Epilogue
One Week Later
When Candace had called her parents and told them she was done with the big city and was coming home they’d been overjoyed. She traded in her Mercedes GT Convertible for a Hyundai SUV, and as she turned down the dirt road that lead to her family home her heart soared.
Then skipped.
As she followed a slight bend in the road she had to hit her brakes. Blocking her way was a black Ford F150, and her former boyfriend was leaning against the hood wearing a white short-sleeved T-shirt, denim jeans and boots. He looked even sexier than she remembered, and she suddenly longed to be wrapped up in his tanned, muscled arms. As he strode towards her and she lowered her window, butterflies suddenly fluttered in her stomach and she felt her face burn red.
“Hey, Miss Sugar Cane, it’s about time you showed up. Do you know how long I’ve been waiting?”
Hearing the nickname he’d given her reminded her of the many happy times they’d spent together, and she prayed it meant he didn’t hate her for leaving.
“Hi, Magic Man,” she replied, hoping she didn’t appear as unnerved as she felt. “I don’t understand. I’m not late. I told mom and dad I’d be here around noon and it’s just five minutes past. By the way, have you been body-building?”
“In a way. I put up a new barn and renovated my house. I guess you could say I’ve been lifting weights every day, but do you think I’ve been waiting here just five minutes? Don’t answer that, not yet. First, get out of that SUV. You need a welcome home hug.”
“You’re not mad at me any more?”
“A little bit,” he said with a wink.
As he opened the door and she climbed out, his arms came around her and she sank against him. But unexpectedly swept up in a surge of emotion she clung to him and fought back the tears.
“I’ve missed you,” she finally managed, slowly pulling back and gazing into his hazel eyes. “I didn’t know how much until right this minute.”
“I missed you too, like crazy, but I knew you’d come home. But I also knew if you hadn’t gone you would have constantly wondered about the big city lights. Now you know the stars here have more to offer.”
“So much more, and now I know where I want to be. So, uh, just how long have you been waiting?”
“I’ve been on this road since the day you left. Every night I’d close my eyes and here I was…and you were driving around that turn towards me just like you did. This is where you belong. Out here in clean air with me and the horses.”
“Honestly, I wouldn’t go back to that life for all the money in the world,” she replied, and as hers tears finally escaped, she thought, I had more than I ever dreamed of, and it was cold and heartless and meant nothing.
“Come on, let’s get you home. Your mom and dad and little sister are on pins and needles waiting for you, and so is Rusty. He knows something’s up. That dog was miserable after you left. He’ll go nuts when he sees you.”
** * **
Donovan and Phoebe had spent most of the morning with Sam learning about a series of art thefts in the U.K. The latest was a priceless painting stolen from a centuries old, stately country home. But it was the fourth such heist in as many months, and Sam told them they’d be leaving for London in a couple of days. Their assignment was to uncover the methodology of the crimes and expose the culprits.
On the long drive back to the hunting lodge Phoebe noticed Donovan was quiet. But she was also deep in thought. Her life had radically changed…was still changing…and many unanswered questions swirled around her head. But as they rolled into the garage and he glanced across at her with his sexy grin, all she wanted was to be at his mercy.
“Go down to the dungeon and take off all your clothes,” he ordered as if reading her mind, “then stand next to the spanking bench, put on a blindfold and wait for me.”
“Uh…yes, Sir,” she managed breathlessly.
“I’m pleased you remembered how to respond. Now go.”
Climbing out and hurrying into the house she tried to calm her nerves, but it was impossible.
* * *
A short time later, wearing only a robe and walking down the stairs into his hedonistic haven, Donovan saw Phoebe waiting just as he’d instructed. Being with her fulfilled him in a way he never thought possible, and though he’d always been a loner, working with her had been a blast. He admired her strong will and independent spirit. But she was also impulsive and that had to change.
“I’m going to position you,” he said as he approached. “We need to have a discussion.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“I’ll talk and you’ll listen. The only time you may speak is to answer a question. If you say anything out of turn you’ll be punished. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Your safe word is Empress. Repeat it.”
