The cowboys secret, p.13
The Cowboy's Secret, page 13
Anton?
This is the first time I’ve ever heard Durov’s first name. I’m curious why he has never shared it before.
I shake my head in disbelief, looking at the two brothers. “I can’t get over the resemblance. Heck, you two could be twins.”
“It is a curse of our family,” Durov mutters to me.
He then barks out an introduction, “Anderson, this is my brother Andrev. Andrev, this is my good friend Brad Anderson. Treat him as such.”
I hold out my hand to his brother. Andrev takes it reluctantly but glares at Durov as he shakes my hand.
I can tell this “Durov wannabe” doesn’t care for me, but I don’t want to make things hard on my friend, so I treat his brother with civility. However, knowing this asshole banned Durov from his own mother’s funeral puts him on my shitlist.
For the next hour, I help the staff with Andrev glued to my side as we try to get everything in order before the girls arrive.
When I notice Durov head to a large window and then suddenly frown, I peek out and see a bunch of reporters just outside the gate.
He growls. “We have to lead them away before the girls get here.”
I grin as I watch all those reporters milling about. “Seems like old times. Eh, Durov?”
“What do you mean?”
“When our buddy Thane had issues with the press in college, I enjoyed having a little fun with them.”
The nurse walks in and asks to speak with Durov privately. He nods to her and then turns to me. “Can you make sure the reporters are nowhere near the gate when the girls arrive?”
I’m more than up for the challenge. “It’ll be my pleasure.”
Once Durov leaves the room, Andrev starts peppering me with questions. It’s obvious the man doesn’t trust me and would prefer I leave.
I have other plans…
“Look, Andrev, the only way we can convince those reporters to leave is if we give them a good story.”
He frowns. “And, how do you propose we do that?”
“What if Durov agrees to give one of them an exclusive interview somewhere iconic, like, say, the St. Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square?”
“Anton would never agree to do that.”
I nod. “Exactly. That’s the beauty of my plan. I have you.”
Without hiding his irritation, he barks, “Meaning?”
“Let me show you.” I grab one of Durov’s hats hanging on the coat rack by the door and tell him to put it on. “Make sure to stuff all of your hair under the brim so it’s out of sight.”
I smile when I see the result and guide him to a mirror so he can see for himself. “You look exactly like your brother. These reporters will never know.”
“You think it’ll work?” he asks doubtfully, staring at his reflection.
“I know it will, and you’ll get to be the star of the show.”
I notice the hint of a smile curling one side of his mouth.
It’s obvious to me that Andrev resents living in the shadow of his brother, and I’ve just given him his chance to shine.
I grab Durov’s jacket, tell him to put it on, and then ask one of Durov’s men to fetch the driver so I can explain my plan.
With an air of importance, I walk out of the mansion with an interpreter by my side and head straight to the gate. The reporters aim their cameras at me expectantly. “Durov has something important to say and has agreed to give an exclusive interview to the first camera team to meet him in front of St. Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square.”
I have never seen people move so fast. They start packing up and running to their vehicles.
Andrev makes a show of it when he steps out a few minutes later, waving at the remaining reporters as he gets into the vehicle and the driver pulls up to the gate.
I can’t express the satisfaction I feel as I watch every last reporter scurry off in the hopes of getting that “exclusive” interview.
With Durov preoccupied and nothing left for me to do but wait for the girls to arrive, I start wandering the grounds of the mansion. Even in this icy environment, they’ve managed to make the outdoors beautiful.
Durov steps outside and finds me staring at the whipping pole prominently displayed in the manicured yard at the back of the mansion. When I see him, I laugh. “I had no idea you had a pole for practice.”
I see intense pain flicker in his eyes, but he instantly covers it by asking me an unrelated question.
It’s obvious the pole is a trigger for him, and I avoid mentioning it again. But it brings to mind Thane’s statement about Durov’s father being a cruel man. I look at the pole again.
