The Daring Doms

by Isabella Kole

  "Hello."

  "Angela, Dax here."

  "How'd you get my number?" she asked.

  "I got it from Dane's phone while he was in the shower," he replied with a deep laugh. "I can't talk long, but it's a go on this end, for Saturday."

  "Same here," she answered. "Call me Saturday, and we'll work out the details."

  "I'll do that, Angela. Now that I have your number, I'll be sure to call you."

  "Goodbye, Dax." She hung up the phone and shook her head. As hot as she thought Dax was, he'd made it clear he wasn't a one-woman man. There was no point in getting tangled up with him. Besides, there were more important issues at hand.

  Annie ran to the phone as soon as she heard it ring. She was disappointed to see it wasn't Dane, so she almost didn't answer it. It was a number she didn't recognize. As her curiosity got the better of her, though, she did answer. "Hello, this is Annie."

  "Babe, how are you?" the deep voice on the other end asked.

  "Russ, how the hell did you get my number? This isn't the same number I had when we were together. Apparently, you've changed yours, too."

  "I have my ways, sweet thing. So, how's it going? Are you over your little fit about me kissing you the other night? You know, you're still pretty hot when you're mad."

  "Russ, I could care less if you think I'm hot or not, these days. I told you, I have a husband."

  "Not from what I hear. The scuttlebutt is, hubby wants out."

  "Where do you get all your information? Whoever you're talking to doesn't know what they're talking about."

  "Babe, when are you going to wake up and realize the guy's done with you? Now, I have a remedy for your blues. Go out with me Saturday night. Show old what's-his-name you don't need him," he said with a chuckle.

  "Never in a million years, Russ, would I ever go out with you," she replied tersely.

  "Suit yourself, babe, you're missing out on a good time."

  "Grow up, Russ. Life isn't all about good times."

  "You need to chill out. See you around."

  "Not if I can help it. Goodbye, Russ."

  She threw her phone down. "Damn, get out of my life, Russ Casey."

  When the phone rang again a few minutes later, she picked it up, looking at it to make sure it wasn't Russ again before answering, "Angela, thank God it's you."

  "Who were you expecting?"

  "Russ just called and asked me out for Saturday night. Can you believe that guy?"

  "Well, you have plans with your best gal pal Saturday night, so too bad for Russ. That's what I'm calling about. How about I pick you up at seven? That way, we can eat before the band gets going?"

  "Fine, whatever," Annie replied without interest.

  "I'll see you then, got to run."

  "Yeah, see you, Angela."

  Annie sat down on the couch and groaned. "Why did I tell her I'd go?" she said aloud, wishing she'd just said no.

  The phone rang again. This time, it was Dax. "Hello, Dax, what's up?"

  "Have you talked to Dane since the other day?"

  "No, why, is he okay?" she asked, concern in her voice.

  "I don't know. He never came home from work, and he's not answering his phone. I thought maybe he had come to his senses and was over there with you, talking things out."

  "I'll try to call him, but I doubt he'll pick up for me."

  She hurriedly hung up before Dax could reply and dialed her husband's number. Dane answered on the fourth ring. "Annie, what do you want?"

  "I'm calling to make sure you're all right. Dax said you didn't go to his place after work. He's worried about you."

  "Dax is going to have to learn not to bother you with my whereabouts, since it's not really your concern anymore. I'm fine. I had to work late. I didn't know I had to check in with my baby brother or my soon-to-be-ex-wife."

  "Dane, we really do need to talk. This isn't resolved yet."

  "Have you signed the papers?"

  "No."

  "Then there's nothing to talk about. I have to go."

  "Dane, please—" she begged. But he was already gone, cutting her off by ending the call.

  After she called Dax back to let him know where Dane was, she resigned herself to another lonely night, took a bath and went to bed, crying herself to sleep once again.

  The next few days, she was kept busy at work, catching up from her time off. Kate, Baxter and the rest of the staff at the accounting firm knew to tread lightly in her presence and gave her plenty of space and support. By the time Saturday arrived, her stomach was in knots at the thought of going out. And by the time Angela picked her up at seven, she was ready to back out and go to bed with a book.

