by Suzy Shearer
He sat back in his seat and looked at her. Minutes passed.
“You know, I am very disappointed.”
She flushed and dropped her eyes.
“Well?”
She looked up.
“I’m sorry, Sir.”
Her eyes widened and she quickly covered her mouth with her hand as she realised what she’d said. She wished the floor would open and swallow her up. She stared at him. His nostrils widened as he took a deep breath and gave a triumphant smile. She felt her heart try to leap out of her chest.
“Remove the hairpins.”
She bit her bottom lip. She wouldn’t do it, she couldn’t. She gave her head a tiny shake.
“No?” His grin turned feral. “I’ll let you off this time Jessica but never again.”
She caught her breath.
She was saved by the arrival of their food. She could feel tears prickling behind her eyes. She realised she was upset because she’d disappointed him. She kept her eyes downcast as she tried to peer through her glazed eyes at her food.
Suddenly Aiden touched her hand and she looked up.
“It’s okay, Jessica.”
“Is it?” Even to her own ears she could hear the pleading in her voice.
“Yes.”
He removed his hand from hers and she felt bereft of its comfort. They ate in silence. She wanted to talk to him, wanted to tell him of her fears but was too scared. It would mean revealing herself to him. Anyway, what would he think of a woman who allowed herself to stay in such an abusive relationship? A woman whose body was scarred from years of abuse?
They finished eating. Aiden asked her if she would like dessert, and she declined but accepted coffee.
He reached out and took her hand again.
“Jessica, I can’t hide how attracted I am to you. I want to learn all about you. What you think about, the things you like to do, everything. But I get the feeling you’re frightened of me.”
She looked over at him. Just the touch of his hand and the deep, sexy quality of his voice was turning her on. She could feel that her panties were soaked.
What could she say? How could she tell him?
“I’m not frightened of you. It’s what you are that scares me.”
His fingers were caressing her hand. She actually closed her eyes for a second or two to relish in the sensation. When she opened them, he was eyeing her intently.
“What I am?”
“Yes.” She looked at him and spoke defiantly. “You’re a Dom.”
“Yes I am but why, Jessica? Why does me being a Dom scare you so much?” He gave a little smirk. “And how did you know?”
“I’m sorry, Aiden. I can’t do this. I can’t get involved with you.”
“I don’t believe that. I won’t accept it.”
“You’ll have to.”
He shook his head, and all the while those fingers were sending messages to her clit. The feral grin was back.
“I refuse to. I always get what I want and, Ms. Williams, I want you.”
She kept shaking her head.
The waiter came across and asked if they wanted anything else. Aiden said no and gave him his black card. He left but returned quickly and gave it back. Aiden signed the bill and stood. He helped Jessica to stand and they walked back to the elevator. Jessica was both glad and unhappy that he had his hand under her arm to guide her.
When they entered the elevator, she knew he was angry. He punched the button for the ground floor roughly. The lift began its descent. He stared ahead. So programmed was she that she felt so upset that she had caused his anger. It shocked her to think she would still react this way. Then those tears prickled again, very close to falling.
He gave a groan and hit the stop button.
Turning, he grabbed her and kissed her. She tried hard to resist but, oh she wanted it. She craved it. She opened her lips slightly and it was all the invitation he needed. His tongue forced its way into her mouth. She held him tight otherwise she would have fallen to the ground, her legs felt so weak.
He roughly tore his lips from hers.
Looking down at her, he raised his hands to her head and pulled the pins from her hair. It fell down over her shoulders and halfway to her waist. He groaned and looked away.
Pushing the button again, the lift continued its downward journey.
The doors opened and they walked out to the car. Or rather Aiden walked, she stumbled beside him. He ushered her into the car and got in silently beside her. The driver turned to them asking where he should go.
“Give him your address, Jessica.” Aiden’s voice was emotionless.
Jessica was determined not to let him know where she lived so she gave an address of units one street from hers. They drove in silence. The threatened tears were so close to revealing themselves. Jessica was trying so hard to stop them. Aiden was ignoring her and his anger was palpable. They pulled up outside the complex and Aiden opened the door and helped her out.
His voice was stilted. There was fury and determination in it as he said, “This isn’t the end of this, Jessica.”
He put his finger under her chin and lifted her face to scan hers. His face was harsh as his eyes searched her face, settling on her eyes. She knew they would be shiny, filled with the unshed tears. Her heart turned over when his expression changed to one of caring, of concern.
His fingers gently caressed her cheek and, unconsciously, she leant into them. He traced her lips.
“Go,” he said softly.
She did. She almost ran to the building, and, glancing back, she saw him get in the car and it start to move as she grasped the handle on the large doors in front of her. As the car pulled into traffic and moved away, she turned aside and headed back toward her home, almost running.
Chapter Seven
Aiden took one look at Jessica when the lift doors opened. She was standing, waiting. Her hair was piled on top of her head in defiance. He felt a rush of anger but quickly pushed it aside and greeted her. She looked stunning. He caught his breath. This woman had turned his world upside down from the moment she had walked into his office.
