Nailed Read online

  Unfortunately there was a truck behind her. When it hit the back of her vehicle, it jerked her forward.

  Damn! How could I have been so careless?

  Then belatedly checking the mirror she saw the driver get out and walk toward her and her stomach turned over. Tyler McMann was approaching and he didn’t look happy.

  Ohmigod. Did it have to be him?

  She sat there, unable to make herself get out.

  Tyler cursed under his breath as he stomped toward the car he’d just rear-ended. He should have known better than to leave at rush hour but he was anxious to get home and shower. Tonight would be a very special night at Finesse. Or at least he hoped it would. He’d hardly been able to put it out of his mind the entire time he was in Wyoming.

  Behind him horns were blaring as other drivers signaled their impatience. Whoever this dimwit was, she at least needed to pull over to the side out of the way. When she didn’t get out, he rapped on the window.

  “Hey. You in there. Did you get your license in a cereal box?”

  Still she sat there, looking down, not moving.

  He rapped harder. “We’re causing a major traffic jam here,” he shouted. “Get out of the car.” He drew in a calming breath and let it out. “Please.”

  He saw her reach for something and slip a pair of glasses on her nose. Finally she released the seat belt, he heard the click of the lock release and the door opened. Head down she eased out of the car, waiting until the last minute to look up at him.

  He felt as if a mule had kicked him in the stomach.

  Holy shit!

  The suit and the glasses yelled Jenyfer Mayhew but that hair. The hair he wanted draped across his bare skin. The hair shouted Flame. What the hell was going on here? He couldn’t stop staring at her. Finally he found his tongue.

  “Flame? What the hell?”

  “H-Hello, Tyler. Sorry I didn’t watch what I was doing.”

  The horns were louder now and people were shouting obscenities at them. He glanced up and saw the line snaking all the way back to the next parking level. Grabbing her arm he opened the door of her car again and pushed her onto the seat.

  “We need to get out of traffic here. Pull over far enough so people can get by. I will too.”

  Without saying a word, she started her car again and moved it out of the way. Tyler parked his truck directly behind her. As he got out and walked toward her again, he checked both vehicles for damage.

  “No big deal,” he told her. “I can take care of it myself. Yours too.” He stared at her, itching to run his fingers through the masses of red curls. “What’s going on here, Jen? Or is it Flame? I don’t even know what to call you.”

  She clasped and unclasped her hands, looking everywhere but at him. He put two fingers beneath her chin and tipped her head upward.

  “Look at me. Don’t you think I deserve some kind of explanation? I was ready to bare my soul to you tonight and now I find out you’ve been playing some kind of game.”

  One tear snaked its way down her creamy cheek. “I’m so sorry. Do you hate me?”

  “I don’t even know what to hate you for.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “Listen. We need to talk but not here. Park your car. There are plenty of spaces now. I’m taking you to my place and we’re going to talk. Really talk.”

  “Y-Your place?”

  “Yes. I promise whatever it is you’re so scared about won’t happen. But the conversation we need to have has to take place in private.”

  He expected her to give him an argument about it but surprise! She just nodded, parked her car and climbed into his truck. Neither of them said a word on the drive to his condo and the ride up in the elevator. He unlocked his door and stood back for her to enter. For a brief moment he worried whether she’d approve or not. Then he reminded himself they had bigger things to address.

  He tossed his keys into a bowl on a small side table. “Would you like something to drink?”

  She let out a long breath. “Actually, I think some wine would help. White, if you’ve got it.”

  She stood at the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, staring out at the evening crowd while he found two glasses and filled them. When he touched her shoulder to hand one to her, she jumped and nearly knocked the glass out of his hand.

  “Oh!” Red suffused her face. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Flame.” He stopped. “I don’t even know what to call you.”

  She took a healthy gulp of the wine. “To start, why don’t you call me Jen. When I finish my story, you can decide what suits me best. Or if you even want to call me anything at all.”

  She was like a bird ready to take flight. Tyler realized it was up to him to soothe her. Make her comfortable with him. He took her hand and led her to the long sofa, seating her at one end while he took the other. He leaned back, resting an ankle on the opposite leg, and took a sip of his drink.

  “Let’s start with this. Whatever you tell me isn’t going to change how I feel about you, only how I approach it. I want you to feel good with me. Safe with me. But I can’t create that environment until I know what the obstacles are.”

  She took another gulp of wine before she told him her story in hesitant, halting sentences. About the young girl just discovering her submissive nature. About the larger-than-life Derek Collins, head of the accounting firm that hired her, and his magnetic personality who swept her off her feet. Soon she was little more than his slave, doing his bidding both in and out of the bedroom no matter how extreme. He’d cut her off from all her friends and her family. Even at work, he was always in her space. She had no freedom for anything.

