Lang, Chloe - Wilde Surrender [The Brothers of Wilde, Nevada 5] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) (5 page)

No one in his family would ever understand why he couldn’t join them in a plural marriage. Hell, he didn’t understand completely why himself, but he just knew he was wired differently. His brothers deserved happiness, and he wouldn’t stand in their way as much as it pained him. He’d always thought that leaving Wilde would be the hardest thing he would ever have to do. Now, he knew there was something much harder he had to face.
Leaving Jessie Greene.

If he wasn’t careful, he could lose himself to her. He’d known it the instant he’d met her.
I’ve got to tread very carefully these next seven days.

He carried her to his bed and lowered her down on the mattress.

Her eyelashes flittered. “Master…I hope…I…”

One round with Jessie, and he was already losing his will.
God, help me.

“Shh. No talking. You need to rest.”
And I need a drink and time to think.
No way would fisting his cock tonight relieve him. Instead, it would be a waste of time. A glass of whiskey would have to suffice until his dick relaxed. That would likely take all night.

He removed the towels from Jessie and covered her with blankets. Seeing her head on his pillow did something to him that almost made him want to take her in a more traditional way of lovemaking. Almost. No matter what, he needed to stick to his original plan. The night would be more than a glass of liquor tonight. It might even be the whole bottle.

“Master?”

Austin hated what the morning would bring. “Goodnight, pet.” He would push her hard tomorrow, and take her to just beyond her hard limit. He’d never wanted to push a sub to say their safe word, but he knew it was the only way for Jessie to see the hopelessness of him being in her life.

“Are you not coming to bed?” she questioned, sounding so very feminine.

Deepening his tone, he said, “Did you forget about my rule about questions, pet?”

“I’m sorry.”

Knowing the risk but unable to resist, he bent down and kissed her cheek. It would be so easy to move to her lips, but he wouldn’t—couldn’t. “You rest. If you need me, I’ll be in the other room.”

“Yes, Master.”

His cock jerked painfully in his jeans.
Shit!
I’m in so much trouble.

Chapter Four

Jessie woke up, and realized she was alone in Master’s soft bed. He was talking, but she couldn’t make out the words.

She slipped out of the bed, and touched the collar he’d given her. It felt cool to the touch. She didn’t have any clothes and thought about using the blanket as a makeshift robe, but she didn’t think Austin would like that. So, she didn’t.

Tiptoeing to the closed screen divider, she listened intently.

“When?” Austin asked in a quiet tone.

No answer. He was talking on his cell, no doubt. They were still alone. Relief filled her up.

“Bastard.” Austin’s tone was hushed but filled with indignation. “I can’t believe Paul King sliced up his own wife. She was a good woman. What kind of crazy fuck is he?”

Jessie thought about opening the screen. She didn’t, believing Austin might curb his words. Instead she remained all ears, hoping to hear more.

“Denver, is the Sheriff certain he’s not in the area?”

Jessie’s heart leapt in her chest. Austin was talking to Denver. Were Jackson, Phoenix, and Dallas on the other end of the phone line, too?

“You guys keep me posted. Anything turns up, I want to know about it.” He paused. “She’s fine.”

Denver was asking about her, and that made her feel good. Austin, on the other hand, didn’t seem into her at all…at least not sexually. Sure, he’d given her the most amazing orgasms of her life, but he hadn’t made a single move to fuck her, and he’d spent the entire night away from her. All Jessie’s dreams about spending time with him to change his mind were starting to crumble.

“Count on it. If Paul King comes within three hundred yards of this place, I’ll blow his head off.”

Though Jessie wasn’t sure if Austin desired her or not, he cared for her enough to, at the very least, want to keep her safe. That meant so much to her, and she bolstered up her resolve to meet whatever he had in store for her.
I might fail, but by God, I’m going to show him I’m worth staying for.

“No. I’m not taking her to my tree. That’s too exposed. We’re staying inside until I know Paul has been found.”

Jessie had been to his tree with his brothers. She wondered what it would be like to be there with Austin. Quite different, no doubt.

The tree was the same one that he’d been tied to by Paul King and the banker when they were all boys. Could the scars from that event be the reason he wanted to leave Wilde and his brothers? Made sense to her.

What if his demons never went away even into adulthood though he’d used the very same tree to take back his power? The more she considered that, the more an idea formed. She needed to get him to open up to her. That wouldn’t be easy with most men, but with one like Austin—next to impossible. Still, it was the only glimmer of hope she could latch on to. Somehow she had to succeed. But how?

“No, you can’t talk to her.”

Talking to Denver would be wonderful, but Austin had made it clear that wouldn’t happen with any of her cowboys while she was under his care.

“Jessie already knows I’m talking to you, Denver. She’s eavesdropping on our conversation.”

Her heart jumped up in her throat, and a shiver ran down her spine. He knew she’d been listening all the time.

