Every Which Way

by Annabel Joseph et al.

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Best of all, I know this woman who lives there.”

  “Who?” she asked with another sniffle.

  “Jesus, babe.” I shook my head. “If you’re the one who’s going to save us after the apocalypse, we’re all in trouble.”

  She laughed. It was a beautiful sound. “I knew you meant me,” she said. “I was only joking.”

  I heard a voice in the background, and her soft reply. “Mark?” she said into the phone. “I have to go. The museum’s closing.”

  “Go home then, and I’ll meet you there. I’ll crank up the jet and be there in a few hours.”

  “Really?” Her shoes clop-clopped in the echoing museum as she walked. “I thought you had to go to Paris.”

  “Eventually, yes,” I said. “But I’d rather not go alone.”

  “Mark?”

  “What?”

  “Do you really love me?”

  “I’m a wreck without you.”

  “I’ll move to New York if you’d rather. I could work for you.”

  “No, you have to finish school. The wind turbines need you. There’s possibly an apocalypse on the way.”

  I felt like an apocalypse was happening right now, a personal one. I felt as if I’d been waiting to start my life until she came.

  “We’ll work things out,” I said. “The important thing is that we need to be together.”

  Most of my clients owned at least one masterpiece they knew they could never part with.

  I had apparently acquired mine.

  Bettina

  It was nearly eleven when Mark arrived at my door. He looked tired, pale, and gorgeous. I threw myself into his arms.

  “You’re really here,” I whispered. I breathed in the scent of him, fresh cashmere and sexy cologne.

  “Of course I’m here. I told you I was coming.” He touched my face, stroked my hair. “God, you look wonderful. Sorry it’s so late.”

  But it was later for him, on New York time. “Have you eaten?” I asked. “Are you tired?”

  “Kiss me, damn it.”

  His arms tightened around me, and he kissed me the way he always kissed me: hard, deep, and rough. He was so warm, so real. When I left New York, I thought I’d never see him again. “You’re here,” I whispered whenever he let me come up for air. “You’re here.”

  “Yes, I’m here,” he said when he finally released me. “I belong here with you. Now we’re going to bed.”

  Maybe because it was so late, he didn’t tie me down, or cuff me, or anything.

  “Don’t entertain false dreams of freedom,” he warned. “I’ll tie you up next time.”

  “Okay.”

  “And probably punish you for leaving me.”

  “Oh.”

  “Which you’ll probably enjoy, you masochistic freak.”

  He kissed me again, and pressed my hands back on the sheets. He held me down with his body instead of fastenings and fixtures. The effect was the same. I couldn’t move an inch unless he allowed it.

  “You know, I think I should tell you...” He poked his cock against me. “I won’t be able to give you children.”

  For some reason I found this hilariously funny. Mark thrust inside while I was still shaking with laughter. Being fucked while you’re laughing feels amazing.

  “And you won’t be loaned out anymore,” he added. “It’s not my thing.”

  I looked up into his crazy, beautiful blue eyes and fought so hard to free my hands that he finally let me go. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer.

  “I love you,” I said with a kind of wonder. “You’re here.”

  “I’m here, and I’m inside you. You’re mine now. Only mine.”

  He felt so good driving into me, using me, owning me. Only mine. I’d never admitted before how much I wanted to hear those words. How much I wanted to be treasured, cared for, loved. Not just loved for the person I tried to be, but the person I was. Kinky, scattered, weirdly fascinated by turbines. A freak, yes, but I was his freak, and he was mine.

  He pushed me back on the bed, grasping my hands and threading his fingers through mine. “Be a good girl,” he said. “Don’t fight me. Be a good little slave.”

  “Yes, Master.” I loved his fantasies of domination and force because they perfectly aligned with mine. Hadn’t I known from the start he was perfect? But I hadn’t known I was perfect too, just as I was. Perfect for him, anyway.

  When he ordered me to come, I was ready and waiting to fall apart in his arms.

