by Opal Carew
She laughed. “You’d be crazy to hire me back. I just made you late for your meeting. Probably the first time ever. What will the marketing department think?”
He chuckled. “Fuck them.”
Then she grinned and raised her eyebrows. “Is that an order?”
He pulled her from the wall and smacked her bottom. “You are really bad today.”
She giggled as she pulled her skirt down over her delightful cheeks, then headed to the door of his private bathroom.
“And that’s why you love me.” Then she disappeared inside.
His smile faded as he realized there was more truth to that than he wanted to admit.
Fuck, he did not want to fall for her. He’d just had a disastrous experience with Jessica, where he’d been so sure he was head over heels for the woman, only to realize it was just wishful thinking. He didn’t really trust his interpretation of his own feelings these days.
And he didn’t like what had just happened between them. At least, the way he had acted. Clearly, he still had issues to work out.
* * *
Melanie was nervous as she dressed for work on Friday morning. Today she had her three-month evaluation. She knew she’d been doing a fine job, but that didn’t matter to Karen. The woman hadn’t liked her from day one.
She took the bus to work, chiding herself that there was no reason to be nervous. The worst-case scenario was that she’d lose her job, and then she’d simply find another one. Still, she hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
As she got off the bus, she saw Sue heading down the street.
“Morning.” Sue tilted her head as Melanie fell into step beside her. “You okay? You look distracted.”
Melanie shrugged. “I guess. I’m just nervous about my review today.”
“Oh, right. Well, don’t worry about it. You’ve been doing a great job.”
Sue pulled open the door and Melanie followed her in.
The worst part of the whole thing was the waiting. Karen had scheduled her review for three in the afternoon, right at the end of the shift, which Melanie took as a bad sign. But when Karen arrived at noon, she seemed in a good mood, and the next few hours flew by as customers came and went at a steady pace.
Finally, the time arrived and Melanie followed Karen to a quiet table in the corner. Melanie sat down and Karen opened a file folder, reviewed whatever was inside, then glanced up at Melanie again.
“So, you started working here three months ago and, as you know, you’ve been on a probationary period during that time.”
Melanie nodded.
“And you know that anytime during that probationary period, we can let you go without cause.”
Melanie’s stomach quivered. “We” meant Karen. She was the store manager and the only one who made the decision.
“For instance, if we find that you just don’t fit in with the other staff.”
Melanie knew the whole staff liked her. Except Karen.
Karen closed the folder and clasped her hands together on top of it. “Unfortunately, we have decided not to keep you on.”
Melanie felt the color drain from her face and she had to fight hard to stop tears from welling in her eyes. She felt powerless and insulted, but she would not give Karen the satisfaction. Instead, she simply nodded and stood up. Then, feeling totally numb, she went to the back and retrieved her backpack, then walked out the front door.
* * *
The limousine pulled up in front of Melanie’s apartment building and Rafe got out. Melanie had called him that afternoon and asked if he would come over tonight. She’d sounded upset, but she wouldn’t tell him what was wrong on the phone.
He was hoping that at some point, they could talk about what had happened in his office. He’d loved the fact she enjoyed role-playing and it had been exciting as hell, but he didn’t like how he’d acted. The whole thing had left him sleepless that night, tossing and turning at the memory.
Why did he become like that? Controlling. Demanding. Almost abusive. He’d had to fight his obsessive urge to thrash her sexy, bare ass. And in the end, he’d rammed her against the wall and taken her hard.
She’d seemed to enjoy it, but he didn’t like what it said about him.
Once at the door, he texted her and she buzzed him up. A few moments later, he got off the elevator and walked to her door, then knocked. She opened the door wearing a burgundy silk robe tied at the waist, then gazed up at him.
“Mr. Ranier. What are you doing here?”
He grinned. “Really? That’s why you called me? Because you’re horny?” He closed the door behind him. “Not that I’m complaining, but I was worried there was something wrong.”
She stepped close and stroked the lapels of his finely knit wool suit. “Mr. Ranier, I just didn’t expect you to show up at my house.”
He smiled. Clearly, she wasn’t willing to drop out of character to discuss it.
“Well, get used to it.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. “I plan on being here a lot.”
He captured her lips, then drove his tongue into her mouth. Hers glided forward, swirling with his. He pulled her tighter to his body, her soft curves crushed against him.
Then he released her. “Now take off your robe.”
She stepped back and her fingers tangled with the knot at her waist, then released it. Slowly, she drew the fabric apart, revealing glimpses of skin and black leather. Then the robe fluttered to the ground.
His eyes widened at the sight of her in a black leather harness that covered absolutely nothing. Studded leather straps outlined her perky, round breasts. Her nipples, hard and thrusting forward, demanded his attention. A pair of straps continued from under her breasts downward and disappeared between her thighs, outlining her shaven pussy. Silver chains cascaded from the vertical straps, down the front of her body, while black leather straps continued around her back.
