Her Lawful Master (Pleasure Island Book 4)

by Anya Summers

  Naomi’s musical laugh burst forth. “Thank you, and not a word, I promise.”

  “So, I noticed that you and Piper have been getting to know one another,” Jared said, taking a sip of his coffee, and pushing his empty plate back. Theo knew the look on Jared’s face, the quizzical interest and friendly demeanor. Jared tended to look out for everyone, especially the subs, which was what made him such a good Dom, and an even better owner of this island getaway. His friend tended to collect subs who needed help.

  “We have,” Theo admitted, warmth suffusing him at the thought of her. The way she’d looked this morning as he’d left her. His dick twitched. He hadn’t wanted to leave her bed. In fact, it had taken everything inside him to pull himself from the comfort of her body. And when she’d given him her inviting little sleepy half-grin, bleeding Christ but he’d wanted to slide back under the covers and tell Jared he could sod off.

  “I’m surprised,” Jared replied, studying him. Theo should have expected the line of questioning.

  “None more so than I, but she’s an interesting woman, dedicated to her craft.” Theo wanted to keep it light and didn’t want to delve into his feelings for his little she-cat. He wanted her to distraction, and that was all he was comfortable with examining at the present.

  Jared barked a laugh at his response and said, “You’ve got it bad for the little photographer. It looks good on you, Theo. It’s serious, then?”

  Was it? Theo had thought he was just slaking his lust, using the time away from home to satisfy his darker sexual needs. Piper was the perfect sub for him in the bedroom. She was generous, sensual, and catered to whatever fantasy he desired. But he liked her, she was funny, intelligent, and resourceful, not to mention he only had to think about her and he was sporting an erection.

  It was serious? When the hell had that happened? Did he even want a serious relationship with Piper? She wasn’t the easiest sub in the world, by any means, and she kept him on his toes. Then again, if she’d been a dullard, he would have already moved on by now.

  Instead of giving Jared a direct answer, he deflected. “I’m not sure yet. We are enjoying each other’s company, though.”

  That was his story and he was sticking with it.

  “How are you getting her to scene with you? Like I told you before, I don’t know of any Dom who has,” Jared asked, his confusion prominent.

  Theo tiptoed around his response. What Piper had expressed to him had been in confidence and he would not break her trust. He said, “She does have some ghosts from the past that I’ve been helping her work through. Granted, I’m not sure I can convince her to do a scene in the club.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “She was hurt, badly, and I don’t know that it’s the right course of action.” And that was the most Theo could say without betraying Piper. It had taken him quite a bit to get her to trust him and he wouldn’t damage that, not even for his friend.

  “Sir, if you don’t mind me saying this, but without Jared’s help, and him pushing me in some of our scenes, I wouldn’t have really begun healing at all. I don’t know Piper or her situation, but I know I had a hard time asking for what I needed because of my past,” Naomi said.

  Jared’s arm circled Naomi’s shoulders and he kissed her temple. Theo had never seen two people more in sync with the other—except perhaps him and Piper. And wasn’t that just the drop-kick to the balls he wasn’t expecting this morning.

  “I appreciate the insight, Naomi. I can see how lucky Jared is.”

  “That he is, but then again, so am I,” she said, snuggling into Jared’s shoulder.

  “Naomi’s right, my friend. If you’re wanting to form a more permanent bond with Piper, you will need to push her boundaries more. Talk to her, work out the scene you want to do with her, and then see. If it crashes and burns, it does.” He shrugged. “Then you go back to the drawing board.”

  “I’ll take it into consideration,” Theo said as Naomi began clearing plates off the table and refilling coffee cups. “Now, about these.” He pulled his file from his briefcase. “Everything is in order, with all the specifications and moderations.”

  “Naomi, lass, I will need your signature on these,” Jared said to Naomi, who wiped her hands on a towel and walked back to the table.

