Simon Says: Mine: A novella (Mountain Masters & Dark Haven Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

turned his attention to Rona, his anticipation rising. He’d wanted this woman since the minute she touched him. Totally illogical, but in life, as in the martial arts, he’d learned his instincts were rarely wrong.
    He heard David grab his toy bag and leave, but didn’t take his focus from the sub. He’d caught her as handily as any of the animals he’d hunted in his youth.
    She’d been amusing herself, twirling and swinging on the chains like a child, and he suppressed his grin.
    Looking up, she saw her dom leaving. “Hey! David, where are you going? Hey!”
    Simon paced forward. Slowly.
    She saw him. Her eyes widened.
    Perfect.
    Oh sweet heavens — Master Simon . As Rona stared at him, the laughter inside her fizzled out, and her heart began an annoyingly fast pace again.
    His black gaze wandered over her, stroking her with heat. Her gown lay off to one side, but she hadn’t felt particularly exposed—until now.
    After setting down his big leather bag, Master Simon took off his coat and tossed it on a chair, leaving him in the white shirt and vest. His movements unhurried, he removed his cuff links. When they dropped onto the table with a metallic clink , Rona’s breathing hitched.
    He turned, rolling up his sleeves and exposing his muscular forearms.
    Oh Crom. Wait , she started to say, but nothing came out of her frozen throat. She tried again. “Wait. You’re not… I didn’t… Where did David—the other guy—go?”
    His dark eyes fixed on hers as he moved forward. “The other guy is a dom, but perhaps you got confused and thought him submissive.” His level tone sent icy shivers down her spine. “I don’t believe you’ll make that mistake with me.”
    “I don’t think—”
    “Very good.” He cut right through her sentence. The feel of his callous hand cupping her chin silenced her completely. “Thinking is my job, not yours. Your safe word is ‘Houston.’ Use it if something—mentally or physically—becomes too much for you.”
    She considered yelling it and took a breath.
    His jaw tightened which dried up that notion instantly. “Don’t toy with me, pet,” he said softly.
    She shook her head. Not me. No, never.
    “I like that wide-eyed submissive look.” His gaze ran over her. “In fact, I like seeing you in chains.”
    His words brought her attention to her restraints, and a quiver of fear joined the heat in her belly.
    He cupped her cheek, his big hand disconcertingly gentle. “No, don’t be frightened. We’re just going to talk. First I want you to meet someone.”
    Master Simon glanced at a man standing off to one side and motioned him forward. Also in formal Victorian attire, the other man had coloring slightly darker than Simon’s.
    And as their attention turned to her, she felt like a mouse trapped in a feline festival. “Um. Hello?”
    Master Simon’s lips quirked. “Rona, this is Master Xavier, the owner of Dark Haven. Submissives here call him ‘my Liege.’”
    Her initial reaction— you’ve got to be kidding —died at the lack of expression in Xavier’s calm, dark eyes.
    “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Rona,” Master Xavier said, his voice quiet but easily heard over the myriad of noises.
    “Pleased to meet you.” I love meeting people while standing around in my underwear.
    “Since we’re immersed in the nineteenth century tonight, let me formally introduce you to Master Simon.” A smile flickered on Xavier’s lips. “He is well-known in the BDSM community, has an impeccable reputation as a dom. And I call him my friend.”
    The measured addition of the last part told her that Xavier didn’t offer friendship lightly.
    “Um.” She glanced up at Simon. A crease appeared in his cheek as if he found her discomfiture amusing. Kicking him might be satisfying—if he didn’t own a flogger. “Thank you, Xa—uh, my Liege. I appreciate the information.”
    Xavier nodded and walked away. No frivolous conversation for him.
    And that left