his, and used both of his hands to press me against his lap. I slipped
   off my shoes and moved my legs so I could straddle him. He pushed
   my dress up and helped my legs wrap around him. He leaned up and
   kissed my neck while he unbuttoned the top of my dress. As the top
   fell in front of me, he leaned away and shouted something in the
   phone. I had no idea how he was able to keep his mind on two things
   at once. Then he took my nipple in his mouth. I started to hum and
   he covered my mouth with his hand. He moved to the other breast
   and I put my hands on his head. This was one of those moments when I wanted him so bad,
   but dreaded when it was over because he would leave, or say
   something to make me feel cheap or possibly hurt me. I took the tie
   from his neck and unbuttoned his shirt. I moved myself off his lap to
   the floor and knelt in front of him. I gently touched his skin as I
   moved my hands to his belt. He locked his eyes on me and I licked
   my lips as I started to undo his buckle. He leaned the phone against
   his shoulder, and quickly moved his hands to help me. He pulled his
   length out and stroked it a couple times before I took over. I stroked
   him, then took him in my mouth. I heard him gasp and mumbled
   something like ‘Oh fuck’, then he informed Steve he wasn’t talking to
   him. I moved my mouth up and down, and I could feel his eyes on
   me. He moved my hair to get a better view. I licked the tip and
   twirled my tongue around it. He started telling Steve he was going to
   have to talk about this tomorrow but apparently Steve didn’t want to
   talk tomorrow. He touched my chin as I moved up and down on him. When I took him in all the way to the back of my throat, he
   stood up and grabbed the back of my head. His hips moved fast and I
   kept up the pace. I started to hum with enjoyment and he picked up
   the pace even faster. I felt his body tensing up and knew what was
   about to happen. “Steve, I don’t know what to say! You’re going to
   have to handle it tonight the best you can! I have to go! I’ll see you in
   the office tomorrow!” He slammed the phone of the table and took
   the back of my head with both hands and held me in place. He
   pressed himself in a few more times and then his body relaxed
   completely. I licked the tip and then grabbed the napkin off the table
   to wipe my mouth. He let out a long sigh, closing his eyes while he
   tucked himself back in his pants. Then he grabbed my arms and
   pulled me to my feet. “Why did you do that?” he didn’t sound
   happy. His eyes looked scary. “I didn’t ask you to do it, why did you
   do that?” I swallowed hard and lowered my eyes. “I thought you
   would like it, sir.” I wasn’t sure what mood this was. I thought this
   would make him happy. He seemed to enjoy it, but now he seemed
   pissed. His grip loosened on me. “Is that the only reason?” he asked a little softer this time. I
   looked up at him.
   “I guess….I guess I wanted to do it too. I wanted to feel in
   control and I wanted to please you,” I whispered. “Are you mad?” I
   asked. His eyes soften.
   “I’m not mad,” his sweet voice was back. “And it did please
   me very much, it’s just, I don’t want,” he stopped. He closed his eyes
   as if he was thinking about his next remark.
   “You don’t want what?” I asked. He shook his head.
   “Never mind,” he breathed out. He pulled me to his chest
   and kissed my hair. “Liam,” he said in a very quiet voice. “My name is
   Liam.” I leaned back to look at him and laughed, thinking of his
   comment in the shower.
   Chapter six
   Liam had finally decided that since she was going to be with
   him for an undetermined amount of time, he would train her to his
   liking. He didn’t want a slave per say, but he could train her to be his
   submissive. He knew this wasn’t a life she wanted and not the
   situation he wanted either, but here they were together. She was
   beautiful, sweet, sexy, and Liam was extremely attracted to her, or
   he wouldn’t have paid so much for her. She liked being with him,
   when he was nice to her and even tolerated him when he was cruel.
   He decided to try to make this negative a positive. He wasn’t sure
   how positive she would think it was, but the situation was what it
   was and nothing could change what had already happened.
   Liam walked her back to her room and watched her walk
   around the bed, sit down and take off her shoes. “Did you have a
   nice evening?” he asked. She nodded and asked if he enjoyed it as
   well. He laughed and said he did very much. “It’s late, you should get
   some sleep,” he turned to leave. “Wait,” she said. He turned and she walked to him. She
   stepped close to him and he pulled her to him. “Thank you for a
   lovely evening. I hope we can do it again soon,” she stood on her tip
   toes and kissed him lightly on his lips.
   “Oh I want to do that again too, and soon, don’t you worry
   about that,” they laughed a little and kissed her nose. “I had a nice
   evening too, Norah.” He pulled her to him and kissed her with force.
   “Stay with me,” she breathed in his mouth. He pulled away. “I
   can’t. I really can’t.” He stepped back and walked out. He closed the
   door behind him and closed his eyes. He wanted to stay he really did.
