Velvet Exhale

by Beth Mikell

  I zoned out from the craziness surrounding me, thinking of my lowly paid job I ditched this morning to the cute IT tech I met on Monday at work who asked me out for dinner tomorrow night. Brett Adams. He's simply an outgoing, run-of-the-mill nerdy nice guy--exactly what I go for...safe. I'm so sure he wouldn't even know what a flogger does--well, until this moment, I wasn't aware either. I think of my sister Gemma and her fiancé, Trey Brenner who were getting married in two weeks and how commonplace vanilla ran alive in the everyday. What was wrong with vanilla? It was boring if judging by the disturbing atmospheric occurrence going on around me.

  I lived all my life in a safe bubble, two loving parents and sister in a quaint, understated middle-income family. I went to junior college before jumping into the business world as a telephone operator and successfully moved up the ranks until manager. I now oversaw twenty employees without bloodshed, but I'd never been very ambitious career-wise. I secretly hoped all the lottery tickets I bought every week would pay off so I didn't have to work anymore. So far, it hadn't. I admit...I'm just so dissatisfied with life, but what I'm experiencing here is just...weird.

  We cycled through the rest of the Dom candidates, one being a very famous actor in a recent action movie I saw with my sister. Holy shit! I never imagined this in my wildest dreams and Claire seemed to hit it off with him too, but he was only interested in a two-month contract due to his constant travel schedule for movie shoots. I ached to ask for his autograph, but bit my tongue. How would I explain receiving it to anyone? BDSM club just didn't bode well from my lips--not to mention the NDA prevented me from narcing. Good grief, I internally rolled my eyes.

  Aside from Mr. Animal Wacko at the beginning, the other Doms proved to be interesting and unexpected. Claire liked the actor, but his contract limitation put her off, so she may go with the thirty-nine year old miniature golf owner who wanted six months or longer. In addition, his limits matched hers and he was pleasant on the eyes. Whatever--I'm just happy it was over, I really couldn't take anymore.

  Claire stepped out to speak with Mari and I dug out my cigarettes, ignoring the 'No Smoking' sign posted beside the door. Like I cared! Sue me. Something in me shouted total adolescent at the prospect of lighting up under the threat of Avalon's controlled ambiance.

  Smoke to lips...I took my first welcome inhale.

  Ah...

  Heaven...as I blew out my death vapor.

  Sure, I knew all the health warnings, but I figured we’re all one-step above death anyway, so whatever. I planned to use the 'Patch', but it remained boxed up under my bathroom sink just waiting for a lapse in stressful days and surely, that's not today. Excuse much, but I clung to the possibility of bettering my health, yet my good intentions remained a thought in the back of my mind.

  I fished out a scrap piece of paper from my bag to catch my ash and wandered over to the large window overlooking Tampa ten floors above. As life scurried below, I inhaled another drag of my cigarette, wishing Claire would come back soon so we can leave.

  "Smoking is prohibited in this building."

  I gasped and turned to find the gorgeous parking deck guy standing in the doorway with a pissed set to his lips, looking totally...hot. In my irritated reverie, I hadn’t heard the door open and close behind me. I jammed my cigarette into the scrap piece of paper and wadded it up, though by some miracle I didn't burn my hands as I tossed it in the metal trashcan to my left--experience I guess.

  "Oh, I'm sorry. I...I..." I had nothing to offer. I'm tongue-tied as I took in his approach.

  Crisp money oozed from his pores, beginning with his tailored black suit and obvious pounds of muscles bunching under the smooth fabric of his white shirt and yellow tie as he drew closer. His just-fucked, black hair shouted 'I don't care', while his shard-like, blue eyes burned a hole right through me with his displeasure stamped in his expression.

  He was...absolutely gorgeous and can't be more than thirty. Crap! Why was he here? Why am I shaking?

  "Ms. Lourde, I presume?"

  All the color bled out from my face and I stiffened. "You have me at a disadvantage, sir."

  His amazing sculpted lips drew up into a smirk. "Sir? I like that already. Please have a seat. You may be trainable yet."

  Oh, double crap! Where the hell was Claire?

