by BJ Wane
“Everyone ignores Connor’s teasing.” Mitchell clasped her elbow and steered her toward the dwindling food line, confusing her with his continued attention. “You’re getting between me and food, Dunbar.”
“Got it.” Connor winked at Lillian and she forced the encroaching sorrow back before it could ruin the evening.
After getting their food, everyone filed into the dining room where Mitchell surprised her again by taking the seat next to her. She cast him a disapproving look, his nearness making it difficult for her to suppress the unaccustomed ache to be a part of this close-knit group instead of an outsider. It’s just because I miss Liana, not because I have anything in common with any of them. That was the only explanation she could come up with for the growing desire to stick around Willow Springs and get to know these people better.
Mitchell ignored her silent reproach, turning his attention to his food and the conversations going on around the table. Since she couldn’t figure out what was going on with him, she dug into the best chili she’d ever tasted, Sydney’s concoction outdoing the quick, simple pot she had thrown together at the cabin.
“What did you do different, Sydney?” Grayson took another bite, frowning as he tried to place the unique flavor. “This is good.”
Relief spread across Sydney’s face as she inched one hand under the table. “I’m glad you like it. I took a chance on trying a new recipe I saw on the Food Network, adding pork and pumpkin.”
“Sydney.”
Caden glared at his wife and she tossed him an innocent smile as she brought her hand up from under the table. Since Lillian felt the brush of both dogs against her legs, she guessed Caden disapproved of the pieces of cheese Sydney had snuck them.
“What?” She batted her eyes at her husband but it was clear he wasn’t fooled.
A few chuckled at their cook’s sweet smile before Connor sent his brother an amused grin. “You may as well give up, bro. How many rescues do you have now?”
“Not as many since Matilda died.” Sydney blinked back tears.
“Matilda was an old mule we brought back from auction last fall. She had more health issues than we thought,” Caden told Lillian as he squeezed Sydney’s hand, his rugged features softening as he ran his thumb over her knuckles.
“That’s too bad,” she murmured, her heart turning over.
Not so much for the poor animal, but for herself. The teasing comradery going on around the table coupled with the possessive, sometimes carnal looks the men sent their significant others, kept emphasizing how alone she was in the world now, and how much she missed Liana. She’d been more than her sister; she was her best friend and they were as close as these girls appeared. Not to mention the men who had come and gone in her life without leaving a lasting impression who’d never looked at her with a fraction of the caring and lust these guys weren’t shy about revealing.
Fighting back the encroaching despondency, she finished the meal listening more than conversing and then stood with Sydney and the other girls to collect the dishes. Her eyes clashed with Mitchell’s potent gaze as she reached for his empty bowl. After ignoring him for the last thirty minutes, the jolt from that look zapped her from head to toe in a lightning bolt of heat, catching her off guard. She shied away from acknowledging a flicker of awareness hinting at something other than simple lust.
“Excuse me,” she murmured. He circled her wrist, her heart pounding harder just from the swipe of his thumb across her pulse.
“Drive back with me.”
The way he tended to order instead of ask never failed to rub Lillian wrong, but at least it distracted her from the sensations his caressing thumb had triggered. Before she could reply, he added one word that was so unexpected, she found herself powerless to resist.
“Please.”
Lillian followed Sydney into the kitchen without answering and Mitchell struggled with the urge to go all Dom on her in front of everyone and insist she accept his offer. His uncharacteristic interest in her despite how unsuited she was for his preferences continued to plague him; the step away from being her doctor proving to have no effect on throttling back a desire he couldn’t label and was losing the battle fighting.
Tonight, it was that same spasm of sorrow crossing her face he had glimpsed at the cabin that crumbled his will to keep her at arm’s length. The downward turn of her lips accompanied a sheen in her purple eyes that gave away her thoughts, and her grief. Telling himself it was just his own experience with loss and bereavement that kept drawing him to her was no longer working and it was time he explored other ways to put an end to whatever this was.
“What’s up, Doc?”
Mitchell cut his gaze from watching Lillian’s shapely ass encased in snug denim toward Connor’s amused voice. He knew better than to ask the younger Dunbar what he meant. “Just trying to save Dan a trip back into town.”
“We planned on having Lillian overnight,” Dan said, defusing Mitchell’s excuse with a small smirk that matched Connor’s.
The problem with getting close to people again was they got to know you well, sometimes too well. “Forget it, you two. It’s just an offer of a ride, nothing more.” He didn’t include Caden or Grayson in his rebuke as both remained silent. “She’s at her easel working first thing in the morning, I’m guessing to take advantage of the natural sunlight. You’re not going to want to get up early to bring her back into town.”
Mitchell had spotted Lillian sitting at the window as he’d left the house for work each morning this past week, but doubted she’d paid attention. Even though he’d made sure he wasn’t obvious about checking on her, he could tell she’d been absorbed in her craft. Until he figured out what it was that kept this one woman in the forefront of his thoughts and how to handle his unwanted preoccupation, he refused to let anyone believe there was anything starting between them.
The good thing about having close friends was they knew when to back off. Dan nodded and stood. “Whatever she wants to do is fine.”
