His lips twisted in amusement. “I’ve created a monster.”
I reached up and ran my fingers through his hair.
Richard arched an eyebrow. “Why, Ms. Lauren, you have the look.”
“Look?”
He beamed a heart-stopping smile. “Exhilaration.”
I let out the softest sigh of realization and his lips met mine, kissing me firmly, opening my mouth wide as his tongue masterfully tangled with mine...
Claiming his submissive.
THE SOUND OF ROLLING WAVES stirred me awake.
Dawn’s arrival brought with it the freshest morning breeze that kissed my skin awake. I lay curled up on Richard’s lounger, hidden amongst the palm trees, having fallen asleep with him on it last night. Though he wasn’t here now. I sat up, gripped by a wariness he might have changed his mind about us. Of course this wasn’t healthy but with all I knew about Mr. Mercurial it was an easy conclusion to reach.
Still dressed in my jeans and sweater from last night, I needed to take a shower and brush my teeth. Winston sat beside my lounger and I assumed Richard had told him to stay and watch over me. Or maybe Winston was getting lazier if such a thing were possible.
Memories of last night flooded in and I lay back once again, gazing up through the palm leaves and beyond at the dusky sky. The warmth of the early morning sun found me. A soft blush burned my cheeks as I recalled what Richard had done to me within Enthrall’s lowest room. I had to admit the pain hadn’t been that bad, and Richard had mingled his punishment with so much pleasure it was all I could remember now. The evening had been breathtaking.
A tingling in my chest made me catch my breath as residual sensations found their way back to me, leaving me giddy. I let out the longest sigh.
Footsteps on the pathway signaled Richard’s return and I sat up, ready to greet him. He turned the corner carrying two small bowls with silver spoons and a flask tucked under his right arm.
“Good morning.” I smiled up at him.
He beamed at me. “How are you?”
I felt shy again. “Fine.”
“I thought breakfast on the beach might be fun. Bring the blanket.”
I’d missed him, even for such a short amount of time, and couldn’t help but grin ridiculously with the thought of spending more time with him. I scooped up our blanket.
Following Richard’s lead, I padded barefoot behind him and he led the way down the pathway. I was excited to see where it led. A little farther down he side-stepped, allowing me room to flick open the wooden gate.
We made our way beneath the archway of shrubs, soon finding ourselves standing on a sandy beach, and there, stretching out before us, lay a vast blue ocean. The sand was warm and smooth beneath my feet. Richard caught my expression of wonder and gave that serious regard of his and I melted all over again.
“Will this do?” he said.
“We’ll make it work.”
He grinned, looking so young and so innocent, the breeze ruffling his hair. It was hard to believe he had a penchant for pain, impossible to grasp this was the dominating Richard from last night. Sweeping the blanket wide, I spread it out upon the sand and we sat snuggled close to each other. It felt dreamy to have him back beside me.
“Oatmeal?” Richard handed me one of the bowls.
He rested his upon the blanket before him and reached for the flask, unscrewing the cap and pouring steaming coffee into it. The scent of fresh brewed beans wafted. He handed me the cup.
I took a sip. “You make great coffee.” I gave the cup back to him and tasted my oatmeal. “This is delicious too.”
“Secret family recipe.” He raised his hand. “Please don’t ask for it.”
“Really?”
His smile reached his eyes. “Trader Joes.”
“How come you’re not down here all the time?”
“Believe it or not it can get kind of lonely.” He shook his head. “Well, hopefully not anymore.”
I reached around his waist and hugged him, resting my head on his shoulder. I breathed him in. The scent of fresh linen mixed with a waft of delicate cologne. That, and the sensation of his hand caressing my back, was a heady combination.
“We’ll come down here more,” he said.
“I’d like that.”
He scooped a handful of sand and let it slip between his fingers. “Move in with me.”
We were moving at lightning speed, actually make that warp-speed, and Richard’s world was threatening to burn me up brighter than a solar flare.
“At least think about it.” His fingers played with my hair. “You certainly know how to make a man’s day, Ms. Lauren.”
“I could say the same about you. This is the most romantic setting on the planet.”
“Only if you’re in love.” He leaned over and kissed my cheek.
I now knew how it felt for my heart to skip a beat.
“Otherwise this place is merely a vastness,” he murmured.
I wondered how many days he’d sat down here on his own with nothing but his thoughts for company.
Lotte’s words came back to me. “There’s something beautiful about a broken man. Maybe it’s some unspoken promise he’ll become more than he is because of it.”
Although I’d not understood her words then, having not known Richard’s story, I now had a sense of what she was saying. Richard’s previous lifestyle of privilege and position and later his fall from the graces of New York society had softened him, made him a kinder man. He certainly seemed more approachable than the Richard I’d first met.
He pointed toward Venice Beach. “I imagine Cameron’s surfing right now. Somewhere in that direction.”
“Maybe Tara’s with him.”
“Maybe.” He shifted to better look at me. “Let’s talk about last night.”
My face blushed and I turned my head away.
“What we did was considered tame.” He played with my hair.
“Oh.”
