dakota_trace_his_christmas_gift_myrnas (3 page)

He watched as her eyes fluttered closed, with what he
was sure was denial. His inner Dom reacted – angry at the thought she would try
to hide from him.

“Open your eyes! I will not allow you to hide from
this!”

She jerked as if she’d been struck as her eyes flew
open. Deep in their blue depths he could see the longing she was trying to bury
under her anger. His finger traced idle patterns across the soft skin of her
face.

“There is no shame in wanting to submit to me,
m’gnogag
.”
A deep sigh escaped him. “What I wouldn’t give to turn your sulky little pouts
into screams of pleasure.” He rubbed his thumb over the upper bow of her lip before
tracing her lower lip. “Let me show you how it’s supposed to be between a Dom
and his submissive. How a true Dom treats – how
I
treat a woman who
entrusts me with not only her body but her happiness. If you do, by the time
Caelan comes home, you’ll remember why his woman submits to him and be happy
for them. All you have to do is take the chance, sweetheart.”

While her eyes misted over, he watched her struggle
with her overwhelming fear warring with her deeply denied need to submit. A low
growl built in his chest when he saw the fear win over her need.
Damneigh,
she was so close!

“I…can’t…I’m sorry, Amery, but I can’t.” She slowly
stepped back as if she were afraid he was going to strike her. After what
happened with Grant, he understood the fear but he didn’t have to like it. He
watched as she turned to scurry out of the study.

“Run little
luch
as fast and far as you can,
but just remember I’ll be there when you finally stop.”

She stilled before looking over her shoulder at him.
The determination in her eyes didn’t surprise him.

“If it means giving control of me over to a man
again, I’ll run forever.”

He shook his head. “With Caelan returning home,
you’ll stop sooner than you think. Just remember my offer still stands.”

His heart went out to her when her shoulders
straightened. He could see her gathering herself as she left the room.
When
will she realize she belongs with me?
He raked his hand through his hair
before turning back to face the window. A deep sigh escaped him. There was
nothing else he could do – the ball was in her court. Now, all he could do was
wait. A humorless chuckle escaped his suddenly tight throat. It wasn’t as if he
didn’t have plenty of practice. He was always waiting on that woman.

Chapter Two

 Steeling herself, Myrna paused as her hand landed on
the interior door to the main floor of her former club. It’d been over a week
since she’d walked away from Amery and his offer. It was because of him that
she was standing on the threshold of the club where she’d once given everything
to Grant, despite her vow to never return there. If he hadn’t been such a
dominating arse, she wouldn’t be here by herself.
Why couldn’t he have just
said yes?

 
She
jumped when a leather-clad bouncer pushed opened the door to inquire if she was
lost. His chestnut hair was all one length as it brushed his shoulders. While
he was massive - his body filling the open doorway, his blue eyes shone with
kindness. Out of nervousness she lifted a hand to tuck a wayward tendril which
had escaped the long braid hanging over her shoulder.

“No, I was…” Her voice trailed off as she looked into
the interior of the club. More specifically, she saw the reflection of the
full-length mirror hanging behind the bar. She almost didn’t recognize the
mature woman in dark leggings topped by the long-flowing, cream-colored poet’s
shirt with her graying hair pulled back severely from her heart-shaped face.
Is
that actually me? Damn, when did I get so old?

“Ma’am, are you all right?” The faint hint of concern
in the younger man’s voice broke the thrall the mirror had on her. She mentally
gathered her defenses around her.

“I’m not sure but…” She took a deep breath. “I’m a
former member and I wanted to see…” A flush rushed over her ivory skin.

“…you wanted to take a trip down memory lane?” The
bouncer’s helpful reply had her nodding despite the fact this was the last
place she’d want to revisit in her memory lane. She couldn’t believe she was
actually standing here.

She briefly wondered what Amery would think if he
knew she’d finally gathered up her courage to enter Sanctuary’s Lair, not just
his home away from home, but also the club where her ex had been a founding
member.
Would he applaud my bravery?
Truth be known – she wasn’t feeling
brave – she was petrified. She never would’ve forced herself to come here all
alone if Caelan hadn’t called this evening. She’d panicked at the idea of
hurting her son and had jumped in with both feet. Instead of hiding in her
small cottage, she was foolishly plunging into the one thing that scared the
hell out of her. She wasn’t brave at all – just foolish.
Come on - be honest
with yourself, Myrna Doherty! You’re not just being foolish. You’re still
hiding, not just from your own submissive nature, but also from your longing to
be owned by Amery.

“Your name, Ma’am?”

She forced her attention back on the bouncer.
Dammit!
I have to stop this before he thinks I’m a loon.

“Myrna. Myrna Doherty.” She waited with familiar
dread pooling in her stomach while he checked her name against the palm-held
computer in his hand.
What if my membership has been completely revoked? I
haven’t been here since before Grant walked out. What if the arse took me off
the membership roster before he took off for America?

A couple clicks later and the man looked up with a
grin. “This way, slave. One of the Masters will want to speak with you before
you may go out on the floor.”

She swallowed rapidly before voicing her protest.
“But…I just wanted to sit at the bar. I wasn’t planning…”

The bouncer patted her shoulder. “It’s for your own
safety, Mrs. Doherty. You’re an unclaimed submissive. Not to mention it’s been
several years since you’ve visited Sanctuary’s Lair – things have changed a
bit.” He wrapped a gentle hand around her upper arm before guiding her through
one of the doors she hadn’t noticed off the main floor. Her heart threatened to
burst out of her chest when the young man turned and left her alone in the room
after assuring her Master Simon would be with her shortly.

Licking suddenly dry lips, she stood alone in the middle
of the well furnished room.
What the hell have I gotten myself into?

