BREAKAWAY (The Dartmouth Cobras) (13 page)

"Hey, you." Jami leaned back into Sebastian's chest and sighed. "You were watching? I thought you'd forgotten all about me."

"No, mi cielo, I hadn't forgotten about you. I have not slept yet. I needed to see you first—we have not spoken in days."

“Why didn't you call?"

"I tried. A lady answered and asked me for my order. I assumed you gave me the wrong number on purpose, but your question makes me wonder if it wasn't a mistake."

 
She winced and glanced over her shoulder at him. "What number did I give you?"

He told her the numbers and she winced again. The last few were all mixed up. That happened to her sometimes. It had happened to her all the time when she was in high school, during math class. She wrote the numbers all screwy and failed test after test. She still hadn't told her dad that her math scores made it so she'd had to take an extra course to get into college. She'd barely passed. One look at the books for the accounting course she'd signed up for to make him happy had her dropping out. Only when she'd been stuck in a bed after an overdose had she admitted to him that college wasn't going to work for her.

And now Sebastian knew she couldn't even write her own cell number right. She hated people knowing that she was stupid. So she tried to laugh it off.

"You had me pretty distracted. Sorry I gave you the wrong number. I'll text you the right one now." She quickly dialed, then waited for Sebastian's phone to buzz, or ring, or whatever it did when he got a text. Her stomach sank when nothing happened.

Sebastian shook his head and moved close to her, backing her into the wall by the door. His lips skimmed her throat and he spoke. "Always in such as rush. Take your time,
cosita
. Tell me the numbers.
Slowly.
"

His fingers skimmed up her sides, over the bare flesh between her tiny shirt and the waistband of her skirt. Little jolts of pleasure caused all the fine hairs on her skin to stand on end. His scent, fresh ice and the exotic spice of his cologne, intoxicated her. Drawing enough air to whisper the numbers took more effort than actually remembering what they were.
 
Every time she paused, he gently nibbled and kissed along the length of her throat. So she didn't feel the need to hurry.

She moaned when she said the last number and his lips left her, almost wishing she'd gotten it wrong so they could do that again.

He took out his phone and called her phone, chuckling at her frown when it rang. He caught her chin in one hand and pressed his body against hers. "Perhaps a reward now, mi cielo?"

"
Mmm
." She smiled as he kissed her and brought her hands up to touch his hair, which wasn't black as she'd first thought. It was a deep dark brown and incredibly soft. She stroked the length as she teased the tip of his tongue with hers, giggling when he pulled away and gave her hair a little tug.

"Naughty girl."

"No, Sir. I am quite well behaved." She slid one thigh between his legs and pressed her breasts to his chest. "Are you ready to take me home yet?"

"We will discuss that after you answer one question." He kissed her again before easing away from her. "What had you so sad?"

"Oh, that." She shrugged and rubbed her arms. The hall felt cold without him holding her. "I was hoping for more than a 'very nice'. But maybe I'm just overly sensitive because the day's been pretty crappy so far."

"How so?"

"Well, my ex came to talk to me. It was weird, and he was asking me about you, and he told me—"
Okay, you're not seriously going to tell him what Ford said, are you?

Sebastian's eyes narrowed and he gave her a look that said he'd make damn sure she told him everything. "What did he say, Jami?"

"That you're using me. Just like he was."

"Like he was . . . ." Sebastian nodded slowly. "Does this have something to do with who your father is?"

"With Ford it did, but with you . . . I guess it has more to do with the rumors—" She put her hand on his forearm. "Listen, I don't care about the rumors. Even if they're true. I don't think you're faking with me to cover anything, but I want you to know, if you need something that I can't give you . . . ."

"Such as?"

"
Anything.
I can't submit to you yet. I need to figure out how I feel about that stuff first." She crossed her arms over her breasts. "Just so we're clear, we're not at the exclusive stage yet. Okay?"

He studied her for what seemed a very long time. Then inclined his head. "We are clear, mi cielo."

"You're not mad, are you?"

Shaking his head, he pulled her close and kissed her forehead. "Not at all. I must earn your trust. And there are things I must tell you that require trust as well."

