Independence: #4 Hayley Read Online Free PDF Page A

the sharp indents of her nails in his forearm. “Basic Dom/sub relationships, whether short or long term, revolve around two things and two things only. Communication and trust. If you do not want to communicate with us, about everything and anything, this won’t work. Without communication, we can’t build trust.”
    “Part of that, is knowing your motivation, Hayley,” Jack picked up smoothly.
    “What are your motivations?” She looked up from the heels she had been staring at, gazing from deep blue eyes to the dark brown ones. A shank of thick, straight brown hair kept falling forward on Jack’s forehead no matter how many times he raked it back.
    “We’re control freaks,” Dane admitted with a simplicity that brought a soft, instant laugh from her.
    “He’s serious. It’s why our construction business is such a success. We don’t cut corners, and we’re very select about the people we choose to hire as well as to work for,” Jack said with a little nod. “Made for some hungry days back in the beginning…”
    “But we decided early on that it would be done right and safe or it wasn’t meant for us.” Dane suddenly put his hands on her waist and lifted her to the floor. “Take two steps out and stand there for me. Face us, Hayley.”
    Jack sat up straight, looking quizzically at his friend and partner. The cloud of confusion on his face cleared once she’d taken a stance as she’d been told. She followed orders and her instant stance said it all.
    “What branch of the military were you in, Hayley?” Jack asked casually. Casually enough that she looked surprised and a little nervous. “It’s just a question. Nothing to be afraid of.”
    “I’m not afraid of anything,” she informed them, her chin tipping up and lashes narrowed. “I was in the Marines…Sirs.”
    “Well, well, well…” Dane capped off the water and set it on the table between the two chairs before standing and striding to stop behind her. “How old were you when you went in?”
    “Eighteen.”
    It was the slightest hint of belligerence that made the decision for him. Dane took a step back and swung his palm at her ass, making a loud and sharp connection.
    “Sirs! Eighteen, Sirs.”
    “You didn’t tell your family, did you?” Dane guessed with a nod at the instant shield falling over her eyes.
    “They would have stopped me.” Another swat had her head snapping up. “Sirs.”
    “You’ve been advised of the protocols. Repeatedly. How were you disciplined in the Marines, Hayley?”
    “Push-ups or running, Sirs.”
    Both men heard the defiance in her tone, the slightest hint that she was daring them.
    “Someone commented that you were a dancer in Las Vegas when you were nineteen,” Dane watched a flicker of anger in her eyes. “How long were you in the marines?
    “Six years, Sirs.”
    “Dancing in Vegas wasn’t a hobby, was it, Hayley?” Jack suggested softly. “We were both in for six years. But we were Army Corp of Engineers. What was your specialty?”
    “Security and Criminal Investigations Division,” she admitted reluctantly. “Sirs.”
    “What were you investigating in Vegas?” Dane nodded slowly.
    “The disappearance of two female Marines on leave.”
    “Why are you here, Hayley?” Jack asked the question once more. He stood up and moved forward, aware of her gaze on his every move. “I asked you a question, sub. I expect an answer.”
    “Because I want to learn, Sirs,” she returned with only a trace of an edge to her words. Her teeth ground down when another palm struck her ass.
    Dane caught Jack’s gaze. “Why do you want to learn, sub?”
    They waited a count of five before Dane took a swat this time.
    “A few more of these and the color in this ass is going to rival the carpeting,” Jack remarked with a smack of his own. “Waiting, sub.”
    “It’s personal,” she ground out after the third swat, her teeth obviously clenched as well as the fists that hung at her sides.