Defensive Zone (The Dartmouth Cobras #2)

by Bianca Sommerland

  * * * *

  Dean closed the door to the hotel room and leaned against it, thumbs hooked to his pockets as he observed Silver, aimlessly wondering around the room as though not sure what to do with herself. Likely over thinking things.

  We can't have that.

  "I mentioned punishment, didn't I?" He smiled slowly as she spun around and tripped backwards into the sofa. "Oh no, pet. I'm not chasing you. Strip. Then kneel by the sofa."

  Her skin paled even as she peeled off her shirt. "But—"

  "Ten my love." He held up a hand before she could get herself in more trouble without a fair warning. "You're getting off easy. Consider that before you say another word. And know I will add five for each one."

  She finished stripping and dropped hard to her knees with a wince. "You can't—"

  "That's twenty. You were saying?"

  She pressed her lips together and scowled.

  "I should add five for that look. Be a good girl. The seats in the LA press boxes are rather hard." His lips curved into a smirk. "And I don't think they provide pillows."

  The scowl disappeared. Her teeth grazed her bottom lip, so damn distracting he almost lost his train of thought as he recalled how that mouth felt sliding all the way down his cock. Fortunately, his sense of responsibility took over before he went to her and abandoned all thoughts of discipline. She needed this. Tonight more than ever. If he let her get away with hitting him, she would expect him to let her get away with everything. He'd shown her respect as a partner. He'd earned the same as her Dom.

  Lucky for her, he was taking into account her inexperience. He had a whole arsenal of creative punishments for naughty little subs. But he would save those. For now they would stick with something a bit more traditional.

  "I'm going to our room to collect a few things." He moved in close to her and nudged her knees apart with his foot so her glistening pussy was fully exposed. Much better. "Don't move."

  A quick nod as her lips parted.

  "Let's not forget ourselves, pet."

  Her throat worked. She shut her mouth and nodded again.

  He let his approval show in a soft smile. Then went to the bedroom to get what he needed.

  Silver hadn't moved in his absence, which earned her another smile. He stepped up to her side and pet her hair before dropping his small black toy bag and his walking stick on the coffee table in front of her.

  Eyes wide, she groaned and stared at the long, thick polished wood. "Oh . . . ."

  "Not exactly a word, so I'll let it go." That got him a dirty look. He chuckled. "I rarely use this for punishments, but I keep it with me at all times incase my knee acts up."

  Lips pursed, she looked at his knee. Concern. Very nice.

  "An old sports injury which ended my military career unfortunately." Her snort brought a roar of laughter from deep in his chest. "Not surprised that I was in the military I see."

  She rolled her eyes.

  "Bad girl." His eyes narrowed as he caught her chin and held it in a firm grasp. "I've slacked in training you. That. Ends. Now. I'm trying to be patient, pet, but stop testing me."

  There. His heart warmed as she lowered her eyes, showing the first sign of submission in a long time. Too long. He finally had her exactly where they both needed her to be.

  Caressing her cheek with his fingertips, he moved away to open his bag and take out several 'toys'. Some she would recognize. Others she wouldn't. He spread them out on the table, then took a seat to let her take them in.

  "We are going to try something—something I don't do with most of the subs I've had because they know what they like and it ruins the effect of the punishment." He reached out to play with her hair, loving the way she struggled not to lean into him as he did. Most women enjoyed having their hair petted and stroked. Silver was no exception. "I've noticed something about you. Much as you talk back and protest, once you understand the reason behind a punishment, you accept it. Your body still responds, but you're truly sorry after. And not just because you're sore."

  She glanced over her shoulder, eyes glistening. She was already sorry.

  For a moment, he wanted to toss the punishment and just tell her all was forgiven. But that would teach her nothing and she had to understand that forgiveness came with accepting the punishment. She's been denied that with Bower and he wondered if it wasn't a trigger. Delgado didn't seem the type to let an infraction go after doling out punishments. And if he was right, she needed to see Dean was always consistent with his discipline and his love.