She backed toward her living room couch, then turned around and bent over the back of it, exposing her naked ass. The horizontal straps continuing around her torso connected to a single black leather strap appearing from her cheeks and attached to the strap under her shoulder blades.
His gaze lingered on her perfectly round, exposed cheeks.
“I assume you want to punish me, Mr. Ranier.” She gazed around at him. “For making you late for your meeting the other day.”
* * *
Melanie didn’t know why she needed it so bad, but there was something about the idea of totally giving up control. Of being taken care of. She knew Rafe would never hurt her, so it was a safe fantasy to put herself totally in his hands. Let him decide what she did. Because, God knew, she couldn’t seem to make good decisions in her real life right now. Submitting totally to him in their lovemaking just felt right. Somehow, she knew it would make this disaster of a day better. It would make her feel that her life wasn’t a total mess.
Because under Rafe’s guidance, somehow she would find her way.
But a struggle ensued in his eyes at her simple request. Why didn’t he just smack her behind? He seemed to naturally take control when they made love. He had when they’d had sex against the tree the very first time, and then—her body quivered at the memory—in his office he’d rammed her against the wall, holding her hands helpless above her head.
With him, she could just relax and be his bitch.
She lowered her head and arched her back, enticing him.
“Melanie.”
At his serious tone, she glanced over her shoulder again and gazed into his sky blue eyes.
“Look, I know you want to try new things, and I’m all for it, but…” He shook his head. “I’m not comfortable with controlling you. Or punishing you.”
She stood up and turned to face him. “But it’s just in fun. I know you’d never really hurt me. And you seem to naturally step into a controlling role.”
He shook his head, as if denying it.
“Sure. Remember how you held my wrists
above my head?” She picked up her robe from the floor and pulled it on, feeling exposed and vulnerable. “I found that very sexy.”
“But I don’t want that in our relationship.” His jaw clenched. “To tell the truth, I’m not comfortable with how I acted in the office.”
“But—”
He drew her into his arms and kissed her firmly on the lips. “When I make love to you, I want it to be sweet and loving.”
She drew back, crossing her arms over her chest. “What about what I want? I like it when you take control. It’s sexy and turns me on.” The tears she’d tried to hide when Karen had fired her, welled to the surface. “It makes me feel cared for.”
“Cared for?” He shook his head. “I don’t get that.”
“I don’t care if you get it.” She turned and marched away, not wanting him to see her tears. “Why isn’t it enough that it’s what I want?”
“Melanie.” He stepped behind her and rested his warm hand on her shoulder. “What’s this all about?”
He drew her around to look at him. She wiped away an errant tear. “I got fired today. I just wanted to give myself up to you. To know you would take care of me.”
“By smacking you?”
She shook her head. “It’s a sign of trust, I guess. Of knowing I can give myself up to you totally and you’ll give me what I need.” She slid her hands over the fine wool of his lapels, aware of the solid chest beneath.
“So if I don’t spank you, I’m not meeting your needs?”
“No, it’s more that when you take control, and there are consequences if I don’t obey, it gives me a sense of you taking care of me. Sometimes it feels good to let go completely. But only if I have someone I trust watching out for me.”
He sighed deeply. “We’ll need to find another way, because I’m not comfortable with taking control of you. Especially with my abusive background.”
She frowned. “But I know you would never abuse me.”
He gripped her shoulders gently, his jaw twitching. “Look, it’s not the time to discuss this right now. You said you just got fired. Do you want to talk about it?”
She shrugged. “It was the end of my three-month probation period. The manager decided not to keep me on.”
“She’s an idiot.” He hugged her close and she felt warm and protected in his arms. “Do you know what you’re going to do now?”
She shook her head, but not for the first time, thoughts of Travis’ offer skittered through her brain.
“You know you can always come back as my secretary.” He kissed the top of her head. “And imagine how fun that would be now?”
She gazed up at his smiling face and laughed. “Yeah. It would be so much fun we’d never get any work done.”
She eased away from him and sat on the couch.
“Remember when I asked you why you didn’t go out on the road with the band?” she asked.
“Yeah, and I told you I needed to be here.” He sat down beside her.
“Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?”
He frowned. “Why? What’s going on?”
“Well…” She fiddled with the sash of her robe. “When I was talking to Travis the other day…”
Rafe’s frown deepened. “The day you went to get a gift for Jess, or did you see him again?”
Her teeth clenched at the implication that she was sneaking around behind his back, and she refused to allow this to turn into an argument.
“I’m not even going to answer that.” But annoyance edged her words, despite her best efforts to hide it. “He told me that they could use another roadie.” She gazed into Rafe’s piercing blue eyes. “And he suggested I take the position.”
She frowned at the flash of annoyance in his eyes.
“I’m sure that’s not the only position he’ll suggest you take.”
Her chest tightened. “Are you implying he’s only inviting me to tour with the band so he can get into my pants?”
“I told you he likes to steal women from me.”
Her nostrils flared. “First of all, he can’t steal me. That assumes I have no mind of my own and can’t make valid decisions about who I want to be with.”