   But she wasn’t ready for anything like that. He enjoyed the blowjob
   very much, but wasn’t sure if she did it for her or him. He wanted to
   tell her he didn’t want her to feel like she had to blow him to please
   him. He loved it, but he wanted her to want to do it, not feel she had
   to. He knew if he laid in a bed with her he would have to hold her.
   Holding her would lead to him kissing her, and if he kissed her, he
   would have to touch her. Touching her would lead to him laying on
   top of her, and then he would have to move his body against hers. Before he even knew what had happened he would be buried
   deep inside her and wouldn’t be able to hear her screams for him to
   stop. He wasn’t sure she would want him to stop, but he couldn’t
   take the chance until he was sure how she felt about him or even
   how he truly felt about her. They were in confusing territory right
   now. He had told her if she was nice to him, he would be nice to her.
   So had she pleasured him tonight just to be nice, so he would be
   nice? Or so he wouldn’t be so mean. He didn’t know, and he
   couldn’t take the chance that it was true.
   He went to his room changed his clothes and went down to
   his gym. He did his best thinking while working out. After a little over
   an hour on the treadmill he decided that maybe he had rushed
   things a little with her. He knew she hated being alone, but he
   needed some space between them before he did something he
   would regret. Space might make their feelings clearer to both of
   them. Maybe it was a good time for to take a business trip. They
   were having problems in Houston anyway. The next morning he woke her up pretty early. It was still
   dark outside. Her eyes were confused at first, then she sat up quickly
   and asked him if everything was ok. He smiled at her a
nd touched
   her face. She was so beautiful, even just waking up.
   “Everything is fine, little one. I just have to go out of town for
   a few days,” he paused for her reaction. She lowered her eyes and
   her head. She griped the covers and then released them.
   “Take me with you,” she said. Her comment was unexpected.
   He had taken subs on business trips before, but this situation wasn’t
   the typical sub relationship.
   “I wish I could, but I can’t. Not this time, Norah.” He touched
   her hand trying to give her some kind of reassurance. She pulled her
   knees to her chest and wiped her face with her blankets.
   “You can. I won’t give you any trouble, I promise. I just want
   to be with you.” This made Liam smile.
   “You just don’t want to be alone. It wouldn’t matter if you
   were with me or not.” “That isn’t true. I mean, I hate being alone, true, but I do
   want to be with you. I feel like every time you feel yourself getting
   close to me, you have to do something to push me away.” Liam
   stood up and crossed the room. “You don’t have to push me away,
   Liam.” It was the first time she had used his name. He turned to face
   her. He could see the concern in her face. He knew she wasn’t sure if
   she should have said his name or not. He put his hands in his
   pockets. His look turned cold, and predator like.
   “I told you my name little one, because you worked for it. But
   I certainly didn’t give you permission to use it. Maybe a few days
   alone will remind you that you are not my girlfriend, we aren’t in
   love, and I am the one in charge here.” He slammed the door when
   he left. He cursed himself on the way to the airport. She was right,
   she could see right through him. Whenever he felt her getting to
   close he did or said something to put her back in her place. If he was
   following Will’s stage theory, he had no idea what stage this would
   be. The Jackal/Hyde stage, maybe? He decided to make a stop by Will’s house before the airport.
   Liam was surprised to say the least when Jane answered the door.
   “Hello. Will will be right down, please come in.” Her voice
   was even and pleasant. She called him Will, which was also a
   surprise. Liam stood in the kitchen watching Jane move around the
   room. She offered him coffee, tea, water, whatever he wanted. Liam
   just shook her off. Will finally came down and the men shook hands.
   “Come to get some advice, Mr. Hastings?” Will asked and
   laughed a little. “Not able to close the deal or does she still hate
   you?” Liam made a gesture toward Jane, and Will told him to ignore
   her. “I see you actually knew what you were talking about. Maybe I
   should have followed the Will Chamber’s five point plan.” Will patted
   him the back and they walked to his study where he shut the doors.
   “So what’s the problem? What stage are you on? There’s really no
   formula for a time limit on these stages. Sometimes it takes longer
   on some, not as long on others.” He took a sip of coffee. “Jane went
   through fear and respect very quick. She was a fast learner. I had to
   invent things that she had done wrong just so I could continue to punish her.” He laughed. He really was a sick bastard. But Liam didn’t
   think of himself so differently these days. “She’s on to love and
   devotion already. She has her reign of the house, and I have taken
   her out with me a couple of times.” He sat down and waited for Liam
   to say something.
   “I didn’t really follow the stages strictly.” Will let out a breath.
   “I mean, I started with the fear and respect thing, and I think she’s
   got that down good now. But I couldn’t take seeing her cry so much.
