Connor stayed outdoors after Grayson ushered Avery back inside. He could tell by the sheriff’s look he wasn’t happy with her subterfuge, but they both knew the blame belonged to Tam and Nan. Tam was the one who had disobeyed his instructions to come find him so he could take her home after she’d recuperated in the hot tub. He’d wanted that quiet, alone time with her to assure himself she was okay after that intense scene. Of the three, Nan knew the rules and the Doms best and she shouldn’t have aided and abetted her friend in disobeying them and then lied to him about it. It would be up to him to decide the experienced sub’s punishment, but not now, not tonight.
Leaning his forearms on the rail, his gaze shifted from the darkened trees up to the nighttime, star-studded sky. Tam’s hair was as inky black as the endless expanse above him and he used to love watching the way her long tresses would fly out behind her as she galloped across the fields, her body swaying in tune with her horse as her high-pitched laughter of sheer delight reached him on the wind. She’d been twelve when she had attempted her first jump over the fence separating their properties and he’d never forget the way his heart lodged in his throat as she tumbled off going over. He’d made a mad dash across the field, his hands trembling with worry only to find her laughing on the ground, looking up at him red-faced with exhilaration.
Just like that afternoon, tonight he didn’t know whether to throttle her for worrying him by taking off without giving him the chance to ensure they were still on good footing or hold her close until he could get his conflicting emotions sorted out.
“I see you’re brooding again.”
Connor replied to Caden without turning around. “Go away.”
“That’s original. You obviously weren’t happy with Tamara since you pawned her off after your scene, and yet you’re still pouting now that she’s gone instead of going after her like any self-respecting Dom would, and should do. Why don’t you give it up and go claim your girl?” Caden drawled with a hint of irritation. Moving up to the rail, his brother cocked his head as he peered down at Connor who refused to straighten from his contemplative position.
“She’s not my girl the same way Sydney is yours.”
Caden snorted rudely. “You’re so fucking pig-head
ed.”
Connor straightened and glared at him. “Damn it, Caden. She’s white picket fences and PTA meetings and I’m… this.” Frustrated, he thrust out an arm toward the activities going on behind the sliding glass doors.
Remaining calm, Caden asked, “Why can’t she, and you be both?”
He flicked him a derisive look before turning back to the rail and bracing his hands on it. “Yeah, right. Can you see me tied down to one woman?”
“If she’s the right woman, then yes. But since you can’t, consider this and then answer that question yourself. It took me a while, but I managed to put two and two together. Last fall, your mood swings mimicked those of a woman going through menopause and started right after you ended things with Annie.”
“Yeah, so? She cheated on me, and I never made a secret of why we split,” he replied, wondering where Caden was going by dredging up old history.
“My memory must be better than yours, because I recall you were already showing less interest in her a few weeks before that, right about the time rumors of Tamara Barton’s engagement reached town.”
An annoying clutch gripped Connor’s abdomen. “What’s your point, Caden?”
Caden laughed and slapped him on the back. “Think about it, brother of mine. I think you’ve known for a while she’s the only one for you.”
Connor looked at Caden’s retreating back with a puzzled frown. What the hell was he talking about? But the longer he stood there, gazing out at nothing as he thought about what had gone through his head when he’d heard Tam was to get married, the more he realized how obtuse he’d been. His morose mood swings had started about that time, his discontent with playing here at the club had also begun soon after hearing about her engagement. And wouldn’t you know it? He’d been in a better mood and frame of mind ever since he’d learned she had returned home for good after ending her wedding plans. “Son of a bitch,” he swore.
When he couldn’t drum up any enthusiasm for seeking another sub and picturing Tam with another Dom pierced his gut with a stab of painful fury, he lost the final battle to hold himself in check. He’d been right to back away when she first showed signs of wanting more than friendship from him. She’d been too young ten years ago, barely twenty and in college, and he’d just started exploring his interest in the BDSM lifestyle. But he’d been wrong to push her away five years ago, a complete ass for taking out his fear of change and of losing their special connection on her in a way that sent her fleeing.
Pushing away from the rail, he stalked around to the parking lot as a familiar thrill shot through his body, one he’d been denying for weeks, ever since experiencing it upon seeing her in his club the first time. His heart thudded and his cock stirred as he imagined making Tam his in every way.
Connor pulled into the Barton’s drive in time to catch the taillights of a departing vehicle. Assuming it was one of the ranch hands taking off for the night, he hopped out and strode up to the front porch, stopping only when Tam flung open the front door wearing a cute scowl that changed to a comical, wide-eyed look of surprise. Stifling the urge to grin, he pasted on his best Dom face and stalked toward her with slow measured steps, never pausing until she backed up and he entered the house. Closing the door behind him with a loud snick, he stalked toward her, a tingling buzz of lustful expectation he hadn’t felt in way too long dancing down his spine.
“What are you doing here?” she asked with suspicion and a flare of excitement shining in her eyes.
“For starters, to confess I’ve been an idiot.”
One slim brow winged up as she retreated another step. “I won’t argue with that.”
Connor let the lust that had been simmering under the surface for weeks free to take him where he now knew, without a doubt, he wanted to go. “You want change between us, and I’ve always tried to give you what you want, right?”
Tamara’s pulse spiked as she continued to back away from Con, Master Con if she wasn’t mistaken by the look on his face and in those cobalt eyes. Her pounding heart tumbled, just like the first time she’d gazed into those enigmatic eyes. Several years later, that tumble had included a flutter in her abdomen, the same tickle now tightening her stomach. Soon after, she’d been old enough to respond with a damp clutch between her legs to go along with the tumble and flutter, the same reaction she experienced the minute she opened the door and saw him coming toward her with a look of intent purpose.
He hadn’t put on a jacket or even a shirt, and she found herself hard-pressed not to rush forward and lean against all those rippling muscles just so she could see if his heartbeat matched the chaotic rhythm of hers. Regardless of the surge of heated awareness gushing through her veins and a giddy sense of relief and happiness warming her chest, she refused to make this easy for him.
“What changed your mind?” she asked as he backed her against the wall inside the kitchen and tossed his hat onto a chair. The gleam in his eyes tripped her pulse and made her question whether she should just go with this sudden change of heart or continue to question his about-face.
“Let’s just say big brother Caden pointed something out to me.” Connor spotted Amy’s note and nodded his head as if satisfied with what he read before shifting his glance toward the melting ice cream. A rueful twist curled his mouth as he cut his gaze back to her. “Double chocolate chip. You must be really upset with me. Let’s see if I can remedy that.”
Before Tamara could grasp his intent, Connor braced his hands on the wall behind her, leaned down and gave her what she’d been craving for years. The kiss was as forceful, demanding and mind boggling as she imagined it would be. He didn’t start soft, didn’t coax his way inside her mouth and didn’t tease her into returning the kiss. His lips moved with rough possession over hers, his tongue shoving past her trembling gasp to forage inside her mouth and stroke, lick and explore. To take.