Taking Over (4 page)

“It's
Mrs. Fontaine-Schulz now. I've been lucky in love twice.” She smoothed the
blankets over her. “I sure hope my Gina gets lucky twice. I pray for her every
day.” Her head tilted slightly. “Marcus, is that you? Come closer.”

“You
recognize me?” It warmed his heart to bursting capacity. He probably hadn't
seen her since the day Rob and Gina got married.

“Of
course I do. You're as handsome as ever. I must say you've done well with your
career.”

“You've
kept tabs on me?” Marcus sat in a chair near the bed.

“Oh
yes, William gives me updates on all you kids.”

“Are
you talking about Mr. Keller?” He looked back and forth between Gina and her
mom.

“Yes,
I'm sure you know how William keeps an eye on all of you. He doesn't tell me
anything that happens at the club of course.”

Gina
coughed a couple of times and walked away from the stack of books she'd been
straightening to remove the spent pedals from the vase of flowers on the
dresser.

“But,
he does let me know how you all are doing. He's such a dear man. Gina, stop
whatever you're fussing with and come sit with us. Marcus Martone. You know, I
always thought you were a better fit for my Gina, than Robert.”

“Mother.”
Gina came
around the bed. Her face as pink as the roses she'd been messing with. “I told
you to never mention that.”

“No
way should you deny your mother a thing.” Marcus sat up a bit straighter. “I
like knowing I had some favor with her.”

“Don't
encourage her.” She slapped his hand.

“True,
because I might say the two of you would probably still be together. Do you
know why their marriage fell apart? It was Rob, wasn't it? What did he do to my
angel?”

“Come
on, Mom. You promised me you'd drop this. What's done is done.” She got up and
readjusted the stack of books on the side table. “You were right. I wasn't
right for Rob.”

“That's
not what I said at all. I might not be around much longer and I don't want you
misquoting me. It's
Rob, that
was never right for you.”

“We
weren't right for each other.” She adjusted the pillow behind her mom's
shoulders. “Now, that's enough. Stop talking about how much time you've got.
Remember what Dr. Martin said.”

“I'm
sorry you have to deal with this. I didn't even know you were sick.” He scooted
forward on his chair.

“Don't
feel sorry for me. I'm doing perfectly. I'm seeing more of my Gina than ever
and my Dale takes very good care of me. Even my stepdaughter, Leslie, has been
coming around more.”

Gina
started coughing again and it must have taken her by surprise because several
little coughs followed.

“Here,
honey, drink this.” Her mother poured some water from the pitcher into a little
glass that sat next to her bed. She handed the glass to Gina. “Do you know if
Dale is back from the country club? He usually reads me the paper in the
afternoons before I take my nap.”

“I
think he arrived just before we did.” She waved at Marcus. “Why don't we go and
get settled in the guesthouse and I'll see you in the morning.” She leaned over
the bed and kissed her mom on the forehead.

“I’ll
see you in the morning, too.” Marcus kissed her knuckles and then he followed
Gina out of the room. He stayed close on her heels, anxious to get her alone
and get some answers to what the hell was going on.

Chapter Four

As soon as she knew Marcus was following
her, she made her way out of the main house and toward the guesthouse.

She
told herself her mother looked stronger. Dr. Martin said a positive attitude
could make a world of difference. Not that she believed a thing the doctors
said anymore, but she couldn't handle thinking her mother was getting worse.

The
reality was her mother was going to die from cancer. It was just a matter of
time. The one thing in this world she could trust is one day she really would
be alone. One day, no one would count on her and she would no longer be
responsible for hurting anyone.

She
shook out her hands. At the moment, she needed to figure out how to get Marcus
to keep quiet about all this business. The last thing she wanted was for
someone to feel sorry for her. Heaven help anyone who sent her flowers. Her
mother may enjoy them, but they reminded Gina that everything died.

She
pushed open the front door to the guesthouse and made her way to the kitchen.
What she needed was a hot cup of coffee.

“Why
doesn't anyone know your mom's sick? Does Rob even know?” Marcus walked right
past one of the bar stools and stopped altogether too close.

“I've
told the people who need to know.”

“Keller?”
He stepped closer.

“Of course.
He's my boss.”

“Anyone else?”

“I
think that about covers my people.” She stepped back, miscalculating the end of
the counter and Marcus trapped her in the corner by the pantry door.

“What?
Your husband didn't need to know?” The anger in his gaze bore into her.

“He
was on his way to becoming my ex when I found out. So, no, I haven't told Rob.
My life is none of his business anymore.”

“That's
bullshit, Gina. He was your husband for crying out loud. It doesn't matter if
you didn't give a shit about the relationship. He cares about you. You should
have told him.”

