Siren Unleashed

Chapter Four

Ben thought about hanging himself from the nearest well-pruned tree. The resort was gorgeous and tranquil. He could see that even in the dead of night. But there was no peace for him here. There might not be peace for him anywhere.

“Oh. My. God. This is so cool. I’ve never been to Texas before. Are there cowboys here? Do you think they have horses?”

Georgia wouldn’t stop. Her mouth had been running at three hundred miles an hour since the moment—the terrible moment—he’d agreed to let her come along. He’d started thinking of that moment as his own personal Armageddon. The bible had left out a fifth horseman. Sure, Pestilence, Famine, War, and Death were all scary, but Ben was starting to think they had nothing on Petulance.

“Ewww.” She pushed a few buttons on her phone. Yeah, she loved that phone. “Ashton? OMG. I am. You are? Really. No, like horses and cowboys and shit. Seriously?”

Ben turned up the final drive hoping he knew where the hell he was going.

Georgia screeched, the sound threatening to split his skull in two. “No kidding? She did not do that. What is wrong with that girl?”

“Sir?”

Ben sighed. Not only did he have to deal with Georgia’s backseat ramblings to her West Coast friends, he’d been forced to stop in Dallas and pick up Kitten and the kid. Logan Green was the only one who seemed comfortable. He snored lightly from the passenger seat. “What is it, Kitten?”

“Do you know if Nat has been arrested?”

Ben softened. Kitten’s obvious worry for her friend trumped his irritation with everything else in the whole world. “I talked to Chase a couple of hours ago. She was brought in for questioning, but she hasn’t been arrested yet.”

Heavy emphasis on the yet. Chase had seemed fairly sure Kitten’s friend had done the deed. Of course with Chase that didn’t mean a damn thing. If he decided it would be more fun to cover for the chick, he would do it. Ben had gotten every bit of morality between them. Chase often viewed life as one big game, and the people around them were simply chess pieces for his amusement.

“Kitten—I don’t believe Nat killed this man.”

It was sweet, but he had to look at the evidence. “I hope not.”

“Nat would have just gutted the man and called the police.” Kitten sat back. Through the rearview mirror, he could see the stubborn set of her jaw. Kitten still struggled with being assertive, but she held her own much better than she had a month ago. “I’ve seen Nat kill a man. She wouldn’t hide it.”

Kitten had been through a lot, but she hadn’t seen the things Ben had. Natalie Buchanan could have snapped. He wouldn’t blame her if she had, but he had a job to do. “We’ll see, Kitten.”

“Yes, murder,” Georgia continued. “I’m totally working a freaking murder case. Can you believe it? I’m totally an investigator now.”

Fuck, fuck, fuck. He should have left her behind in Dallas. The last thing he needed was Georgia trying to help.

“I’m not sure allowing your sister to investigate Nat’s case is a good idea, Sir.”

Yes, Kitten was showing marked signs of improvement. Ben turned down the long circular drive. He needed to find Chase and figure out what they were going to do with the brat. Chase was better at running people off than Ben was.

A high-pitched giggle came out of Georgia’s mouth, and she slapped at her knee. “You’re so totally right. I’m like one of those Charlie’s Angels. I’m totally the blonde one.”

Ben stopped the car and a staff of valets descended. Logan opened his eyes, stretching his lanky body. “You’ve been a huge help, Logan.”

The kid frowned. “Do you want me to help?”

“Well, I didn’t bring you along for my health.”

Logan got out of the car and stopped the valet who was trying to open Georgia’s door. “Please, allow me.”

Ben got out of the car, helping Kitten. The night was utterly peaceful with the singular exception of Georgia’s ongoing, never-ending recitation of everything that happened to her from the airplane to the diner to the SUV not having satellite radio. Ben looked out over the grounds. A large lake with a lighted fountain was to his left. It was the kind of thing that would be nice to walk around with a sweet woman, talking and enjoying the night. That wasn’t going to happen.

