Reformat_of_Art_of_Submission_5-16-14-3

by Michelle

  “Come back to bed.”

  Kellie shook her head and picked up a piece of bacon to nibble. “I have to go to work today, Mark. If I climb back into that bed, neither of us will be on time.”

  “Come back to bed, little one.”

  She fought the shiver, well aware of what his seductive voice would do to her if she let it, and shook her head. “How about a compromise? I’ll bring your plate to the bed, but I’ll eat mine over here.”

  “I don’t want to compromise, I want you here next to me.”

  “Okay. But instead of the bed, come sit here with me.”

  “And you’ll sit on my lap.”

  She filled her mouth instead of arguing, and Mark stood, his delectable body making her regret the last few minutes of the negotiation. What he did to her with that body was downright sinful. Mark pulled her up and into his arms for a focused and demanding kiss before settling in a chair and setting her across his lap.

  Skin on skin, such a lovely way to start the day. She couldn’t stop the urge to wiggle her butt and he groaned. “If you’re going to do that, we need to go back to bed.”

  Kellie offered him a bite of her bacon and he leaned away.

  “I should be feeding you, little one.”

  “Is that written in the rule book somewhere? Or can we negotiate?”

  His mouth curled up in a slow smile, the one she always wanted to kiss. “What did you have in mind?”

  “Well,” she began, her fingers stroking the hair curling over his ear, “maybe we can take turns feeding each other when we’re alone?”

  “And that would make you happy?”

  “Very,” she replied, leaning in to offer a kiss that delayed breakfast.

  Chapter 19

  As expected, Private Delights was bustling with staff when Mark opened the door and ushered Kellie inside. Maintenance teams started at six every morning to ensure a spotless facility by the time the main doors opened at eleven. Most of the business at that time of day focused on the public bar and grill, but every now and then a member arrived early to play.

  He and Kellie went straight to the elevator. She was anxious to get to work and complaining about her clothes. He’d rather she give up her job, but she was adamant about her independence and he couldn’t blame her. Part of her appeal was the strength of character and self-assurance she exuded, even in the new situations he pushed her into. Most Doms agreed that the stronger the woman, the more beautiful her submission.

  A woman’s choice to give over control to her partner was a cherished gift.

  Mildred had the paperwork laid out on her desk and was prioritizing his messages when they opened the door. Mark picked up the contracts and asked her to come into his office when she’d finished with the messages.

  He gave serious thought to putting Kellie on the office couch but knew it wouldn’t get the papers signed in a timely manner. Instead, he set the documents on the round conference table and placed her in one of the chairs.

  “Do you need to read through this again before we sign?”

  “No,” she said. “I need to get this done so I can get to work. And I’d really like to go by my house and change clothes.”

  He’d put her in one of the dresses he bought in Austin, and she looked gorgeous.

  “You liked this when you tried it on,” he reminded her.

  “Yes, but it’s not something to wear to work. It’s more of a cocktail dress. A little too fancy for file work.”

  They’d had this same conversation three times, and he had to admit—at least to himself—she was wearing him down. His personal choice was to keep her naked and in his office all day. Or in one of the private rooms, where he could tie her to the bed or the St. Andrew’s cross and play with her.

  Unfortunately, he’d agreed in the early stages of their negotiation that she could continue to work as long as she moved into his home.

  “All right. When we finish here, I’ll have George take you to your place for a few minutes. Pack a few things you might need and he’ll take them back to the house after he drops you at Lindsay & Associates.”

  “I could also pick up my car and drive myself back and forth.”

  Mark leaned back in his chair and played with one of his favorite ballpoint pens. “Indulge me, little one. I plan to take care of you, and one way I do that is to provide you with transportation.”

  Kellie smiled so sweetly that he knew he was about to get skewered. “I know you do, and I appreciate it. But I have a perfectly good car and a clean driving record. And I know nothing about George.”

  “Are you implying that my chauffer is an unreliable miscreant who might mistreat you?”

  “No. I’m saying I can drive myself.”

  “Not an option, Miss Windsor. George drives, I drive, or you stay here with me all day.”

  “What would I do hanging around here all day while you work?”

  “I can think of several ways to keep you entertained while I work.” Amusement quirked into a smile when her face pinkened.

  Kellie shifted in her seat and turned to the papers in front of her. “Can we get started with this, or do we need Mildred for everything?”

  The door opened and his assistant entered carrying her notary supplies and his contact list for the day. Mark joined the ladies at the conference table and they worked through the document item by item until they reached the list of activities Kellie refused to participate in or consider.

  “I’d like you to reconsider some of these.” He reached for her hand across the table and stroked her palm with one finger. “I understand the issues with caning and fisting but I’d like you to at least try anal penetration.”

  She tried to interrupt but Mark tapped her wrist. “Little one, this agreement is binding for three months. During that time, I’d like to introduce you to anal play. If you find it too uncomfortable, use your safe word.” The finger on her palm increased in pressure and intensity and he felt a slight flutter through the wrist lying across his palm.

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “I’ll never force you into submitting. You do understand that, don’t you?” he asked at her hesitation.

