My Wicked Devil (Club Wicked) (21 page)

He hugged her closer. “Maybe someday we’ll ride together. I’d love to show you this bed-and-breakfast I found outside of Yellowstone Park. They have these hot-tub suites that are situated so you get the best sunset view you’ve ever seen.”

An ache developed in her heart, a yearning for what she used to have, the freedom that was now missing from her life thanks to her stupid need for speed. “I’d like that.”

He took a deep breath, then rubbed his lips against her temple. “Do you miss it? Riding on your motorcycle?”

Did she miss it? Of course she did. Memories of being young, beautiful, and carefree while racing through LA and Hollywood on her pink custom street bike played through her mind like a movie. She’d felt so invincible back then.

So happy.

Fuck yeah, she missed it, but she’d chickened out of every attempt to ride again.

“I do.”

“That’s what I thought. You know, I watched one of your movies today.”

Happiness and the ever-present actor’s inability to believe their own worth mixed within her. “Which one?”

“
Red Devil
, the one where you were in Hong Kong playing the role of a woman trying to stop a drug-smuggling ring.”

“What did you think?”

“That I can’t believe such an amazing, brave, talented woman is mine.”

She leaned up and gave him a hard kiss on the lips. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. You might not like what I have to say next.”

She tried to keep from looking over her shoulder at the motorcycle, knowing where he was going with this. “Please, my lord, I don’t want to drive it. Not now, not here. Please let us have a nice day together that doesn’t end with me throwing up all over your beautiful bike.”

“Do you trust me?” He stroked his knuckles over her cheek. “By the way, you called me ‘my lord.’”

She tried to give him a seductive smile, but by the way the fine lines around his eyes crinkled, she didn’t think it was working. “How about we go to the dungeon instead? You can shove hot pokers up my ass or something.”

He laughed, a rich sound that soothed her frazzled nerves. “Tempting, but no. I have something I’d like to try. Hang on.”

“Bryan, my lord, please. I don’t want to do this. Don’t make me do this.”

“I’m not going to make you do anything you don’t like. I have a backup vehicle we can use.” His smile faltered for a moment, and he shook his head. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. You must swear to secrecy that you will not reveal to anyone, ever, what I’m about to do.”

Giggling at his sudden playful turn, relieved he wasn’t going to push her into something she really didn’t want to do, she nodded and pantomimed zipping her lips.

He gave her that devastating grin of his, then turned and began to walk away from her. She stared after him, admiring his ass in those jeans as he moved quickly toward an enormous ten-bay garage. Trying to keep from getting freaked out by the motorcycle, she looked around, and a flash of pink caught her eye. When she looked closer, some of her nerves fled on a tide of giggles. There, sitting next to an enormous pile of pads and other safety gear, sat a beautiful baby-doll-pink helmet.

Almost exactly like the one she used to have.

Nostalgia moved through her in a warm, bittersweet wave. Without being aware of even deciding to move, she found herself in front of the helmet and picked it up, turning it this way and that in the sunlight. On the back, done in small purple script, was her name. Well, that settled any thoughts she’d had that he might keep a pink helmet around for other female guests to use. Running her fingers over the smooth surface of the helmet, she felt bad that she wouldn’t get to use it. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at the motorcycle, and her stomach gave a nauseous lurch.

Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.

An engine started up in the garage, and she clutched her helmet, afraid of what Bryan was going to try and get her to ride. When she caught sight of Bryan behind the wheel of a golf cart painted like the Union Jack flag, she burst out laughing. He scowled at her and drove up, then stepped out of the golf cart.

His jaw firmed, and he crossed his arms. “It’s not mine. It’s Lawrence’s.”

“Sweet baby Jesus. That looks like something Austin Powers would drive.”

He glared at her. “Piss off. I’m doing this for you. Even though you are a spoiled brat.”

She laughed harder at the sight of his big, bad, sadistic ass standing in front of such an almost whimsical vehicle. Her giggles subsided as she thought about the implications of his words. He must really like her.

A lot.

Once he was sure he had her attention, he lifted his chin and gave her that growly Dom voice of his that melted her panties. “Unbutton your shirt.”

