Luscious

by Lexi Blake

  That was the best idea he’d heard in a long time. “I fucking won’t and I’m going to have a talk with Ian. He starts farming my sub out and he won’t see another freaking pie again for the rest of his life.”

  Sean grinned. “I believe you’ll discover my brother carefully laid this plan out to get his pie maker back to form. He says your desserts have gone to hell since you broke up with Ally. He can’t put his finger on it, but they’re missing something.”

  Macon knew what they were missing. And there was only one way to get it back.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Ally burped Kala with a soft pat of her hand against the baby’s back. Or was it Kenzie? She gently pulled the baby’s left ear back and sure enough there was a tiny mark behind there. Kala. At least Big Tag had switched from a black to a pink Sharpie.

  “You doing all right?” Laurel stepped into the room. She was a lovely woman in her late twenties. She looked a little like her brother, Dr. Will Daley. She had a pack of diapers in her hand.

  Ally nodded. “They’re all sweet kids. I like watching them. It’s peaceful.”

  Laurel’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding, right? It might seem peaceful now. You wait until Aidan and Tristan fight over a toy. Or Carys. I’m pretty sure those two are actually fighting over Carys. They’re like alpha babies. It’s weird. I hope Kenzie and Kala don’t turn into warrior princesses before my time of servitude is over.”

  Ally looked at the other woman as she placed Kala in the bassinette she shared with her sleeping sister. The twin girls immediately cuddled up like a pair of puppies and slept. “You don’t like kids?”

  Laurel reorganized the changing station. “It’s not that I don’t like them. I’m just pretty sure I won’t have them and I’m trying to get to the point that I’m okay with it.”

  “You can’t have kids? You could always adopt.” She knew the power of having a loving but non-biological family. Alex and Eve McKay adored their son though he didn’t share DNA with either of them.

  Laurel sighed. “I’m in love with a man who doesn’t want them. Of course he also doesn’t want me, so it might be a moot point.” Her lips tugged up. “But I’m hopeful. About the wanting me part. He’s too stupid to know he wants me yet. I don’t think he’s going to move on the whole kids thing though. He had a rough childhood and he’s the tiniest bit damaged.”

  God, she knew all about damaged men. “Do you think you can fix him?”

  Laurel frowned thoughtfully. “I like him the way he is. That’s the crazy part. He’s gruff and a control freak and I’m still attracted to him. So I don’t necessarily want to fix him. I want him to open up a little so I can see his softer side.”

  “And if there is no softer side?” Or if his softer side had been locked away forever?

  Now Laurel looked sure. “There’s always a softer side. Always. My guy’s is buried super deep though. But I love him so it’s going to be all right, right?”

  She wasn’t so sure about that. She was proof positive that sometimes love wasn’t enough.

  Was she really going through with this?

  “I heard Master Ian is going to let you work with a Dom tomorrow night,” Laurel said as she sat down on the floor. She picked up some blocks and started stacking them, letting the toddlers help her. Sure enough, Tristan was all over Carys and Aidan looked like he wasn’t too happy about it. “Are you nervous? I heard it’s the new guy. I’ve worked with some of the married Doms. They rotate in and out until they decide we’re ready to mix with the singles. At least that’s what they tell me. I suspect someone is pulling the strings and keeping me away from the single guys. I think it’s either my brother or my boss.”

  She found the other sub trainee’s lives endlessly entertaining. “Your brother and your boss are both Sanctum members?”

  “Yeah,” Laurel admitted. “It can get weird at times. My sister-in-law is cool, but Will claims Lisa and I are going to make him go blind.”

  “And your boss? Is it weird to see him here?”

  Laurel kind of sighed. “I haven’t actually seen him here. I’m not entirely sure he even knows I joined. I’m afraid to bring up the subject. I train on Thursdays. He never comes in on Thursdays. I really want to see him in his leathers.”

  “Oh, so he’s the one who doesn’t want kids.”

