Master Page 3

  His attributes as a burglar weren't tested as a few minutes later a silver sports car pulled up alongside him. Cade straightened up and watched as the car door opened and Anna got out. She slammed the door and walked across to stand within a few feet of him. Not too close, he noticed in disgust. What the hell did she think he was going to do to her?

  A light breeze caught the ends of her hair, and it fanned around her like a cape of red silk. The sight reminded him of seeing it spread over her pillow, as she writhed beneath him, chanting his name like an incantation, her body flushed and waiting … and…

  Shit. Calm down, there's as much likelihood of making love with her … or anything remotely like it as there is of me joining the priesthood.

  "Linsey and Athol both know that I know you're here, and that I'm here as well." She stood in front of him, legs apart and her back straight, obviously with the intention of her stance conveying strength and belligerence. "So, I've got to phone them every half hour, or the police will arrive. I'm talking to you because I want to, not because I've got to, because no one can make me, and I'm guessing you'll bug me until I do, but once I have then you're to leave me alone, or I'll be the one calling the police, and they're big on crushing stalkers up here. Do you understand?" She gulped in air. It was no wonder, after such a long sentence. Cade doubted she drew breath as she said what she'd obviously been rehearsing all the way to her house. Only someone so attuned to read people as he was able to would have noticed the trepidation she felt. It wasn't in Cade's mind to worry or scare her. Excite and arouse maybe, but not here and not now. His mind processed her somewhat complicated sentence, and he nodded.

  "Say it," Anna demanded. He decided not to mention he was the one who demanded in a relationship. This exchange of words could in no way be described as such.

  "I understand. You're here with me because you want to be." And if either of them believed it was what she wanted, there was a bridge somewhere for someone to sell them. "Athol said to tell you it's the will of the tribe."

  "No, you asshole." Her voice wavered and strengthened. "The last place I want to be is with you. But I've decided that you'd be a pain in the ass until we spoke, and Linsey is so excited you're going to demonstrate or tutor or whatever it is you do, I thought I'd listen to you, and then you can go and do what you have to do, and I can do what I have to. And as for Athol and his will of the tribe? Not in a million years, so you can forget that, buster."

  He shook his head to relieve the ringing in his ears. "Fair enough. Do you always talk in such long and convoluted sentences?"

  She flushed, and he saw her hands firm into fists. Cade tightened his muscles again, but she just gave him a look of such contempt, he was hard pressed to hold back his grin. His feisty-only-in-bed redhead had turned into one hell of a woman. He decided not to ask her anything about Athol's cryptic statement.

  "No."

  Well, that was short enough. Cade stood back and watched Anna unlock the door. A scrabble of paws across the wooden floor he glimpsed beyond the threshold had him stiffening. So it wasn't a recording of a dog's bark she used to repel invaders, it was the real thing. A big ball of black and white dog careened out of the doorway, and with an excited bark, rolled on its back in front of Anna. She giggled and bent to rub the dog's tummy, giving him an unexpected peek of her thighs and a hint of firm buttock. He half thought he saw a flash of red thong disappearing between her butt cheeks, but decided it was wishful thinking. His Diana would never wear anything like that. It had been one of their sticking points.

  But she's not your Diana now, is she? Cade waited patiently until she straightened up and glared at him over her shoulder.

  "Were you looking at my ass?" Anna demanded. He noticed the tell-tale blush on her cheeks and did a mental high five. So she might sound annoyed, but her body was showing different. Maybe this was going to be an interesting meeting.

  "Oh yes. Nicer than I remembered."

  "Bastard." There was no anger in her voice. "Dickens, meet Cade. Friend, Dickens, he's a friend. Well, until I tell you otherwise."

  Cade held his hand out, hoping the Old English Sheepdog understood what friend meant, and that Anna hadn't taught the dog that when she said friend he attacked. Luckily, she hadn't. The dog padded over to him, sat on his haunches and offered a paw, which Cade took, before he scratched Dickens behind the ears.

  "See, he likes you." The unspoken words for now hung in the air. "Okay, you'd better come in. Shut the door, please."

