by Opal Carew
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From Part 2
Maria’s gaze sharpened. “That’s why I told you it was urgent that we talk. I wanted to warn you. Your father is more than furious about this. The two of you locked horns about her in the past, and you prevented him from fucking her then. And now, when she willingly offered up her virginity to the highest bidder, you swooped in and stole her right from under his nose. He is beyond reason and has decided to do something about it.”
Mason’s eyebrows arched. “And what might that be?”
Maria leaned forward, and her worried expression filled him with icy apprehension.
“I don’t know exactly. But he said he intends to destroy you.” Her fingers tightened around her wine glass.
“And her.”
The whole drive home, Mason stewed about what Maria had told him. He didn’t respect the old man, and Chas wasn’t the best in business mainly because he didn’t keep a clear focus, but when he put his mind to something—like revenge—he was very focused. Very underhanded. And absolutely ruthless.
Mason knew he could survive whatever his father threw at him, even though he was sure Chas could definitely do some damage, but he worried about Dana. The old man wouldn’t hesitate to tear down her good name, and Mason’s, even if it cast a bad light on the family as a whole. Mason didn’t want Dana to have to go through that.
He might not be able to do anything in time to stop it, though. Even if Mason threatened to destroy his father’s corporation—which Chas had to know Mason would do anyway if Chas hurt Dana in any way—by now Chas had enough assets that he could take the hit and still keep his decadent lifestyle.
But what Mason worried about more was if Chas would target Dana in some other way.
Fuck, he was glad that Dana would be going off to Paris for her graduate degree. She would be away from the scandal that Chas might let loose here.
But that was months away. In the meantime, he needed to find a way to protect her.
He knocked on Dana’s door and a moment later she opened it.
She curled her hand around the edge of the door. “Hi.”
“Sorry I had to interrupt our conversation earlier, but it was important.”
She nodded, but he could tell she was upset.
“Why don’t you come back to my suite and we’ll continue where we left off?”
He still couldn’t bring himself to go into her room, which was crazy now that they were having sex. But being in her room reminded him too much of the young Dana. The Dana he had needed—and wanted—to protect from his father.
And now, it seemed, he needed to again.
She opened the door and followed him down the hall, then he tapped in the combination and they went inside.
“Mason, are you still seeing Maria?”
He turned to her with a frown. “We still keep in touch. Why do you ask?”
He walked to the bar and poured himself a scotch, then tossed it back.
“I looked at the text message on your phone when you were in the shower.” She bit her lip. “I’m sorry, I know I shouldn’t have, but I couldn’t help myself. I really wanted to know what was so important that it would pull you away right then.”
“I think we want to continue that conversation now,” he said, refusing to be pulled into the topic of Maria.
“All right.” Dana sat on the couch, her legs curled beside her.
He walked to the armchair across from her and sat down.
She locked gazes with him. “So why don’t I meet your needs?”
* * *
Dana watched as Mason’s face turned somber. “We’re both aware of the obvious reasons we can’t continue a sexual relationship. But if we really wanted to, we could weather all of those. There is one thing that stops us cold, however, and it has nothing to do with what others will think about it.”
Her chest tightened. “Tell me.”
He sighed deeply. “You said you saw me with Maria all those years ago.” His lips compressed.
She nodded.
“Those times with Maria … They triggered in me certain … urges.”
“Urges?” she parroted, not sure she really wanted to hear more.
“I enjoyed the sense of power it gave me. Of control.”
“But you already owned an entire company. At twenty-six, you controlled your own corporation … had an entire team of executives who did whatever you said. You controlled people’s jobs. Their lives.”
“It wasn’t the same. This was more … personal.”
Her stomach tightened. “You liked the idea of taking her against her will? So does that mean … that you’d really like to…?”
His harsh blue gaze locked on hers. “To rape a woman?” He shook his head. “No, of course not. But to feel her bend to my will … to know she will do anything I tell her.” His gaze sharpened. “Anything.” His eyes glinted like steel, sending a quiver through her. “Or suffer the consequences.”
Her breath caught. “What kind of consequences?”
“Punishment.”
Her eyes widened. “Like spanking?”
He nodded but she sensed there was more he wanted to say.
“I could try that. Letting you dominate me, I mean.”
“Dana, what I do with a woman is not playacting. It’s very real, and it’s very intense. For me and for her. It only works if it’s what the woman really wants. If she needs to give herself up to me with everything she is.”
