I shifted my current assistant to another department and arranged for Sarah Brownstone’s transfer as quickly as possible. I couldn’t wait to speak with her, to have her close to me all day every day.
That night I went home to my lonely apartment, vowing this would be the last night I spent without looking at her face.
Of course, my sexy, little wildcat clawed all over my plans. She was prim and proper, the image of control and poise. No matter how much I teased her or flirted with her, she never so much as hinted to me how she felt, not even with a flicker of her eyelash.
Until last week.
Last week in my office, she showed me her true self, and I’m not about to let her retreat behind a wall again. I might resent whatever caused her to worry so much that day, but I’m not a fool to let this opportunity slip by me.
For six months, Sarah has ignored me in all but the professional capacity. Now, with the taste of her mouth haunting my dreams, I’m done letting her run away.
I look up, absorbed in my thoughts, until I realize it’s five PM and Sarah must be ready to leave for the day. I quickly shut off my laptop, grab my coat, and walk out of my office.
She looks surprised to see me, her head lifting from where she was digging for something in her purse. “Did you need something, sir?” she asks innocently.
I swallow the inappropriate response that springs to my throat and instead gesture toward the elevator with my hand. “I’ll walk you home,” I tell her.
Her face flushes with color, and she hesitates. Of course she does. She’s been working for me for six months and we’ve never left the office together.
I always stay long after she’s gone, with the pretense of working, but in reality, I watch on my laptop screen to ensure she arrives home safely. The camera I installed outside her apartment door, the day after I first saw her, lets me know she’s reached home safe. And alone.
Since last week, when she came in looking frazzled and anxious, I also ordered a bodyguard from Brandon’s security team to follow her home. I would have done it myself, but I was busy with the company updates. I’ve worked night and day to ensure the work is completed, and now there is nothing on my mind except Sarah and my need to consume her.
Her mouth opens, but before she can utter a protest, I bend down and pick up her briefcase and start walking toward the elevator.
Sarah huffs and follows me, stepping inside the doors I’m holding open for her. “May I ask why this sudden need to drop me home?”
Her voice is brittle and coated with frost. It makes me smile. My little wildcat, always trying to maintain control of everything around her. She has no idea what’s coming for her.
My smile grows wider at my thoughts, and Sarah’s foot starts tapping on the polished floor. I look down at her and answer honestly, “You wouldn’t tell me what happened last week, but I know it scared you. I’m not letting you go home alone when you could possibly be in danger.”
“There’s danger for a woman walking home alone everywhere. What are you going to do, come with me every night?” she suggests sarcastically.
I know she’s expecting me to refuse. I simply stare back at her in silence.
Her mouth drops open in astonishment before she quickly recovers herself. “You can’t be serious,” she mutters and turns her head away.
The doors open at that moment, and she moves to step out of the elevator. I reach out and swipe her wrist in a tight hold. “Nothing is more important to me than your safety, Sarah,” I tell her solemnly. “Remember that.”
“What does that mean?” she whispers, her confused eyes darting to mine, searching for answers.
I brush aside her query, letting go of her wrist to entangle my fingers with hers, pulling her along as I step out of the elevator, exit the building, and start walking along the sidewalk. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
The entire ten minutes’ walk, Sarah remains silent, her hand periodically tugging at mine, trying to free herself. My heart squeezes every time she does it; my sweet baby fighting ’til the end, refusing to give up. It makes me wonder what she went through, where this strength of hers comes from, but I can be patient; I’ll wait for her to share it with me.
We finally reach the building where she owns a small apartment on the second floor. I walk inside, subtly shaking my head at the doorman when he steps up to greet me. I don’t want Sarah to know how obsessed I am with her. Not so soon. And if she sees the doorman of her building recognize me, she would definitely be suspicious. So I’m thankful when he takes the hint and steps back.
We reach the elevator doors, but I bypass them and guide her to the stairwell, not ready to part with her yet. She digs her fingers in my palm but doesn’t object verbally.
Outside her apartment door, Sarah stops and turns to face me. “Here we are. You’ve seen me safely home. Satisfied?” she asks, genuine curiosity coloring her voice.
I pass her briefcase to her with a murmured, “Yes.”
She takes it with her left hand, the right still enfolded in my grasp, and urges, “You can let go of me now.”
Leaning back against the wall beside her door, I keep looking at her and drawl, “In a minute.”
She rolls her eyes and turns away, putting her key in the lock and opening the door.
Just as she’s about to turn back to me, I step forward and lean down, placing my chin on her shoulder. Bringing our joined hands up to my lips, I lightly caress her knuckles as I inform her, “I haven’t forgotten the other thing that happened last week either.”
Her breath catches in her throat, and my ear feels the vibration of her skin where the side of my face is pressed into her neck.
I turn my head and skim my lips over her soft skin, whispering, “You’re mine now, wildcat.”
Letting go of her and walking away is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I manage it with the sheer force of my will.