"So we're cool?"

"Yes."

“But you're not taking me home now, are you."

"No. As eager as I am to have you naked and bound to my bed, completely helpless as I use my hands—" His hands drifted along her outer thigh, up to her ass. His fingers dug into her flesh as he pressed her tight to him so the hard muscles of his thigh rubbed her through her panties. "My mouth." He caught her earlobe between his lips and sucked. Then bit down hard enough for her to moan and wiggle against him. She dissolved into pure liquid heat as he whispered in her ear. "And my cock to make you come over and over again, you are not ready."

She licked her lips and stared up at him. "Fuck, Sebastian. That sounds . . . ."

"Yes?"

Amazing.
She wanted nothing more than to go with him, to let him have her any way he wanted her. Hell, she wouldn't mind if he took her right here. But the bound and helpless thing . . . "You're right. I'm not ready."

"That will come. We will go out again." He smiled at her. "Are you free on Sunday?"

Sunday? It's only Thursday!
She clenched her jaw to keep from scowling and made her expression as pleasant as possible. "Sure, I can fit you in. Just give me a call and we'll meet up somewhere."

Before she could slip through the garage door, Sebastian caught her arm and spoke low. "Keep one thing in mind until we meet again, mi cielo. En
mis
sueños
,
tu
ya
eres
mia
."

She shivered and her eyes went wide as he released her and walked away without looking back. She had no idea what he'd just said. But she did know one thing.

No matter what, she'd find the strength to submit to this man. Because if she didn't, someone else would. She'd been okay seeing Ford fuck other women, but, for some reason, she had a feeling that even seeing another woman kneel at Sebastian's feet would tear her apart.

Despite what she'd told him about not being exclusive, the same words repeated, over and over, in her head.

He's mine.

Chapter Six

"Make sure he behaves himself."

Sebastian arched a brow at Chicklet, resting his elbow on the bar, his muscles tense under his black t-shirt as he looked over to make sure they were discussing the same person. He shook his head when he saw her concerned gaze trailing Luke as he sauntered across the club with Demyan. His leather pants rasped against his stool. "The only way I can make sure he behaves is if I collar him and attach his leash to my belt."

"Is it sad that I wouldn't object to that?"

"Not at all, but I imagine he would."

Chicklet groaned, spreading her thighs to expose one fully from the slit in her long leather skirt. She petted her subs, kneeling at either side of the stool she perched on. One, a dark haired beauty who seemed content to hover quietly in Chicklet's shadow. The other a young man that had the appearance of a William
Bougeureau's
cherub all grown up. Most of Chicklet's attention was on him tonight.

"I promised Tyler a scene. He really needs it after . . . ."

Lips pressed into a thin line, Sebastian inclined his head and caught Tyler's eye. "I was sorry to hear that the procedure was unsuccessful."

Tyler glanced at Chicklet. Once he had her permission to speak, he took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Thank you, Sir. But I'm not ready to give up yet. My doctor's looking into other treatments."

"Good. We could use you out there."

"You've got Demyan and Carter." Tyler smirked. "Together they're
almost
as good as me."

Callahan joined them at the bar with Oriana Delgado, the elder sister of the team's owner, and ruffled Tyler's hair. "I can see cracking your skull didn't affect your ego, kid."

"Hey, hands off my sub, Sloan." Chicklet looped an arm around Oriana's neck. "Unless you want to swap for the night?"

"You might want to ask her husband," Callahan said.

Oriana frowned. "Umm, how about asking me?"

"Or me!" Tyler swallowed hard at Callahan's dark look.

"You don't want to play with me, boy?"

"Hell no!"

"Manners, pet," Chicklet said, obviously trying very hard not to laugh. "Sloan
is
a Dom here."

"Sorry, Mistress." Tyler shifted on his knees. "Hell no,
Sir.
You're way too fucking hard core for me."

"
Aww
, and I reckon Sloan would've had fun playing with him for the night." Max Perron came up behind Oriana and kissed her bare shoulder before curving his hands under her breasts, barely covered by the low V of her black halter top. "And I could've had you all to myself."

