Savannah's Sentinel (Mountain Mastery Book 2) Read online

  Watching her come undone under his hand had sealed her fate. She might not stay, but he didn’t want it to be easy for her to go, either. Hell, she might never believe he was serious after his earlier rejection, but he would do everything possible to convince her.

  When his body was once again under the big head’s control, Landon lifted Savannah into his arms and moved her to the shower. Setting her on her feet, he steadied her until he was sure she’d roused enough to stand. Stripping off his jeans and tossing them aside, Landon started the water then led her under the warm spray.

  “Let’s get the chlorine out of your hair, Princess.” He remembered Tally commenting how damaging pool chemicals were to her skin and hair, so he’d assumed Savannah would face the same challenge. It was remarkable how similar the two women were in many ways. He hoped they’d be friends, but feared his previous relationship with Karl and Tally would be a difficult hurdle for Savannah to overcome. Only time would tell.

  “Stand still and let me help you.” He was probably more pleased than he should be by the dazed look in her eyes. There was very little more satisfying for a sexual dominant than knowing he’d given the submissive in his care an orgasm strong enough to glaze over her eyes and render her temporarily helpless. But he would also need to remember to hold back once they left Montana. He wouldn’t push her this far during their stopover at the Prairie Winds Club. They’d already be in mission-mode, and he wouldn’t compromise her professional reputation.

  “Oh dear God in heaven, that feels so good.” He smiled at her softly moaned words as he massaged her scalp with strong fingers covered in citrus scented shampoo. She leaned her head back into his hold as he slid them through the silky strands.

  “You have beautiful hair, Princess. It feels like wet silk in my hands. I’ll condition it for you, and then I’m going to step back and watch you finish your shower. It’s going to be a pleasure to see you run your hands over your body. Make sure that I enjoy the view.” Her breathing hitched, and he saw her pulse begin pounding once again at the side of her slender neck.

  By the time he’d finished rinsing her hair, his cock was so hard he thought it was going to split the tender skin stretching around it. How in the hell am I ever going to survive watching her slide those dainty hands and pink-polished nails over her wet, naked body? He sat on the shower’s bench and stretched out his legs as he leaned back against the tiled wall. Crossing his ankles, he hoped the added pressure on his balls would be distracting enough to keep him from erupting like Mount Vesuvius.

  The teasing look in her eyes as she lathered her body made him growl with frustration. “Be very careful, pet. You are playing with fire. I have plans for you, and they don’t include fucking you blind against the shower wall.” And that was exactly what was going to happen if she didn’t stop taunting him. The seductress Savannah North kept carefully hidden from view was finally coming out to play. He hadn’t seen any evidence of the temptress before she’d shown up on his doorstep, but now he wondered how the hell he’d missed it.

  The corners of her mouth turned down for just a second before her expression smoothed once again. She was still protecting her heart—still perceived every delay as rejection. I’m going to shatter all those defenses, baby. You’ve got some important lessons in trust coming, and I’m going to enjoy showing you how sweet surrender can be.

  He dried her and then pulled on his jeans. Laying a towel over the marble counter, he pressed a hand between her shoulders until she bent over. “Spread your legs, pet. I’m going to insert a larger plug.” She shuddered but spread her legs wide enough he didn’t have to adjust her position. “Good girl. Perfectly done. Now arch your back a little more. Yes, just like that. Perfect.” He didn’t waste any time removing the smaller plug and wrapping it in a towel. He’d deal with it later.

  Pulling the lube from the warmer, he chuckled when her eyes widened in the mirror. “Yes, I was prepared, pet. Now, let’s get that lovely ass of yours stretched out a bit more, shall we?” He saw the flash of uncertainty in her eyes and shook his head. “No, Princess, I won’t be taking your lovely ass today. You’re not ready.” Circling her rear hole with the lubed plug, Landon moved it into position and flattened his hand between her shoulders to keep her in place. “Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Yes. Now push out against the plug. Very good.” He slid the larger plug in and back out several times, making a bit of progress with each stroke.

