She forced a smile. “Fine. Just tired. I did a lot of shopping today.” Shopping for you, you big jackass.
“Oh, right. Was the money enough?”
He had no right looking so concerned, so masculine and commanding and…
“It was enough.” She hated that she sounded hoarse.
He smiled. “Good. So you’re done your shopping? Nice. I still have Ian to get to.”
“Is it Ian or Uncle Ian?”
“Either. Man answers to most things I call him.” Mac chuckled. “But he doesn’t take any shit, that’s for sure. Swears up and down, but God forbid I tell him off when he’s earned it. Man has control issues.”
She parked the car in front of his house. “You did not just say that. He has control issues?”
He shrugged. “I get it honestly, don’t I?”
How would I know? It’s been forever since I’ve experienced my master, she wanted to say but didn’t. Instead she waited with a brittle smile.
Mac paused. “Despite ordering you around all the time at the gym, I feel bad about doing it on your day off.”
That surprised her.
“Would you mind coming in for a minute more? I swear I won’t take up the rest of your night. You probably have plans.”
“Yeah. It’s a Wonderful Life is on TV tonight.” And a bottle of wine sat in the fridge. She should have felt happy about having so little to do for once. She could enjoy herself without guilt. Her last project to hand over to Kim had nearly finished drying. Maggie would have it done in a few hours at most. But instead of looking forward to her night, she felt lonely. Shelby had Shane. Trevor had his work only God knew where, which seemed to satisfy him. Mac had his uncle. Who did Maggie have?
“Can you give me your opinion on something I got for Shane’s mom?”
She hadn’t thought other women in Mac’s life, but she’d heard from Shane how tight Mac was with his family. “Sure.” It couldn’t hurt, and she had no rush to return to an empty home.
After turning off the car, she got out and locked it up, conscious of her many gifts in the trunk. She followed Mac inside and sighed at the warmth that eased her frozen fingers. Her gloves seriously needed replacing.
“Cold out today,” Mac’s low voice helped warm her up.
“Yeah. It’s a wet cold. I hate that.”
“No kidding. Ian’s always grumbling about his bones aching.” Mac took off his shoes and coat, then hung the jacket in the closet. He turned to her and removed her jacket before she could ask what the hell he was doing. “Habit, sorry.”
“What, stripping your visitors without asking?”
“Being neat about it. You don’t need a coat in here. I pay the heat bills.” He grinned at her, and she wanted to slap him for losing interest in her so quickly. Why was it he looked more handsome today? Because he wasn’t available anymore? God, she was such an idiot when it came to men.
“The gift is upstairs. No etchings, I promise.”
She snorted. “Yeah, right. You, etchings? I see nothing but photography on the walls. Not that they aren’t pretty, but you could vary the pictures a little.” After toeing off her shoes and leaving them by the front door, she followed him up the stairs.
She hadn’t seen this part of his home before. The walls had a tan wash, white baseboards and trim that accentuated the brown. It felt warm and inviting, masculine without being too overbearing. She passed two bedrooms and a bath before coming to his bedroom.
“This is it. Where all the magic happens.” He wiggled his brows.
God, the man had been nothing but charming all day. He annoyed the crap out of her.
“Yeah, yeah.” She entered, shocked to actually like his style. A dark blue wall brought focus to the king-size poster bed. “Well, that fits you. A big bed for you big ego.”
He chuckled. “Aren’t you cute?”
She blew out a breath. He wouldn’t even take the bait. So depressing. Maggie looked around, spotting a mahogany dresser and mirror facing the bed, an armoire, and a big leather chair in the corner, which would be a perfect spot for reading if the Neanderthal in front of her knew how to crack a book.
“Nice, huh?”
He seemed to be waiting for her approval.
“It suits you.”
He nodded. “It does. The present is over here.” He pointed to the bedstand.
She frowned. “You’re giving Shane’s mom furniture?”
“What? No, that box.”
She saw the small box, what looked like a jeweler’s box. A nice gift. Curious, she went to the stand and picked up the box. When she opened it, she saw a slender chain with two funny looking ends. Some kind of weird necklace, maybe?
Before she could ask him what it was, Mac wrapped his arms around her, hugging her into his aroused frame.
Shocked, because he’d been anything but sexually aware of her, or so it had seemed, she struggled.
“Now, now. You were a naughty sub, weren’t you? And yesterday, getting me all hot and bothered in the gym? Did you really think you wouldn’t get punished?”
Oh, God. He wants me.
Mac ground against her ass, and Maggie turned immediately wet. Joy infused her as Mac sucked hard on her neck, enough to leave a mark.
His next action stunned her. With rough hands, he stripped her naked and shoved her onto her back on the bed. She froze, wondering what he’d do next. He tied her up to the posts, securing her enough that she couldn’t move. Splayed out like a human X, naked, vulnerable, and completely turned on.
“That’s pretty.” He cocked his head and studied her. “But not right, not yet.” He leaned down and sucked both her nipples, first the left, then the right, until they stood on end. “That’s better.” He grabbed the jewelry box from the nightstand and removed the chain.
Realization dawned, as did a fresh surge of excitement. “Nipple clamps? You lied to me about that present.”
He grunted. “No shit. You’re so easy.”
“Up yours.” The minute she said it, she knew she’d made a mistake. And she creamed like crazy.
His mean smile made her groan. “We’re going to have a lot of fun tonight, little sub.”
“But, Sir, I didn’t mean—”
“The hell you didn’t. You’ve been mouthing off and teasing me for days. You think I don’t know how much you need this?” He shoved a finger inside her, and she bucked into his touch. “How much you need me?”
He withdrew his finger and licked it. “Hmm. You taste hungry. You missed me, didn’t you?”
“Yes, Sir.” She felt like sobbing. She’d missed the hell out of him despite trying to remain distant. To her dismay, his disinterest had hurt more than she might have imagined.
He took off his shirt but nothing else. His jeans had a familiar bulge, his long, thick cock trapped beneath the denim. She wanted to feel him inside her again, but more, she wanted him to order her around, to kneel, to crawl, to take him any and every way he wanted. She was such a freak.
“Why that look? Tell me what you’re thinking. Don’t lie to me.”
She blinked away useless tears. “I want to serve you, Sir. And that’s just not normal.”
The angry expression on his face softened. “No. That’s normal for people like us, Maggie. Tell me what you want me to do.”
“I… I want…”
“Tell me.” He stroked her breasts and belly, petting and caressing as he angled toward her mound. There he played with her labia, sliding his fingers perilously close to her clit but staying maddeningly distanced.
“Please, Sir.” She wriggled her hips, nearly undone. Tied up and helpless, her master touching her. She loved this. “I don’t want to tell you anything. I want you to tell me what to do. All of it. Punish me. Discipline me. Fuck me.” Love me.