Switch Master: 6 (Ink and Kink) (3 page)

“I don’t want to hurt you, Taran.”

“Here’s a clue about me, I’m not afraid of a little pain.”
His face blurred a second before Sam closed her eyes upon the gentle touch of
his lips to hers.

There was no hurry, no rush to consume her or overwhelm her.
There was only the feel of his lips, the taste of cinnamon and a hint of
freshly washed hair as damp strands touched her face and throat.

“You said you’d behave,” she murmured, not wanting him to
let go. She’d much prefer he held onto her forever and a day.

“I’m on my best behavior. If I weren’t, you’d be naked and
fucked by now.”

“You work that fast? After the way you described cake and
ice cream, I’d have thought you’d take a good long time before you were spent.”

“Given how long it’s been since I’ve had sex, I can’t
promise to last long the first time we’re together. I’ll make up for it the
next hundred times or so.”

“In one night, hmm, that’s impossible unless you need Viagra,”
she teased.

Taran laughed warmly against her mouth, intentionally moving
so that his erection brushed her thigh. Everything feminine in her rushed to
the point of contact, softening her, preparing her for his inevitable claim. As
hard as she’d fought to keep him at bay, it just wasn’t possible anymore.

“No pills needed. What’d you think about finding out
firsthand how many times we can go at it per night, doll?”

“I think you’re nuts, Maddox. Not sure why I haven’t knocked
you flat on your ass yet.”

“Whatever it is that keeps you with me, I’ll take it. Let me
kiss you deeply. It’s your call. If you say no, I’ll wait.”

“No more waiting,” she decided, letting him draw her closer
with his right arm around her back.

Taran claimed her mouth with a reverence and devotion that
rocked her world. He could have overpowered her. He didn’t, he enticed by
teasing the shape of her lips with his tongue.

Parting her mouth, she sighed, the full impact of Taran’s
kiss making her dream of knights on white horses and happily ever after. He
thanked her with a manly growl that seemed to be a Maddox-brother trademark and
holding her as if she were the center of his universe.

While they kissed, his hand shifted from her face to the
front of her jacket, pushing it off her shoulders. She heard the leather drop
to the tiled floor. His right hand at her back began stroking again, finding
the contours of her spine and curves of her buttocks without dipping below the
waistband of her jeans.

His left hand returned to her jaw, his thumb caressing her
skin. The brush of his five o’clock shadow felt rough against her chin, but she
sure didn’t mind. She welcomed the abrasion. It was nice, stimulating and
masculine, enabling her to feel feminine and soft.

Taran drew a breath, easing up. “Open your eyes, doll.”

She did, finding that she loved being this close to Taran.
Maybe she should still run. It wasn’t too late to back off. But if she
retreated now, she might never know exactly how good being with Taran Maddox
would be.

Wishing he’d kiss her again simply so she could enjoy the
closeness they’d shared, she pushed herself up on her combat-booted feet and
kissed his chin. Taran shuddered as she kissed her way up his jaw.

“Samantha, it’s your turn to behave,” he warned, setting her
back a little.

“You taste nice, couldn’t help myself,” she shyly
apologized, a little concerned that she’d overstepped without permission.

“You came to me with a problem. As much as I’m tempted to
carry you out of here to the pullout bed in my office and make love to you, we
need to talk.”

Blinking because she’d temporarily lost focus on why she
needed his help, she stepped back a little farther. She couldn’t ignore Luke.
He was too important to her to do that to him.

“Would…would you come with me somewhere?” she asked.

“Can I wear jeans or do I need to put on a suit and tie?”

“Jeans will be fine for a roller rink.”

She wasn’t sure what he’d do or say next. He leaned in,
kissed her softly, temptingly.

“We’re going roller skating?” he asked between kisses. “If I
bust my ass, will you kiss the bruises better?”

“You won’t need to skate. No worries about bruising.”

He made a curious humming sound. “Damn, was hoping for some
rough loving from my smoking-hot detective. Will you cuff me before taking
advantage of my fine ass?”

“Taran Maddox, what do you think I’m capable of? I rarely
kick men’s asses these days.”

“Tell that to Phalen. I think he’s still nursing the
injuries.”

“That’s ridiculous. I led the charge to find Cassie when
she’d been kidnapped. He’s been so grateful that he offered to be my sparring
partner.”

“You can spar with Phalen. Just don’t be surprised when he
teaches you a lesson. You caught him off guard. It’s not likely to happen
again.”

“Okay, if I promise not to kick either of your brothers’
asses, you have to be nice,” she insisted, realizing she could withdraw at any
time.

