Controlling Krysta Read online

  “So there’s a lot of rivalry between you two.”

  He chuckled. “You could say that.”

  “Where do you think that came from?”

  “Oh, I know exactly where it came from. Growing up, Mama nagged me every day,

  ‘Why can’t you make straight A’s like Mason?’ ‘Why can’t you be good like your brother?’

  He was the golden child who could do no wrong.”

  “Really?” I said, hoping he’d continue.

  “And our dad made everything a competition between us. The winner got praised.

  There was no trying. Only winning.”

  “Sounds like you’ve thought a lot about this.”

  He checked the wall clock then grabbed his cowboy hat. “I dated my high school guidance counselor for a while.”

  “Ewww!”

  “What?” He threw his hands out questioningly. “I waited ‘til I graduated to ask her out.” He put his hat on, adjusting it to the most attractive place on his forehead. He glanced at himself in a small decorative mirror on the wall.

  I stood and headed for the door. “Oh, well, that’s not creepy at all,” I said sarcastically. I walked out in front of him and headed for the elevator.

  “You know, Krysta,” he replied. “Sometimes the things you aren’t supposed to do turn out to be the most fun of all.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.” I winked at him before he could get the jump on me.

  Dix laughed.

  Laughing. Such a natural thing for him to do. I wondered what it would take to get his brother to relax with me like this.

  *****

  Dix lay naked atop his covers as memories of Tessa flashed through his mind.

  The first time he lifted her skirt to reveal her white cotton panties underneath. Her cries of pleasure and pain when he disciplined her. The sounds of her moans when his cock was inside her, pounding her to orgasm.

  The heart-to-heart talk in his bed after they made love to each other…

  Fuck, he was hard as a rock and his chest felt all mushy inside, like someone had filled it with oatmeal. The hard cock was typical. The oatmeal thing was new, since Tessa.

  He got out of bed and dug some pajama bottoms out of a dresser drawer, determined not to do anything about the hard-on right now. He’d decided in Tessa’s absence, he wouldn’t see other women and wouldn’t even satisfy himself.

  This six months had been the longest time without sexual release since before he was a teenager. But, for once, Dixon Maddox wanted to be patient and wait. When he and Tessa got back together, he didn’t want to be laid back and relaxed. He wanted to grab her and kiss her hard and unleash all the passion he’d saved up for her.

  Although he got back in bed, he spent the next hour tossing and turning.

  What if she’d forgotten him? They had only known each other a few weeks when she left, and she’d been gone for nearly six months now.

  She was young. Maybe she hadn’t cared for him at all. Maybe she was lured by the forbidden delights he offered, helpless against the lust brought on by his domination over her.

  He knew from experience that lust alone didn’t last long when the object of the lust was thousands of miles away.

  For all these months, Dix had hung onto his natural confidence and optimism, but now it was failing him. What if she didn’t want him anymore?

  The end of the six months was a few days away. Would it really hurt to call a little early?

  Suddenly determined, he grabbed his cell phone. He started to call Tessa’s cell, but remembered she’d turned the sound off at night to keep her manic mother from waking her up at all hours, even when she was living in Houston.

  He dialed the landline she’d texted him when she moved into her apartment. By the time it rang six times, he was pacing back and forth across his wood floor.

  “Hello?” A sleepy voice said.

  “Tessa?” he replied, even though it didn’t sound like Tessa.

  “No, Daniel. It’s me,” an unfamiliar voice said. “Tessa’s out with her boyfriend again tonight.”

  “Okay, thanks,” Dix said absently, hanging up the phone.

  Stunned, he paced around his bedroom, trying to twist the words to mean anything other than what Tessa’s roommate had said.

  In her sleep fog, she must have mistaken Dix for Tessa’s brother Daniel. Dix checked the time.

  Midnight. Too late for supper. Tessa was alone with another man, one her roommate called a “boyfriend.”

  Nausea filled Dix’s stomach. He’d been sure they had something special.

  But Dix himself had encouraged her to date other men so she could be sure she still wanted him. That seemed like a ridiculously cocky thing to do now.

  Maybe that’s all it was, though, her taking his advice and dating until the last minute…

  Except then her roommate would have referred to him as a “date,” not a “boyfriend.”

  Letting her go back to Michigan alone had been a terrible idea. Why didn’t he follow her and stick close so she couldn’t find someone else?

  Sure, he’d wanted to be certain it wasn’t only physical desire on her part, and he didn’t want to come across as a controlling stalker type when they hadn’t known each other more than a few weeks.

  But now those sounded like piddly reasons to let the woman he loved so far out of his sight.

  An awful, desperate fear crept through every nerve ending. He’d always been a rich, handsome ladies’ man. He wasn’t used to feeling this way and he didn’t like it one bit.

  Pacing over to his dresser, he rested his palms on the top of it. He looked at himself in the mirror and tried to remind himself who he was.

  When he was five, he’d learned to ride horses better than his older brother just to impress their distant father. And when he realized he couldn’t outdo his brother in debate medals or science fair trophies, he became quarterback of the football team and took a different girl out every weekend, just to prove he could.

  One way or another Dixon Maddox was a winner.