  A faint tinge of red flushed her cheeks. “Mitch has a very skewed view of the world. He’s been married a couple of times, and to say they didn’t go well would be like saying Pompeii was a just a little explosion. So I think he likes me, but he’s leery of getting involved with anyone. From what I can tell, all his very short-term relationships happen here at Sanctum.”

  And now Laurel was here at Sanctum, prepared to force her man to make the choice to watch her go to another Dom or take her for himself. “Wow. Even I know that’s topping from the bottom.”

  Laurel smiled. “I know. Smart, right?”

  Wasn’t that what she was doing? Ally told herself this was all about finding herself and she meant it. Besides, Macon had asked her to leave. She’d packed her crappy belongings and was staying on Deena’s couch until she could find a place of her own. But she wasn’t going to let him shove her out of Top or Sanctum. The question was would she want to be here without him?

  Ally wasn’t so sure. She also wasn’t so sure about the man Master Ian called Ten. She’d met him earlier and while the man was past gorgeous, he’d also seemed cold. Even when he’d smiled and called her “darlin’” in a slow Southern accent, she’d felt a chill from him.

  But she was going to trust Master Ian. Macon had shown her this world and she liked it. Just because he no longer wanted her didn’t mean someone out there wouldn’t. And if he came back, she would know more than she’d known before. She’d looked over the training contract and there was a strict no-sex policy until Master Ian and Master Kai were sure she was here for the right reasons.

  That clause in her contract had given her security. She could breathe easy. She had her safe word. She had her contract. She had mentor Doms and subs who would look out for her.

  She simply didn’t have her Master anymore.

  The door came open and Lisa poked her head in. “Ally, tap out and get into the kitchen. Serious drama going on. Master Macon showed up with Master Sean and he’s yelling at everyone. I mean everyone. He’s especially pissy with Master No. I mean Master T. Don’t tell anyone I called him that. We all get spanked when we call him that and not the fun kind of spanking.”

  Macon was here and he was going after her training Dom? Ally raced down the hall, secure that Lisa and Laurel could handle the kiddos. What was Macon thinking? Fighting another Dom could get him kicked out. And why would he care? He’d made himself plain earlier in the day.

  She passed through the back of the house, managing to avoid the larger areas where the scenes would play out. Even from the hall she could hear Macon.

  “I swear to god you touch my sub and we’re going to have trouble.”

  “I was unaware she was your sub,” came that sexy voice that belonged to Master T. “She sure isn’t wearing a collar now, is she?”

  “I’m warning you,” Macon said as she entered the kitchen. His back was to her, but she could see his threats hadn’t made a dent in Master T’s demeanor.

  The big Southern Master stood beside Master Ian while Master Sean was beside Macon. The tension was so thick she couldn’t breathe.

  Ally was about to speak when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

  “Don’t say a word. This is what I like to call a Dom Standoff.” Charlotte Taggart sounded genuinely amused. “Watch them. They’ll get the ruler out soon and compare dick sizes. I turned down the air conditioner just in case. It’ll be icy cold in here soon.”

  Macon had realized she was in the room and was frowning her way. “Go back to the daycare, Allyson. I’ll come and get you in a moment.”

  He thought he could boss her around now? “Uhm, Master T is right. I’m not wearing your c
ollar, Macon. You kicked me out so I don’t have to do anything you say.”

  Master T smiled, though it was really more of a smirk. “That’s right, darlin’. You give him hell. I picked out a sweet training collar for you. Why don’t we go somewhere private and see if it fits.”

  Before Master T could say another word, Master Ian’s fist came out and popped him right in the nose.

  Master T groaned but rolled his eyes and strode across to the fridge. “You know, Ian, one of these days you’re going to run out of those.”

  Ally was fairly certain they were all insane.

  “Ten, I told you not to fuck with the pie maker. You’re about to give him a heart attack. Do you see that tic over his left eye? I can’t lose the pie maker,” Ian explained. He turned to Ally. “You want to fix him?”

  Macon was staring at her. “Come here, Ally.”

  Did she want to fix him? Yes. Did he want to be fixed? She wasn’t so sure about that.