I know Sarah; I have studied her thoroughly in the six months since she waltzed into my office and commandeered my every waking thought. If I come on too strong, it will spook her and she will run away. Like she is prone to do. I need to be patient and reel her in.
Walking downstairs, I nod to my driver as he pulls up outside her building. I climb into the back of the car. As it weaves through traffic on the way home, I think about Sarah and what my next step will be.
I have never been interested in a woman like this in my life. My need to control everything and everyone around me always felt like a big complication to any potential relationship I thought of getting involved in. That’s why I preferred dealing with computers rather than with people.
I always thought if I ever found a woman I genuinely felt something for, it would be a sweet, gentle girl who would willingly submit to me, and our life together would be perfect, no clashes of personality.
A picture of Sarah comes to the forefront of my mind, and I chuckle to myself. She is as far from a biddable, submissive woman as one can get. Sarah’s need to be in control is almost comparable to mine, and therein lies the challenge.
She will fight me, but it will be worth it.
Sarah won’t submit to me, and I’m surprised to realize I don’t want her to. I want her to trust me, to believe I have her best interests at heart. Earning her trust is my ultimate goal, and I’m willing to spend as much time as it takes. It will be more than worth the wait.
Chapter 3
Sarah
The next morning I walk to the office as usual, keeping a lookout for the man I saw last week. There is no sign of him today either, and my shoulders relax as I step inside the building and head for the elevators.
I enter the elevator and press the button. As the car climbs up to the executive floor, my pulse is hammering and my palms are starting to sweat.
Robert.
What will he do today? His behavior last night was completely out of the ordinary, and it has me feeling anxious and out of control. It’s not a feeling I appreciate. Not after working so
hard to move away from my father’s rule and have a life of my own.
The elevator doors open. I take a few deep breaths to calm myself as I walk out into the lobby and head for my desk. The door to Robert’s office is open, and I can see he is inside, working on his laptop. I don’t go in immediately, opting to sit at my desk and straighten up a few files instead. I’m just powering on my iPad when my phone rings.
I answer without thinking, and a rich, smooth voice fills my ears. “Come inside, Sarah.”
Looking up, I see Robert cradling the phone in his hand while his eyes are trained on me. I hang up and grab the coffee I prepared earlier, making my way to his office door. He doesn’t look away from me as I walk to his desk and place the cup in the only clean space I can find.
“We need to work on a new project together. Can you stay an hour late today?” he asks, reaching for his coffee and gesturing to the seat at his right with his other hand.
I sigh and stride over to my chair as I answer, “Of course, sir.” My tone is professional and distant. I want to set the right mood from the start.
Robert says nothing, but I can see his jaw flex as he looks down at the iPad I’m extending toward him.
* * * *
When five PM rolls around, I knock on his open office door and he invites me in. He’s sitting on the sofa, his jacket off and his sleeves rolled up to his forearms.
I stop dead in my tracks and simply stare, all power of speech having deserted me at the picture he presents. I’ve never seen him like this, so casual and relaxed. His tie is loosened and the top two buttons of his shirt are open, revealing tanned skin underneath.
He looks up from where a few documents are spread out on the small table in front of him. His eyes light up when he sees me standing near the door.
“Sarah.” He gets up to greet me as if he couldn’t see me all day working at my desk, which sits right outside his office door. He always keeps his door open, so I know he has a clear view of me, like I do of him.
Not that I ever look at him. In fact, I purposefully try not to, wanting to avoid distractions while I work.
“Sir,” I reply, still standing at the open doorway and watching him walk toward me, his gait smooth and masculine.
“Office time is over. You can call me Robert,” he prompts me as he reaches my side, coming so close I can feel the heat his tall frame is throwing off.
I look at him without responding.
“This is a personal project,” he continues when I say nothing in reply. “For a homeless shelter down the street. They’ve asked for help installing IT equipment and software to train their people, and we agreed to do it pro bono.”
I’m surprised by the comment. “I didn’t know James took on pro bono work.”
“He does, but he doesn’t advertise it. Only a few people he trusts are given such projects to work on,” Robert tells me.
“Are you certain I can work on this project then? I doubt the CEO of the company knows me, let alone trusts me.”
“James trusts me, and I trust you.”
He takes a step forward, and I automatically move back. His eyes flash and he reaches behind me, closing the door before crowding me against it.
“I’m tired of you running away from me. It’s been six months of torture waiting for you to come to me.”
His hands come up and untie my ponytail. He seems riveted by my hair as it falls down around me.
“I’m not waiting a day more.” Strong, sure fingers slide up into my hair and start massaging my scalp.
I moan, feeling lightheaded.
Robert tenses in front of me before leaning down and nuzzling my hair. “You want this, wildcat?” he asks me as he continues easing the heaviness in my head from wearing my hair up in a tight ponytail all day.
“W-what?” I ask, not paying attention to anything but the bliss radiating from every place his fingers touch and soothe.
“This. Us,” he answers back softly.