  By the time he took her to Finesse that one night, to show her off to his friends, she was little more than a blank page that he wrote on daily. She explained how she’d forever be grateful to Marco for reading the situation correctly, getting her away from Derek and helping her start a new life. And how in her new job she’d decided to turn herself from Flame into a dull accountant, so plain and unfriendly no one would bother her. She relied on her extraordinary skills to persuade Larkin not to ask her to meet with clients or fraternize with others in the office.

  “At Finesse I can be who I want to be,” she told him. “The only one who really controls me is myself.”

  Tyler was sick by the time she finished with all the details. No wonder she was a basket case. He didn’t know how she’d survived. He’d heard of over-the-top Doms like that but never learned firsthand how evil they could be. He slid closer to her, very slowly, and reached for her free hand. Would she pull away from him? But she let him wrap his fingers around hers and he gave them a gentle squeeze.

  “But that’s only part of who you are,” he told her in a soft voice. “Yes, the sex between us is incredible. But we have something else working here, and have since that first night. Can you tell me I’m wrong?”

  She shook her head.

  “But you’re scared, right? Afraid to take a chance?”

  “Yes.” She said the word so softly he almost didn’t hear it.

  He inched even closer, set both their drinks on the table and eased the glasses from her face.

  “There. That’s better. I don’t think you really need them anyway, right?”

  She nodded.

  “Now I get to have my say. I’ve been a Dom for a long time. I have a good reputation. Ask Marco. He’ll vouch for me. But Jen? It wasn’t until I met you that I wanted to limit myself to one partner. Forever.” He shrugged. “Maybe it started when both my brothers got married, but the moment I laid eyes on you that feeling grew.”

  He leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers, hoping she wouldn’t draw back. When she didn’t, he took a moment to taste them with his tongue before leaning back.

  “Take a chance on me,” he pleaded. “As both Jenyfer and Flame. I promise to cherish both of them and never give them a moment’s unease.”

  “We would need to go slow,” she told him in halting tones.

&
nbsp; “However you want it, as long as it’s not too slow. And as long as we can be a couple in public. Can you do that?”

  She swallowed then relaxed. “Yes. I can.”

  “Sure?”

  She nodded.

  Tension eased from his body. “No other partners at Finesse. That’s a deal breaker.”

  “None,” she agreed, then surprised him with an impish grin. “I think I’ll have all I can do to handle you.”

  “And I want you to meet my brothers and my sisters-in-law.”

  She frowned. “What will you tell them about how we met? Do they know…you know.”

  He shook his head. “No, and we don’t need to tell them. We can say Jack Shelton introduced us, I asked you out for coffee and it went from there.”

  This time her laugh was full-throated. More like Flame. “I can just imagine the look on his face when he sees us together.”

  “Will that create a problem for you at work?”

  “No. I can handle it.” She studied his face. “So what happens now?”

  He unbuttoned her gawdawful suit jacket and eased it from her shoulders. Her blouse followed next, revealing a sexy white lace bra that made his cock twitch. He placed a soft kiss on the swell of each plump breast.

  “What happens now,” he said, “is we get rid of these uptight clothes and move to the bedroom so I can realize one of my fantasies.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “To tie you to my headboard so I can kiss every inch of you. Very slowly.” He stopped and drew back. “Have you been with anyone since I left?”

  “No.” She wet her lips, a gesture so sexy he wanted to bite the silken surface. “After you, I…couldn’t.”

  Heat surged through him so strongly he nearly self-combusted.

  “So you still haven’t…”

  She shook her head.

  Now he needed to get not only her clothes off but his as well. And fast. He swept her up in his arms and carried her out of the living room.

  “Where are we going?” she asked. “I thought you said we’d take it slow.”

  He stopped. “Do you trust me? Look right into my eyes and tell me if you’re willing to give me your trust.”

  She was silent for so long he stopped in the hallway, half afraid she’d changed her mind.

  “I guess it’s time for me to take a leap of faith and pray I’m not wrong.”

  “You won’t be. I swear it to you.”

  “So where are you taking me?”

  “To my bedroom. Where you’ll spend at least the night. Maybe longer.”

  “Oh?” She lifted an eyebrow. “Exactly how long do you want me to stay?”

  He kissed her, hard. “If you want to, forever.”

  She sighed and leaned into him. “I think that will work.”

  About Desiree Holt

  I always wonder what readers really want to know when I write one of these things. Getting to this point in my career has been an interesting journey. I’ve managed rock and roll bands and organized concerts. Been the only female on the sports staff of a university newspaper. Immersed myself in Nashville peddling a country singer. Lived in five different states. Married two very interesting but totally different men.

