Remind Me, Master [The Martinis and Chocolate Book Club 5] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Read online

  Brianne’s pretty face was screwed up with anger. He’d never seen her so angry, even when her ex-husband had skipped the country. He turned to his brother.

  “Are you going to let your wife talk to me like that? She kicked me.”

  Nate and Brianne also had a D/s relationship, and it appeared she wanted a punishment badly.

  Nate pursed his lips and nodded. “Yes, I think I will. I don’t punish her when she’s right. And she’s right, brother. You’ve been acting like an ass. You’ve been working and ignoring your responsibilities.”

  Conor jumped up and started pacing. He didn’t like to be criticized, especially by Nate. “I am taking care of my responsibilities. I’m supporting my family, dammit.”

  He was defending himself but was starting to see a pattern. Everyone thought he’d been ignoring his family. He loved his family. But maybe he had been working too much.

  Nate sat back and gave him a look Conor knew too well. “Are you sure? Or are you hiding at work? Do you even realize you missed Tyler’s birthday two weeks ago? Is that the kind of father you intended to be? A father like ours?”

  Conor felt the air rush out of his lungs and he sat heavily in this kitchen chair. “I missed Ty’s birthday.” He buried his head in his hands. “Fuck.”

  Lisa had tried to remind him several times, even calling his assistant to leave a message. It was a pool party and Tyler had invited his friends, plus family. Conor’s absence would definitely have been noted. He owed his son a huge apology. He was not a father like his own dad.

  “I’m not like Dad, and I’m not hiding. Work’s just been crazy, okay? I feel like shit. Are you happy now?”

  He directed the question at Brianne, who had been pacing the kitchen with a grim expression. She stopped and whirled toward him.

  “No. I’m not happy. You should feel like shit. A husband, let alone a Master, doesn’t blow off his family because they aren’t convenient. Lisa’s been begging and pleading with you for months to talk about this. When was the last time you spent any time with her? Hell, when was the last time you had sex? I don’t think you have any idea how much you’ve hurt her, Conor. Maybe irrevocably. Did you know she’s been asked to put some of her sculptures in a show over at a gallery in Tampa?”

  That surprised Conor. “She’s still doing that?”

  Nate groaned. “Fuck, even I know Lisa is still sculpting. Didn’t you see the sculpture on the table in the foyer as you came in? Your talented wife did that.”

  Conor stood up and walked to the entrance of the kitchen where he could see the sculpture. He studied it for a long time, taking in the graceful lines and curves. It was delicate but had power and strength. Just like Lisa herself.

  His shoulders drooped. It had been a long fucking day, and he was sure tomorrow wasn’t going to be any better. He turned back to the kitchen and tossed his empty beer bottle in the trash.

  “Okay, I’m a total asshole. I don’t want to lose my family, and I sure as hell don’t want to end up like Dad. What do I do?”

  Brianne nodded and opened the refrigerator. “Now you’re talking. I’ll warm up some dinner for you and we can talk this out. I have a few ideas.”

  Conor gratefully sat back down. He needed advice in the worst way, and no one knew Lisa better than her friends. He was going to fix this for her and the kids.

  They deserved a better father than he’d had.

  Chapter Two

  His hand slid under her dress, caressing her silky thighs. He could smell her arousal and the slight sheen of sweat on her skin. He let his finger dip into her pussy, pushing her panties aside. She was wet and his finger slid in easily, drawing a soft moan from her pouty lips before she clamped her mouth closed. He brushed his thumb over her clit and her body tensed. He planned to hold her on the edge of orgasm throughout the entire movie. The blanket of darkness in the theater gave him the cover he needed, and her legs opened to his questing fingers. She would be sorry for her bratty behavior at dinner. By the closing credits, she would be on her knees begging for mercy.

  Noelle Hunter, Skyping in from Montana, waggled her eyebrows. “I love taking Cam to the movies and making out.” Cameron Hunter was Noelle’s husband and Dom. They’d been married a year now and actively trying to get pregnant. Cam was already talking about taking their kids to Disney and teaching them to ride a horse, despite the fact they had yet to be conceived.