Georgia didn’t even look at Logan as he reached in to help her out. “Yeah, there’s another guy. Uhm, no, not with a ten-foot pole. No, he’s from that little town in Colorado. I know. I kind of thought it was a myth, too. Like who lives in Colorado?”

Logan smiled at her, helped her down, and took her phone and launched it in a perfect spiral throw straight into the lake.

Georgia’s eyes got wide, her mouth dropped open, but for once absolutely nothing came out.

Logan yawned again before giving Ben a little pat on the back. “There. I helped.”

Kitten grinned up at Logan, threading her arm through his. “Sir is very good at throwing phones.”

Logan winked down at her. “Sir is very sick of listening to idiocy. Sir wanted to sleep, but he got to listen to California girl over there prove you really can waste money on a college education. Now, it’s time for Kitten’s feeding. Let’s get you something to eat, sweetheart, and then we’ll check out the dungeon in this place.”

Georgia sputtered behind Logan. “How could you do that?”

Logan never looked back. “It was easy, darlin’. I put my arm back and threw. That’s what they teach us boys in Colorado. You can swim and get it if you like, but I’ll just throw it again. Learn some manners, little girl.”

Okay. He liked the kid.

“You have to fire him, Benny. He’s horrible.” She crossed her arms over her chest before turning her face up and giving him puppy dog eyes. “Benny, I need a little money so I can replace my phone.”

And ruin all of Logan’s good work? “Not a chance. You want a phone? Get a job, Georgie. And you’re bunking with Logan and Kitten. I hope you like the couch. Welcome to my world.”

He walked into the lobby, a rich confection of elegance and Western design. A well-dressed young man waited on him.

“Mr. Dawson, my name is Chris. Here’s the key to your room. Your brother assures me the Internet connection is fine. It’s all he really cared about. Hopefully you’ll appreciate the thousand-thread-count sheets, designer décor, and in-room hot tub.”

That was Chase. He’d already pissed off the staff. Ben gave Chris his smoothest smile. “The resort is gorgeous. I can’t thank you enough for accommodating us on such short notice. Could you tell me where my brother is?”

“Of course. He’s in the dungeon.”

Well that didn’t take long. “I don’t suppose I can just walk down there like this?”

“Fet wear only, Mr. Dawson. I had a set of leathers placed in your locker. Feel free to change.”

Ben sighed. He was dead tired, but he needed to talk to Chase. “Thank you. Please have the luggage sent up to our room. And any minute now a ball of chaos and tears is going to walk through that door. It’s my sister. Feel free to put her in a closet if she misbehaves.”

He followed the signs to the dungeon. His long night wasn’t over yet.

She’d made a horrible mistake. She knew it the minute she left the dungeon and walked into the women’s dressing room.

“Are you all right?” Gaby asked. She didn’t need to change. She ran the place, but she pulled off her daywear in exchange for a leather bustier. It looked like she and Cal would get in some play tonight.

“I wanted to sleep with him.” There. She’d said it. She’d just put it out there. She’d wanted to have sex with a guy she’d just met. She never did that. She didn’t even scene with a guy until she’d known him a couple of months and had him checked out.

But she wanted Sir. Dawson. Whatever his name was. She’d sat there cuddling with him and there was nothing she’d wanted more than to tilt her head up and hope he would kiss her.

Gaby’s eyes got wide. “Really? He’s so…weird.”

Yes, he’d been weird. He’d been awkward at times. After he’d held her for the longest time, he’d been right back to that cold, distant Dom he’d been in the first place, but she saw through that now. It was his mask. She wore one, too, but he’d let her in by sitting there and holding her, his big, strong hands smoothing back her hair. “I like him.”

“Okay. You know I’ve really heard his brother is nicer.”

Nat didn’t want nice. She wanted awkward. And she wanted to know what his tattoo meant. He’d had one on his chest, just under his vest. An eagle and some other stuff. She hadn’t gotten to really look at it. She’d been too busy nuzzling him and feeling safer than she had in forever.

It didn’t make a lick of sense, but it was true. And she wanted to touch him, to kiss him, and to see if she could do this thing. Sex. Damn it. She wanted sex, and she’d been too afraid to ask for it.

