Page 5 of Jag

“How come I didn’t know you and Flirt visited a club?” I asked, and Coast shook his head.

“‘Cause I didn’t get any further than one viewing room. Dude, I knew immediately that wasn’t for me, and I left Flirt to it. I love being in control, but that was way outside my comfort zone. Hell, before I went in there, I didn’t even know I had a comfort zone.” Coast shook his head as if to clear the images, and I turned to Flirt.

“You did not let him witness an extreme pain and punishment scene?” Flirt nodded, and Coast’s head jerked to me.

“You’ve been?”

“Yeah, I went while I was in San Diego at Coronado for a joint JAG conference. Some aspects of it interest me, but overall, it really isn’t my scene either. But, brother, at least I lasted the evening.” I laughed when Coast flipped me off.

“I’ve explained to both of you, it is a twenty-four/seven lifestyle for some where the D/s relationship is not just a scene played out in a club. Their lives follow the D/s roles. Besides, your asses didn’t have to go. All you had to do was say you weren’t interested, and we would have gone somewhere else.”

“Don’t get your panties twisted, man. Geez, Flirt, talk about dishing it out and not being able to take it.” I looked over at Flirt and noticed he had his brows furrowed. “Brother, we weren’t putting your preferences down. What’s your deal?” As we continued to walk, I glanced at Coast, and he shrugged. He evidently didn’t know what brought on the sudden change in Flirt.

“I don’t need, nor want the twenty-four/seven lifestyle, but yeah, I enjoy controlling what is going on, and the rush I get as my partner turns over her pleasure to me because I’ve taken her into subspace where she trusts that I’ll give her exactly what she wants and needs. I don’t have the desire to lead a woman around on a leash or have her sit at my feet to feel a connection for that matter. What I do want though, is a strong woman. One who can manage anything thrown her way but realizes she doesn’t have to when she’s with me. She’ll know I’ll take care of her—mentally, physically, and sexually.”

Coast and I watched Flirt as he spoke, and I wondered if Coast noticed the wistful look in Flirt’s eyes as he told us exactly what he was looking for in a woman. I also knew when Flirt found the one who fit what he needed, he wouldn’t avoid her. She’d be locked down before she even knew what happened to her.

“That’s you, brother. And I hope you find everything you want in a woman. But I can’t see the doc allowing anyone to control her, and frankly, I don’t need her to let me. What I need her to do is stop avoiding me long enough to show her that I’m the one for her. Every single time I’ve gotten close to her since we came back from San Diego, she turns and runs in the opposite direction. One of these days there isn’t going to be a place for her to escape. I’m out of patience,” Coast said as we stopped in the middle of the road between our places.

“Uh...patience? I don’t think I’ve ever heard your name and that word used in the same sentence,” I said, then dodged the punch Coast aimed at me.

“Joke all you want. Noticed you’ve been a bit surly lately. Wouldn’t have anything to do with River, would it?” I sneered at Coast who laughed since my actions didn’t faze him.

“Don’t like it when you’re the one under the microscope, huh, VP?” Flirt said. Seemed he was over his little snit as he chuckled right along with Coast.

Assholes.

“What the fuck ever. I’m going to take a shower,” I said and turned toward my place.

“Meet ya out here in twenty, so don’t take too long in that shower!” I kept walking, threw my arm in the air and flipped Coast off. When would I learn not to talk to the bastards about shit.

“Fuck the both of you, it might be time to find some new friends!” I yelled without turning around, but their laughter followed me as I closed the front door.

I stripped as soon as I hit my bedroom and headed to the bathroom where I turned the shower on.

River was going to have to be dealt with. She could throw all the attitude she wanted—I needed to know if something was there between us or not. Thanks to Luna and her voiced opinion of sexual tension, which was made from witnessing River and me in front of Yoga Sensual the day she nearly ran over me coming out the door.

So what if I’d had a couple dreams about the woman. It wasn’t like my brothers had been around the woman any more than I had. Ghost fixed a fucking window for her, big damn deal. And how the fuck was I supposed to get to know someone who sneered every time I was around them? It mattered not what her ass looked like in yoga pants, jeans, or a tight skirt and heels.

I checked the temperature of the spray and stepped into the shower with the redhead on my mind. If I was honest, she’d been on my mind a lot since that first day in the parking lot of the courthouse. The hot water ran down my body and just like any other time I thought of River, my shaft hardened. Screw it, the guys could wait for all I cared. I ran my hand down, then wrapped it around my straining cock and closed my eyes.

“Something has to give,” I whispered. I only wished I knew the outcome once it did. The damn woman had me touching myself like a green, fresh-faced teen who hadn’t been close to a woman, never mind sinking into the warmth of one.

With the hot water blasting me, I moved my hand up and down. Every slide earned a curse. If I kept thinking about her, I was going to need to buy a brace for my wrist and invest in a shit ton of lotion.

River’s face surfaced behind my eyelids. What was wrong with me? I’d stayed away from any woman in town who would want more than to scratch an itch. The ones who hung around the club knew the deal, which was mainly the strippers at Soft Tails. Since my brothers had been dropping like flies, the parties were far and in between now. Unless it had to do with a family celebration.

Whatever the reason, my problem wasn’t going to be fixed in the shower. I focused on River’s face and picked up speed as I squeezed and twisted my hand. It didn’t take long to bring myself to the brink when I pictured River on her knees with her lips surrounding me, and my hands full of her red hair.

“Fuck!” I screamed as my release splashed against the shower tile. Spent, I leaned my forehead against the wall and squeezed my eyes tighter.

Acknowledging Luna’s theory, I wondered what River Ramey would have to say. If past encounters with her were anything to go by, I was pretty sure the woman would mock me.

I washed, then stepped out of the shower. When I looked in the mirror, I grinned. Could be time to be proactive in the situation. Some good friction might just melt the layer of ice she wore like a suit of armor.

If I walked through the flames in hell, maybe we would both get what we wanted. Getting River to ask for it would make it even better.

As I finished drying off and dressed, the smile left my face. I hadn’t had the best history with the opposite sex, and with that knowledge, I had no doubt the woman would drive me to the brink of insanity before she succumbed.

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