  Sara Jameson giggled in agreement. “That is fun. I miss my teenage years sometimes. Life was so uncomplicated then.”

  Tori Cordell, soon to be Taggert, poured herself another cocktail. “I would imagine a house with two husbands and two kids is pretty complicated. I don’t know how you juggle it all. It’s pretty much just me and Ian most of the time since the boys are at college, and things can get hairy. I’m exhausted all the time it seems.”

  Tori was marrying her fiancé and Dom of slightly over nine months, Detective Ian Taggert, in a small beach ceremony very soon. She was blissfully in love with the man and couldn’t wait to be his wife.

  Brianne Hart bit into a dark-chocolate truffle with a groan of ecstasy. “That’s because you and Ian spend all your free time having sex. You never sleep. You need to pace yourselves. Look at me and Nate. We still get it on and it’s hot, but we get our rest, too.”

  All eyes swung to Lisa Hart. She’d been quiet the entire afternoon. The ladies knew when to give her some space, but she knew she needed to tell them what had transpired.

  She took a deep breath. “I asked Conor to leave last night, and he did. He’s staying with Nate and Brianne.”

  Brianne’s husband Nate was Conor’s brother. Brianne had met him since he spent a great deal of time with Lisa and Conor.

  Three mouths hung open in shock. Lisa took a sip of her martini, letting the alcohol sting her throat. She knew they would be surprised. After all, she loved Conor with every fiber of her being. She simply wasn’t sure love was enough anymore.

  Tori pushed the gold box of chocolates toward Lisa. “I’m sorry to say I’m surprised, but yet not surprised. There’s been tension between you two for months. I’m so sorry, Lisa. Is it for good? Can you fix it?”

  “I guess we weren’t good at hiding, were we?” Lisa’s mouth twisted into a grimace. “Things have been getting worse for months. I don’t remember the last time I saw Conor when it was daylight out.” She took a gulp of her drink. “He forgot about Tyler’s birthday.”

  Sara was aghast. “I thought you said he was in bed with the flu?”

  Lisa felt tears prick the back of her eyes. “I said that to save face. He was working. He forgot all about us.” Tears starting rolling down her face. “What if he doesn’t love us anymore? What if he doesn’t love me anymore? I’ve loved him since the day I met him. I’m not sure I can live without him.”

  Even as she said it, she knew she might have to. She sure as hell couldn’t be in a marriage where she was, in a way, treated worse than a second-class citizen.

  Brianne grabbed her hand. “He does love you. He loves the kids. He’s lost his way, but Nate and I talked to him last night. I think we made an impression. I know I made an impression on his leg. I kicked him in the shin. Hard. You’re welcome.”

  Lisa laughed through the tears. “You really kicked him? That’s awesome. You’re the best sister-in-law ever.”

  Noelle chuckled. “Did Nate punish you? Conor is his brother, after all.”

  Brianne had a smug smile. “Nope. Conor got all pissy and self-righteous, asking Nate if he was going to let me yell at him, and Nate said he was. He said that I was right and Conor had been acting like an ass. It took the wind out of Conor’s sails. That and Nate mentioned their father.”

  Tori frowned. “What about their father? I don’t think I’ve ever heard him mentioned.”

  Lisa sighed. “You never will. Nate and Conor can’t stand their father and barely speak to him. I don’t know every detail, but apparently he was a workaholic who had serial affairs on their mother
. A real cold fish, too. Never told them they did a good job, never showed them any affection. Well, Conor anyway. He was passably nice to Nate. Apparently, it was some misguided effort to make Conor into a man who could take over the family if something happened to their dad. Weird as shit. I still think it’s why they both took so easily to Dominant behavior. They like to be in control and want to show their submissive how appreciative they are of their submission.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Noelle said. “Since I’ve been here in Montana, I don’t know what’s been happening. Did Conor do something? He didn’t have any affair, did he?”

