His eyes fell on the St. Andrew’s Cross, and he recalled the vision of beauty as she stood there, completely naked, open to him. The sound of her yelp when he had first used the single tail on that delectable, soft back of hers had nearly ripped his heart out. He knew he hadn’t hit her hard, but what was hard for her? He didn’t really know. All he did know was that she had needed it as much as he had. After spanking her the other night he had desperately wanted to take her there and then in the club. But it wouldn’t have been right. She needed to know first that she could trust him. And with his boss as well as hers just across the bar from them it would have felt awkward afterward for all of them. Even still, he had needed to yank himself off twice in the shower when he got home just to enable his jeans to fasten.
He looked down at her. She looked so serene now, quite the opposite of earlier. Her passion had been palpable when she was on that cross, and again here, on the bed. When she had stared at him while their orgasms overtook them, he had seen something he had never seen before. He knew she was beautiful, but that look was something much more…more. The intensity, the wonder in her face when she had looked at him was inexplicable. The way she clung to him now made his heart melt. His little sub needed him, and that was a great feeling. Now all he had to do was convince her to accept his help.
He covered her with a thin blanket as he watched her sleep. He must have dozed off for a while because he woke to feel her moving.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you,” she murmured, sitting up.
“It’s fine, sugar. Are you OK?”
“Yes. I just need the bathroom, that’s all.” She looked a little sheepish, and he kissed her cute little face.
He got up with her, and while she used the bathroom he made some coffee. Hearing the shower running, he took both cups through with him. He was surprised to hear her humming while she washed, and he sat on the little stool and watched her as he had before. She was smiling as she helped herself to his jell again, and he wondered what she was thinking about. Her hands didn’t linger on her body this time; it was strictly a utilitarian event. She switched off the water with a sigh and turned around.
“Have you been watching me again?” She wasn’t shocked this time, just smiling although obviously a little surprised.
“Yes. Is that a problem?” He winked at her and was rewarded with that tinkling laugh of hers that touched his very heart.
She shook her head, grabbing a towel. “No, sir. You can do whatever you want.” She gave him a salacious look up and down, and he chuckled.
“I wish I could, sugar, but some of us have work to do.”
He took the towel from her and rubbed her dry, taking extra care of her red, striped back. “How are you feeling?” he murmured in her ear while he wrapped a dry towel around her.
“Great.” She nodded and smiled. “That was totally awesome.”
“You are totally awesome,” he told her and watched her blush.
“How are you?” Her big eyes looked up at him through her long, black lashes, and his heart melted again. She looked genuinely concerned.
“I’m great,” he assured her, kissing the top of her head.
She smiled and went to the door. “Where are my clothes?”
“You want to get dressed?”
She giggled. “Of course. I need to go home. And you need to get to work, remember?”
He felt a thud in his stomach. Soon she would be going back to that poky little apartment in one of the worst parts of town, and there was nothing he could do about it. He longed to tell her to stay here with him—to move in—but he knew that she wouldn’t want that. Not yet, anyway. She was a proud woman, and he was proud of her.
“I’ll get them. I put them in the dryer.”
“Thank you. That was real nice of you,” she said as he crossed the bedroom.
He noticed she seemed far more relaxed now. It was probably partially down to her having had such a good sleep, but he hoped it was something else too.
He gave her the dry clothes and hopped into the shower while she dressed. The hot water soothed his aching back. He hadn’t used the single tail in a while, and he had forgotten how much he had to exert himself when he used it. He’d released a lot of tension today, and he felt the world of difference in his body. He tried to remember the last time he’d had sex but couldn’t. Since Sharon had left him he had only taken the odd sub at Collar and Cuffs, but nothing meaningful or intense. Nothing like this.
He pulled on a pair of suit trousers and a cotton shirt, but didn’t bother with a tie or jacket. He wasn’t planning to be there for long.
“Have you got plans for tonight?” he asked her as she ran her hands through her hair, causing the top to spike up.
“It’s my night off. I thought I’d be sleeping around the clock, but I’m wide awake now. I might just catch up on some reading.”
“What about food?”
“What?” She frowned.
“You had a late breakfast. If you were in London you’d be having afternoon tea around about now. Surely you must be getting hungry? What about dinner?”
“I’m not hungry. Maybe I’ll get something later.” She shrugged. He guessed that in her blissful state she couldn’t be bothered worrying about food, or anything else for that matter.
He sighed, unconvinced. “You’ll eat now and then again later.” He used his Dom voice, and she stared up at him in surprise.
Nathan went through to the kitchen and filled a couple of baguettes with cream cheese and salad. He made some fresh coffee and looked around to find her studying him carefully. He wondered whether she actually had any food at home but couldn’t exactly ask.
“Sit,” he told her as he carried the tray over to the table.
She grinned as she complied, and she eagerly tucked in.
“I’ll pick you up at seven tonight,” he told her as they ate. “We’ll go for a ride down to a little place I know by the river. They do wonderful food; you’ll love it. Then we’ll spend a couple of hours just chilling before I bring you back here. You’ll need to get some stuff for staying over.” He had it all worked out.
