Maneater 3_Raven

by Caitlyn Willows

  Rachel wiped the whip clean, then coiled it around her fingers and made her way beyond the drop cloth to the nest of cushy love seats tucked in the corner. She tossed the yellow cushions to the floor, then stretched out on them. Eyes closed, legs wide, she tapped the end of the whip over her nipples. They hardened as she gasped. Her clit protested, demanded attention.

  She rubbed her hand over her crotch and tapped her nipples again. The sensation shot downward, like a flare zinging through her body. Waiting was impossible. She slapped the whip against her inner thighs. The sting clenched her pussy. Again, harder. Now it was her ass that wanted attention. Rachel knew that was futile. She didn’t need self-spanking; she needed a man’s touch.

  Rachel danced the whip over her crotch, teasing at what she was about to do. A sharp slap made her cry out. Another lifted her pelvis. Her clit was on high alert, screaming for release. She dropped her toy to the side, raked the zipper down on her jeans, and shoved her hand inside her panties. It felt like her clit leaped into her fingers.

  She fumbled for the whip again, flicking nipples and thighs while she rode the mounting sensation and imagined Ben under her, helpless and hard, his cock buried inside her while Rachel had her way with him over and over again. And maybe Will too, behind her, doing as she ordered. She’d ride them both at the same time, and they’d never know…

  Orgasm burst from her. She shuddered through the pulses that followed, limp and sated for the moment.

  Yep, she was going to inspect him from head to toe, over and over again. By the time she was done, Ben Welsh wouldn’t know what hit him. She’d wipe that hate from his eyes and replace it with a smile he’d never forget.

  Chapter Two

  “Here you are, Ben.”

  Harv Bennett slid a thick green folder across the aged oak desk until it was positioned at a right angle to Ben. Precise, as always.

  “What’s this?” Ben knew what the hell it was. Why else would Harv be there? The only time he saw the stick-up-his-ass attorney was when it had something to do with his father’s estate. Considering tomorrow was his birthday…

  “Rachel Moore has signed everything over to you, as expected. I’ll need your signature on several documents, and then it will be done.”

  “I take it this means Miss Moore won’t be joining us for this momentous occasion?”

  “She will not.”

  Ben wasn’t surprised that she’d handle this as she had everything else—with a stroke of a pen from miles away. It still stung, the way she’d ignored him over the last year. Okay, it pissed him off. She’d been there when the hammer fell, yet she couldn’t be here when it lifted. Maybe she couldn’t bear the reality that control was no longer in her pretty little hands. A couple of pen strokes, and it’d be all done, this ridiculous ploy from his father nothing but a bad memory. And Rachel Moore would be out of his life for good. The idea wasn’t as appealing as he’d hoped, but she’d made her feelings clear, shown her true colors. Ignored him to the last. This was it.

  If only Will would get off his cell phone and pay attention to detail, right now, right here. Talk about being ignored. Once the deed was done, Ben had a surprise of his own for Will—full partnership. Except he really hated being ignored.

  “Mind telling me whose text is more important than this?”

  Fighting a smile, Will tucked the phone into his suit pocket. “Sorry.”

  Had he been texting Rachel? Ben knew the two had a thing going. That hadn’t set well either, thinking of the two of them tucked away on their monthly trysts. Ben shook off the images dancing through his head. “Let’s just get this done so we can get on with our day.” Will touched his arm the minute Ben’s pen hit the paper.

  “I have to say I’m shocked and disappointed she didn’t show up. It smacks of disrespect.”

  Ben wouldn’t argue there, but it was odd that Will would bring it up.

  He removed his pen from the document and toyed with it, pushing the pen through his fingers. This whole business gouged tunnels under his skin, and Rachel Moore was the miner.

  Ben had found his father’s playroom years ago. But it was only after Ben and Rachel’s ill-fated meeting last year and his father’s meltdown over it that Ben had grilled Oliver Holbrook about his father’s true relationship with the woman. His father had put control of Ben’s trust in the hands of a dominatrix! His own dominatrix.

