Decadent Master (14 page)

They were magical, the two of them together. No way to deny it. He’d tried but he wouldn’t any longer.

She tipped her head up, brushed aside a lock of hair that had fallen over her face, and smiled. “Thanks for saving me. This dress was made for an Amazon. Even with these ridiculous shoes, I’m too short.” Bending over, while clinging to Dierk, she removed one shoe, then the other. “I’m okay now.” She released him to gather the skirt in her fists, lifting it up to her knees. “Not the most dignified way to walk, but it’s better than tripping and falling on my face.”

“Yes, I suppose it is.” He swallowed a chuckle. A sober Wynne was a delight. A drunk one, adorably vulnerable and honest.

“There she is.” Wynne pointed over Dierk’s shoulder. “I see Kristy.” She waved a hand. “I don’t think she sees me. This place is too fucking crowded.”

Dierk twisted to look behind him. Raven was on the opposite side of the dungeon, standing in the center of a small gathering of people. He recognized them from Twilight, regulars, all of them. “We can head over there if you want. I’ll help you.”

“Thanks.” She shoved her shoes into his hands then pranced ahead, proud as a queen on coronation day, and completely oblivious to the many curious stares she was gathering from onlookers. She stopped when she reached the group and dropped her skirt, much to Dierk’s disappointment. She had very pretty calves, and he would never get tired of looking at them. “Hey Kristy, look who got ditched by his date.”

Everyone stopped talking and looked at him.

He shrugged. “She wasn’t my date.”

They all gave him a yeah-sure-buddy smile.

Kristy turned to Wynne, who was swaying to music that nobody else could hear. “Wynnie, have you been drinking?”

She blinked a few times. They were very slow blinks. “I had a glass or two of champagne.”

“Five,” Dierk corrected, unable to hold back his chuckle this time.

Wynne gave him a squinty-eyed glare. “Tattletale. Now she’s gonna tell me I have to go home.”

Kristy laughed. “You’re an adult. I’m not going to tell you you have to do anything.”

“Well fine, then.” After a beat, Wynne muttered, “I’m tired and my boobs are falling.”

Kristy gave the people around her an apologetic smile. “I guess it’s time to go.”

Dierk stepped up to her and whispered, “I’d be happy to take her home, if you’d like to stay.”

“You don’t mind?” Raven looked more than grateful for the offer.

“Absolutely not. I was ready to go anyway. I promise I’ll get her home safely.”

“Oh hell, you know I trust you. Sure. That is, if Wynne is willing to go with you.” She turned to Wynne. “Honey, Dierk’s leaving now. He’s offered to drive you home. Is that okay?”

Wynne scrutinized him. “Okayyyy. I guess I’ll go with Dierk, since he insists.” She leaned over and said, “Probably doesn’t want to be seen leaving by himself.”

Kristy laughed. “Yeah, that’s gotta be it.”

“S
o sorry your new plaything got a headache tonight,” Wynne said as she settled into Dierk’s zoomy little sports car. The vehicle was sleek and sexy, and it still smelled really good, just like its owner.

Too bad the owner was such an ass.

“Yes, thanks. You’ve already…never mind.”

“I’ve already what?” Feeling a little too warm, she fiddled with the window controls until she had her window open just enough, not so wide that a cyclone blew through the car, and not too little. The fresh air felt good and it seemed to be helping her clear her head, a good thing. She was pretty effed up. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had so much to drink. It didn’t help that she was a lightweight when it came to alcohol. “Please tell me I didn’t make an idiot of myself tonight.”

“No, you didn’t.”

“Good. Because I never drink this much.”

“I suspected as much.”

She couldn’t help laughing. “Is it that obvious?”

“No.” He was lying, but that was okay. He was doing it so she wouldn’t feel so stupid. What a sweet man. An asshole for rejecting her, but sweet, too.

She wanted to kiss him. She decided that was a damn fine idea. When the car stopped at a traffic light, she unfastened her seat belt and leaned toward him.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“Nowhere.” She pressed her lips to his cheek. It wasn’t the kind of kiss she would have liked to give him, but since the light would change any second anyway, it would have to be enough. “I just wanted to do that.” As she settled back in her seat and refastened her seat belt, she noticed his face and neck were red. “Did I embarrass you?”

“No, not at all.” He turned on the air conditioning. She guessed he was warm, too. That was probably why his face was red. How silly to think her kiss had embarrassed him. Why should he be embarrassed? They were alone.

She laughed at herself. “Yeah, that was a stupid thing to ask.”

He smiled and cheerful little crinkles creased out from the corners of his eyes. They were so cute, and how she adored the way his face changed when he smiled. It came alive. “You don’t do or say anything stupid.”

“How kind of you to say so.”

The car stopped. Had to be another traffic light.

No, he was shifting the car into park.

She looked out the window.
Home? Already? Damn.
“Well that was a quick trip. Thanks for the ride. With things being so awkward between us in the past, it was really nice of you to offer.” She reached for the door.

“No, let me get it.”

Such the gentleman.