  Kellie’s eyes lifted to his, shining with an emotion he tried not to recognize. “I know, Mark. I trust you.”

  They signed the contract and Mildred asked them both to sign her log. “I’ll make a copy for each of you and file this in the safe.” With that, she left them alone.

  Mark sent a quick text to George and pulled Kellie into his arms. “George will bring you back here after work. Be sure to tell him what time you’ll need him.”

  She opened her mouth, no doubt to complain about her car, and he cut her off with a finger over her mouth. “That discussion is over. If you continue to argue with me, I’ll have to punish you.”

  “A spanking?”

  “There are many kinds of spankings, little one. Not all of them are conducive to pleasure.”

  “You wouldn’t.”

  “I would. Don’t defy me. I have your wellbeing in mind at all times, and I’ll discipline you as necessary.”

  “But—”

  Someone tapped on the door and then opened it. George.

  “She wants to go to her condo to pick up a few things and change clothes. Afterwards, take her to work and take whatever she leaves in the car to my house. Mrs. Pine will take care of it from there.” Mark turned back to his desk and opened the folder Mildred had left for him. “Miss Windsor will give you the address for her previous residence and for her employer. She should also tell you what time to pick her up afterwards. Be sure she does.”

  Mark gave Kellie a pointed look. “I’m putting her in your care. She’s precious to me.”

  George nodded and held the door open for her.

  Mark sank into his office chair and leaned back to roll the tension from his neck. Little Miss Windsor was a handful and a half, full of energy and self-reliance. And she drew him to her like a frat boy to a keg party. Her s
ubmission was that much sweeter because of her personality.

  ***

  Kellie slid into the back seat of Mark’s car as directed by George. She’d wanted to ride up front, but he refused and wouldn’t listen to any discussion. He waited in silence for her to give him the first address, then left the parking lot at a safe, sedate speed that made her feel like the little old lady in Driving Miss Daisy. It didn’t help that Mark had put the onus on her. If she convinced George to violate the instructions, the chauffer would be in more trouble than she was. Not fair, but effective.

  At his moderate pace, George stopped in front of her condo twenty minutes later. Her cell rang as they approached her front door. Mark, of course.

  “I’m following directions. Don’t you trust me?”

  “Of course, but I have something you’ll need.”

  She pulled her key ring from her purse but found there was no place to insert it. “What did you do to my door?”

  “I had a stronger lock installed while we were away. The entry code is the last four numbers of your social security number.”

  “You know my social?” The overbearing, controlling ass was already making her crazy, and she’d signed on for three months.

  “I know many things about you, Kellie. As I told George, you’re important to me. I’ll keep you safe in every way I can.”

  The call ended and she stomped her high heel covered foot on the concrete walkway.

  Damn him.

  George refused to wait in the car while she rummaged through her closet. He did, however sit on her couch with a bottle of water while she packed enough clothes for the week.

  And panties.

  No matter Mark’s opinion, she wasn’t going to work with a naked butt.

  If, and it was a huge if, she still wanted to stay at Mark’s in a week, she’d come back for more. Remaining sane around all the testosterone and restraints might turn out to be impossible.

  She truly wanted to try.

  Mark Harrison turned whips into feathers and women into willing, eager slaves but when pushed into a corner, he was the kindest man she knew. Even his punishments turned her into mush. When he was giving and caring, he turned her life inside out.

  She was falling hard for him and she couldn’t blame it on the multiple orgasms. Or the hunk of jewelry around her throat. He didn’t understand boundaries or timelines, a victim of his background and his wealth. But he cared at all the right times.

  Kellie picked up her school satchel and checked her books. The notes she’d taken last week were in a folder and she pulled them out of the bag. Dropping onto the bed, she looked through them for a few minutes and then tossed the stack of handwritten notes and Internet printouts into the trashcan in the bathroom.

  That project was over. The one real thing she’d learned in the past week was that BDSM didn’t create abusive men. Dominance and pure meanness were as different as beef and carrots. They couldn’t be compared.

  She carried her suitcase into the living room and waved George back to the sofa. There was something stinky in her kitchen and leaving it for another week would make the place uninhabitable. Kellie pulled open the fridge and set several plastic containers and a carton of milk on the sink. The containers went into the trash but she dumped the milk down the sink before disposing of the jug. She was tying up the bag when George joined her.

  “Let me take that, Miss Kellie. Where’s the dumpster?”

  Kellie unlocked the back door and took him through her tiny backyard and into the garage. He asked about her little car and she complained about Mark’s rules.

  “Hey, darlin’, Mark’s just trying to take care of you. After you’ve been together for a while, maybe he’ll lighten up and let you drive, but don’t expect to keep that car.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I can’t imagine Mark letting you drive around in that car in the garage. He’ll give you something sleek and safe.”

  “I prefer to buy my own car.”

  George gave her a look that intimated she had no real clue about the man she’d committed to live with, and Kellie had an idea.

  “Is that how it usually works out?” she asked, hoping to get a little insight on Master Mark.