“I want him. But I don’t think I should want him.” Misery washed over her. He could be gone tomorrow. “Do you think he’s here with a sub?”

“I can assure you he doesn’t have a submissive. I don’t know much about him, but Julian told me he’s incredibly intelligent and well trained as a Dom. He takes it seriously. I don’t know that he takes sex very seriously. Julian did say he hasn’t been in a real relationship the whole time he’s known him.”

So he was available and not that into commitment. That wasn’t such a bad thing. It wasn’t like she wanted to marry him or anything. She just wanted to experiment a little.

She wanted to forget a lot. She wanted to erase the whole day. She knew she couldn’t do that, but she could forget for the night. She could lie down beside him and revel in that big body because Gaby was right. He was safe.

Julian Lodge was sort of like Satan. No one fucked with him. Julian didn’t care if a person hadn’t known they were fucking with him. He didn’t give passes or listen to logic. Tony hadn’t realized when he sold her to Hawk that he would come under Julian Lodge’s special brand of justice. After Julian had discovered Tony’s involvement in her slave stint, Tony had lost his job, found he no longer had a credit rating, and got his ass put on the no-fly list. He’d committed suicide rather than going to jail, and Nat didn’t feel bad about it. Certainly not after she’d learned she hadn’t been the only woman Tony had sold.

But Sir Dawson was Julian Lodge approved.

And he was so lickable it hurt. Her girl parts, which had seemed to be in a deep freeze, had come roaring back to life. Yes, Sir Dawson was a weirdo, but so was she. His awkward growl was practically a fucking mating call.

She had pink hair and a tongue piercing, and another little jewel in a place that might shock her tattooed hottie. They were a good, casual match.

She’d just never really done casual before. Despite her previous lifestyle, she’d only had sex with two guys, a high school boyfriend and a Dom she’d seen for a few months after college. What happened with Hawk didn’t count. She’d only chosen to sleep with two men.

Sir Dawson would make three.

But more importantly, he would mean she’d survived. But she still worried. “What if he doesn’t want me?”

Gaby sat down beside her, rubbing her shoulders in a way Nat wouldn’t have accepted a few hours before. “He wants you. He sat there holding you for half an hour. He wants you bad. He didn’t find another sub. He went to the bar. As far as I know, he’s still there. Nat, if you want him, you should take him, but there’s something you should know first.”

“He’s the investigator Julian sent.” She wasn’t stupid. A Julian-approved Dom showed up just as she was being investigated for murder. Duh.

Gaby slumped a little. “You’re not mad?”

That Julian gave a shit? “No. Gaby, I didn’t do this. I didn’t know that Stan had a drug problem. I didn’t really know anything. He won’t find bad stuff on me.”

So it was okay to play around with him. Right? It was okay to lose herself in him, just for a night or for however long he stuck around.

Gaby put a hand over hers. “I know that, sweetie. I just don’t want you to ever think I would betray you.”

Nat understood the meaning of betrayal. Gaby hadn’t even come close. “I knew it when I pointed him out. Just tell me I don’t seem slutty.”

Gaby’s smile broke over her face. “Sweetie, you’re the least slutty girl I know. Go for it. Have fun. Live. I don’t know a single person who deserves a little happiness more than you. If Dawson moves you, if you feel a connection to him, then you should follow it. He’s not a dating kind of guy. He’s a D/s guy. I met Cal one night, slept with him because I knew he was the one for me, and then it all went to hell. And we still got married, and we still had kids, and we still have an amazing life. I wouldn’t take back the ‘mistake’ of sleeping with him for anything.”

It was a mistake. But it was one she was willing to make.

It was just a little pleasure. Just a little sex. She hadn’t had a male hand on her body for years until tonight, and she felt a little drugged by it.

She felt more like herself than she had in years. She leaned over and kissed Gaby on the cheek. “Are you having breakfast?”

“You know Saturday morning breakfast is sacred.” Gaby winked her way.