  Cade did as she asked and followed her and the dog across the hallway and into another room. He looked around him, surprised at what he saw. When they'd lived together, their home had been all cool, calm colors, minimalistic and modern. This was the very opposite.

  "Er." He waved his hand towards the soft squidgy-looking settee. "It looks comfy."

  Anna turned to him and smiled. He'd bet his new Shibari cord she had no idea what her smile did to him. Every fiber of him wanted to grab her, hold her clit to cock, and kiss her senseless. Before he used that new rope on her and showed her how beautiful she would look dressed—or undressed—only in that. His body shook with the effort of remaining where he was and having the poker face he was famed for.

  "It is. Try it out while I get some coffee."

  The way she spoke, as if his input into the proceedings was irrelevant, made him grit his teeth. Her next words made his blood boil.

  "Then you can tell me why you felt you had to come and stalk me at home."

  ****

  The waves of anger that emanated from Cade were enough to make her tremble, but Anna managed to walk into the kitchen before her hands started to shake and her legs wobbled. He hadn't changed. Still all Dom and masterful, and still exuding power and sex appeal. The first three she could cope with. Anna knew even after all these years Cade was honorable, and if she chose to say no he might question exactly what no meant, but would accept it, if it was meant. The sheer magnetism of him was not so easy to ignore. Anna could tell from the very first glimpse of him that he still had the ability to arouse her. However her body might want him, her heart wouldn't allow it. Once was enough.

  "Tea, coffee, or juice?" she shouted as she filled the kettle and then lifted two mugs down from the shelf.

  "You." The voice came from directly behind her.

  She screamed and dropped the mugs. They bounced off the edge of the sink and shattered on the quarry-tiled floor.

  "Asshole, what the fuck are you doing frightening me like that?" Anna whirled round and glared at Cade who was standing so close that her hands brushed his crotch. His cock responded with alacrity at that casual brush of her palm, and she bit her bottom lip.

  "Thinking with your gonads, not your brain, Cade? Move so I can pick the shards up."

  His eyes narrowed, but Anna couldn't have cared less. He wasn't her boss, her Dom, or her better. In spite of the broken crockery, the kettle steaming away over her shoulder, and the hard, dark look in his eye, she could have punched the air and high fived herself. She wasn't worried about his reactions, and she felt free.

  "I'll do it."

  Anna found her feet were off the ground as Cade lifted her effortlessly over the mess on the floor and sat her on the work surface across the room. "Don't argue, please, Di ... er Anna. I startled you. It was my fault; therefore, I clear up. If you tell me where the dustpan is?"

  "Left hand side cupboard." Anna pointed. If he wanted to play Mr. Sorry-it-was-my-fault, who was she to argue? She leaned back against the wall and watched, as he made sure every splinter of porcelain was cleared up and wrapped in a sheet of newspaper before he deposited it in the bin.

  "Right, now let's have that coffee." Anna began to slide down to stand on the floor. A glance from Cade made her check her movement. "What?"

  "Did I say you could get down?"

  Anna couldn't believe what she'd heard. "I beg your pardon? I must have defective hearing, and you must have a death wish. Who the hell do you think you're talking to? T
his is my home, and you mister, are an unwanted guest. No more, no less. So…" She stopped and watched as a dull red stained his cheeks. He had realized what he'd done then. Slipped into his Dom role. Well, not with her, not now.

  "I believe then, I owe you an apology." His voice was toneless.

  Oh shit, I bet that hurt him, well tough.

  "I believe you do." She waited.

  So that is it? That's supposed to be an apology? In his dreams.

  "Caden," she said in a soft tone, the one that had everyone wary and determined to get out of her line of fire. "That wasn't an apology. That was supposed to have me thinking it was. But, you see, now I know better. You don't give a shit about what you've done. All you want to do is pay lip service to what you think needs to be done to get your own way. Once upon a time I'd have accepted that, and we'd have carried on as you wanted. Yes, as you wanted, not as I or we did. But you see I'm not twenty anymore, and I have a voice and a mind of my own. And the ability to think for myself. Which includes moving and making coffee in my own home. So, would you like a cup of coffee? Or shall we go next door, say our piece, and you can bugger off, and I can go to bed and get some sleep. It's been a long day." Anna hoped to hell her knees weren't knocking, Standing up to Cade when every nerve end, every sense was screaming submit, was hard. Very hard.