“I’ll go check with her. Thanks.” Rising, he strode toward the kitchen, halting before entering as he heard the invitation Nan was issuing to Lillian.
“Come on, Lillian. What have you got to lose? You can come as our guest to socialize. There’s no rule stating you have to participate in a scene. Now that the guys have renovated the west side loft into three private rooms, we have several members who prefer private scenes, and some who come just to watch.”
He recognized Avery’s voice as she added her encouragement. “I was trying to learn as much about Grayson as I could before enlisting his help when I went the first time. It’s definitely something you have to experience firsthand before you’ll know if it’s your thing. You’re not out anything by appeasing your curiosity.”
“And,” Sydney piped in, “I can verify watching our doctor in Dom mode is time worth spending. If you’re still planning on leaving soon, what have you got to lose?”
“You’re very persuasive, so I’ll think about it.”
Every muscle in Mitchell’s body tightened upon hearing Lillian’s soft reply. It was way too easy to recall her hold on the fireplace mantle at his insistence and her response to his hands, including when he had added a touch of discomfort to the budding pleasure. He’d increased that painful stimulation as she lay over his lap last week, and his dreams were still disturbed by the way she lifted her lush ass for his swats and her strident cries as she’d splintered apart. He doubted he could keep her at arm’s length at the club as he imagined her expression viewing some of the scenes. She wouldn’t judge or condemn, her quick friendship and acceptance of the girls was proof of that, but she would continue to deny she possessed any interest or an ounce of submissiveness. It might be best if he talked her out of going.
Pivoting, he walked to the entry and retrieved their coats as he contemplated the clutch in his gut when Sydney mentioned Lillian leaving soon, along with what to do if she agreed to an evening at the club. Something else he needed to give
some serious thought to.
She entered the foyer as he started back toward the kitchen, eyeing her coat over his arm with a sardonic look that caused his palm to itch in reply. “I don’t recall agreeing to your offer.”
“So you want to put your friends out by asking them to take you home first thing in the morning?”
“Nan opens the tea shop by seven, so it won’t be an imposition,” she returned as smoothly as Mitchell realized Dan had set him up. “But I’ve already told her I’ll go back with you.”
“Then, if you’re ready, let’s go.” Holding out her coat, he didn’t ask why as the others filed into the entry on their way out.
Lillian couldn’t help it, the desire to spend time with Mitchell outweighed her determination to forget him following his desertion as her doctor. When all she could think about was her reaction every time he leveled that focused gaze on her after Nan invited her to visit their club, she decided to give in to his offer and work towards getting him out of her system. It wouldn’t do for her to leave in a week or two and still have these mind-consuming, libido stirring thoughts about a man she wouldn’t see again.
Once they hit the highway, they limited their conversation to the evening until they reached Willow Springs and then he surprised her with his abrupt change of subject. “Are you considering visiting The Barn tomorrow night?”
His deep tone washed through her with its usual warmth, another reason she needed to do whatever was necessary to end this odd infatuation. “You heard that, huh?”
“Yes. And given your constant gripes about bossy men, I’m wondering why you would consider it.”
She sent him a teasing grin as he turned on his street. “How do you know it’s not just your high-handedness I’ve complained about?”
“Is it?” he returned with cool insistence.
Sighing, she admitted, “No. It’s not my thing, but I am curious.”
Pulling into the drive, he swung toward her as he cut the engine. “I didn’t prove you wrong about that last week?”
He would have to remind her of that. She wouldn’t deny what had been so obvious, but neither would she admit that meant she would enjoy a regular dose of his kinks. Instead, she planted another seed by saying, “Who knows? Maybe I’ll discover I get off on voyeurism. Goodnight, Doc. Thanks for the lift.”
Lillian’s hopes of getting away with having the last word were dashed when she’d no sooner gotten out of the vehicle and he was there, pinning her against the door with his towering, ripped body pressed against hers. She went hot, her heart rate tripping even as irritation over his domination rippled under her skin.
Before she could tell him to back off, he bent his head and nipped at her chin and then took her lower lip between his teeth and bit. The sharp sting ricocheted straight down to her pussy in an undeniable heated gush. Swallowing back a moan, she gripped his biceps and demanded in a hoarse voice, “What are you playing at, Mitchell?”
“Not playing, proving a point.” Gripping her shoulders, he spun her around and placed her hands on the hood of the SUV.
“I don’t care for your caveman tactics,” she stated, proud of her scornful, rigid tone despite her quivering muscles as he worked his hands inside her coat.
“So you say,” he returned with the same arrogance lacing his voice. “But your body says otherwise whenever I put my hands on you. Wonder why that is?”
Gripping her nipples, he plucked at the tender buds, and even through her sweater and bra, his pinch and rotation was strong enough to elicit another body quaking response. She wouldn’t fight it, or deny it, couldn’t if she wanted to get over it and move on.
“Lust is easy to explain,” she answered on a deeply indrawn breath.
“Now, there I can agree with you.” Mitchell released her nipples and moved back as fast as he’d commanded her senses.
Lowering her hands, she turned and pulled her coat closed. “We can agree on something. Good for us. Goodnight, again.”