  She groaned softly but didn’t speak. Her breaths were little more than shallow panting, telling him she was aroused. Her ass cheeks were still a lovely shade of pink from her spanking, and he was anxious to see if she responded as well to a flogger. He’d need to be careful, her delicate skin would mark easily. There was so much he wanted to introduce her to. But it would take much longer than the small window they’d allotted for her training.

  One step at a time, man. One step at a time.

  The soft fabric of Landon’s tee-shirt felt strange against her skin after being nude since she’d arrived. She smoothed her hands slowly down her torso after he’d dropped the well-worn garment over her head. “It’s so soft. And it smells like you.” She heard the airy tone of her own voice and hoped he hadn’t noticed the way it made her sound like a girl with a crush on her big brother’s best friend. Geez, Savannah. Get a fucking grip.

  They were almost to the kitchen, but he stopped and turned to her. “We’re having lasagna for lunch. The pasta and sauce will both be extremely hot, and I don’t want you to be accidently burned. I love seeing you bared to my view, but I must admit that I’m also enjoying seeing you in my shirt. I especially enjoy seeing your nipples drawn up so tight they look like pebbles pressing against the fabric. It reminds me I need to double check on your wardrobe.”

  “Wardrobe? For the trip? I brought the few things I could find before jumping on the plane. But I admit I didn’t have time to get much. Come to think of it, where are my suitcases? I should probably review—” She stopped mid-sentence because he was frowning at her.

  “First, your clothes have been hanging in the closet of the bedroom we are sharing since the day you arrived. Second, there is very little there I’d consider remotely suitable for our mission in Costa Rica. And finally, it is my honor and duty to provide your clothing for the trip. Masters provide for their submissives or, in this case, slaves. That’s just the way it is.” Landon sounded mildly affronted, but for the life of her, Savannah didn’t understand why.

  “Obviously, I’ve insulted you…although I don’t know why. This is a job; I’ve been reminded of that time and again…so you aren’t under any obligation to provide my clothing. I’m—” Her words were cut off when she found herself with her back against the wall.

  Landon lifted her until they were eye to eye, then slid his right leg between hers so her quickly dampening pussy rested on his denim clad knee. “Stop talking, pet. One of my father’s favorite bits of wisdom reminds people to stop digging when they find themselves in a hole, and you are definitely in a hole.”

  Holy shit, he’s strung tight. Do not poke the bear, Savannah. Do not pass go. Do not collect two hundred dollars.

  He was pissed, no doubt about that. She wasn’t afraid of him, but she was confused by his anger. Her muddled state must have shown, because he shook his head, muttering under his breath. “Wretched mission.”

  Huh? What the hell did that mean?

  The haze of frustration cleared from his eyes just before he lowered her to her feet. “Let’s eat. We have a full slate of training this afternoon, and I’d like for you to rest a while before we go to the club tonight. There have also been some interesting developments in the case that we need to discuss.”

  “Developments? What’s happened? When did you hear about these developments?” She suspected he’d heard the confusion in her voice, but she didn’t care. She wanted to be treated like a partner, and that meant there wasn’t any room for being left out of the loop.

  “I got the call while yo
u were swimming. There was no need to interrupt you since neither of us can do anything about it. As you are aware, we have an informant on the inside who’s been willing to keep us updated on your niece.”

  “Please cut to the chase. You are scaring me to death. I understand that it’s just a mission to everyone else, but Amy isn’t just my niece. She’s also my best friend. And I’m terrified for her. She must be frightened to death.”

  Landon pulled out a chair for her, and she noticed the soft towel covering the rough upholstery. Without missing a beat, she spread her knees wide and hooked her ankles around the chair legs. He nodded his approval and then moved to the seat directly across from her. Savannah felt her cheeks flush when she realized he had a bird’s eye view of her exposed pussy through the clear glass table.