“I’ll be nice. Remember, from now on, Phalen and Ethan’s
asses are off limits.”

“They’re married to two of my best friends. I’m not going to
interfere. Now your ass…that’s a different story.”

Boldly, he reached out and took her hands to bring them
around his waist and let her grasp his hips. “Go ahead, make my day. Drop your
hands and feel my assets all you want.”

She damn near gave in and squeezed his fabulous ass. If she
did that, they might never get to the roller rink.

“No more teasing. Go get dressed.”

“Who’s teasing?” he asked, letting her back up all the way
to the door. The towel she’d wrapped around him was stretched to its limits.
His erection beckoned.

As enticing as he was, as much as she wanted to be with him,
she put her personal needs behind what was important. A teenage boy in danger
of running away was important, a boy who’d come to mean a lot to her in a very
short time. She couldn’t let Luke become lost the way she’d once been, no way,
no how.

It was teenagers like Luke who fed her need to find missing
and exploited children and bring them home before the worst happened. She’d
found her way out of a difficult situation, she’d gotten help, still needed
counseling, but she was light-years away from the runaway she’d once been.

Retreating fast, Sam made her way to his office and went up
to the wall behind his desk where he’d placed his diplomas and law license for
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She was impressed. Taran Maddox turned
thirty in August and he’d already accomplished a lot.

Needing to remember what was at stake, Sam thought about the
reason she’d come to Taran in the first place, a teenager named Luke Walker who
needed both legal advice and a mentor to ground him.

Taran Maddox refused to acknowledge that his hand was
shaking as he placed his razor to his shave-gel-covered cheek.

It didn’t help knowing Samantha was in his office waiting for
him. It sure as hell didn’t help to recall the way she’d come into the bathroom
and watched him shower.

He’d never really put voyeurism on his list of fetishes, but
when it came to Samantha, he’d chalked having her watch him right up there with
wanting to see her naked and bound to a cross or strapped to a bondage chair,
legs spread wide for whatever the hell he wanted to do to her.

Thank fuck she didn’t know how badly he’d wanted to crash
through the shower door and give her the fucking she’d denied him for months.
It was hard enough keeping his attention on shampooing his hair, much less
trying to think of less erotic images to keep his erection in check.

Not that it’d helped to recall the workout he’d undertaken
with Alex Grant last weekend. His muscles still ached from the whooping his
friend put on him, but kung fu had helped take his mind off worrying about
Samantha when she’d gone into hiding.

He’d wanted to call and apologize after he’d nearly fucked
everything up at that football playoff party earlier in the month. However,
she’d gone back to ignoring his phone calls. Before that, she’d given in and
texted back, she’d even sent him a smiley face icon.

Taran had long ago learned that being an alpha in your day
job wasn’t the same as being a Dominant. He knew plenty of corporate
executives, judges, attorneys and bigwig execs such as Alex Grant who gave off
Dominant vibes but were submissive or switches with their partners.

While he knew plenty of people in and outside work who
weren’t into the BDSM lifestyle at all, his social circle tended to include
members of Druid Creek Castle’s private club. As he himself was a Dom, much as
his older brothers were, it made sense that he’d find Samantha attractive, even
if she’d yet to completely realize how she fit into the lifestyle.

At work, she was an alpha among detectives. In private, he
suspected she was a switch with a strong need for submission. He needed to help
her come to terms with her sexuality by doing the one thing he’d never done
with another woman, let her dominate him when she needed to.

It didn’t matter that he’d turn thirty in August and
Samantha foolishly used her age as an excuse to keep him at arm’s length. Age
was irrelevant. To him, she was his equal. He hoped someday soon she’d see
herself that way too.

Thinking about Samantha, Taran finished shaving. With a
quick splash of water to his face, he grabbed his towel to wipe away any
remaining gel and gargled with cinnamon-flavored mouthwash.

He’d already put on the pair of boxers he’d set on the
countertop when he’d entered the bathroom. His clothes were in his office
closet.

Looking around, he noticed her leather coat was on the
floor. Picking it up, he set it aside long enough to run a comb through his
hair, thought about putting it into a ponytail but nixed the idea.

He still couldn’t believe they were going to a roller rink.
He’d last skated when he was in the eleventh grade because his girlfriend at
the time promised to give him a blowjob if he took her there. Admittedly, that
was a long time ago and the girl was a part of his wilder past. Samantha was
now, hopefully for well into the future.

Finished at the sink, he picked up her jacket again and went
to his office. He found Samantha studying his wall of family photos,
certificates and diplomas.

