His Secret Submissive

by K. L. Ramsey

  Zara stretched and yawned and he let his eyes lazily roam her body. Yeah, he was definitely a masochist. There was no other explanation for the self-torture he was putting himself through. “How about I let you get some sleep. I’ll get up with the girls in the morning and see them off to school. You take the morning off—maybe sleep in. I’d like to spend some time with Lucy and Laney since this was the first trip I’ve taken since their mom left.”

  “Thank you,” she said.

  “Sure. Will you be free tomorrow for lunch?” he asked. He could see the way she suspiciously watched him and he worried she was getting the wrong idea. “For a work meeting,” he amended. “We need to go over schedules and house rules, if this arrangement will work,” he said.

  Zara seemed to hesitate and then agreed. “Yes, that might be best. Besides, I have to return a few books I borrowed from Rose.” Aiden wondered what books Zara had borrowed but he was sure he wasn’t going to like her answer. Rose was constantly reading those sappy romance novels and the idea of Zara reading them made him a little hot. The less he thought about his new nanny reading steamy sex scenes from a novel the better.

  He stood and crossed the room. “How about noon?” he asked. Zara nodded and he took that as his cue to leave. He was just about to his room when he heard her soft string of curses and he smiled to himself. Zara had just summed up exactly how he felt about finding out she was his daughters’ new nanny, but for the first time in weeks, he was looking forward to the next day.

  Zara

  Zara slept until just after seven and when she couldn’t sleep anymore, she got up, dressed and ate breakfast. It felt strange being in the house by herself especially now that she knew it belonged to Aiden. She had just enough time to run over to Ava’s to pick up the rest of her things and meet Aiden at his office for lunch. He left her a note letting her know they would have to have lunch delivered to his office because his schedule was packed for the day. That was fine with her because it would give her an excuse to leave to finish unpacking before the girls needed to be picked up from pre-school.

  Lucy would probably try to coax her into going to the park on their way home and honestly, she loved the idea. Being outside always seemed like a good thing and after the restless night she just had some fresh air might do her some good. Finding out Aiden was her new employer really threw her for a loop. Having him walk in to find her naked and soaking in a bubble bath in his master bathroom wasn’t her finest moment. Really, she shouldn’t be embarrassed given the fact he had already seen every square inch of her, up close and personally. But that didn’t stop her from feeling awkward about the whole thing. When Aiden insisted she stay on to nanny the girls, she was relieved. Zara wasn’t sure her new agency would be so willing to find her a new family to work for. She knew she was under a microscope, being the new girl and she wasn’t sure how to explain how she met her new boss. The idea of having to tell anyone about her connection with Aiden made her want to crawl under a rock to hide.

  She pulled up to the townhouse she and Ava shared and wondered if her best friend was still angry with her. When she announced she not only got the job but had to move in with the family, Ava was upset. It didn’t matter that Zara told her the situation was only temporary, Ava hated the idea of not being roommates anymore. When the small moving company Rose hired showed up to pack and move her meager belongings, Ava left the townhouse in a huff and didn’t even bother to say goodbye. Zara called and left a few messages for her but she knew in time, Ava would come around. Zara just hoped it would be sooner rather than later because she could really use her best friend to talk to now.

  When she saw Ava’s car was still in its spot, Zara felt a sense of relief knowing she was going to get her chance to make things right with her. She knew Ava couldn’t resist some good gossip and Zara was about to deliver big time, once she shared the news of her new employer being the same man who took her virginity.

  “Ava,” she called through the house and received no answer. She smiled knowing she’d probably find her friend still in her bed and once she heard Zara calling for her, she’d cover her head with her quilt and play opossum. Zara made her way to the second floor and found just what she expected—Ava covered like a giant lump, lying in the middle of her bed as still as could be. Zara couldn’t’ help her giggle.

  “Hmm- I guess you’re sleeping then and don’t want the juicy gossip I’ve come to deliver,” she taunted. Zara knew Ava would never be able to pass up gossip. Her friend was the type of woman who lived for that kind of thing and the juicier, the better.