   So it was like fear, respect, and comfort all rolled in one.” He
   continued. “I’m trying to move from fear to comfort and protection,
   but I’m just worried she doesn’t really feel the way she acts towards
   me.” He paused and ran his hand through his hair. “Like she’s only
   pretending to care for me, because she doesn’t want me to hurt her
   anymore. But I have to say, I don’t like hurting her anyway. I mean I
   did briefly, but not anymore, it isn’t fun.” He shook his head. “But
   sometimes I get so angry I can’t control it. She acts like she knows
   me, or she tries to be too familiar with me, something I’m not
   comfortable with from anyone. She has a smart mouth sometimes, and she’s brave. She’ll say something, or not say something, and I
   can see the look on her face. She is trying to see if she can get away
   with it. Sometimes I snap, and before I know it, she’s crying, and I
   feel like shit.” He turned back to face Will. “She wanted to go on this
   trip with me, and I really wanted to bring her. But I don’t know if I
   can trust her or not. I mean, what if we get to the airport and she
   runs away screaming that I kidnapped her! I can’t have that.”
   “Do you think she would do that?” Will asked. Liam shook his
   head.
   “I don’t know that’s the point. I told her this could be an easy
   relationship, or a hard one, the choice was hers. She made it hard on
   herself at first. But now she is taking the easy way. I just don’t know
   if this is the way she really feels or if she’s just playing along.” Will
   walked over to Liam and put his hand on his shoulder.
   “Well that is the nature of this business. You’re not going to
   know, until you know. It sounds to me like you don’t even know how
   you feel about her. You wanted to hurt her, but couldn’t stand to see
   her cry, you want her to be nice and behave, but like that she tests you. Do you like her? Have you fucked her yet?” Will took another
   sip of his coffee. The comment pissed Liam off. It wasn’t any of his
   business if he had fucked her or not. “She’s a little hottie, Liam. Take
   a sample of the merchandise, my friend. It will help you determine if
   you want this to work or not.” Liam stepped to Will.
   “Don’t talk about her like that, you got me! You don’t get to
   think of her as anything. She’s mine!” Will held up his hands.
   “I think you have your answer, my friend” he said.
   Mine? Where did that come from? That was all Liam could
   think about on the way to the airport. He felt irate when Will talked
   about her like a piece of meat. He was infuriated when he suggested
   ‘sampling the merchandise’. He wanted to call the house from the
   car and apologize but thought he would look weak.
   His first night in Houston he couldn’t stop himself though. He
   arrived at his room around 8pm. He was tired from being in meetings
   all day. He had just attended a long business dinner, and had to get
   up at 6am for early golf with Jeff Stackhouse the CEO of Stackhouse
   Industries, a company Liam was trying to buy. But he didn’t care, he needed to hear her voice. It was 2am in London, but he didn’t care
   about that either. He took off his shirt and tie while he dialed the
   number. Gerald answered and assured him that Norah had been fine
   since his departure. He heard Norah gasp as Gerald shook her
   awake.
   “It’s Master Liam on the phone for you, Miss
.” Liam smiled
   thinking how shocked she must be to wake up seeing Gerald in her
   room. He heard her clear her throat. “Hello?” she sounded unsure of
   herself. “I hope I didn’t wake you,” he smiled knowing he had done
   exactly that. She pulled her knees to her chest and looked over at
   the alarm clock. “Its 2:08 in the morning, I think you know perfectly
   well you woke me,” he could tell she was smiling.
   “I’m glad to hear you’re in a good mood, and still have that
   smart little mouth of yours. I didn’t like leaving you sad, when there
   was nothing I could do about it.” That didn’t make sense. Did he
   mean he liked leaving her upset when he was the cause?
   “How are the meetings going?” she asked. Liam sat on his
   hotel bed and took off his shoes. “It’s going good. I just got in from a boring business dinner
   with four other couples. The CEO of the company I am trying to buy,
   his wife, their CFO and his wife, and two of their lawyers and their
   wives. Meanwhile on the other side of the table, I’m sitting next to
   Steve.”
   “Well I wish I could have been with you,” she trailed off not
   wanting to push her luck.
   “I know,” he said. “But I don’t know if having you on my arm
   would have charmed him or not.”
   “Oh, I can be very charming,” she laughed.
   “I know you can.” It was silent. “Well I should let you go back
   to sleep.” He wanted to tell her he was sorry. He wanted to say he
   missed her, and wished she was here with him so he could hold her
   all night. He wanted to say her voice was the best thing he had heard
   all day. But since these were feelings he wasn’t used to having
   instead he just said, “I’ll be home in two days. Good night, Norah.” Just before he hung up, he heard her say, “Good night, sir.” It
   was like a needle in his eye. He had told her she couldn’t use his
   name, and she was showing him she wouldn’t. He liked it when his
   subs called him sir, but now knowing Norah knew his name, he didn’t
   want her to call him sir, or maybe he did. It was like the kneeling. It
   was something he liked for his subs to do, but not her. He wasn’t
   even completely comfortable with her cowering stance, of her
   lowered head and grasping her hands in front of her. It was like she
   was kneeling for him, while she stood. He didn’t know why it got
   
 
 Sold (Keeping her in the Dark) Page 10