Chapter 5

Michael just stood in the doorway, with his lopsided smile that still made her heart race. But what was he doing here? How had all this happened?

"Misty, I presume?" His grin widened and his hand reached out to clasp gently over her elbow, tugging her inside. "Come on in, sugar. Have you enjoyed your little treasure hunt?"

Shannon wobbled into the cabin on legs that could have been made of rubber. She'd been prepared for a stranger yet here was Michael! The man who had simply walked out of her life.

"I-I don't understand."

"You will. Come sit down."

Still trying to steady herself and absorb the shock of what was happening, she pulled her cell phone from her pocket, said, "It's okay. You're done for the night," and disconnected, Marti who had cursed Michael until a fly wouldn't light on him, would be furious, but there was no physical threat from Michael, her life was not in danger and Marti didn't need to come to this party.

Michael raised his eyebrows. "You had Marti on an open line?"

Shannon shrugged. "I had no idea who you were. Smart women have fail-safes."

"And you are definitely a smart woman." He brushed a kiss across her mouth, then guided her to a big chair in front of a fireplace and eased her into it.

"The fireplace is electric," he told her, "and really doesn't throw much heat. But I turned on the air conditioning unit so I could use it." He winked at her. "More romantic, don't you think?"

"Romantic? Mike, I haven't heard from you in days-make that weeks-and you set up a romantic evening? What's going on? And how did you know I was Misty?"

He pulled a bottle of wine from an ice bucket near the chair, filled a crystal flute and handed it to her. "Here, sugar. Sip on this while I answer your questions."

Shannon wanted to gulp the wine, as shaky as she was, but she made herself drink slowly. "And what's the treasure? Is it you?"

"Would that disappoint you?" he asked with a wry grin.

"No. Oh, no, not at all."

I can't believe I did all those things with him over the computer, thinking he was a stranger. And now, slut that I've become, I want to do them and more with him in person. If that's the treasure... Oh, hell, I'm so hot I might come just from what I'm thinking.

"Good. But I'm only part of it. The rest will be here later."

Her eyes never left him as he sat down on a big hassock next to her and took her free hand in his.

"There are things about myself I've never told you," he began. "Especially where it concerns sex, but it spills over into the rest of my life, too."

"Like what?"

"A few years ago I realized my sex life wasn't doing it for me. It was little more than exercise. A friend took me to a very private club where people could learn the BDSM lifestyle and practice it outside their homes. The first night there I realized this was what I was."

"A Dom."

He nodded. "But a very strong one. In all facets of my life. I spent time with different women at the club but then you came along and...things kind of went to hell."

"But why?" she asked. "Why didn't you tell me straight out?"

"Shannon, you are every man's wet dream, but I knew-no, I sensed-this might be more than you could handle. The more I was with you, the more I wanted you to be my sub, but the more certain I became you'd turn away from me. After a while it became too much for me to hold in." He rested his forearms on his thighs and leaned forward. "One night when I was at your place and couldn't sleep, I wandered into the kitchen for a beer. I saw your laptop on in the den and couldn't resist taking a look. Sorry."

Shannon felt heat climb up her cheeks. "You saw the web sites I was on."

"Yes. Shocked the hell out of me that you would be inquisitive about such erotic things, but it got me thinking."

"Why didn't you just ask me about it?" she wanted to know, taking another sip of wine.

"We were barely speaking at that point. Besides, I still didn't know how you'd react to the whole Dom/sub thing. And for me, Shannon, it's all or nothing. I like my sex dominant and rough, but I also want to care for my sub in every facet of her life. For many women it becomes suffocating rather than a pleasure. I didn't know how to show you the difference."

"But you didn't give me any choice," she cried. "I had a right to have a say, too."

"Yes, and I apologize for that. I was wrong. But I was getting in over my head and was afraid to let you see the truth. Your foray into the Internet gave me an idea."

"So you set up our meeting in the chat room and then sent me a private email."

"And here we are." His thumb brushed back and forth across her knuckles. "Please tell me you're not angry. I want this with you very much. This and more."

Shannon dropped her eyes to her lap. "Ménage."

"But only if you agree." His voice softened. "It can bring us both incredible pleasure if you're into it. More than you can imagine. Two cocks fucking you at the same time. One man fucking you in the ass while the other sucks your cunt. And the power you'll hold, knowing you hold the pleasure of two men in your hands."

She lifted her gaze and looked around. "I don't see anyone else here."

"Not yet. I wanted us to have some time alone together first. You know it isn't just the sharing that's important. Displaying your pleasure for others to see only increases my own enjoyment. There are times I want people to see me fuck you. To see your orgasm. Something else for you to think about in this relationship."

"I know. I read about it on some of the web sites."

"So. Do we take this further? You're free to walk out of here any time you want to."

She was sure she should have taken more time to think about her answer, but it just popped out of her mouth. "I want to stay. I want this with you."