  Ava threw down her covers revealing her scantily clad body and Zara knew she had her on the hook. “Gossip?” Ava questioned. “You better not be fucking around with me, Zara. I’m still mad at you for ditching me to live with your new family,” Ava warned.

  Zara couldn’t help but roll her eyes, “You know that’s work, Ava. I really have no choice. Besides, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to live with a family.”

  “Right but those other times were just for a night or two, when both parents had to go out of town. This time, you’re moving out indefinitely and I hate it,” Ava grouched.

  Zara sat down on her bed, “I know but I need this job, Ava. If I want to finish my last semester at school, I need a way to pay for it. Besides, I already told you it’s not forever. The man I’m working for is running for political office and as soon as the campaign is over, I will have the option to stay as a live-in nanny or move back in here,” she said.

  “And, you’ll choose to move back in here—right?” Ava prodded. Zara smiled at her bossy best friend. Ava was used to getting her way in everything. She was a strong woman who would never understand Zara’s desire to be submissive to a man. In fact, the idea of Ava being submissive to anyone was laughable.

  “I promise to run everything by you before I make a decision,” Zara said, crossing her heart for good measure.

  “Alright,” Ava breathed. “I’ll forgive you for now. I reserve the right to be angry again at you later, if you choose to stay with that family,” she said. “Now, spill your juicy gossip.” Zara giggled and pulled Ava in for a quick hug.

  “I think you’re really forgiving me for the gossip but I’ll take the win,” Zara teased, releasing her friend. She stood and began to pace, not sure Ava was going to be at all happy about what she was about to admit. “I’m working for Aiden,” she blurted out. She wanted to lead up to that point; tell Ava the story of how Lucy spilled her drink all over the both of them and she had to give the girls baths and the way they talked her into bubble baths in their dad’s big tub. By the time she got Lucy and Laney to bed, all she could think about was sinking into a tub full of bubbles herself, never suspecting Aiden was her new boss or he’d be home early from his trip. He was supposed to be gone for another two nights, according to Rose.

  She gave Ava a second to catch up and judging from the confusion clouding her friend’s eyes, she might need some extra time. “Wait—what?” Ava got out of the bed and stood in front of Zara, effectively stopping her pacing. “Aiden, the guy from the BDSM club—he’s your new boss?”

  “Yep,” Zara said.

  “What the actual fuck, Z?” Ava shouted. Yeah, her friend was definitely not taking this well. “Start explaining,” Ava ordered.

  “Well, I told you I was called by the agency to work for a high profile family?” Zara asked.

  Ava nodded, “Yes but you never said who it was for.”

  “I didn’t know who it was for until last night when Aiden got home from his business trip and surprised me while I was soaking in his bathtub.” Zara grimaced, knowing she should have left the part of Aiden finding her naked in the tub out of her story.

  “Fuck,” Ava spat. “So, you’re working for Aiden Bentley? He’s running for my grandfather’s vacant Senate seat,” Ava said. Zara really didn’t follow politics, but she did remember Rose telling her “Mr. Bentley” was running for political office. “You didn’t know your Ai
den was running for Congress when you hooked up with him?” Ava questioned.

  “First, he’s not my Aiden. Second, we really didn’t do much talking that night. He didn’t ask questions and neither did I,” Zara admitted. She knew that made her sound like a complete slut, but she wouldn’t be ashamed of what happened that night between the two of them. Zara wanted to lose her virginity and try something new and Aiden unknowingly gave that to her.

  “Is he married?” Ava questioned.

  “I can’t discuss that,” Zara said. She knew she had to be careful about what she told Ava. According to Rose, the press still hadn’t gotten wind of Allison leaving him and the girls and his political advisors wanted to keep it that way. Zara had signed the disclosure stating she would not talk about Aiden or his family to anyone and she was sure that included her best friend.