The thought of being naked in public was very naughty and very arousing. Still, she had to play a little hard to get. It was so much fun. “What? People can see me!”

“No. I’m the only one who can see you. Trust me, Kira, and take off your shirt before I rip it off.”

Fumbling with her buttons, she managed to get two undone before he did as he’d threatened, much to her delight. His tanned hands gripped the front of her pale green shirt and tore, sending buttons flying. A second later, he eased the cups of her bra down, revealing her swollen nipples. The heat of the sun on her pale skin was nothing compared to the blast of desire in his gaze. Her clit throbbed, and she pressed her thighs together in a vain effort to relieve the ache.

“Oh, that is pretty.” He stood back, and she reached up to pull the cups back in place. “Hands down.”

She did as he asked, praying to every god and goddess she could think of that no one saw her like this. Now if they were in Wicked, that might be different. She rather liked holding the attention of that many handsome Masters and beautiful Mistresses. It reminded her of the high she got from acting. And frankly, doing anything with Bryan aroused her into almost a frenzy of need.

Licking his thumb, he then brought it down to her exposed breast and ever so lightly traced the areola. Shit, it stung, but the more he touched, the more the sting became something else, something hot and dirty. She bit her lower lip and let the sensations he evoked take over. Abandoning herself to his touch, his care, was a decadent pleasure she’d begun to crave.

Feeling wanton, she arched her back, offering him whatever he wanted to take. A moment later the edge of his beard brushed her left nipple. She winced at the abrasive sensation. Then his tongue laved the tip of her breast, and she cried out. His rumble of satisfaction aroused her almost as much as his touch.

When he pulled back, she was panting. “Now, my sweet girl, into the golf cart.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, plumping up her breasts for his hungry gaze, and teasing him with a little roll to her hips as she walked. “As my lord wishes.”

He swatted her ass as she went by him; then he grabbed her arm. “Hold on one moment.”

To her surprise, he stripped off his shirt and gave it to her. “I don’t want you to catch a chill.”

Grinning, she slipped his shirt on, the warmth of his skin and his scent still trapped in the fabric. She took a deep breath, then sat down in the golf cart, holding on to the side as he climbed in and started it up. She looked down and noticed the wheels on the golf cart were slightly oversize, more like those on an ATV.

They went down a gravel road that split off to a dirt road and another gravel road. He turned onto the packed-dirt road, and she took a deep breath, loving the smell of the forest they were driving into.

She leaned her head against his shoulder. “Where is this road taking us?”

“Your surprise.”

She smiled against him and turned so she could spread gentle kisses over his bicep. Smooth and sun-warmed flesh passed beneath her lips, and she marveled at how different men’s skin was from women’s. The way his muscles tensed beneath her mouth made her giggle, and she realized she wasn’t scared anymore.

He looked down at her. “You know, I think I can actually feel my testosterone level drop driving this thing.”

She licked her lips. “I can help you out with that.”

He gave her a feral grin. “Oh, I’m sure you can. But not here. It would scar me for life to think of Lawrence sitting where we had sex.”

Laughing, she snuggled closer to him, casually touching him and just enjoying being with him. She was happy, really happy for the first time in what seemed like forever. That thought struck her as both sad and wonderful. Sad because she’d been so unhappy for so long; wonderful because she felt like she now valued her happiness more. She wanted to hug Bryan, to squeeze him tight and thank him for making her feel this way, but she didn’t want to sound like a goober.

After maybe ten minutes, they pulled up to what looked to be a small cottage that belonged in a book of fairy tales. With stone walls and an English garden out front, it was one of the most charming things she’d ever seen. The little building sat among a stand of weeping willows, and it had a clay chimney pipe with a slight lean that extended off the roof. Behind the cottage and down a slight hill, she heard the rumbling of water, and she could smell a river.

Bemused by Bryan owning such a whimsical building, she arched a brow at him. “I never would have pegged you as the kind of guy who had a secret enchanted cottage.”

He shrugged. “It came with the house. I’ve remodeled the inside to suit my purposes.”

