Enthrall

by Vanessa Fewings

  He screwed off the cap and handed me his and switched them out. He had this sexy way about him, as well as thinking of the other person, and it made me wonder if he’d ever been married. He was so dreamy to be around and I was so excited to be back here, alone with him at last.

  “You’ll sleep in my bed tonight,” he said, taking a swig and then raising the bottle. “I’ll take the couch.”

  Trying to show I didn’t care about that decision, I took a sip of water.

  Richard had this air of confidence that never let up, and I imagined him holding this very same look right before he took one of his daring leaps off a tall building, trusting in the parachute strapped to his back, or when he climbed a rock face without a safety harness.

  “I drank too much. Didn’t seem that anyone noticed though.” His gaze swept over me. “You look stunning. FYI, running around Chrysalis like that is ill-advised. You’re likely to get caught up in all sorts of dangerous shenanigans.” He shook his head as though his imagination provided a glimpse.

  I was again reminded all I had on was this corset, stockings, suspender belt and thong.

  “You were the most beautiful woman there,” he said. “Do you have any idea how breathtaking you are?” He raised the bottle again. “I can blame the booze tomorrow and deny everything.”

  I broke his gaze and bit my lip.

  “Now that,” he raised the bottle my way, “just makes you look all the more beautiful.” He smiled to himself. “Vulnerable.”

  I stared down at Winston, though he wasn’t doing much, merely sniffing around his bowl.

  Richard loosened his necktie, raising his chin to ease it off. “Not quite sure what you said to Cameron tonight. I’ve never seen him addled.” He peered over at me. “What did you do to him?”

  My face flushed as the memory returned of him holding me against the wall.

  “You don’t have to tell me,” he said. “That’s private between you both.”

  “Nothing,” I said. “He found me and brought me to you.”

  “You’d aroused him, Mia.” He arched an eyebrow. “We notice these things.”

  My face burned like fire.

  “Or you can tell me?” he said.

  “He talked to me.”

  “Did,” he hesitated. “Did he kiss you?”

  “No. He told me...”

  “What?”

  “I belong to you.”

  “Do you want to belong to me?”

  “Yes.” I focused on Winston.

  “Can I kiss you?”

  “Why not just kiss me?”

  “Because you’re my secretary.” He placed his water on the counter and neared me. “You didn’t answer.”

  “Thought I was your executive assistant.”

  “I demoted you after disobeying me tonight.” He lifted my chin with his thumb, the intensity of his gaze burning through me. His mouth found mine, his teeth nipping my bottom lip, his tongue tangling forcefully, masterfully, with mine. There came a thrill deep in my belly. He scrunched locks of my hair in his hands, his fingers caressing my scalp. His cologne reminded me of an ocean breeze, that and fresh linen, and his alluring scent made it easy to soften in his arms.

  Those women in the pool had been flirting with him, their playful splashing an attempt to garner his attention, and yet Richard had ignored them, instead staring into the water and sipping his drink.

  When he bit my lip I shuddered.

  “Can I make love to you?” he whispered.

  “Yes,” I said. “But not in front of Winston.”

  “No, not in front of Winston.” He took my hand and instead of leading me to the bedroom he led me out onto the patio, past the softly lit swimming pool and down to the end of the garden.

  There, almost hidden from view, lay a stone pathway. We made our way along it, the sound of crashing waves louder now. In a tree shaded area overlooked by palms were two loungers. And though the ocean could not be seen from here the waves sounded close.

  Richard pulled me into another kiss, his hands cupping my face. He unbuttoned his shirt and threw it down, his stare never leaving mine. Taking his time, he stroked my throat, then moved lower until reaching the top of my corset. That same finger traced the curve of my breasts. He eased down the left cup, his mouth taking my nipple, sucking hard, sending shockwaves of pleasure between my thighs. Weak from his affection, I reached out and grabbed hold of his forearms, trying not to tumble backward. He wrapped a strong arm around my waist and pulled me into him. His other hand moved to my other nipple, his insistent tongue encircling there now and sending out shivers of pleasure.