I open my eyes and stare up at him as he continues massaging my scalp. I want to explore this, whatever this feeling is that’s been plaguing me for the past six months. I thought if I ignored the attraction I felt for my boss, it would go away. But it hasn’t, and now Robert has made it clear he feels it too.
I want to be with him, but I don’t want to be under a man’s control again. I struggle to voice these thoughts, and Robert waits patiently.
His head comes down, and his lips whisper over the side of my neck before I feel a slight suckling pressure, his tongue and teeth working over the heated surface.
My breaths come in loud pants, and I clutch Robert’s jacket in my fists, not knowing what else to do. He lifts his head, his eyes drowsy with lust and need. His gaze is trained on the spot he just tongued, and I can feel it throbbing slightly.
“Hmm,” he muses aloud. “Not bad for a first try. Will get better with practice though, I’m sure.”
I jerk back at his words, my brows coming together as the meaning behind his absently spoken statement settles in. But with the door at my back and Robert’s arms around me, I don’t get very far.
“Just give in, Sarah,” he urges.
Those words trigger something inside me, some sense of self-preservation perhaps, and all thoughts of ‘first time’ dissolve from my mind. I shake my head to dislodge Robert’s hands and try to step further back from him. But the limited room he’s given me prevents my escape, and the move only enflames him further.
He captures one of my wrists in his hand and takes his tie off with the other, looping it around my wrist and tightening the knot.
“What are you doing?” I ask, alarmed at his sudden actions.
He ignores me as he takes the other end of his tie and curls it around his fist, shortening the leash and pulling me toward him. I move my other hand to tug at the knot, but it’s futile. I can’t get myself untied with only one hand.
“Robert, this isn’t funny. Untie me right now,” I command sternly.
He keeps pulling me closer, the tie around my wrist propelling me forward until the front of my body is pressed intimately along the entire length of his.
“No,” he tells me. “If I have to keep you tied to me until you agree to this, I will.” His voice is resolute, and he tugs on his tie once more to emphasize his point, making me gasp as I’m pulled tighter into him, our bodies connected from shoulders to knees.
“I’m not going to be under your control. And if you think this will—”
He cuts me off sharply. “I don’t want to control you, wildcat. I want you to trust me. Trust me with yourself. Believe that I’ll always put you first, over everyone and everything. No one will protect you and keep you safe like I will.”
“You don’t even know me. Don’t make promises like that.”
I insert one hand between us and try to push him away. He refuses to budge. It’s like trying to force a thousand-pound truck to move. There’s no give in him at all.
“I know enough. I know you make me feel things I’ve never felt before. I want to explore these feelings with you.” His eyes soften and he bends to press a gentle kiss to my forehead. “If you’ll let me,” he adds reverently.
Hot moisture bathes the backs of my eyes as I struggle to subdue my emotions. With just a few words, he’s let me know he respects my decision. The ball is in my court. He’s essentially handed me the reins, the control in our relationship.
I relax against him and rest my temple on his collarbone.
A temporary yield.
“Let’s start working,” I say softly.
Robert’s big body shudders with relief as he acknowledges what I’m not saying yet. He presses another kiss on the crown of my head in silent gratitude.
We stand there for a while like that, both of us lost in thought. I can’t believe I’m thinking about agreeing to this, whatever this turns out to be. But I know if I refused to explore this between us, I would regret it for the rest of my life.
Lifting my head, I
regard Robert with a small smile. “We should get started on the project now.”
He smiles back and presses a kiss on my lips before agreeing, “Yes, let’s get some work done, then we can leave for dinner.”
As he steps back, I’m automatically pulled forward by his tie still binding my wrist. Our bodies collide with a thud, and Robert groans as his other arm comes up to wrap around my waist and steady me.
I laugh and hold my hand up. “Want to untie me?”
He eyes our tied hands then shakes his head mischievously. “No, I think I’ll keep you tied to me for a little while longer.”
I roll my eyes and step to the side, pulling him behind me as I walk toward the sofa.
“Come on,” I urge. “Why don’t we begin with you telling me about this shelter?”
I walk forward and take a seat on one side of the sofa. I realize how short the tie is when Robert has no choice but to sit down next to me, so close our sides are touching.
This is going to be a long night, I think with a shudder.
Chapter 4
Sarah
Robert and I work in focused harmony for two hours straight. He begins by explaining the project to me and outlines the type of security system the shelter needs. We work together to draft a proposal, and I don’t realize how much time has passed until Robert pulls on the tie still attached to our wrists.
I look up from the document I’m reading and realize I’m leaning back against the arm of the sofa. The ache in my lower back, which I’d been ignoring until now, begins screaming for attention.
“If you’re not comfortable there, you’re always welcome to come sit on my lap,” Robert invites with a sly grin on his face, but I can see the concern dancing behind his eyes. It warms me to the core.
“No, thank you,” I reply politely, still determined to maintain professional decorum when we’re in the office.
Robert’s eyes heat up, and he pulls on the tie wrapped around my wrist until I’m leaning over him, my breasts pressed into his arm.
Tied to Him (Alphamen in Suits Book 3) Page 2