by Rina Kent
I run a mental check. I’m on the shot.
Everything is cool.
I breathe through my nose and try to cool the flaming war in my cheeks. I’m actually doing a one-night stand.
Although, technically, it’s lunchtime.
“I have a shift in two hours,” I say as coolly as possible. I need to get that out of the way so it’s clear that whatever he has in mind doesn’t exceed the limit. Sure, I can survive two hours.
Dominic throws me a glance over his shoulder. “That will be more than enough.”
Thump, thump, thump…
Is it possible to have a heart attack from excitement?
A man stands beside us. He’s wearing a long jacket in the middle of the summer. His grim eyes roam over me.
I attempt to ignore him.
Dominic has other plans.
Using his clutch on my hand, he pulls me to his side. The glare he cuts the man is so harsh that my cheeks burn on his behalf. The man doesn’t even wait for the lift. He glances at his watch and walks the opposite way.
This. The power. The complete control. Dominic doesn’t even need to talk and people fall in line for him.
Am I just another one of these people? I stare up at his cool, effortless expression. Although I thought I don’t care what he sees me as, I don’t like that I could be an insignificant stop for him. I want to be special.
“I know what you are,” I say as the lift takes its sweet time to reach us.
“What I am?” He raises an eyebrow. It’s insane how such a small gesture can add tenfold to his already put-together look.
I meet him head-on. “You’re a sociopath.”
He continues raising the eyebrow. “And?”
“And what?”
“What does that have to do with anything?” His thumb caresses the back of my hand, and the intimate gesture catches me by complete surprise.
“Nothing,” I blurt. “I just want to put it out there that I know your nature and still agreed. You didn’t trick me into this.”
I probably shouldn’t deliver any blow to his intricate manipulation web, but I won’t be another meaningless name.
He smiles. I freeze. It isn’t that full-of-shit grin. This one reaches his eyes, and I swear Satan is about to come out and play. What did I just stir?
“I’m stepping up my game, then.”
“How?”
“You know what I am and still came.”
I slowly nod. “So?”
“I’m tempted to fuck you up for challenging me, Camille.” The words roll over my skin like heated, open-mouthed kisses.
Mais putain. He just said he’ll fuck me up and I’m turned on. No. I’m beyond turned on. The image of jumping him barges to the forefront of my brain.
The lift dings and its doors swing open. I visibly flinch as the image shatters.
People exit without giving us a glance. I’m surprised they’re not seeing my pulse thumping out of my throat.
As we walk into the lift and the doors close, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on alert. Someone is watching me.
Why would someone watch me? I don’t even have any acquaintances in England except for the people in Samir’s coffee shop.
Dominic yanks on my hand that’s still in his, and my attention snaps to him.
He’s watching me with slight irritation. “Where did your mind go?”
“Nowhere important.”
“If it’s not important then why are you thinking about it?” He deadpans matter-of-factly before he tugs on my hand again so I’m flush against his hard chest. My breasts graze his jacket, and my nipples peak in an instant. Tingles zip straight to between my thighs. His free hand wraps around my back; firm and unyielding.
“When with me, your whole attention is on me.” His authoritative tone seeps under my skin. “Is that clear?”
“What if I say no?” I keep my eyes on his. I refuse to cower.
People like Dominic never break eye contact first and it’s what makes them intimidating and flowing with controlling confidence. Normal humans avoid staring into eyes for long because of embarrassment or the intimacy of the gesture. Dominic doesn’t give two fucks because he’s shameless and lacks empathy for others.
He’ll stare into your soul, invade it, tear it apart, and not bat an eye about it. Worse, he’d cry at your funeral after he stabs you to death.
That’s what makes sociopaths an antisocial anomaly.
He continues his staring conquest, probably trying to intimidate me into retreating.
I don’t.
Dominic’s voice comes out neutral, “Then I will deal with you however I damn please. You’ve been testing my patience and I’m fighting the urge to punish you.”
Oui!!
I manage to not scream the world and act nonchalant. “Promises.”
A flicker of surprise lodge in his deep brown eyes before they heat. “What did you just say?”
“Promises. Promises…” I muse.
Oh. Dieu. The thrill of provoking him is too addictive.
Dominic looks about to do something, but he’s interrupted when the lift’s doors open. He drags me out by the hand. This time, it’s nearly impossible to keep up with him.
Thankfully, we don’t walk for long. We stop in front of room 717. He swipes a card and the door clicks open. He strides inside with me on his tail.
He releases me once we reach the centre of the room. I massage my wrist from the force he clutches me with. The skin is already reddening. He’s strong and clearly controlling and... I can’t get much of a read on him.
What am I getting myself into?
Va-t-en, Camille. Retourne à la France. I can almost hear my parents’ voices scolding me.
I shoo those thoughts away. I already decided to do this. I won’t let my cowardice or sheltered upbringing talk me out of it.
The room is spacious in a suite-like way. It’s split into two rooms. One is the bedroom whose door is open and the other is the lounge area I’m standing in. Near me rests a round wooden table with an artistic, crystal vase on top.
