by Ivy Nelson
“You're late,” he chided when she approached. “We agreed on twelve-thirty. It's nearly twelve-forty-five.”
“I'm sorry,” she said, growing flustered. “I got a last-minute phone call, and it took longer to leave than I planned.”
“You could have told me you were going to be late. It’s rude to keep people waiting isn’t it, pet?” He saw the switch flip in her brain when he called her pet. It was fun to watch.
“I’m sorry. I’ll find a way to make it up to you, Sir.” She whispered the last word and settled into the seat across from him.
“Good girl.” His stern scowl morphed into a tender smile as her face flushed. “How is your day going?” he asked, brushing the top of her hand with his fingers as it rested on the table.
“Busy. But I got a lot of good things done this morning. How is yours going?”
“Well, to be honest, I'm not happy with my day since I got to work. I've got some news that will piss you off, but you have to promise not to leak this and you have to promise not to take it out on me, or I won't tell you.”
“Bradley, what is it?”
“I’m serious, Darci. Promise. I’m about to tell you something I shouldn’t, and if you leak anything, it will get me fired.”
“Wow. It must be serious if you’re willing to risk your job to tell me. I promise. I would never do anything to jeopardize your career. Please tell me.” He studied her for a moment, trying to determine the best way to approach this. Blunt honesty was the best policy in this situation, so he took a deep breath and told her everything.
It didn’t take long for anger to take over her pretty features. “How the hell can you still support this man? It’s fucking disgusting the way he rides around on that moral high horse. I’m willing to bet the man is a closet pervert. The morally superior ones always are.”
“Darci, we've been over this, and you promised not to take it out on me,” he said with a warning frown. “I'm just as angry as you, but I promise I'm doing everything I can to stop it, and if he pulls it off the bill will never make it into law. His campaign will be toast by then, so you won't need to worry about me working for him anymore.”
“Bradley, it's not that simple and you know it. He’s a smart guy. The bill might fail, but it’s going to start a national conversation that could harm communities all over the country. The rhetoric of this campaign has already sparked a lot of conflict. Why would he want to put this through right now on the heels of another sex-related bill that’s going to get crushed?”
“I'm not sure what his problem is. He’s obsessed with these murders. He's ordered me to put together a research team.”
“The ACSL will fucking destroy him.”
“Calm down, Darci. That's exactly what I told him.”
“How long have you known about this?” The accusation in her tone rubbed him the wrong way, but he tried to tell himself she was just doing her job.
“You are literally the first person I came to after he told me his plan.” She seemed pleased by that fact but was still visibly angry.
“Now would be a great time to jump ship and go work for your father. Being unable to support the senator on this issue is the perfect excuse. You don't have to worry about it looking like you're on anyone's coat tails.”
“Darci, I told you I don't want to work for my father.” He didn’t bother keeping the irritation out of his voice.
“So, take a year off and then run for yourself. You would do great in Congress,” she pressed.
“Enough,” he warned. “I'm not leaving my job or taking a year off. Don’t bring it up again.” His eyes were stern as he waited for her to acknowledge him. She nodded and looked down at her plate. He picked up her hand and squeezed it.
“I wanted you to hear this from me instead of catching it on the news. I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to do but Darci, I will not watch him rake you over the coals, nor am I going to just abandon him. I need time to figure out what I want to do. Can you please give that to me?”
Her expression softened. “Yes, of course, I'm sorry this makes me so angry.”
He smiled. “I knew it would. That’s why I told you right away.”
“I promise not to say anything until you're ready for me to, but promise you'll give me a heads up so I can have my office prepared for the shit storm that will follow.”
“You know I will baby.” He picked up both of her hands. “Darci, I don't want this to come between us or ruin the progress we've made. I like where we are and where we are going.”
She smiled brightly at him. “I do too. I promise you can still chase me.” When she winked, he felt a huge weight lift from his shoulders.
“Baby girl, I think you and I both know I’ve already caught you.” His grip on her fingers tightened, and gave her a pointed look, hoping to communicate with no uncertainty that she belonged to him.
“Maybe,” she said with playfulness in her voice.
“Maybe?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. “You won’t be saying that when you find yourself across my knee later tonight.” The way she squirmed in her seat brought him satisfaction that would hopefully get him through the rest of this terrible day.
Together, they walked out of the restaurant to meet her driver and security guards. Pulling her into an embrace at the vehicle, he spoke in her ear. “If you beat me home, I would like to find you naked on your knees when I get to the bedroom.”
A barely audible groan escaped her, and the shudder he felt ripple through her made him grin.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Darci was angry again by the time she returned to her office. Who the hell does Atleigh think he is? The temptation to tell Jim about the senator’s plan was strong, but she had to remember her promise to Bradley. This really was infuriating. How could she be involved with a man who would support Sean Atleigh, a man who stood for everything she opposed? A man who was actively fighting against the work she was trying to do.
The way she fit with Bradley was nearly perfect. How could she walk away now? Thinking of his playful dominance and wicked threats at lunch, she knew she was stuck in a difficult place.
