Luscious(35)

But she was going to trust Master Ian. Macon had shown her this world and she liked it. Just because he no longer wanted her didn’t mean someone out there wouldn’t. And if he came back, she would know more than she’d known before. She’d looked over the training contract and there was a strict no-sex policy until Master Ian and Master Kai were sure she was here for the right reasons.

That clause in her contract had given her security. She could breathe easy. She had her safe word. She had her contract. She had mentor Doms and subs who would look out for her.

She simply didn’t have her Master anymore.

The door came open and Lisa poked her head in. “Ally, tap out and get into the kitchen. Serious drama going on. Master Macon showed up with Master Sean and he’s yelling at everyone. I mean everyone. He’s especially pissy with Master No. I mean Master T. Don’t tell anyone I called him that. We all get spanked when we call him that and not the fun kind of spanking.”

Macon was here and he was going after her training Dom? Ally raced down the hall, secure that Lisa and Laurel could handle the kiddos. What was Macon thinking? Fighting another Dom could get him kicked out. And why would he care? He’d made himself plain earlier in the day.

She passed through the back of the house, managing to avoid the larger areas where the scenes would play out. Even from the hall she could hear Macon.

“I swear to god you touch my sub and we’re going to have trouble.”

“I was unaware she was your sub,” came that sexy voice that belonged to Master T. “She sure isn’t wearing a collar now, is she?”

“I’m warning you,” Macon said as she entered the kitchen. His back was to her, but she could see his threats hadn’t made a dent in Master T’s demeanor.

The big Southern Master stood beside Master Ian while Master Sean was beside Macon. The tension was so thick she couldn’t breathe.

Ally was about to speak when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

“Don’t say a word. This is what I like to call a Dom Standoff.” Charlotte Taggart sounded genuinely amused. “Watch them. They’ll get the ruler out soon and compare dick sizes. I turned down the air conditioner just in case. It’ll be icy cold in here soon.”

Macon had realized she was in the room and was frowning her way. “Go back to the daycare, Allyson. I’ll come and get you in a moment.”

He thought he could boss her around now? “Uhm, Master T is right. I’m not wearing your collar, Macon. You kicked me out so I don’t have to do anything you say.”

Master T smiled, though it was really more of a smirk. “That’s right, darlin’. You give him hell. I picked out a sweet training collar for you. Why don’t we go somewhere private and see if it fits.”

Before Master T could say another word, Master Ian’s fist came out and popped him right in the nose.

Master T groaned but rolled his eyes and strode across to the fridge. “You know, Ian, one of these days you’re going to run out of those.”

Ally was fairly certain they were all insane.

“Ten, I told you not to fuck with the pie maker. You’re about to give him a heart attack. Do you see that tic over his left eye? I can’t lose the pie maker,” Ian explained. He turned to Ally. “You want to fix him?”

Macon was staring at her. “Come here, Ally.”

Did she want to fix him? Yes. Did he want to be fixed? She wasn’t so sure about that.

“Go on. He’s on the edge,” Charlotte whispered in her ear. “He can go one of two ways. You fight him and he’ll probably go insane. But if you submit, I think he won’t be able to help himself. Your choice, Ally. Decide if you want him right now.”

There was no decision to be made. She walked to him and then pointedly chose his right side. She sank to her knees, clinging to his damaged leg. She needed him to know that she loved every part of him.

His hand came down and she felt him sigh. His palm covered her scalp. “Master Ian, I know I’m still in training, but I would prefer you didn’t pawn off my submissive to other Doms.”

Master Ian gave him a thumbs-up. “Done. She’s all yours, buddy.”

“So I take it you won’t be heading back to New York,” Master Sean said and then whistled. “Wow, I think my brother loves you. He just went pale at the very thought of you leaving.”

Charlotte took her husband’s hand. “Come on, baby. Let’s get you a drink. I know this breakup has been rough on you, but it’s all right now. The pie guy is staying. Right?”

There was a definite “or else” to Charlotte’s tone.