He exited the vehicle, walked around and opened her door for her. And, as she hoped, he gave her a hand getting out of the car. The damn thing sat so low, it was like sitting on the ground. She leaned a little on him as she walked to her building, down the main hallway, and up to her apartment door.

She fished in her purse for her keys.

She dug deeper.

They weren’t in there.

“Oh shit,” she muttered.

“What’s wrong?”

“I didn’t bring my keys. I didn’t think I’d need them. Kristy drove.”

“Oh.”

“Kristy knew I didn’t have…oh, that sneaky little bitch.” She grimaced. “I’m sorry but I think we both got caught in one of Kristy’s little traps.” She tried the door, even though she knew for a fact that they’d locked it when they left earlier. “Maybe you can get one of the windows—”

“That’s okay. I’ll take you back to my place. You can sleep there.”

Wynne sighed. Her head fell forward, her forehead thunking against the locked door. “I’m so sorry. My friend is going to pay for this.”

Dierk gently lifted her chin, coaxing her to look at him. “Don’t worry about it. I have a spare room. I’ll bring you back in the morning.”

“Okay, then. I suppose I have no choice, unless I want to sit out here in the hall until Kristy decides to come home. And knowing her that’ll be tomorrow sometime.”

“Let’s go.” Patiently, he led her back to his car, helped her get situated in the seat, then ran around to his side and got in. They were both quiet as he drove what turned out to be about ten miles or so to a nice condominium complex close to Twilight. His condo was of the two-storied variety. Detached. Brown brick. With a big garage door, front and center. He hit the remote as they pulled up the driveway and the door lifted, allowing him to pull the car inside. “Here we are.” He cut off the engine and hit the button to shut the door, closing them in the garage.

Like most garages, his smelled like gasoline and car exhaust. But it was absolutely spotless, not a hammer or lawn mower or weed whacker in sight.

He ushered her through an interior door, leading into a narrow hallway off the kitchen. The floors were all gleaming wood. The walls, she realized as she followed him around the bend and up the stairs, were all painted a warm taupe color. And the rooms were all furnished, but sparsely. She couldn’t say why, but it was missing something. It didn’t look lived in.

“This is a nice place,” she said.

“Thanks.” He stepped into a good-sized bedroom. “Here you go. You have your own bath over here.” He opened a door on the opposite side of the room. “I’ll get you something to sleep in.”

“Oh, that’s okay. I don’t sleep in clothes.”

He visibly swallowed and the red returned to his face and neck. It was a nice shade, complemented his eyes.

She couldn’t help grinning. “Is something wrong?”

“Not at all. I’ll be in the room at the opposite end of the hall. Let me know if you need anything.” He hesitated, and, her courage fortified by the ample supply of alcohol streaming through her veins, she flattened her body against his and wrapped her arms around her neck.

Ahhh, now that felt good and right. She pressed her ear to his chest. Her entire body thrummed to the steady thump-wump that beat against his rib cage.

He didn’t exactly hug her back at first, which made for a somewhat awkward moment. But a few seconds later, he lifted his arms and wrapped them around her. He even cradled the back of her head in a hand. Oh yes, that was so much better.

She closed her eyes and soaked in all the yummy Dierk loving. His fingers massaged her scalp. His other hand was lower, flattened against the small of her back, and the skin beneath it tingled like it had never tingled before. A steady drumbeat kicked up between her legs. She smooshed herself tighter against him.

There was quite a hard bulge pressed against her, right about her tummy level. Just because she was feeling naughty, she started moving against him. In exchange, he curled his fingers in her hair and pulled, easing her head back.

Their eyes met. His were very dark, his expression a mask of hard male need. She shuddered, literally.

“I’m sorry,” he muttered. Slowly, he released her, but that didn’t keep her from feeling like she was going to fall over. He had it all wrong. He wasn’t supposed to leave her now, he was supposed to kiss her until she couldn’t stand, and then he was supposed to carry her over to that nice, big bed and fuck her until she was in heaven. “I shouldn’t—”

She nodded. “Oh yes, you should.”

“No.” He headed for the door, this time looking extremely sure of himself.

“Why?” She didn’t follow him, although she wanted to. “I like you. You seem to like me, if that lump in your pants is any indicator. So why do you keep pushing me away?”

“Because it’s best.”

Her insides were twisting and turning, tying themselves into knots. And acid was burning through her veins. This time she couldn’t stop herself from going to him. She needed to be close so she could look into those dark eyes of his and see if she could figure out the truth. “Best for whom?”

He visibly inhaled, exhaled. “You.”

“If you think you know what’s good for me, you’re wrong. You don’t have a clue.”

“Don’t I?” Suddenly, he grabbed her upper arms and hauled her against him. He looked down upon her face with open passion and longing, and she was captivated, ensnared by the emotion she read in his eyes. He tipped his head, and, expecting a kiss at last, she closed her eyes and held her breath.

She waited.

Waited.

“I told you that first day,” he practically growled. “We can’t do this. It goes against everything I believe in.”

