Claim

by Sierra Cartwright

  “You’re on your way,” he said.

  “Okay, so who are you?” Karyn asked.

  “Manners?” Kennedy reminded her. “They’re not just something you pull out when you want to impress someone.”

  “Oh, shut up.” Then she looked at Mackenzie and repeated, “Who are you? My brother doesn’t generally introduce me to women he’s dating.”

  “I wonder why?” he asked.

  “I have to follow his love life online.” She rolled her eyes. “I know more about Kennedy than his proctologist does.”

  He groaned.

  “Me and Julien talk about my brother and his gazillions of women, and we speculate on whether the relationship is real or the press made it up. Mostly it’s made up. But it’s fun to discuss it. Does Julien know about you?”

  “My younger sister,” he apologized. “Only sibling, and not representative of the rest of the family In fact, we think aliens left her behind.”

  Instead of looking offended, Mackenzie laughed. “I’m Mackenzie Farrell.” She offered her hand. “I’m not really dating your brother, so we’re not a couple. I don’t know who Julien is—”

  “Julien Bonds,” Karyn interrupted, holding up her wrist and flashing her smart watch.

  It looked strikingly similar to the one he’d seen Julien wearing. “Where the hell did you get that?”

  “Consolation prize since he couldn’t be here tonight. He said you’d be jealous.”

  No wonder she’d forgiven him.

  “That Julien Bonds?” Mackenzie asked.

  “The one and only,” Karyn confirmed. “He sent me a picture of himself, too. Bizarre.”

  If she only knew.

  “My phone needs an upgrade,” Mackenzie said.

  “When I give him the scoop, he’ll give you anything,” Karyn said. “No. Wait. Tell me he doesn’t know. If he knew before me…” She glared at Kennedy.

  How the hell had this conversation gotten so out of control?

  “No one knows, because there’s nothing to know,” Mackenzie reassured Karyn. “This is only the second time—”

  “Third,” Kennedy interrupted.

  “Third,” she confirmed, looking at him.

  For a flash of a second, their gazes locked. He felt it, that pulse of recognition, the beat of something remembered, something shared.

  “Yeah, yeah. Keep going,” Karyn insisted.

  “Third time we’ve been together,” Mackenzie finished.

  “But you’re the first to know,” Kennedy assured his sister.

  She scowled.

  “I swear.”

  “Okay. Keep going.”

  Kennedy did, hoping to spare Mackenzie any further embarrassment. “I had her in my arms the first time I met her, and I like having her there.”

  Karyn lifted her upper lip. “Is he always so gaggingly sweet?”

  “Actually…” Mackenzie began.

  Along with Karyn, he waited.

  “Yes. He is.”

  Except, he thought, for when he was using a flogger, marking her gorgeous skin. That was their secret, and he intended to keep it that way.

  “No one knows anything,” Mackenzie promised.

  She could have changed the subject, and he was surprised she didn’t.

  “Even me. And furthermore, I think it’s your brother who’s the alien. Most humans know what the word no means, but Kennedy acts as if he’s never heard it before.”

  “Oh, my God. I’m in love with you. Please, please, please tell me your pedigree can be traced to the Mayflower?”

  “Afraid not,” Mackenzie replied. “Maybe to Ellis Island sometime in the past one hundred years. But, honestly, I’m thinking peasant stock.”

  Karyn sighed. “I’m not breaking it to Mother. That’s all on you.” She looked back at Mackenzie. “Okay, no pedigree. We can live with that. How do you feel about children?”

  “Enough,” Kennedy said. His stern Dom voice stopped most people, including grown men. But he had no idea if it would even slow down his sister.

  “Fine.” Then, after a breath, she explained, “I want Kennedy to have a relationship so my mother stops bothering me about finding a husband. Hell, I’m still trying to find myself.” Karyn squeezed Mackenzie’s hand, then glared at Kennedy. “Do not tell Julien. This is my scoop.”

  Once again, Karyn’s attention was demanded by the gallery owner.

  “Sorry,” Kennedy said. “That was worse than Sunday dinner.”

  “But slightly less intrusive than a visit to your proctologist?”

  “You’re fabulous,” he said. “Thank you.”

  “I understand families. I have several.”

  “Several?”

  “Five step-siblings at last count, two half-sisters, one half-brother.” She shrugged. “I think I have the count right. Those are from the current families. I have numerous former step-siblings. We peasants are prolific.”

  This was the most she’d revealed about her personal life, he realized as they claimed their coats. He plucked hers from her hands. “Allow me.” With his tone, he let her know it wasn’t a request.

  “Is the Dom part of you always there, barely beneath the surface?”

  “Mostly it’s not beneath the surface.”

  “I was afraid of that.”

  He held the coat and flipped up the collar for her after she’d buttoned it up.

  “What toys do you have at home?” he asked when they were in the car.

  She took a deep breath. “Are we really going to do this?”

  “What? Have me tie you up, beat you and fuck you into tomorrow?”

  “Yeah.” She toyed with the gear shifter, using her pointer finger to make little circles on the smooth wood. “That.”

  “Only if you want it. And believe me, I’m going to make you beg for it.”