  “No, he didn’t. Not a woman anyway. He’s been working night and day for months. Ignoring me and his children. I don’t even remember the last time we had sex, let alone the last time we played together. I pretty much get away with anything I want now. He doesn’t even care enough to punish me.”

  Noelle shook her head. “That’s terrible. Have you tried acting up? That’s what I do when I need more attention.”

  Lisa sniffled. “I’ve tried everything. Even last night, when I threw all his clothes on the front porch, he didn’t discipline me. He just turned and left.” She grabbed a tissue and mopped her eyes. “It’s just as well, really. I’m not sure I’m as submissive as I once was. That’s something we’re going to have to renegotiate if we’re going to make this work.”

  “You don’t want to be submissive anymore?” Sara asked. “I’m surprised to hear you say that. I thought you loved that part of your relationship.”

  “I did. I do. It’s just I’ve learned to stand on my own two feet in these last years, especially with Conor working so much. I take care of the finances, the house, the kids. Now, I’m working on my art and it’s going really well. I’d like to have interests outside of my home. Conor’s never been a big fan of that, wanting me to focus on the kids. If we get back together, he’s going to have to be more supportive of my independence. He talks like he’s proud of my strength, but only on his terms.”

  Brianne handed Lisa another tissue. “Stand strong. You have real talent, and Conor needs to understand it’s not all about him. Anymore, anyway.”

  Lisa blew her nose. “There was a time I was happy to make everything about him. But I wasn’t getting anything back in return. I want more of a partnership with Conor.”

  Brianne glanced at the clock on the wall. “You’re going to get a chance to tell him that very soon. You’re supposed to meet him in less than an hour. Are you ready? Have you rehearsed what you want to say?”

  “I’ve been trying to talk to him for months. I’m overdue with what I want to say. This time, he’s going to listen to me.”

  * * * *

  Lisa slung her handbag over the back of the chair. Conor was already sitting in the restaurant and ordered her an ice tea. She drank it gratefully, her throat parched. It was typical Florida in late summer, hot and humid. The only break they got from the heat was at night.

  Her sundress stuck to her skin, and she pulled the neckline from her breasts to get some air. Conor’s eyes zeroed in on her chest, and she immediately felt her arousal build. He was a consummate lover, generous and commanding. She’d missed being close to him that way these last months. He’d taken away every part of the intimacy she craved with him. She squirmed in her seat, her panties damp as she thought about the last time they’d made love. He’d tied her hands to the showerhead and taken her against the wall, hard and fast, just the way she liked it.

  His veiled expression said he knew exactly what was running through her mind. He was her husband, her lover, her Dominant, and he knew the effect he had on her. He could control her body and her mind to bring her to the pinnacle of pleasure.

  She sipped her ice tea, nervous, her hand trembling. So much was at stake here. “I’m glad you were able to meet me.”

  Conor scowled. “I told you I would.”

  She dropped her gaze from his handsome face. He was more handsome today than he’d been when she’d met him in college. His dark hair, clipped short, was now greying at the edges, but his skin was still as golden, his eyes still a piercing blue. She liked the way he’d grown broader in the chest, filling out the suits he wore every day. She’d come to have something of a suit fetish since he’d graduated from law school. It made her hot every time she saw him in a suit and tie.

  “You’ve said a lot of things and made a lot of promises lately that you haven’t kept.”

  He took a deep breath, finally looking straight into her eyes. “I’m sorry. You’ll never know how much. I don’t want to be that person. I want to be a good husband and father. You and the kids are my whole world, Lisa.”

  “No, we’re not. Your career is right up there, too. I don’t mind sharing you. I know you love your work. I just want my time, too. There has to be some balance.”

  He played with the fork on table. “You’re the only things that really matter. I’d be okay if my career was gone, but I can’t live without you. I love you, blondie.”

  His voice was hoarse and she couldn’t miss the emotion. He hadn’t called her “blondie” in so long. Her heart squeezed in her chest. She loved this man so much.

  “I know you love me. But things are different. I’ve changed, you’ve changed. Heck, the kids are getting older and they’re changing. Our relationship has to change with it. We can’t stay the same.”