The door to her office was locked and she had told Kimberly not to interrupt her unless it was an emergency. After a few minutes of letting herself fume, she took a deep breath and sat at her computer. It was time to launch her own research into whether Atleigh had any chance of getting such a bill passed. Congress leaned conservative right now, but this was over the top. Since she couldn’t make any phone calls and ask point blank how other members of congress might vote on such a bill, she would have to investigate past legislation.
It took her all afternoon to sift through the research she compiled, but by the end of the day, she was feeling much better about it. Even if Atleigh did somehow get a bill like this to pass, the ACSL had a good chance of fighting it in court as an unconstitutional law.
At six that evening, she left her office to find Bradley waiting for her in the reception area. He was chatting with her security, and for a moment panic flooded her. Had something happened? “Bradley,” she said trying to keep the fear out of her voice. “Is everything OK?”
When he saw her, a slow grin stretched across his face. “Yes, baby. Everything is fine. I was going to wait for you at home, but I missed you, so I waited for you here instead.” He reached for her hand, and she went to him.
Despite her frustrations, she enjoyed his touch, and he was looking damn sexy with his tie loosened and his shirt sleeves rolled up. God, those arms were spectacular.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you panic. I just wanted to surprise you and make sure you weren’t pissed at me after lunch today.” With a wink, he pulled her to him for a quick kiss.
Wanting to be honest, she said, “I was pretty pissed for a little while today, but I think I’m calmer now. I still don’t like your boss but damn it, I like you so I can’t stay mad.”
“Good. Let’s get out of here and get some dinner. I’ve got pla
ns for you tonight baby girl.”
They picked up a pizza on the way home. While the security team swept the apartment, Bradley pulled Darci close to him while he held the food in his other hand.
When he nuzzled her neck, she groaned and he whispered in her ear, “I have some work to do after we eat. I would still like to find you naked in the bedroom when I get done.” Before she could respond with a ‘Yes, Sir,’ the security team came back, so she nodded and winked instead.
He kissed her temple, and they walked into his apartment. They sat at the bar in the kitchen and dined on pizza and wine. Bradley didn’t bring up his boss, and Darci was glad for it. She didn’t want that man to come between them, but she had a gut feeling that at some point he would. There was no sense in it being tonight. Not when Bradley had promised to do wicked delicious things to her after dinner.
When they finished their meal, he gave her a gentle kiss and told her he had an hour or so of work to get done. He didn’t remind her of his earlier request, and Darci knew he expected her to remember.
She cleaned up their dinner dishes and walked to the bedroom. Bradley would still be in his office for a bit, so she had time for a shower. She clipped her hair to keep it from getting wet and turned the water on. She took her time, washing everywhere with her favorite lemon-ginger body wash and taking a few minutes to shave everything.
Once she stepped out and dried off with one of Bradley’s dark fluffy towels, she sat on his bed and put lotion on her legs. Not bothering with clothes, she deposited the outfit she’d stripped off into the hamper. Bradley would likely only be another ten minutes.
Back in the bedroom, she looked around wondering where he might want her to wait. She figured she couldn’t go wrong with kneeling on the floor at the foot of the bed so that’s what she did. She hoped it would please him. A low hum came from the doorway to the bedroom a moment later, and Darci looked up. Bradley leaned against the door frame watching her. His eyes were dark and intense and said without words that he was pleased.
After stealing a quick glance at him, she put her head back down trying to quell the shyness threatening to overcome her. He must have taken her lowering her head as a sign of submission because he hummed again and muttered, “the things I want to do to you baby.” She heard him move from the doorway but didn’t look up again. Seconds later, he appeared in front of her, and she was staring at his shiny black leather dress shoes.
He crouched down in front of her and lifted her chin.
“You’re so fucking gorgeous like this, pet. I can’t wait to have some fun with you.” He kissed her tenderly and dropped her chin, letting his fingers trail down her throat and breasts. She shivered as his touch sent tingles through her entire body. “Stay right there for a few more minutes. I’m just going to get some... equipment,” he said with a grin before disappearing into the hallway.
• • •
Christ, she looks incredible. Bradley had to will himself to walk out of the room to his toy closet instead of giving in to the urge to fuck her on his bedroom floor. He wanted to do something a little more adventurous with Darci tonight, put her in a submissive head space and see how far he could push her.
At his hall closet, Bradley studied his options. A semblance of a plan had formed in the back of his mind, but he also liked to let his scenes flow and the plan could get derailed. He selected several items and placed them into a small black bag hanging inside the closet door.
In the kitchen he grabbed a couple more things and headed back into the bedroom. She was still kneeling, palms on her smooth, sexy thighs. Her head was down, and her damp curls had fallen around her face. She looked like an angel. A very naked, very dirty angel, but an angel, nonetheless.
Studying her for a moment, he checked for signs of fear, or the nerves he had sensed earlier in the evening. There were none. Good. That meant she was relaxing into her role.
Since his dirty angel had a weakness for men in a suit, he decided to stay in his work clothes. For now. He kept the items he held behind his back and told her, “Keep your head down until I say otherwise. I don’t want you to see what I’ve got planned for you.”