  Mackenzie shivered, and he knew she wasn’t cold. “I don’t beg.”

  “Didn’t,” he corrected. “Maybe not with other men, other Doms. You will with me.”

  She crossed then uncrossed her legs.

  The silk of her stockings whispered in the car’s silent interior, part promise, part invitation. All of a sudden, he had no idea how he was going to make it to her house. The Old Bronwyn Building was closer, with its private rooms. Which reminded him… “Do you have condoms at home?”

  “No. None in your car?”

  “Wasn’t planning a seduction,” he said. “But in the future, I’ll keep an emergency supply.” He found a drug store and parked in front of it. “Wait here,” he said. He left the engine running so she’d stay warm.

  He found the right aisle and picked up the biggest box. No sense just getting the three-pack.

  “I feel like we’re college kids,” she confessed when he climbed behind the driver’s seat and handed her the brown paper bag.

  “Kind of fun, isn’t it?”

  “A little mortifying.” She opened the bag. “Good God! How many did you buy?”

  “About six hundred.”

  “Dream big, Mr. Aldrich.” She rolled up the bag and dropped it on the floor.

  He grinned.

  Intimacy.

  A few minutes later, he issued his first instruction of the evening. BDSM was a constant seduction, he’d learned, and keeping a submissive focused, consumed with sensual energy increased her pleasure. “Masturbate for me,” he instructed.

  “What?”

  She put one hand on the dash in front of her and turned to him. Even in the dimness, he saw her mouth was parted with shock.

  “Surely you’ve been with other Doms who’ve asked that of you.”

  “No. Actually, I haven’t.”

  “Then this is a first.”

  “You’re serious?”

  “Very much so.”

  She didn’t protest. Nor did she instantly obey.

  He knew she was thinking through the repercussions, trying to decide how much control to give up to him. “Do it.”

  “Do you have any
idea how complicated this is with pantyhose and a thong?”

  “Not sure I asked about that.” He waited a beat. When he spoke again, he made certain his voice held an edge. “Did I?”

  “No, Sir.”

  Her perfect response made his cock harden, not that it had taken much. He’d been thinking about her all week, anticipating this moment even though he hadn’t been sure it would ever actually happen.

  Without another word, she opened her coat, wiggled out of it then tossed it into the back seat.

  “Good,” he acknowledged.

  “Ah…”

  He let her figure it out for herself.

  She lifted her hips, pulled up the hem of her dress then worked the pantyhose down over her hips and thighs until the material wrapped around her ankles.

  He wondered what she’d do about the panties.

  Evidently she was wondering the same thing.

  “Is this the part where you tell me that I wouldn’t have this problem if I were a good submissive and didn’t wear them in the first place?”

  “Wouldn’t dream of it,” he said.

  “But you’re thinking it.”

  “I can neither confirm nor deny that.”

  She shot him a wry glance. “I warned you,” she insisted. “The other day. I told you. I like scenes, nothing more.”

  Kennedy ignored that. “I want to taste you.”

  “What?”

  “You understood.”

  “I heard you. The request leaves me a bit dazed, I’ll admit.” She moistened two fingertips before slipping her hand inside her panties. A moment later, she moaned.

  The sound had an instant effect on him, throwing him back to The Hub and the way she’d screamed as he’d found her G-spot with his finger. Over the years, he’d played with a lot of subs, yet none had been quite as responsive to his touch as she had.

  “I…” She trailed off as she stroked herself.

  His cock grew even harder. Maybe this hadn’t been one of his better ideas. He’d intended to make sure she was as aroused as he was. He hadn’t thought through potential repercussions. “Give me that taste,” he told her when he braked to a stop at a traffic light.

  She offered him her hand.

  He held her wrist then raised her hand to his mouth and licked her juices.

  “That’s erotic,” she said.

  “From here, it most certainly is. Now come for me.”

  She dropped her shoulders back against the seat. “Were you listening the other night? It’s not all that easy for me, and it sometimes doesn’t happen.”

  “It won’t if you don’t try,” he agreed.

  “Look, Kennedy—”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “Sir.” She dragged a hand through her hair, expressing her frustration through her movements.

  “Look, Zee. You may believe that about yourself, and you can keep telling yourself it’s true. But if you’re basing your information on prior experience, at least consider that it could be faulty. Your ex-husband was selfish. Only a man who’s self-centered would be out fucking another piece of ass while he should be in the honeymoon phase with his sexy bride.”

  He harnessed his temper and let his words sink in before lowering his voice and continuing, “You came for me, and honestly it didn’t take me long to get you there because I was talking to you, watching you, giving you what you want, and demanding what you had to offer.”

  “I hear you.”

  He knew it was her way of acknowledging his words without agreeing or disagreeing. If you don’t come, the world won’t end, and I’ll make damn sure you do when we’re at your house.”

  “Okay. Here’s the truth. I’m nervous because I’ve never brought myself to orgasm in front of someone else.”

  “Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me that.”

  “And I’ve especially never done it in a car.”

  “In that case, we’ll make this the first of many unique places.”

  “How did I know you were going to say that?”

  The light turned green, and he released her hand. “I’m waiting.”

  “This is really uncomfortable.”

