Switch Master: 6 (Ink and Kink) Read Free

education.
    “My sister-in-law Morgan used her psychic mojo to assure me
that you weren’t in any danger. That’s the only reason Ethan stayed so calm and
I didn’t ask Phalen to track you down and bring you home to me.”
    “I’m sorry for worrying you, Taran. Having someone’s blood
on your hands is a terrible price to pay, but I’d pay it again to save Ethan’s
life.”
    That was the honest-to-God truth. She’d come to view Ethan
as a brother, same as Phalen Maddox. Their wives, Cassie and Morgan, were her
friends. She’d been in their weddings, shared her innermost secrets and went
shopping with them.
    As she thought of it, maybe they were more than friends.
Since the day she’d felled Phalen with a well-timed judo move, maybe the Maddox
clan had become family. Her own was small, simply herself and her mother
Gwendolyn.
    “I’m glad you got the help you needed.”
    “Then you understand that I needed some time to myself
lately?”
    “Yes. I’d have liked to have been the one to help you, but
sometimes professional counseling is necessary. I respect you for that.”
    “Yet you’re still upset with me.” Even though he looked
relaxed and comfortable with the conversation, she sensed he was irritated.
    “There’s this marvelous invention. It’s called a phone.
Hell, you have several laptops and an iPad. You could have emailed or messaged
me and let me know you were safe.”
    “You’re right. There was a lot going on, still is. That’s
why I’m here.”
    “I’m curious. Did you tell your girlfriends what you were
doing?”
    “No, I kept it to myself until I was ready to say something,”
she admitted.
    “Very well, I appreciate the truth. Samantha, my family will
always be grateful for what you did to save Ethan. As much of a pain in the ass
as he can be, we love him.”
    “Ethan’s the best partner I could ask for. He’d be there for
me if I ever needed it.”
    “Better believe it,” Taran stated.
    “Look, I called Ethan earlier and told him I needed to talk
to you privately. He gave me an extra set of keys to get in. I…um…sorry, you
must be getting cold. I’ll go,” she said, starting to back up only to realize
she had to let go of the shower door handle in order to leave.
    “Don’t go. Talk to me, tell me what you need,” Taran
insisted. Unable to look away from his intense gray eyes, she couldn’t escape
the sexual innuendo in what he’d said.
    “I need a lawyer,” she confessed nervously.
    “You’ve got one.”
    Cocking her head a little to the left, she eyed him
curiously. “Thank you. What are your fees? I need to know what to expect going
forward.”
    “I don’t charge family, but we’re not talking about legalities
until you open the door. If you do, I’ll behave, cross my heart.”
    Crossing his heart with his index finger, he touched the
tattooed letters of his mom’s name, Abigael, and his dad’s, Declan. He wasn’t
the kind of man to make promises lightly and the fact that he gestured to his
deceased parents touched the part of her heart she’d tried to keep buried.
    “Samantha, there’s nowhere safer for you than with me.”
Taran’s voice, a deep baritone with a rich Boston accent that tended to turn Rs
into Hs, seemed to wrap around her, holding her in place. “Give the door a tug.
It’ll open and I’ll take on the bad guys for you.”
    Wanting to prove that she wasn’t a nervous nelly, Sam pulled
on the handle and the door opened without a bit of trouble. Taran left the
shower, heading right at her, compelling her to tread backward to avoid being
crushed.
    “I’m proud of you.” His praise caught her by surprise,
causing her to halt. She’d pleased him. Insanely enough, she wanted to do that
again. “Can you reach that towel for me, baby doll?”
    Wow, he was tall! She was six foot in her stocking feet.
Taran dwarfed her by a good seven inches. He was broad, male, beautiful and so
young. His five o’clock shadow gave a devilish