She sucked in a breath, but couldn’t seem to get enough air. She stepped toward him and took his hand, reveling in the feel of his strong, masculine fingers around hers.
“I want you with everything I have,” she murmured softly. “And I’m willing to give you whatever you want.”
His lips compressed and his eyes hardened as he drew his hand from hers.
“It’s not what I want, Dana. It’s what I need.” He shook his head. “And you can’t just act the submissive. It won’t be real.”
“But—”
“You have to understand, Dana. I do this with women who want me to dominate them.”
“And punish them.”
“Yes.”
“Let me try,” she begged, not wanting to lose him.
“It won’t be what you really want. That means, in time, you’ll become unhappy. Even resent doing it. And start to resent me.”
“No, I would never resent you.”
His eyes turned ice cold. He rested his hand on the back of her head, ever so gently, and slowly ran it down her hair.
Suddenly, his hand grasped her long tresses and he tugged her head back, bending her neck. Her eyes widened in surprise.
He leaned in close, his face so near that his lips could almost brush her cheek. His breath sent tingles dancing along her neck.
Fire flashed in his ice cold gaze as it traveled the length of her body, making her tremble. “Believe me, the things I would do to you…” His intense
stare flicked back to hers, boring through her. “You would resent me. Even grow to hate me.”
She shook her head. “Never.”
He tightened his grip, pulling her head back further.
“You will.” His granite hard gaze glittered. “And if I were your master, I would never let you get away with contradicting me. You would learn to bow to my will. To do exactly as you are told, the instant you’re told.” He leaned in close to her ear and murmured grittily. “You would give yourself over to me, body and soul.”
Her heart pounded in her chest, with both trepidation and excitement at his words.
“Mason, give me a chance.”
He released her with a scowl. “No.”
“But—”
“Dana, go to your room.”
She wanted to protest, but his uncompromising expression stopped her words cold.
She turned and walked toward the door, feeling numb inside.
* * *
Mason stared at the door. The feel of Dana’s hair coiled around his hand and the sight of her head pulled back exposing her throat, her eyes wide with shock and dismay, were etched into his memory.
He scowled and strode across the room to the bar, poured another scotch and gulped it down. A warmth spread through his stomach, calming his strained nerves.
Fuck, her willingness to try even after he did his best to scare her away made him long to take this relationship the rest of the way. To make her his sub and totally control her.
Heat coiled through him at the thought, and his cock swelled.
But this was Dana. Sweet, innocent Dana.
His hands clenched at his side. Not so innocent now. Thanks to him.
He poured himself another drink and sat down. He swirled the amber liquid in the glass and watched the sparkling whirlpool, allowing his thoughts to settle.
He wanted Dana with an ache that bored through his soul. If only he could just say yes to her request. If they could give it a try and see if—
Fuck. He took a gulp of his drink. If he dominated her it would be because he wanted it, not because she would enjoy it. In fact, he was sure she would be sickened by his demands.
He frowned. But maybe he could use the situation to help protect her. His father would surely start a scandal that would embarrass and hurt Dana. Mason either wanted her very close, where he could shelter her, or very far away.
He gulped the rest of his drink, a plan forming in his mind.
* * *
Dana sat on her bed and stared out the window at the bright sunshine glistening off the backyard pool, still quivering from her encounter with Mason.
The things he’d told her had shocked her, yet hadn’t been totally unexpected. She’d seen him that one time with Maria. And the way he’d handled her when he’d thought she was Sylvie …
But she hadn’t thought about the fact that he must enjoy hurting the women. That he needed to do that.
When he’d told her that—and said that’s what they wanted—it had thrown her off-balance. But remembering as she’d struggled against him in bed … remembering the intense need it had triggered in her—made her wonder …
She heard the plink of her phone, indicating a text had arrived. She pulled it from her purse and glanced at the display.
Come here. I want to talk to you.
Mason was summoning her.
Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as she stood up.
She wanted Mason with all her heart. Wanted to be in his life forever. Wanted to be in his bed.
She walked to her dresser and brushed her hair until it shone. Then she tugged off her T-shirt and pulled on a nice knit top that clung to her slender frame and showed off her full breasts. She examined herself in the mirror.
She wanted a chance to prove to him that she could be what he wanted.
But would he give her the opportunity?
She slipped from her door and walked to his. She unlocked it and entered his domain.
“There you are.” His stone-cold blue eyes stared at her. “That was far too long. From now on, I want you to respond to me instantly. Do you understand?”