  “Don’t even presume you’re her equal. You could never hope to hold a woman like her.”

  Words his father had drunkenly sneered the night Will had introduced Ben and Rachel. The last words his father had spoken to him before he’d managed to pass out in the swimming pool and drown.

  Ben had spent the last year proving otherwise, honing skills he’d perfected as one of Oliver’s Doms. Once Ben got his hands on her, Rachel Moore would find out very quickly he wasn’t his father’s son. He was his own man, a better man. At least that had been Ben’s original intent if she’d shown up today. He’d planned to make Rachel Moore his birthday present.

  She’d sure thwarted that plan. Now he’d have to go after her if he wanted her—God knows he did. However, he’d lose the home-field advantage if he did so.

  “She should be here.” Will stabbed his finger into the center of Ben’s desk.

  Rachel would kill Will when she found out her sub had turned on her. Ben had no intention of sharing that news.

  He closed the document folder and splayed his fingertips on top of it, then pushed it Harv’s way. “Will’s right. I refuse to sign without her present.” Harv’s eyes looked huge behind his thick glasses.

  “Ben, what are you doing?”

  Ben heard caution and fear in every word. He ignored Harv’s question, though, and gave his attention to Will. Best friend, right-hand man, united even when being so could put Will at odds with the woman he craved. They both craved.

  “I want her here. In person.” He tapped the point of his pen on the desk for emphasis. “I demand she show some respect for the duties assigned to her. It’s lackadaisical not to verify one’s information.”

  A small frown creased Will’s forehead. “She’s gotten constant reports from me.”

  “Yes, I know. Not once has she personally verified any of that information.”

  The furrows deepened. “The information came from me.”

  Ben wanted to say it was all the more reason she should have checked the facts. Will was Ben’s best friend. They did everything together—well, almost everything—including running Enigma Vineyards and Botanicals.

  “She accepted everything on face value.” So much for not insulting Will.

  “Again, my face.”

  Will was his ally in this. Ben had to do some fast backtracking, despite the fact that he wanted to point out that Rachel—Lady Raven—had had many opportunities to beat the truth out of Will.

  God, what would he do if Will found out Ben had secretly watched more than one of their sessions? That he’d monitored her switch sessions? All under Oliver Holbrook’s watchful eye, of course. As his Sledge persona.

  Backtrack, idiot.

  “It irritates me that she hasn’t shown the least amount of respect to treat her responsibilities hands-on. I want her here.” He stabbed the table again. “Hands-on.”

  That quirked Will’s head to the side. Too late Ben realized what he’d said. He wouldn’t pull the words back; it’d draw too much attention to his lapse.

  Ben snapped his head in Harv’s direction. “Call her. Tell her I want her here.”

  “Tell?” Will’s eyebrows hiked up.

  He was right again. If Ben hoped to get her attention, he had to show from the start he was Dom enough to handle the hot little switch.

  “I demand her presence. And you may use those exact words.” He would have stood to bring his point home, but the hard-on wedged down his trouser leg made that impossible. He’d thrown down a gauntlet, or rather, told Harv to throw it down. He wanted her here, now. Bent naked on this desk for his
pleasure. Bottom rosy red. Pussy dripping with want.

  “Call her now.” He flicked his finger toward the cell phone Ben knew was in Harv’s jacket pocket.

  “Here? Right now?”

  Harv looked like his head was going to explode. Good. One thing accomplished today.

  “B-but…it’s Friday,” Harv stuttered.

  It wasn’t like they hadn’t worked weekends before. Well, maybe Harv hadn’t.

  “Perfect. She’ll stay at the house with me. It’ll allow us to become well acquainted.” A hot rush filled his dick at the thought.

  “Alone?” both men asked.

  “You can stay as well if it concerns you,” he told Will.

  The news didn’t look like it made Will feel any better.

  “Relax.” Ben offered a smile he didn’t feel. “I’m not going to hurt her.” Unless she wants me to, and she will. He’d have her begging for it. “Remember, she’s small but mighty.” Her tagline. Ben couldn’t fault her for that. From what he’d seen and heard, it was true. But he was just as mighty. Right?

