It'll Be An Adventure (Masters of the Shadowlands #15)(22)
Author: Cherise Sinclair

 

“No way.”

 

“Oh yeah. For many submissives, pain and tears are a form of stress relief. More straightforward types will simply ask for a spanking. She doesn’t.”

 

“But you made her cry—and you’re not Marcus.”

 

“Yes.” He didn’t get angry or even defensive. In fact, had she ever seen him at a loss or upset at all? “If Gabi hadn’t wanted to cry, she’d have safeworded out.”

 

Master Saxon had even reminded Gabi about safewording.

 

“Instead, she kept cursing you out.” Murphy frowned. “Why’d you spank her? Shouldn’t punishment come from her own Dom?”

 

“Marcus said Gabi was stewing about something, and he couldn’t get her to talk about it. He hoped a spanking from someone else would shock her enough that when he retrieved her, she’d open up.”

 

Seriously? But Saxon wasn’t laughing. In fact, he looked more worried than not. “That’s awfully convoluted and…just strange.”

 

Saxon’s smile was wry. “Dominants get frustrated when their submissives don’t share and won’t let them help. We’re all about fixing things.” He met her gaze, and his eyes were incredibly blue—and amazingly honest.

 

Maybe…maybe she’d missed a good part of what was going on that night.

 

And now she felt almost dizzy with relief. It appeared he wasn’t a big bully after all. Frowning, she drank her beer, finishing it off in a few hefty swallows.

 

Turning his attention to his meal, he politely let her think. Something she really needed.

 

Eventually, he lifted his eyebrows. “Do you have questions?”

 

So many. But one concern was at the top, bobbing like a buoy against a boat. “Did you—do you—like hur—um, spanking women?”

 

Chuckling, he finished off a french fry. “That isn’t a yes-no question. So let’s see.” After a quick glance around the surroundings, he said, “In the pet playroom, as Master, I administer swats and spankings to all genders. And, honestly, that’s not a like or dislike. Just what is needed.”

 

Huh. “And?”

 

“For Gabi? No, I didn’t like it.” His answer was brutally frank. “I like administering pain for added sexual arousal for a partner. If the woman isn’t into that kind of kink, there’s no enjoyment for me. If she is…well, yeah.” He held her gaze. “There’s nothing as satisfying as pinning a soft, squirming woman over my knees, knowing she’s getting wetter with every slap of my hand.”

 

The air went scalding hot. Or maybe that was her body.

 

He smiled and turned his attention to his food.

 

There wasn’t enough oxygen in the room. Not until he glanced at her, his eyes crinkling slightly at the corners. “Breathe, Murphy.”

 

There were no words. Because she’d totally been holding her breath.

 

 

 

 

 

An hour later, Murphy finished her food and indulged in an after-dinner drink the server had recommended. A white chocolate grasshopper. Like alcoholic ice cream, it was the perfect dessert.

 

To her surprise, she hadn’t needed the social lubrication of alcohol with Saxon. Who would have thought he’d be so easy to be with? Usually, anything requiring small talk left her tongue-tied, especially with an attractive man.

 

She’d managed to get to know Ross because she’d been questioning him about search and rescue for her book. Had they ever talked to each other like this? She frowned at her glass.

 

“Is the drink not to your liking?”

 

She looked up to see Saxon studying her. “Oh. No, the drink is wonderful.”

 

“Then…?”

 

He wasn’t going to stop questioning her, was he. “Are you always so”—she discarded the first three words that came to mind—“tenacious?”

 

“You mean nosy and unrelenting with a side helping of dominating?” He grinned. “Yes. Now tell me why you were frowning.”

 

Way too nosy.

 

“I realized that, in my last relationship, we spent very little time actually talking to each other.”

 

“Yeah? What did you do…aside from sex, of course.”

 

“We’d go out to movies or out with his friends.” She shook her head. “At his place, he usually watched TV. How could I not notice we never talked?”

 

Saxon put his hand over hers. “Maybe because you were enjoying other parts of the relationship, even if you didn’t have much in common?”

 

She winced. Because his statement was true. And he’d seen it so clearly.

 

“Hey, hey.” He cupped her chin and turned her head, so she had to look at him. “That’s not unusual. Much as I hate to admit it, lots of guys are into shallow relationships. For us, it’s like—she’s pretty, and there’s sex, and that’s enough.”

 

“So, are you one of those—”

 

“Oh, look what the cat dragged in.” Arm around a blonde dog handler, Ross walked over with a sneer. “Trolling for a new guy to replace me?”

 

She pulled in a breath, not knowing what to say. He’d obviously been drinking…and he wasn’t a nice drunk. She’d ignored his slighting comments in the past, telling herself he was under the influence. But he’d never been this rude.

 

Had he been saying what he genuinely felt all along?

 

As pain blossomed inside, she tried to hide behind a wall of ice.

 

With a snort, he turned to Saxon. “You won’t get in her pants tonight. No, she’ll make you wait a long fucking time. And she isn’t worth the wait; she’s a crap lover. Boring as hell.”

 

Humiliated, Murphy felt her stomach clench. Don’t run. That’s what he wants.

 

“For fuck’s sake.” Saxon stood. He wasn’t much taller than Ross, but far more muscular—and his entire body projected menace. “Leave before I throw you out.”

 

“Hey, hey, just the truth.” Walking fast, Ross left the room, dragging the blonde behind him.

 

Murphy drained her drink and tried to rise, but Saxon’s hand on her shoulder kept her in place. “Let go. I need to leave.”