  “What are they?” she asked, staring at the mound of paperwork Theo had placed on the table like it was an undiscovered creature they’d pulled from the ocean.

  Jared took her hand as she sat down beside him and said, “This makes you my partner on the island should anything happen to me before we are wed. This one is the deed to the hotel, along with the majority of my possessions, a home in Scotland and the like, that I wanted to add you to… things like that.”

  “You made me your partner?” Naomi said, clutching her chest. There were tears in her eyes.

  “You already are, lass. This just makes it formal and legal in the eyes of the law. Like I told you last night, you are my other half, and I want you with me in all things.”

  Naomi burst into tears. Jared pulled his sub onto his lap. Theo turned his head, giving the couple privacy, but he still heard Naomi say, “I love you, Sir, so much. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, I just—”

  “I didn’t mean to make you cry, little one. I just want you cared for in all things.”

  Jared was truly a lucky man. But it made Theo think about Piper. Seeing Jared with Naomi, the protective way in which he comforted her, and the joy in him as he did so, made Theo wonder. Did he want to explore more with Piper? Should he attempt a scene at the club with her?

  With Jared and Naomi sitting side by side, Theo explained in detail each document to Naomi. She had a keen mind and refused to sign things blindly, so Theo answered every question she had about what she was signing, insisting on reading every one before she put her signature on it. Jared had his secretary join them to notarize each document. By the time they had finished, it was midday. Theo left the happy couple and headed into Jared’s office.

  Jared had given him the conference area to make his own, and he had a work station set up at the far end, with his laptop, a smattering of files and a fresh pot of coffee, thanks to Jared’s secretary. The estate matters for Jared were finally complete. Theo arranged a file of the signed documents that would go to Jared, one to Naomi, one that he always liked to keep on file for his clients as a backup that he would scan and save in digital format at his offsite storage facility, and then a fourth and final copy that he would file with the courts in London. Since Jared was technically a UK citizen, he would file them upon his return to London, even with the island being an international business.

  With the McTavish estate documents finished, Theo moved on to completing the rest of the legal documents for the island.

  Theo was undertaking the task of compiling the hotel’s company by-laws, updating them with all the additions and modifications Jared had made and was planning to make in the future. He was also establishing a Meeting Minutes document that Jared, or most likely, his secretary, would need to complete whenever the island board met, even though they did the bulk of their meetings online. The paperwork also included the operating agreement for the board of trustees, and updates to the non-disclosure agreements, especially since Jenna was leaving the island and they were expanding to include members from other clubs. With Jenna’s departure, Jared wanted some updates made to the present employee agreement too, which Theo thought was wise as well.

  There was an updated business plan, memorandum of understanding, online terms of use, online privacy policy, and an apostille, what with this being an international company.

  Theo worked through lunch, opting to plow through the stack. He made considerable progress, since he had already conducted an assessment of the island and made lists. He was famous for his lists at Apex. And through it all, as he typed up the information, composing each form in his pre-made templates, he pondered the conundrum Piper presented.

  Did he want
more with her? Perhaps to see her again after they both left the island?

  Yes, he did. More than he was comfortable with. She made him ache for more time with her. What did that mean for his life? Distance was a factor. He wouldn’t leave Jacob, not for anyone. So where would that leave him trying to maintain a relationship with a woman who lived half a world away?

  It didn’t. Maybe he could entice her to visit upon occasion, but could they really have a relationship, or would they just be each other’s occasional fuck buddy? Although that idea also had merit because the woman, even with her damn claws, made him hotter than the island at midday. He craved her touch, her submission.

  But she was also holding back from him. She had studiously avoided the topic of her panic attacks. As much as he had attempted to put it from his mind, he couldn’t ignore that she had them. Nor could he ignore the fact that she didn’t trust him enough to tell him the truth about what had happened to her.