He waited until she was halfway up the stairs on the side of the garage before he said, “You could have dropped your hands and moved away at any time. If you go tomorrow night and see anything that interests you, let me know. I’ll be around.”
Gazing down at him, she replied, “What if there is someone else I’d rather have… enlighten me?”
“Better the Dom you know than a stranger, at least the first time.”
Lillian eyed his back as he strode toward the house, resisting the urge to stick out her tongue. Why did he have to be so good at countering her taunts with such effective comebacks? He didn’t even offer to escort her out to the secluded club, maybe hoping she wouldn’t go? Damn, but he irritated her even as he turned her on and left her aching for more of his touch, and just his.
Chapter 8
Bryan looked up as a car passed him and turned the corner onto the street he’d been surveilling since spotting Lillian Gillespie earlier that day and following her to the local doctor’s residence. It had been easy to track her whereabouts through credit card and phone records, proving she wasn’t overly concerned about or on the run from her assault on Brad. Dumb bitch. As soon as it appeared she’d settled in Podunk, he’d taken vacation time and jumped in his car. After checking into a local motel in Billings, paying cash for a few nights stay, he’d made the drive to Willow Springs every day for three days, checking the places where she’d used her credit card in the hopes of catching sight of her since she hadn’t rerouted her mail delivery yet.
Slumping in the seat, he watched the car turn into the doctor’s driveway. A flutter of excitement stirred inside him as the light at the top of the steps leading to the room above the garage shone on Lillian’s red hair as she emerged. He stayed hidden in the dark corner until they drove off then waited another five minutes before getting out and winding his way behind the neighbors to reach her new residence. Lifting his cigarette to his mouth, he held it there with his lips as he unscrewed the lightbulb and then squatted in front of the door to work the flimsy lock.
Slipping inside, he spotted the computer right away and got to work. The faster he found and deleted those pictures, the sooner he could return with a warrant.
What the hell am I doing, Sis? Lillian had asked herself that question numerous times all day and continued to do so on the way out to this private club. Am I going tonight to appease my curiosity, to keep from missing you so much or because there’s a certain doctor I can’t seem to get out of my system, even knowing he’s into the whole dominant sexual control thing? Her sister had always been the one she confided in, the one she could bounce ideas off of, vent to or seek advice from. The acute void from Liana’s loss had threatened to drag her down all day as she’d struggled to choose from riding to The Barn with Nan or telling her she’d changed her mind. What the hey, she’d thought, using Liana’s favorite expression as she dashed out to Nan’s car when she honked. I’ll be packing up and leaving anytime now, so why not go and see what the big draw is for these people? That thought drew a tightness in her chest she refused to think about right now.
“Thanks again for picking me up,” Lillian said, running her hands down her black, pleated skirt. “You’re sure this is okay?” She waved a hand in front of her white, button-up silk blouse.
“Perfect. You’re still covered more than the Masters like, but as a guest you’ll be fine. Master Grayson approved your guest pass and a waiver on attire, but like I said this morning, you’ll be more comfortable meeting in the middle of the required dress code of short skirts or shorts. Dan went early for a meeting with the Masters, but I can show you around before I meet up with him.”
“Okay, that’s just weird, needing a waiver on wearing jeans and a sweater to a club.” And she had a feeling that was a minor oddity compared to what she would be viewing soon.
Nan chuckled as she pulled onto the highway. “You remind me of my first visit. The only difference is I already knew I was sexually submissive and was eager to explore my options.”
>
“I already know I’m not, but I’m not a prude. Doesn’t everyone fantasize about voyeurism?”
“Probably, but few are brave enough to appease their curiosity. Stay open to other potential turn-ons and you might surprise yourself, or not, considering Master Mitchell has already given you a taste of what he likes.”
Two tastes, Lillian reflected, intending to keep that tidbit to herself. She still had trouble reconciling with her easy capitulation of lying over Mitchell’s lap for a bare-butt spanking and she wasn’t about to give Nan more ammunition to use against her denials of possessing even one submissive bone in her body.
“He caught me at a grief-stricken moment, when my defenses were down.”
“And he’s an excellent Dom, experienced in knowing what, and how much to control and give. I’ll bet you climaxed more than once.” Nan smirked as she turned onto a narrow, unpaved road that bisected woodsy trees.
“I was long overdue,” Lillian admitted with a rueful smile. “Where the heck is this place?” Other than the headlights illuminating their way, they were enshrouded in darkness.
“Right… here.” They emerged into a clearing and Nan whipped into a space between two oversized pickup trucks in the gravel lot as Lillian took in the huge renovated barn.
Following Nan across the lot, she resisted the urge to look for Mitchell’s SUV. “A lot of work went into this place,” she said as they stepped through the wide double doors into a spacious foyer.
“Yes, it did, and they keep adding changes. Shoes off and in one of these cubbies.” Nan toed off her ankle boots and Lillian followed suit, assuming this was one of those weird rules that went with the required shorts, skirts or anything else that left a lot of bare skin showing. Shrugging out of her knee-length coat, Nan asked with a wicked grin, “Ready, girlfriend?”