She opened her eyes to glare at him. “I don’t get you. You don’t believe in caring about people? Expressing your feelings? Giving pleasure? I guess I don’t know how to play by your rules, Master. I make a very poor slave. But I can’t deny my heart its deepest wanting.”

“Then you force me to.” He released her, and she practically crumpled to the floor. “I will be leaving soon, returning to the life I left behind. You can’t go with me.”

“Why not? Give me a reason that makes sense and I won’t ever bother you again.”

He scrubbed his face with his hands. “I’m not the man you think you know.”

“Yeah, I’m beginning to see that. You’re not brave and powerful and honorable.” Her eyes and nose were burning, but she refused to let herself cry. “You’re a bastard.”

“Yes, I’m a bastard. And worse.” He started to say something more but stopped. Instead, he turned and headed for the door.

“Maybe someday you’ll stop running,” she yelled after him.

He left the room without saying another word, closing the door behind him.

Devastated and furious, she kicked off her shoes and stripped out of the dress. She tried lying down, but, even though she was still pretty buzzed, she couldn’t fall asleep. She opted to take a hot bath, hoping the warm water would help her relax.

Really, she knew there was basically no chance she’d sleep tonight. Not with so much going through her head. But she went through the motions anyway. She filled the tub and soaked. And soaked, and soaked and soaked. Until the skin on her hands and feet was shriveled up like a prune. Still, when she stepped out of the tub, she felt no more ready for sleep than she had been before she’d started.

It was useless.

She checked the closet, hoping to find something to wear, but she found it empty. She searched the dressers. Again, empty. This place, as pretty as it was, had no life. It felt like a model home that had been staged, or, like a movie set, designed to make people believe it was lived in when actually it was lifeless.

With no other option but to put on that dress—out of the question—she fashioned a toga out of the flat sheet and headed downstairs. There wouldn’t be much on TV at this hour, but she hoped she’d find something distracting, maybe a movie on LMN. Those were always good for reminding her how good she had it. Nobody was trying to kill her, she didn’t have psycho family members destroying her life, and she hadn’t been kidnapped and sold into slavery.

She turned on the television—a puny set by today’s standards—and made herself comfy on the couch, the remote in her fist. She clicked a few times and quickly realized Dierk didn’t have cable.

Infomercial.

Infomercial.

And infomercial. Blech.

Something rustled by the hallway. Instinctively, she leaned over to look.

Dierk. In a snug tank shirt and a pair of shorts. He looked amazing. Her heart twisted.

This sucked.

She cut off the TV and set the remote on the coffee table, where she had found it. “Sorry, did the television wake you? There’s nothing on so I’m heading back up to bed.”

“No, I wasn’t asleep. I don’t sleep well at night.” He crossed his arms over his chest, displaying a don’t-get-too-close vibe she couldn’t misread, no matter how much alcohol was clouding her vision.

“Usually I sleep okay.” She bit her lip to keep from saying more. There was no point; he’d made that clear.

He tipped his head. “Nice outfit.”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t want to wake you, but since you’re already awake, do you mind finding me something comfortable to wear? I guess I should’ve accepted the offer when you made it.”

“Not a problem. I have plenty of T-shirts….” He led her back up the stairs and down the hall. At the door to his room, she hesitated, hanging back in the hallway. But from her vantage point, she was able to watch him well enough. This was the most undressed she’d seen the man, and wow, did he have a body. She’d felt those muscles under his clothes plenty of times, but to see them flex as he moved, it was enough to make her warm and tingly all over.

She watched as he bent over to get something from his bottom drawer. Nice ass. She watched as he reached high in his closet to get something from the top shelf. Oh, those shoulders. And she watched as he strolled toward her.

It just wasn’t right that he should be that perfect and yet so unreachable.

When he handed her the clothes, their gazes locked, their fingers brushed against each other, and a huge jolt of sensual energy shot between them. It was almost enough to take her breath away.

He couldn’t tell her he didn’t feel it, too. That connection. That magic. She could read it on his face, see it in every plane and bulge on his tense body. That only infuriated her more. What could be so wrong with him or his life that he couldn’t follow his heart’s desire?

“Dierk—”

“Please.” He stepped backward. “I don’t want to regret anything I say or do tonight.”

Her eyes were burning again, dammit. She hated this man for making her feel this way. But on the other hand, she adored him for it, too. Until now, she hadn’t realized what true wanting was, what genuine passion felt like. It was absolute hell. And heaven. Bliss. And misery. If she’d married John, she never would have experienced anything even remotely close to it.

“I wish I could understand,” she said on a sigh, backing into the hallway. “And, more than anything, I wish I could tell my heart to stop aching for you.” She turned to head back to her room, but he caught her wrist and jerked her back around.

One instant she was standing in the hallway, Dierk’s clothes folded in her arms, and the next she was flattened against the wall, Dierk’s hot body blocking her escape, not that she wanted to go anywhere. She couldn’t tip her head back to look into his eyes, not with the wall there, but she couldn’t care less. He was close, touching her, his fingers digging in her hair, his knee pushing between her thighs. “Dammit, Wynne. Holy Hell,” he repeated over and over.