Master A-0002

I didn't deserve her. I knew it. She knew it. Everyone close to me and Georgie knew it. They felt her importance. They loved her. How could they not? My wife was the epitome of elite. Of grace. From her medium-length, wavy blonde hair to her emerald eyes. Her face held a unique beauty that was a cross between classic and pin-up. Her nose was thin and slightly upturned, and her lips were full. I wasn't much of a neck guy, but hers was like a magnet for my kiss. She had curves as tempting as her persuasive words. She sucked in anyone who would listen, and boy did they. There wasn't a soul who didn't gravitate to Georgie. She had the voice of a Siren. She lured, promising a sense of home to whoever she captured with her attention. It was gold for the Secretary of State to have a wife like mine, and maybe our parents knew that when they betrothed us in our early teens, but even they couldn't have dreamed of how perfect we'd be for each other. I loved her from the moment I set eyes on her, and I was lucky that she loved me too. We had a comfortable love. An open and exploratory marriage. Our trust allowed that. Our love was truly that strong. But our demons were as dark as they came, and we were comfortable there. Content, even. Then again, we'd only just started to test our limits in the Gardens.

"Whoa, whoa. Nope." I laughed, but my voice was stern as I eased the wine glass from Georgie's hand. "We have a hunt to get to. Any more wine, and you'll be cutting out early to go knock on poor Jenson's door. Master Four-Ninety-One will not be disturbed. It's auction night. You know he has his own games going on. Besides," I ground out. "You shouldn't be drinking anyway."

Her lips pouted the smallest moment before they stretched into a dazzling smile.

"Let's not think about that right now. I can't. Tell me, it's been a while. If not him, who do you want to see me with?"

My hand slid to the small of her back, pulling her in as I finished off her wine. I sat the empty glass on the table we were standing next to, scanning the busy lounge area next to the bar. When my eyes met bright green, my head tilted.

"Maybe I'm not in the mood to share you tonight."

"No?"

"Not at all."

Surprise only registered for a moment before her smile turned seductive. Georgie lightly bit her bottom lip before letting the expression fade into need. It was no secret to me that she liked being with other men. I wasn't a jealous guy. I enjoyed watching her experience pleasure. But I was protective, and lately my love for her was becoming all too consuming. So was the weight of our duties. I felt myself craving her presence. Needing to see the adoration she held for only me. I was becoming greedy for her affection and just as gluttonous for her touch and attention. I always wanted it, but this was different. It was molding with the husband in me. The protector. The future father. This was new, and it was beginning to be all I could think about.

Bare arms wrapped around my neck, and she pulled me down, brushing her lips to mine.

"You…not in the mood? I knew I wasn't imagining it." The hint of a soft smile reappeared as her eyes stared into my depths. "What's gotten into you lately? You've been different. You've?—"

"Been missing my wife," I cut in, cinching down tighter around her waist. "I've been working a lot. You know how crazy the outside world is right now. I feel like we barely see each other anymore. I don't like it."

"I have been gone a lot too with my own job. I go from Chicago to New York at least twice a week now." Georgie grew quiet, her long lashes rapidly blinking as she stared mindlessly at my lips. When her gaze lifted back to mine, her mouth twisted the smallest amount. "So, you miss me that much?"

"More than you know."

"Enough to finally take a vacation so you can spend time with me on some tropical beach?" She caught herself, backtracking. "You don't like the sun. I'm okay with going back to Scotland. I'll take fucking Switzerland at this point. As long as we can get away and be by ourselves."

"You hate the snow. Georgie." A deep sigh left me, and I couldn't stand how her pout was automatic at my tone. " This is my vacation time. You know that. I can't afford to miss work anymore than this. We've talked about it, over and over. I could be called in at any moment. I can risk the flight time from here. I can't go any further. The Gardens will have to do for the meantime."

"Miami?"

"You can't stand Miami. You said you weren't going back. Besides, the moment you arrived, you'd be hounded by those in our circle. You'd never make it outside, especially not to any beach or pool. They'd suffocate you with parties and games. You'd be miserable."

"Dammit. I hate how you're right."