  George smiled and shook his head. “I can’t really say. I haven’t seen him in this situation before, but from watching some of the other men at the club, I’d say yes. If you were mine, I’d be sure you were safe all the time.”

  “Thank you, George. You’re very sweet.”

  “Hmm. Sweet. Do me a favor and keep that sentiment to yourself, Miss Kellie. Doms aren’t supposed to be sweet.”

  They both laughed and George made sure the garage door locked behind them. He helped her gather the rest of her things and checked all the windows and doors before they left. He maintained his steady pace all the way to Lindsay & Associates, which was fine. Kellie had things to think about. Mainly, she wondered if she was the first woman to move into his house.

  It didn’t seem possible, given his business and the number of beautiful women in and out of the club. But George’s comment had sounded like an honest remark. She wished there were someone she could talk to about Mark, someone who could tell her about his past in a way he’d never do. Of course, if she tried to have the conversation with Mark, he might ask her the same questions.

  On second thought, Kellie decided to let it go. She didn’t want to reveal her past and Mark could keep his own council. And it could be that George was relatively new to Private Delights and didn’t know much about Mark’s past.

  She stopped by Dena’s office on the way to her desk, hoping to catch her at a break, but her computer was unusually dark and silent.

  Marielle was at her desk, and when she asked Kellie about her long weekend, she gave her boss a generic reply, not wanting to expose her relationship to office gossip. Not that Marielle liked to tell tales, but Kellie wasn’t sure how much Dena shared at work and she didn’t want to put her on the spot.

  Instead, she dove into the items on her desk, playing catch up until five. She and Marielle walked out to the parking lot together, her boss telling her about her son’s baseball game. They were standing by her car when George pulled into the lot.

  So much for keeping a low profile. Kellie offered a halfhearted story about her car being in the shop and walked over to the car. George didn’t help. Afraid to look at her boss, Kellie slipped into the back seat while he held the door.

  “Mark is expecting you at the club. Do you want to change before I take you to him?”

  Kellie looked down at the plain black slacks and gray sweater she’d worn to work. “I suppose. He won’t appreciate the comfort of these clothes, will he?”

  George laughed and turned into traffic.

  Strange that she got more conversation with the chauffeur than with Mark. Probably had something to do with Mark wanting her naked all the time.

  Mark’s front door opened bare moments after George handed her out of the car. He closed the door and leaned against it, letting her know he’d be waiting.

  “Welcome home, Miss Kellie. Mr. Harrison said you might want a bath before you change, so I’ve prepared one for you. He also asked me to lay out some clothing. Can I get you something to drink? Would you like a snack?”

  Mrs. Pine followed her down the hall until Kellie stopped at the bedroom door. “Thank you, Mrs. Pine.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I...I’m not used to living this way and I don’t really know how this works.”

  The housekeeper’s gentle smile helped ease her mind. “Miss Kellie, I’ve worked for Mr. Harrison for several years and this is the first time he’s had a houseguest. I don’t want to intrude, but he asked me to take care of you, and I’d like to do that very much. If there’s anything I can do for you, please tell me immediately. I’d like you to feel at home here.”

  Kellie felt her shoulders drop and the knot in her gut eased just a bit. “Thanks. I’m going to soak in the tub for a few minutes
and then get dressed.”

  The rumble coming from her belly interrupted what she hoped would be a quick getaway.

  Mrs. Pine’s head dipped but her eyebrows rose into her gray hairline.

  “I kind of skipped lunch.”

  “I’ll bring you a tray,” the housekeeper said with a smile and disappeared in the direction of the kitchen.

  Getting used to the pampering would be a mistake, but the jetted tub full of hot bubbling water was a luxury she couldn’t refuse. With not a hint of hesitation, she stripped and slid into the deep tub, the scent of jasmine floating around her. When Mrs. Pine brought the tray of meats and cheeses into the bathroom and set it on a low table adjacent to the tub, Kellie sighed with delight.

  “I’ve put your bags in the first guest room, since the closet there was empty.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Pine.”

  She might manage to walk away from Mark, but could she keep the house and staff? A giggle escaped. And another. Who was she kidding? Mark filled her mind half of every minute of the day. Leaving him tomorrow would mean major withdrawals. At the end of the contract, she’ll need a truckload of chocolate and another of ice cream. A personal trainer to work off the pounds after that might be excessive, but necessary.

  She plucked the chilled bottle of water off the tray and opened it. Leaning against the bath pillow, she sipped and wondered where Dena was. She didn’t make a habit of skipping work, even though her father owned the business. Her tummy rumbled again and she reached for the food. There wasn’t a clock in the bathroom, but she didn’t want to lounge around too long. George was waiting to drive her to the club and even though he was Mark’s employee, she didn’t like the idea of making him wait too long.

  A slinky red dress lay across the bed, definitely at Mark’s direction. She remembered the look on his face when she’d tried the thing on in Austin. Eyes half-lidded, he’d growled and waved at the shop owner’s assistant, instructing her to find a pair of shoes to match the dress. Spaghetti straps held it together, but the deep V front and back made it impossible to wear a bra.