  “What a wonderful view. Being able to see the swollen folds of your pussy is going to do wonders for my appetite.” When she frowned at him, he surprised her by laughing out loud. “I swear I should paddle your ass for that glare, Princess. But I’m forced to admit I had it coming. Obviously, the news about Amy isn’t bad, or I wouldn’t be teasing you with it.” His expression changed entirely, and she felt the ice walls around her heart begin to melt. Dammit, I don’t want to fall for him. It’s a bad idea on every level.

  “According to our source, Marco Alvarez is treating Amaryllis like an honored guest. For all intents and purposes, he appears to be wooing her.”

  Savannah felt her mouth open, but thank God, none of the jumbled words in her mind tumbled out. She was certain she must look like a fish out of water, but she was too stunned to respond. A hundred possible scenarios had run through her head over the past week. But this? This had never even been close to her radar. “Holy shit. What does that mean? I don’t even know how to process this, Landon…I mean, Sir.”

  He chuckled at her quick attempt to save herself from another spanking. “We’re having a conversation as partners now, Princess. We both need to have a break from the protocol every now and then. And to be honest, I enjoy your company. I also respect what you’re bringing to the table, pardon the pun, for this mission—the entire team is damned impressed with the progress you’ve made.”

  Damn her fair skin. She felt the flush flood her cheeks at his kind words. Gracefully accepting compliments had never been her strong suit because it happened so rarely. They’d certainly never come her way at home, and she’d had to fight for every ounce of respect she’d gotten at the Agency. Everyone always assumed she received the easy assignments because she was a lazy, rich girl, but being kept out of the action wasn’t her idea. Hell, she hated being coddled and held back.

  Hearing that she’d earned Landon’s respect humbled her. When she ducked her head, Landon’s voice caught her attention. “Look at me, Savannah.” When she lifted her chin, letting her eyes meet his, she saw nothing but banked desire and pride. “I know it hasn’t been easy for you at the Agency. To be honest, I’m not sure why you’ve stayed. Once this mission is over, we’ll be having a long conversation about where you see yourself in five years. I’m retiring and might have a few suggestions for you. You need to remember those weren’t empty words. It wasn’t a compliment for the sake of boosting your ego. I simply stated a fact.”

  She could hear the sincerity in his voice and was pleased to see nothing in his eyes to indicate he was simply placating her. “I’m aware people blow smoke up your ass because of your brother. Hell, I’ve seen evidence of it in briefings and wondered what keeps you from becoming a first-rate bitch. You’re going to learn the Prairie Winds Team won’t sugarcoat it for you. It’s one of the reasons I’ll continue helping them after I retire from the Agency.”

  Her eyes burned as she blinked back tears.

  “Princess, you’re doing a great job with the training. I understand you’ve been thrown into the deep end of the pool, and you’ve impressed me more than I can say.”

  She nodded but was too overcome with emotion to speak.

  Their lunch had been served, but Savannah wouldn’t pick up her fork until her host took his first bite. He smiled at her. “Your manners are perfect, pet. My mother is going to love you. Now, eat, please. I dislike eating alone, especially when I have such lovely company.”

  This was the second time he’d mentioned that he thought his mother would like her. The first had given her the impression it had been a slip that embarrassed him. But this one had been deliberate and felt much more like a test. As if he’d been checking her reaction. Deciding against taking the bait, she simply smiled and savored her first bite of lasagna. When in doubt, keep quiet. Perhaps she’d learned more from her mother than she realized.

  “As for what Alvarez’s behavior means, no one is sure. What we do know is that she isn’t being harmed, and that’s the important thing. The team is running the information past a profiler, and if it turns up anything interesting, we should hear about it before we leave Texas. We need to have some idea what we’re walking in to.” She agreed, but at the moment, the only thing on her mind was gratitude. Hearing that Amy wasn’t being mistreated, no matter what the reason, was a huge relief.

  Pulling herself back from the emotional side of things, Savannah refocused on the table in front of her. The food was perfect, and she had to make herself push the basket of garlic bread out of reach. “Oh my stars and garters, I’m going to be able to roll faster than I can walk if I’m not careful.”