  A Final Note

  Dear readers: I have many friends in the Chicago kink scene, and I mean no malice in referring to their intensity as “fucked up.” I tease because I love, and because they are all wonderful folks. I could just as easily have used Boston, Atlanta, Dallas, San Francisco, or a hundred other cities for the setting, but Chicago’s location worked out best, so they got to be the “fucked up” ones.

  For the record, the Mark and Bettina of this story are purely fictional characters, although I must thank my real life friend Mark for help with the art world, and my real life friend Bettina for sharing her beautiful name (and beautiful smile). Thanks also to my beta readers Lina of LinaEdits.com, and my partner-in-crime Tiffany. In closing, I’d like to thank all of you for reading my work and supporting this anthology.

  About the Author

  Annabel Joseph is a multi-published, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling BDSM romance author. She writes mainly contemporary romance, although she has been known to dabble in the medieval and Regency eras. She is recognized for writing emotionally intense BDSM storylines, and strives to create characters that seem real—even flawed—so readers are better able to relate to them. Annabel also writes vanilla (non-BDSM) erotic romance under the pen name Molly Joseph.

  Annabel loves to hear from her readers at annabeljosephnovels(at)gmail.com. You can learn more about Annabel’s books and sign up for her newsletter at annabeljoseph.com.

  Also Available: The Cirque Masters series by Annabel Joseph

  Enter a world where performers’ jaw-dropping strength, talent, and creativity is matched only by the decadence of their kinky desires. Cirque du Monde is famous for mounting glittering circus productions, but after the Big Top goes dark, you can find its denizens at Le Citadel, a fetish club owned by Cirque CEO Michel Lemaitre—where anything goes. This secret world is ruled by dominance and submission, risk and emotion, and a fearless dedication to carnal pleasure in all its forms. Love in the circus can be as perilous as aerial silks or trapeze, and secrets run deep in this intimate society. Run away to the circus, and soar with the Cirque Masters—a delight for the senses, and for the heart.

  The Cirque Masters series is:

  #1 Cirque de Minuit (Theo’s story)

  #2 Bound in Blue (Jason’s story)

  #3 Master’s Flame (Lemaitre’s story)

  The Mephisto series by Annabel Joseph

  A deeply surrendered slave girl. An exacting owner. And Mephisto, the strict and terrifying Master who will look after Molly for a week while her owner’s away. Are you brave enough to live the ordeal through Molly’s eyes? Or Mephisto’s, as he grows increasingly affected by the slave in his care?

  This love story isn’t for everyone, but those who appreciate deep submission and no-holds-barred Master/slave relationships will find a lot to enjoy in this emotional saga.

  The Mephisto series is:

  #1 Club Mephisto (Molly’s POV)

  #2 Molly’s Lips (Mephisto’s POV)

  #3 Burn For You (the conclusion to their love story)

  Boots and Wings

  Myla Jackson

  When a woman comes between brothers, passions take wings

  Pilots, partners and brothers, Jake and Tucker Maddox, are both in love with Molly O’Brien and she’s in love with them. Because of their crazy sibling rivalry she refuses to choose between them, and instead walks away. On the verge of losing the best gal that ever happened to them
, the two brothers hatch a desperate scheme to kidnap Molly, carrying her away to their mountain cabin where they convince her she can have them both, if she dares

  Author’s Note

  BOOTS AND WINGS is one of many in my Ugly Stick Saloon series. Visit the Ugly Stick in the following books:

  Ugly Stick Saloon Series

  Boots and Chaps

  Boots and Leather

  Boots and Bareback

  Boots and Promises

  Boots and Lace

  Boots and Roses

  Boots and Buckles

  Boots and Twisters

  Boots and Wishes

  Boots and the Bachelor

  Boots and Wings (Jun 2015)

  Boots and the Rogue (Aug 2015)

  Boots and the Heartbreaker (2015)

  Visit www.mylajackson.com for more titles and release dates

  Also visit her alter-ego Elle James at ellejames.com

  and join Elle James and Myla Jackson’s Newsletter at Newsletter

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to everyone who has had to make difficult choices. Some are easier than others. The world, and life, are full of possibilities. Embrace them!