  Gently he guided me back onto the nearest lounger so that I lay along it, and he eased down my panties, sliding them over my hips and quickly removing them. He threw them close to where his shirt lay. His kisses traveled softly, trailing lower, planting more on my inner thighs, his teeth nipping as he went...

  Fearing I might scream with these unbound feelings, I bit my hand, knowing I was close to being taken.

  When his tongue reached me, encircling there, I bucked in response. I threw my head back, blinded by pleasure, the sensations so overwhelming they tore a moan from me as his tongue possessed that most sacred part. I grabbed locks of his hair and tightened my fist against his scalp.

  I refused to dwell on how well this man knew the female form, how well he knew the art of pleasuring, nudging me ever closer to the edge of bliss...

  This was really happening.

  His head bobbed between my thighs and his hands found my nipples again, pinching them with an expert touch. My orgasm erupted, stealing my breath, making me shudder against him. Then his never ending strokes sent me over again.

  I was lost, forgotten, no longer here, these curling waves we couldn’t see threatening to lap at our feet at any moment. Drown us, drown me, but I had already been swept off into the deep.

  At last, opening my eyes, I stared beyond the low hanging branches at the few visible stars. Richard’s kisses began the slow journey upwards, reaching my lips once more and kissing me ferociously, sharing my own taste upon my lips and tongue, sending shivers.

  “You taste amazing,” he whispered, nibbling my earlobe, sending erotic spasms into my body.

  Mastering my mouth with his again, passion exploded within, forcing me into a spin. All I knew was him.

  Then stillness.

  He held me against him, cherished in the quiet with nothing but the sound of rustling palm leaves caught in the breeze and crashing waves. He rolled me onto my side and hugged me into him and we spooned together in the warmest embrace.

  “Aren’t we going to make love?” I whispered.

  “Shush, my sweet Mia.”

  Safe in his arms, I drifted off.

  When the softest morning light dared to find us, I felt Richard shift away and climb off the lounger. He sat on the edge, his bareback curled, his feet on the ground, his elbows resting on his knees, and he stayed like this for a while, deep in thought.

  Richard turned slightly to glance back at me. “Hi.”

  “Hi.” I reached out to caress his back, tracing my fingertips over the faintest white scars.

  Tara had told me that Cameron had struck Richard until he’d bled. I wondered if these marks were from that. Had Richard really asked Cameron to hurt him in this way? More alarming, Cameron had appeased him by doing it.

  Richard took my hand and kissed my palm. “Mia,” his tone was solemn. “You know how fond of you I am.”

  “Fond?”

  “I’ve fallen...I really like you.”

  I curled my fingers around his. “I feel the same way.”

  “Still.” He stood up, his dark gaze once more resting upon me. “In all honesty, I don’t want your first time to be with a man like me.”

  I sat up, trying to find the words to placate him.

  He shrugged and ambled off toward the house.

  IN THE LIGHT of the early morning, wearing a corset and stockings felt odd.
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  Last night, back in my beach front condo, I’d felt like the ultimate vixen. Yet here, now, lying on Richard’s lounger, alone, all my confidence dissipated. Regret lingered for daring to gatecrash Chrysalis’s party and later, finding my way back here to be with the only man I’d ever loved, yet my virginity remained intact.

  Fuckerty fuck, fuck, fuck, my inner musing sounded like Richard.

  Maybe Richard was just being kind and in reality felt nothing. Perhaps I’d made everything up in my head about there being something special between us, having misread him. Naivety stood in the way of my happiness yet again.

  Searching for and quickly finding my panties, I slipped them on, swept up my discarded strappy shoes, and began the trek up the pathway. Through the open sliding doorway I walked in, following the noise of a television.