  "Coffee." Just one word, said in a monotone and accompanied by a scowl, but it was enough to unlock her muscles and let her move across the room. She walked around Caden, who stood silent in her way, and grinned to herself. He didn't frighten her. He never had. Anna had been privy to his softer side and knew however harsh he might seem he was in every sense an honorable man.

  She made the coffee without speaking, mentally damning herself for remembering how he liked it.

  Be honest, you've forgotten nothing. That's half the problem. As soon as the coffee was ready she loaded the jug, some mugs, and the milk jug onto a tray, and added a tin of biscuits.

  "May I?" Cade gestured to the tray.

  "Of course." Anna handed it to him and preceded him into the lounge. "If you could put it on that little table, I'll pour."

  Cade nodded and did as asked before standing next to the settee. "May I sit down?" The overuse of politeness was enough to make Anna clench her fingers.

  Prick.

  "Suit yourself and stop sulking." The flare of anger in his eyes had her pelvic floor tightening enough to hold a pencil in place—and write her name. "Oh sit down, Cade, and let's get this over with. You want an explanation, and I want closure." She poured two cups of coffee and handed him one, daring him to say anything. It had been a standing joke that her coffee making skills were next to useless. Her comeback, whenever Cade had wrinkled his nose and added another heaped spoon of coffee, had been to say, "Ah, but I'm good in bed." There was no chance of her saying it now.

  He took the mug with a soft murmur of thanks. The look he gave her was designed to taunt. To dare her to sit next to him. Anna couldn't have cared less about the dare as such, but had no intention of being seen as a coward. With what she hoped was an outward show of composure, Anna sat on the other end of the settee. It wasn't big enough to put a large gap between them, one small wriggle and she'd be in—or over—his lap.

  The silence wasn't uncomfortable, but Anna squirmed inside. She wanted this confrontation to be over and done with. Of course she'd have to be polite to him at the club, for she knew he'd honor his commitments. However, she did have holiday due, and she might just take the coward's way out and book it for when he was due to demonstrate.

  She took a deep breath and the initiative. "So, is this all coincidental, Caden? Or deliberate?"

  He put his mug on the table next to him. "What do you think, Di?"

  Anna stared at him over the top of her mug. "My name is Anna. And you tell me." If he could fence, then so could she. Except she was tired, her feet ached, her clit was doing the Samba, and she needed a pee.

  "My P.A. saw you and recognized you from a picture I have in my office. I checked it was you, contacted your boss about giving some tutorials, and here we are. To find you more beautiful than ever, and an empty shell."

  A picture? She ignored the empty shell taunt. It was too close for comfort.

  "What picture?" Her heart pounded so loud she fancied it vied with the grandfather clock in the hall as to see who could make the loudest noise.

  "The first time I Shibari tied you."

  "You have that on display?" How dare he?

  Cade looked surprised. "Of course. You look beautiful."

  "You bastard." Anna flung her cup, coffee and all, at him as hard as she could. He moved as swift as a leopard, and it glanced off his shoulder and fell to the carpet where it bounced and rolled onto its side. Coffee dripped from it and left dark stains on the pile.

  He looked unmoved. "What a waste of coffee. Are you going to clean it up before it stains?" he asked mildly.

  "No. And I want you to go. Then I can type out my resignation and email it to Linsey. I promised myself once I left you I'd never let myself be a puppet anymore. I never have, and I'm not starting now." Her chest heaved, and she dug her fingernails hard into her palms to stop herself crying. Anna felt betrayed.

  "I never took you for a coward."

  Anna rolled her eyes. "I'm not, but neither am I a sub." Once the words were out, she could have bitten her tongue. Oh if only I believed that. "I'm my own person, Cade. I belong to no one."