“My safe word is Empress. Thank you, Sir.”
Bending her over the padded seat, he secured her wrists to the front bar, then spread her knees wide apart and strapped them down. But as he moved to one of the cabinets, he paused to look back at her.
She was a vision.
His cock stiffened.
Idly stroking himself, he searched out a small, hard paddle and a vibrator, then quickly returned to her side. As he turned it on and pressed it against her clit, she let out a long, low moan, but when he began landing his flattened palm from cheek to cheek she gasped and yelped.
“You know what I do isn’t a game,” he said sternly, increasing the force of his slaps. “Now we’ll be working together you need to understand a few things. The actions I take aren’t arbitrary. Some may seem spontaneous, but in tough situations my mind works with lightning speed. Nothing I do is impulsive! But you, Phoebe, sometimes act without thinking. That has to stop. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“I realize there will be times when you’ll have to make a quick decision,” he declared, moving the vibrator off her pussy. “I may not be around, but if at all possible take a second. Is the risk worth the payoff? What’s the worst case scenario if something goes wrong? Train yourself to see beyond the obvious. It will soon become second nature.”
“Yes, Sir,” she replied breathlessly.
“But don’t be impulsive!” he warned, picking up the paddle and delivering quick hard swats. “Say it.”
“I won’t be impulsive, Sir,” she squealed. “I won’t, I won’t.”
As he smoothed his hand over her reddened skin, she whimpered, then let out a heavy sigh.
“Next, when we’re on a case you’ll meet people, and some will accidentally run into you on purpose. They’ll befriend and charm you, but it will be an act to draw you in and win your trust. Bottom line…” he said sternly, delivering several more hard swats, “don’t trust anyone. That may sound harsh, but it could save both our lives. Say it.”
“I mustn’t trust anyone, Sir,” she bleated. “I’ll remember.”
“Finally, don’t hold anything back from me,” he ordered, landing the paddle on the back of her thighs. “If you’re scared, tell me, if you suspect someone of something, tell me. If you notice something and I’m not around, write it down so you don’t forget. The small details can often be the most important. Tell me absolutely everything. Say it.”
“I’ll tell you absolutely everything, Sir.”
“Good,” he murmured, placing the vibrator back against her sex. “Let me know when you’re on the edge.”
Gazing at her crimson cheeks and listening to her moans, he could’t help but slide his hand up and down his stiff shaft.
“I’m there, Sir,” she suddenly cried.
Quickly turning off the vibrator and unbuckling the straps, he lifted her off the bench, carried her to the bed and laid her down. Gazing at her as he retrieved a condom from his pocket and sheathed his hardness—he experienced an epiphany.
Everything about them was right.
Climbing on top of her and pinning her arms above her head, he positioned himself at her entrance and thrust into her warmth. As he urgently stroked and listened to her utterances of pleasure, in minutes his climax began to build.
“May I…?” she begged. “Please…?”
He wanted to slow down, to tease her and make her wait, but her urgent need sent him into his orgasm.
“Yeah, give it to me, baby, give it to me now!”
* * *
They had been drifting in the post-orgasmic bliss when Donovan’s eyes popped open.
“Phoebe, I want you living with me full time. I want you in my home, sleeping in my bed and puttering around in my kitchen.”
The words had spilled out of him almost of their own accord.
But he didn’t want to take them back.
“Did you forget I can’t cook?” she said, shifting in his arms to look up at him.
“Who said anything about cooking? I just want you in my kitchen, but it’s a request. Will you move in with me? If you don’t think you’re ready or—”
“Yes, yes, and yes,” she exclaimed breathlessly. “And if I wasn’t clear, yes, I would love to live with you. Talk about an adrenalin rush!”
“Great. Now that’s settled we should probably get out of this bed and start getting ready for our trip.”
“Can’t we just rest for a few minutes?” she murmured, laying her head back on his chest. “We’ve been in a whirlwind.”
“You’re right,” he mumbled with a sigh and closed his eyes, thinking, maybe I can learn some things from her as well.
THE END