To Master and Defend (The Dungeon Fantasy Club Book 2) (6 page)

She finally turned her chestnut gaze toward his, and hesitated before placing her trembling hand in his large palm. The sweetness of victory swamped him as currents of fire raced along his system at touching her again. He'd yearned for her in the dark of night. He curled his fingers around the delicate bones, rubbing his thumb over her soft skin in an effort to soothe her with his touch.

"It's nice to meet you, Mister Ford. My friends call me Lia." She withdrew her hand with a light tug, shifting her gaze away from his, and effectively attempting to shut him out. And, in an evasive way, pointing out that she didn't consider him to be her friend.

Tobias knew she had felt something that night. He'd let her play her little game, but there was never a challenge he didn't conquer. He'd wait until he could get her alone before launching his full intentions. She wanted to be formal; he wasn't going to allow that. Not after what they had shared.

Declan called down to the kitchens, asking his cook to prepare for two more.

"What's this you found with the plans?" Declan inquired.

"Let me show you." Tobias trailed over to the desk and unrolled the detailed house map. "You want to shore up reinforcing doors, here… and here." He pointed on the map, all the while keeping an eye on Lia as she and Zoey talked quietly at the dining table.

"I didn't think my security was that bad."

"It's not, you have a decent enough system in place, but with the advances in technology in recent years, it's fairly outdated. And you did mention that you wanted to add a door to the south entrance of the club to keep the clubgoers from encroaching on your home territory," Tobias replied.

"With the plans to invite so many guests in a few short weeks, I want it blocked off from anyone just being able to go there willy-nilly. And I want to change the lift so that only those with a key code can access the lower level. The last thing I need is a one of my uptight board members stumbling into the dungeon unawares. It would cause me more headaches than I want," Declan said.

"Understandable." As the owner of one of the club extensions in Los Angeles, Tobias knew how difficult it was at times to keep the balance between his work life and club life. While he had a competent management team at the club, which left him free to run his security consultation and installation business, if he wasn't careful, it could muck up his whole operation.

The clients who hired him for his expertise in protecting their homes and businesses, didn't need his sexual preferences to interfere with their decision making. It was actually how he and Declan had met years ago—when he'd been stationed in Germany before his deployment to Iraq, they both had ended up at the same BDSM club, and had stayed in contact through the years.

So now one of Declan's private firms was the silent partner and registered owner of his Los Angeles club, thereby granting them both anonymity.

Declan's cook, Mrs. Stewart, rolled in a cart with warm roast beef, and his mouth watered. He needed all the protein he could get for what was sure to be an eventful night. The two of them convened their meeting, tabling further discussion until after lunch, joining the women for the meal. Seeing the sisters together, Tobias saw how similar they were, although Zoey's features were more pronounced, almost sharp in contrast to Lia, and her hair was shades darker. Lia's facial features were softer, her cheekbones less pronounced, her body lithe and firm, her lighter chestnut hair falling in soft waves to her shoulders.

"Have Sherry make up the Queen Victoria room for Zoey's sister, if you would, Mrs. Stewart," Declan said.

"Certainly, sir." The plump matron smiled, nodding her head as she left them to their meal.

All throughout lunch, Lia avoided glancing at him—just him, in fact, as she detailed the latest news from home about someone named Lucy. Seated on his left, she focused her attention on her sister and Declan, never once turning her regard his way.

"Since you're here, Lia, I was going to wait to tell you, but Declan… well, you see…" Zoey blushed, stammering a bit under her sister's rapt scrutiny.

"What Zoey is attempting to say is that I asked her to marry me, and she has graciously honored me by saying yes." Declan brought Zoey's hand up to his mouth, placing a light kiss on the back, and not letting go.

"I-I-I see. Congratulations! Welcome to the family, Declan," Lia murmured, her features withdrawn as she plastered a smile on her face. Except Tobias had seen it—her eyes had widened slightly in shock and her body trembled at the announcement before she slid an unreadable mask over her façade.

"I'd like you to be my maid of honor, Lia. Won't you?" Zoey gushed as only a woman about to get hitched could do. Tobias didn't know what it was about the whole marriage thing that made normal, sane women lose their freaking minds, and turn to gooey mush.