  “What do you mean by that? It’s a simple question to answer, Z. Either he is or he isn’t,” Ava sassed.

  “It’s not that I can’t answer the question because I don’t know the answer, Ava. I signed something saying I can’t discuss Aiden or his family with anyone—including you. Had I known it was Aiden, I wouldn’t have signed that damn form because I need to talk to someone about all of this. I feel as if I’m going to lose my mind if I don’t, but I need to make sure I’m not breaking my contract if I tell you everything.”

  “So you came all the way over here just to tell me you’re working for Aiden Bentley and you can’t spill any of the details?” Ava asked.

  “Right,” Zara agreed. “And, I need to ask you not to talk to anyone about anything I’ve told you prior to today about Aiden. I didn’t work for him when our night together happened, but I’m sure that will fall under the agreement I signed, now that I am his girls’ nanny.” Ava gave a look that told her she found the whole thing as crazy as Zara did. She still wasn’t sure how the hell this all happened but it had and she needed to protect herself and the girls. They were both innocent in all of this and that was the main reason she agreed to stay on.

  “You can’t continue to work for him. You know that, right Z?” Ava questioned. The logical side of her knew it was an awful idea to continue to work for Aiden but her heart was the one leading the stampede right over the cliff. She had already developed a soft spot for Lucy and Laney over the past half a week. Every time they talked about their mother, she felt the same pangs of sadness remembering what losing her own mother felt like. Leaving them now would hurt the girls and she wouldn’t do that to them.

  “Aiden and I have an agreement. I’ll stay on for the girls and he’ll keep his distance,” she said.

  Ava barked out her laugh, “You know that sounds completely nuts, right?” she asked. Zara did, especially after hearing herself say it out loud.

  “I know,” she admitted. “I have no good explanation for any of this other than I can’t leave the girls—they need me. They deserve someone stable in their lives and I might just be their only hope.”

  Ava pulled her in for another hug, “You are such a good person, Z,” she whispered. “Just don’t go and lose your heart to a bastard like Aiden Bentley. Remember how he treated you that night at the club. You deserve better than a man who could so easily cast you aside based on the status of your virginity.” Ava was right and Zara knew she deserved a man who would love her no matter what but that wasn’t what Aiden had agreed to. When he met her at the club, she made him the offer of her body—not her heart but she’d never share that information with Ava. She hated that was all she was willing to give to any man right now—her body. Zara needed her heart intact for now and she didn’t have time for anything as silly as romance or love. She had to finish college and keep her head on straight or else everything she had worked so hard for would be for nothing.

  “Don’t worry, Ava. I can handle myself with Aiden,” she promised. Zara just hoped she wasn’t fooling both of them because her next stop was the sexy Dom’s office and with the way he looked at her last night they were both going to have trouble keeping their distance from each other.

  Ava helped Zara finish packing up her things and promised to keep her room open and ready for Zara’s return. They said a tearful goodbye, which was completely unnecessary given the fact she was only going to be ten minutes across town, and Zara left for her meeting with Aiden. She hoped he’d be in a better mood today than he was last night after finding her using his personal bathroom. Zara needed to get a few things off her chest and it would be easier to do if Aiden was the suave, sweet man she met when she first entered the club.

  She stepped off the elevator and was greeted by Rose’s smiling face as soon as the doors opened. “Hey there, Zara,” she said.

  “Rose,” Zara greeted. “Is he in?” She looked around the top floor where she had her interview a few days prior and wondered at just how much had changed in such a short time span.

  “He is,” Rose said. “Listen Zara, I had no idea you knew Aiden when I hired you.” Zara was worried Aiden had come to his senses and sent Rose to fire her. It made sense; Rose was the one to hire her so why not let her be the one to fire her too?

  “Please don’t fire me,” Zara begged. She knew she sounded desperate but she was. Not only did she need this job to finish college but she wanted to stay on for Lucy and Laney. “I didn’t know Aiden was going to be my boss when you hired me,” she admitted.