Dominic removes his jacket and tucks it neatly on one of the chairs. He rolls the cuffs of his shirt to his elbow. My lips part at the view of his veiny, strong forearms.
Bah alors. C’est trop chaud ici.
“Do you want to turn on the AC?” he asks as he heads to the cabinet and pours himself water.
“What?”
“You mumbled something about it being hot?”
He understands French? Though it shouldn’t be a surprise. He has everything put together, so why not add languages to the perfect mix.
And now, I want to hear him speak in French.
“Nothing.” I fidget in place then stop. I don’t do fidgeting.
Still clutching his glass of water, he sits on the sofa across from me. One of his arms flings to the back of the sofa. His legs are apart. He appears relaxed, nonchalant even, as he twirls the water in his glass. The blazing look in his eyes causes me to clench my thighs together.
“Now what?” I ask.
“Now…” He motions at me. “Undress.”
6
Camille
Undress.
I stare at Dominic who’s casually leaning in his seat. He actually said that. I’m not imagining things.
The way his authoritative words have rolled out of his mouth is doing stupid things to my body. My fingers are itching to follow his command.
And then… what? I will be completely under his mercy with no way out.
Isn’t this the adventure I yearned for?
“Do it for me.” My accent is thicker than usual.
He raises an eyebrow while still drinking from his water. “I told you to undress, Camille. I didn’t say I will do it for you.”
I puff my chest. “I want you to do it.”
“You’re defying me again.” His eyes harden. “I don’t tolerate being defied.”
He places the glass on the table. The sound is minimal but
with the thick tension closing around my throat, it’s similar to a bomb detonating.
Dominic stands with natural grace and menace. “If I do it for you, there will be a price, baby girl.”
Baby girl.
Why do I like the sound of that?
If I’m going to be naked anyway, it would’ve been safer to just remove my clothes, but I’m not playing safe. Today, I’m going to lengths I never thought I was capable of. I’m exploring a part of me I never thought existed.
I’m not the nerd who only had her head in books. I’m an adventurous petite salope.
“Promises, promises,” I muse.
Just like in the lift, Dominic’s eyes narrow and darken. The change stabs me with fear and something primal.
He reaches me in a few strides. I flinch. The small of my back hits the round table’s edge.
I didn’t know what I expected when I asked him to undress me, but I sure as hell didn’t think he’d treat it like a battle. His fingers sink into the bottom of the tank top and he yanks it over my head and tosses it to the floor. He unfastens my denim skirt and lets it fall around my ankles. I can barely step out if it.
Every time his fingers brush against my skin, it breaks into a thousand goosebumps.
I stand in front of him in a mismatched black lace bra and cotton underwear. To my defence, I didn’t know what I was signing up for. With someone like Dominic, I should’ve known better.
Dark eyes rake over me with a feral intensity. Tingles spiral in my stomach as if his gaze turned into those sinful lips and they’re tracing a path over my sensitive skin.
It’s like this is my first time.
I’m not a virgin or that awfully inexperienced. Although I’m the only one who brought myself to orgasm thus far.
With a boldness I didn’t know I had, I reach to my back and unclasp my bra. Dominic traces his bottom lip with his index finger as he watches me remove the bra and drop it near the skirt. My beading nipples stand erect as if begging for Dominic’s attention. Small isn’t the word I’d use to describe my breasts, but they’re not big either. However, Dominic looks like he’s fighting himself about whether or not to devour them.
His intense gaze strays from my breasts to my face. “Bend over the table.”
“What?”
His hand clasps around my nape and his thumb strokes the skin. The gesture is soft but his tone drifts in a dark, hot caress. “I said. Bend over. If I repeat myself one more time, there will be more punishment than I already have for you.”
A sick thrill shoots into my veins as I slowly comply. I grip the edge of the table with both hands and bend over so my breasts are flushed against the cool wood.
There’s silence from behind me. I attempt to look back, but the angle isn’t optimal. I barely get a view of his defined forearm and the expensive watch on his wrist.
Tremors of excitement and the unknown are doing some war to my pulse.
“Is this another promise?” I try to sound casual.
His long fingers hook into my undies, but he doesn’t remove them. He strokes my hips. A zip of pleasure shoots straight between my thighs. My cheek against the wood burns.
“You have been defying me since the moment I came to meet you.” He squeezes my ass cheek and a moan lodges at the back of my throat. “First, you were flirting with the bartender when you’re supposed to meet me.”
“I wasn’t.”
“Shh. When I talk, you listen.” He squeezes again, and this time, I moan. “Second, you kept on running that mouth of yours like you had every right to.”
I want to say that I do, but his hand is doing some sort of magic to my bottom. I can’t just break the spell.
“There are a few rules for this. One: you do everything I say without asking any questions.” He leans over so his heat is radiating down my back, but I still don’t have a view of him. “Two: no talking unless I ask you something. Three: nothing personal. When the two hours are over, we’ll be strangers again.”
My adventure. Two hours and that’s it.
I want that.
“Any breach of my conditions and you will be punished.” His controlled voice sends chills down my back. “If you say stop, everything will end. Is that clear?”