  "This is what you're going to do." He sat forward and held out his hand to the table. "You will either choose one of the implements I've provided, or, if you'd like, I will use my hand. Show me your choice. You will not speak. And once the punishment starts, you will not be able to. I mentioned the gag?"

  Her tongue flicked over her top lip and she looked at the bit gag that lay at the far end of the table.

  "Yes. That's it. It should fit comfortably and prevent noises loud enough to bring the police. I got the leather straps in pink just for you."

  She barely managed not to give him another dirty look.

  "Quick save, sweetheart. Now make your choice."

  It took her longer than he'd expected to choose. She fingered the tawse, flicked the strands of the flogger, and avoided the riding crop and his walking stick as though they were living things with sharp teeth. The paddle drew her attention for quite a bit. She traced the words embedded in the wood. Brat.

  Shifting on her knees to face him, she wrapped her fingers around his wrist, brought his hand up to her mouth, and kissed his knuckles.

  "My hand?" He held back a grin at her nod. For some reason her decision pleased him very much. He reached over and picked up the bit gag. "Open wide, my love."

  The soft silicone fit nicely in her mouth. Her nose wrinkled as she got used to the sensation. The pale pink, leather straps looked lovely against her pale cheeks. He did up the buckle, then slid back a little and patted his thigh. She rose gracefully, her expression . . . peaceful. As she laid herself over his lap, he stroked her back, reminding her that, even though this would hurt, he still cared about her. Deeply.

  "Brace yourself, love."

  So small. So fragile. But he didn't hold back. Every strike sounded through the room, along with her silent sobs. And it broke his heart just a little to carry out the punishment.

  She'll learn. He reminded himself, holding her as she repeated again and again, words obstructed by the gag, but not too difficult to figure out, how sorry she was. And so will you.

  * * * *

  Silver calmed and peeked up at Dean. And damn, he didn't look like he had enjoyed that at all. Which was so wrong. She was the one who'd screwed up. Again. Why should he have to pay for it?

  Drool spilled down her chin and she brought her hand up to wipe some away. So gross. He didn't need to see her like this, all wet and sniffily.

  He stopped her and used his sleeve to dry her face. "Shall we take it out for a little while, love?"

  She blushed. Hell, she wanted it out just so she could tell him how much she liked him calling her 'love'. But she could only nod until he did.

  And once the gag was gone, all she could think about was getting that miserable look off his face. "I'm sorry. Don't be upset anymore. I promise I'll never hit you again."

  His lips slanted into a dry smile. "Don't make promises you can't keep."

  Uck. I'm tempted to hit you now! "Hey, are you saying I can't be taught?"

  "No. Not at all." His jaw clenched. "But I haven't been teaching you, have I?"

  Idiot! Thankfully, she kept that one to herself. "What was the first spanking then, or the orgasms you refused to give me, or the flogger—need I go on? If I make you feel like less of a Dom—"

  "Oh, baby." He hugged her and kissed her hair. "If anything, you make me feel like more of one. And you remind me of all that I should be doing. But you're so new—"

  "I can take it." She sat up
and folded her arms over her breasts. "I'm tougher than I look."

  He threw back his head and laughed. Before she could get insulted, he rasped out. "Then I'm in trouble."

  She smirked and straddled him. After scraping her teeth along his rough jaw, she whispered. "If all you're going to do tonight is spank me, you're damn right you are."

  He growled and lifted her up, dropping her on the sofa and grabbing her wrists in one hand before she could react. He reached between them and undid his pants. His hot, throbbing dick pressed against her entrance. She thrust up to take him in.

  Wait!

  "Wait!" She gasped, hating her stupid brain for stopping him. But she'd forgotten something. "Condom. I'm clean, I swear, but I might have missed my pill. I can't remember . . . ."

  "Ah." He gave her a sheepish smile and pushed off her. Reached into his back pocket. "Let's not take any chances."

  His dick beckoned and she couldn't help bending up to take it in her mouth. She watched his face as he fumbled with the condom wrapper. He tasted better than candy, all hot and salty. Come to think of it—she swallowed him and came up slowly—she hadn't needed any sugar since . . . .