  "Snap out of it, Annie," Angela said as she pulled out of the driveway. "It is what it is. You have to go on living."

  "I don't know if I can do that, Angela, at least not yet."

  When they had placed their dinner orders, Angela leaned over and said, "Smile, Annie, at least try to look like you're having a good time."

  Annie attempted a light laugh as she replied, "You're right, Angela. If Dane wants to be an ass, let him. He's missing out on a lot of quality time with me right now. When we get back together, he's going to have a lot of making up to do."

  "That sounds like it might be fun. And I like the positive attitude, girlfriend."

  They were just finishing dinner when Dax and Dane walked in.

  "Oh, my God, there's Dane. He's with Dax," Annie said as she watched the two men sit a few tables away.

  "Now might be a good chance to talk to him," Angela suggested with an innocent smile.

  "Maybe not; there's some chick talking to him."

  Angela turned around and caught Dax's eye. He winked at her. She turned back to Annie and said, "She didn't stick around long, so apparently, Dane told her he wasn't interested."

  "I don't think they've seen us yet," Annie replied. "Maybe we should just go."

  "No, not just yet. Let's see if they notice us," Angela suggested.

  Annie watched their table to see what happened next. After they had ordered drinks, Dax looked up, saw her staring and waved. He got up and walked toward their table. Dane remained behind.

  "Fancy seeing you two here," Dax said as he stood next to Angela, smiling.

  "Hi, Dax," Angela replied.

  "Hey, Dax," Annie said.

  "You two girls doing the town tonight?" he asked.

  "Angela talked me into coming out for dinner."

  "Is that right? Well, I had a heck of time talking your husband into coming out with me, but here we are. Small world, isn't it?" The band began to play. As he turned to Angela, Dax asked innocently, "Angela, would you care to dance with me?"

  "Sure… Dax," she said, looking over at Annie for approval. "You don't mind, do you, Annie?"

  "Go on; have fun. One of us should, anyway. I'm going up to the bar to get another drink. I don't think the waitress will be back anytime soon, now that the crowd has picked up." Annie watched her friend and her brother-in-law walk onto the floor as she stood up. At another time, she would have been elated. Tonight, she couldn't have cared less. She walked to the bar and ordered her drink.

  "I'll have what the lady's having," a male voice said.

  She turned and said, "Dane."

  He paid for their drinks and replied, "Yes, it's me, Annie. You wanted to talk. I guess this is as good a time as any. Start talking."

  "This really isn't the time or place, Dane."

  "Annie, if you want to talk to me, it's going to have to be here and now. How've you been?"

  "How do you think I've been, Dane?"

  "I think you've probably been pretty happy lately. Am I right?"

  She looked at him sadly and replied, "You'd be very wrong in thinking that, Dane. I've been—"

  Before she could answer, a man's arm draped around her shoulder. The man said in a low voice, "Hey, babe, sorry I'm late. Are you ready to hit the dance floor?" He looked at Dane, extended a hand, and sai
d, "Hi, I'm Russ."

  Dane was fuming as he replied with a scowl, "I know who you are." He looked back at Annie and said, "I guess we're done here. See you around, Annie."

  Russ shuddered. "Wow, friendly cuss, wasn't he?"

  "Russ, what the hell do you think you're doing?"

  "Rescuing you, of course," he answered. "After all, you're a married woman, as you keep reminding me. When I saw that some dude was hitting on you, I thought it my duty to come to your rescue."

  "Russ, that dude was my husband, and we were having a conversation," she replied angrily.

  "Didn't look like he was very interested in continuing it," he said. "In fact, it looked to me like he took my coming over here as an excuse to get away."

  "Russ, I'm going to tell you one more time. Stay. Away. From. Me. Get out of my life. You did it before with no problem; I'm sure you can do it again. Go back to Miami. Go to Timbuktu, for all I care, just get the hell away from me." She stormed off, returning to her table. She noticed, after she'd sat down, Dane hadn't left. He was sitting at the table with his drink, staring into space. She was debating about whether or not to go over and try to pick up the conversation when Dax and Angela came back to the table.