  I still couldn't move, my heart pounding hard. I'm riveted in place by his sexy glide towards me, and his throaty velvet voice, which hadn't risen beyond a subtle suggestion. To make matters worse, he was now close enough to smell...and delicious came to mind. His mouthwatering scent was fresh and clean…with an understated mix of musk.

  "I can always make you, Ms. Lourde," he challenged. "I'm well versed in the art of persuasion and would indeed find it a pleasure to...show you."

  I raised a brow, throwing him a level look. "I'm not a submissive, Mr...?" Bravely, I held my ground, but for some reason, the man intimidated the hell out of me.

  Damn, but he gave me the sexiest, panty-dropping smile. "Alexander. Noah Alexander," he offered. "And I am fully aware that you came in today as a Submissive Advocate, Ms. Lourde, but I would like a word, if you please?" He held out his hand for me to go ahead of him to the sofa.

  Though my heels offered a good four inches to my medium height, I barely reached his chin. He's so freaking tall and I walked past him, resuming my position on the sofa, I vacated minutes before and crossed my legs. I primly folded my hands in my lap and stared straight ahead with purpose and determination. Fearless even. Yeah, that's what I'm telling myself, but I'm dying inside.

  I expected him to follow, but instead he leaned close to my ear from behind, startling me and I inhaled sharply.

  "Relax," he whispered.

  Chapter 2

  There are a hundred ways to kneel and kiss the ground. ~Rumi

  My whole body tightened.

  Then a strange rush of female desire flooded hot through my veins, heightening my awareness of his closeness, making me a fool to every known bodily function in the universe. Simply put, I'm no longer in control of myself by his one whispered command.

  Sweat popped on my brow, and my heart slammed against my chest from his simple word...relax. I drew in a lungful of air to stabilize my palpitating nerves, only to fill up with his amazing scent as the fallout. Relax? How can I? He challenged every mental and physical faction within me to the point of wet, hot and oh-so bothered.

  Before I turned my head, he crossed over and sat across from me with ease like one used to dominance and control. He eyed me with a lazy half smile upon his lips, his eyes crinkled at the edges as if daring me to refute him. I uncrossed my legs and readjusted them, pressing my legs firmly together. I can't believe it, but I'm actually turned on! Sheesh

  I cleared my throat. "What do you want Mr. Alexander?" I inwardly winced from the sound of desire threading my voice and hoped he hadn't noticed.

  "It's a little soon for outright demands, don't you think, Ms. Lourde?" He shifted, folding his hands together. "I'd like to talk about you. Imagine my surprise when I looked up earlier and saw a very confident, beautiful woman striding across the parking deck in the most beautiful 'fuck-me' heels with the most stunning red hair. I can't explain it, but I did my very best to find you. And here we are." He waved his hand in the air for emphasis.

  I couldn't breathe and my mouth popped dry. Granted he rocked every level of hotness in the world model style, but he couldn't talk to me this way! I'm not a submissive nor did I wish to be. That's Claire's thing, not mine. Besides, I had a date with a cute IT tech tomorrow. I didn't need this--whatever this was!

  I folded my arms over my chest, defensive mode in place. "I'm not interested in whatever you're offering, Mr. Alexander."

  "Do you feel it, Ms. Lourde?" His voice dropped low again, ignoring my statement.

  I exhaled hard. "Feel what?" I asked irritably, yet a little too breathlessly, too affected by his subtle velvet voice.

  "The air between us--it's like a craving, so sincere and powerful
it's pulling us together, begging for a turn. While your mind has a natural instinct to flee, your body is completely in tune with mine. I felt it in the brief moment I saw you earlier."

  He was so right, but I wanted no part of it or him. In a rush, I grabbed my bag and made to leave. I reached the door, but he's already behind me, I'm too keenly aware of him, though I want only to escape him. He planted one hand on the door preventing me from leaving, leaning close with his warm breath on my ear.

  "Don't," he hissed.

  Oh my God. I sucked in my bottom lip and bit down hard to keep from crying out from the delicious caress of his voice over my ear...my skin.

  "Don't go." He didn't physically touch me, yet he blew against my ear softly and I felt it all the way to the core of my body.

  I nearly sobbed. "I don't know you," I croaked as tears stung my eyes from the intense pressure abounding between us.

  "Look at me."

  "No."

  "Please," he whispered.

