nell was the one who’d taught Jillian her job.

  “Morning, Jillian,” Nell said with her usual bright smile. “Have a good weekend?”

  “It was interesting,” Jillian said with a small smile. “Looks like you’re going to be in charge for the next few days. Dad wants me babysitting the investor he’s trying to sweet talk.”

  “He told me Saturday.”

  Though neither would define their relationship, it was a well-known secret around the company that Lucas and Nell spent every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday night together at her house.

  “I just hope Mr. McNeil understands that I’m not part of the recruiting package Dad is offering.”

  “Good luck with that.” Nell chuckled as Jillian locked her office and headed to the stairs that led to the executive offices.

  At the door to the conference room near the top of the stairs, she stopped long enough to straighten her navy blue dress and take a deep breath. Then she knocked on the door.

  Almost immediately, the door opened. “Come in, Jillian. I’d like you to meet Mr. McNeil.” He grabbed her arm when she didn’t move fast enough and pulled her into the room. “Gunner, this is the head of administration and my daughter, Jillian Hall. She will be your guide around New Bern for the next few days. If there’s anything you need, just let her know.”

  Jillian looked at her father with wide eyes. She was to what?

  Turning, she looked at the man across the room, casually leaning against the wide table with his arms crossed over his broad, broad chest. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit, white shirt, and deep red tie. His shaggy, white-blonde hair was tamed back from his face, and he stared at her with deep brown eyes that burned with fiery anger before he blinked and his expression went blank.

  “Oh fuck,” burst from her lips before she could filter her words.

  * * * *

  “Good morning, Jillian,” he said without moving a muscle.

  He was afraid if he did he would pull her over his lap and paddle her ass until she understood a submissive does not, under any circumstance, disappear without a word to her Master, especially when they were in the middle of a scene. Once her punishment was taken care of, he would la
y her across the table and he would fuck her until the hunger that had gnawed at him since waking in the private room alone Friday evening backed away enough for him to unclench his jaw. But with her father standing there practically drooling in his presence, revealing the darker side of his private life was not an option. Furthering Jillian’s education would have to wait.

  He cocked one eyebrow but otherwise did not react to her curse. Her father, on the other hand, immediately reprimanded her.

  But Jillian wasn’t listening to him. Her skin went deathly pale, and she swayed as if she were about to faint.

  “Lucas, I don’t want to keep you from your busy morning. Miss Hall and I will be fine. We’ll meet you for lunch at one.” Gunner took the two steps that brought him to within catching distance of Jillian, just in case she collapsed before her father left the room.

  “Well, I do have several things I can take care of this morning. All right. I’ll meet you two at one o’clock at the Trent Woods Country Club. And Jillian, watch your language.”

  Gunner watched Jillian nod before the man left. She stayed strong until the door closed behind him and then grabbed the back of the chair she stood behind.

  “Sit down, Jillian, before you fall down,” he encouraged as he crossed to the small bar area and retrieved a bottle of water.

  When he returned, she was sitting with her head resting on her knees. He turned the matching chair to face her then sat and opened the water bottle.

  “Here, baby, drink this,” he said, offering her the bottle.

  “What are you doing here?” she whispered, ignoring the water, still bent with her head between her knees.

  “Right now, I’m trying to decide whether to spank you first or fuck you,” he answered honestly.

  “What?” she screeched as she sat up then wobbled and collapsed back into the chair.

  “You disappeared Friday night,” he said, steel again running through his tone.

  “Yes,” she admitted softly. She dropped her gaze to the knotted fingers in her lap.

  “Without permission, without saying good-bye, and without leaving me a way to get in touch with you.”

  “Yes,” she whispered, her fingers clenching tighter in her lap.

  “Yes who?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Look at me,” he ordered.

  * * * *

  Jillian lifted her head to look at the man who had rocked her world off its axis on Friday. He looked sad, hurt, and confused. Had their scene meant that much to him?

  “Why did you run away Friday night?”

  Jillian shrugged, not sure how to explain the fear she’d felt. The fact that she’d orgasmed without his going anywhere near her pussy terrified her. No man had ever taken her to such heights so easily.

  “Words, Jillian,” he said gently as he reached over and pried her hands apart.

  Once they were separate, he took her right hand and began to massage it, playing with each digit, each joint, from nail to palm. He used his thumbs to press against the muscles rhythmically until she moaned and her entire arm went lax.

  “Look at me, baby.”

  That was when she realized her gaze had dropped from his face to his hands that were once again skillfully erasing the tension from her body. She felt her pussy gush when he reached for her other hand. By the time he finished giving it equal treatment, she quivered with need.

  “Answer my question.” He released her left hand and sat back.

  Looking into his eyes, Jillian realized he would wait all day if that’s what it took to get an answer from her.

  Taking a deep breath, she said the only thing she could. “I don’t know.”

  “Did I hurt you? Cause you pain?”

  “No, Sir.”

  “Were you scared of what had happened? What we’d done?”

  Jillian closed her eyes for a few seconds, recalling all that she’d felt that night. Opening them, she said, “I’d never felt like that before, never had such an orgasm before. When you fell asleep, I thought it would be a good time to leave, before things got awkward.”