No, that was wrong. It was from the moment he’d seen a photograph of her.
His CEO, Trevor Ward, had come to him with disturbing concerns about the company computer’s being hacked. They had talked about hiring someone to check it out and Trevor had done his homework. He’d reported back to Aiden that Hard Bytes seemed to be the perfect company for the job. Not only were they well-qualified, they had an excellent reputation and had an office nearby.
Aiden had told him to organise a meeting.
When he reported that the owner was coming to meet him, Aiden had idly checked out the company’s website and had been stunned to see a photograph of the owner. She was beautiful. Something about her called to him. He’d gone to sleep that night thinking of her and had dreamt of her stretched before him, naked, tied, and blindfolded.
He’d had a few subs over the years but never one that sang to him the way the photograph of Jessica Williams had. He knew she would shy away from him if she knew the truth about his sexual preferences. He doubted a woman like her would be a submissive. Still, when he’d arrived in the office the following morning, he’d told Trevor he would conduct the interview with her.
It was the moment she’d entered the office that would be forever etched in his mind.
She seemed to react to his presence. He knew he reacted to hers, his cock was twitching in anticipation.
She was even more beautiful in person. She’d licked her lips as they shook hands. He wanted to throw her on the desk and fuck her.
They sat and talked business. He could see she was uncomfortable, although very professional. It was when they’d finished their business talk and he’d told her that she was to discuss anything with him, rather than Trevor, that she had looked at him as if he were some sort of apex predator.
Maybe he was.
Maybe he had looked at her that way because
he wanted her. Never in his life had he wanted someone as much as he wanted her.
When he told her he would be dealing with her, she’d got a strange look on her face, then flushed and bit that damn lip. It was at that point that he began to wonder if the delightful Ms. Williams was a sub, and he’d felt his heart beat just that bit faster. His cock had begun to throb in the confines of his trousers.
As she was leaving, she’d stumbled and he had made some stupid remark about her ending up on the floor. The look she’d given him had made his cock jump hard to attention. When he’d shut the door behind her he’d let out a loud groan and leant against the door.
He wanted her so badly, and he didn’t want to wait.
He’d done some searching and calling in a few favours and by the end of the day, he had her private phone number. Unfortunately, no one seemed to know her address, or if they did, they weren’t prepared to tell him. So he’d rung her that evening.
She’d sounded breathless and on edge when she’d realised it was him. He’d offered to take her to dinner, but she’d refused. Not to be denied, he told her he would take her the next night. She seemed as if she was fighting within herself. Trying to say no and yes at the same time. Still, he’d got her to agree, except she made him pick her up from her office, saying she had a late appointment. Whether she did or not was immaterial.
He’d hung up after telling her to wear her hair down.
He gave a laugh. It was silly of him to expect that she would obey him, especially when he wasn’t sure if she was a sub.
Dinner had been interesting, to say the least.
There was definitely an underlying current of fear about her.
He’d almost shouted in exultation when she’d called him “Sir” without thinking but he was shocked to see how she’d reacted. It was so obvious that she was upset that she hadn’t obeyed him but also scared that she had called him “Sir.” He’d tried to reassure her.
He’d laid himself bare when he’d told her he wanted to learn all about her. It surprised him, the depth of feeling he had for her so quickly.
She’d looked so lost, so forlorn. He’d wanted to pull her into his arms and comfort her.
So. She was scared of him because he was a Dom. That was interesting. Was it because she couldn’t accept that she was a submissive, or was there another reason?
He’d told her he wanted her, but she’d kept shaking her head and refusing him.
He’d felt his anger build.
Why?
It was so damn obvious that she was attracted to him. It was also obvious she knew what he was and that even if she didn’t act on it, she knew she was submissive. That slip of the tongue calling him “Sir” had proved it.
They left the room and gotten a lift down.
He had no idea what came over him when he’d stopped the lift and grabbed her. He’d wanted to push her against the wall of the elevator and fuck her until she was screaming his name.
He knew it had been wrong. They didn’t speak on the way to her home. He’d opened the door and helped her out. He’d still been angry, furious with her but so much more furious with himself. She wouldn’t look at him and he’d lifted her face.
She was on the verge of crying, and he’d felt like a heel.
He’d touched her face gently, and when she’d leant into his hand, he knew she hadn’t even realised she’d done it. When he told her to “go,” she’d practically ran away.
Getting back into the car, he’d told his driver to take him home. This wouldn’t be the end of it. He was determined. He’d glanced back and seen her. She hadn’t entered the building, instead was walking swiftly down the street.
“Stop the car!”
The driver had pulled over and he opened the door.
“I’ll ring you, find somewhere to park.”
“Yes Sir.”
He’d taken off after her, keeping his distance once he saw her ahead. She’d waited for the lights to change and crossed the road, walking faster and faster until she’d stopped and taken off her shoes then sprinted.