  Slowly, I turned around with my eyes cast down as I pressed my back into the wood of the door for support and lifted my gaze to meet his. A tear slipped down my cheek and he inhaled sharply. Punched low in the gut, I fought hard not to whimper, as I looked deep in his eyes. He's so beautiful. His intense, crystal-like blue eyes beamed hard, his expression soft, yet commanding. Oddly, he wasn't even touching me and I found myself wanting him too.

  "Don't be afraid of me. Just listen," he said. "All I want to do is get to know you."

  I flushed hot. Damn. What could I say to that? I'm already more than half aroused by this darkly, handsome man offering me a taste of the...forbidden? "I'm not a casual woman."

  A muscle leaped in his cheek reminding me of his expression up on the parking deck. "Good to know, I'm not a casual man either. I challenge you to take a deeper look inside yourself, Ms. Lourde. Place an expectation on yourself and a goal on me. I promise you won't be disappointed."

  "Why?" I breathed, though part of me was horrified, the other intrigued. "Why me?"

  "Why not me?" He countered, his face softening.

  I resisted the urge to snort, "You could have a willing submissive or whatever it is you're after."

  He smirked. "Who says you're not?"

  Fuck me solid, he's right somehow. I would willingly submit to him and enjoy it. In some mind altering way, this gorgeous man knew me, understood me...and most of all...wanted me inside ten minutes, a sexy voice and the most amazing blue eyes ever seen. My back was pressed deep into the wood door, my legs quivered and I ached for him to kiss me with those beautiful lips. I'm a complete mess. What had he done to me? Awoken some kind of sexual monster?

  "What do I have to do?"

  Briefly, his eyes closed for a moment and he looked relieved before he opened them again, "Come to lunch with me...right now, no protest, no excuses. Just you and me."

  I frowned, expecting something more. "That's all?"

  "Yes," he whispered tightly.

  I debated on saying no, but opted for yes since we'll be in a public place or so I reconciled. "All right, Mr. Alexander. But, I drove my friend here and I need to tell her first. It would be rude to dump her and run."

  His scrumptious mouth turned up into a grin, altering his serious face into something boyish and approachable for the first time since I met him. "Of course, Ms. Lourde." He stepped back, placing a respectable distance between us. "Please go talk to her."

  I moved aside the door and he opened it. "Ladies first."

  I warily shoot a glance up to his face to find him watching me again with his intense expression and I swallowed hard.

  He followed me down the corridor and I found Claire sitting with the miniature golf owner, Gary, chatting amicably in the waiting area. They both stood as we approached with easy smiles.

  Relief was evident in my friend's face. "There you are, Reyna. What took so long?" Claire's blue gaze shot over to Mr. Alexander and she frowned before looking back at me with anxiousness.

  I ignored her question, unwilling to open the can of the unknown just yet and tried hard to appear normal. "I'm here now."

  "Well, good, because Gary has invited me for lunch and I'd like to go, but I wanted to tell you first. He'll drop me home later."

  Well, that was too easy. I didn't even have to tell her about Mr. Alexander's offer for lunch--saved from more questions. I'm worried about her going out with a stranger. Duh, I'm doing the same, so now wasn't the time to be super critical of her choices. "Sure."

  Claire turned away to grab her purse, but suddenly reversed back. "Oh, your mother phoned and asked that you call her later. Nothing urgent, but call when you get home."

  "Thanks Claire," I said and ventured a sideways glance at Mr. Alexander, to find him staring at me, his gaze hooded. I'm so unnerved and unconsciously blushed, looking away.

  My friend left with her possible new Dom in tow and I'm left all alone with...him.

  "Shall we, Ms. Lourde?"

  I only inclined my head and followed him out of Avalon towards the elevator as he pressed the up button.

  "Is there a restaurant here?"

  "Yes. A very good one, in fact, but we can go anywhere you like. Just say the word. I want you comfortable."

  I'm anything but comfortable in his presence. Doesn't he know that? "It's fine."

  The elevator arrived and we entered with an odd distance between us. He didn't crowd my space or leap on me, yet the air was charged so heavy, crackling with desire until I wanted to whimper under its force.

  "Do you feel it, baby?"

  I only nodded, glancing up at him to find him regarding me closely. "Yes."