“You looked stunning. It was hard not to devour you in my office right at the start.”
I could swear the waves were coming closer. “I liked it,” I whispered.
He leaned in to me. “What was that?”
“I really enjoyed it.”
“You’re going to have to say it louder.”
“You heard me just fine, sir.”
“Back to sir, now. I approve.”
I poked him in the ribs and he squirmed away from me, laughing.
Resting my bowl on my lap, I took the coffee from him again. “It was pretty amazing.”
“And to think that’s level two.”
“How many levels are there?” I screeched it.
“About a hundred.”
“What are you doing at level one hundred?” My throat tightened and I took a sip of coffee, hoping it would go down.
“Have you ever seen Clive Barker’s Hellraiser?”
“No.” And I didn’t like the sound of it either.
“Before your time.” He raised his hand with insistence, giving the widest grin. “It’s a joke. Please don’t go and Google it. Which I know you love to do.”
“Why?”
“You’ll throw a conniption.” He pointed. “Oh look, there’s a California Gull.”
Following his gaze, I saw nothing.
“My mistake.” He ate his oatmeal. “Yum.”
“You’re masterful at smoke and mirrors, sir.”
He gave me a sideways glance. “Tell me this, Mia, how come nothing I do scares you away?”
“I think I might have fallen for you that first time I saw you at Enthrall.”
“You mean that time you forbade me entry?”
“Yes. You had your hand over your eye and you looked so vulnerable.”
“Pirate fetish, aye?”
He made me giggle and he laughed too.
“Seriously, Mia, the day you came into my life everything felt different. And when I say felt we’re talking a miracle. I hadn’t felt an emotion i
n over six years.” He looked down at his hands. “I didn’t believe I’d ever feel again.”
Reaching out, I took his hand and held it.
He squeezed mine back. “Cameron reassured me my emotions would return but after several years I kind of lost faith.”
I ran my hand up and down his back to comfort him.
“I’ve always had a thing for pain, but these last few years it was the only way I’d get a rise out of my feelings,” he said. “Then you came into my life. I fell in love with you that first time you entered my office. You weren’t afraid of me. You merely took in the room and then you took in me.”
“You were nice to look at.”
He flashed a smile. “It was probably your boots that sealed the deal.”
“Do you think you’ll always work at Enthrall?”
He narrowed his gaze. “For now.”
I wondered how I’d adjust to dating a man who specialized in domination for a living. And I still had to share this news with Lorraine. I pushed that thought away.
“Does Cameron use S & M on all his clients?” I said.
“Goodness, no. He’d lose his license to practice medicine.”
“Doesn’t it make him dangerous, having such a deep understanding of people?” I said. “He could really manipulate someone if he wanted to.”
“I suppose he manipulated us. Kind of,” he agreed. “Still, Cameron’s one of the nicest guys I know. He’s worth a fortune and would rather spend his time with his patients.”
“Or spanking clients at Chrysalis.” I ate another spoonful.
“You make it sound so naughty.” He pinched his tongue between his teeth.
“Cameron told me he’s old money. Does that mean his family’s rich?”
“He’s the Cole’s oldest son. The Hampton Coles. His great grandfather was Sir Thomas Cole, the tea magnet. His company makes an exquisite Earl Grey.”
“Huh.”
Of course Cameron had this air of privilege, but this news of his family came as a surprise. I wondered if Tara knew.
“He told me his father designed yachts,” I said.
“He does. His father’s a hard man to live up to.”
There came a flash of inspiration and I felt like I’d gotten a glimpse into Cameron’s psyche, which was a nice change from him rummaging around in mine. Perhaps his father’s high bar of success had pushed him into a life of whips and chains.
Richard knitted his eyebrows together. “What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?”
“Why did Cameron become a psychiatrist and not go into boats?”
“Why such fascination with my friend? Something you’d like to share?”
“I’m trying to ward off any more Cameron manipulations,” I said. “He’s been nice to me but he’s also intimidating.”
“Gathering intelligence on him?” Richard feigned an appalled look. “And you’re using his best friend to get to his weak spot.”
“Mmmm, what is his weak spot again?”
“He doesn’t have one.” Richard shrugged. “That’s probably why the rest of us hold him in such high regard.”
“He scares me.”
“He’s harmless. The only thing to watch out for is his serious chase fetish.”
I snapped my head round to look at him.
“He’s hardwired to respond to a chase,” said Richard. “Never run away from him.”
My mind shot back to that evening in Chrysalis when Cameron had chased me, and then trapped me between him and the wall.
“Cameron’s fetish is to chase, catch, and fuck.” Richard beamed at me as though he found this amusing. “With the woman’s consent of course. He’d never hurt anyone.”
I turned my head away, not wanting him to see me blush. “What’s your fetish?” I tried to change the subject, kind of.
“I’d have thought you’d have guessed it,” he said. “I like spanking naughty girls.” He arched an eyebrow. “When you trespassed into the dungeon against my orders you triggered my proclivity.” He raised a shoulder. “By kissing Cameron you also stirred my jealousy. He knew I really liked you.”
“Cameron knew what he was doing.”
