Dark Attraction: The Corde Noire Series

by Alexandrea Weis

  “Wash my back and legs.” He turned away from her. “I will expect you to shower with me every morning. You will wash me, and if I so desire, please me.”

  Her hands never faltered as she ran the washcloth over his back, butt, and down each of his legs. He was pleased with that.

  After she was done, he turned off the water and reached outside the glass door for a towel. He toweled her dry first.

  “This morning, I want you to go to your apartment and pack. Bring only a few things. Jeans, T-shirts, socks, tennis shoes, any creams or lotions you are partial to, your hairbrush, toothbrush, and any medications or vitamins you may need.”

  “I’m not on any medications, and I don’t take vitamins.”

  “You will with me. I insist my subs stay healthy.”

  She held on to his back as he rubbed the towel down her right leg. “Anything else?”

  He stood and faced her. “When you return to your apartment, dress only in jeans, preferably loose fitting … if you have them. Put on a nice blouse and plain flat shoes. Use only a small amount of makeup. Lipstick, mascara, and some blush. No eye shadow.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Grinning, he stepped out of the stall and dried himself. In the bedroom, he threw the towel on the bed and went to his closet. In his mind, Sebastian ran over the list of things he needed to do for the day ahead. As he dressed in his favorite black pinstripe suit, he made mental notes of calls he had to make.

  He paid no attention when she walked into the bedroom. Instead, he shrugged his dress shirt over his shoulders, retrieved his watch, and picked up his jacket and light blue tie from the bed before strolling out the door.

  Sebastian was already pouring coffee into a white mug when she came down the stairs in her wrinkled scrubs. Sam came alongside him as he held out a cup of coffee to her.

  “I have a car coming to take you home. They’ll meet you on the first floor of the building in fifteen minutes. I’ll call Brynn Adler today and make arrangements to pay your rent. I will need you to bring me your bills, as well.”

  She gazed into her coffee while he buttoned up his shirt. “Do you know her?”

  He nodded. “We’ve chatted a few times since Nathan … vanished.”

  “What about my car?”

  Sebastian removed his tie from his trouser pocket and slipped it around his neck. “I assume parking is provided for you in the tenant lot across the street from The Shallows.”

  “Yes, but what if I need my car to go somewhere? Where do I park, in your garage?”

  He knotted his tie. “You won’t need a car. I will drive you anywhere you want to go. If I can’t, a driver will be arranged.”

  “Oh,” was all she said before sipping her coffee.

  Sebastian adjusted his tie. “I will take you shopping this afternoon for clothes, underwear, and shoes. When you are with me, you are to wear only what I buy for you … or nothing at all.”

  “And my mail? Do I forward it, or—?”

  “I’ll tell Brynn to make sure all of your correspondence is sent here.”

  She lifted her mug. “I guess you’ve thought this all out.”

  He reached for his jacket on the island countertop. “I’m a businessman, Sam. I always plan ahead.”

  “If you say so.”

  Adjusting his jacket, he came up to her. “Finish up your coffee and I’ll take you downstairs.”

  She hurriedly slurped a few dregs of her warm coffee. After handing him the mug, Sebastian set it in the sink.

  At his front door, he turned to her. “Any second thoughts?”

  She came right up to him. “No.”

  He chuckled at her obstinacy. “Not yet, anyway.”

  “Once I make a decision, Sebastian, I stand behind it.”

  He angled closer to her, wanting to taste her lips once more, but refrained. “Go home, pack, and come right back here,” he ordered, opening the front door.

  In the hall, he waited for her to follow him to the elevator. Once he pressed the call button, he kept his eyes on the elevator doors, refusing to give in to his desire to glance over at her.

  Now it begins.

  * * *

  Sam was packing a black suitcase with the things Sebastian had instructed she bring. Standing in her bathroom, she perused the array of makeup, creams, body lotions, and perfume sprays she had jumbled in the vanity drawer. She selected a few of the creams, the body spray she always liked to wear on special occasions, and decided to smuggle in her favorite shade of pink lipstick and some compact powder.

