Arranging Love by Nina Pierce Page B

clogged his throat, making his voice husky.
    Love sparked in the emerald depths of her eyes, and Peter thought he’d like to fall into them and simply drown. “Long enough to try out some of those new toys you ordered,” she said shyly.
    He lifted a brow. They’d sat at the office computer late Monday, Meghan snuggled in his lap as they surfed the Internet for sex toys. The nipple clamps and cock rings had titillated, but when she’d begun looking at floggers and bondage equipment, he’d taken her right there on the couch, hard and fast, satisfying both of them before settling back at the computer and placing an order. “They came already?”
    “Well, not the things we ordered Monday.” Meghan’s cheeks flushed. “But I did find the gift you left for me.” She jumped from the chair and scooted down the hall.
    He hadn’t gotten her a gift.
    He heard the snap of leather coming from the den. The desire of a moment ago turned to lead in his belly.
    “I just love it. I found it yesterday in my car.” She skipped back down the hall toward him, snapping the leather flogger against her hand.
    Peter thought he would throw up as the fuchsia straps flashed like blood in his vision. He willed his smile to stay in place. “You like it?” He reached out to take it from her, wondering if it would burn his flesh. First the blond doctor in the hospital, now this. His life was about to fall apart.
    “And you had it engraved for me.”
    She flipped the handle, and he saw the letters MC etched into the wood.
    “Meghan Claire.” She leaned over and grazed his chin with her teeth. “I think you should brand me with it. I’ve been awfully naughty.”
    Peter had all he could do to hold himself together. This was not happening. He’d brought a stranger into their lives, and now he was beginning to wonder if all of Meghan’s accidents weren’t entirely her fault.
    “You know…” He kissed her gently and pushed from the table, carrying the flogger with him. Guilt burned a path up his throat, carrying bile with it. “…as much as I’d like to use this on you…” Which he didn’t. “…I forgot about a meeting at work.”
    Undeterred, she rubbed up against him, her hand seductively running down the front of his Dockers. “Oh, now, I think you have a few minutes to put me in my place.”
    “I don’t.” Fear snapped the words out of his mouth.
    Meghan stepped back as if she’d been slapped. “Fine. You don’t have to get angry about it, Peter. I just thought you wanted to.”
    He pulled her to him, trying to soothe the hurt he saw in her eyes. “I do. You know I do. I can’t resist you. Just not now. Things are crazy at work.” He bent and kissed her. “Can I take a rain check for tonight?”
    “You promise to use that on me?” She nodded at the leather on the counter.
    No. He wanted to scream, but he forced a smile instead. “If it’s what you want.”
    “What I’d really like if I can’t have you…” Meghan paused and batted her lashes flirtatiously, but Peter shook his head at her offer. “…is a ride to the shop. I just don’t want to deal with cars and garage door openers.” She shivered in his arms.
    That suited him. “Since it’s on the way, I’d love to.” They slid into the coats they’d thrown over the back of the chairs when they’d come home from the hospital. Peter slipped the flogger beneath the beige wool when Meghan’s back was turned. It was going into some random dumpster in the city.
    He didn’t think Crystal would harm Meghan, but what did he truly know of the woman he’d been pursuing on the Internet? Had she crept into their lives without him knowing?
    “Busy at the shop these days?” he asked, not really knowing how to get information from her without arousing suspicion.
    Meghan shot him a curious look over her shoulder as she stepped into the chilled morning. “You know December’s crazy-busy.”
    He shrugged as he pulled the front door closed and checked the