by Cynthia Dane
Alice waited until they were in the back of a limousine with Ms. Clayborn and a bodyguard. “What is that flight attendant’s problem?” Alice whispered in Monroe’s ear. “She was pissy ever since you said I was your girlfriend.”
The bodyguard and Ms. Clayborn pretended not to listen. They may have been a few yards away in that huge limo, but Alice didn’t doubt that sound traveled well. Hopefully it didn’t travel too well in the plane. Alice would die. She didn’t care if these people knew what Monroe and his girl were doing in private, but she didn’t need evidence piling up.
“Her?” Monroe said drolly. “She’s nobody. I used to see her before you and I met.”
“By see, I’m guessing you mean something more casual than what you and I have been getting up to.”
“Indeed.”
Alice wanted to dramatically throw herself across the seat. Not only was he still employing an ex-hookup, but he was parading his new girlfriend in front of her too! This man was shameless. I feel sorry for that lady now. Were those daggers in the flight attendant’s eyes mere jealousy, or did she feel sorry for Alice too? “Oh, he told you all that marriage drivel? He told me that too. Have fun cleaning up his leftovers when he’s done with you. Your best hope is to get pregnant like I wish I had done now!”
The drive into downtown Chicago wasn’t as fun as Alice thought it would be. Didn’t help that the windows were again so dark that she started to wonder if these people didn’t want to be reminded of the world beyond them. This made the twenty minute drive into the city center feel a lot longer than the flight.
Alice barely registered when the limo pulled up along a curb and the driver opened Monroe’s door. “We have arrived, sir,” the chauffer announced, the bodyguard already on the sidewalk and checking the entrance to the hotel. “The valet awaits.”
Monroe stepped out and extended his hand to Alice. Sometimes he was cold, and sometimes he was a perfect gentleman.
Sometimes the places he took her were too unreal.
She knew they would be staying in a fancy, swank-as-hell hotel. That was a given. She wouldn’t be surprised at this point to find out he had his own apartment in downtown Chicago, although, as it turned out, he did not. He did have first dibs on a condo in a hotel. A condo in a hotel! Not any hotel, either. A world-famous name right on Michigan Avenue, which Alice quickly discovered was a big fucking deal. I can smell the water from here. That’s what she thought as Monroe took her hand and led her into the lobby, where no fewer than five finely-dressed employees began their ass-kissing as they rushed to check him in and shorten the time it took him to reach the three bedroom condo at the top of the forty story building.
“This isn’t a hotel room,” Alice said, stepping into the foyer of a condo that probably cost more than her life. “This is ridiculous, that’s what it is.”
Ms. Clayborn dragged her luggage into the spacious living room and then to a secluded bedroom in the far corner of the condo. The bodyguard did a sweep of the place before motioning for his boss and his main squeeze to enter the master suite on the other far end. Alice lingered in front of the living room window, catching a glimpse of Lake Michigan while Monroe ushered her into the abode she would call home for the next few days.
“Wow,” she uttered, gobsmacked at the fantastic view outside. A sliding glass door opened to a patio lining the width of the master bedroom. Half-wall glass, wrought-iron fencing, and a gilded ceiling safely enclosed the space furnished with antique lounge pieces. It almost made Alice miss the gorgeous bedroom behind her. Bedrooms were a dime a dozen, though. Even the million-dollar ones. Views like this, though? A view of a quiet, still lake reaching for the horizon? That lasted forever.
Speaking of forever, where was her phone? She had to take a picture and send it to Candice!
“I have a few minutes,” Monroe said, sitting at a table a few feet away from Alice. “We need to discuss something.”
Alice pulled herself away from the window and sat down. She wasn’t familiar with the geography around there, so it was probably embarrassing to ask, “Is that a mountain I see over there, or clouds playing with my head? Can I see boats on the water? Is there a view of the city skyline somewhere else here? How about in Ms. Clayborn’s room?”
