Protector: Doms of Mountain Bend Book 1 by BJ Wane (good books to read for 12 year olds .txt) 📕

he veered their way. As if sensing his approach, her gaze flew toward him, rounding in disbelief, her breasts rising with her startled gasp.

Without taking his eyes off hers, Shawn asked, “Master Simon, would you mind if I have a word with this guest?”

“Not at all, since she’s not happy with me.”

Lisa winced. “Oh, but I am, sir. I’m sorry, I was just hoping…” She paused in consternation, looking away from both men.

Simon used the flogger handle to lift her chin and turn her face up to his. “You were hoping for a fast scene, some quick burns to distract you from whatever is on your mind, and a just-as-fast orgasm, right?”

Lisa shuffled her feet and clenched her hands, her face turning pink under their unrelenting gazes as her jaw tightened. “If you’re so good at reading people, why did you stall?”

He raised an arrogant brow. “My scene, my way. Master Shawn, let me know if you need me to return.”

“Will do, thanks.” Shawn nodded, grateful for Simon’s insight. He should have known Simon wasn’t oblivious to Lisa’s needs.

He waited until they were as alone as they could be in a room holding over seventy people before giving Lisa his full attention. Taking in the damp ends of her hair clinging to her neck, he stepped close enough for her nipples to brush his chest. “I’m usually a pretty good judge of character, but gotta admit I never pictured you here at Spurs, Ms. Halldor.” He smirked when she narrowed her eyes at the sarcastic inflection he’d used in saying her name.

“Then we’re even, Deputy McDuff, since I never imagined you here, either. If you’ll release me, please, I’ll be on my way.”

Oh, no, he wasn’t letting her off that easy, not while gripped with the urge to erase the prim façade that replaced the stark desire she’d exhibited a moment ago by giving her what she’d come here seeking. Testing her, and himself, he slid his hands behind her neck then spread his fingers as he pushed them up under her hair to cradle her head in his palms. Watching the pulse jump in her neck, he could almost hear the rapid pounding of her heart.

“Not yet, and here, it’s Master Shawn. You don’t want to leave with your body still vibrating for the touch that will ease the strain from whatever is bothering you, do you? No, keep your eyes on me,” he insisted when her attempt to pull free of his hold ended with that telltale shifting of her gaze, leaving no doubt she knew of her inability to shield her emotions.

“You want to continue with me? Are you sure?” she asked.

“Yes.”

He found himself wanting to appease her straining needs as much as he needed answers about this constant tug of vague recognition. Again, he discounted the possibility she was the young girl he’d rescued so long ago despite the same coloring and soft voice that kept triggering the memory. That much coincidence was too farfetched to believe.

Shawn waited until her desire overrode her caution and she gave him a reluctant nod to continue. “Good, girl.” He was never stingy with his praise when warranted. Dropping his hands to her shoulders, he caved to the temptation to touch her and drew his palms down her chest and over her nipples to cup the soft mounds. “So dainty, much like the rest of you. But you’re tough on the inside, aren’t you, Lisa?”

“When I need to be, Sir.” She bit her lip as he squeezed her breasts before releasing them.

“Let me assure you that you don’t need to be tonight, not with me. Let go whenever you’re ready.” Turning away, he walked to the wall of implements and chose a flogger with three short, wide straps and returned to stand behind her. “Do you wish to keep your skirt on?” he asked, snapping the strands on the back of her right thigh just below the hem.

A groan slipped past her compressed lips, a shudder rippling down her smooth back. “On, please.”

Her slight hesitation told him she was tempted to reveal more of her body, and, with it, her needs, but he wouldn’t push her past her comfort zone. Not until he knew more about her, not only where and when they’d connected before, but about what was causing the stress that drove her here tonight. As a new teacher in a small town, she should be aware of the risk to her reputation and job if the wrong person saw her here. Not that something like that had ever been a problem since he, Clayton, and Dakota had been members, or that they would care if it had. But, as sexist as it sounded, women were always held to a different moral standard, and, as an educator of young children, she was walking a very narrow line.

Shawn tickled the red marks on her thigh with the ends of the flogger, liking the way she shivered at the light touch on top of the lingering burn. With a flick of his wrist, he snapped the strands against her other thigh, leaving matching red stripes behind.

“How long have you been involved in the lifestyle?” he asked with a strike to her lower back.

“Not long. A little over a year. Oh God.” Lisa arched her back into his next swat, this one a little higher.

“What you don’t reveal in words, you say in body language. That can work for now in here, Lisa, but not outside these doors.” Shawn teased her by caressing his way up to her shoulders before drawing back and delivering two rapid slashes to the lily white soft skin.

“We don’t…” Turning her head to look at him, she said, “Outside these doors, my life is no one’s business. Sir.”

Shawn moved to stand in front of her, her head following him. “As long