“Sorry if I took too long,” he said, going around his desk
and setting the jacket across the back of his comfortable leather chair.

Something was different about her since she’d returned. He
didn’t know what it was. She looked, well, softer, more approachable. She’d
always been the prettiest woman he’d ever seen. When she’d come into his
bathroom, she’d looked beautiful.

Samantha turned so she could look at him over her shoulder.
Her green eyes swept up and down his body. In an instant, his cock thickened.
Proud of his erection, he let her have her fill.

A fresh pink flush crept into her cheeks. Her sexy-as-hell
mouth that rivaled any Hollywood starlet’s without needing injections parted
and her tongue sneaked out to swipe at her soft, full lips.

“Interesting,” she said almost to herself.

“What’s interesting?”

“I was expecting you to go commando,” she admitted, her eyes
trained on his boxers.

“At home, I tend to abandon clothes altogether. When I have
to wear pants, I hate chafing.”

“You are certainly not the typical lawyer,” she commented,
her eyes still glued on his boner.

“Is that a good thing?”

“Yes. I’ve known some really great lawyers, criminal and
civil. It’s just that I know very few with hair down to their shoulders and
tattoos.”

“I should hope you haven’t seen many lawyers with their
clothes off,” he countered.

“You’re my first.” He liked being her first, especially a
tattooed lawyer.

“Look your fill, doll. Although I’d have to warn you that
licking your lips at the same time is a surefire way to end up on your knees.”

“You expect me to suck you off?” Her eyes snapped upward a
second before she caught herself licking her lips again.

“You will if I tell you to,” he said, enjoying the way she
kept fighting her need to look down at his cock.

“You’re expecting a lot after one little kiss.”

Moving in closer, he compelled her to face him. She backed
up fast, stopping when her ass collided with the wall.

“What happened in the bathroom was more than a kiss. You
opened the door. You know perfectly well where the two of us are heading.”

Samantha bravely maintained eye contact at first. Taran
stood steady, staring her down until her shier nature compelled her to cast her
gaze to the floor.

“Am I in trouble for coming to you without invitation,
Taran?”

“Depends on your answer,” he said.

“You should get dressed,” she countered, trying for
nonchalance and failing when he purposefully shifted right into her personal
space. She trembled, unable to hide it from him even as she squeezed her thighs
together, tight.

If he tested her, he bet she was extremely wet. Her
submissiveness was on display, the Dominant in him wanted to claim her then and
there.

“Samantha, focus on me.” Putting enough push in his request
to emphasize that he’d meant it, he waited until she complied.

At last, she lifted her gaze. “I’m sorry. What was your
question?”

“Why did you come into the bathroom?”

She blinked rapidly. “Be…because of Luke. He’s sixteen and
needs a lawyer and a male role model. I thought you could help him.”

Seeing his detective get so nervous made him feel like an
ogre. Wanting to show her that he could play nice, he touched his hand to her
face, stroking her soft skin.

“We’ll talk about Luke in a bit. I promise, baby. Why did
you come into the bathroom?”

Samantha swallowed harshly, her eyes darting right to left
before nailing him head on. “I knew you’d be naked and I couldn’t resist
finding out if you were as beautiful in reality as you are in my dreams.”

“Did I pass muster, Samantha?” Her admission made him want
to devour her sexy mouth. Instead, he gentled his touch, stroking her jaw and
leaning in close. She sighed, closing her eyes, accepting him, softening.

“You’re far sexier in person.”

“That wasn’t difficult to admit, was it?”

“It was,” she said sadly.

“Why?”

“Because now that I’ve seen you naked, I can no longer deny
how badly I want you.”

“I want you too. What’s the problem?”

“Fantasy Taran made me feel all gooey and girly before I saw
the real one. Now, no matter where I go or how much I fight it, you’ll dominate
every thought, night and day.”

“Gooey and girly, I like that. What were we doing in your
dreams to make you feel that way?”

“You know, Taran. You said you’d be nice.”

“I’m being nice. What were we doing, Samantha?” he insisted,
coming to understand that with her he’d need to dominate with kindness not
muscle.

“Having sex,” she whispered.

“Was I good?”

“You were the best imaginary sex partner I’ve ever had.”

“Then I’m going to have to live up to my fantasy image’s
reputation.”

“You’re young and beautiful. There’s no doubt in my mind
that you’d be amazing in bed.”

“Thank you. Tell me what scares you about the two of us
being lovers.”

She nearly looked away. Taran waited patiently, stroking her
skin, nothing more as she nibbled on her full bottom lip. Lowering his head, he
tested how much she’d permit and was pleased when she let him kiss her softly.