"When?" Lia couldn't keep the distress from her voice. Why he wanted to shield her from the volley was beyond him, but Tobias could distinctly infer that Lia was not pleased about this relationship, or was at least in distress of some sort. Was he the cause of her unease?

"New Year's Eve. Isn't it wonderful?" Zoey babbled, glancing at Declan and beaming.

"I'm sorry; I think I need to lie down. I'm overtired from the trip." Lia pushed back from her seat. She'd hardly touched the delectable meal, only nibbling on a roll. Her clothes seemed to hang off her. Had she lost weight since they'd first met? Tobias hoped she wasn't ill and really was just jet-lagged from her travels.

"Sure. Excuse us, gentleman, while I get her situated." Zoey's infectious mood dampened a bit as she escorted Lia from the room.

The unhappiness in his wounded bird's eyes made Tobias's chest ache for her. He would give her some time with her sister, and then he would make his move. He wasn't sleeping alone tonight, and neither was she.

Chapter Four

Ophelia ambled after her sister in a daze. Just when she needed Zoey the most, she had decided to abandon her entirely. Her sister was marrying Declan, which meant she would be living in Scotland. Ophelia doubted there was any chance of convincing Zoey to come home now. The whole thing made her feel weepy.

Damn hormones!

And how in the world was
he
here, of all the places on earth? She'd come here needing to get away from her impending motherhood and all the decisions she was facing. Ophelia wanted her sister nearby so she wouldn't have to face them all alone. He had been part of the issue she'd not wanted to address—not yet, anyway, until she'd had more than seventy-two hours to process the news. However, at least she now had the name of her child's father. Tobias Ford; it was a strong name, just like its bearer.

Zoey was looking at her with disappointment clouding her visage. Jesus, Ophelia hadn't meant to upset her, especially after all she had been through lately with her job and all. She was glad her sister had found someone who made her happy. Although, she couldn't lie, she was concerned by the swiftness of the relationship.

Zoey led her to a room on the third floor at the opposite end of the hall from the library. What a house—and a place for her sister to get stranded in—only Zoey would find herself in a castle. It suited her, more than Ophelia wanted to admit. Zoey opened a door and entered the room, expecting her to follow. Zoey shut the door after she entered, and turned to face her.

"How could you be that rude?" Zoey accused her.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting to hear that you love him. I thought you were having a fling, and I—"

"You what?" Zoey crossed her arms over her chest, her mouth drawn into a tight line. Rarely had Ophelia ever witnessed her sister's anger. Oh sure, they'd fought like cats and dogs growing up, but becoming orphans had brought them closer together so they'd been a team, a solidified unit taking on the world. Ophelia desperately needed her team back.

"I came here to bring you home," Lia admitted with tears filling her eyes.

"Jesus, Lia, I am home. Don't you see that? I've given up so much of my life over the last six years that it's time I do something that makes me happy. Declan makes me happy. I love him more than I ever thought myself capable of loving someone, and he loves me so much I'm amazed by it."

Ophelia sucked in a breath. The tears she'd been holding back spilled down her cheeks. "So you were just going to abandon me without talking to me? Expect me to be happy that you're going to live on the other side of the world?"

"Yes. You don't need me to mother you anymore, Lia. You can have the house to yourself now, finish your masters and doctorate, and live your life. What's so important that I need to be in Los Angeles? I don't have a job there anymore, and other than you and Lucy, no one else truly matters to me. So please, tell me what was so important that you had to fly five thousand miles for, to try to bring me home when I don't want to go? I love you but I have to live my own life."

"I'm pregnant," Ophelia blurted, melting onto the blue couch. Her whole world had come crashing to a halt. And now she wouldn't even have her sister there to help her out. How the hell was she going to do this on her own?

"Oh my god, Lia." Zoey enveloped her into a tight hug.

The dam she'd been holding back, the panic-induced fear that gripped her soul, came tumbling out. Ophelia's body shook as she sobbed on her sister's shoulder. The terror she'd been carrying around since she'd discovered she was expecting poured out like a geyser. She'd never been so weepy in her life, and she prayed it was just hormones. Her sister stroked her hair, offering comfort as she always had throughout the years.