  “What do you want? What do I need to do?”

  She placed her hand over his. “It’s for both of us to do. Not just you.” She steeled herself, straightening her shoulders. She wasn’t sure of the reception for this news. “I don’t think we can be Master and slave going forward. That dynamic isn’t working for me.”

  Conor looked like she’d slapped him. His face had gone gray. “Have I screwed up so badly you don’t trust me?”

  “I do trust you. I don’t want to be a slave. I do want to be your submissive.”

  His expression was confused. “I don’t understand.”

  She squeezed his fingers. “I want to be your submissive. In the bedroom. Everywhere else, I want to be a partner to you. An equal. I want us to make decisions together and decide our future as a team.”

  “We’ve always been a team,” he protested.

  “No, we haven’t.” She shook her head. “You’ve been the captain of the ship and I’ve been a loyal first mate. When we were looking for a house, you had the final say. When we were looking for a school for the kids, you had the final say. When we decide a vacation destination, you decide. You even decided where we were going to meet today. You never asked my opinion.”

  Conor’s face was flushed. “So you hate the house, the school, and our vacation destinations, is that it? I’ve always tried to take care of you, Lisa. Now you’re telling me I’ve been doing it all wrong.”

  She stroked his hand, trying to get him to calm down. He was angry and hurt. She’d sprung obviously unwelcome news on him. “You did it all right. You’ve been a wonderful Master, if you don’t count the last nine months to a year. I’ve just gotten to the point where I need more say in my future. I want to make decisions for myself. Is this a deal breaker?”

  He drank his coffee and seemed to center himself. “No, it’s not. We can do that. I can do that.” He smiled ruefully. “It might be something of a relief. Nate talks about how being with Brianne feels so much better than his first marriage. How he doesn’t have to make every little decision, and have all the responsibility.”

  His expression was hopeful. “Can I come home? I don’t think we can be a team in separate houses. I get last night was all about shock value, and believe me I’ve been shocked into reality. I need to be with you, blondie.”

  “This won’t be easy. We have years of habits to overcome. We’re going to argue again and you’re going to want to punish me.”

  He grinned. “I’ll just wait until bedtime.”

  “Uh-uh, no way. New day, new rules. I won’t allow you to punish me for something I did that we haven’t agreed to.
All deals are now off. We renegotiate completely.”

  Conor sobered. “You drive a hard bargain, but I can see you’re serious. I’ll do anything to make you happy. I don’t know how this is going to work, but it appears I don’t have much of a choice.”

  “You always have a choice, Conor. You don’t have to do this.”

  He shook his head. “But if I don’t, you won’t let me come back home? You won’t want to be in this marriage?”

  She took a deep breath. “I can’t go backward. I have to go forward. I want to go forward with you.”

  Conor set his coffee cup on the table. “Then we renegotiate. I honestly don’t know how this will work but your happiness is the most important thing in the world to me.” He nodded. “I may be almost forty, but I hope I’m not too old to change a little.” She leaned back in her chair and smiled at her husband of seventeen years. “Rule number one. You’re almost forty, and I’m almost thirty. Got it?”

  He lifted her fingers and kissed the knuckles. “I’ll tell everyone you were my child bride. I love you, blondie. I’m determined to make this work.”

  “I love you, too. It’s a whole new beginning for us.”

  * * * *

  Apparently, everyone had noticed what a jerk he was being, except himself. The expression on his administrative assistant’s face at the moment was priceless.

  “Can you do that?” he asked.

  She blinked a few times, her mouth hanging open. He and Naomi had an almost brother and sister relationship, knowing exactly what buttons to push to get on each other’s nerves. They were also fiercely loyal to one another. Naomi had been his assistant since he’d founded the firm. She was a smart, hardworking single mother, and he would be in big trouble without her.

  “Yes,” she answered. “Let me review. You want two dozen Belle Blonde roses sent to Lisa as soon as possible. You also want me to book you and Tyler on a fishing boat charter for Sunday, and dinner reservations for you and Lisa at Bern’s Steakhouse on Saturday night. Is that right?”