Maddox
The music is loud, the drinks are cheap, and one girl looks unbelievably beautiful.
Everything about tonight is perfect, except for the fact that Piper Queen is sitting at the bar with Odessa instead of coming apart under my hands.
And oh, would I make that woman come apart.
I’ve had my eye on her for weeks, months. She’s special and beautiful and funny. She’s smart as hell, too.
She’s also hiding something.
It’s something big, something she’s scared of.
It’s something she never lets her guard down about.
I’d bet anything it’s a man. It’s got to be a man. I was a cop long enough to know a domestic violence case when I see one, and Piper? She’s on the run. Oh, she might not think that she is. She might think she’s settled down, that she’s finally gotten comfortable somewhere, but she’s not.
She’s watching, always watching.
Even when she’s with a Dom or Domme, Piper rarely allows herself to fully relax. She always has a certain tenseness to her body. She’s always got her eyes open. She’s always cautious.
If she were mine, I’d blindfold her. I’d force her to trust me. I’d make her relax. I’d help her forget, just for a little while, and I’d take care of her. Oh, I’d take wonderful care of her.
“Take a picture,” Thorn says, coming up beside me. “It’ll last longer.”
“What do you know?” I turn to my buddy Jaxson Thorn, known around the club only as Master Thorn. He was the one who first invited me to Anchored a few months ago. “And where’s your lovely submissive this evening?”
“She’s home sick,” he tells me. He glances at his watch. “I’m actually about to head home to her. June asked me to stop by for a little while and run security for her.”
“Ah,” I say, turning back to Piper. June and Jaxson are good friends who go way back. Few people know she’s the owner, but I’ve helped her run security a few times myself, so despite being new, I’m in the inner-circle.
Sort of.
I still don’t have Piper’s trust, and I desperately want it.
“You should talk to her,” Jaxson says, nodding toward Piper. “You’d be perfect for each other.”
“Why do you say that?” I ask, even though I know he’s right. Piper is absolutely the perfect sub. She’s everything I want, everything I need. She’s sweet and sassy and smart. Oh, is she smart. I’ve seen that girl in front of a computer, and she really loses herself in it.
She starts focusing, and all of the 1’s and 0’s on the screen just come alive for her.
I’ve never seen anything like it.
“She’s smart,” he says. “Pretty. Kind. All of the things you need in a woman.”
“She’s damaged,” I point out, because it’s obvious.
“So are you, brother,” Jaxson says, but his voice is lower now, serious. “That doesn’t mean you aren’t worthy of being loved, of giving love.”
He’s right, and I should stop being such a pussy.
“All right, I’ll go talk to her,” I say. “Any chance you can get me a few minutes alone with her?”
What I’m really asking is if he’ll distract Odessa for a few minutes while I chat up Piper. Jaxson gets my drift, though, and heads toward the girls.
“Ladies,” I hear him greet them with a smile. Then he turns to Odessa. “Can I borrow you for a few minutes? I want to get your opinion on a gift I’m thinking about getting my wife.”
Odessa’s eyes light up. I can see them even from my spot, and she quickly hops up. She turns, says something to Piper, and then she follows Jaxson away.
And Piper is alone.
Her posture changes once her friend is gone. She’s more alert now, less relaxed. She’s more cautious and aware of what’s happening around her. Once more, she’s scared.
“Oh Piper,” I whisper. “What are you running from?”
I wish I knew.
If I knew, I could help her.
I could protect her.
I could take care of her.
If I knew what had Piper all twisted in knots, I’d be able to watch over her. I could neutralize the threat. I could bring her peace.
She’s the type of woman who doesn’t trust easily, though, and if I want to win the fair maiden’s heart, I have to be worthy of that trust. I have to show her I’m an honorable man, a kind man. I have to show her I’m not just some sleazeball Dom.
“Piper,” I sit down next to her, taking the stool Odessa vacated.
“Maddox,” she says coolly. She doesn’t turn to me, doesn’t look at me. She doesn’t make eye contact.
Interesting.
“Is that how you greet a Dom?” I ask her. Piper glances sideways at me, takes a deep breath, and then turns.
“Please forgive my behavior,” she says sweetly. “It’s been a bit of a long day, sir, and as you can see,” she holds up her pink bracelet. “I’m not playing tonight.”
“I’m only interested in talking.”
Is it just me, or does she look a little surprised, maybe a little sad, at that?
“What would you like to talk about, Maddox?”
“Well, for starters, you could tell me what you’re running from.”
Why wait to call her out?
I’ve got all night.
Hell, I’ve got all year.
I have a perfectly clear schedule and the only item on my “to do” list if Piper Queen.
She needs my help, and I’m going to help her.
Her entire body stills, and she takes several deep breaths. Then she pastes a cool, plain expression on her face.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she lies.
“Oh, darling,” I whisper, placing my hand on her knee. “You know I don’t tolerate lies. You might not be playing tonight, but I’m going to owe you some spankings if this behavior continues.”
“What behavior is that?”
“The lying, bratty sub behavior,” I tell her.
“You aren’t my Dom,” she says slowly. “So I don’t have to do what you say.”
“You do have to be respectful,” I remind her, and Piper’s eyes narrow. Oh, I’m starting to piss her off, and that’s exciting. She so rarely loses control. She so rarely lets herself go. She never releases all of her emotions, all of her anger, all of her excitement.
Instead, Piper keeps everything bottled up neatly, tightly wrapping everything up.
The problem with suppressing your emotions, though?
Eventually those bottled-up feelings have to go somewhere.
Eventually, they’re going to burst.
With Piper?
It’s only a matter of time.