What kind of hell did Durov experience here?
I’m reminded of the lesson in an Aesop’s fable. “Poverty with security is better than plenty in the midst of fear and uncertainty.”
Although I don’t have much to my name, I have the strength of a loving family and the freedom to carve out my own future without any fear.
It’s just the clarity I need.
Rescuing Brad
After I get on the private jet to fly back to the States, I crash hard on Durov’s king-sized bed. Rada wakes me up after we land and hands me my luggage. I head out to the driver, who is waiting for me.
Without missing a beat, I’m in my Monday class, ready to take on another week.
I can’t wait to talk to Dominus that night. I have a whole new perspective, and I plan to use that momentum to power through my classes.
That evening, when I visit, it’s Edlyn, not Martuska, who greets me at the door.
“Good evening, Master Anderson. Dominus is expecting you.”
I follow her to the library. The moment Dominus sees me, he states, “Something has changed.”
“It is that obvious?” I chuckle.
“It is. Explain it to me over a glass of pálinka.”
As I sit down, I notice Martuska bound near the fireplace in a very interesting position.
On all fours, she is completely naked with her head held high and her back arched, while her long hair is bound to one end of a gold anal hook that rests inside her. The pose beautifully displays her attractive ass, but it’s obvious the position is not an easy one to hold.
Dominus smiles when he notices me staring at her. “Do you know the term for this kind of BDSM play, Master Anderson?”
I shake my head.
“It’s called predicament bondage. It is something Martuska especially enjoys. Don’t you, my sweet?”
She smiles. “Yes, Dominus.”
“The practice combines restraint with psychological play. It involves putting your submissive in a challenging position that requires them to make a choice. In this case, Martuska can remain in this erotic pose I have bound her in, which will eventually cause muscle fatigue. Or, she can lower her head and the anal hook will become increasingly uncomfortable.”
He smiles at her hungrily. “The challenge of it turns her on.”
I stare at Martuska with admiration. “It is a beautiful challenge.”
Dominus states proudly, “I quite agree.”
After pouring the glasses and toasting, he asks, “I would like to hear what inspired this change in you.”
I share details about my weekend in Russia with Durov, and my realization that I don’t want the kind of money he has. I tell him, “All I want is to effect change on my own terms.”
“Interesting that you should say that,” Dominus states, finishing off the last of his glass. Rather than explain himself, he leisurely takes out a cigarette and lights it. I watch as he blows a quick series of smoke rings. It is an impressive sight.
After the last one dissipates, he turns to me. “In business, it is important to maintain your reputation. However, being overly transparent can actually damage it. I have a simple formula for that.”
I lean in, my interest piqued. “I would love to hear it.”
“If a client or business partner comes to me with a concern, I first verbally acknowledge it. It lets them know I hear what they are saying and understand. I then address the concern, withholding any information that does not pertain to it.”
He takes a long draw on his cigarette. “The last part is vital. You must go back to their main objective. By reminding them of that, you shift the focus from their current concern to what’s most important to them. In the end, meeting that expectation is the only thing that matters.”
I nod, amazed by his insight.
Dominus glances at Martuska lustfully. “Isn’t she exquisite?”
I notice a slight tremble in her arms, but her radiant smile remains. “Yes.”
“I have found that submissives appreciate challenges. It creates a deeper level of trust and strengthens their confidence.”
I am amazed. What Dominus has created with his four subs speaks to his intelligence, forethought, and dedication.
By now, Martuska’s entire body is covered in sweat and her muscles are shaking as she struggles to maintain the pose, having never once relaxed from it. Her smile is strained, and it looks to me as if she is about to break.
“Your desire to please me is arousing, Martuska,” Dominus tells her in a low, seductive voice.
His words seem to have a magical effect on her, and I watch her muscles relax as she regains control. The power Dominus has over her is remarkable.
Jolan comes in to announce that dinner is ready.