  “I know you didn’t and no one is getting fired,” Rose soothed. She started down the hallway and stopped in front of what Zara assumed was Aiden’s office door.

  “Um, how much do you know?” Zara questioned.

  “Know?” Rose asked.

  “Yeah, about me?” Zara hesitantly asked. “What has Aiden told you?” She almost didn’t want to know but she wouldn’t hide from the truth. Zara wasn’t ashamed of what happened but she hoped Aiden didn’t share all the details of their night together. “You said you were close to him, like a mother figure,” Zara reminded her.

  “It’s true that Aiden is like a son to me but he doesn’t share his personal life easily. He told me you and he went on one date together but that was about it,” Rose said. Hearing that Aiden didn’t share all the sorted details about the club and the way he took control of her body, taking care of her every need; that had to count for something.

  “If something happened between the two of you, it’s none of my business. My only concern here is that you take care of Lucy and Laney. Aiden has been working so hard lately, he really needs the help,” Rose admitted.

  “Well, I will do my very best,” she promised. “Thank you, Rose,” Zara awkwardly pulled the older woman in for a quick hug.

  “He said to send you in when you got here,” Rose said. “I’ve cleared his schedule for the rest of the day and I’ll make sure you’re not interrupted.” Zara nodded and took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves before having to face her new boss.

  “It’s now or never,” she breathed and turned the doorknob to walk into his office.

  “Good luck, Dear,” Rose whispered. Zara had a feeling she was going to need a whole hell of a lot more than luck. She was going to need a damn miracle to get through her meeting with Aiden.

  Aiden

  Aiden looked up to find Zara walking into his office and he knew his time for hiding was over. He had been waiting all morning for their meeting. He’d like to say he was patiently waiting for his new nanny but that would be a complete lie. When he demanded the meeting, it was to lay down some house rules and hopefully set some boundaries—mostly for himself but partially for Zara. If this thing was going to work, the two of them would have to come to some understanding. His girls were too important not to try to work through the baggage between him and Zara, but seeing her last night naked in his tub made him want her all over again. Zara was a beautiful woman but there was something else—something that inexplicably drew him to her. They needed to get everything out into the open and hopefully find a way forward for Lucy and Laney’s sake.

  “I hope it�
�s okay I just came in. Rose said you were waiting for me,” Zara said. She seemed so unsure of herself and he hated making her feel that way. He stood and crossed his office to meet her, wanting to soothe her, make her feel some ease around him.

  “No, it’s fine,” he offered, shutting the door behind her. “Please come in.” He put his hand on the small of her back ushering her into his office, loving the way she shivered at his touch. He needed to keep his focus because eliciting any reaction from her wasn’t what their meeting was about.

  “Please have a seat,” he said, nodding to the leather sectional that took up most of the corner of his office. “Can I get you something to drink?” he asked.

  “No, thank you,” she said. “I just came from my townhome, picking up the last of my things. I need to get back to your house, unpack and pick the girls up from school.”

  “Right,” he whispered. So, she wanted to get right down to it and that worked for him. He didn’t want to draw this out and make things worse than they needed to be. He was already nervous enough about this little chat. “I’m sorry about walking in on you last night. I didn’t know you were naked; you know—when I came home.”

  Zara shrugged, “How could you? I didn’t expect anyone home for two more nights,” she admitted. “The girls wanted bubble baths in the big tub and I didn’t know it would be such a big deal. It won’t happen again,” she promised.

  “No, it’s not a problem. The girls love my tub. They call it their swimming pool,” he admitted. Zara giggled and it sounded like magic.

  “That must have been what they were talking about when they told me to watch out for the shark,” she teased.

  “Yeah,” he laughed. “They both have big imaginations,” he said. “Once, they told me they were mermaids and the mean pirates were trying to get them. I was trying to figure out what they were talking about and then I realized their grandmother, Connie was reading Peter Pan to them.”