  Chapter One

  “Did you lock and secure the plane and helicopter?” Tucker Maddox asked from behind his sturdy metal desk.

  His brother, Jake, carried his flight bag through the door. The heat and dust of the Texas summer followed him inside. “Done. Buttoned up, secure and fueled up for tomorrow.”

  “Good.” Tucker closed his logbook. “Maybe we’ll get out of here early today.”

  Jake stretched his arms over his head. “We deserve a little rest and relaxation after two weeks of non-stop gigs. Oh, and my last client tipped me a hundred dollars. The beer’s on me at the Ugly Stick Saloon tonight.”

  Tucker cocked his brows. “You have a five a.m. flight in the morning. Should you be drinking tonight?”

  Jake shook his head. “What’s one beer gonna hurt? After the month we’ve had, we deserve a little fun.”

  “It’s only been really bad the past two weeks.”

  “My point exactly.” Jake shoved his flight gear onto the shelf behind the customer counter. “Besides, I think it’s ladies night. By the time we get cleaned up, they’ll be liquored up and ready for some Maddox lovin’.”

  “Can’t you wait for that beer until we go to Nick’s bachelor party? Audrey promised a hot stripper for the event and she’s closing the saloon for us after eleven. Should be a good time.”

  “That’s next weekend. I want a beer and good company now.” Jake dropped into his chair, kicked up his heels, plunked them onto his desk and leaned back with his hands behind his neck. “I can’t believe Nick’s taking the plunge. Do you suppose it’s because he’s over thirty and starting to feel his age?”

  “Hey.” Tucker frowned. “I’m over thirty, and you’ll be thirty in four months.”

  Jake closed his eyes and stretched again. “Don’t tell me you’ve been thinking about settling down and raising a family.”

  Over the past month, working as much as he had, Tucker had been thinking just that. He wasn’t getting any younger, and he didn’t want to be alone all his life. When he’d left the army four years ago, he’d put relationships on hold until he got his affairs in order. He and Jake started the business, almost going bankrupt in the first year.

  Thankfully the business kept Tucker from dwelling on his past. Coming off active duty, he’d been plagued by nightmares of his days and nights as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot. Over time, the dreams had dissipated. He’d weaned himself off sleep aids a year ago and hadn’t taken them since. Lately, instead of dreaming about RPG attacks and evacuating wounded warriors, a feisty female haunted his dreams, making him wake up in the middle of the night. Not yelling, thrashing and reliving a nightmare, but aroused, hard and ready for lovemaking.

  Going home to the small ranch he and his brother had inherited from their parents was okay, but it would be a whole lot better with a woman to warm his bed. And not just any woman. Molly O’Brien.

  The youngest of the O’Brien clan, Molly had been a pigtailed pest tagging along behind her brothers when Tucker was in high school. But the girl had since grown up. The beautiful spitfire hit every one of the requirements on his list.

  Smart, beautiful, loved kids and she had a heart as big as the state of Texas.

  “I have to admit, with Nick’s bachelor party coming up, it got me thinking along those lines as well,” Jake said.

  Tucker snorted. “Like you could settle for one female when there is...what do you call it...oh yes, a smorgasbord of women to choose from.”

  Jake shrugged. “In case you haven’t noticed, the pickin’s are getting slimmer the older we get. Nick’s marrying Lacey. Audrey and Jackson Gray Wolf hooked up and are expecting their first kid. Libby’s with Jackson’s brothers, Mark and Luke. Connor Mason snagged Kendall, and rodeo champion, Grant Raleigh, took Mona off the market—”

  Tucker raised his hand. “Okay, okay. I get it. We’re running out of options. But that doesn’t mean we have to hurry out and propose to the first unattached female we find.”

  “No, but if we don’t move quickly on the ones we like, we may get beat out by someone else.”

  Tucker crossed his arms and stared across the desk at his younger brother. “So, what are you going to do about it?”