  Just when she was about to leave the bathroom, she remembered the box of tampons she had kept below the vanity sink. Taking the box with her, she mumbled, “Just like a man not to think of a woman’s period.”

  Going over the contents of the duffel bag, the butterflies gathered in her stomach. She thought ahead to spending her days and nights with Sebastian, or at least her nights. A busy business mogul like him probably spent his days at the office.

  “I’m sure he’ll have something for me to do.”

  While checking the rest of her bedroom, a cool rush of air flowed past her. It had been there the entire time she was packing, that sense of someone in the room with her.

  “Julie?”

  She waited as the hair stood up on the back of her neck. Then the slightest whisper came to her. “Help me.”

  “Where are you?”

  “Lost,” a woman’s lonely voice replied.

  “Show me—”

  The cell phone on her night table rang out her favorite Ella Fitzgerald tune. Checking the number, she had expected it to be Sebastian, but it was Piper.

  “I come to work and find out you’re taking a leave of absence? When were you going to tell me?”

  “I’m telling you now, Piper. I’ve decided to become Sebastian’s sub. I’m moving into his place today.”

  “Shit, Sam, this is happening way too fast. Shouldn’t you at least have sex with the guy before you make that kind of decision?”

  Sam chuckled. “Already did.”

  “And you didn’t call me?”

  “When was I going to call you: before, during, or after?”

  “All three.” She paused, and Sam waited. “So how was it?”

  Sam sat down on her bed. “It hurt like hell.”

  “So you were a virgin after all.”

  She rubbed her hand along her thigh. “Yeah.”

  “Was he gentle?”

  Visions of her night with Sebastian came to mind, making her blush. “He was really good to me, Piper. It was all the things you want the first time to be.”

  “That’s great, Sam, but it’s no reason to get into this kind of relationship. Why not do a trial thing? You can go to his place every now and then, have dates, to see if you like it.”

  “It’s all or nothing with him, Piper.”

  “You’re going to just go along with that? You’re not going to demand some sort of compromise? This doesn’t sound like you, Sam. You’re constantly fighting with the doctors for your patients. Where is that fighter now?”

  Piper was right. Sam had always been a fighter, a woman who made her thoughts known, but with Sebastian that desire had been silenced.

  “Sam, I think you really need to reconsider what you’re doing.”

  Sam shook off the doubt Piper was stirring. “It will be fine. It’s not like I’m moving away. I’m just going to be living in his penthouse at the top of the Dane Shipping building. If I don’t like it, I can walk away.”

  “You hope you can walk away, Sam. Being a submissive is a lifestyle you can get trapped in, if you aren’t careful. It changes you. You start to see things according to what he wants, what he needs, and your needs get swept under the rug.”

  “Sebastian isn’t like that,” Sam insisted.

  “If he wasn’t like that, then why did he move in next door to you, change his name, and manipulate you the way he did? We think it’s romantic and special when a man says he wants to ma
ke us his. We just never understand his true meaning until it is too late.”

  Sam was infuriated. “Why are you telling me this? You’re the one who pushed me to be with him.”

  “Because you’re falling for him, Sam. I can hear it in your voice. I’m so afraid you will invest your heart in the relationship, and he will give you nothing in return.”

  Sam wanted to defend Sebastian, but didn’t see the point in arguing further with Piper. “I have to go,” Sam told her, wanting to end the call. “The driver is waiting at my front door.”

  “Sam, please think about this.”

  “I’ve made up my mind, Piper.”

  “At least call me sometime. Let me know you’re all right. If not, I’ll march right over to Sebastian Dane’s office and punch the son of a bitch out for you.”

  Sam stood from her bed. “I’ll call you when I get settled. I’m sure I will be bored when he’s at work.”

  Sam hung up the phone and grabbed her duffel bag. She was about to head out of the bedroom when that subtle chill returned. The spirit of the woman was back, more insistent than before. Sam debated if she should stop and communicate with the ghost to see what she wanted.