A hard look took over her beautiful face, and I couldn't stand it. I hated her upset. I hated even more how our arguments always came down to us never spending enough time together. And it wasn't her fault. It was me. Me being on the phone. Me being late. Me not able to leave DC. Me. Me. Me. Always me. Didn't she know I didn't have a choice? That if it was up to me, I'd smother myself in every aspect of her? I was the Secretary of State. She ran her family's businesses. I couldn't have followed suit with my own. I was the second son. My place was here. My duties were here.

"You didn't say you missed me too."

I eased my hold, but only enough to let her sink back into my body on her own accord. And she did. She missed me like crazy. She wouldn't have been angry if she didn't. Still, I wanted to hear her say it.

"You probably don't care if I miss you or not."

"That's a lie, Georgetta, and you know it. You're just upset over the circumstances. It won't always be this way." I turned her back towards the wall, forcing her to take steps into the dark corner, further away from the tables and drunk Masters and Mistresses present. "Say you miss me."

"Maybe I don't want to. Maybe I'm too angry. I'm sick of sharing you with the world."

"Georgie-baby."

"No."

She stepped back into the wall, but I didn't stop as I forced my thigh between her legs and added pressure.

"You miss me. Tell me."

"What do I get if I do?"

"What do you get?"

A chuckle left me as I pressed my body into hers, feeling her breasts at the top of my stomach. My lips leveled by her ear, and I breathed in the alluring mix of her perfume with the alcohol leaving from her deepening breaths. When my hand slid into the slit of her dress, Georgie's breath caught.

"I'll tell you what you get if you don't say it." My fingers eased up her outer thigh, tracing along the sheathed knife fastened next to the gun. I moved over the band, making a path around the hilt but stopping and gripping it. "Maybe I take this knife out and destroy all of Vera's hard work. I'll strip you down and fuck you right here for everyone to see. I'll be rough and mark you up with this knife until you're my own personal crime scene. And when you're screaming my name and begging me to spare that sweet little cunt of mine, they'll all get to hear you admit who you miss. Over and over and over. So, tell me, are we doing this the hard way or the easy way?"

"Elec would?—"

My deep laugh had her biting her tongue and growing quiet.

"Your cousin will do what? Baby, you've made the mistake of trying to use him against me before. That didn't go well for you. Marriages are off-limits so long as I'm not hurting you without your consent. He knows it. They all know it. If I recall, not only did he sit by and watch me pump you full of cum, but he also didn't interfere when I called in our friends."

"He knew I wanted it," she snapped. "But if I didn't?—"

" But you do ," I said huskily, pulling the knife free to bring up to the side of her throat. "I bet your pussy's so wet for me right now. Just the thought of me taking you in front of everyone here gets you off. It's not even them…it's me. You want me. You miss me. This. Us. Love, be a good girl." I pushed the tip of the blade into her pulse point enough to have her gasp. "Say it."

The slight shaking taking over her body grew at the slow descent of my hand.

"I miss you. I miss you every day. Every hour. I can't stand us being apart so much." A small cry escaped from her throat as I broke through the skin at the junction between her neck and shoulder. "Fuck. Jack."

"Tongue out."

Heavy, green eyes widened as I spun both sides of the blade over the blood, flattening my tongue on metal and lowering it for her to do the same. Fingers wrapped around my wrist as we licked the blood free, and I brought the knife down to my side, plunging my tongue into her mouth. The metallic iron tang washed through me making me moan as I dipped, adding more pressure against her pussy. Georgie was all over me, pulling me even further down and pushing into my suit jacket.

"I should have known I'd find you lovebirds in the bar. It's almost midnight. Are we playing or not?"

A growl left me, but it was Georgie who spoke.

"Percy, I'll kill you for this."

"Kill me? Not me , the slaves. Let's go. I think this is the best game yet."

I took Georgie's mouth again, adding just enough bruising pressure to have her crying out.

"One more time, baby. Don't play with me."

"I miss you."

"And?"

"I love you."

I nipped at her lip. "I love you more."

"Prove it."

Pain flashed in Georgie's depths, twisting my stomach and riling my love for her. I slid the knife back into the sheath, stepping back and turning to give Master Six-fourteen a piercing gaze. It wasn't violent, nor was it friendly. It was dead, and I was a master at that.