  “Call.” He jerked his head toward Harv again.

  Harv’s hand trembled as he pulled the phone out. The man scrolled through the numbers, then pressed a button.

  “On Speaker.”

  Harv looked over his glasses at Ben. “No. I’d prefer to keep this as cordial as possible. You see things from your side of table. Have you once considered how difficult and awkward this has been for her?” He turned his back as he waited for the call to go through. “Voice mail.” Harv punched another number. Within seconds he shook his head. “Voice mail at both her numbers.”

  “Call Oliver,” Will said. “I believe there was a private party in Palm Springs today.”

  Ben watched Harv’s shoulders lift on a sigh. Harv stared at the phone in his big hand, scrolled an arthritic thumb over the screen, then selected another number.

  “Hello, Oliver, this is Harv Bennett. I can’t seem to reach Rachel Moore. Ben Welsh has requested—”

  “Demanded,” Will added for him.

  Ben kept his smile to himself. They were a team through and through.

  “—demanded she finalize this issue in person.” Harv shot a nervous glance Ben’s way. “I’ll pass that word along.” He ended the call and stuffed the phone in his jacket pocket. He looked everywhere but at Ben, picked up the folder, and stuffed it into a leather briefcase that looked as old as Harv.

  “It seems she’s already on her way.”

  Ben’s cock swelled even more, pushing the limits of his trousers. Rachel was coming here, of her own volition? What did that mean? Had she remembered the night they’d met and decided to come claim him? Had Oliver told her Ben had mastered all the skills necessary to become the top she’d always dreamed of?

  Ben mentally rolled his eyes on that one. He was getting grand notions. If anything, Rachel was coming for Will. It was Friday, after all, and Will didn’t look too surprised by the news.

  “She could have called.” It was the best response Ben could muster. He sounded like a pouty kid or, God forbid, his grandmother.

  “I’m sure she will.” Harv stood. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll see you Monday morning. Nine?”

  “I’ll have to check my calendar and give you a call.” Damn her for trumping him, for controlling this.

  “I…” Harv clamped his mouth shut on whatever he was about to say. “Very well. I look forward to your call.”

  Harv wasted little time leaving. A scurrying rat leaped to mind.

  “So, Rachel’s coming.”

  It was hard not to notice the gleam in Will’s eyes when he spoke. Ben wondered if Will was as hard as he was right now.

  “She’ll want to see the books, reports.” Will slapped his portfolio closed and stood, blocking a view of his crotch. “I’ll start gathering the information.” He shook his finger at Ben. “Be nice to her.”

  “Why?” he asked when Will was halfway to the door.

  Will glanced over his shoulder. “Because there’s no cause to be rude. You’ve had a chip on your shoulder where she’s concerned. It’s ridiculous.”

  Because she frustrates me, makes me so hard I can’t think straight. And his father’s fucking will made liaisons…not smart. It pissed Ben off all the more. “I meant, why is she coming here after she’s already signed the papers?”

  Will snorted and shook his head. “You’re impossible. You’re getting what you demanded. You should be happy.” He tipped his head to one side. “Or are you mad that she thought of it first?”

  Ben glared. Will knew him too well. An advantage in business, not in…this.

  “I’ll take your nonresponse as an affirmative.” He continued to the door. “Since she’ll be staying at the house, make sure you get that cook you usually hire for special events. Rachel deserves more than TV dinners and mac and cheese.”

  Ben took instant offense. “I can cook just fine. It’s just dumb to cook for one.”

  Will turned as he wrapped his fingers around the doorknob. “Well, great. Now you can cook for three. I’ll even help.”

  “You would think she could cook.” Fuck, he was six.

  “Oh, she can.”

  God, Will was enjoying this!

  “And she’ll want to see the greenhouses. She loves plants and flowers. Pull a good sampling of our wines from the cellar. She’s a big fan. Her contract for gallery events specifies only Enigma wines are served. And give her the comfy room. The one with all the extra pillows.”

  “The one near the room you love so much.”