  Jake raked a hand through his thick, black hair, making it stand on end. “I never thought I’d say this, but I think it’s time I got hitched.”

  “Just like that?”

  His brother shrugged. “I’m not getting any younger.”

  “You’re twenty-nine, not an old man. Got someone in mind?” Tucker waited for his answer. Jake had been out with nearly every woman in the tri-county area. For him to settle on one was a big deal.

  “I don’t know. I’ve only been out with one lady more than once. She’s sassy, sexy and independent enough she could put up with the type of work we’re in. She loves the outdoors as much as I do, and she’s not clingy.” He smiled and gazed at the wall as if he were seeing the woman in front of him. “She’s got one helluva great body, and kisses like nobody’s business. I really think I’m in love with her.” He glanced up at his brother. “I’m sure she’s the one for me.”

  Tucker snapped his fingers, urging his brother to get to the point. “Name?”

  “You know her. Hell, you’ve gone out with her a few times yourself.” He grinned. “Molly O’Brien.”

  Lead sank to the pit of Tucker’s belly, and his jaw tightened. “Sorry, she’s taken.”

  Jake shot a frown toward his brother. “Well, damn. Did I miss something? Who snuck in and claimed her?”

  Tucker stood, pushing his chair back so hard it hit the wall. “Me.”

  Jake’s brows wrinkled. “You? When did you pop the question? Hell, I’m your brother. You could have at least consulted me before you did.”

  Tucker pulled at the collar of his Maddox Air Charter Service polo shirt and looked away from his brother’s gaze. “It’s not official yet.”

  “What do you mean it’s not official?”

  “Well…” Tucker’s cheeks burned, “I haven’t actually asked her. I planned to take her out over the next couple weeks, get to know her even better and let her get to know me. Then I’ll pop the question.”

  Jake’s frown lifted and his face split into a smile. “You haven’t asked her?” He slapped his cowboy hat against his thigh. “Whew! And I thought she was a goner.” He stood and plunked his hat on his head. “As far as I’m concerned, she’s fair game until she says yes.”

  Tucker’s eyes narrowed. “I’ve had my eye on Molly longer than you. Don’t get in the way of my courtship.”

  Jake laughed out loud. “Listen to yourself. You sound like a man from the eighteen hundreds. Molly is young, daring and adventurous. Why would she marry a stick in the mud like you?”

  “Any woman would be happy to marry a m
an who’s stable, caring and treats her like she’s special.”

  Jake yawned. “Boring.”

  Tucker slammed his fist onto the desk. “Damn it, Jake! This isn’t a game or sporting event like when we were in high school competing against each other. I care about Molly. I’d go so far as to say, I’m in love with her.”

  “So am I.” Jake’s shoulders straightened, and he stared hard at Tucker. “I care enough to let her choose who she wants to be with. We both have a shot at winning her heart. We can date her and let her get to know both of us. After two weeks, she can make her choice and the one she doesn’t choose has to back off.”

  Tucker thought about it for a minute. Molly was pretty independent-minded and would make her own decision. He just had to convince her to choose him. “Two weeks might not be enough for her to decide.”

  “Then we’ll reevaluate at the end of the two weeks and extend the deadline if that’s what it takes.” Jake stepped up to his brother. “So for the next two weeks, we’ll both date the pretty Molly O’Brien without interfering with each other’s attempts to win her over.” He stuck out his hand. “Deal?”

  Not convinced this was a good idea, Tucker didn’t have much choice. He took his brother’s hand and shook on it. “Deal.”

  “Now, let’s get out of here. I have some errands to run and then there’s a beer with my name on it at the Ugly Stick.”

  “And I have some accounts to take care of back at the ranch.” Tucker fully intended to ignore the accounts. To win Molly’s heart, he had to get to her before his brother. If he wasn’t mistaken, she worked at the Ugly Stick Saloon that night. He’d have to be there before Jake and stake his claim on the pretty lady, to let her know he was interested in long-term commitment.