  Dean. Here. Now.

  "Stop." Dean tugged her hair and quickly covered himself. "I don't know what that thought was, but you will tell me." He shoved her onto the sofa, trapping her with his heavy body and drawing her arms over her head again as he shoved deep inside her. "Later."

  Fast. Hard. Pounding into her without leaving her a second to let her mind wonder. His dick speared her almost painfully, but filled her so completely she didn't miss having a functioning brain. Sweat slicked their bodies as they slid together, her rising as he slammed in. She gasped as the first climax erupted, spreading lava through her core and her veins, so fucking hot. He forced her to bathe in the heat until it took her again and again. She ignited and screamed. He covered her mouth and grunted as he collapsed on top of her.

  "Mmm." The inside of her eyelids flickered red and black. She panted against his hand. Her back tightened and a sharp pain robbed her of the lingering pleasure. "Mmmphff!"

  Dean pushed off her. "Did I hurt you?"

  "Oww!" She whimpered. Then giggled. "I have a cramp in my back!"

  Smart man. He didn't laugh at her. Gathering her in his arms, he carried her to the bedroom, his tone gruff with the strain to hold in his obvious amusement. "I know just the cure for that."

  He abandoned her in the bed for just a second before returning with some oil from the fucking gods. She sighed as his fingers worked her muscles loose.

  "Damn it, Dean." Say it! Just say it! "I love you."

  He went still. Then bent down to kiss the small of her back. "Silver." He paused and kissed her again before saying, very quietly. "I love you too."

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Half a day to lounge around and enjoy one another. To whisper those sweet words a few more times as their eyes locked and the urge overwhelmed them. For the first time Dean was able to look into Silver's eyes, the same golden shade as her sister's without the contacts, and see her come out of hiding without any force involved. His heart sputtered as he took her in, this young, beautiful woman so obviously in love. Glowing, almost shy with the emotions coming off her in waves. He hadn't really noticed before how quickly she'd rushed to primp herself when she got out of bed every other time she woke up in his bed. But now that she hadn't, now that she lounged around in nothing but his t-shirt and boxers, with her hair tangled and her feet bare, all he could think was 'I want more of this.'

  But he'd bought them all the time he could. And it was ruined.

  "Daddy—" Silver shook her head and slid to the other side of the sofa when Dean put his hand on her shoulder to comfort her. Hugging her knees to her chest, she curled into herself like a small, wounded animal. "Did you see the way he handled the puck? Acquiring Scott wasn't stupid—no, I'm not arguing with you. Please don't get upset Daddy. Your heart . . . ."

  She winced and blinked fast. Near tears. Enough was enough.

  "Miss Delgado, please tell your father I'd like to speak with him when you're done." He did his best to keep his anger out of his tone, but by the way Silver's eyes widened, he'd failed. As she say goodbye and passed him the phone, he laid his hand over hers and stroked her knuckles with his thumb. Hopefully she'd understand that he wasn't angry with her.

  "So, you're fucking her."

  The crudeness of Delgado's words completely threw Dean off. He gritted his teeth and inhaled very very slowly. "Excuse me, sir? I think I must have heard you wrong."

  "I'm not an idiot, Dean. Don't treat me like one." Delgado rasped in a labored breath. "My daughter obviously has no business sense, but she knows how to work a man. She'll ruin this team if you let her."

  "I find that hard to believe, Anthony." A cold smile slashed across his lips. "She knows people, and that knowledge has come in handy. Take Demyan for example. I'm sure you'd agree that he turned out to be a better acquisition than either of us expected."

  "Are we speaking of the man who just received a ten game suspension for leaving the bench and assaulting another player?"

  "He was defending a teammate! Surely you remember how important that is?"

  "And the goalie? We've lost him for five games because of his reckless behavior."

  And how the hell is that Silver's fault? "I chose the goaltender. And signed him after discussing it with you at your insistence. I don't believe it was a mistake, but if it was, the blame rests on my shoulders."