  “You’re going to burn up all of those calories and then some this afternoon. Drink the rest of your water, pet. I want your bladder full when we begin.” The horror must have shown on her face because he immediately grinned. “No, Princess, I have no desire to experience a golden shower. A full bladder will make it more difficult for you to hold off your orgasm and make it much more intense when it overwhelms you.”

  Terrific.

  Chapter Fourteen

  How do I get myself into these pickles? It hadn’t taken Landon long to divest her of the shirt she’d worn during lunch and escort her to his playroom. And now she was tethered between two six-foot-tall posts and any carbohydrate induced brain-fog she’d experienced from the pasta had evaporated like a water dropped onto a hot iron. Steam indeed. I already feel like a crispy critter, and he’s only just started.

  “You are so right, Princess. I’ve just started.” She could hear the amusement in his voice. The rat bastard could have been a gentleman and pretended he hadn’t heard her musing aloud. Whatever happened to social decorum?

  His hand fisted in her hair, tilting her face back until his blue-green eyes moved over her like a heated caress. Landon’s gaze was so penetrating Savannah had once likened it to sex. Amy had laughed at her romantic musing, telling her she’d missed her calling. I’d be a lousy romance author…I don’t think drooling over and waxing poetic about Landon Nixon would pay well. I’d write the first chapter, come, and that would be the end of my writing career.

  “What was that, pet? What are you planning to write?” She tried giving him her best confused blonde face, but he simply laughed at her. “You don’t actually expect that to work, do you? You are one of the most intelligent women I know. The ditzy blonde routine is far beneath you, pet.”

  “Fudge. I should have figured you’d be a hard ass…et.” She heard the flogger he’d been using thump against the concrete floor a heartbeat before his hands cupped the underside of her breasts. Landon’s thumbs and forefingers pinched her tightly drawn nipples with enough force to make her gasp. The pressure was just over the edge of pain. In the microsecond it took the pain to move to her sex, the sensation changed to mind-bending pleasure. “Oh, God. Please, oh yes, please.”

  “There’s the look I’ve been waiting for. That sweet dazed confusion that tells me you don’t understand why the pain feels so wickedly delicious. Your mind and body battle to make sense of the sensations. You can’t process it, but you don’t want it to end.” The tips of his hair brushed against her jawline a second before she felt the soft caress of his lips over
the pulse point at the side of her neck. “Your skin is hot beneath my kiss, and I feel your pulse pounding as your heart races. Powerful stuff, Princess. Desire is a pure aphrodisiac for a Master. Knowing I can elicit this response from you makes me want to put my stamp of ownership on you, pet. But a simple collar wouldn’t be enough. If you were mine, the mark would be far more permanent.”

  Savannah was falling under his spell…she knew better, but her body wasn’t listening to her head’s words of caution. “You’re thinking too much, my precious pet. I’m going to have to see if I can’t push all those troubling thoughts out of your head. You are supposed to be focused on the pleasure only I can give you. The relief that is mine to provide when it pleases me.” She wasn’t sure where he was until the warmth of his breath moved over her bare sex. When had she closed her eyes?

  She jerked against the bonds when the hot tip of his tongue slid through her wet folds. The cry from her lips was strangled, sounding more like that of an animal than her own voice. “More, please.”

  “Sweeter than a ripe peach and every bit as juicy. I’m going to taste every inch of you. And when you come, I’m going to savor every drop.” Savannah felt her muscles begin to tremble before his devil-blessed mouth returned to her pussy. His tongue plunged deep inside her channel, and every thought she’d had splintered into a million pieces.

  A soul shattering orgasm swamped Savannah so quickly she hadn’t been able to hold back the scream burning her throat. Nothing existed but the fire of pleasure searing her body from the inside out. In the back of her mind, she heard Landon’s growl of approval and relished the vibration that threw her back into the bottomless abyss of pleasure. Through the sparkling lights blinking furiously behind her eyelids, she saw nothing but midnight blue as she hurtled through the twinkling stars. When the light show faded, Savannah let herself slide silently into the darkness.