  I'm drowning in his presence, his voice, his scent until I'm not myself, but a strange version I've never met before. An unbearable tightness constricted in my belly with such force I'm shaking...shaking hard. No man on earth or my semi-men-experience had ever affected me to such a degree to the point where I'm ready to strip down and scream take-me-now!

  Thankfully, the elevator arrived at the thirtieth floor and prevented continuation of awkwardness. I'm so out of my element to the point I'm ready to sexually combust by his sexy voice alone. God, what was wrong with me?

  We walked to the entrance of a very quaint, gourmet restaurant, greeted by a smiling host in a crisp tuxedo. "Ah, Mr. Alexander, a pleasure as always, sir. Would you like your usual table?"

  He inclined his head. "Yes, Frederic."

  Suave elegance blazoned upper money class with white tablecloths, fresh cut flowers, and crystal and china place settings inside impressive delight. To my surprise, there were many patrons dining and many waiting at the entrance for a table, but we bypassed all of them to a semi-secluded retreat off in the corner. Our place offered a dazzling view of Tampa and I'm sure at night the lights of the city would be even more amazing.

  We took seats facing each other and I'm really overcome with nervousness. The very fine Mr. Alexander exuded every imaginable and unimaginable beauty and sex appeal until I wanted to swoon. His piercing blue eyes held my gray while taking a menu from the ever-happy Frederic.

  "Any food allergies or dislikes, Ms. Lourde?" His gaze held mine with extreme intensity.

  I shook my head. "No."

  Without opening the menu, Mr. Alexander looked up at Frederic. "Does Chef Carlos still serve his famous caramelized, chipotle chicken?"

  Frederic smiled. "Indeed, sir, served with sugar snap peas and potatoes with parsley pesto and simple green salad with celery seed and vinaigrette."

  Mr. Alexander nodded. "For two, Frederic with a bottle of Pinot Blanc 2007."

  The very attentive host bowed. "Very good, sir."

  Without something to focus on, I flushed hot under Mr. Alexander's brooding stare and I looked away, pushing my long hair back over my shoulder, wishing I had pinned it up. My gaze flipped back to him and he smiled.

  "Please don't be nervous, Ms. Lourde."

  Sheesh, I past nervous thirty minutes ago, now I'm on the verge of nuclea
r meltdown. I swallowed hard. "How did you know my name?"

  "I own Avalon," he announced and slightly rolled his eyes. "Well I own this whole building actually along with many others like it. I'm in real-estate...among other things."

  Ah, that explained it, but not his invasion of my privacy--rich, handsome with unlawful intentions…an interesting combination. "Do you usually use your position to stalk unsuspecting woman, Mr. Alexander?"

  A small laugh rolled out from his beautiful lips. "Not as a rule, no, but like I mentioned before, you took me by surprise and I followed you. Imagine my shock when I found you in one of my…offices. I couldn't have planned that better myself," he stated, the rich timber of his voice rolling over my ears in a gentle, welcomed caress.

  He affected me so much and I pressed my legs together under the table as a wave of desire smacked my senses with hot enthusiasm. "I don't know whether to be flattered or call the police."

  "You should be honored, because you are definitely worth it, Ms. Lourde," he said smoothly. "Now, please tell me a little about yourself."

  I shrugged. "There's not much to tell," I hedged. "I'm a simple kind of woman with two loving parents and a sister."

  "Come, come, you can't expect me to buy that. You're too beautiful for simple. Any hobbies, interests, or...boyfriends?"

  There was a definite edge to how he said 'boyfriends' as if he's dared me to say yes and expected me to say no. Should I tease him? His suave arrogance inclined me towards absolutely and I smiled serenely ready to take him down a peg or two. "I take yoga and a Zumba class during the week and work keeps me too busy for anything else. I've had three boyfriends and a fiancé, past tense, and I'm burnt out on love and relationships to the point of disgust. But, I do date and in fact, I have a date tomorrow night."

  His face darkened and an angry flush appeared high on his cheeks, yet before he could say anything, our waiter arrived with the wine, handing Mr. Angry-Alexander a taste test, his fierce stare never left mine. I almost regretted toying with his nerves, but impishly, I'm happy to have an upper hand against his super smooth exterior and demanding haughtiness.