The time dragged by torturously slowly while she
waited for Master Simon to appear. When he finally did, she realized it’d only
been ten minutes, even though it had felt more like ten hours to her already
over-wrought nerves.

“Good evening, sub.” The deep timber had her jumping.
She tightly clenched the clutch purse holding her keys, driver’s license, and
bank card before turning and facing him. Shock washed over her as she recognized
the blond man standing before her. The gangly frame she’d remembered was gone.
He was just as tall but his body had filled out. He was no longer the young man
who’d been receiving his novice training under Amery. He was now a man in his
prime and held the self-confident air any Master would have – including her
son. Dear Lord, how time flew. It made her happy to see the promise Amery had
seen in the younger man had been realized.

“Master Simon. It’s nice to see you again. It been
years, but I do remember meeting you during your training.” She chuckled at the
surprise in his eyes. “Although I’ll have to say the years have been kinder to
you than me. I can see you’ve lived up to the potential Master Alastar saw in
you.”

The younger man’s face flushed with pleasure at the
compliment. “Master Alastar is the best. We wouldn’t know what to do without
him to guide the ‘newbies’.” He settled into the chair before motioning her to
his side. Fear had her freezing as she realized he was waiting for her to kneel
at his side. Her eyelids flickered before she forced her feet to move.
Get a
grip on yourself, Myrna. It’s not as if you’re submitting to a man half your
age. It is a simple gesture of respect.
She was just getting ready to drop
to her knees before him when he stopped her.

“There is no need for that, sub. I don’t stand on
formality in this room.”

That’s when Myrna noticed the small upholstered bench
half hidden by the shadows of the high backed chair. Relief rushed over her so
fast she was surprised she didn’t feel light-headed. Sinking down on the bench
three feet from the chair, she waited for him to speak.

“I understand it’s been more than several years since
you’ve been here. A few things have changed - most of them for the better. This
is a club where the members either are unattached while being trained, or are
part of a committed relationship. As such, we’ve had to enact a few new rules
to avoid confusion.”

She nodded. “That’s understandable. So what do I need
to do, Master Simon, to keep from being mistaken for a sub looking for
training? I merely wish to revisit a part of my youth.” Keeping her voice even,
Myrna sat still as possible, while she waited for his answer - hoping against
all things sacred he wouldn’t see the lie for what it was. At his continued
silence she grew nervous once more.
Is he angry at my forwardness?

Before he could answer her, the phone sitting on the
low table between them rang.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

She nodded before tuning out the conversation he was
having.
Evidently not all my habits died when Grant left me. I can’t believe
how easy it is to fall back into routines I haven’t used in years. It’s almost
as if I never left. Or perhaps it’s because I know with Amery’s training, Simon
is a Master of integrity?

“Thank you, Sanders. I’ll prepare her.” The gentle
click of the phone in its cradle brought her back to their conversation. She
glanced up at him expectantly.

Master Simon stroked his chin thoughtfully before
meeting her gaze. It felt rather disconcerting considering that she’d been
trained to always keep her eyes lowered in the presence of a Dom. “Interesting.
What makes you think that you’ll be mistaken for a sub looking for training
instead of a collared sub?”

She cocked her head. “If I were collared, I would not
be here alone.” The drumming of his fingers on the arm drew her attention as
unease filled her. “Have I angered you with my assumptions, Master Simon?”

He shook his head. “No, Myrna, you haven’t angered
me. It just leaves me in a bit of a predicament. That was Sanders, the security
guard who brought you in. It seems  possible that while you may think that no
one has a claim on you, there is the very real probability that someone does.”

Confusion swamped her. “Predicament? How could it…”
She finally grasped the rest of his response. “I assure you, I’ve been
un-collared for many years, Master Simon.”

“I am aware of your past with Master Grant. Frankly
speaking, Myrna, I find it highly disturbing even after all these years - what
he did to you – no sub deserves to be blindsided like that. In fact, after what
happened, your membership was put in what everyone assumed was a temporary
status, which would’ve been removed after you had healed and decided to return
to the lifestyle.”

Her eyebrows rose. “I don’t understand, Master
Simon.”

“It’s quite simple, Myrna.” She heard the familiar
voice of the man she’d been trying not to think of and had spectacularly
failed. Amery Alastar was behind her. Relief warred with anger when she looked
up to find him closing the door behind him. He was dressed in his leathers with
his silver hair brushed back from his face. The aura of dominance surrounding
him had her breath catching and her heart racing. Desire to submit to him
warred with genuine anger.
He was never at the club on Thursdays – that’s
why I took the chance on coming today. I wasn’t expecting to see him here. The
only way he knew I was here is if he’s had me followed.

“Your membership was originally owned by Grant.”

She tried to focus on him despite the fury consuming
her. He stopped mere inches from her.

 “When he un-collared you, I took control of it. So
while you’re an un-collared sub, your membership rides on my good graces.”

Rage overwhelmed her and filled her until she shook.
That
rotten, controlling, dominating arsehole! I should’ve gelded him when I had the
chance!

“Think twice before you lash out,
m’gnogag,
I
only had your best interests at heart. You were in no shape to deal with the
numerous Masters who wanted to approach you.”

She glared up at him. “What Masters?”

He leaned over her and tipped her face up to his.
“The ones who petitioned me for access to you for nearly six months after Grant
left.”

Her eyes widened in disbelief. “You’re lying!”

His gray eyes grew ice-cold. “Have I ever lied to
you?”

She swallowed as she noted the tightening of the
muscles around his sensual mouth. She knew she’d pissed him off, but this time
she hadn’t meant to. An apology was needed posthaste.