"One." Callahan yanked Oriana away from Perron so roughly Sebastian wondered if he should intercede. But Oriana melted Callahan’s arms as he took her lips in a brutal kiss. Dark eyes locked on Perron, he bared her breasts. "You sure you don't want me to play, Max?"

Perron groaned as though just watching Callahan toy with his wife turned him on. "Fuck, man . . . ."

"Two." Callahan smirked as he teased Oriana's nipples into hard little nubs with his thumbs. "I don't do men. Though I sometimes wonder if you'd get off on seeing that too."

"That don't do nothing for me one way or the other," Perron said.

"Three." Callahan framed Oriana's chin with his hand, speaking to her now. "I have a knife with your name on it."

Oriana's lips parted and a pretty pink blush rose high on her cheeks. She didn't hesitate as Callahan led her away. Perron looked eager as he followed them.

Sebastian rose from his stool and glanced over at Chicklet. "I'll have to supervise this scene—please don’t tell me how good a Dom Callahan is, I’ve never seen him do knife-play. But I'll keep an eye on Luke."

Gesturing for her subs to rise, Chicklet shot him a grateful smile. "I won’t tell you. And thanks, I'd appreciate that. I'll take over the second shift so you can play if you want to."

He nodded, but he doubted he'd be playing tonight. The men joked around with one another, both here and in the locker room, but 'I'm not into men' was constantly repeated, as though they all wanted to make sure everyone knew it. How would they react if they found out he
was
into men?

Other than Jami, he hadn't met a woman who interested him since . . . well, since Silver Delgado, the team's current owner. And that was long before she'd become the owner or met the men she was now committed to. Of course, his interest hadn't gone far beyond introducing her to the lifestyle. He'd like to believe his interest in Jami went further, but it was hard to say.

As the music—something by Marilyn Manson, a singer not at all to his tastes—started up, Sebastian made his way to the knife scene through the small crowd filing in. He paused once to check on an erotic piercing scene. The sub on the table didn't even wince as her Dom threaded a black ribbon through the rings in her back. She smiled dreamily as the man stopped to pet her hair with one gloved hand, and questioned her, not continuing until he got a response. The redness around the top four piercings, of the sixteen running up either side of her spine, showed they were new. The Dom checked them, cleaning tiny droplets of blood with an alcohol swab before leaning down to kiss her. Very attentive. She was in good hands.

A whip cracked. Screams filled the room in a lovely chorus, drowning out the dreadful music. Sebastian rounded the roped off area where Callahan had Oriana cuffed to the bondage frame. Oriana whimpered as Callahan cut through her shirt, but her cheeks were flush with arousal. As Callahan moved around behind her, he handed the knife to Perron, who stood nearby, and pulled out his wallet. He took out a credit card and sliced it down Oriana's back.

She screamed. Callahan laughed.

"That's just . . . twisted."

Sebastian glanced over to where Luke had stepped up beside him. His lips quirked. "Callahan is a sadist."

"I know, but . . . ." Luke glanced over at the knives displayed on a small, white folding table. "Not sure I get it. He never actually cuts her. What does she get out of it?"

And you would get it if he cut her?
Sebastian had a feeling he understood Chicklet's concern. Luke wasn't asking what Callahan got out of the scene. He was curious about the sensations of the submissive. And he was reckless enough to go for the experience on a whim. Wayne had given him an easy way to do just about anything without admitting he was submissive. If he wanted to be a 'Good Dom', he would try it himself first.

From the corner of his eye, Sebastian saw Wayne watching the scene—no,
watching
Luke. He hovered close to the door to keep an eye out for anyone who didn't belong here, but he, like Sebastian, would be relieved at some point so he could enjoy the latter half of the night.

But he wouldn't be enjoying it with Luke. Not if Sebastian could help it.

He's a teammate. You can't play with him.

Of course, he wouldn't actually be playing. He would keep things strictly educational.

Picking up a long knife with a curved blade, Sebastian moved close to Luke. His lips slanted up as Luke's dark blue eyes widened. "A certain amount of trust is necessary for knife play. We've been teammates for months. Can you give me that trust?"