  I found Richard in his bachelor den. He sat on a chocolate colored couch, his legs out in front of him with his bare feet resting on the coffee table. He still wore his dress shirt from last night as well as boxer shorts, though not much else. He directed an X-box controller at a large flat screen TV. Coming round to face him, I was alarmed to see him wearing a scuba mask. The snorkel hung by his right ear. Winston sat beside him, panting.

  “Lara Croft’s kicking ass.” Richard returned his attention to the screen, deftly moving the controller and making Lara Croft swim the full length of a dark blue lagoon.

  “Why are you wearing that?” I said.

  “They’re prescription. Can’t find my glasses.” Richard peered down at Winston. “Go find my glasses, Winston. Fetch.” They stared at each other. Winston panted away, his tail wagging. Richard looked back at me. “See what I’m up against?”

  Upon a shelf to the left rested Super Bowl memorabilia, a New York Giants helmet right beside a football, both of them signed. This cozy room looked lived in and I wondered if Richard had his friends round on lazy Sunday afternoons to watch the game. I imagined them eating snacks and drinking beer in here and screaming at their favorite team. Richard had an aversion to normal so it was unlikely.

  “Can I borrow a shirt?” I said.

  He pointed right and I assumed it was his bedroom. I ambled out of there in hope of finding something to wear.

  Richard’s bed rested low to the ground and his bedroom was modestly decorated. The stunning photo of a Nepalese temple stretched the full length of the wall behind his bed. I hoped to find another clue to who this man really was, though from his office I knew he liked order. From his neatly lined shirts he liked it here too. Stripping out of my constricting corset, I borrowed one of his blue shirts and a pair of shorts. I rummaged around his dresser for a belt. This hobo chic look wasn’t perfect but at least I could breathe now. I made my way back to Richard’s den.

  He was still engrossed in the game and his goggles were still on. Winston lay beside him, resting his head on his paws.

  I sat on the closest arm of the couch. “Would you like to talk?”

  “About what?”

  “Last night.”

  He lowered his gaze and held mine.

  Despite this sinking feeling in my gut, I continued, “Cameron told us to talk about things.”

  “Cameron has two methods. The first is to talk, the second…” Richard tilted his head. “I prefer the latter.”

  “You mean when he whips you?”

  Richard dropped the controller into his lap. It was hard to take him seriously with that scuba mask on.

  “Hungry?” he said. “There’s cereal in the cupboard.”

  “I feel ready to talk.”

  Having stepped out of my comfort zone last night and right into the center of adulthood, I felt ready to face pretty much anything. Even him.

  “That’s the problem,” said Richard, “you and I don’t talk the same language.”

  “What’s that meant to mean?”

  “See, you have no idea what I just said.”

  “Why are you being like this with me?”

  His brow furrowed. “I warned you to stay away.”

  I folded my arms. “Did you pay off my step-mother’s medical bills?”

  His hands tightened around the controller.

  I moved into his line of sight, right in front of the TV. “Did you?”

  “That’s very immature.”

  “I’m not the one wearing a mask.”

  “You wait. Next year this will be all the rage and I’ll take the credit for starting a dazzling new trend.”

  “Did you pay off my debt?”

  “I pay you enough as it is.” He shrugged.

  “You did, didn’t you?”

  “Well, it sounds like you have enough money now to move back to Charlotte.”

  “Why do you push me away like this?”

  “You’re in my way.” He gestured. “The TV that is.”

  “If you really hate me this much why seduce me in dark corners and kiss me, have me not be able to think straight?”

  “Mia, I’m very likely going to ruin you,” his voice softened. “Hurt you.”

  “I can look after myself.”

  He raised a finger. “If it makes you feel any better it wasn’t an easy decision. I’ve wanted to kiss you since that first morning I met you and you blocked my way.”

  “Then why--”

  “I’ll damage you.”

  “Well at least we’ll have something in common then,” I said.

  He frowned at me.

  “Please don’t fire me,” I said.

  “I’m not going to fire you.”