"Do you want this baby? You do have options, Lia. You know that, right?"

Did she want to be a single mother, had that been her life plan? No, not in the least. But now that the deed was done, Ophelia knew in her heart that she was going to have this child and raise it. It was her baby. Even in such a short period of time, she already loved the tiny life inside her. Could picture what he or she might look like, and all the things she would teach them. That didn't make her situation any less daunting—only more so.

How would she tell Tobias? What if he wanted her to get rid of the baby, or didn't care one way or the other as long as she didn't bother him about it? As her crying jag subsided, bone weariness infused her limbs. She had to move forward knowing that in all likelihood she would be alone on this journey.

"Yes, I do plan to keep my baby, but as for the rest, I don't know. This changes everything for me."

"Of course it does. Who is the father? I didn't know you were dating someone. Why have I never met him?" Zoey asked.

"It's complicated. You wouldn't understand." Hell, Ophelia didn't even understand it herself, so there was no way she could explain it to her sister. The lines of just how insane her life had become were never more evident than at this moment. She needed to get a grip.

"Have you even told the father yet?" Zoey scolded her in that mom-like tone of hers, which only made Ophelia want to start weeping again.

"Not yet. I'll handle it. I just needed you, and when I got the message that you weren't coming home, I freaked a bit. I can't do this without you, Zoey." She felt the fresh burn of tears, blinked them back, and hung her head.

"Let's talk about this later. Why don't you get some rest this afternoon and then we can discuss it more tonight." Zoey maneuvered Lia, pulling her to the bed, and mothering her like she had after their parents had died.

Ophelia let her. "Thank you, Zoey. I really am happy for you. Declan seems like a wonderful guy. Can I ask that you not tell him?"

The last thing she needed was for Tobias to find out before she'd had the chance to talk to him, and if he and Declan were friends, the implications could be a disaster in the making. Her life was one big conundrum.

"No. I'm sorry, I can't do that. He's going to be my husband, Lia. I won't keep secrets from him, even for you. What I will do is tell him in the privacy of our room so no one else will overhear, and ask him to keep it between us. Okay?"

That would have to do for now. "Thank you."

"Get some rest. I'll come get you for dinner this evening." Zoey exited the room, flipping the light switch off, and leaving Ophelia alone with her jumbled thoughts.

She stared at the darkened canopy, imagining a million different scenarios, confident that she'd never be able to settle her racing mind enough to sleep. Jet lag ended up being more powerful than her anxieties, and tugged her into a dreamless sleep.

Chapter Five

Tobias ran a hand over his face as he stared out the darkened window of his room at the shadowy outlines of the highland mountains. This far north and away from civilization, the Milky Way gleamed like an effervescent river through the night sky. He liked everything about Scotland, except for the cold. If he could transplant the barren wilderness to southern California, that would be ideal.

Dinner had been a disaster. Lia had avoided him all evening. His attempts at flirting had fallen flat. A lesser man would have thrown in the towel, moving on to less difficult conquests—except Tobias had seen a hint of a blush every time Ophelia looked at him. She desired him; her gaze had been downright carnal when she did look his way. Then she would blush, shift in her seat, and go back to talking to her sister and Declan.

He'd made it a habit to study women, and his little wounded bird was more skittish than some of the horses he'd come across on the battlefield. One wrong move would send her scurrying for cover. His desire for her was unreasonable. Sure, he'd loved and lost other women in his thirty-two years, but none had ever gotten under his skin this way.

In the intervening weeks since their one night together, she'd become his obsession. He should forget her, since she was so obviously not doing anything to attract his attention. What he should do was head down to the Dungeon Fantasy Club, and see if there was a willing sub he could lose himself in for the night.

The problem was, he didn't want just any sub—he wanted Lia. He wanted to hear her breathy little gasps of wonder, feel the tight fist of her pussy around him, and indulge his Dom heart. He had so many fantasies stored up about the two of them, he could keep her in bed for the next month and not run out of all the things he wanted to do to and with her. Whether she was, in fact, a sub was another matter entirely, and one he wanted to explore. He'd bet money on the fact that, underneath her brave exterior, Lia was a sub just waiting for the right Dom to unlock her potential.