Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
“Isn’t that a violation of privacy?”
I shrug. “We have our methods.”
“Great,” she says. “I mean, I needed a phone and want it synced, I just don’t like you going through my things.”
I turn back to my computer and minimize my email. My phone lights up like a runway with the calls I’ve got waiting for me.
“Do I look like I have the time to go through your cell phone?” I ask with a shake of my head. “I have no interest.”
“Well,” she murmurs. “Alright then. Okay. So. Let me take a look.”
“You’ll learn to say please and not issue commands to me.”
She takes a deep breath. “Please?” Scowling, she gives me minimal obedience.
I wonder how long she can keep that scowl in place when my belt meets her ass.
She looks at the contract and reads it through again. “Item six is silly, you know,” she says. “I didn’t think you were serious when you said it.”
“I was dead serious,” I told her. “I’ve done this enough times to know what we’re doing is dangerous. Emotions, vulnerability, and trust are gateways for things neither of us wish.” I ignore the way she flinches.
“For God’s sake, you can be an arrogant prick,” she says, then quickly clamps a hand to her mouth. “Oh. Um. Sorry?” she whispers. “Does that get me punished?”
I lean back in my chair and hold her gaze with mine. “After the contract? You’d feel my belt for that, sweetheart.” And hell, I mean it. My dick throbs at the thought of the first time she mouths off to me when I’m allowed to punish her. Disciplining a mouthy little thing like her is fucking rewarding.
Swallowing, she looks out the window. “So… you can say whatever you want, and I’m supposed to just take it? Is that fair?”
“There’s nothing fair about a power exchange,” I tell her. “You’re signing an agreement for there to be an imbalance of power.”
“But… but wait,” she says, crossing her arms on her chest. Her eyes are bright, her cheeks flushed. Hell, I love it when she gets all fired up like this.
“Yes?”
“It is fair, though,” she says. “When a… couple… engages in the power exchange. It shouldn’t be one sided. Yes, the submissive partner agrees to… abide by the rules,” she says, turning pink and waving at the papers on my desk. I know now the blush of her cheeks isn’t always nerves, but passion. Christ, I love that. “But there’s a payoff, and I don’t mean financial.”
I didn’t expect this from her, to be honest. But hell, she’s right. I just wasn’t prepared to get into this.
“There is,” I tell her. “And there will be a payoff. When you agree to this contract, there’s far more than money that will make it worth your time. Frankly, Cora, if I wanted nothing more than paid sex, I’d hire a prostitute.”
I love when her eyes flash at me, but I ignore her silent outrage and continue.
“I like being the one in charge. And yes, sweetheart. You’ll glean more than a well-filled bank account.” I glance at my watch. “And we can discuss this at length when we have more time. You have twenty minutes before you need to leave for class. Are you going to sign the contract or what?”
I watch as her eyes go from the papers to the pen in her hand, to the phone, and back to the papers again. She’s warring with herself, and I’m glad that she is. That she’s taking this seriously. It’s no small request I’ve made of her, and I’ll be pushing her damn hard against her limits.
Inhaling so deeply her shoulders rise, she lifts her chin and gives me a curt nod. “Yes. I told you I would, and I always do what I say I will.” Grasping the pen in hand, she signs her name on the space provided with a flourish, then hands the pen to me. I look at the contract one final time. Glance over the curvy, embellished signature, then sign my own name below it. My signature below hers, all slashes and angles, is in such contrast to her loops and swirls.
A thrill runs through me.
She’s mine.
All fucking mine.
I stand, watching her body tighten as I leave my desk like she thinks I’m approaching but I’m not. I know exactly what I have in mind. I walk past her, head to the door, and flick the lock. My team knows me well. My door flashes a red occupied sign on the other side of the door when I lock it. They know not to trouble me with anything unless it’s a life or death situation. When the lock clicks into place with an audible snap, Cora jumps.
“Come here.” I stand in front of the door and beckon, energy crackling through me like fire, dynamic and dangerous. Consuming. My first instruction to her as my submissive. Monumental in its simplicity.