  “Lotte told me all about what it means to be a submissive. She says that only empowered women are able to give themselves over to a dom completely.”

  His gaze shot up to meet mine. “Wow. You really did take this talking thing seriously.”

  “You’re scared of how amazing we can be together,” I said. “Cameron--”

  “Don’t listen to him. He’ll have you tied up in knots.” He beamed a smile. “As well as tied up in other ways.”

  “Cameron cares about you.”

  “Lately he’s been interfering in the worst kind of way.”

  “He’s nudging us together.” I wished Cameron was here right now to lend a hand dealing with Richard’s mood.

  “Have you heard of the Hadron Collider?” said Richard.

  “I think so, yes. Why?”

  “It’s the world’s largest and highest energy particle accelerator beneath the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva.”

  I vaguely remembered seeing something about it online.

  He moved his fingers around in a circle. “The Hadron allows physicists to test their theories of particle physics.”

  “What are you saying?”

  His fingers encircled. “That’s you and that’s me going round and around in the opposite direction very much like those protons threatening to crash into each other. Cameron’s exactly like one of those mad nuclear scientists trying to figure out if: A) It’s possible to collide opposing particle beams and B) To test the hypotheses that we might accidently self-destruct on impact and, oops, cause a black hole in the universe.” He shook his head. “Black holes are bad. Trust me, I know. I’ve had one stuck in the middle of my chest for as long as I can remember.”

  “Maybe I can help?”

  “Or maybe you’ll get sucked in and we’ll never see Mia ever again.”

  “You underestimate me.”

  “Actually, it’s me you underestimate.”

  “We’re talking,” I said. “This is good, right?”

  He arched an eyebrow. “Mia, don’t take this the wrong way but I’d really love some alone time.”

  And with those words he’d shut me back out.

  I wasn’t going to let him push me away so easily, not without a fight.

  “What happened to you?” I said.

  Richard shook his head as though shaking off a slap. I’d struck a nerve.

  “Cameron’s re-wired your brain,” I said. “When you came to L.A. because
you needed a change, you met up with your old friend and he led you astray.”

  “Careful,” said Richard, “you’re talking about my best friend.”

  “You just told me he was interfering in the worst kind of way.”

  “Yes, but he’s also the best thing about me.”

  “What is that meant to mean?” I shifted closer. “This stuff he’s gotten you into, it’s not right.”

  “Actually, it’s nothing but right.”

  “Someone hurt you,” I said. “They did this to you.”

  “Mia.” He peered up at me through his goggles. “I’m made this way.” He nodded to himself. “What happened to me came along after I became established in this lifestyle.”

  “What happened?”

  “Life. The fuck you up royally, kind. Coming here and being with Cameron saved me.”

  “He wants you to think that.”

  “You know what Cameron taught me?” He shifted to better look at me. “The most important lesson a man can learn.”

  “Love?”

  “Pain. Learn to harness it and you’ll possess true power. That’s the only way to truly be in this world.”

  “What about love?”

  “Love is vulnerability. Love destroys. Love devours. Love is the lie we tell ourselves long enough to stay with someone until we procreate.”

  “I don’t believe that.” I stepped forward, my chest heaving. “Please take off those things.”

  “You’re my secretary. Go type me up a letter or do whatever it is you do.”

  “It’s seven o’clock on a Sunday morning.” I peered at the garden. “What about last night?”

  “What about it?”

  My shoulders slumped and I felt even more miserable.

  Richard frowned at me. “Only one person has ever earned the privilege of knowing me.”

  “Cameron?” My voice cracked with emotion.

  “What the hell is Lara Croft doing now?” He waved the controller. “Even cyber women are annoying.”

  “That’s why you like to beat women?”

  He snapped his head round to look at me. “Never. I’ve never done anything like that to a woman.”

  “Then what is it you do to them?”

  “I make just enough of a crack in their psyche for love to find its way through.” He dropped the controller.