“Well, maybe I will be there this time and maybe I will be having breakfast in bed so don’t wait for me.” She stood up. A giddy joy rushed through her. It was stupid but it was her mistake to make. Hers. Not something forced on her by someone else or by her own fear. This was a stupid-ass mistake she would make because her pussy was attuned to Sir Dawson.

She walked out of the locker room and turned toward the bar, hoping he was still there and hadn’t left for his room where he’d assured her he would be masturbating to thoughts of her. And he’d taken her panties. They’d been in his pocket when she’d walked away from him. The thought of him pulling out her dumb-ass printed panties and playing with them should have creeped her out, but it was all a part of Sir Dawson’s weirdness.

And then she saw him. Big, strong, seemingly cold. He stepped out from the men’s locker room and put his hands on his lean hips as if he was looking for something—or someone. Her? She stopped, giving him a soft smile. He was a Dom. He deserved her softness since he’d given her his gentleness when she’d needed it most.

Sir Dawson stopped, a curious look coming over his face.

She took the initiative. He knew her background. He likely wouldn’t make the first move. “Hey.”

His lips curled up in the hottest smile. “Hi. Your hair reminds me of cotton candy. I like it.”

Yeah, he’d made that clear. It was one of the things she liked about him. He didn’t judge her on her not-so-normal hair choices. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything, sweetheart.” He seemed more relaxed, his whole body moving from tension to an anticipatory stance. “I’m looking for my brother, but he can wait. What can I do for you?”

“Let me make love to you.” That was as boldly as she could put it.

He shook his head as though to clear it, but then a sunny smile came over him. She’d brought that out in him. He’d been so closed off, but now he was grinning at her like he’d hit the lottery. It made it ridiculously easy to walk straight up to him and put her hands on his chest the way she had before, though she didn’t hesitate this time. She ran her hands up his abs, every single cut muscle a pleasure to her fingers. She pushed the vest back, looking at that sexy tat.

“What does it mean?” It was an eagle clutching a rifle, an anchor, and a trident. It looked very patriotic.

He leaned back just a bit, allowing her to see it fully. “It means I got my ass shot off in Afghanistan and various other foreign countries. It’s a SEAL tat. We get them when we leave active duty.”

She could buy that. A Navy SEAL. He’d fought for his country. A warrior. Maybe that was why she felt safe with him.

“Sweetheart, are you sure you want to play with me?” His hands came up, tracing the line of her jaw. “You should be careful.”

“Are you going to hurt me?” He hadn’t before. He’d given her exactly what she needed.

“No.” His thumb found her lower lip, his eyes catching there. “Not at all. Actually I’ve had a horrible day. I’ll be honest with you, I normally wouldn’t do this, but I’ll take it today.” He crowded her, leaning over. “Come up to my room. But not before you tell a friend where you’re going.”

She looked back at Gaby. “Gaby knows. She runs the place.”

He shot Gaby a smile. “Yeah, that’s good, sweetheart. Let’s go upstairs and hope my brother’s not hanging around. I heard he’s in the dungeon. He’s probably playing with a sub, but he can manage on his own for a night.”

She wondered about his brother, the nice one. But he was all she needed. “Can you kiss me, Sir?”

“How do you like to be kissed, sweetheart? I don’t know how your relationships work. Do you want it soft or rough?”

“I want it every way.” She wanted to lose herself. That was all.

He leaned over and pressed his beautiful mouth on hers. Men’s lips shouldn’t be so full and sensual. He was softer than she’d expected, but it was a revelation all the same. He didn’t pull her to him, rather let her cuddle up, her body molding to his. He had to lean over to kiss her, making her feel petite and delicate and feminine, a state she thought she’d left long ago.

He kissed her, his tongue tracing the seam of her lips, asking for entry. He was tentative, not at all the strong dominating presence of before, but she was okay with that. He knew her story. He was treating her with caution. One more reason to like the man.

“You’re awfully sweet.”

She felt sweet. “I’m in a mood, Sir. Take me to your room.”

He took her hand and led her away. Nat followed, her heart pounding. She was ready to find out just how far she’d come.