  He had a gut feeling and was suspicious, but he didn’t want to make assumptions. Maybe Jared’s fiancée had been right, maybe he did need to push her boundaries a bit more. He was a freaking Master, and she had him so wrapped up that he was questioning himself. Of course he needed to push her boundaries more. Blast it all, she’d done well in the restaurant, remarkably so, perhaps tonight they could take it a step further. Theo was a firm believer in taking happiness where one could find it. He would do it. He never backed away from a challenge. Maybe that was why she enticed him so much.

  Did he want more from Piper? Absolutely. She thrilled him. She was a feisty as hell sub and got his blood pumping any time she was in his vicinity. Every time he had her beneath him, feeling the sweet clasp of her body around him, he felt like he was home. He rubbed his chest at the revelation. Would she agree to see him after they left the island? Did she want more from him? That was the real question.

  The first step was to press past her fear of submitting outside of the bedroom. This was not just about her fears but her willingness to trust him completely. If she didn’t trust him, they didn’t have a relationship, and were in fact just scratching an itch. Going on instinct, Theo contacted the club and reserved one of the alcoves for that evening. Tonight, he would break past her barriers, get her to trust him with the rest of her story.

  Knowing Piper, she would likely kick up a stink at first, but with some cajoling on his part, Theo believed he could entice her, make her come around to his way of thinking.

  He worked until it was time to meet Piper for dinner. At quarter to the hour, he saved and closed out of his documents to resume working on them in the morning. He wondered for the hundredth time if their relationship had entered serious territory. Would she commit and agree to his proposal?

  It was balls to the wall time. He would know soon enough whether they were on the same page or not.

  And if she wasn’t, what then?

  Chapter 11

  Theo waited until they had finished dinner to broach the deeper subject matters. Piper was wearing a skin tight, aquamarine dress that hugged every blessed curve on her body and fell to mid-thigh. He’d been sporting wood all throughout dinner, making it difficult to focus when he would prefer avoiding the delicate subject matter and jump to losing himself in her welcoming heat instead.

  Piper’s normal exuberance had been muted throughout dinner. She was the one who finally broke the silence, turning her blue gaze his way, unable to keep the concern from her expression. She asked, “Is something wrong, Sir? You’ve been distant all day today. If you don’t want to see me anymore, I’ll understand. You only wanted me for this week and—”

  Theo sighed over his lack of communication. That wasn’t what he’d intended. He said, “Piper, that’s not it at all. I apologize. Today was a bit of a bear with work. As you might have heard, Jared got engaged last night. Some of the items I’ve been overseeing this week had to do with a few things he wanted put in place for his new fiancée. That’s why I had the early breakfast meeting. And I kept you up rather late last night, and wanted to let you rest a bit.”

  “Oh. I just assumed when you didn’t, um, when we didn’t have sex this morning, that you were getting bored with me.” She gave him a caustic stare, almost daring him to discount her statement.

  “Bored? With you?” He shook his head. “That’s not going to happen anytime soon. It’s taken all my self-control to keep my hands off you in that dress. And the only reason I haven’t bent you over this table is because I have plans for you tonight. Plus, there is something I wanted to discuss with you. How would you feel about extending our relationship past the island? I like you, Piper. I care for you, and I think you might have feelings for me too. I want to see more of you. How would you feel about visiting me in London? Or letting me visit you in Santa Barbara upon occasion?”

  Her face had transformed as he had spoken, shifting from a defensive she-cat ready to gouge his eyes out to a softened expression, with a strawberry blush spreading over her tanned skin. Theo had really mucked it up with her today. He should have been more forthcoming before he left her that morning. It reminded him of just how long he’d only had himself and his worries to consider on a daily basis. Adding a submissive to his life outside of the club was new territory for him, as well. Even Piper’s body had relaxed, and a hesitant smile had formed on her lips. “I would like that, Sir, very much so.”

  Pleasure spread through him at her response. The thought of taking her to his bed, his private dungeon, having her greet him properly when he arrived home from work, was a heady aphrodisiac to his system. He threaded his fingers through hers and said, “I’m glad, Piper. I’m looking forward to seeing where you live.”

