Chapter Six
Chapter Six
A few minutes ago, she’d had a taste of what happened when she accepted that risk. “If people walk in and see you getting your ass blazed—again—I won’t be concerned. And you can tell them why I’m doing it.”
“You’re awful, Sir.”
“You’re pushing your luck,” he countered.
Finally, after a few tension-fraught moments, she sighed. “I’ll try to do better.”
“Not good enough.” Resolutely, he shook his head. “Be unkind to yourself and deal with the consequences.” Niles paused. “And it won’t always involve a spanking. How are your skills at filling up a whiteboard with a thousand repetitions of I will be kind to myself?”
She gasped. “You wouldn’t.”
“Oh, most assuredly I would, my beautiful Brandy.”
“That’s…”
He waited for her to choose her words.
“Diabolical.”
“It is,” he agreed.
Wrinkling her nose, she continued the tour. “There’s only one bathroom. But since it’s just me, I manage fine.”
It, too, fit the cottage theme with blue wainscoting and a claw-foot tub. “That bath is deep enough for two people.”
“Is that a suggestion?”
“It could be.”
She shivered slightly. “I’m willing to try.”
A stackable washer and dryer stood in the far corner. Though small, the house had all the necessities.
“The last room is mine,” she said.
And the door was closed. “Do you mind me seeing it?”
“I’m sure it’s not your style.” She shrugged. “But you probably intend to see it at some point.”
“Only with your permission. But yes, I want to be in your bedroom.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.” She turned the knob. “This, really, is why I bought this house.”
“I would have, too.” While the room wasn’t large, its French doors made up for it. They opened onto a concrete patio that had a clay chimenea, two chairs, and a small table. “You can watch the sunrise and have a cup of coffee?”
“I do, almost every day. In the summer, it can be difficult to come back inside.”
No doubt.
Interested in her surroundings, he looked around.
Her bed had at least nine pillows, most of which were purple.
A white comforter stood in pretty, stark contrast.
Perpendicular to the wall was a chaise longue. In addition to a lamp drooping over it, she had a small table stacked with books and an electronic tablet.
A fluffy pink throw was an ultra-feminine, but fitting touch.
The queen-size bed with its wooden headboard had lots of potential. “What’s not to like about this room?”
“In my experience, it threatens some men’s masculinity.”
“Some men?” he repeated, a sudden possessive urge stabbing at him.
“My dad and brother,” she clarified after letting him squirm for a few seconds.
Maybe he deserved that.
With a steady gaze, she met his eyes and added, “I haven’t ever had a man in this bedroom, Sir, if that’s what you’re asking.”
Good answer.
Brandy was well within her rights to tell him to mind his own business or refuse to give him information. He appreciated that she hadn’t made either of those choices. “Any man who is concerned by your décor hasn’t thought about fucking you over the back of that chaise or tying your hair to the headboard.”
“Is that what you’re thinking?” she asked, rolling the wineglass between her palms.
“That, and propping those pillows beneath your stomach so that I can get your ass high enough to stuff my cock in it.”
She froze. “In that case, I won’t change a single thing, Sir.”
“The image will be that much hotter with my handprints already on your butt cheeks.”
“All of a sudden, I’m thinking of canceling the party.”
“That’s two of us.”
She dropped her bra in a dresser drawer and closed it before he could get a proper look at all her lingerie.
“For later, Sir,” she promised.
He followed her back to the kitchen and topped off her glass. Niles still hadn’t taken a sip from his. “How will you be introducing me tonight?”
“As an acquaintance I’ve known for a long time. I saw you at the grocery store and invited you.”
“You took pity on a starving man,” he added. “I’m another one of your strays.”
She swept her gaze up his sexy body. “Do you think anyone will actually believe you’re a stray?”
Her unabashed approval fired a flame between them.
Outside, a vehicle’s tires crunched on the rock driveway.
Immediately, the dogs began to bark, and they almost plowed him over as they dashed toward the door.
“Sorry about that.” She slid her glass onto the counter and rubbed her ass. “Good thing I have on comfortable shoes, since I won’t be able to sit down tonight.”
“Perfect.”
She flashed him a quick scowl before calling back the dogs and opening the door for the first of her visitors.