“If
Rob gave a shit about me, he wouldn't—” She sucked her lip into her mouth. “You
know what, forget it. Forget this. I don't need to tell you anything.” She
pursed her lips.

“The
hell you don't.”

“Let
me by.” She shoved against his chest. “I don't answer to you. It's not like
you're my boyfriend. You're certainly not my Dom.” She pushed her hair from her
face and tried to concentrate on the apples in the bowl on the island.
Apples.
Apples.

Juicy red apples.

“You
want to get technical. Okay. I can play that game.” He stepped back and crossed
his arms. “I may not be your Dom, but I am a Master at Club Voyage. Since you
are a club submissive, you've become my responsibility since I can plainly see
you are not okay.”

She
knew better than to argue with his logic. He had her trapped and he knew it.
The only relief seemed to be it wasn't obvious he was enjoying himself. Now,
that
she would have expected. From the
first time she met Marcus, he was always urging her to talk about something she
didn't want to. She rubbed at a sparkle in the granite.

“Start
talking, Gina. I don't think you're going to like my interrogation techniques.”

“Is
that what this is all about?” She squinted at him, figuring it didn't matter if
it was true. “You've always wanted to have your way with me, haven't you?” She
rubbed her lips together.

“Stop
changing the subject.”

“Now
that Rob's moved on, it must be killing you to get in my pants.” She took a
step towards him, only stopping when her breasts bumped into his chest. She
could feel the heat pouring from him, or was that from her?

“What
are you hiding from?”

“I'm
not hiding. I'm right here.” She rubbed the front of his pants and found him
hard as a rock. “You're the one hiding the thing that wants to come out to
play.” She licked at his lips.

He
grabbed hold of her wrist. “You're a tease and I know exactly how to handle
you.” He dipped and shoved his shoulder against her belly and the next thing
she knew, she was over his shoulder.

“Put
me down.” She tried to kick out, but he had a tight grip on her thighs.

“Your
choice in the matter is past, subbie.” He turned and moved around the kitchen.
Sounds of drawers opening and closing and kitchen gadgets banging around filled
the room. “Where can I find rope?”

“You
don't think I'm really going to tell you?”

“You
will if you value your ability to sit down.” He walked out of the kitchen. “Forget
it. I know where to look.” He made his way towards the walk in closet near the
French doors at the front of the house. He'd find everything he wanted in that
room, plus several things she never wanted to see again. “Would you look what
we have here?” His chuckle was deep and almost menacing. “I do believe I have
everything in here to string you up like a piñata.”

“I
haven't agreed to anything of the sort. Now, put me down.
Enough
of this.”
She played out several different stories she could give him.
There had to be a way to skirt her way around the whole truth and still satisfy
his stupid curiosity.

He
set her on her feet. “Are you going to answer my questions?”

“Fine.
I was pissed at
Rob for divorcing me and I wanted to punish him for walking out on us.” She
opened her eyes wide, figuring her direct stare would help her line ring true.

“Nice
try. If you hadn't given me such a fuss, I would have believed you, but I'm
guessing there's something else going on.” He picked up a rope and examined the
different rings. “Strip down to your bra and panties.”

“You
don't want me naked?”

“It
won't be necessary.” He picked up another rope and two rings. If he dug too
much further, he'd notice the trap door, the swing hidden beneath, and her collection
of unused paddles and possibly a crop. She couldn't remember.

She'd
ordered the swing as a surprise for Rob last year. They hadn't yet played in
the guesthouse, but she’d hoped to persuade him. That was the day he'd stormed
in accusing her of straying and shredding any last hope of salvaging her life. He’d
believed everything her stepsister, Leslie, had told him. A week later when the
swing arrived, he dropped off the box and told her he wanted a divorce. Instead
of enjoying the erotic thrill of the swing, she ended up huddled in the closet
hugging the box instead.

She
hated the sight of the damn thing now, but couldn't bring herself to throw it
out. The storage area beneath the closet had been the perfect burying place for
it all.

Until now.

“Time
is ticking. Start removing those clothes or I'll change my mind and I doubt
you’ll prefer my next choice.” He tightened the knot he had on the quick draw
ring and looked around the room.

She
kicked off her shoes and slipped off her blouse, dropping it on the edge of the
trap door.

“Either
I'm not seeing it or Rob never hung you up in here.”

She
turned around. The last thing she wanted to talk about was Rob while she was taking
off her clothes on Marcus's orders. She slipped her skirt over her hips and
stepped out of it, carefully dropping it on her top.

“Damn,
woman, you really should warn a guy when you wear stockings like that.” He
adjusted his pants.

