It'll Be An Adventure (Masters of the Shadowlands #15)(11)
Author: Cherise Sinclair

 

“Oh.” She was smiling again.

 

“Good enough. Go on and play, you two.” He glanced at Gabi who hadn’t moved. She had infinite patience when it came to her friends, old and new.

 

Not so much for Doms. The subbie loved acting out—and Marcus loved taming his little brat. Saxon usually dumped her misbehaving ass in a crate and called her Master in to deal with punishment.

 

Unfortunately, tonight, it would be up to Saxon.

 

He genuinely hoped Gabi would behave while she was here.

 

 

 

Being a kitten is so much fun.

 

Murphy knew cats probably didn’t wear big grins, but she couldn’t stop. These people were simply crazy, and she loved it.

 

She’d joined a couple of other kittens to play in a pile of string, batting at it and each other. When another kitten joined them—a guy—she’d been wary, but he was just as into innocent play as the other two.

 

A while later, a male dog came over, nosed her shoulder, and sniffed at her butt. Was he, like, a Dom dog? Whatever he was, it was rude.

 

Way uncomfortable, she backed away.

 

He took another step toward her, then froze and retreated to a different area.

 

Confused at his quick withdrawal, she turned.

 

The giant blond Master was watching. His short beard didn’t conceal the sternness of his square jaw. When he saw her looking, his blue eyes softened, and he winked.

 

He was keeping an eye on her. She was safe to play.

 

The knowledge let her return to the kittens’ string pile.

 

What was there about that Dom that was so captivating? Maybe it was his straightforward voice? Being an author, she…listened, both to words and what was under them.

 

Master Saxon had a seductively masculine baritone with an undertone of controlled authority. But…even more compelling, his voice held honesty.

 

That was heady stuff. She must have only been around seven when she heard Pa complimenting the lodge’s guests on their hunting skills. Only before that in the kitchen with her, he’d been purely scornful of the men’s abilities. It was the first time she realized adults lied. That her father lied.

 

Sometime later, she heard, “Yo, pets.”

 

In the corner, Master Saxon was standing. “Who’s been a good puppy and kitten?”

 

With yips and mew-mew-mews, most of the room headed straight for him.

 

The first pup to arrive knelt up and pawed at his leg.

 

“Sit, Austin.”

 

When the pup plopped back onto his heels, the Master gave him a biscuit-looking thing. Surely not a real dog biscuit.

 

A kitten got a…was that a gummy worm?

 

Murphy choked on a laugh.

 

The Master gave various commands and rewarded the obedient pets.

 

When she reached him, he sat down on the bench. “Murphy. I’m being a bad owner and handing out people treats…something that a veterinarian would yell about. You can have hard-baked Scottish shortbread or beef jerky if you like to gnaw on things like the pups. Or Gummy worms or tiny chocolate chip cookies.”

 

Oh wow. She could get into this for sure. With her furry mitted hand, she pawed at the cookie bin.

 

He chuckled. “My favorite too.”

 

But he didn’t give her a treat. Instead, he lifted his chin slightly. His voice deepened as he said softly, “Sit for me, kitten.”

 

The fluttering sensation deep in her stomach was disconcerting. Without even thinking, she planted her butt on her heels.

 

“Good girl.”

 

The butterfly-like sensation got more pronounced, and she couldn’t look away from his focused gaze.

 

“Purr for me.” He held out his empty palm.

 

She’d seen what the others did. Purring for all she was worth, she rubbed her cheek on the huge hand, feeling the slight callused roughness.

 

“Very nice, Murphy.” He scratched behind her ear and lightly ran his knuckles over her cheek. “You’re a good kitten.”

 

He held out the mini cookie for her to eat from his hand.

 

The fluttering turned into deep shivers.

 

But the cookie was sweet and chewy, the chips an excellent dark chocolate. Yum. She purred her approval.

 

His deep laugh was so infectious, her lips curved up.

 

“Off you go now. Have fun.”

 

As she moved away, enjoying the brush of her soft furry tail on her thighs, she could feel his gaze on her like the sun’s heat in summer. Passing Gabi, she slowed to rub her head against the puppy’s shoulder.

 

Gabi yipped a tiny acknowledgment, then moved toward Saxon.

 

Murphy turned to wait. Would Gabi want to play longer, or did she need to return to Master Marcus?

 

Still sitting on the bench, Master Saxon smiled at Gabi. “Ah, pup, I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist cookies. Sit up and beg for me, Gabi.”

 

Gabi growled.

 

Murphy’s mouth dropped open.

 

“You’re in quite the mood, aren’t you. Want to talk about it?” The big Master frowned and reached out to touch her hair.

 

She bit him.

 

The way his hand jerked, Murphy had a feeling it hadn’t been a gentle nip.

 

“Damn.” He shook his hand, and his jaw tightened. “I’m disappointed in you, little dog. And I’m very much sorry for what you’re going to have to go through now.”

 

To Murphy’s horror, the Dom yanked Gabi up and flattened her, belly-down, over his lap. With a few quick movements, he undid the tail harness, and it dropped on the floor.

 

“Dammit.” Gabi fought him. “Dipwad asshole.”

 

Ignoring her, Master Saxon lifted a walkie-talkie from his belt and said something into it.

 

Setting it to one side, he adjusted Gabi, so her ass was over his thighs—and without another word, slapped her butt. Hard. The crack of sound and Gabi’s yelp came simultaneously. And he kept going. Smack, smack, smack.

 

Gabi’s yelps turned into shouting. “You damn dickhead.”

 

He didn’t slow down.

 

Struggling furiously, Gabi tried to kick him. “Damn you. People like you are the reason God doesn’t talk to us anymore.”