Over the next twenty minutes, at least a dozen people arrived, and no one asked about his relationship with Brandy.
Though they seemed to all know one another, they included him in conversations and jokes.
Beer flowed freely, and snacks of crudités and nuts quickly vanished.
A tall, thin woman stood near a table and tossed a candy-coated chocolate in her mouth every thirty seconds. Her coordination and timing were impressive.
As the afternoon drew on, the noise level steadily increased, not at all helped by the dogs’ excitement.
Some guests moved into the living room, braver ones went outside with the beer or soft drinks, but most stayed in the kitchen.
He enjoyed watching Brandy interact, moving from conversation to conversation with ease, calling out answers to questions from across the room, and opening beer bottles for others without being asked.
She even glanced in his direction a few times to make sure he was holding his own.
Here or at the Den, Brandy was the perfect hostess. “It appears I should get the grill going,” he said when she poured more candy into the dish.
“Good plan. Do you prefer matches or a flamethrower, Sir?”
“Flamethrower,” he said.
“Of course, Sir. It’s in there.” She pointed toward a drawer then grabbed the hamburgers from the refrigerator. “The cooking utensils and seasonings are already outside.”
“You did a lot of preparation ahead of time.”
She shot him a glance and blushed slightly. “I wanted to have some free time in case you arrived early.”
“I’m glad you did.” Since there were other people around, they weren’t able to continue the conversation.
Good thing.
Thinking about private time with her made him hard as a rock, and his dick might have demanded he take her in her bedroom and lock the door, bend her over the bed, and clamp a hand over her mouth so no one could hear her screams of pleasure.
Instead, he cracked his knuckles then grabbed the long, thin lighter. “Show me the way.”
He followed her through the carport and into the backyard.
The evening air was brisk. With the shorter days, it wouldn’t be long before dusk descended.
She had set up a small table next to the grill and she put the platter on top of it.
“Looks as if you thought of everything,” he said, eyeing the extra plates, assorted spices, and a long-handled spatula.
Brandy folded her arms and rubbed them as he lit the grill.
“What? Didn’t think I was capable?” he asked.
“I just wanted to watch you work.”
“Your nipples are hard.”
“Really? It’s just from the cold,” she assured him.
Pretty little liar.
“Anticipating what will happen later when I’m unrelenting with you?”
She blushed. “And I’m remembering the night at the Den.”
He wasn’t sure he’d ever met a woman more adept at flirtation. “Do we have to feed people before we send them home?”
“I’m afraid so.”
They shared a laugh.
“But I’ve never looked forward to the end of an evening more.”
Then, saying she needed to set out the garnishes and sliced cheese, she excused herself.
Hypnotized by the sway of her hips, he watched her go.
Within a few minutes, he started cooking the first burgers, and it wasn’t long before one of her male friends joined him.
“Need a hand?”
“John, isn’t it?” Niles asked the tall, lanky man.
The man nodded and offered a beer.
“You’re a friend for life,” Niles said by way of thanks as he accepted the bottle of microbrew.
“So how did you meet Brandy?”
Instead of replying, Niles answered with a question of his own, “Who are you to her?”
“Husband of her best friend.” He shrugged.
“You drew the short straw?” Niles asked with a short laugh. “You had to be the one to check me out, see who I am, what my intentions are?”
John lifted his beer in acknowledgement of the guess. “Margot is curious. Brandy hasn’t brought anyone to a party in at least two years. And since she didn’t say anything in advance, Margot’s freaking out a bit. Those two share everything.”
“I’m not a serial killer.” Niles took a drink of the beer.
“So what do you do for a living?”
Niles studied the man.
Had John seen any of his videos? But then, what would it say about the man if he came right out and asked? “I own a video production company.”
“Anything I might have seen?”
“You tell me.” When John remained silent, but glanced away, Niles continued, “Does your wife know what you watch online?”
“Look, man…” He dragged a hand into his hair.
“Then you know enough to understand that Brandy is safe with me,” Niles finished.
“She means something to you?”
“Enough to ensure her mental and emotional, as well as physical wellbeing.”
After taking a drink, John nodded. “If you hurt her, my wife will kill you.”
His Brandy inspired a lot of loyalty, both from her friends and at the Den.