  “You can always say porcupine.” He suspected she wanted to be nudged. “Comfort zones are familiar, but living on the edge is a bigger thrill.”

  “And dangerous.”

  “They can be.”

  “And scary.” While she’d been talking, she’d put her hand between her legs again.

  “Only as frightening as you let them be.” He gripped the steering wheel and looked ahead, giving her the illusion of privacy.

  She moved her pelvis, and she pressed her hand harder against her pussy. Her moans were the sounds that he’d heard in his dreams.

  “I want it, Zee.”

  “This would be easier if you were doing it.”

  “I know. I want you to do this for me.”

  “I want to give it to you.”

  More than once, Mackenzie had insisted she wasn’t a submissive, and maybe for most men she wasn’t. But for the right one, the one who took the time, who coaxed her responses, who encouraged her, who demanded her compliance… Maybe she would be.

  She arched her back.

  “You want it, also,” he said.

  “Yes.”

  “Yes?”

  “Yes, Master Aldrich.”

  She closed her eyes as her moans became whimpers.

  “That’s it.”

  “I…”

  “Come for me, Zee.”

  With a giant shudder and a soft scream, she did.

  She collapsed against the seat, dragging in a huge gulp of air.

  “Let me taste.”

  After a few seconds, she exhaled and turned to face him. She offered her hand, and he drew her finger into his mouth. He sucked on her until she tried to pull away then he gently bit her.

  She relaxed.

  “Better,” he approved after he’d released her.

  “That was hot.”

  “You were hot,” he corrected. Again, he considered going to the Old Bronwyn Building, but he dismissed the idea. He wanted to be able to relentlessly love on her for hours. And he wanted to keep her tied to the bed. “You didn’t answer the question about your toys,” he said as she straightened her clothes, something that wasn’t easy in the compact space.

  “How do you do that?”

  “What?”

  “Change subjects before I’ve caught my breath?”

  “I didn’t change subjects,” he corrected. “I’m just planning what’s next.”

  “How do you get anything done?”

  “Focus,” he told her. “Whatever I’m doing, I focus on that. And right now, that’s you.”

  She stopped wriggling. “I don’t have many things.”

  He slid her a glance. “You have a paddle.”

  She turned to look out of the window.

  “And what else?”

  “A wand vibrator,” she said.

  “Any restraints?”

  “No.”

  “I’ll have to be creative then.”

  “Ah…” She looked at him. “We don’t have to scene every time we’re together.”

  “Didn’t you read that I’m kinky as fuck? I have a reputation to live up to, woman.”

  “I’m starting to believe it. And wondering if I can keep up.”

  “You’re doing great. Let’s take it for what it is,” he suggested. “No expectations.”

  “No expectations,” she agreed.

  She directed him to a parking spot near her house.

  “Grab the condoms. We’ll be needing those.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  While she put her coat back on, he came around to help her out of the vehicle. “Careful of ice.” And because she was wearing ridiculous shoes that he was man enough to appreciate, he cupped her elbow.

  Once they were inside, he closed and locked the door, shutting out the elements along with the world.


  With the taste of her, the scent of her arousal, the way she stood there, looking at him expectantly, he couldn’t wait any longer.

  “Shall I show you around?” she offered.

  On first glance, he liked the wide-open spaces, soaring ceilings, massive windows and designer lighting choices. He noticed a few things scattered about. It said she lived in the place. Different from his rigid adherence to neatness, and the control he struggled to keep over all things. “I’d love to see your place. Later.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  He put the condoms on the hall table, alongside a gigantic stack of mail, some of it opened, most of it ignored. He helped her from her coat. “In the closet?” he asked.

  “Or over the banister. I hate to admit, that’s what I usually do, unless I’m trying to impress guests with my housekeeping pizazz.”

  Since it went against his nature to drop it, he opened the closet. He saw the shoes she’d worn to the club last week, along with several dozen other pairs in every color imaginable. High heels, wedges, platforms, sandals, flats, even a pair of boots. They had real potential. “I think they’ve been procreating while you’ve been away.”

  “A weakness,” she admitted. “There are probably a hundred more in the master closet.”

  “There are a few I’d like you to model.” After hanging up her coat, he shrugged out of his then slid it over a peg.

  Before he closed the door, he remembered to pull his necktie from the pocket. While she watched, he wrapped it around his wrist. “I’ve wanted you, this, since we’ve been apart, Zee.” He took a step toward her, and she retreated until the wall brought her up short.

  Her breaths were in ragged, tiny bursts.

  He snagged the bottom of her skirt and drew it up. Then, he grabbed both of her wrists and pinned them above her head.

  Their gazes met, held. “Fuck me,” she told him.

  He leaned in and claimed her mouth, demanding rather than seeking entrance.

  She didn’t fight. Instead she surrendered, letting him support her body, meeting his tongue parry for parry.

  He appreciated women and loved sex, but he could honestly say he’d never had to possess a woman like he did this one. For him, with her, it was more than the physical. The strength of her, combined with the submissive instinct, tied his insides in knots. She tasted of promise, of the future, of anticipation. “Where’s your bedroom?” he asked, dragging his mouth from hers.