  “I don’t have a dungeon or anything, but I do have a pool and hot tub, so it’s a tradeoff.”

  “We’ll just have to improvise. Besides, I do. When you to come to London, I’ll show you. Are you still working on your meal? Because I have something I would like us to try this evening.”

  “No, I’m finished. So, you don’t want to…” She waved toward the table.

  Infinitely pleased with the direction in which the night had headed, Theo shook his head. At her crestfallen look, he reassured her and said, “Not to worry, it doesn’t mean I don’t want you. In fact, I have every intention of eating your sweet pussy many times over tonight. But I have another place in mind I would like us to try. The real question is, do you trust me?”

  “Yes, I do trust you, Sir,” she said, her voice full of sincerity. The faith shining in her gaze humbled him. He wouldn’t let her down but would guide her gently tonight.

  “Thank you. Come with me, it’s time we begin.” He stood and tossed his napkin on the table, then helped her stand. Piper rose without hesitation, gripping his hand tightly and showing absolutely no fear. All good signs in his estimation that she trusted him implacably, which he would need to use as he pushed her past her comfort zone this evening. Theo pulled her into his arms and she slid into them willingly. His heart squeezed at her easy compliance. He brushed his lips against hers, tasting the wine she’d had with dinner, and her distinct flavor. Lust battled with his desire to help her heal. There was a part of Theo that would prefer to keep her bounty all to himself, that would like to forgo the club, splay her back over the table, and bury himself inside her.

  But instead of giving in to the temptation her succulent body presented, he released her lips, regretfully, and steered her out of the restaurant to the lift. There would be plenty of time for him to slake himself on her bounty. For the next hour or so, it was about Piper, and helping her overcome her fear. At the elevator bank, he kept her focus on him, toying with her fingers, teasing the outline of her nipples through her dress. It worked because she didn’t pay attention to the button he pressed inside the elevator, but leaned her head against his shoulder instead. And even though there was a part of him that worried she would castigate him for not explaining what he had planned, Theo knew Piper would flatly refuse him.

  He believ
ed that if he could get her into the club and have her focus on him, instead of worrying all the way, it might circumvent her anxiety and allow her to do a scene. He had made the right decision where she was concerned, on all fronts. There was infinitely more between them, much more than a simple week could uncover.

  Theo imagined taking her to his private dungeon and living out every single fantasy he could dream up. Something told him she would be on board with it all. Hell, he could see himself introducing her to Jacob at some point. Since he and his ex-wife had split, there’d never been a woman important enough he had even considered introducing to his son. Piper truly was amazing.

  The elevator doors dinged as they slid open and music blasted the couple. The club was hopping tonight. It appeared that Jared and Naomi were having an impromptu celebration. Trepidation wiggled into Theo; of all the nights for the club to look like a spectator’s sport and be jam packed, it had to be tonight. He almost aborted the mission, since the place was crowded with bodies as they got off the elevator.

  “What’s this, Sir? Why are we here?” Piper glanced at him accusingly, fear swimming in her gaze. Her body was no longer pliant against his but had turned so rigid it was like she was made of stone.

  “I reserved one of the alcoves for us tonight. I think it’s time we attempt a scene here, don’t you? I have something simple planned and we will use the blindfold again. I will be with you the whole time, walking you through it,” he challenged her as her hand trembled in his. A part of him wanted to sweep her up, protect her from the demons she needed to face, and carry her away from the club. But he knew if she didn’t confront it, she’d be running from living to the fullest her entire life.

  Piper panted, her breathing rough, and she glanced around the bustling club. The pulse in her neck fluttered and she returned her fearful gaze toward his and said, “I’m not sure, Sir. The restaurant is one thing, but this, do we have to? Please, can’t we just go back to my place, or even yours tonight?”