“What is it?” she asked. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No… why would you assume that?”
“Because you sound like one of my bosses summoning me into his office to fire me.” Alice snorted. “Funny, that. Happened a few weeks ago. Guess where I was working.”
Monroe slid his arms across the table, hands folding next to a glass centerpiece. “You’re not in any kind of trouble. It disturbs me that you would assume so easily.”
“Well, in the real world, when people say we need to discuss something it’s usually not good… but I get that’s how you talk.”
He gazed at her for more than a few seconds. His pensive silence was filled with the kind of self-reflection Alice never associated with guys this rich and powerful. “I apologize. I’ll mind my vocabulary around you.”
“I didn’t say that…” Alice liked his vocabulary. She actually felt like she got to use her worthless English degree around him. “I’ll do better to not automatically assume the worse around you.”
“Anyway,” Monroe segued, pulling out a leather binder from one of his work bags. It was simply labeled “Ms. Culver Matters” and “Classified.” Ooh. Classified Ms. Culver. How sexy. “Do forgive me, but we really must discuss what will happen this week.”
“What’s gonna happen?”
He flipped open the binder and pulled out the first piece of paper. “I partially explained this when I invited you, but I think it’s imperative we discuss it more in depth now.” He pointed to the first headline. “It’s regarding the role you will play while you are here.”
“My role.” She picked up the paper. The Matter of Ms. Culver, Submissive In Training. “Uh… huh…”
“I’ve never hidden from you my true inclinations, Alice.” The man could stay so serious while talking about kinky shit. “I didn’t open up that club for nothing but fun, or because I saw a need in my society and decided to be the one to fill it. While it has been a huge success, financially, it’s been an even bigger success personally. I’ve been happy to see it succeed, both as a business owner and as a man of the persuasion.”
Alice wanted to cut to the chase. “You mean the BDSM persuasion.”
“Yes, Alice. You don’t have a problem with that, do you?” Was that a hint of hope in his voice?
“I don’t have a problem with the BDSM lifestyle existing, no.” She wouldn’t have been able to work at that place if she did. “I’ve told you. I’ve never done anything like that before. I’m not even sure I’m into it.”
“You seemed perfectly into it before.”
“Except that was basic stuff, right?”
“Indeed.” Monroe pulled out more papers. “This week, when I am not participating in business, I will be training you in the submissive lifestyle. Starting tonight.”
Alice gulped. She was looking at a Health & Safety notice, signed off by his lawyer!
“I don’t understand, Damon.” She understood. She knew this was a part of the deal dating him, but that was always a silent understanding. There would be spanking during sex. He would blindfold her, cuff her, sometimes tell her what to do or get rougher than she ever expected. That was all good in her world. Hell, when she was into sex, she didn’t really care what they did as long as it was hot. Everything they did so far? Hot!
No, what she didn’t understand was what he meant, exactly. No time like the present to make this guy fully explain his motives. It only had to do with her sex life and lifestyle, after all.
“I’m not into pain and torture, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
She was now!
“Nor am I into humiliation. I prefer to keep such things behind closed doors, even if in my general lifestyle I prefer to have a c
ertain type of relationship.”
“I see. Go on.”
“It’s simple, Alice. I’m most interested in a woman who will serve me in ways I could not get from just any woman. I don’t mean like a maid. I have plenty of those, and I’m not interested in that kind of power exchange anyway. I mean a woman who will be finely tuned to my needs, as I will be to hers. I have a lot of stress in my life. I hide it well. Too well. My doctor says I’m on my way to a heart attack at fifty if I keep bottling things up. That’s why I am so interested in a woman who will know exactly what mood I am in when I get home from work. I like quiet. By that I mean I appreciate a woman’s quiet strength. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t have her own opinions she regularly expresses to me. Or that she can’t take care of herself. What it means is that I can have peace in her presence, and she will do whatever I need or ask while still retaining all of who she is.”
