Mastered by Malone (Haven, Texas 6)

Shit. Shit. Shit.

He paced back and forth across his office, unable to stay still. No point in going back to his paperwork or trying to go to bed to sleep. His mind was taken up with her.

Her pale face as she stared up at him, her eyes filled with hope then disappointment then pain. Damn it. When had she become more than a project? That’s the way he’d tried to think of her. Someone to teach. To guide. To help. These past few nights she’d given him her submission. Her desires. Her obedience.

And what had he given her? A few fucking orgasms and a sore ass.

There was a knock on the door and he frowned. Was it Mia? “Yes?”

The door opened and West stood there.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded. “Thought I told you guys to stay out after dinner.”

“You did. But I left something in the kitchen and I saw you walk down the stairs alone so I figured the coast was clear. I wanted to talk to you. About Mia.”

“What about Mia?”

“Look, it’s none of my business, but I just want to check that you know what you’re doing.”

“You’re right. It’s none of your business.”

She’s not like the women at the club you play with. She feels something for you.”

“Since when did you become so protective of Mia?”

West watched him warily. “I might not have agreed with letting her come here. Might not have appreciated the way she’s changed things around here, but that was before.”

“Before what?”

“Before I saw the way she affected you. You love her, don’t you?”

“I don’t love anyone.”

West snorted, moved over to the whiskey, and poured them both a drink. He handed one over to Alec. “You might like to tell yourself that, but it ain’t true. You love us.”

“Wanna bet?” Alec asked churlishly.

West sighed, finished his drink, and turned away.

“Where are you going?” Alec demanded.

“There’s no talking to you right now. Not when you’re brooding and feeling sorry for yourself.”

“Fuck off, I’m not brooding.”

West turned back to look at him. “No? Why are you here alone? I thought you spent every evening in here with Mia, tying her up and fucking her?”

“She’s not feeling well.”

“She had a hard day. She’s

one of us now, Alec. You might want to keep that in mind.”

“What the fuck does that mean?”

“It means that I get why you push her away with one hand and pull her close with another, but that doesn’t mean that we’ll stand by and let you hurt her.”

“I’m not fucking hurting her. She consented. There’s a contract—”