Mastering a Sinner by Kate Pearce Read Free Book Online Page A

embarrassment possible?” She paused to study his face. “If that was the case, surely I would’ve waited until the morning, and left the watch among the papers on your desk, leaving you none the wiser?”
    His green eyes narrowed. “Then perhaps you might tell me what is really going on.”
    She held his gaze. “Sit down.”
    After a long moment, he did as she had asked and she breathed a little easier.
    “Lady M found your watch and she gave it to me.”
    “Why would she do that?” His tone was faintly amused, as though they discussed something of little importance. She had to admire him for that. “Are you, perhaps, her secretary too?”
    “No, we share other tastes.” She let her gaze linger on him, and he looked away.
    “Does this have anything to do with my brother?”
    She sat back, his watch dangling from its chain in her fingers. “Now, why would you think that?”
    “It’s hardly likely that two women wish to blackmail me in the same week.”
    “ Blackmail you, Mr. Maclean?” She widened her eyes. “I have absolutely no intention of doing that.”
    His skeptical expression didn’t alter.
    “Perhaps I merely wished to return your watch to you?”
    “I doubt that, or why would I still be sitting here?”
    “One has to agree.” She paused deliberately to consider him. “You would look much better on your knees.”
    “I beg your pardon?”
    “Did you wonder why Lady M brought you in here last night? Doesn’t she usually play with you in the more public salons?”
    He didn’t speak, but his hands fisted by his sides.
    “She says that you need more training, and from what I witnessed, I would have to agree.” She waited, but he remained silent, his expression resolutely remote. “You need someone stronger, who won’t let you get away with such behavior.”
    “Do you really expect me to stay here while you discuss my sexual proclivities?” This time he raised his head and glared at her. “I am what I am. I’m not ashamed of myself.”
    “Of course you are not,” she said soothingly. “There is no shame in wanting to be mastered.”
    “Then give me back my watch.”
    “But you don’t really want Lady M to master you, do you? You expect her to give you what you want on your terms.”
    “This has nothing to do with you, or the return of my watch.”
    She kept talking. “You pretend to submit, but you don’t actually intend to let go of your control.”
    “I haven’t had any complaints.” He shrugged. “This is a house of pleasure. I give my mistresses what they ask of me.”
    “No, you do not. You give them what you are prepared to give.” She shook her head. “That’s not the nature of true submission.”
    “And what the devil would you know about it?”
    Despite his faint smile and relaxed stance, he was quite angry now. She could only stoke the flames—and that would be a pleasure.
    “If you were mine, I’d show you the difference.” She licked her lips. “But you are far too conceited to ever want to learn anything from a mere woman. You pick your partners, don’t you, Mr. Maclean? God forbid that one of them should pick you because that would mean you weren’t able to control them.”
    “You know nothing. I do what I am told.”
    She laughed. “Good gracious, Mr. Maclean, you are such a liar. You wouldn’t even sit down when I told you to.”
    “ You are not my mistress.”
    She smiled into his eyes. “Only because you are too scared to relinquish control to me.”
    She flinched as he erupted from his chair and went down on his knees in front of her. “You’re wrong. I assure you I can take anything you choose to do to me.”
    “Then strip.”
    He started tearing off his clothes and throwing them to the floor into an untidy heap, which spoke volumes for his disquiet. When he was completely naked, he returned to kneeling in front of her. His cock was hard and arced toward his flat stomach.
    “Put your hands behind your back.”
    She smiled as he