“So you’re looking for a woman who wants to fill that role.”
“Absolutely. There is no sense taking a woman who has no passion for it and throwing her into that role. She would resent me, and I would not be able to blame her for it. Hence it is important that I find a match best suited to the role.”
“You think that could be me?”
“If you’re not immediately repulsed by the idea, I then have hope.”
Alice considered that for a moment. “No, I’m not repulsed by the idea, but I am hesitant about it. I have never done something like that before.”
“Hence I am willing to train you. Even if you had done something like this before, every Dom wants to train his sub to his tastes.”
Alice could only stare at him for a few seconds. “A Dom, huh? Wow.” She inhaled deeply, studying the round glass centerpiece as she digested his words. “Wow.”
“I would not subject you to anything you are uncomfortable with, especially in the beginning. Like there are things I ask of you, there are things you may ask of me. It’s a two-way street, Alice. You are not only serving me, both in and out of the bedroom. I am being the man you need and want me to be in turn. There are some things I cannot promise you, but I also understand there are things you cannot promise me. A great match doesn’t necessarily mean we agree on all points, but it does mean the points we cannot compromise on are not deal breakers. For example, you are already aware that I could not devote all of my time to you. There will be nights I have to cancel our plans.”
“I get that.” Now that seemed like the easiest thing to accept about her unconventional relationship.
“Some couples in this world are only interested in keeping it to the bedroom. I prefer to blend the public and private. I would never ask you to do things in public that you find objectionable, but I would like you to be a reliable source of submissive energy when we are out together.”
“Okay…” She didn’t quite know what that meant. Yet, anyway. “So, what is it that you want from me? Be specific.”
“It’s all outlined there. If you insist…” He cleared his throat. “Starting tonight, I wish to train you to be my ideal submissive. To be sure, this cannot be accomplished in the week we have, but it will lay the foundation of what we want from each other. I want to make this a lasting relationship, whether you believe me or not. There’s no better time to get this out of the way than right now.”
“What does that mean sexually?”
“Sexually?” Ah, there was that Cheshire grin. I shouldn’t have asked. Although now I must know. “It means that almost every time we make love, you are at my bidding. I will usually initiate sex and the scenes we act out. Bondage is a heavy element. There are implements I will introduce you to. Nothing too much too fast. You are inexperienced, and I have taken that into account.”
So there was probably a sex swing in the future. “And outside of sex?”
“I think that will be easier to play by ear than to try to explain to you. It will make more sense as you experience it.” Monroe gently placed the full binder in front of her. “As we work on our relationship in the bedroom, we will come to understand each other better outside of it. Please, I implore you to read this. I have compiled plenty of information about the lifestyle and what you may expect. If there are any objections, I would like to hear them.”
Alice fingered through the small stack of papers. “You compiled this? Personally?” She laughed. “No assistants?”
He nodded. “It was important that you get the exact information I wanted you to have.”
“This must’ve taken a lot of time to put together.”
“Indeed, it did.” He grinned back at her. “It was time well spent.”
Monroe stood, sparing her one last soft smile. “I must attend to some business, my love. Please read that and settle in. We’ll order room service for dinner and rest up before we begin your training. In the meantime, I’d like you to think about what it is you want from me the most and what I can contribute to our ongoing partnership.” His smile almost turned comical as he wandered toward the door. “Besides money, of course.”
Alice scoffed. “I don’t just care about your money.” She gave him a goofy smile right back. “I care about your dick too.”
The exchange of crude banter somehow emboldened Alice as she opened up the binder and began her dark descent down some rabbit hole no children’s fairy-tale ever prepared her for.
Chapter 3
“Come to me, Alice.”
She stood from the table, upon which the remnants of their candlelit dinner cooled. Although she didn’t know what to expect from the time her boyfriend went to sit in a chair and enjoy an after-dinner drink, she did know that it would be pretty eye-opening.
