Masters 02 Master of the Abyss by Cherise Sinclair Page A

own the power. Any idiot could use handcuffs. Dominance required more.
    He checked the area. Kallie had finished stowing dishes away and was sitting near her pack, pretending to whittle. He’d expected her to turn her back or retreat into her tent when he started the lessons. But she watched instead.
    When she glanced his way with a wistful look, his blood surged through his veins like a flash flood. Damn, he wanted her. Had she had enough time to think? How badly did she want to play? “Kallie. Come here.”
    She opened her mouth to reply.
    He lowered his voice. “Now.”
    After setting her knife and wood on top of her pack, she came to him. Slowly. He could almost hear her arguing with herself. Submit. No, don’t . With eyes so dark they appeared black in the dim light, she stood in front of him and rubbed her hands on her jeans. He almost smiled. Sweating already.
    “Did you finish thinking, sprite?”
    “Yes.” She licked her lip and said resolutely, “I want to play.”
    So do I . In fact, he’d never met anyone he’d wanted so badly. Getting control of himself, he set a finger under her chin and lifted her face. “The commitment between us is only for one more night. Tonight. Can you live with that?”
    “Yes.” Her acceptance showed in her eyes.
    “Yes, what?”
    A tremor ran through her. “Yes, Sir.”
    “Very nice.” He stroked her hair, then ran a finger around the delicate curve of her ear and down the line of her jaw to that stubborn chin. Obstinate enough to be a challenge and vulnerable enough to pull at his heart…dammit. “I will enjoy having my hands on you again.”
    The way her breathing deepened pleased him. He firmly grasped her upper arm to increase her feeling of being controlled. “There are many things I want to do to you, Kallie.”

Chapter Five
     
    Kallie swallowed hard as her imagination went wild. What did he mean…“ do to her ”?
    Hell, what was she thinking, agreeing to this? But she wanted tonight—wanted more than one, but oh, well. Over the past few days, she’d had time to think and had decided that she could handle the limits he’d put on their relationship. The other times she’d been tossed aside had come as a total shock. Knowing up front that he didn’t plan to stay with her, she wouldn’t be surprised when he moved on. That had to be better.
    He undid the top buttons of her flannel shirt and slid his hand inside. The touch of his fingers on her breast and the slight abrasion from his roughened skin made her toes curl. She saw his lips curve up as he teased her nipple. God, her knees were liable to give out.
    “What is your real name?” he asked, switching to the other breast.
    “What?”
    His eyes darkened.
    Oops. A sub didn’t ask questions. “Ka-LEEN-da, spelled K-A-L-I-N-D-A. My mother said my father was born in India.”
    “Ah. That’s where your gorgeous eyes come from.”
    Gorgeous? She had gorgeous eyes? She looked down to hide how much pleasure his compliment gave her.
    “Considering the size of the Masterson men, you must have inherited your height from your father’s side.”
    He was calling her a scrawny midget, wasn’t he? She scowled at him.
    After threading his fingers in her short hair, he pulled her head back, and his voice turned rough enough to match the skin on his hands. “I don’t like being glared at by submissives.”
    She tried to move and discovered his grip had her completely in his power. Helpless. Her whole lower half seemed to melt.
    “I’ll accept an apology this once. The next time, you’ll be punished.”
    Punished ? The thought sent warring sensations through her: heat at the memory of being spanked and the shattering orgasm afterward—and then anger at his threat.
    “Kalinda. I’m waiting.”
    She stared up at him. Firelight flickered over his stern face, heightened his cheekbones, and shadowed his eyes—and she wanted him so badly she shook with it. “I’m sorry, Jake,” she whispered.
    “Very well