“They're
just nylons.” She turned around and stood on top of the door, fingering the
slash of red at her garter clip.

“That's
anything but just nylons. I didn't know they made garter belts with zippers.”
He made no attempt to hide his perusal down her body.

She
swiveled her hips, hoping to bring his attention back up. Heat coursed through
her as she drank in the desire in his darkening gaze.

“What's
that?” He knelt at her feet. “Step back.”

She
shuffled out of the room, swallowing hard as she made her way to the kitchen.
She busied herself with fetching a glass of water, reminding herself the moment
couldn’t have lasted anyways. This was Marcus. The man who’d always hated her.
No amount of wanting something more from him would ever make it happen. No, she
didn’t need Marcus to want her. She’d be fine on her own.

“You
have been holding out on me.” His chuckles filled the room.

She
took a deep breath and a long swig from her glass.

“Speak
now or else I'm going to set this up right in the middle of the room.” He
hauled the contraption out of the closet and swiveled both of the legs. It set
up as quickly as the salesman had claimed.

“All
the windows are treated. You can't see in here unless you're standing next to
the window. Set it up where ever you want.” Maybe if she had a scene in the
swing she could start letting go of all she'd lost. She shook her head, knowing
she was a lost cause.

“Rob
never told me you two had one of these.” He picked up the leather swing

“He
never used it.”

“Oh.”
He looked back and forth between her and the metal contraption. “Did you use it
with the other guy?”

“No!”
She spit out the water from her latest sip. “I bought it for Rob and it arrived
the day he left me.”

“Oh.”

“Would
you stop saying that?” She sat down her glass and marched over to him. After
grabbing the swing from his grip, she attached it and turned, taking a tight
grip on the handle bar. “You're going to need to help me up.”

He
knelt at her feet, not breaking eye contact.

She
steadied herself in his grip and, with his assistance, hoisted herself into the
seat.

He
secured both of her feet in the stirrups and stood back.

“You've
got me where you wanted me. Now what, Master Marcus? Or don't you think you can
handle little ole me?”

“The
Doms around the club have been slacking. How is it you think you can still get
away with that kind of lip?” He stepped between her splayed legs and removed a
vibe from his pocket. “I started carrying these around last year.”

She
closed her eyes. Her pussy betrayed her. She could feel the wetness building
already. Marcus was not what she needed. She shifted her hips, as she repeated
the mantra a few more times in her thoughts.

“Answer
my questions and I'll make this quick.” He pulled on her G-string and swept his
touch over her pussy lips. “Wet already.
Interesting.
Your pussy doesn't lie.” He slipped the vibe into her, positioning it just
under her pleasure center.

“Not
going to turn it on? Or is the battery dead? I'm guessing you hear that all the
time.”

He
held up something black. It looked like a tiny phone. “I've always favored
remote control. This is the low setting.”

A
gentle hum kissed her from the inside. It was gentle. “That's nice.” The hum
stopped.

“You
don't deserve nice.” He slapped her inner thigh, reminding her he was in
control. “I want to know what all you've been hiding. What's really been going
on here? I thought you and Leslie were thick as thieves. Why didn't you want to
see her today?”

A
powerful surge took over all her thoughts. She lost her focus, everything
centered on the glow building in her pussy. This wasn't what she wanted. A
spanking, that's what she wanted. It was obviously what she deserved.

“Look
at me, Gina.” His hand moved up her thigh, but she remained focused on the
vibrations.
“Eyes on me.”
He slapped her cunt.

“Sir.”
She closed her
eyes and breathed through the waves of pleasure. In the next breath, the pulses
were gone. It was all gone.

“Gina.”
He tapped on her clit. “Are you ready to start talking?”

“Hardly.”
She
concentrated on her view of the lake. Not a single ripple in the glass like
surface.

“Maybe
I should have had you strip. Good thing I keep this in my pocket as well.” He took
out a pocketknife. “Keller is always busting on us about being prepared.” He cut
through the sides on her panties and pulled them away, exposing her. “I'm going
to have to thank him next time I see him.”

Being
here like this with Marcus felt all kinds of dirty. She was sure no one would
be surprised if she slept with him. Why wouldn't the cheater sleep with her
ex-husband's best friend? It didn't matter he was once her best friend, too.
No, the truth rarely mattered when folks had their mind set to judge you.

“Let's
try this again.” He walked around the island and leaned over the counter.

The
vibrations blanketed her pussy, stronger this time. Her gazed landed on his and
she lost her last bit of control over her body as she took in his dark gaze.
She was having an effect on him, Marcus, the stone Dom.

“We
were close once.”

She
nodded and breathed through the pleasure heating her body.