  "You were always your own person, Anna." He emphasized her name. "And we belonged to each other, it was a partnership. One you walked out of with just one word. No. Nothing else. I thought you loved me as much as I loved you. We were married, and I hoped that you'd agree to be collared. I looked forward to the time we'd start a family. Instead I came home to an empty house and no explanation."

  "So you did."

  Cade stood and paced the room before going down on his haunches in front of her. His beautiful eyes were clouded, and for the first time Anna truly saw how her rejection had hurt him.

  "You asked too much of me, Cade. You still do. Like I said, we wanted different things, and let's face it, that hasn't changed. But I tell you now, you better remove that picture from where people can see it."

  He looked at her as if she came from another planet. "Why? I told you you're beautiful in it. You can see your body, your trust, and your submission."

  "My nudity, my naivety, and my stupidity, you mean. I'm telling you, Cade, either I get it in writing that you remove it, or I'll sue your ass off. I didn't give permission for you to use it." Anna had no idea if what she said was a pack of lies or not, but now she knew her body was on show, she felt sick. That had been a private, loving moment, something between the two of them. As far as Anna was concerned, it hadn't been for sharing.

  He stood up and frowned before he put his cup on the table. All male, all predator, he towered over her. Not intimidating, but unnerving.

  "You want it removed, you come and get it."

  PART TWO

  Discovery

  Chapter Four

  How Anna gathered up the courage to go into work the next day she had no idea. More than once she picked up the phone to ring in sick. However, she knew if she didn't go in then, she wouldn't go in at all. So she made her mind up, if she had to face anyone, dressed to kill was the way to go. Not slutty, not subbie, but as a woman comfortable in her own skin … even if she wasn't.

  The dress shrieked ‘do not diss with me'. She'd rummaged in the back of the wardrobe and found some killer heels to wear—even if she had a pair of flats in her bag. She, Anna McCourt—yes, she admitted that was her name—was in a take-no-prisoners mode. Grey skirt, black blouse, and high—oh so very high—black heels. She was back.

  Her big entrance was for no reason. For once Linsey wasn't in the office. No one to say hello, how are you, what are you up to? No one to tell her what'd happened. A big empty space.

  Bugger, why did I bother?

  Anna stashed her bag in
the drawer and opened up her computer. Once she'd logged into her emails, she froze.

  There, in black and white was his email name. And the title. 'Up to you now.'

  Fuck him.

  For long seconds she stared at the screen before, with a fatalist attitude, she opened the email.

  'If you've opened this, then it's a start. If you want fulfillment or completion, the next step is up to you. I'm here. I won't wait forever. You have one month, or it goes public. So far it's still in my office.'

  Anna thought it was as well it wasn't her personal computer she was on. Or she'd be looking at an expensive repair bill due to a major meeting of laptop and wall. Instead she threw three pens, one pencil and a glass onto the floor. To her annoyance the floor was carpeted and they bounced.

  As she tried to format a reply, her door opened. Not to admit a person, but a long stick with a pair of white knickers on the end. She saw the funny side and choked, and gurgled.

  "Okay, bastard. Come in and be warned, I hate you. It's official, you are a shit."

  Linsey put her head around the door.

  "Why?"

  Anna rolled her eyes. "Um, because."

  The knickers waved on the stick as if they were in a storm or Brad Pitt was demanding them off … off … off.

  Anna growled. She who thought growling was abhorrent to any sane person.

  "For fuck’s sake, why? Seriously, you knew why I was shit scared, and you still went ahead and threw me to the lions … okay maybe not lions, but king rat at least."

  To her credit Linsey didn't even try to look contrite.

  "You needed it. Whatever you think, you need to confront him. Sort your mind out. Let's face it, Anna; your past is so shaping your now. Don't let it mess up your future too. Even if you decide that it's all over for good and you don't want one of the best Master's around—which I may add would be a crying shame—you need to move on. Master Caden is just that. A master. Be sure if you don't want him, hundreds of others are queuing up for him."