Dominus commands, “Tell Edlyn we are not finished here.”
She bows to him and leaves.
We sit in silence, admiring Martuska’s determination. This time, when her muscles start to tremble, tears come to her eyes. Dominus watches her intently. Just when it seems she can no longer hold the position, he gets up and moves to her.
Placing his hand on her back, he murmurs, “Well done, my sweet.”
Dominus makes quick work of unbinding her hair from the instrument, then slowly pulls it out, praising her efforts the entire time.
He then gathers Martuska in his arms. “Your Master is well pleased.”
She breaks out in grateful tears, kissing him all over.
It is an incredibly inspiring and intimate moment.
Setting a new routine for myself, I carve out time on Sundays to jog on the shoreline. My body needs the physical challenge. It also doesn’t hurt that I can bare my chest and give it the attention it deserves.
I catch the early bus to Manhattan Beach and start down the beach toward Redondo. It’s a gorgeous morning, the kind that makes a person happy to be alive.
As I’m jogging along, enjoying the feel of the waves licking my feet, I notice a woman ahead of me pointing to the water and screaming hysterically. “I can’t swim. Please, somebody save him!”
I rush to the edge of the water, assuming it must be a child. Instead, I see a small furry head bobbing up and down in the waves far offshore. When the little head disappears for a moment, the woman shrieks.
Thankfully, the head pops up again.
Poor thing must be caught in a riptide, I think as I kick off my shoes. I plow into the waves, determined to get to the pup before he goes under again. Using long, powerful strokes, I swim as fast as I can to reach the struggling animal.
When I get close, however, I see the head disappear under the water again. Kicking hard, I dive down and see its limp body floating below me. I grab the little pup and pull him to the surface.
To my relief, the pup sneezes and starts coughing.
“It’s okay, little guy. I got ya.”
Slowly swimming back to shore, I hold him above the water.
Once on the beach, the woman runs up. “Is he okay?”
My heart skips a beat when I realize who the woman is. “He should be fine, Professor Rhodes.”
She glances at my naked chest before meeting my gaze. “Thank you for rescuing him, Mr. Anderson. I couldn’t have handled watching the poor thing drown.”
“Your little guy sure gave us a scare.” When I go to hand the dog to her, she shakes her head and steps back.
“Oh no. He’s not mine. I just saw him out there, trying to swim back, and I knew someone had to save him.”
I can’t believe I’m standing next to the woman I’ve been secretly crushing on. Although I haven’t seen Professor Rhodes since taking her course, the attraction I feel for her is still just as strong.
Needing to interrupt my straying thoughts before I embarrass myself, I lift the pup to stare into his big brown eyes. “You’re lucky you had a guardian angel watching over you.”
When I set him down on the sand, he immediately starts shaking, covering Professor Rhodes and me in a spray of water. We both laugh, and I catch her staring at my chest again.
Is it possible there’s some mutual attraction going on here?
Trying to keep my cool, I scan the people on the beach, but I don’t see anyone looking for the dog. Since he doesn’t have a collar and his fur is matted, I’m afraid he has no owner.
“I think he’s a stray,” I tell her sadly.
Professor Rhodes stares at the little dog with concern. “Well, the least I can do is feed him and give him a bath after such a harrowing ordeal.” She looks at me with an inviting smile. “Would you like to dry your clothes, Mr. Anderson? I don’t live far from here.”
I respond with a charming grin, hoping to clarify her offer. “Are you asking me to your place, Professor Rhodes?”
“You might want to take a shower, too,” she adds, reaching out to brush off the sand on my chest. I feel a rush when she touches me.
She looks up at me, and I want nothing more than to kiss those tempting lips, but I hold back, enjoying the sexual tension between us.
Professor Rhodes hands me the pup and instructs me to follow her. I can’t help noticing the enticing way her hips sway as she walks and have to keep my eyes averted.
