Hero to Obey: Twenty-two Naughty Military Romance Stories Read online

  "I saw that mishap earlier," he said without pause. "That was his fault, Red, not yours. And you don't have to be a good dancer if you have the right partner. Besides, it's almost midnight and you need a fifth."

  Her head came up with a puzzled expression.

  He lifted her wrist and with a head tilt, indicated the remaining ribbon on her bracelet, which she had all but forgotten. Claiming the last one for himself, he tucked it into his jacket pocket and without waiting for her consent, took her hand and pulled her out on the dance floor.

  Turning her easily into his arms, he led her in a slow dance. She should have known by the way he moved, fluid and self-confident, that he would dance the same way. He made it seem effortless. Swaying and turning, he spun her out at arm's length once, then caught her close against his chest, and at a perfect point in the song, dipped her low. It was so much better than her dreams and she absorbed every moment, should it never come again, which it wouldn't. It couldn't. Not at the risk of her job, her reputation on the base, or worse, the look of disappointment on his face when he found out she was merely Cassie, girl genius. After all, he'd had ample opportunity to show an interest and hadn't. The curvy, naughtily dressed, redheaded submissive in his arms had caught his eye; however, it wasn't the real Cassandra Hardwick. It was a fantasy, a game. And that wasn't enough for her.

  She wondered about his girlfriend. His participation in the game indicating that he was available and looking for a sub. Perhaps she'd been wrong and the black haired beauty was only a date. Her mind swirled with confusion, but she didn't say a word.

  As the slow song melded into one with a faster tempo, he kept pace, spinning her in his arms in a series of intricate steps. She followed without knowing how, and found out he was right, with him as a partner she didn't need to know how.

  Enjoying the dancing immensely, she leaned into him, feeling his warm body against hers and inhaling his arousing masculine scent. As she melted into his arms, she committed every second, each heady sensation, even the thud of his heart beneath her ear, to memory.

  She barely noticed when the current song blended into another, and another, but she didn't miss the way his hands stroked over her slowly, starting at her hips, one moving up her back as the other drifted lower, over her skirt and below. Her heart nearly stopped when his fingertips trailed over the edge of her ruffled panties, dipped down along the back of her thigh, then returned to her cotton covered behind where he cupped a cheek in one large palm. His pinky slipped beneath the elastic at her leg, though just a fraction.

  It was enough to make her already hard nipples tighten even more and her clit, which had been tingling since he'd first taken her hand in his, throb with need. And it sent a surge of heat to her pussy, stirring her juices enough to make her panties damp. If he explored further, he'd know exactly how aroused she was.

  All too soon, the song ended and the music stopped altogether.

  "Your attention, please."

  Flynn turned them as one to where the tall dom, who had greeted them earlier in the entryway and explained the rules of the game, now stood before the dungeon doors. She didn't need to be told what time it was. It was midnight, and like Cinderella, she was about to turn back into a pumpkin. Frantically, she pulled away and began searching for Julie and Colt.

  "Is something wrong?"

  "No, I came with someone."

  "You're attached?" his voice had deepened, a tinge of anger making it sound like a growl.

  "Oh, no," she quickly explained. "I came with friends, the dom is a member here and asked me to introduce him to whoever I selected."

  "That's fine, then. Let's go meet him."

  She glanced up and her "Not you," came out bluntly.

  His head jerked in surprise. "Why not me?" he demanded to know.

  At a loss, Cassie searched wildly for an excuse.

  "You'd rather have one of the two spouting protocol verbatim out of a book?"

  She frowned. "They were both very nice."

  "They aren't what you need. And Charles and his naked bondage weekends wasn't your thing either, I could tell."

  She looked away, hoping for a rescue from her friends.

  He caught her chin with his hand and turned her face up to his. "Do I scare you, little sub? Is that it?"

  More than you will ever know.

  She didn't say that, though, nor did she have time to say anything else as the other ribbon bearing teachers descended en masse and began to lead her toward the front. All but Flynn who hung back, watching with an irritated look on his face. It was her time to choose.