Summer stared at him. “What do you mean?”
He casually took another bite of his baguette. “What don’t you understand, sugar?”
She narrowed her eyes in thought. “You want to take me out to dinner?”
“Unless you’ve got other plans?”
“No.”
“Great. I’ll run you back to your place where you can collect your overnight stuff and have a read of that book you were talking about, and then I’ll pick you up again at around seven. Is that OK?” He frowned, a little concerned that maybe she didn’t want to go out with him tonight. If he had read her right that wasn’t the case at all. She seemed quite content spending time with him, and he loved her company.
Summer smiled and nodded eagerly. “That would be lovely. I’d love to come. Thank you.”
He sighed in relief.
As soon as they’d finished and tidied away their dishes, Nathan grabbed his keys. He really didn’t want to break up such a wonderful day, but he knew Roland Dexter would be wondering where he was, and he could use the opportunity to set things up for the new clerk.
Summer looked radiant as he drove her back to her apartment. She was chatting about what a wonderful time she’d had and how hopeful she was about the clerk’s position.
“I’ll see if I can find out a little more about it tonight,” he promised as they drew up outside her place. “Do you want me to walk you in?”
Summer giggled. “Nathan, it’s only four thirty. I’m sure I can take it from here,” she assured him, grabbing her jacket.
He leaned in and gave her a long, warm kiss on that luscious mouth of hers and watched as she walked over and let herself into the building. She waved and went inside so he set off for the club.
He would have a word with Cerys to see if she could draw up a list of duties that she could use some help with. In
fairness, they had talked about getting in an extra pair of hands on several occasions, but somehow there always seemed to be other priorities. Now Summer was his priority.
He pulled up outside the club. It was quiet in the parking lot as the evening staff hadn’t arrived yet, and most of the day staff had already left. As he was getting out he noticed a piece of paper on the passenger chair. Thinking that Summer must have dropped something he reached over and took a look. He unfolded the note to see if it was anything urgent, and his heart fell into his boots.
CHAPTER SEVEN
When Summer had woken in Nathan Faulkner’s arms she’d felt like she had died and gone to heaven. His heat, his scent and his body had surrounded her, concealing her in a safe cocoon she’d never wanted to leave. Except to pee. She’d badly needed to pee. Damn. She’d tried to creep off the bed without disturbing him, but he’d woken in an instant.
He hadn’t seemed at all bothered at having to get up, and after relieving herself she’d taken the liberty of having a quick shower. It seemed a shame to wash the man off her, but at least she’d gotten to use his scented shower jell once more.
She smelled her arms now as she waved good-bye to him in her doorway. He was so handsome, and she couldn’t get over the excitement in her stomach, knowing that he was going to be back in just a couple of hours. She’d been shocked when he’d announced he had to work today. Having the day off herself, she had forgotten that not everyone was so lucky.
He was so confident and masterful. She loved the way he had worked everything out for her. Eat, home, then out again at seven and he even planned that she would stay with him tonight so she would know to get her things together. He was very organized, a trait that she was proud of in herself and loved in other people.
She let herself into the apartment, humming a country song. She felt lighthearted and so happy. Happier than she had ever felt. She knew they had only just met, but somehow she just felt that he was perfect for her. She had never known anyone like him. The Doms she had met at the clubs in Daytona Beach were great for a few hours, but she never got emotionally involved with them. They made it clear that a relationship was not on the cards, and she couldn’t imagine spending quality time with any of them outside of the dungeon.
She threw her purse on the sofa and went to the kitchenette for a glass of water. She was pleased that she had eaten today, as she had no food in the apartment. She was waiting for her next paycheck before she could stock up a little but had so many debts to pay that she wouldn’t be able to buy a lot. She wondered whether Nathan had guessed that much when he had offered the baguette. He certainly hadn’t let on if he had, and she was grateful for that. She hugged herself, his scent wafting around her.
With a couple of hours to spare, Summer decided to pack her things together for tonight and then curl up with a good book for a while. Her plan for today, apart from sleeping, had been to look for another job, but thanks to her knight in shining armor that wasn’t a problem anymore. She smiled as she recalled how he had worked that all out too.
Giggling to herself, she wandered into the bedroom to gather her things. A cold chill ran down her spine as she entered the room, and she immediately felt that something was off. She had only taken one step into the room when the door slammed shut behind her.
“What time do you call this, whore?”
She felt the blood drain from her face as she turned around to see Colin staring menacingly at her from behind the door. Although he still looked as stocky and strong as ever, his long hair was lank and greasy. His big eyes that she had once found endearing were now bloodshot with bags under them. He was unshaven and his clothes were dirty, adding to his scruffy appearance, and he smelled of stale sweat. Fear and anger flooded her in equal measures, and she just stood trembling for a few seconds. The glass of water in her hand was only half full, but she splashed it into his face and then reached past him for the door handle.