He sped up to keep her in sight. Suddenly she stopped and opened a door, entering a tall building. He gave her a minute then walked up to it. It was a tower of apartments, the well-polished brass sign read Lemon Tree Tower. He opened the door and entered the vestibule. A man was walking through after exiting the elevators.
“Oh, sorry. Did I just see Jessica Williams come in?”
“Ms. Williams? Don’t know.” The man was eyeing him warily, so Aiden decide to leave.
“It’s okay. I’ll catch up with her in the morning at the office. Thanks, good night.”
He left the building and called his driver to pick him up.
So Ms. Williams didn’t want him to know where she lived. Why?
She was fast becoming an enigma and he was more determined to possess her. The car pulled up and he got in, instructing the driver to take him home. He pulled out his phone and called her.
She answered and he could hear the pain in her voice. He felt terrible, he knew at once she had been crying and still was.
“Jessica?”
“Oh.”
“Jessica, I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?”
“I shouldn’t have kissed you like that. It was wrong. And I shouldn’t have demanded that you wear your hair down, at least not yet.”
“Not yet?”
“No. Not until you accept we’re in a relationship.”
He heard her catch her breath.
“We aren’t, we… I can’t.”
“Why, Jessica? Why not?”
“No.”
He could hear the pain and anguish in her voice in that one word.
“Oh, Jessie. Please don’t be upset.”
He was tempted to order the driver to take him back to her apartment and demand that she let him in. He just wanted to hold her and rock her as she cried. His heart broke as he heard her trying to cover up her sobs.
“Please, Jessie. Don’t cry. I’ll go, but we have to talk. You can’t deny what’s between us and we need to talk about it.”
“No!” she cried. “No, I can’t.”
“It’s okay. Take a bath, go to bed. It won’t seem as bad in the morning. I’ll talk to you soon.”
He heard her give a little sniffle and he smiled to himself. She was like a little girl.
“Good night, beautiful girl. We’ll talk soon.”
He’d hung up then. How hard it was to resist the temptation to go to her but somehow he managed. When he’d arrived at his home, he’d thrown open the doors leading out to the back of the house and threw himself into a chair. He lived a few kilometres from Dowling Industries, away from the city, on the top of the mountain ridge that overlooked the city. He owned a large, sprawling home. Most of the mountain ridge was his. He sat and looked out over the city in the distance, looking at the lights and wondering if Jessica’s home could see his.
He shook his head. He’d handled this all wrong. He’d been so enamoured of her that he hadn’t even considered her feelings.
Great Dom he was!
A Dom should always have honour and respect. He should always act with integrity. Instead he’d charged in and made demands on Jessica. What was it that frightened her so much?
Was it just because he was a Dom? No, he felt there was something underlying it all.
Startled, he sat up straight.
Could it be? Was it possible she’d been in a relationship with a Dom and it had gone wrong?
He groaned, ran his hand through his hair and sat with his face in his hands.
If that was the case, then the way he’d acted would have been like a red flag to her. Somehow he had to repair the damage and prove to her that he was the man for her.
He couldn’t deny it—she was the woman for him.
He couldn’t lose her.
He wondered if he had finally found the one woman who would make him whole, who would stand beside him for the rest of his life.
Who would let him control her in the bedroom and be his equal outside of it.
“Oh, Jessie.” He groaned in the night. “I’ll make it right,” he promised.
Chapter Eight
Jessica groaned when she staggered into the bathroom and saw herself reflected in the mirror. There was no hiding it, she looked awful. Dark circles were under her eyes and she looked haunted.
She had a quick shower and dressed in a pair of tailored black slacks and a white shirt and picked up a jacket. She tried to repair the effects of her sleepless night with makeup with very little success. She brushed her hair and left it loose, walking back into the bedroom.
Once there she transferred her wallet and keys to her pocket and picked up her phone. Pulling on a pair of sunglasses, she went downstairs, waved good morning to Lincoln, and headed to the office. She passed a Seattle’s Best on the way and grabbed a latte, thinking maybe it would keep her awake. She felt so tired, so drained.
When she arrived at the office, Bess just looked at her. She waved and scuttled into her office. She sat with her head in her hands.
Somehow, she had to face Aiden Dowling. Today she and Carl intended to break in using the security swipe cards they made and then show him how poor his security was by presenting him with the sensitive paperwork they’d downloaded.
But how could she face him after last night?
When he’d rung her, she had been crying her eyes out. He knew. He’d even apologised, but she knew he wasn’t going to let things drop. He had told her he intended to talk to her, to pursue her. How on earth was she going to act professional and poised today?
Maybe she could get Jeannie or someone else to go with Carl.
She felt tears threaten again.
“Jess, what’s wrong?”
She looked up, Jeannie was standing in front of her desk, her face full of concern. Jeannie took one look at her ravaged face and shut the door.
“What’s happened? Is your father okay?”
She gave a watery grin.
“He’s fine, at least I think he is. I spoke to him the day before yesterday.”
“Then what is it?”
She shook her head.