Before the interrogation could continue, she joined them. “How’s it going?” She stood between them to glance, first at John, then at Niles.
Apparently sensing the tension, she leveled a look at her friend, then asked, “Is Margot making you do her dirty work?”
Niles put down his drink and draped his arm across Brandy’s shoulders, drawing her in close. She laid her head against his chest.
Having her there seemed natural, as if they’d done it a hundred times.
She snuggled in, smelling of promise, and warming him with her sweet body heat.
“Don’t shoot the messenger,” John pleaded.
“Not to worry,” she said. “Master Niles only beats people who ask him nicely.”
“Brandy,” Niles warned, but he couldn’t keep the mirth out of his tone. This tiny spitfire was ruffled on his behalf.
“I’m sorry, Sir, but I won’t have you treated badly when you’re a guest in my home.”
Completely charmed, he gave her a warm smile. “I’m glad you have people who are concerned about you.”
“Really?”
“Besides, I’m the dragon. I can take care of myself, Princess.”
“I met him at a BDSM club,” she told John, as if Niles hadn’t offered that reassurance. “I’ve known him for a number of years,” she added. “And this is not the first time he’s defended my honor, and I instigated our first scene.”
“You do realize that he—?”
“For Christ’s sake, John, yes. Please give me some credit.”
Niles tightened his hold on her.
But that didn’t slow her down. “I ran a background check, and not just because I knew you’d ask if I had.” After a pause, she continued, “This brings up an interesting question, though, doesn’t it? How do you know who he is?”
When the man exhaled, she went on in a gentler tone. “Your job here is done, John. I love you and Margot both, and I appreciate that you care. I’m going to tell your wife to come and spend time with Master Niles and form her own opinions.”
Defeated, John raised his hands.
“I think the hamburgers are burning.” With that, she squirmed from Niles’s grip and strode toward the door.
“No hard feelings?” John asked.
“She’s lucky to have friends like you,” Niles responded.
Maybe as a peace offering, John grabbed a plate, and Niles transferred the meat onto it.
The man carried it inside while Niles put on the next batch.
Glad for a little solitude, he stood in front of the grill, drinking the last of his beer, watching the first tendrils of the orange sunset.
Beneath the wide-open sky, it was easy to understand the appeal of her lifestyle.
The views were spectacular.
The cabin he was staying at contained no personal effects. It had been decorated to appeal to hunters and fishermen, with a bare minimum of nicer touches so that women didn’t feel out of place.
In contrast, Brandy had created a home.
Her place was cozy, lived in, as the strewn-about dog toys proved.
Nearby, she even had a greenhouse, with huge plants inside. Though he’d be hard-pressed to identify any of them, he surmised it took a certain amount of attention to grow them that big. It was another outward sign of her nurturing personality.
Because he was still cooking, Brandy brought him a fresh beer along with a plate filled with potato salad, carrots, fruit, and one of the charred burgers. He was grateful no one had criticized his barbecuing skills—at least not to his face.
The dogs spent a significant amount of time sitting near him—hoping to scavenge bits of meat, he was sure. He glanced around, looking for Brandy before splitting an overdone patty in half and feeding it to the animals.
“That’s one way to stop MW from biting your feet,” John observed. “I was sent to light the chimenea. Penance for pissing off both women.”
“Tough times,” Niles agreed.
“I’m curious. What’s it like being around so many beautiful women all the time?”
He didn’t have to think about his answer. “Unrewarding. Meaningless.”
“Seriously, man?”
“Be grateful for what you have.”
“Sounds as if you’re part philosopher.”
Niles tipped back his beer bottle. “Maybe life makes us into one.”
John grabbed the flamethrower and set about lighting the small chimenea fire while Niles, his duties over, turned off the grill.
The warmth and glow from the chimney drew a small crowd, and he was soon engaged in conversations with people who had a much different approach to life than he did. He chatted with a ski instructor who worked only a few months a year, a fly-fishing guide, and a stay-at-home father.
Margot and John ran a small breakfast restaurant in Grand Lake, so they were among the first to leave, but Margot narrowed her gaze at Niles in a silent reminder that she wasn’t certain about his intentions.
Attending events like this—and answering questions from inquisitive friends who were questioning his motives—wasn’t at the top of his list of ways to spend a Saturday night.