“Anything at all, bro, you call me. Later.”

Jessie wasn’t sure if she should jump back in the bed and feign sleep, or if she should open the screen and face his wrath. Instead, she didn’t move a muscle. With only the collar on her neck, she spotted gooseflesh popping up on her arms.

“Are you going to keep crouching in my bedroom like a little girl caught with her hand in the cookie jar, or are you going to be a brave sub and come in here?”

She gulped and opened the screen. “A brave sub, Master.”

His lips curled up, creasing his cheeks, making his face look even sexier. “You got spunk, pet. That’s for sure.” Austin sat on a wooden bench. He patted the spot beside him. “Come sit here.”

She walked over and sat down.

He reached out and touched the little ring on her collar. “You hungry?”

“Yes, Master.”

“I’m no Phoenix, but I can whip up a pretty mean breakfast. You like sausage, eggs, and toast?”

She nodded.

“Good.” He stroked her cheek, and his gaze made her warm. “You’re going to need your strength for what I’ve got planned for you today.”

She could feel little aches, throbs, and warmth from last night’s round, and wondered how she was going to survive a full week with this cowboy—Dom.

He stood up. “Follow me.”

They walked into his very neat kitchen. Everything was stainless steel. There were no cabinets, only open shelves. That would’ve never worked in her kitchen in DC. She needed, not one, but two junk drawers. At one time, she’d thought about having glass doors put on, but reconsidered after Michael, her ex, pointed out the disarray of her pots and pans. Austin’s shelves were nothing like that. They were orderly and functional.

He pointed to a thick blanket in the corner of the kitchen, out of the way of the work triangle. “That’s for you, pet. I put that there while you were sleeping. Whenever we’re in the kitchen, I want you on it.”

“Thank you, Master.” She went to the soft, fluffy quilt. Stretching out on her stomach, Jessie put her elbows on the floor, clasped her hands together, and rested her chin on her fists. She looked up at Austin, who stared at her intently. What was he thinking?

She wiggled just a bit on the comfy blanket, hoping to entice him.

“Keep that up, and you won’t have breakfast.”

“I’m not that hungry for food, Master.”

“Sweet little liar.” He shook his head, and then started to make breakfast. “Tell me about yourself, Jessie.”

He wanted to know more about her, and that thrilled her. “How do I start?”

“From the start.” Austin pulled out a carton of eggs and sausage patties from his refrigerator.

“Okay. Did you know I was engaged?”

“I heard you were. Gay guy, right?”

“Yes, Michael. He’s really great.”

Austin put a skillet on one of the burners on his stove and turned on the gas flame. He placed the meat into the pan, and Jessie heard it start to sizzle. “I heard he delivers a pretty good punch.”

“I guess so. He’s a mess but very loyal. Especially to me.”

“Good to know. You like coffee, pet?”

“Oh, yes.”

He punched a button on the pot, and the coffee began brewing. She got a whiff of the sausage, and her stomach growled.

“So, who broke it off? You or your ex?”

“I suppose I did after he told me he was gay.”

“I heard about your dad and boss fighting it out at Norma’s. What was all that about?”

“Denver didn’t tell you?” she asked.

“My brothers have been really secretive about you, Jessie. So, the answer is
no.
He didn’t. I can tell it shook you pretty hard. Tell me everything about that.”

She wondered why he seemed so interested in knowing. Was there a chance he might already be considering a future with her?
I’m getting way ahead of myself.
Whatever the reason he kept asking, whether it was to pass the time while he made breakfast or it was something more, she would keep answering. Perhaps he would begin opening up to her, too.

“There were pictures sent to both my dad and boss.”

“What kind of pictures?”

“Explicit pictures.” The thought of her dad and boss seeing those sickened her, but thankfully both had only looked at some of the racy photos but not any of the sexual ones.

His tone turned hard. “Why would my idiotic brothers take pictures of you and not make sure they were locked away?”

“I’m not sure how Paul King got them, but there were other pictures, too. Ones he’d taken without my knowledge.”

“Where?”

“Some were of me and Denver in the parking lot of The Masters’ Chambers. Others were of me with Phoenix and Jackson at your tree. There were more, but I don’t remember.” Again, she wondered about his tree and what it meant to him.

“You didn’t lose your job over those pictures?”

“No. Turns out that my boss, Lee Carpenter, is actually my dad.” She still needed time to process that little tidbit.

“That’s quite the bombshell.” He sounded genuinely concerned.

“Yes, it is.”

“You’re smart. I have no doubt that you’ll handle all you’ve learned perfectly.”

“I hope so.” The whole thing about her boss and dad still felt strange.

“Cream? Sugar?”

“Both, Master. Thank you.”

Austin poured coffee into a blue mug, and poured in the additional ingredients. “Did your dad know?”