“My fixation played out just as he knew it would.”
I reached out and grabbed Richard’s hand.
“You okay?” he said.
“With you I am.”
“You’re so much more than this to me. You do realize that?” He stared off at the horizon. “I’m ready for a commitment.” He brushed a strand of hair back behind my ear. “That is, of course, if you want that too.”
I snuggled closer, wrapping my arm around his waist. “Yes, more than anything.” Closing my eyes, I feared the words I had to share.
Richard sensed it.
Looking into his eyes, I braved to say it. “I’m not sure I could be your submissive all the time.”
Richard leaned back slightly.
“I really enjoyed what happened in the dungeon,” I said, “but as far as living like that every day, kneeling at your feet at breakfast and scrubbing your bathroom floor for your sexual pleasure...well...”
“Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.” He planted a kiss to the top of my head.
A flurry of nervousness burst out of my chest.
On my look of concern, he added, “Mia, I have a housekeeper.” He shook his head ruefully. “Though ever since she won that Miss World competition she’s insisted on cleaning the house in the nude.”
“Very funny.” I poked his ribs.
He laughed and squirmed away. “Carmen’s worked for me for years. She’s fifty something. A grandmother.”
“She better be,” I said, smiling. “And not one of those super hot fifty-year-olds either.”
“Look at you.” He took my hand and kissed it. “I’m so happy you brought this up. We need to be open and honest with each other. This is good.”
“So you would be okay with me becoming empowered?”
“Have you been talking with Cameron?”
“A little.”
He caressed my back. “I’m not an egomaniac, Mia. I’d love nothing more than to watch you grow into a beautiful fully-realized woman.”
I relaxed a little, reminding myself to trust and let go. Waves rolled in, bursting white foam onto the sand before pulling back again, lulling in the most perfect way. The sound was soothing, hypnotic.
Richard sighed. “So this is what heaven feels like.”
Resting my head against his shoulder, I savored the peacefulness. An unfathomable calm settled within.
“I want you to know I’m financially stable.” He broke the silence.
“Oh, Richard, I don’t--”
“No, please listen. This is important. Although my father was corrupt my mother wasn’t, obviously. She comes from a wealthy family. It’s probably what intimidated my father so much. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is I’m a trust fund baby. Do you know what that is?”
“I think so.”
“I inherited a large sum from my mother’s estate when I turned twenty.” He shook his head. “Funny thing is I didn’t collect it until a few years ago. I was too proud. Which ironically kept the money safe from my father. Of course I also earn a good salary from Enthrall.”
“So do I.”
I didn’t care about his money. I’d always taken care of myself and I loved the feeling of independence.
“Let’s skinny dip.” He rose and held out his hand to me.
He picked up the bowls and swept up the blanket.
I picked up the flask. “Where are you going?”
“We’re not going in the ocean, Mia.”
“The neighbors?”
“I don’t care what they think. It’s the sharks. They love this time of morning.” He tilted his head for me to follow.
“But Cameron’s out there!”
“I’m not the only one who lives life on the edge, apparently.”
“And Tara.” I stared out at the blue
ness as though I’d caught sight of a fin heading for Venice Beach.
Richard chuckled as he opened the gate. “Statistically it’s unlikely.”
I headed on through. “I think you just took all the fun out of skinny dipping.”
“Well then,” he said, “I’ll have to think of something that will inject some fun back into it.” He bit his lip and peered down at me with a glint of mischief.
HOW BEAUTIFUL RICHARD LOOKED in the morning sunlight. It burst through the blinds, bathing my bedroom in the softest yellow. I’d awoken to Alex Clare singing about falling leaves from somewhere far off in my condo.
Richard demurely moved around, searching for and quickly finding the clothes he’d lost in a hurry last night before making love to me throughout the night. That discarded necktie of his on the floor was a reminder of how he’d blindfolded me and then tortured me deliciously with pleasure. We’d hardly slept. Yet he looked as fresh and wide awake as always and I marveled at his ability to be like this without caffeine.
He beamed my way. “Enjoying the floorshow?”
“You’re a lovely sight to wake up to,” I said, stretching. “What’s the time?” I leaned up onto my elbows to better see the clock on the bedside table.
He hopped into a sock. “Six. Go back to sleep. I have to visit home for a few things.”
“Winston?”
“My housekeeper feeds him. I have a dog walker.”
I eased up against the headboard. “Shall I come with you?”
Richard pulled on his pants. “No, I won’t be long.” He came round to my side of the bed and planted a kiss on my forehead.
Closing my eyes, I wallowed in his affection. He kissed my wrist and that small gesture of affection made me melt.
“I missed my IHOP visit yesterday,” I said. “Maybe we can go today. Have breakfast together?”
“You don’t have any cereal here?”
“It’s my tradition, remember--”
“I don’t have time. Sorry.”
“Maybe next Sunday then?”
“Sure.” He sat beside me. “I won’t be in today.” He picked up the clock and fumbled with it. “I was going to leave you a note.”
“Are you taking the day off?” I wondered if I might get a free pass too.
He reached for my hand. “I’m going away for a week.”
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