Make Me, Sir

She melted at his touch and the tender look he gave her and snuggled closer.

Envy rolled through Marcus, and he set it aside. He knew full well the pain of loving the wrong woman was worse than the benefits. Before he and Patricia had divorced, she’d either frozen him out, pretended to love him to get her own way, or had temper tantrums. He’d actually preferred her rages-at least when angry, she’d shared her emotions honestly.

He thought of Gabi and the night she’d spent with him. How she’d snuggled closer to him in bed, how the rebellious spark in her eyes had changed to surrender, how she’d touched him… Those emotions had been honest. Or had they? Could he have misread her completely?

“You okay there, Marcus?” Cullen asked.

This wasn’t the time to indulge in unhappy woolgathering. He dredged up Gramps’s favorite saying. “Fine as frog’s hair, thank you.”

“How’s your brat?”

“My brat seems to have a button she pushes at intervals to switch on a demon inside her.”

Cullen barked a laugh.

“Seriously, she’s like a whipped dog, licking your hand one moment and attacking the next.” Marcus frowned. “I think she knows why, but she won’t tell me.”

Marcus spotted the sub. In a neon blue halter top and vinyl skirt, Gabi had a dragon tattoo running up her shoulder, and earrings resembling golden claws decorating the curve of her ears. His little dragon sub was still sassing the members. “You ever met her, Andrea?”

“Only to fill her drink orders at the bar.”

Marcus studied her. Andrea was a sub, had been a trainee, and was a compassionate woman. “Maybe she’d be more forthcoming with you.”

“Introduce us,” Andrea said after a second’s thought. “I won’t break a confidence, but I’ll talk to her if I can get her alone.”

“Good enough.” As Gabi neared the group, Marcus beckoned for her to join them.

Her eyes lit at the sight of him, but then her lips firmed. When she stiffened her shoulders and raised her chin, he knew she’d decided to smart off. Yes, he could read her, even if he couldn’t figure out her motivation.

She stood in front of him, setting her hands on her hips. “You guys are sure lazy bastards. Don’t you have scenes to do, subs to beat?”

“Kneel. Now.” Marcus pointed to his feet, putting enough snap into the command to get her to obey before her mind could react.

She dropped to her knees and, a second later, glared at him.

He smiled and pulled her between his legs, facing outward. Defiance or not, her sweet body felt just fine under his hands. He squeezed her shoulders, tracing the muscles beneath the soft feminine padding, enjoying the lovely curve of her neck. Wouldn’t she look beautiful in a strapless gown-perhaps a pretty blue to match the streak in her hair. “Gabi, you’ve met Master Cullen. His sub is Andrea. She was a trainee back when he had charge of them.”

Interest brightened Gabi’s face. “Nice to meet you, Andrea.”

Andrea glanced at Cullen and got a headshake-no talking-that made her glower.

Marcus smothered a chuckle and informed Cullen, “From the expression on your sub’s face, she is still not adequately trained.”

“Apparently not.” Cullen’s lips twitched before he frowned darkly at Andrea.

“I’m sorry, Senor.” She buried her head against him and added in a placating, sweet voice, “I love you.”

Cullen snorted. “Nice try, pet. I should still beat you.”

Her whispered “You just did, cabron” carried as clearly as Cullen’s responding bark of laughter.

The wistful expression on Gabi’s face squeezed Marcus’s heart. She wanted what Andrea had with Cullen; he could see her longing. So why did she behave in a way so as to ensure she’d never have such a relationship?

“Although Andrea didn’t live on the streets like you,” Marcus told Gabi, “she grew up in the slums. And she caught grief from the other trainees.”

“But the trainees are nice…” Gabi said, but he heard unhappiness in her voice. Were they giving her trouble?

After getting Cullen’s permission to speak, Andrea said, “Only one sub was obnoxious, and she not only hated my background, but also that the most gorgeous man in the place was interested in me.”

“I wasn’t that interested in you, darlin’,” Marcus protested, earning a snicker from her before she clarified by patting Cullen’s arm.

“This gorgeous man.”

“Which trainee?” Gabi asked.

“She isn’t here anymore.” Andrea’s mouth thinned. “She planted money in my locker so everyone thought I’d stolen from her. Master Marcus and Dan grilled me like a criminal and threw me out of the club.”

Marcus winced. He still felt guilty over the way they’d treated her.

Shocked, Gabi twisted to stare up at the trainer. “You were rude?” She’d thought Mr. Southern Lawyer always acted like a gentleman.

Andrea snorted. “Dan was rude; Master Marcus just backed him up. Of course after I got past wanting to kill them, I realized I did look guilty. And they were so furious thinking I’d betrayed Cullen’s trust, they weren’t seeing clearly. They made a mistake.”

Snickering, Gabi widened her eyes at Marcus. “You mean you’re not God? Nooo, say it isn’t so!”

He leaned forward, cupped her breasts in his powerful hands, and whispered in a slow drawl, “While you are here, li’l sub, I am your god.”

The sound of his deep voice, the feel of his palms as his thumbs grazed over her nipples, turned her insides liquid and melted her bones. Even a god couldn’t turn her on as quickly. She closed her eyes for a second, just to savor being close to him, being touched, then sighed and let it go. Get back in the game, Gabi. “Did the trainee get in trouble at least?”

Andrea laughed. “After the guys finished questioning Vanessa, they left her to Z. By the time he got through with her, she was crying so hard he had to call her a taxi. Then he got her banned from every club-well, pretty much in Florida. I had no idea how well-known he is.

“Anyway, Master Z apologized to me here. Then Master Dan and Master Marcus apologized too, in front of everyone, even though they’d already talked to me before, and I’d forgiven them and everything.” She frowned at Marcus. “You guys almost made me cry.”

“Turning into a regular watering can, aren’t you, love?” Cullen stroked her cheek gently with his huge hand.

“You wish,” Andrea growled and nipped at his fingers. She wrinkled her nose at Marcus. “It was when you two gave me that humongous gift certificate to the best fetish-wear place in Tampa that I got teary-eyed.” She said to Gabi, “My budget didn’t go far, and I always looked like a poor relation in here, so I had a great time buying new clothes. I still haven’t spent it all.”

“I’ve enjoyed the benefits,” Cullen rumbled, running his hand across the low bodice of Andrea’s skintight vinyl dress. “So why don’t you let me admire this new dress from the rear. I’d enjoy a beer.”

“Yes, Sir.” Andrea slid off his lap.

Marcus squeezed Gabi’s shoulder and murmured in her ear. “Grey Goose, please.”

As she shoved to her feet, the “Yes, Sir” came out before she thought. Do better. She sucked in a breath, stuck her hand out, and shouted, “Heil Hitler,” then goose- stepped toward the bar. And tried really hard not to think about the disappointment that had darkened Marcus’s eyes.

Dammit. I hate, hate, hate this.

Master Raoul had been talking to Andrea, but when Gabi reached the bar, he moved away.

Andrea grinned at her. “You’re driving Master Marcus nuts, you know.”

“Yeah. I know.” And making them both unhappy. The lump in her throat made it difficult to talk.