  Will’s face beamed. “That would be the one.”

  Like hell. Rachel was going to be as close as Ben could get her, and that monstrosity of a house wasn’t it.

  Will ducked through the door before Ben could say another word, portfolio still guarding his crotch.

  Ben grabbed his own cock and hauled it up behind his fly. That should be enough latitude to get him to the sanctuary of the restroom down the hall. Now he prayed no one stopped him on the way, an all too common occurrence.

  He pasted on a scowl, one known to reduce subs to quivering masses, pushed away from the desk, and stood up. His erection shifted to the side, then down his leg with every step he took. This wasn’t going to work.

  Forget the restroom. Ben locked his office door and sank back into his chair. Sweat dotted his forehead. He focused on numbers and spreadsheets, calculated interest, evaluated promotional campaigns, the lingering drought in California, anything to take his mind off the need to come.

  She’ll want to see the books, reports.

  The image of Rachel sitting across the small conference table from him pierced through his attempts. Beautiful Rachel with those big blue eyes, long black hair. Rachel, who he’d wanted from the second he’d laid eyes on her…until the true nature of their relationship had been revealed.

  What the hell had his father been thinking? If the will hadn’t been written so long ago, Ben would have contested the whole damn thing. Maybe his father hadn’t been of sound mind at the time after all. Assigning a woman, a dominatrix, no more than four years older than he, to ride herd on him?

  Raven. Lady Raven. Clean and sharp. Methodical and caring. Unstoppable. Memorable even without her sister Dommes, Maneater and Soleil, at her side. Yeah, he wanted her…he wanted her bad. Wanted to hear her cry out with pleasure from his hand.

  Ben’s breath caught. He realized he was sitting there, stroking his erection while he thought about her. It wasn’t the first time. It wouldn’t be the last time either. But it would be the last time he did so to a fantasy.

  After tomorrow, it would be from memory.

  He plucked a wad of tissue from the box on the credenza behind him and fished his dick from his trousers. Eyes closed, his body stretched out as far as the executive chair allowed, he worked his hand over his cock, then caught the jism in the tissue wad when he came after ten strokes.

  Just what he needed when he was preparing to face
his biggest challenge—premature ejaculation.

  Ben shook the buzzing from his ears and put himself to rights. It’d be different when Rachel was standing before him. He was, after all, one of Oliver’s best Doms. He could definitely hold his own and more with Lady Raven. It was Rachel who scared him, and for the life of him, Ben couldn’t figure out why.

  Chapter Three

  Will hit Speed Dial for Oliver the second he shut the door to his office. Oliver answered on the first ring.

  “Well, did he bite?”

  “He sure did.” Will couldn’t contain his smile. “Thanks for nudging Rachel. I was starting to panic a little.”

  “Never underestimate the power of a guilt trip. And you should be panicking…a lot. You have no idea what you are about to unleash. I really don’t think this is going to work,” Oliver said.

  “It will. You didn’t see the sparks fly when they met last year.” It had been magnificent. The two of them had automatically drawn closer when Will had introduced them. The smiles, the glow in their eyes, the way Rachel had leaned into Ben. And Ben placing a possessive hand to Rachel’s lower back when they’d strolled away later for privacy had said it all.

  Goddamned Roger had ruined it all. Ben’s father never should have been at the party in the first place. His presence had nearly destroyed all the accolades and regard they’d worked hard to achieve for the business and sure as hell had spoiled Will’s attempt to get Ben and Rachel together.

  “No, but I sure saw the sparks when the will was read, and it wasn’t pretty. It’s been a very tense year.”

  Will seconded that. He’d been more in the middle of all this than Oliver. “It’s been strained, but I can fix it. I want them together. The three of us as one. I will have it.”

  “You take the meaning of ‘the sub has control’ to a whole new level.” Oliver sniffed. “Five bucks says you can’t do it.”

  Will laughed. “Cheap bet. No confidence?”

  “I don’t want to stress you out. Trust me, you’re about to have more stress than you can handle.”

  “Trust me. I will get them—us—together.”