  One by one, the other new subs told Master Eric of their chosen dom for the night and entered through the gothic double doors behind him. When it was her turn, she had worked herself into a state and was nearing a panic attack when he held out his hand for her to join him on the steps before the dungeon entrance.

  "Your mask, little schoolgirl, then I'll hear your selection."

  She shook her head. "No, sir. I, um… I've changed my mind. I don't want to go in."

  He angled his head down, which was a long way, because he, too, was tall, about the same height as Flynn and just as intimidating. "What has spooked you, little one?"

  "I need to go home." She whirled, at last finding Colt as he was pushing his way to the front.

  "What is this?" A stilted voice demanded from behind her. "How can she choose no one?"

  "It is always her choice, Charles, you know that," the master dom explained.

  "Then this has been a colossal waste of time. At least let us gaze upon the morsel that has escaped us." He caught her arm and dragged her down the steps to him.

  "No!" she cried as his fingers pinched her skin. She struggled as his other hand reached for her mask.

  "Let her go." This came from Flynn, his voice suddenly very close.

  Colt arrived at that moment and also demanded he set her free, but it was too late. Even as her hands came up to stop him, the odious Charles pulled off her mask and with it her wig. Pins hit the floor as her hair uncoiled from its knot, the thick fall of her hair coming down in a mess over her shoulders.

  "Cassie?"

  Her gaze shot to Flynn, reading his shock and disbelief. Then something else darkened his face; she wasn't sure what it meant, except that it wasn't pleasant. She wrenched her arm out of Charles' grasp and pushed her way through the crowd. In three steps, Colt was beside her, his hand gripping her shoulders.

  "Please, take me home."

  "Honey, are you sure? That's Flynn Dalton. I know him."

  "I do too. We work together. Please, I can't…"

  "Cassie," low and demanding, Flynn ground out her name from close by. He wanted an explanation, but she panicked.

  Pulling free from Colt's hold, she rushed forward. If he wouldn't get her out of there, she'd go on her own. It was LA, surely she could get a cab even at midnight. Weaving quickly between the bodies that had pressed close to watch the drama unfold, she fought her way toward the door.

  "Cassie, stop," Flynn demanded insistently while pushing through the crowd to get to her.

  But she didn't, not for Commander Dalton, or for Julie who also called out to her. When she reached the lobby, she didn't dare stop for her purse. Instead, she pushed through the double doors leading to the street, ignoring the receptionist who offered to help. Into the humid night air, she flew down the stairs and out onto Beverly Boulevard. With an odd stroke of good luck, several taxis waited.

  She chose the first one, shouting at the driver as she climbed in. "Go!"

  His eyes flicked behind her as she slammed her door and locked it. Then, as if sensing impending danger, the cabbie stepped on the gas and peeled out. She didn't dare look back when a fist pounded the side of the cab as it sped off. Trembling, she sat with her face in her hands trying to figure out what she would do when Monday came. She felt sick.

  "Do you need the police, or the emergency room? That man coming after you was huge, and looked angry."
/>
  "No, thank you, I'm fine." The tremor in her voice disclosed the lie for what it was. "I just need to get to San Diego."

  "That's a two-hour trip."

  "I'll pay you when I get home and there's a generous tip if you'll take me, please."

  He met her gaze in the mirror, his eyes taking in her messy hair and tear dampened cheeks, then they dipped down to her risqué outfit.

  "I have a daughter your age. I'd have a fit if she were out this time of night and at a club like that."

  Cassie didn't correct him. The man, no more than forty, couldn't possibly have a daughter her age. But she accepted his assumption that she was much younger if it meant he would take her home.

  "Promise you won't do it again and I'll take the fare."

  "Yes, sir. I've learned my lesson. I just want to go home."

  He nodded his head and flipped on the meter.