His eyebrows arched in challenge. “And who do you want to be with?”
She sighed. “You, of course, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to take him up on his offer. It would be a great opportunity to travel, and to really shake loose some of my ideas of who I am and what I should be.” She took his hand. “And as I’ve said before, it would be wonderful if you would come back on tour. Then we could travel together.” She gazed at him hopefully. “It would be a great experience.”
“No,” he said firmly.
Disappointment washed through her. “No, you won’t come?”
“I’ve already told you I won’t be joining the band again, and why.”
She stared into his penetrating blue eyes and realized that wasn’t the question he’d been answering.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “So you’re saying that you don’t think I’m capable of hauling equipment on and off trucks and setting up speakers?”
“I’m saying you’re not going.” His dominating tone set her teeth on edge.
She scowled at him. “You don’t have the right to tell me what I can and cannot do.”
“But that’s exactly what you just told me you wanted me to do.”
“That’s different. That’s role-playing in the bedroom.”
He sent her a hard-edged glare. “It’s as real as you want it to be.” He tugged her into his arms and his lips came down on hers. Hard. He possessed her mouth, claiming her as his tongue delved deep. “You are mine and I intend to keep it that way. You will not go on tour with the band.”
She gazed up at him in a daze, fighting her blatant desire to melt against him and obey every command he gave her.
But she knew neither one of them would respect her if she just caved in to his demands. She steeled herself against her weakness, and with defiance in her eyes, she flattened her hands on his chest and pressed him back.
“Think again.”
Wild Ones
Melanie watched the scenery whiz by, mostly dense trees, as the bus sped along the highway. Once she’d agreed to go on tour with the band, things had moved pretty fast. They had been scheduled to leave the following week, so she’d had to hustle to get packed and tie up loose ends. Jessica had offered to handle subletting the apartment and had helped her pack up all her stuff and put it in storage.
All the activity had kept her mind off the fact she was walking away from her dream relationship with Rafe. At least, what she’d thought would be a dream come true, but had quickly come to a nightmarish halt.
She had refused to speak to Storm after their falling out, but now, with miles of road passing her by and little else to think about, she wondered how she had let it come to this.
“Hey, there.” Diego dropped into the seat beside her. “You look deep in thought.”
He and the other members of the band had been sitting at the back of the bus kicking around ideas for the upcoming show tonight in Washington.
“Not really. Just watching the scenery go by.”
“And maybe thinking about a certain guitarist you left behind in Philly?”
She shrugged. She didn’t want to talk about Storm. She didn’t want to think about him.
She didn’t want to miss him so badly.
“I thought you’d be sketching or something like that.”
She gazed sideways at him. With his lips curled up in that charming smile of his, her heart began to thump loudly. Damn, she shouldn’t be so affected by other men when she’d just ended it with Storm. Her heart clenched at the thought.
But the man had a point about sketching. It would be a great way to keep busy. Odd that she had no inclination at all to grab her sketch pad.
“I’m not really inspired.”
“Well, belleza, anytime you want inspiration, I would be
quite willing to pose for you.”
With his dark, expressive eyes and his killer smile, a portrait of him could be very dramatic … or playful, depending on how she chose to approach it. But she could tell by his teasing tone that he was talking about posing nude.
She tingled inside. That could be inspiring in many ways.
She grinned. “It’s nice to know I have a willing subject if I need one.”
He took her hand and brushed his lips against it. “Yes, indeed. Do let me know.”
Taking in the sexy glint of his eyes, she almost wished they were at the hotel they’d be staying at tonight so she could take him up on his offer. But once he got his clothes off, she wouldn’t be sketching him.
Damn it, what was wrong with her?
Of course, she knew what was wrong. She knew as soon as she was alone in her hotel room, she’d start to miss Storm with a vengeance and then she’d question the wisdom of this move and begin to berate herself. And worse, reconsider her choice and think about returning home.
She wouldn’t allow herself to wimp out like that. This trip was the opportunity of a lifetime. She’d spent her entire life allowing the people she loved to hold her back, and if she and Storm were meant to be together, then he needed to give her room to grow.
Diego reached under his denim vest and pulled something from an interior pocket. “I almost forgot. I have something for you.”
He handed her a small package wrapped neatly in a red bandana, with a twisted blue bandana tied around it in a bow, like a ribbon. She pulled open the bow and unfurled the fabric to reveal a stack of small, white sheets of paper, a little larger than business cards, tied with a thin red ribbon. The paper was a good-quality, heavyweight artist paper with a vellum finish.
“Those are called ATCs—artist trading cards. You know about those?” Diego asked.
“I know the idea is that artists create original art on these cards and trade them with other artists, but I’ve never done it.”
“I understand that the point of them is for artists to meet and exchange not only cards, but personal experiences. I think with you being on this journey of self-discovery, it would be good for you to meet with other artists. Find out what they’ve done, how they pursue their art. Maybe get ideas to help you develop as an artist.”