“Bitch!” He was too fast and grabbed her arm. “You’ve been out with your pimp again, haven’t you? What in hell do you think you’re playing at? You’re coming home and you’re going to sort this whole mess out, do you hear me?” He yelled straight into her ear, one of his meanest tricks since he knew that she suffered badly from earaches, and she tried to smash the glass on his head. Unfortunately he saw it coming, grabbed it out of her hand, and swiped it hard against her arm, causing it to shatter.
“Have a taste of your own medicine, bitch. Now you can see what it feels like!” he snarled at her as blood poured from her searing limb.
Summer screamed as his force pushed her backward and she landed on the bed. Blood dripped onto the white bedspread as he towered over her, evil in his eyes and the strength of a desperate man evident in his stance.
“What the hell do you want?” she screamed at him as indignant rage overtook her.
“You, bitch! You owe me and you know it!” His rancid breath made her retch as his face almost touched hers, his filthy hands sullying the pristine bed linen at either side of her flushed face.
“And just how do you figure that?” She spat the words at him.
“You left me in so much shit! You were supposed to pay Ross off. When you didn’t he came after me! You’ve got no idea the trouble you’ve caused disappearing like that!”
“I don’t owe him anything! I don’t even know the bastard. If you owe him money that’s your problem, sucker!” She hitched her knee hard into his balls, and he crumpled like a leaf in autumn. Summer shot up and threw open the bedroom door, only to come face to face with one of Colin’s cronies.
“Get her!” Colin choked.
The sneer on his face told Summer that there was nothing he’d like more, and he grabbed at her with grubby hands. She screamed and tried to fight back, but this guy was even bigger than Colin, and he held her in a vise-like grip.
“Come on, let’s go!” Colin was on his feet now and grabbed her short hair in his fist.
Pain throbbed through her head, and her scalp stung. Her mind raced as she was dragged through her own lounge and out the door. A pickup was chugging away just outside the main door to the apartment block, and Summer quickly looked around for any sign of Nathan.
“Don’t even think about it, bitch!” Colin sneered at her as he opened the door and threw her onto the bench seat. He quickly clambered in next to her, and she was trapped between him and the driver. Colin’s henchman, Harrison if she remembered him correctly, climbed into the back. The guy at the wheel, whom she didn’t recognize, smelled of stale beer. Her heart pounded with dread as he spun the truck around and headed out of town at a speed that made her head spin.
“Where to?” the driver asked in a gruff voice.
“Ross’s expecting her.” Colin’s voice was triumphant, and Summer felt the urge to slap him, but he had hold of her wrists.
“She got the money?”
“It doesn’t matter if she hasn’t. He’s agreed to take the payment in other ways if she can’t pay up.”
Both men chortled, and Summer felt herself go boiling hot.
“We can always pocket the cash, and he can still take his payment.” Harrison passed her wallet through the open window.
“Good man!” Colin took both her wrists in one hand so he could open it.
“Her wallet was in her purse, just lying there on the couch. It was too good an opportunity to miss,” Harrison explained proudly.
“I haven’t got any money!” she snapped at him. Luckily she hadn’t been paid yet so she really was broke.
Colin held up her bank card. “You’ve got an overdraft, don’t ya?” He sneered. “Once we’re out of this dump we’ll find a bank and see what we can get.” The driver guffawed, and the sound of Harrison chuckling in the background could be heard over the revs of the old engine.
Summer considered telling them that the overdraft was already maxed out but then thought better of it. Anything that would delay their escape had to be a good thing, and she could waste a few minutes a
t a cash point if nothing else.
“Hey, maybe we can get some food. I’m starving.” The driver sounded hopeful.
“You’re always fucking starving, Mickey.” Harrison called from behind them.
“Hey, don’t knock it. I’ve got a case of the munchies too.” Colin tucked her wallet into his breast pocket and rubbed his stomach. He was wearing a long-sleeved checked shirt, as usual, and Summer guessed his arms must be in a worse state than ever by now.
Her mind whirled while she studied the driver. He was a little older than the other two men, probably getting on for forty, Summer surmised. He had greasy Afro curls and coppery skin. Like the others, he was unshaven, and his beard looked like it still had the remnants of his last meal stuck in it. His moustache draped over his top lip, and she watched him chew on the corner of it. He had a filthy T-shirt and jeans on, and he smelled of sweat as well as the booze she had noticed when she first encountered him. He couldn’t drive for shit, and the car swerved all over the road.
She quickly diverted her eyes when he noticed her staring at him and heard his leering chuckle. Summer was glad both windows were open as the stench in that cab was literally making her stomach roil. She didn’t recognize the area they were whizzing through, having not been in Miami long enough to do any exploring yet.
“Bet you thought that ugly haircut would be a good disguise, did you? Or did your pimp insist on it?” Colin’s sneer cut into her thoughts as sharply as his filthy nails were cutting into her wrists.
She glanced over at him with a look of disdain. He obviously took exception to her expression, as he used his free hand to slap her hard across the face. It stung, but it was something she was well used to from him.
Waiting on Summer Page 9