  As she watched the night sky through her window, her stomach knotted with dread for what the coming workweek would bring. How would she face Flynn? Or Colt, who would be fit to be tied that she had left alone. She didn't even have her phone to text Julie that she was all right. Leaning her head against the window glass, she closed her eyes, enduring the longest cab ride of her life.

  Chapter Six

  Monday morning dawned gray and overcast, like her mood. She'd been a wreck all weekend, not eating or sleeping, worrying about facing the commander when she returned to work. She'd practiced what she would say.

  "I'm sorry for running out without an explanation, but I was taken by surprise when unmasked. I hadn't intended to stay. Regardless, I hope we can be professionals and put this incident behind us and go on as we were before."

  In her mind, he was a gentleman and agreed. She didn't come up with an alternative plan if he didn't. Why wouldn't he?

  So it happened that she drove to work on pins and needles and parked in her usual spot. When the training class filed in five minutes before nine, she steeled herself to face Flynn, but one of the other instructors came in to monitor instead. She got right to work, running down the controls of the simulator and the goal of the first virtual mission. The day went smoothly, breaking for lunch at noon, and finishing up at 4:30. Despite the knot in her stomach for the entire day, it turned out that she'd worried for nothing. In fact, when she shut down the systems at the end of the long day, she hadn't seen him or received a single call. She didn't want to imagine what it all meant.

  Blowing out a slow breath, she turned off the lights and grabbed her spare purse. As she left the building, she dug around for her phone for the hundredth time, before she realized once again she'd left it at the club. It had been like that all weekend.

  When she'd gotten home late on Saturday, with no landline to call, she logged onto her laptop and dashed off a quick email to Julie.

  Sorry I ran out and didn't call. I freaked. I'm not ready for company yet. I'll call when I am.

  Julie had answered right away. Glad to hear you're safe, honey. And FYI, Colt is pissed.

  As she was thinking of a response, another email came in.

  This is Colt. Correction, not pissed, what I am is fucking angry. He didn't have to state that, his emotion seemed to jump off her screen. We will talk about this, Cassie.

  She'd dashed off a reply. I know and I'm sorry. Love you both.

  While she was still staring sadly at the screen, Julie sent a quick message that made her smile through her tears. We love you too, honey. Everything is going to be all right. Talk soon.

  Except the next morning, after a sleepless, restless night, she hadn't been ready to face them. As expected, without a phone to contact her, they'd come knocking early. Cassie hadn't budged from her bed, however, except to cover her head with her pillow, she didn't even move, listening as they knocked and knocked, then gave up. She cringed on hearing Colt's angry curses as they finally walked away.

  Feeling like the worst friend ever, she'd called him from work first thing that morning and left a long message on his voice mail, begging his forgiveness for acting like a drama queen and a brat. He, of course, was busy with training like Flynn, and hadn't answered.

  Her plan for the evening was to drive to their house and grovel in person if necessary. Facing Colt's wrath and Julie's disappointment wouldn't be easy, but it had to be done to save their friendship. The scene was running through her head as she somehow made her way out to the parking lot without falling in a hole or tripping on a curb, the whole time rummaging around in her purse for her spare set of car keys that had sunk to the very bottom, as always. When she finally dug them out, she looked up.

  Her steps lagged and she came to a halt as she stared at Flynn leaning against her driver's side door, tall and handsome with his arms crossed over his chest. Like Colt, he was obviously pissed—correction, fucking angry—if the clenched jaw and the twitching muscle were an accurate measure of his fury.

  Cassie didn't budge from her spot, not moving forward or back, even when he raised his hand and crooked a finger at her. She swallowed, hard.

  "Don't make me come and get you," he warned in a steely voice.

  Her heart leapt into her throat, nearly choking her. She wanted to run away and hide, except she wasn't twelve and couldn't do that again. She took a tentative step forward. As she did, he straightened up, waiting. She stopped again.

  "Come here, Cassie. I won't bite." When she started moving again, he added, "A trip over my knee isn't out of the question, however."