  I think I must have lived in Texas in another life, because the minute I set foot on Texas soil I knew I was home. Living in Texas Hill Country gives me inspiration for more stories than I’ll probably ever be able to tell, what with all the sexy cowboys who surround me and the gorgeous scenery that provides a great setting.

  Each day is a new adventure for me, as my characters come to life on the pages of my current work in progress. I’m absolutely compulsive about it when I’m writing and thank all the gods and goddesses that I have such a terrific husband who encourages my writing and puts up with my obsession. As a multi-published author, I love to hear from my readers. Their input keeps my mind fresh and always hunting for new ideas.

  Desiree welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

  Tell Us What You Think

  We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can email the author directly or you can email us at [email protected] (when contacting Services, be sure to state the book title and author).

  Also by Desiree Holt

  1-800-DOM-help: Delight Me

  Cougar Challenge: Hot to Trot

  Cupid’s Shaft

  Dancing With Danger

  Diamond Lady

  Double Entry

  Downstroke

  Driven by Hunger

  Eagle’s Run

  Ellora’s Cavemen: Flavors of Ecstasy I anthology

  Emerald Green

  Erector Set 1: Erected

  Erector Set 2: Hammered

  Escape the Night

  Hard Lovin’

  Hot Moon Rising

  Hot, Wicked and Wild

  I Dare You

  Journey to the Pearl

  Just Say Yes

  Kidnapping the Groom with Allie Standifer

  Letting Go

  Line of Sight

  Mistletoe Magic 2: Touch of Magic

  Mistletoe Magic 4: Elven Magic with Regina Carlysle & Cindy Spencer Pape

  Nemesis 1: Until the Dawn with Cerise DeLand

  Nemesis 2: Until Midnight with Cerise DeLand

  Nemesis 3: Until Twilight with Cerise DeLand

  Night Seekers 1: Lust Unleashed

  Night Seekers 2: Lust by Moonlight

  Night Seekers 3: Lust Undone

  Night Heat

  Once Burned

  Once Upon a Wedding

  Phoenix Agency 1: Jungle Inferno

  Phoenix Agency 2: Extrasensory

  Phoenix Agency 3: Delicious Danger

  Phoenix Agency 4: F-Stop

  Riding Out the Storm

  Rodeo Heat

  Seductive Illusion with Allie Standifer

  Skin Deep 1: Bedroom Eyes

  Something Wicked This Way Comes, Volume 1 anthology

  Switched

  Teaching Molly

  Training Amber

  Trouble in Cowboy Boots

  Turn up the Heat 1: Scorched with Allie Standifer

  Turn up the Heat 2: Scalded with Allie Standifer

  Turn up the Heat 3: Singed with Allie Standifer

  Turn up the Heat 4: Steamed with Allie Standifer

  Wedding Belles: Something Blue with Cerise DeLand & Allie Standifer

  Wedding Belles: Something Borrowed

  Where Danger Hides

  Print books by Desiree Holt

  Age and Experience anthology

  Candy Caresses anthology

  Cougar Challenge: Tease the Cougar anthology

  Demanding Diamonds anthology

  Downstroke

  Ellora’s Cavemen: Flavors of Ecstasy I anthology

  Erotic Emerald anthology

  Mistletoe Magic anthology

  Night Seekers 1: Lust Unleashed

  Naughty Nuptials anthology

  Night Heat

  Once Burned

  Rodeo Heat

  Tease the Cougar anthology

  Turn Up the Heat anthology

  Sequins, Saddles and Spurs anthology

  Something Wicked This Way Comes, Volume 1 anthology

  Wedding Belles anthology

  Where Danger Hides

  Ellora’s Cave Publishing

  www.ellorascave.com

  Nailed

  ISBN 9781419938627

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Nailed Copyright © 2012 Desiree Holt

  Edited by Raelene Gorlinsky

  Cover design by Syneca

  Photos: Sonyazhuravet/Fotolia.com and Poi3/Shutterstock.com

  Electronic book publication November 2012

  The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.

  With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be r
eproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

  The publisher and author(s) acknowledge the trademark status and trademark ownership of all trademarks, service marks and word marks mentioned in this book.

  The publisher does not have any control over, and does not assume any responsibility for, author or third-party Web sites or their content.

  Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com to find erotic reading experiences that will leave you breathless. You can also find our books at all the major e-tailers (Barnes & Noble, Amazon Kindle, Sony, Kobo, Google, Apple iBookstore, All Romance eBooks, and others).

  www.ellorascave.com