  “Go on. He’s on the edge,” Charlotte whispered in her ear. “He can go one of two ways. You fight him and he’ll probably go insane. But if you submit, I think he won’t be able to help himself. Your choice, Ally. Decide if you want him right now.”

  There was no decision to be made. She walked to him and then pointedly chose his right side. She sank to her knees, clinging to his damaged leg. She needed him to know that she loved every part of him.

  His hand came down and she felt him sigh. His palm covered her scalp. “Master Ian, I know I’m still in training, but I would prefer you didn’t pawn off my submissive to other Doms.”

  Master Ian gave him a thumbs-up. “Done. She’s all yours, buddy.”

  “So I take it you won’t be heading back to New York,” Master Sean said and then whistled. “Wow, I think my brother loves you. He just went pale at the very thought of you leaving.”

  Charlotte took her husband’s hand. “Come on, baby. Let’s get you a drink. I know this breakup has been rough on you, but it’s all right now. The pie guy is staying. Right?”

  There was a definite “or else” to Charlotte’s tone.

  “I’m staying, but I need to talk to Allyson alone.” Macon’s hand stroked her hair.

  “Use one of the guest rooms. They’re set up as privacy rooms for the evening,” Charlotte explained. “Come on, Ten. I’ll get you a drink, too, and we’ll find you a girl to spank tomorrow.”

  “Laurel. I think he should definitely work with Laurel.” Ally offered up her new friend. Hey, the threat of being with Master No seemed to have worked for her.

  Ian Taggart got to one knee. He was a big, gorgeous beast of a man. “You wouldn’t happen to be attempting to help Laurel make Mitchell Bradford jealous, would you?”

  He was also intimidating as hell. The hand on her head stroked, letting her know Macon would protect her. “I only know Laurel is very ready to start her journey, Sir.”

  One side of Big Tag’s mouth tugged up. “I like the way you think, mini pie maker. You two should fuck regularly and have a bunch of pie-making babies.” He stood up. “Ten, let’s go introduce you to Laurel.”

  “Am I going to get punched again?” he asked, his voice tight.

  “Not by me, buddy. I’m hoarding mine.”

  “Yeah, well, you seem to find a ton of ways around those rules, asshole,” Master T was saying as they left the room.

  “I’m going to find my wife,” Chef Taggart said. “See you two for dinner service tomorrow.”

  The kitchen was suddenly quiet, though she could hear the low thud of music coming from the front of the house. She was alone with Macon and she had to wonder if he’d only been jealous and if they wouldn’t be right back where they’d started.

  “Come on, baby.” His voice was harsh as though he’d been screaming at someone and it had hurt his vocal chords.

  She glanced up and he was reaching down to help her. She got to her feet and he started to lead her away. He didn’t say anything else, merely led her through the hallway and down to a room she hadn’t been in before. He turned on the light and she could see it was a small guestroom with a queen-sized bed. It would have been a perfectly normal room except for the spanking bench to the side of the bed and the hooks hanging from the ceiling. She was fairly certain there would be instruments of erotic torture in the closet.

  What did Macon want to say to her? Was he already regretting the scene he’d caused?

  The minute the door was closed, he was on her. He dragged her close and his mouth devoured hers. “Please forgive me.”

  “Macon? What are you talking about? I need you to forgive me.”

  His head shook even as he kept his forehead against hers. “I pushed you to it. I wouldn’t talk to you because I thought it should have been me. I was ashamed.”

  Her heart ached for him. “Never. You survived. I love you. I love you so much. I never want to hear you say that again.”

  “I’ve been angry, Ally. I think I’ve been angry most of my life and I wouldn’t admit it. I was so mad at you. Hell, I was mad at Adam and I finally figured out why.” He tugged at her shirt, dragging it up and over her head. His hands went straight to her bra, undoing the fasteners and pulling it off.

  “Why?” She was compliant, allowing him to do the work he seemed to need. If he wanted her naked, she could do that for him. “Adam simply told you the truth.”

  “Because if he’d waited a couple of days we would have been married and I wouldn’t have been able to shove you aside. I would have been forced to deal with you. I was so mad he couldn’t have waited a couple of days.”