  "Are you all right, Annie? We saw what happened," Angela said as she sat down.

  "I am. I told Russ to leave me alone, now I'm trying to decide whether or not to go over and try and talk to Dane again."

  "Uh-oh," Dax said.

  "What?" Annie turned around in time to see Dane walking to the dance floor with the girl who had talked to him earlier. "Damn it, what is he doing?"

  "It's all for your benefit, I'm sure. Don't get all riled up," Angela said soothingly.

  As Annie looked toward the dance floor, Russ caught her eye from the bar and raised his glass to her. He grinned.

  Annie quickly turned around, ignoring him.

  "I want to go home," she announced.

  "Are you sure?" Dax asked.

  "I can't watch my husband out there with that… that… husband-stealer."

  "You two need to grow up and quit playing games. What happened to that couple who couldn't keep their hands off each other, who made everyone around them sick, and who ran to the altar three months after they met?" Dax asked heatedly. "I swear, my brother needs to grow some balls and get back his dominant streak."

  "I'm afraid that couple doesn't exist anymore, Dax," she replied sadly. Dominant? Had Dax said Dane had a dominant streak? He sure hadn't shown it to her if he did.

  "Honey, don't leave. Maybe Dane will talk to you later," Angela said.

  "I just want to go up there, rip him out of her arms, and haul his ass home to bed, where he belongs," Annie replied.

  "Hey, I say go for it," Dax said with a chuckle.

  Annie looked at Dax, stood up, took a deep breath and walked proudly to the dance floor. With shaking knees and a knot the size of a softball in her belly, she tapped the girl in Dane's arms on the shoulder. "May I cut in?" she asked sweetly.

  After giving her a dirty look, the girl looked back at Dane.

  He grinned and said, "Better do what she says; she's my wife."

  The girl reluctantly stepped out of his arms and said to Annie as she walked away, "Take care of this one, honey. He's a keeper."

  Surprised that Dane had spoken up and, also, by the fact he'd called her his wife, Annie was encouraged. She stepped into his embrace, and as he put his arms around her, she said, "Dane, just hold me, the way you used to do."

  He wordlessly pulled her to him as she placed her head on his shoulder. They swayed to the music, neither of them speaking as they savored the moment. Annie's heart was beating fast, the knot in her tummy dissolving as it was replaced by a familiar heat. Dane kissed her neck and whispered, "Baby…"

  She looked up at him with tears in her eyes and replied softly, "Dane, take me home."

  "Are you sure that's what you want?"

  "It's what I've always wanted, Dane," she replied. She stepped away from him, took his hand and led him off the dance floor. When they got to the table, she said to Angela, "Can you give Dax a lift home?"

  Angela and Dax looked at each other. Angela replied, "Yeah… sure… is everything okay?"

  "It is now," Annie said as she looked up at Dane and smiled, mouthing a silent "thank you.”

  "Bro, I'll see you later," Dane said.

  "Or not," Dax replied with a deep chuckle as he fished his truck key from his pocket and handed it to Dane.

  Dane leaned down to kiss her when they reached Dax's truck. As she melted into his arms, she moaned.

  "Baby, get in the truck," he whispered, "quick."

  Quietly, she obeyed. He chuckled to himself. Annie had actually obeyed him. She hadn't argued, and she hadn't protested. She'd done exactly as he'd told her to do, the first time he'd told her. After he reached in and buckled her seat belt, he walked to his side and slid in behind the wheel.

  She placed her hand on his thigh, and he looked over at her before putting the key in the ignition. "Annie, I'm going to ask you one more time. Are you sure this is what you want?"

  "Oh, Dane, do you even need to ask?" She leaned over and kissed him on the lips again.

  He started the truck and backed out of the parking space, wheeling it onto the road as he sighed. "Baby, I can't wait to get you behind closed doors. It's been far too long."

  "You're telling me," she replied as she ran her hand up the length of his thigh.