  An image of Sebastian wafted into her mind. Shaking her head, Sam rushed through the door.

  “I’ve wasted enough time with the dead. It’s time to start living.”

  * * *

  The driver—a short, blond guy named Eric, with a weird smile and a lot of freckles—took Sam’s duffel bag and waited as she hurriedly locked her front door.

  “You got everything, Ms. Woods?”

  She tugged her backpack and purse over her shoulder. “Yep, that’s all I need.”

  Marching to the elevator at a brisk pace, the scrawny young man in the all black suit reminded Sam of a few of the residents she had worked with at the hospital: energetic, ambitious, and always in a hurry.

  “Do you drive a lot for Mr. Dane?”

  “I’ve been with him for over a year now, but I only drive Mr. Dane to social functions or events.”

  “Does he go to a lot of those?”

  The elevator doors opened, and Eric held them for her. “Not as many as you’d expect.”

  “Does he not like going to parties?”

  Eric shrugged as he entered the elevator, clutching her duffel bag. “You’ll have to ask Mr. Dane that question. He never tells me much.”

  Outside The Shallows, Eric held open the back door of a black Mercedes SL Coupe for Sam. After easing into the soft leather seat, Eric pointed to a white envelope and black iPhone next to her.

  “Mr. Dane instructed me to give you those on the ride back to his building. He said you were to read the letter on the way. The phone is for you.”

  Once they were on the road. Sam tore the white envelope open. Inside, she found only a strip of paper with a phone number on it. Figuring it was some sort of Dom game, she dialed the number on her new iPhone.

  “Are you on your way?” Sebastian’s smoky voice came over the phone.

  “I’m in the car.”

  “This phone is yours. You’re to use it to call and text me and only me. No friends or family calls. I want you to keep it with you every minute you’re away from me. If I should want you, I need to have a way to reach you instantly.”

  “Okay.” Sam tried not to laugh. This was feeling more like a scene from some spy novel than a heated romance.

  “Do you have a pen?” he went on.

  “Hold on.” She reached for her backpack by her feet. It took a bit of digging, but she pulled out a black pen. “Got one.”

  “Write this down. 79347622. Do you have it?’

  “Yep.” She looked the number over. “What is it?”

  “Your access code for my penthouse elevator. When you arrive at the building, Eric will drive you to the building entrance. There will be a security guard at a station, just inside the door. He will take you to my private elevator. Punch in the code on the keypad. You can use the same number to enter my penthouse.”

  “Where will you be?”

  “I’m about to go into a meeting. I will be with you when I’m done. In the meantime, I want you to go inside and wait for me to come home. Stay in the living room. You can make yourself something to eat in the kitchen, but don’t go upstairs or out on the patio.”

  She wrinkled her brow. “Why can’t I go upstairs or out on the patio?”

  “Because I said so.”

  She giggled. “Yes, Sir.”

  “Good girl. Wait for me.”

  He hung up without another word.

  Sam stared at the phone, wondering if it was always going to be like this. The nagging voice that sounded so much like her father sparked to life, and it was laughing at her.

  You are in it now.

  * * *

  After entering the code on the keypad next to his front door, Sam found herself alone in his stunning penthouse. Putting her duffel bag and backpack down on the dark hardwood floor next to his white sofas, she went to his kitchen and set her purse on the island’s white-granite countertop.

  Taking in the kitchen, Sam was reminded more of a hotel than a home. The place had a sterile, almost empty atmosphere, as if no one lived there, but simply passed through. Opening the refrigerator, she perused the contents. Everything was healthy, from the vegetables set on an upper shelf to the seasonal fruits arranged on the second shelf. The milk was organic, the orange juice freshly squeezed, and there were clear plastic cartons labeled with the names of local restaurants.

  Sam pried off the lid on a container labeled Arnaud’s. She smelled the delectable aroma of Shrimp Arnaud, a classic New Orleans dish.