  And no matter what this “boyfriend” had going for him, Dix knew something about Tessa he was pretty sure no one in her hometown had a clue about. And he had no qualms about using this knowledge to get her back.

  *****

  All I could think about the next morning was Mason. He had a meeting outside the office and didn’t come in for hours.

  Seemed like days.

  I needed him to treat me to more of what we did the day before, only, this time, with some actual skin contact.

  Regardless, each time I’d start imagining the things Mason might do to me, I tried to push the thoughts out of my mind.

  I didn’t want to get addicted to this master-slave scenario. I’d been emotionally dependent on a man once before, believing he was the one for me, twisting my world around his.

  When his wealthy parents decided I wasn’t “a good match” and threatened to disown him, he folded like a set of bed sheets.

  I was shattered and vowed not to invest emotionally in his type ever again.

  But here I was obsessing over Mason Maddox, another man born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

  I kept telling myself it wasn’t that personal between us. My interest in psychology caused me to be intrigued by him. My sexual proclivities had me hot for him…for now.

  There was no future in this situation. It wasn’t a “love thing.”

  For once, I should relax and enjoy. Although the relaxing part was difficult under the circumstances.

  Each time I heard footsteps in the hall outside the office suite, I tensed in expectation of Mason coming through the door.

  The phone on my desk rang. I nearly jumped out of my skin.

  As I picked up the receiver, Mason walked in, so tall and handsome in a black cowboy hat and another perfectly tailored suit.

  He paused for a moment, his dark eyes staring into mine like he was about to speak.

  Then he noticed I was on t
he phone and continued to his office.

  I rattled something into the receiver and was annoyed to learn a wrong number had ruined my moment with Mason. Slamming the phone down, I grabbed a contract that needed filing.

  “Krysta.” Mason was standing in his doorway. “Come here.”

  Heat coursed through me at the way he’d said it. Not “could you please come in here?” or “come here, please.”

  Even though his tone of voice was low, there was no question it was an order.

  I put the contract down and walked into his office, disappointed to see he’d sat down behind his desk.

  “We have a problem we need to discuss.”

  We sure do. I’m desperate for my boss to grab me and fuck me senseless.

  “Yes?” I said.

  “You’re not answering the phones correctly.”

  I had no idea what I’d jabbered into the ear of the caller a few minutes before, since I was so distracted.

  “It was just a wrong number,” I replied.

  “But you didn’t know it was a wrong number when you answered. You’re supposed to answer ‘Good morning, Maddox Brothers Incorporated. May I help you?’”

  “I’m pretty sure that’s what I said.” That was a lie, but I had the crazy impulse to push him. I wanted him annoyed or angry. Whatever it took to make him act.

  “That’s not what you said. All you said was, “Maddox Brothers, Inc.”

  “I was distracted. You were walking in and—”

  “I don’t want to hear excuses. It’s clear you don’t take your work here seriously.”

  I had the urge to push again. “It’s not that serious a job.”

  He stared at me for several long seconds. Did he want to punish me? Did he realize that I was trying to drive him to it?

  “You need some discipline. Take off your clothes. Leave the shoes on.”

  A hot shiver snaked through my body.

  “Yes, Mr. Maddox,” I whispered.

  My breathing quickened as I unbuttoned my red blouse to reveal a lacy black bra. I unzipped my skirt, let it fall to the floor and stepped out of it.

  Finally, the voice of reason returned to my head and screamed, “You can’t do this.

  He’s your boss! He’s another rich asshole and you’re going to get addicted to him and think you’re in love with him before he dumps you for some debutante.”

  “Bra and panties off, now.”

  Mmmm… His demanding voice caused my whole body to tense in anticipation.

  That was all it took to toss reason right out of my head. I unlatched my bra and let it slide down my arms until it fell to the floor. My panties quickly joined the bra.

  Mason stood. “Come over here to the window.” He nodded toward the wall of windows behind his desk. I went where he directed wearing nothing but my highest black pumps.

  “I want everyone to see what a bad employee you’ve been,” he said. “Press yourself against the glass.”

  Stepping forward, I looked out the window. The Maddox Brothers’ office was so high, I could see the tops of some surrounding buildings in downtown Houston, but one other building nearby was of equal height.

  I wondered if people there could see me. Unlikely, since most of the buildings were tinted to keep out the blistering Houston sun.

  I pressed my right cheek against the warm glass. My breasts and stomach followed.

  The sensation was pleasant after the chill of the air conditioned office.

  I began to relax into the comforting feel of it.

  Since my face was pointed to the left, I wasn’t sure what Mason was doing off to my right side. Was he going to fuck me like this?

  I nearly moaned at the thought.

  “Present your backside,” he said.

  “Hmm?”

  “Backside out toward me…for punishment.”

  My thighs squeezed involuntarily. My pussy contracted. I pushed my ass outward, toward Mason.

  He slid something across my skin. “Do you remember why you’re being punished?”

  “The phone,” I replied.

  “In the future, you will answer it correctly. This will remind you.”

  Whack!

  Ohhhhh! The mild sting was heavenly. My body shuddered.

  He was using a belt on me, like Dix had, but, this time, my disciplinarian was Mason and I was naked.