He watched a shiver of excitement race through her body as he spoke, but she kept her head down. Good girl, he thought. Moving behind her, he laid his implements on the bed, covering them with a towel he had grabbed from the kitchen.
A moment later he was at her side again. He hunkered down next to her on the plush rug and stroked her hair. After a moment of tenderness, he fisted his hand into the damp curls and pulled enough to cause pain as he brought her head up and around to face him. “You ready to play, pet?” She nodded, and Bradley’s grip on her hair tightened. “Pardon me? I couldn’t hear you.”
“Yes, Sir.” It came out as a whisper, and Bradley released his hold on her hair.
“Good. But first we need to take care of the little issue of you being late for lunch today.” Her eyes flew to his in shock, and she started to protest but seemed to change her mind—a good decision on her part. “Nothing too intense, pet. But I think it’s a perfect opportunity to take you across my knee, don’t you?”
Her head bobbed in agreement as she said, “Yes, Sir.”
“Good girl. You can stand.” Clamoring to her feet, she stood at the foot of the bed. He circled her, drinking in her delicious curves and soft skin. The swell of her breasts and hips made him want to grab her and pound his hard cock into her. His own need for her was doing its damnedest to distract him from his mission tonight. Giving her ass a gentle pat, he settled himself onto the edge of the bed. “You’ve been bent over before haven’t you baby?”
“Yes, Sir.” This time it came out as a throaty moan, and he crooked his finger motioning for her to step closer to him.
“You sound needy baby. This isn’t turning you on, is it?” He slipped a hand between her legs and found the answer to his question. “Jesus, you’re fucking soaked.”
Pumping in and out of her a few times, he coated his fingers in her slick juices. Then he withdrew his hand and licked his index finger. “And you’re delicious. You better have a taste baby. Open up.” He stood and shoved his middle finger into her mouth. Enthusiastically, she sucked without him having to tell her to.
“You like that don’t you, dirty girl?” he asked as he slid his finger in and out of her eager mouth. She nodded, and he grinned. “Well, take your punishment like a good girl, and I’ll probably let you come.”
“Please, Sir,” she whimpered when he pulled his finger from her mouth.
“Begging already? But Darci, we haven’t even begun to tease your tight little pussy yet. I have a feeling this is going to be a long night for you baby girl.” She groaned, and he settled back onto the bed. “Now, come lay across my lap please.”
Shuffling close, she lowered herself over him. He shifted her until he had her in just the right position. With one hand he gripped her waist and he caressed her round bottom with the other. It was going to bring him great pleasure to watch her curvy ass change colors beneath his hand.
“I’m going to start slow. Remember you can always stop me or slow me down with your safeword.”
When she nodded her understanding, his hand slipped between her legs to feel her wetness again. Jesus, he wanted to be inside her. Instead, he delivered the first swat. Just hard enough to leave a hint of a sting. He repeated the motion on the other cheek. Darci didn’t move. He struck her again on the same side but harder this time and she groaned. His cock swelled beneath her as he watched the skin turn a pale pink. It would be as red as her hair by the time he finished with her.
Chapter Thirty
Darci groaned as Bradley’s hand came down hard on her ass for what had to have been the thirtieth time. She was losing count. There was a pattern to the slow spanking. A few hard smacks, alternating cheeks and then he would slip his fingers inside her causing her to writhe in his lap.
“Still,” he commanded as the spanking started again. A moment later he st
opped, and she expected to feel his hand between her legs. Instead, he tightened his grip on her waist while he turned to the side where he had laid things on the bed.
His hand slipped beneath the towels and came back out with a small wooden paddle. Darci shuddered as he used the smooth wooden implement to caress her ass. A rush of cool air was followed by a loud crack as he lifted his arm and brought it down quickly on her left ass cheek. It stung like a motherfucker, but it also sent a flood of fresh wetness pooling between her thighs. He continued his assault on her ass until it was on fire. Her ass wasn’t the only thing throbbing. She could feel her arousal dripping down her thighs, and she hoped he wasn’t seriously going to tease her the entire night.
He dropped the wooden paddle and tenderly stroked her bottom with his nimble fingers. “You did good, baby. I’m so fucking proud of you. Let’s get you up.” Guiding her off his lap, he pulled her in between his legs. His gaze was intense, and it seemed like he was searching for signs that he had pushed her too far. He wouldn’t find any. Darci was in heaven. “Now that we’ve got that little issue out of the way, there’s one more thing we need to address.” Darci’s hands went to her ass in a protective gesture, and he chuckled.
“Tonight is going to be about teaching you who you belong to, baby girl. There won’t be any more of this 'maybe' shit when I’m done with you.” His eyes were full of heat, and she swallowed hard. What did he have planned?
He gripped her hips and pushed her downward indicating that she was to kneel in front of him. She folded herself gracefully into a kneeling position and winced when her still hot bottom touched her heels.
“I plan to make it clear, that I’ll have you how and when I want you. Any hole, any toy, any punishment I want. And you’re going to be my obedient little pet and take everything I have to give you. Isn’t that right, baby girl?” His hand drifted down her cheek, to her neck and shoulder.