  Shaking her head, she replaced the container and opted for a pear. Munching on the chilly fruit, she gazed around the kitchen and inspected a few of the cabinets.

  The dishes were white with a silver edge, plain, pretty, but nothing fancy. The cutlery was silver and also plain. There were a few machines for juicing, chopping, and one for making ice cream in the lower cabinets.

  Still enjoying her pear, Sam made her way from the kitchen. She ran her fingers along the dark wood of the dining room table, and that was when she noticed the chill. The apartment was cold, colder than she was used to.

  She closed her eyes and reached out with her mind to see if the chill had an unearthly presence associated with it. But no voice called back to her, no image of the older man she had first seen in the penthouse came to her.

  “Maybe he just likes to keep it cold.”

  Sam went to the far wall hoping to find a thermostat and came face-to-face with the portraits of the buxom brunette in handcuffs. She was pretty, her body gorgeous, but short of the shock value of the artwork, Sam didn’t understand what Sebastian admired about the pieces.

  “Must be a Dom thing.”

  After browsing a few more spots, she found no sign of the thermostat. She noticed the recessed flight of dark steps to the side of the entrance hall, and debated about searching the second floor, but Sebastian’s warning resounded in her head. Wandering around, she considered how much longer she would have to wait in his freezing penthouse. At the patio doors, she longingly contemplated the warm rays of the morning sun shining down on the pebbles in his Zen-like garden. Would he know if she snuck out and bathed in the sun for a few minutes?

  To hell with it.

  Daringly, she pushed the doors open. God, the sun felt so good on her. She raised her head to the sky and closed her eyes, drinking in the heat like a morning flower anxious to bloom. Taking a few more bites of her pear, she went to one of the benches set on the four corners of the rectangular pebble garden. Easing back, she put the core of her pear to the side.

  This felt too good to give up. Wanting to get comfortable, she put her feet on the bench and laid back. With her stomach full, her body warmed, and the excitement of finally getting to his penthouse fading, the exhaustion brought on by the previous night’s exertions overtook her.

  “Sam, wake up,�
�� the stern voice called in her dream.

  Sam opened her eyes to find Sebastian standing over her. She inspected his black pinstripe suit and smiled. Sitting up, she gaped about and realized she had fallen asleep on the bench.

  “What are you doing out here?”

  She motioned to the patio doors. “I was freezing my ass off in your penthouse, so I came out here to get warm. I guess I fell asleep.”

  “I distinctly told you not to go on the patio.” He took her elbow and hauled her up from the bench.

  “Well, you weren’t here to tell me where the thermostat was.”

  He pulled her back toward the open patio doors. “Why didn’t you call me and ask?”

  “You said you were in a meeting.”

  He hauled her inside. “You are to call me with any questions. That’s what the phone is for.” He let go of her elbow and shut the patio doors.

  “What’s wrong with me getting warmed up on the patio?”

  He turned to her, his eyes brimming with fury. “Because you disobeyed me!”

  “I was cold. What’s the big deal?”

  Sebastian approached her, his lips smashed together. He reminded her of her father in that instant.

  “Come with me.” He took her hand and yanked her across the living room to one of the white sofas. Stopping in front of the sofa, he removed his black suit jacket. “Take off your clothes.”

  “Why? What are you going to do, spank me?”

  Tossing his jacket to the sofa, he began removing his light blue tie. “There are other ways to punish you without spanking you. Now do as I say.”

  Keeping her eyes on him, she unzipped her jeans and stepped out of them. He undid the top buttons on his shirt and rolled up his sleeves.

  Not sure what he had in mind, but feeling that tingle of excitement in her belly, Sam removed the rest of her clothes. When she finally slid her beige panties down her legs, the cold of the penthouse enveloped her.

  She ran her hands up and down her arms as the goose bumps rose on her flesh.

  Sebastian went to the white-painted stone wall and lifted a covering over one of the bricks. He pointed to the control panel beneath. “This is the thermostat.” He pressed a few buttons. “I keep it on seventy-five, but I will put it higher for you.”