  Whack!

  I writhed at the burning sensation the second stroke caused. A small cry escaped from my throat.

  “Have I injured you?” There was a hint of sincere concern in his voice, yet I wanted more from him. I wanted him to lose himself to the point where he fucked me…or at least touched me with his bare hands.

  “Your brother does it harder,” I said mockingly.

  I heard his angry intake of breath behind me. Had I gone too far, playing on their extreme rivalry?

  Whack!

  God, that hurt! My ass tucked in of its own accord.

  Clearly, I had gone too far.

  “You pulled away. Present yourself for more punishment. If you can take it from my brother, you can take it from me.”

  Okay, the taunting had been a really bad idea. Yet, I had to experience all that Mason had in store for me.

  I pressed my ass out toward him again.

  Whack! Whack! Whack!

  I whimpered at the pain searing through my skin, while my pussy creamed like it thought this was appropriate foreplay. My body had never been more confused.

  “Do you know how to answer the phone now?”

  “Yes,” I replied, afraid I couldn’t take another stroke of his belt.

  “Show me.”

  “I…huh?”

  Whack!

  Fuck! The skin of my bottom was on fire and no longer in a good way.

  “Quickly,” he said. I could sense his hand pulling back for another stroke.

  “M-Maddox—”

  Whack!

  “Incorrect.”

  The pain was unbearable. Why did it almost make me come? My pussy was throbbing expectantly.

  If I didn’t get this right, my poor ass would be unrecognizable.

  “Good morning.” My voice quivered. “Maddox Brothers Incorporated. May I help you?”

  “Excellent,” he said. “You can leave the window now.”

  He walked over to where my clothes were strewn on the guest chair and floor. I followed.

  We stood, staring at each other for several moments. His jaw was tight, as if he were fighting for control. His gaze moved down my body and back up again.

  He wanted me.

  “You can get dressed,” he said.

  No! He couldn’t leave me like this, so hot for him, without even having had the satisfaction of his touch.

  I grabbed the front of his shirt, intending to kiss him, but the expression on his face said he wasn’t ready for that.

  I needed something more intimate between us. A kiss would put us on too equal a level for him to tolerate. He needed to feel dominant to feel safe.

  I had an idea. Before I could talk myself out of it, I quickly knelt down in front of him and unzipped his pants. His foot moved as if to take a step backward, but I pulled his cock from his briefs and enveloped it with my mouth.

  He took in three sharp breaths and his pelvis thrust toward me, pushing his cock deeper into my mouth.

  I tongued him desperately, hoping he wouldn’t pull away. This was the most physically intimate we’d been by far and I wanted to show him it was okay. That the sky wouldn’t fall if we touched.

  And I needed him. I needed him to take pleasure in the intimacy of fucking my mouth.

  I needed him to shoot his hot come down my throat.

  I sucked several times, in quick succession. He groaned and grabbed the back of my head.

  “Deeper,” he said. A new wave of heat burst through me at the idea that he wanted this too.

  He thrust forward, holding my head in place. I didn’t fight it as his cock hit the back of my throat, r
epeatedly.

  Wedging my fingers into his underwear, I found his balls and caressed them. His body stiffened.

  “No!” he cried. He pulled himself from my mouth and hot come sprayed me from cheek to breast.

  Disappointment edged through me. I’d wanted him to let go completely and come inside my mouth.

  When I looked up at him, he appeared shocked at the mess he’d made.

  “I…um…let me get you something.” As he zipped his pants, he strode over to his desk and retrieved some hand wipes.

  He handed them to me, then went back and grabbed his suit coat and hat.

  “I’ll see you after lunch.” He walked out.

  I’d gone too far, too fast, and he’d abandoned me again.

  Chapter Four

  Dixon was vaguely aware of his cell phone ringing. He hadn’t fallen asleep until five in the morning after a night if obsessing over the Tessa situation.

  He ignored the phone and pulled a pillow over his head. It was just Mason’s ring tone, anyway.

  When the phone went off for the third time in a row, Dix decided it could be important. He grabbed his cell and answered it.

  “Hello?”

  “Can you meet me for lunch?”

  “I’m still in bed.” Dix rubbed his eyes with the heel of his palm. “I was up all night.”

  “It’s important.” Mason’s voice held a rare tone that concerned Dix. His mind scanned through the possibilities.

  Had business taken a turn for the worse? Their investments were so diversified, surely it couldn’t be that bad.

  Had Mason gotten word that their sorry father had finally kicked the bucket? Probably left his money to whatever Miss Universe contestant he was seeing down in South America.

  Dix didn’t think that would warrant a special lunch, since they’d let go of any illusions about their selfish father years ago.

  Maybe it wasn’t so bad. Mason had always been an alarmist anyway.

  “Sure, where?” Dix asked, grabbing a pair of jeans from his dresser drawer.

  *****

  Within the hour, Dix climbed the front stairs of Chillcot’s. The obscure restaurant on a private, wooded road in the Memorial area was the kind of place billionaires took their mistresses to supper or met politicians for shady dealings. The food was ridiculously expensive and the restaurant was unknown to most people.