  “How would things be awkward?”

  “Because it’s always awkward after sex,” she blurted out, frustrated that he continued to push for an answer she didn’t have to give him. “If you’d like someone else to be your guide while you’re in town, I’ll understand,” she said, pushing from her chair.

  “Sit down, baby,” the power-filled Dom’s voice demanded. “You have fears, I understand that. A Dom’s greatest joy comes from helping his sub overcome her fears and push down her boundaries. I would very much like to help you by continuing your training as a submissive, if you’d be interested.” He laid a warm palm on her knee.

  “Why?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “There were a dozen other women at the club Friday night. Prettier women, more experienced women. Why me?”

  Jillian grabbed the arms of the chair and held on tight as he ran a hand up her thigh. Though her dress nearly reached her ankles, his touch through the fabric was enough to cause her nipples to bead and make her squirm with arousal.

  “When you walked into the club, I saw a beautiful woman who was scared to death. When Taurus told me you were new and untrained, I couldn’t wait to meet you. I want to teach you. I want to train you to my hand, my wants and needs, help you overcome these fears you cling so tightly to. The only question you need to ask yourself is whether or not you’d like that, as well?”

  Jillian began nodding before he finished speaking. “Yes, Sir, I’d like that.”

  Gunner nodded. “Thank you for putting your trust in me, pretty baby. You have your safe word, but now understand this. You may call red at any time, but when you do, that’s it. We’re through, and all contact will stop between us.”

  “And the company?”

  “What is between us will not interfere with my interest in Hall Industries or your position here. During the next few days, I see no reason not to combine my work and your training. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, Sir, I understand.”

  He nodded. She watched as he seemed to mentally shift gears. “If you wish to move forward with your training as my submissive, you will lock the door then come back here and take off your clothes.”

  Chapter 6

  Jillian felt her heart skip a beat. “Sir, please not here. I want to be your submissive but not here,” she begged, her eyes filling with tears.

  Gunner frowned at her then looked away. His expression went blank. She feared he would not change his mind. No one here knew of her dark desires, and she preferred to keep her personal life private. Even if her father wasn’t in the building, word would reach him as soon as Helen, his secretary, heard.

  She sat tensely until the man looked back at her, his expression still so blank it was as if he’d disconnected every muscle. “It will cost you two more punishment strokes if we take this somewhere else.”

  “Punishment strokes?”

  “Yes. You’ve already earned eight strokes for leaving Friday night and one for cursing earlier. Now, are you willing to add two more in order to keep from having sex here in the office?”

  Jillian froze for a moment and turned the options over in her mind. Then she nodded. “Yes, Sir.”

  “Very well. What are you wearing under that nun’s habit?”

  “Bra and panties,” she said softly.

  “Stand up,” he said with just enough power in his voice to send a shiver down her spine.

  Without hesitation, she stood.

  He took her hand and pulled her to stand between his wide-spread knees. “Pull your dress up to your waist.”

  Jillian swallowed hard, and her eyes flashed to the closed door before she reached down. Slowly, she drew the hem of her dress higher, gathering the material of it in her hands until her red silk string-bikini panties were exposed to his view. She hoped no one entered the room in the next few minutes, either by design or by mistake.

  “Pretty,�
�� he murmured as he reached out and ran the pad of one finger from her bellybutton to the waistband of her panties. “But while you are with me, you will not wear panties.” He slid his hands between her hipbones and the silk. One swift tug and he pulled the torn panties from her body.

  “Sir?” she asked, amazed at the easy show of strength.

  “Yes?”

  “What about bras?”

  “I’ll think about it,” he said. “I see you’ve continued shaving. Good girl,” he praised her as his thumb brushed over the lips covering her clit.

  Jillian couldn’t answer. She heard voices just outside the door to the hallway and panicked.

  “Let go of your dress, baby,” Gunner said gently.

  It took a few racing heartbeats for the order to move from her ears, through her brain, to her fingers. Then she opened her clenched fingers, and the dress’s hem fell to just above her ankles. She was smoothing the material over her thighs when the door opened and Helen walked in carrying a stack of files.

  “Oh, Mr. McNeil, I thought you’d left already.” For the first time in Jillian’s memory, Helen sounded flustered and flirty.

  “No, we were just about to head out. Are those the files I asked for?”

  “Yes, sir. I thought you could use this room as your office while you’re in town,” she said, handing over the files.

  Gunner nodded and smiled, looking friendly and flirty himself. “That would be great, thank you. Jillian and I were just about to leave. You’ll be able to reach me on my cell phone if Lucas needs me before our lunch.”

  “Yes, sir. I’ll let him know.”

  Once the secretary left, Gunner put the files on the table then took Jillian’s hand. “Come on, baby. Let’s go.”

  “Go where?” Jillian asked as he led her from the conference room and down the stairs.

  “We’ll start with your office to get your purse. Then your house so you can change clothes,” he pointed out with a raised eyebrow and smirk.

  “Oh, right,” she said, her mind instantly going through her closet, knowing that nothing she owned would fit his requirement of short. “Umm, okay.”