“Tell me,” he urged quietly, trapping her lip between his
teeth and sucking before letting her answer.

“I’ve always known you were a Dom, Taran. Same as I knew
Ethan was soon after he became my partner on the force, same with Phalen when
he wasn’t trying to tear apart a hapless witness.”

“You’re right, they are Dominants. But they don’t scare you
the way I do, right?”

“In my dreams, it was incredibly erotic to submit to you. It
was easier because I knew you could never hurt me. Right now, I’m trembling in
my combat boots.”

“Do you think I’d beat you? I’m a little bent, a little
kinky, not a sadist.”

“No, it’s not that at all. You’re a Maddox. It’s ingrained in
you to treat women with respect.”

“Then what scares you about your sex dreams?”

“It’s not often,” she hedged. “Sometimes I dream about
dominating you.”

“You come whether you’re submissive or dominant?”

It seemed to take forever to hear her quiet-spoken, “Yes.”

Brushing his hand back to her usual ponytail, he caught it
and gave enough pressure to hold her in place without threatening harm. She had
really pretty straight blonde hair that fell halfway down her back when
unbound. It was soft as silk, smelled faintly of honeysuckle.

“Which is more prevalent when you’re masturbating, wanting
to submit to me or vice versa?”

“I can’t believe we’re having this conversation. Luke, he’s
the one we need to talk about.”

“I’ll ask one more time. It’s important for you to answer.
Which is more prevalent?”

“Usually you’re in control and it’s not scary at all. The
few times our roles were switched, you were tied up and completely at my
mercy.”

Her eyes widened even as she thought about seeing him in
bonds. That was her kink.

“You like the idea of having me bound?”

“Very much,” she admitted shyly.

“There’s nothing wrong about wanting that kind of
relationship with me, Samantha.”

“You’re a Dom. I’m not sure what I am.”

“You’re a switch,” he told her point blank.

“Can’t be,” she denied, inclining her head even as she said
it.

“You’ve a definite preference for submission, but the idea
of being in charge intrigues you. When you mentioned tying me up your eyes
sparkled as brightly as emeralds. I’m guessing you’ve been doing your homework
into bondage.”

“How did you know?” Her eyes widened even more, confirming
his suspicion.

“My sisters-in-law Cassie and Morgan would have talked to
you and you’re a wiz with computers. You can find out anything on the internet
and verify whether it’s real or bullshit. A little bird, Phalen, told me you’d
been talking to Alex about joining Druid Creek Castle’s BDSM club until we had
our big fight during that football playoffs party.”

“Alex Grant gave me some interesting books to read. One
particular book was on rope bondage.”

“Did he now? Was it Shibari?”

“Yes. The images were incredibly erotic. After I told him I
couldn’t join the BDSM club at Druid Creek Castle without your permission, he
started giving me all sorts of direction and advice.”

“Doll, Alex is a switch.”

“It doesn’t matter what I’ve researched or what Alex is.
Fantasy aside, I’ve only had vanilla sex. I don’t date much. My job either
scares men away or they see me as a buddy. Do you know how many times I get
slugged in the shoulder?”

“Vanilla sex can be fun. Stop worrying about what other men
think. I’m proud of what you do for a living. Should any dare slug you again,
they’ll answer to me.”

“Are you saying you’d go vanilla for me?”

“French vanilla is my favorite flavor of ice cream, but you
know how much I like rich, dark double chocolate cake with fudge icing.”

“I haven’t forgotten. I’m not sure why we’re talking about
ice cream.”

“Too much vanilla would bore you. We both need the darker
side of sex to balance it all out.”

“You don’t understand, Taran. I will not be owned or treated
like some docile little pet to be coddled,” she said emphatically, temper
igniting in her eyes. She meant every word.

Letting go of her hair, he resumed caressing her face. After
a second, she calmed and turned her cheek into the palm of his hand.

“With me, you will always be free. There’s only one question
left to be answered.”

“I’ve answered a lot.”

“You did great.” Kissing her, he lingered and licked at her
lips, pushing his tongue deep into her mouth when she granted him entrance.

“What’s your question?” she murmured when he sent a trail of
kisses from her jaw to her throat.

Grasping her ponytail, he snapped the band and chucked the
thing. Running his fingers freely through the silken length, he marveled at how
nice it was to be the man touching her like this. It was nicer knowing she let
him touch her.

“Will you trust me enough to be your lover, Samantha Riley?”

Samantha lifted her gaze of her own accord and stared into
his eyes. “You have no idea how scared I am to say yes.”