  Her eyes shot to his, but his expression was unreadable, a lethal calmness in his eyes. She'd almost prefer his anger. As she came to a stop in front of him, she launched into her practiced speech. "I'm sorry for running out without an explanation. I was taken by surprise when unmasked. I hadn't intended to stay. Regardless, I hope we can be professionals and put this incident behind us and go on as we were before."

  He stared at her silently for a moment. "Rehearsed that all weekend, I bet."

  She gasped, which made his lips twitch ever so slightly. "How did you know?"

  "I've been a dominant for nearly twenty years, and have learned a few things about submissives along the way." His fingers curled firmly around her upper arm as he walked her forward, away from her car.

  "Where are we going?"

  Her question went unanswered as he stopped in front of a black SUV and opened the door. "Get in."

  She tipped up her chin, biting her lip as she met his still indecipherable eyes. Curiously, she noticed they looked more steel blue, than gray today. "What are you thinking?"

  "That we need to go someplace quiet and talk. When we're done, you'll have a decision to make. Either way, you are definitely going home with a red hot backside."

  Ignoring the second half of his statement, since she knew she deserved his anger after the way she'd acted, she concentrated on the first part. "What kind of decision?"

  "I'll explain when we get there. Get in the truck."

  "But—"

  "Now, Cassie."

  Her lips suddenly dry, her tongue came out to wet them, drawing his gaze. The steel blue in his eyes suddenly disappeared and was replaced with molten silver. His fingers curled around her waist and he lifted her, settling her behind firmly on the seat. He leaned in and buckled her seat belt. As he moved back, his hand came to her cheek, turning her face up to his.

  "I'm on a very thin thread here, Cassandra. Don't push me."

  She blinked, uncertain what she had done to make things worse and thought it wise to nod in understanding even if she didn't. He held her gaze for a moment, then pulled away, his fingers gliding lightly along her jaw, sending a shiver down her spine and setting up a tingle between her legs, just like Saturday night. As he shut the door and walked around to his side, she squirmed in her seat, trying to decrease the tickling sensation.

  She stilled when he climbed in and pulled out of the lot, heading north. They drove in silence for only a few miles before they entered the village of Coronado. He drove to the bay side a
nd passed the coffee shop.

  "Your girlfriend is very pretty."

  "I don't have a girlfriend, Cassie."

  Her head swung his way.

  "You must be referring to my sister, Sarah. She was in town for a conference. We met for dinner in town, then had coffee at Bay Front. She stayed at my place for the night and flew out the next morning, back to New York."

  Stifling a groan, she dropped her head against the headrest, rolling it toward the window. "She must think I'm terribly rude."

  "Mmm…" was his noncommittal response.

  She closed her eyes, wishing she had the power of teleportation and could disappear now, when he slowed the vehicle and made a sharp turn. She cracked open one eye and took a peek as he pulled into the driveway of a picturesque Mediterranean style home.

  As he got out and came around to open her door, she didn't get out right away; instead, she peered through the windshield at the neatly landscaped secluded yard with a six-foot privacy fence all around that matched the stuccoed façade of the house. It was lovely.

  "Who lives here?"

  "I do. Come on out." He extended his hand to her, curling his fingers in a hurry up gesture when she didn't take it.

  She frowned at his bossiness. Always present, it had simmered below the surface with her in the past. Today, it had emerged full force. Considering her current situation, she didn't protest, thinking it best to do as she was told and get this talk over with. Placing her hand in his, she used it to steady herself as she jumped down from the high SUV, it lacked running boards, a necessity for a woman only 5'3" in flats.

  Flynn didn't step back, instead crowding her as he reached in and flipped the lock, before taking her arm again and closing the door. He then led her up a stone walkway to the front door. The property here didn't come cheap and she was surprised that he could swing it, even on a commander's pay. It had to have cost a mint.

  She looked around at the neatly trimmed shrubs and manicured lawn, the beginnings of a smile tipping up her lips at the flowering pots on the small porch. "This isn't at all what I imagined."