  When he pulled into the driveway, she hurriedly unfastened her seat belt and got out of the truck without waiting for her husband to open her door. They walked hand-in-hand up the walk, and he quickly put his key in the front door lock. He let her walk in ahead of him, then he pulled her into his arms as he kicked the door shut.

  As he leaned his face down to her level, his hot breath close to her face, he looked into her desire-filled green eyes before devouring her parted lips in a heated kiss. When she responded to the kiss, he pulled her even closer, caressing her back.

  "Oh, Dane," she said in a low voice when he finally broke away from the kiss. "It's been far too long."

  He locked the door, and as he turned back to her, he softly kissed her forehead, her cheek, nose and finally, her neck. Annie closed her eyes and pulled him back to her lips.

  She fumbled with the buttons on his shirt until she had it completely undone. He shrugged it off, letting it fall to the floor. As they moved a few steps closer to the bedroom, he pulled her shirt over her head and buried his head between her breasts, softly kissing her skin. His touch scorched her sensitive skin, and as he unfastened her bra and threw it on the floor with their shirts, he moved her a few more steps before kissing her again.

  He brought his face down to the rock-hard tip of her left breast, took it into his mouth and sucked gently. Annie cried out and moved her hands to his belt buckle. As she slid the leather belt through the loops of his jeans, he moved to the other breast. She clumsily unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans. When she drew away from him, she pulled them down, and he stepped out of them, leaving them on the floor. They were leaving a trail of clothing behind them as they inched nearer to the bedroom. Her jeans followed his, and soon, clad only in her lace panties, she led him into the room. He removed his boxers and immediately pulled her panties down and off, and the minute they hit the floor, she was in his arms as he hauled her to the bed. As he joined her, he kissed her again, left a trail of kisses from her lips to her neck and began to travel downward. When his lips touched her navel, she gasped. He grinned as he looked up at her.

  "Don't… stop… Dane," she begged.

  He did as he was told and trailed his tongue down her thigh, before finally reaching his destination. While he tortured her with his tongue, she wound her fingers through his hair, writhing and moaning. "Dane, oh—"

  He stopped abruptly then, and she moaned as she tried to bring his head back down.

  "No, baby, we need to clear some things up first. And we're going to start with th
is." He hauled her over his lap before she knew what was happening.

  "What are you doing? Dane!" she cried out.

  He shook his head to clear it, so that he could do what he knew he needed to do. This had been a long time coming, but Dax was right. If this was ever going to work between them, he had to take his wife in hand, and he had to do it now, before they got carried away.

  "Now, you've been wanting to talk. Let's talk." He landed a light smack to her bare bottom.

  "What are you doing?" she asked again.

  "What I should have done a long time ago, my love. I'm taking charge. From now on, you will not be disrespectful to me, and you will speak to me in a calm voice. If there is a problem, we will discuss it rationally, together. No more screaming matches. And if you don't, this is what you can expect every time. We'll have some other rules too, but for now, we need to focus on the problems at hand. Do you understand?"

  "I-I guess so," she stammered.

  "The correct response is, "Yes, Sir."

  "Y-yes, S-sir."

  "You see, my sweet Annie, before I met you, I was a Dom. Do you know what that is?" he asked as he rubbed her bottom before administering another swat with his hand.

  Annie jumped. "Of course I do."

  "Well, then. I gave up the lifestyle when I met you. But it was brought to my attention recently that I might have made a mistake by doing that. So, if we are to get back together, which is what you keep saying you want, can you accept that I will be your Dom?"

  "C-can we discuss it?" she asked. "I need a clearer picture of what exactly that means, Sir."

  "We most certainly can, and we definitely will, but for now, you're going to get punished for all those times you went off on me. For all those times when you put me through hell, and for everything that's happened in our lives over the past few horrible months in this house, is that fair?"

  "Y-yes, Sir."

  He could see that she was accepting his proclamation well, which surprised him. Could it be that she needed a Dom in her life, and up until now she hadn't realized? They sure did have a lot to talk about.