  She sighed, reaching up to touch his face. “Baby, it’s better this way. It’s better to start our lives together honestly. I can see that now. I wanted you too badly to risk losing you. You’re everything I could have hoped for.”

  “How do you do that to me? I’ve got nothing right now. I used to have money and a career that I trained my whole life for. I used to be whole, but somehow when you look at me like you’re doing now—I’m more than I was. I’m greater than I used to be. How is that possible?”

  “I don’t know, but I feel the same and I don’t want to lose it.”

  He crowded her, moving her toward the bed until the backs of her legs hit the side. “Marry me.”

  “Yes.” She would never say no to him when it came to being together. He was arrogant and hardheaded at times, but she belonged with him.

  He pushed at her jeans and she helped him this time, shoving them over her thighs and dragging her panties with them. She kicked off her sandals and she was naked before him.

  “And you won’t be playing with that Southern dickwad,” he proclaimed.

  “I wasn’t ever going to play with him. I was going to let him train with me,” she corrected.

  “Spanking bench. Now.”

  Shit. She should have known he was going to want his discipline time. She definitely knew better than to argue with the Dom. Macon’s shoulders had straightened, his voice deepening despite the hoarseness there. He was moving into Master mode and he was hungry for some play.

  She looked at the contraption and cursed Ian Taggart for having such a well stocked home. She was likely going to be sore tomorrow.

  And she would love it. She would stretch and feel that little ache and remember how close they’d gotten, how much she’d pleased her Master and he’d pleased her.

  With only a bit of awkwardness, she managed to mold her body to the spanking bench. It placed her ass high in the air, gave her a padded resting place for her shins and forearms but allowed her breasts to dangle. All in all, as torture devices went, it was pretty dang comfy.

  “I want one of these. Look at that.” He was standing behind her, studying her ass, and it was obvious he liked what he saw. “This is awfully convenient.”

  His big palms cupped her cheeks.

  She breathed, dragging air into her lungs because her body was already preparing for him. “What am I being punished for, Master? The lie?”

>   His hand stilled. “No. I forgive you for the lie if you forgive me for ignoring your very reasonable requests. I’m so sorry for that.”

  He’d been scared. So had she. “You’re forgiven, babe. Both of those actions brought us here, so I wouldn’t take either one back.”

  “You’re being punished for bringing that man between us. Never again, Allyson.”

  “I thought you were leaving,” she pointed out. It was good to know he could get jealous, too.

  “I thought I was, too, but now I can clearly see that had more to do with me than you, baby.” His fingers ran up the length of her spine. “I think I would have come back. I don’t know how long it would have taken, but I would have come back to you after I pulled my head out of my ass. Would I have found you with that asshole Dom?”

  Oh, he had it bad. “I’ll get you a copy of my contract.”

  “You signed a fucking contract with him?” He knelt down beside her, his eyes flaring. Yep, Macon was letting his anger flow. She wouldn’t be surprised if the man didn’t go all green and Hulky on her.

  So she decided to stay calm and pleasant. “I did. I signed an ironclad contract stating I wouldn’t have sex with the man and no intimate touching.”

  He sighed and stood again. “So he gets to live. Let’s never do this again, Allyson. My heart can’t take it. Big Tag was right. I can feel my blood pressure ticking up. I can only think of one way to relax again.”

  She could imagine what that was. And then she didn’t have to imagine because a loud smack filled the room. Her backside lit up and her whole body seemed braced for the storm.

  “No matter what happens, you can’t put another man between us.” He slapped her ass again and again.

  Though she knew he was angry, every smack was controlled. He didn’t hit the same place twice and every bit of the slight pain he gave her morphed into heat and anticipation.

  “I will never walk out on you again, Ally. I swear that to you.” He spanked her again, but he was slowing down. Each smack was punctuated with a caress. His free hand moved to her pussy, sliding through her ever more aroused female parts. “We can fight it out, but I won’t leave you and I won’t be such a massive tool.”