She isn’t exaggerating about living nearby. She takes me to an apartment complex right off the beach. I can’t quite believe this is real when she unlocks her door and invites me inside.
The place is inviting, accented with the colors of the ocean. I hold the little dog up, noting his dirty fur. “Would you like me to give him a bath before I release him, Professor Rhodes?”
“My name is Claire.”
Damn, even her name is perfect.
I hold out my free hand. “You can call me Brad.”
She laughs lightly as she takes my hand. “I don’t normally fraternize with students, but I’m making an exception for you. Because you are no longer taking my class, and this is a one-time encounter, I see no harm in it.”
“I agree.”
She looks at the pup in my arms. “While you wash him in the kitchen sink, I’ll make us some coffee.”
Turning on the water, I get it to a nice warm temperature for the pup.
“I have some dye-free shampoo for sensitive skin in the bathroom. Let me get that for you,” she tells me, returning with a stack of towels, as well as the bottle of shampoo. I intentionally brush her skin when I take them from her, and the blush returns to her cheeks.
The pup has been relaxed and happy in my arms, but starts to panic when I begin lowering him into the water. Taking a cue from my ranching experience, I hum a soothing song and use slow movements to gain his trust. Soon, he’s relaxed enough that I can scrub all the neglect from his fur. By the time I’m done, the water is dirty, the towels wet, and the little pup is digging into the bowl of tuna fish that Claire has set out for him.
She hands me a cup of coffee. “You’re a natural with animals.”
I wink as I take a sip. “It’s not the only thing I’m a natural at.”
The coffee is soon forgotten when I can no longer resist her enticing lips. I set the mug down and brush her cheek with my hand before I move in for the kiss. She parts her lips and moans softly when I claim her mouth with my tongue.
I draw back, and she stares at me with luminous eyes. Desperate for her, I excuse myself to rinse off the sand from my morning rescue. I’m thrilled when Claire joins me in the shower.
When she sees my naked cock and the extent of my erection, she stares at it and purrs, “Magnificent! I was hoping it was as big as it looked in those tight jeans you always wore to class.”
I rest my back against the cold tile as she begins rubbing her soapy fingers over my chest, then moves lower, teasing my shaft with her hands before rinsing off.
I catch my breath when she lowers herself to her knees. Watching my professor’s lips encase the head of my cock as the water cascades down my chest is incredibly erotic. But I’ve fantasized about this moment for far too long and lack the control I normally have.
Turning the water off, I pick Claire up and carry her to the bedroom, where I lay her down on the bed. Still soaking wet, I dive between her legs, wanting to make her as crazy as she’s made me.
The taste of her excitement is like ambrosia on my tongue. I can’t get enough of her pussy and groan in pleasure. She surprises me by how quickly she comes, serenading me with her lustful screams.
Once her orgasm ends, I smile at Claire from between her legs. “That’s just the beginning, darlin’.”
I spend the next hour pleasuring that deliciously wet pussy with my fingers and tongue. I’ve never had such a responsive woman, and it drives me wild.
Finally, when I can’t hold my own release back any longer, I wipe my lips and tell her in a low, seductive voice, “I want you.”
Claire’s eyes grow wide as I mount her, pressing my cock against her wet opening. Looking down at her beautiful face, I ask, “How deep do you want it?”
“Every inch,” she growls hungrily.
I groan as the head of my cock spreads her lips wide, and then I force my shaft into her. The combination of her multiple orgasms and her incredibly wet pussy allows me to go deep with minimal resistance.
I lean down to kiss her as I begin stroking her with my cock. She looks up at me with those sexy eyes and grabs my ass with both hands, begging, “Harder!”
I growl huskily, holding nothing back as I start ramming her deep.
Our screams fill the room as I release my pent-up desire for her, and the two of us lose ourselves in the moment. When I reach the edge, I slow down. Kissing her on the lips, I murmur, “Feel my passion for you, Claire,” as I fill her with my seed.