“You know, if you ever have children, they’re going to want this for their own.”

“Not bloody likely. I have no desire to have children.” He snorted. “Can you picture me as a father? Because I certainly can’t.”

Surprised and slightly hurt for some odd reason, she got out of the golf cart and ran her fingers through her hair. “Never?”

“Never. Why would I? I like my life as it is. No worrying about Junior falling down the stairs and breaking his head or having some kid wake up at three a.m. to throw up on me. No way, and no thanks. I like my freedom, and I like my sanity.”

“Wow, when you say it like that, kids don’t sound very fun.”

He shrugged and said in a low, almost sad voice, “Not everyone wants to be a parent or is meant to be. I’m just honest enough to admit it.”

His words made her heart ache, and she kissed between his shoulders, wanting to lighten the mood. “For what it’s worth, I think you’d make a good dad. But, on to happier thoughts: what’s inside the cottage?”

“A surprise.”

She scowled at him. “I can’t believe my ass is sore from that little ride.”

He snorted. “That’s what she said.”

Rolling her eyes, she moved closer to the cottage. “Really? We’ve dropped to that level of humor?”

She’d no sooner reached the small stone step at the front door than his energy poured over her a moment before he grabbed her wrists in both hands and spun her around. Removing his shirt from her body with more care than he’d shown her clothing, he soon had her bare-chested. “Take off your pants, everything. I want you naked and available to me.”

She kicked off her shoes and pulled off her socks. After tugging down her jeans and stepping out of them, she pulled her panties down as well and added her bra to the pile. He growled, and her body gave an answering gush of moisture. A warm, deep throb started low in her belly. The delicious rush of adrenaline that accompanied him dominating her burst through her body like an intoxicating drug.

“Turn around.”

She did as he asked, all too aware of how closely he watched her and slightly embarrassed by her body’s imperfections. He’d seen her up close and personal before, just never in this bright a light. Firming her spine, she tried to let her anxiety go. This was Bryan. He adored her body.

His touch ghosted over the healing bruises and fading welts. “You have beautiful markings, love. Each one of them a testament to my ownership, a brand anyone can see marking you as mine. Raise your hair off your neck and don’t move.”

She complied, and a moment later, something cold and smooth snaked around her neck. It didn’t take her long to realize he was putting his collar back on her. Emotion filled her until her breath caught in her throat. He trusted her, he wanted her, and she loved him.

Tears spilled from her cheeks as the realization came crashing over her.

Oh fucking hell, she’d fallen in love with him.

It had happened so quick, been so unplanned that she wasn’t sure how to deal with it. But the marvelous feeling of the first blush of love spread through her, warmer than the sun. The collar tightened around her throat, not enough to be uncomfortable but enough so she was aware of it, aware of willingly wearing his collar, his mark of ownership.

She was his submissive, and she couldn’t be happier.

After securing the collar, he carefully turned her and wiped the tears off her cheeks.

“Are you all right, love? Feeling a bit overwhelmed?” She nodded and sniffed. “We’ll take care of you in a minute. Give me your wrists.”

He picked up a pair of brown leather cuffs lined with sheepskin on the inside. They had two big brass rings, and when he bound each wrist in turn, she noticed how heavy and substantial they felt. These weren’t pretty, decorative cuffs. These cuffs were meant for bondage. She couldn’t wait to see what Bryan had in store for her.

“Spread your legs.”

She quickly did, remembering how not so long ago his command would have shocked her instead of arousing her. Through some kind of magic he’d tapped into desires she didn’t even know she had, but now that she’d found this kind of connection, she couldn’t imagine how she’d ever live without it again.

Another pair of cuffs went around her ankles, and he paused to kiss her mound, his tongue snaking out and licking her slit. “Fucking delicious. I plan on eating a great deal of this pussy today.”

She could only moan in response and quiver as he blew warm air onto her bare mound.

After standing, he took off his boots on the porch. Clad in only his worn jeans, he opened the door and led her into what looked like one big bedroom. Well, there might have been something other than the bed in here, but all she could do was focus on the huge, amazing, and terrifying stainless-steel four-poster bed dominating the room.