“I’m staying, but I need to talk to Allyson alone.” Macon’s hand stroked her hair.

“Use one of the guest rooms. They’re set up as privacy rooms for the evening,” Charlotte explained. “Come on, Ten. I’ll get you a drink, too, and we’ll find you a girl to spank tomorrow.”

“Laurel. I think he should definitely work with Laurel.” Ally offered up her new friend. Hey, the threat of being with Master No seemed to have worked for her.

Ian Taggart got to one knee. He was a big, gorgeous beast of a man. “You wouldn’t happen to be attempting to help Laurel make Mitchell Bradford jealous, would you?”

He was also intimidating as hell. The hand on her head stroked, letting her know Macon would protect her. “I only know Laurel is very ready to start her journey, Sir.”

One side of Big Tag’s mouth tugged up. “I like the way you think, mini pie maker. You two should fuck regularly and have a bunch of pie-making babies.” He stood up. “Ten, let’s go introduce you to Laurel.”

“Am I going to get punched again?” he asked, his voice tight.

“Not by me, buddy. I’m hoarding mine.”

“Yeah, well, you seem to find a ton of ways around those rules, asshole,” Master T was saying as they left the room.

“I’m going to find my wife,” Chef Taggart said. “See you two for dinner service tomorrow.”

The kitchen was suddenly quiet, though she could hear the low thud of music coming from the front of the house. She was alone with Macon and she had to wonder if he’d only been jealous and if they wouldn’t be right back where they’d started.

“Come on, baby.” His voice was harsh as though he’d been screaming at someone and it had hurt his vocal chords.

She glanced up and he was reaching down to help her. She got to her feet and he started to lead her away. He didn’t say anything else, merely led her through the hallway and down to a room she hadn’t been in before. He turned on the light and she could see it was a small guestroom with a queen-sized bed. It would have been a perfectly normal room except for the spanking bench to the side of the bed and the hooks hanging from the ceiling. She was fairly certain there would be instruments of erotic torture in the closet.

What did Macon want to say to her? Was he already regretting the scene he’d caused?

The minute the door was closed, he was on her. He dragged her close and his mouth devoured hers. “Please forgive me.”

“Macon? What are you talking about? I need you to forgive me.”

His head shook even as he kept his forehead against hers. “I pushed you to it. I wouldn’t talk to you because I thought it should have been me. I was ashamed.”

Her heart ached for him. “Never. You survived. I love you. I love you so much. I never want to hear you say that again.”

“I’ve been angry, Ally. I think I’ve been angry most of my life and I wouldn’t admit it. I was so mad at you. Hell, I was mad at Adam and I finally figured out why.” He tugged at her shirt, dragging it up and over her head. His hands went straight to her bra, undoing the fasteners and pulling it off.

“Why?” She was compliant, allowing him to do the work he seemed to need. If he wanted her naked, she could do that for him. “Adam simply told you the truth.”

“Because if he’d waited a couple of days we would have been married and I wouldn’t have been able to shove you aside. I would have been forced to deal with you. I was so mad he couldn’t have waited a couple of days.”

She sighed, reaching up to touch his face. “Baby, it’s better this way. It’s better to start our lives together honestly. I can see that now. I wanted you too badly to risk losing you. You’re everything I could have hoped for.”

“How do you do that to me? I’ve got nothing right now. I used to have money and a career that I trained my whole life for. I used to be whole, but somehow when you look at me like you’re doing now—I’m more than I was. I’m greater than I used to be. How is that possible?”

“I don’t know, but I feel the same and I don’t want to lose it.”

He crowded her, moving her toward the bed until the backs of her legs hit the side. “Marry me.”

“Yes.” She would never say no to him when it came to being together. He was arrogant and hardheaded at times, but she belonged with him.

He pushed at her jeans and she helped him this time, shoving them over her thighs and dragging her panties with them. She kicked off her sandals and she was naked before him.

“And you won’t be playing with that Southern dickwad,” he proclaimed.