  "Damn it, Richter!" Delgado gasped and wheezed. The way he switched from Dean's first name to last made it seem as though he was trying to come at him from another angle. His next words confirmed it. "You know I respect you. After the mess with Stanton last year—I could have fired you. But the man fooled us all. I know my daughter. She'll give you anything you want to get her own way. You should ask her how she got her first A in high school. I'm positive you'll be as disgusted as I was."

  "With all due respect, sir, the time your daughter spent on her own in Hollywood changed her a great deal. Perhaps you don't know her as well as you think."

  Silver's head shot up. She stared at him, either shocked that he'd contradicted her father, or surprised that Dean thought she'd changed. He'd find out which—even if it took another interrogation. After he was done with this nonsense.

  "Don't say I didn't warn you." Delgado wheezed again, then moaned. "This is exhausting. Tell Silver I will call her tomorrow. And she better pick up."

  The dial tone sounded. Dean put his phone in his pocket and slouched back into the sofa. He patted his thigh. "Come here, love."

  She pursed her lips, sighed, then stretched out and rested her head on his thigh. "I'm sorry."

  "For what?"

  "He liked you. Respected you." She pressed her face into his pants and mumbled. "He won't anymore."

  "I liked and respected Paul Stanton," Dean said as he smoothed her hair away from her face. "I was wrong about him. Your father was wrong about me. And is wrong about you."

  "Whatever."

  He fisted his hand in her hair. "Speaking of respect, 'Whatever' never qualifies as a respectful response to your Dom. I'd like a 'Yes, Sir.' in this instance."

  Snorting out a laugh, she turned to look up at him. "You don't get automatic 'Yes Sirs' when we're discussing business or my family. Haven't you learned that yet, you dumb ape?"

  Laughing at naughty little subs taught them nothing. But he had a hard time containing his amusement. "Cheeky brat. I believe we've discussed you calling me names?"

  "Yep. You love it."

  Well, at least she didn't seem on the verge of tears anymore. Doing what he was about to do to her when she was still upset would be unethical. He stood and loomed over her, letting his tone drop to the one she understood on a baser level. "I think punishments will become part of our daily routine—at least until you learn how to behave yourself."

  She squeaked like a little mouse popping out of her ho
le and straight into a cat's paws. Scrambling sideways, she made a halfhearted attempt to escape him. Her breath whooshed out when he caught her with an arm across her stomach.

  "Dean!" She giggled. "You don't want to punish me! You hate punishing me!"

  "No. I hated punishing you last night." He bit her earlobe hard enough to draw another squeak. "I'm going to enjoy this."

  * * * *

  Blueprints covered the desk in the new hotel room. Silver had brought them along so she'd be prepared for the meeting when she got home, figuring she'd have plenty of time to go over the designer's suggestions. She hadn't planned to need anything to keep her busy when they reached LA—seriously, this had been her home for years! She had friends to visit and beloved sights to see!

  But this wasn't home anymore. Dean was right. She had changed. And she didn't feel like she belonged here anymore.

  Not that I really belong anywhere.

  "Stop that." Sucking her teeth, she set down her pink highlighter and pushed away from the desk. Her phone sat on top of her files like an ugly black bug—a cockroach, buzzing in a way that filled her with dread. Oriana had already called once today, just to make sure she was doing okay, so it wasn't her. And Landon wouldn't call—not that she wanted him to.

  Only one person could be calling her now. Daddy.

  Three days in a row—a new record. Not that it should surprise her that he was showing interest. He wanted to make sure she wasn't doing anything else that would jeopardize his team.

  Bracing herself, she picked up her phone and answered. "Hello, Daddy."

  "Tell me you're not with Dean."

  She cringed. Every time he'd called, Dean had been nearby to cut the call short. She didn't need him to protect her from her father, but the way he supported her made her feel—well, whole again. A few short words from her father could shatter her, but a single touch, a look, from Dean, built her right back up.

  He can't be with you all the time, wimp.

  Her eyes pressed shut. "No. He's not here."