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“Marc? I’m back here.”
Following her surprised tone, he went down a short hallway that led to a small office, the large kitchen, and a storeroom. Hearing frustrated mumbling, he found her in the storeroom standing on a stool and attempting to lift down a large bag of flour. Ignoring the way his cock jumped at the taut stretch of denim shorts hugging her delectable ass, he strode across the room. Reaching past her, he grabbed the bag and hauled it down before turning to glare up at her.
“Get down from there,” he ordered, trying and failing to control the frustration in his voice. Even with her hair pulled up in a sloppy ponytail, her face devoid of cosmetics, and a streak of flour smearing her cheek, he found her attractive, his body responding without his permission with a painful press against his zipper. He hadn’t seen her in two weeks, but there hadn’t been a moment when she wasn’t on his mind. He wanted her, which he freely acknowledged, but he still couldn’t decide where he wanted to go from here.
Cassie took one look at his scowling face and stepped off the stool. She’d had an awful scare today, had gotten behind on her orders, and now she would have to work late to get caught up. She did not want to get into anything with him right now, no matter how delighted she was at seeing him again.
“I’m down. What are you so pissed about?” Moving around him, she failed to stifle the surge of pleasure rushing through her at his unexpected arrival and went to lift the bag of flour.
Grabbing the heavy sack, he snapped, “Pack some things. You’re coming back to the lodge with me.”
“What are you talking about? I have work to do. I haven’t heard from you for two weeks and you think you can just storm in here and snap your fingers and I’ll come crawling? Think again.” Her anger at his high-handedness replaced her happiness at seeing him, more so because she wanted to obey that demand in the worst way. She couldn’t deny the small spark his ungracious invitation ignited, but suspected his offer didn’t stem from any strong desire to pick up where they left off.
“Scott called you, didn’t he?” she sighed, disappointed he had sought her out only because of some misplaced notion she needed his protection.
“You should’ve called me. You trusted me enough to pop in out of the blue after two years, couldn’t you trust I’d be willing to help you until this asshole is caught?”
“The sheriff replaced my locks with some sturdy deadbolts and he and his deputies will keep an eye on the bakery. I have his numbers programmed into my phone. I’ll be careful. There’s nothing else that can be done.”
“I don’t want you staying alone here, especially at night. Come stay at the lodge. Between Jack and me, you’
ll be safer there than upstairs.”
Cassie sidled around him and crossed the hall back into the kitchen, mulling over what to do. This might be her best opportunity to get close to him again, to show him how much she wanted to explore what they had started in Omaha, how much she wanted another chance with him. She knew she never would have responded with such abandon to a man without her feelings involved, nor could sex, any sex, have left her craving more. The question plaguing her the most was how much more could they have together? With only one way to find out, she moved behind her mammoth work counter and geared up her nerve to pin him down with straightforward candor. “And where will I sleep, Marc?”
She could tell by the look on his face he hadn’t thought that far ahead. She had learned how protective doms could be, and figured his only thought in making his offer had been to get her where he knew she would be safe. Until he decided for sure if he wanted to pick up their relationship, the last thing she needed was to live so close to him without the benefit of sharing his bed.
“We have a guest room with its own bath. You’ll be comfortable there.”
Disappointment swamped her, but she held to her resolve. She hadn’t disrupted her whole life to come out here and fail. At least, not this soon. Putting on a false, brave front, she replied, “No, thanks then. I’ll stay here.” She turned her back on him, the move dismissive, but she should’ve known that would be akin to waving a red flag in front of an enraged bull. He sped around the counter, clasped her arm, and swung her back around to face his frustrated expression so fast the room spun for a split second.
“Why not? What do you want, damn it?”
“You, to sleep in your bed, with you. I want what I came here for. I’ve regretted running away from you for months now and want a chance to continue exploring submission with you being the one to teach me.” She refused to give him more, didn’t want to give him additional leverage over her by revealing her feelings, not until she was sure of them herself.
“What’s the matter, darlin’? Your last dom leave you hanging?” he asked, his tone calm, almost polite despite the look in his eyes that accused her of betrayal.
Cassie averted her face, recalling how astute he could be. She couldn’t let him know the only things she learned from Master Greg were not all doms are worthy of trust and Marc had been more patient, more tolerant of her inexperience than she gave him credit for.
“I have work to do,” she replied, avoiding his questions.
There was no way Marc could leave her here alone. He’d never be able to sleep at night worrying about her. Her ultimatum pushed his buttons, her evasive response to his rude question pissed him off, but the small part of him that had never forgotten her, that had regretted losing the chance to finish what they’d started, urged him to give her what she wanted. The Cassie he remembered never would have had the nerve to challenge him the way she had tonight. That change alone stirred his interest, made him wonder how far she would go to get back into his good graces.
“Are you sure you want to submit to me again, Cassie? Do you know what that even means?” he asked her, his mouth damn near watering when her nipples puckered under her tee shirt, their pointed nubs more obvious because she wasn’t wearing a bra.
“I remember those nights at the club very well,” she answered, the look of lust entering his eyes sending a shiver of excitement up and down her spine.
“But we’re not in that club and you’re not naïve about what I want, what I expect anymore. Are you positive you’re ready and willing to go down that road with me again?”
His soft voice increased the shivers down her spine, but she wasn’t shivering from fear. Marc wouldn’t hurt her; she was convinced of that. “What do you want?” she asked, wishing he’d just take her over again, leave her no time to think, just feel.
Marc grabbed the small stool next to the counter and sat down. “Pull down your shorts and bend over,” he instructed, almost hoping she would refuse. Then he’d have a way out of this out-of-control situation. To his surprise, she didn’t hesitate to unbutton her shorts, push them down, and lower herself over his lap. He had dreamed of having her ass under his hand again these past two weeks, but his dreams hadn’t compared to the reality of having her plush buttocks bared and at his disposable.
“God, Cassie, you’ve got a gorgeous ass.” He couldn’t help praising her as he caressed her soft flesh.
Cassie kept her head lowered, biting her lip at the light touch of his hand. Her body responded to her vulnerable position and his stimulating caresses with a gush of cream between her legs. Not even when she was in a club wearing nothing had she ever felt so exposed, as vulnerable as she did now. He kneaded her cheeks and the tight squeezes had her shifting on his lap, a low moan slipping past her compressed lips.
“Please,” she whispered, ashamed of her need, but craving something more so bad she couldn’t help but beg. She’d waited so long for this.