I nod. I never thought anticipation could heighten my senses. I can feel my body getting too sensitive. His hand is only touching me through my knickers, but it’s enough to make me super aware of him – his power, his control, and his sheer aura.
“Say it in words,” Dominic orders.
“Yes.”
He retrieves his hand and before I can mourn the loss, he says in a domineering tone, “Count.”
“Count what?”
A slap reverberates in the air as a sting fires my ass cheek. I yelp. That hurts!
I attempt to stand up, but Dominic’s commanding tone stops me midway. “If you change your position in any way, I will increase your punishment.”
I breathe harshly through my nose, but it isn’t out of fear, dammit. My skin prickles with something so deviously sick.
“If you don’t want any of this…” He trails off as if he doesn’t want to say the next words. “Stop is the word and everything ends.”
I swallow against the burning in my ass. Even if it’s through my underwear, it hurts comme le bordel. However, the thrill refuses to come down.
“How many do I have to endure?” I ask.
“You don’t get to negotiate, Camille. Either you stay or you leave. It’s that fucking simple.”
I suck in a breath at how he said the last bit. Maybe he doesn’t want me to leave. I don’t want to leave either. I rest my cheek back on the wood and try to relax. It’s impossible.
“Now,” he murmurs against my ear, sending shivers along my skin. “Count. If you don’t, the punishment will go up.”
His hand comes down on my ass. I flinch and bite my lip against the pain. “Two.”
Slap.
“Three!”
Slap.
“Four!” My voice breaks into a sob.
Along with the sting comes something entirely unexplainable. I can feel my ass cheeks hot red. Heightened pleasure shoots from the sting straight to the sensitive skin between my legs. My nipples throb and turn painful against the harsh wood.
Et la merde.
I think I’m wet.
“You like this…” he muses in a dark tone as he massages my stinging flesh. I mumble a moan.
“I can feel that darkness in you, baby girl.” His voice is slightly raspy and so utterly delicious. “I want to bring it out.”
I don’t know what he’s talking about, but I don’t get to think about it.
Another slap hits my ass. And another and another. I count to ten. I’m breathing harshly when he’s done. My vision blurs with unshed tears and my voice becomes hoarse, but I’m so dripping wet, I’m surprised it doesn’t trickle down my thighs.
Dominic hooks his thumbs in my underwear and brings it down my legs. I absentmindedly step out of them. If it were minutes ago, maybe I would’ve been ashamed at how revealing this position is, but now, I couldn’t care less.
My legs barely hold me. The table is digging into my stomach and my hips. My core and nipples are throbbing so painfully, it takes everything in me not to reach over and bring myself to release. I can’t take the risk of Dominic’s throwing me away for disobeying him.
I’m not done. I want more.
A deep-throated grunt sounds from behind me. I chance a glance over my shoulder and freeze. Dominic is staring at my ass. “So fucking beautiful.”
He clutches my underwear in his hand and shoves it in his pocket.
That’s… hot.
His strong hand cups my burning ass cheek. I wince even as he massages it. “You’ve been a good girl, Camille.”
His finger traces to my soaked folds, and I melt against the table. My legs part for him.
S’il te plait. S’il te plait...
I’m not beneath begging if it
can take care of the deep ache inside me.
His finger teases near my entrance. A bubble of frustration lodges at the back of my throat. “Dom!”
He chuckles. The sound is dark and carefree and does strange things to my already sensitive body.
“You will be punished for that later.” His tone holds nothing of the playfulness of his laughter. “You want me to touch you?”
I nod frantically.
“But I like you dripping wet and needy like this.”
Those words shouldn’t have this morbid effect on me, but they do. “Dominic…”
“Ask nicely and I might change my mind.”
“You’re playing the nice card now?” I pant.
His finger parts my slick folds, but it only drives me insane without any friction. “I can play any damn card I please. All you have to do is take it, baby girl.”
“Connard…” I curse under my breath.
He slaps my wetness. I cry out, and I swear I’m a second away from climaxing. “Watch that mouth before I fuck it.”
I want that. Merde. Why do I want it so much?
“S’il te plait, Dom…” I writhe against his hand.
His finger plunges inside my desperate warmth. He groans at the same time as I moan. I try to glance at him, but he holds my nape down with one hand. It’s isn’t choking, but it’s strong enough to keep me from moving.
He thrusts another finger inside me. My eyes flutter closed. A deep tightening takes over my stomach. It’s hard to breathe, let alone think.
Keeping his hand on my nape, his hard, taut – and very clothed – body covers mine from behind. His fingers thrust in and out of my tightness with sure, mind-shattering persistence.
The building takes over my senses. My ass burns. My neck is underneath his control. My body is covered with his and every inch of skin is under his command. The feel of being completely helpless in his arms pushes me to a hazy phase I didn’t know existed.
I can’t feel anything but the harsh, pleasurable friction.
In and out.
In. Out.
In –
“Show me that dark hidden side,” he rasps. “Show me what you’re made of, baby girl.”
The moment his thumb touches my clit – no kidding, he doesn’t even tease it, he just touches it – I explode all over his fingers. My body shivers and my limbs fail me. The orgasm hits me with a strength I never thought was possible.