Surprisingly, though, he couldn’t think of a single thing he’d rather do.
Now, as Brandy said goodbye to the last of her guests, he made sure the fire was out before going inside and tackling the arduous task of loading the dishwasher.
Even when it was full, the counters and tabletop were still filled with items needing to be washed, and he sought out dish soap.
The contrast between her kitchen and his pristine one startled him. It made him see how empty and solitary his life was.
When Eleanor had been alive, they’d had a whirlwind social life. She’d been a prominent attorney, and he’d been an investment broker. Both had been aware of the need to network their way to success.
On the rare occasions when they had entertained, Eleanor had hired caterers.
In his entire life, he’d never dealt with a party aftermath like this.
“Are you scared off?” she asked, coming back into the house after taking care of the dogs.
She flipped the switch to turn off the outdoor lights.
“Despite the terror gnawing at me, I’m still here,” he said.
“That’s right. After all, you are a big, bad, brave dragon, right?” she teased. “But honestly, Sir, you didn’t need to pitch in.”
He reached for yet another dish.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done, but I’ll handle the rest of the clean-up tomorrow morning.” She propped her hips against a cupboard and looked at him. “I hope you enjoyed the event, at least a little. You did great on the burgers.”
“They were charred.”
She grinned as she pointed out, “That’s much better than raw, right?”
“Are you always an optimist?”
“Guilty.”
“And yeah. I did enjoy myself.” He took a sip from his now-warm beer. “Even though you didn’t need me.”
“Of course I needed you, Sir.”
“John could have handled it. He owns a restaurant.”
She had the good grace to flush a bit. “I like to let him relax when he comes here. The guy who does most of the cooking really is out of town.”
“Fair enough.” He believed her. She would think about her friends and how they deserved the chance to rest. It endeared her to him even more. “Where can I find the dish soap? I looked under the sink.”
“Why do you ask?”
“So I can finish up here.”
“Really, Sir. You’ve helped enough.”
Her tone was abrupt, and a scowl was wedged between her eyebrows.
Keeping his voice light, he asked, “Do you refuse everyone’s help?”
“Not at all.”
“Then the problem is me.”
“No! It’s…” She sucked in a breath. “Well, yes, it is you. You’re a Dom.”
“Doms are incapable of washing dishes? They need to put up their feet and have a cocktail while you do all the housework and come to bed exhausted? For good measure, you could be scolded for not moving faster and rubbing my back?”
She cracked a small smile. “Sounds ridiculous when you say it like that.”
“It is ridiculous,” he agreed. “I want to get you naked. The sooner that happens, the better.”
“Stop.” Her scowl returned.
Niles turned toward her. “I’ve made you uncomfortable. Tell me why.”
When she remained silent, he added, “I’ve somehow blundered into one of your emotional limits, and I’d like to understand why.” He wasn’t sure what in the hell had happened in the last thirty seconds, but goddamn if he’d let it go.
“I think it means something if you help me with chores.”
“Only has the meaning you give it. Can you accept help from a friend?”
“A friend? That’s not exactly how I see you, Sir.” She sighed.
He waited.
Finally, she expanded on what she meant. “People in relationships help each other with dishes.”
“Ah. So if I help you, I have to move in? Or maybe I drag you to my home and force you to cook and clean for me? You would look good in a pretty little maid’s outfit.”
She laughed, scattering the tension. “You’re being outrageous.”
“Am I?” He looped his arms around her waist and drew her close. “I hear nervousness in your voice, but it’s okay for us to relax around each other. And to be honest, I’d prefer to deal with this tonight instead of facing it in the morning before I’ve had my coffee.”
Her breath caught. “Does that mean you’re spending the night?”
Her question held a note of hesitation, something at odds with the confident person she projected.
This evening, he was witnessing the real Brandy, rather than the submissive personality she presented at the Den.
“I apologize for being presumptuous.” He folded his arms across his chest. “I’d like to spend the night, but the choice is yours.”
As he inhaled her sweetness, his body responded to hers.
He’d be a gentleman if that’s what she wanted, but his cock was voting in favor of her asking him not to leave.
Beautiful Brandy trembled.
And he ached.
What decision would she make?