What she did not expect, however, was to feel her heart flutter the moment he gave her his first command.
She had read through that binder. Not enough time to digest every line, but she got a pretty good idea. I am to serve. I am to obey. I am to do whatever he wants, within reason. I can say no whenever I want, no repercussions. I have a safe word and a slow-down word. She had committed both to memory. What she still hadn’t quite figured out, though, was what she wanted from him. Besides great sex, of course. She figured there was plenty of time to figure out those specifics. For now, she would ride these waves as they came to her.
So she went.
“Are you ready to start your training?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’ll let you in on a little secret. I’ve been training you, whether we fully acknowledge it or not, since the moment we met. It’s my nature.”
“Yes, sir.” There were lots of things she was allowed to call him during training scenes. Sir was the one she was most comfortable with. “Mr. Monroe” and “Master” were ahahaha no. Although Master had a certain ring to it… maybe when those waves weren’t leaving her so wet behind the ears.
“Do you know why? I don’t do that with every woman.”
“No, sir.”
“Because from the moment I saw you, I’ve been drawn to you. Call it a strange force of nature drawing me to you, I suppose. I’m a man of logic and instinct. My instinct dragged me to you, not once, but many times. My logic is starting to agree with my instincts.”
“I’m flattered, sir.”
“Don’t be flattered. Be proud. Even if you don’t believe in fate, you can still appreciate how special you are, Alice.”
“I do, sir.” Oh, Alice had appreciated how special she was from the moment Monroe first kissed her… and then fucked her. That was pretty special.
“Now I have you in one of the most beautiful rooms in Chicago, ready to do my bidding. Yet it would be boring to tell you to strip for me and ride my cock. We did the vanilla bullshit earlier.” It was true. The sex on the plane was more urgent need than lovemaking. The kind of sex couples had after being apart for so long. In their case, a whole week was so long. After they were through, they napped for the rest of the flight. Alice woke up feeling like she hadn’t fucked at all. This would be different, wouldn’t it? “So let’s
mix it up a little. I’m going to ask you five questions. After you answer each one, you’re going to remove a piece of your clothing, shoes included. I want you naked by the time I’m done learning about you for the night.”
Alice said nothing.
“First question, and I want you to answer truthfully… do you like being with me?”
“Yes, sir, very much so.” Alice slipped out of one shoe and left it on the floor. At Monroe’s urging, she slipped off the other. Four more articles of clothing to go until she was naked and ready.
“Do you only want me for my money?”
The question almost offended her. “No, sir. Not at all.” The pause that ensued had her dithering between her zipper and her top. She went with her zipper. Monroe smirked into his half empty glass as she lowered her jeans and stepped out of them. Was it cold in there?
“Are you embarrassed to be stripping for me now, knowing what I’m going to do to you?”
Alice wetted her dry lips and shook her head. “I don’t think so. I mean, no, sir.” Her fingers grasped the bottom of her top. “I’m not embarrassed to be naked for you.” She pulled the blouse over her head and tossed it onto the floor. Only her underwear remained. Underwear I bought at some place I’ve never heard of. She was embarrassed to have Ms. Clayborn, of all people, take her there. I mean, she knew to take me to buy expensive underwear. That was a bit much. At some point Alice would have to discuss the origin of Ms. Sarah Clayborn with this billionaire boyfriend.
“I’m glad that you’re proud of your body, Alice. It’s beautiful.”
“Thank you, sir.” She had to admit that her shoulders squared to hear that. Nothing cheered up a naked woman like being told she was beautiful.
Monroe finished his drink and placed the empty glass on the nearest end-table. “Are you looking forward to spending this week with me, learning the ways of a sexual submissive?”
Alice was already about to unhook her bra. “Yes, sir,” she whispered. “Even before you gave me the details, I’ve thought of nothing but this week with you.” That’s what she was supposed to say, right? So happened it coincided with what she wanted to say.