"Go ahead without us. We'll meet you there. Georgie still needs to get ready. Let Shane and Vera know we're on our way if you come across them."

"Will do."

"Percy."

He paused as he went to turn. It was only then I let my mask fall enough for him to see the true me. Anger surfaced. Greed. Covetous love.

"Yes?"

"It's a bad idea to interrupt a man who's holding a knife. It's an even worse idea to interrupt that man when his attention is on his wife. Steal Georgie's time like that again, and I won't just slit your throat. I'll make a cut large enough for my finger to fit inside, and I'll tear the rest open with my bare hands fast enough for you to experience the pain and shock before you die. Every second of mine belongs to her. Especially down here . Nobody comes between that. Do you understand?"

Hands slowly rose into the air, and I watched his demeanor shift as he nodded.

"It won't happen again."

"I like you, but see that it doesn't. For your sake."

I didn't wait for his response. I put my attention on Georgie, forcing her back into the wall.

"Prove it? Those are bold words."

"For even bolder times." Her brows drew together with such sadness. " Jack ."

My finger leveled against her pouty lips.

"You know me. I always keep my word. I said these tough times will pass, and they will. Enough of this. Give me that smile I love more than anything in the world."

Bright white teeth were exposed as her lips separated and pulled back.

"There's my heart. I almost can't bear to think of letting you go tonight. You're not safe out there, baby."

"I'll be safe. I'm bringing my knife and my gun."

"I didn't mean from the slaves. You know what it does to me to see you hunt."

Dawning had a genuine smile appearing. It wasn't faked or forced like before. Her eyes were lighting up as a playfulness appeared.

"Yeah? Maybe I like danger. Oh, no," she pouted, seductively. "I'm so scared. Whatever shall I do?"

"Run."

One second.

Half a second more.

Pressure shoved hard into my chest as a giggle left her. I hadn't felt her slide off her heels, but they were lying at my feet as she raced through the bar. I held in my own smile, lowering the top half of my body to reach down and pick them up. I managed to make it past our table before a voice from the bar had me slowing.

"Awfully brave of you to let Georgie run around this place so freely."

The blond giant spun on the stool as I stopped. He was no stranger, and I knew him well. Hale Rivers wasn't just any man in his leather jacket and tattooed body. He was the protector of all elite wives. It was his job, but he didn't work inside the Gardens unless instructed, and he wasn't working tonight.

"I think we both know Georgie can take care of herself." I paused as my lids narrowed. "What are you doing here, Hale? You're not a Master. Are you here on business?"

He didn't answer as he tossed back another shot and stood. At almost seven feet, he towered over my six-foot frame.

"I don't ask you about your job. Don't ask me about mine. Watch the wife, Jack, or else you'll be seeing me around. You should know better."

"Watch Georgie? Are you listening to yourself right now?" I laughed, falling in step with him as we left the bar. "She could not only kick my ass, but she could kill me before I blinked. Me, you… anyone . She lived it for over a decade when she was part of the Jane Doe Foundation. That's what they do. They kill. They take out threats. Georgie can take care of herself. Get off my back and maybe go to the city and work out that aggression at the Batting Cage. And tell your brother I said hello. I expect him to call me soon. Sebastian is at the Gardens now. He's one of us whether he likes it or not. He's also the head of the Rivers' line. It's time he starts owning his position."

"Are you listening to yourself ? My brother is my brother. He does what he wants. He sure as hell doesn't listen to me."

We both laughed at the truth as I turned for the elevator.

"Tell him anyway. I expect lunch or dinner soon. You're free to come, Hale. The Main Master might not care for you, but you took care of my sister when Darlin hurt her, and for that I'm forever grateful. He was her husband; he knew better. Even more, he should have known it wasn't going to end well for him once I got my hands on him."

"Good riddance," Hale gritted through his teeth. "I can't say I was sorry to see him go. He broke the most sacred rule we have, and I was all too happy to be there for Cari. No one hurts the wives and lives to tell about it. No one ."

"Damn right. Better believe it." I gave a wave, heading in the opposite direction. "I'm off to chase down my own wife. If you're up for a game, we'll be outside."

Hale's head shook but he didn't turn around. "I know all about your game. Not tonight. Happy Hunting."