His commanding tone took her breath away. She nodded, but as his gaze sharpened on her, she replied, “Yes.”
“Address me as ‘Sir.’”
A tingle danced through her.
“Yes, Sir.”
Hope swirled through her. “Does this mean you’ll give me a chance?”
“Show me proper respect. Drop your gaze to the floor, and keep silent until I give you permission to speak.”
She stifled the urge to protest and dropped her gaze to the cream carpet beneath her feet.
“I have a proposition for you. I want you to consider it carefully, because I will not change the terms in any way. You will take it or leave it, no negotiations.”
She nodded, hope flaring inside her.
“You said you wanted me to give you a chance to try being my sub, so I’m going to do exactly that.”
Excitement skittered through her and she glanced up at him. “Oh, Mason. Thank you.” But at his stern frown, she dropped her gaze again. “Thank you, Sir.”
“You will come and stay with me full time at my penthouse for the summer. You will do whatever I tell you without question. You will follow whatever rules I set forth. If you break my rules, or do anything I decide requires disciplining, then I will punish you. Do you understand so far?”
Joy swirled through her, especially when he said she’d be staying with him for the summer, making it difficult to concentrate. Something about rules and punishment. “I … think so, Sir.”
“Dana, look at me.”
She obeyed and found herself faced with his sober blue eyes.
“This is not a game. Let me keep this simple. You will do exactly as I say and follow all my rules. And if you fail to do so, I will punish you. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“I will have a contract drawn up and there will be no negotiations. As part of this contract, I will be giving you a large sum of money, which you will use for your education in Paris. I will also pay for a nice apartment for you to live in.”
“Mason, you don’t have to do that.”
“I said no negotiations. That is part of the contract. Take it or leave it.”
She nodded. “Okay. I mean, yes, Sir.” She toyed with the hem of her shirt. “And what happens at the end of the summer? To us, I mean. If I meet your needs…” She bit her lip. “Can we be together?”
He took a sip of his drink. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. This contract is to give you the chance to see if you can meet my needs. I’m not going to take it easy on you because it’s important that you know what it will really be like to be my sub. Since there will be no negotiating the contract terms, and I believe you will quickly come to see that this is not for you, there will be a three-day trial period where you can opt out at any time. You will, however, take the monetary compensation no matter what happens during the trial period. Whenever the contract ends, be it at the end of the summer, or during the trial, you will immediately leave for Paris. Does that sound fair?”
“Yes, Sir. But I don’t need you to pay me.”
“I said no negotiations.”
She pursed her lips and nodded. “And I don’t need the trial period. I will do whatever you want me to.”
His lips compressed. “We’ll see.”
* * *
Dana sat beside Mason in the backseat of the limo as it drove smoothly along the highway. They were nearing their exit. Mason had spent the entire three-hour drive working on his tablet, totally ignoring her.
She bit her lip and stared out the window, realizing she was being oversensitive. He’d just spent almost two weeks away with her. Now he had work to catch up on.
The limo took the exit ramp and ten minutes later, they pulled up in front of Mason’s apartment building. The driver opened the door and took her hand to help her from the car. Mason took her elbow and
guided her to the front door as the driver pulled their bags from the trunk. The doorman opened the door for them and Mason led her across the lobby to the elevator.
Dana glanced at him, wondering if he would break the long silence between them, but he simply pushed the button and pressed his hand to her back as the door whooshed open. Soon they were stepping off the elevator into his huge penthouse.
The blazing orange vista of the setting sun filled the space with a fiery glow.
Dana stepped out of her shoes, then shed her jacket and hung it in the closet. Mason walked to the living room bar and poured himself a drink. Dana followed him, hovering anxiously, not quite sure what to do. Mason sat down on the couch. She walked toward him, but his gaze locked on her and something about his steely eyes stopped her in her tracks. She stood there, watching him, becoming more nervous and self-conscious as his gaze simply glided over her. He swirled his drink, then took a leisurely sip.
Then he leaned forward and set his glass on the glossy, ebony coffee table in front of him.
“Take off your clothes.” His words, spoken so casually, shocked her.
He’d seen her naked before, but to have him sit there, still in his business suit, telling her to strip, unsettled her.
She hesitated, and his dark blue eyes turned steely.
“I said take off your clothes.”
At the edge in his tone, her hands immediately jumped to the buttons of her shirt and she unfastened them, one at a time, intensely aware of the garment opening, revealing her body to scrutiny.
As his gaze followed her fingers downward, her skin tingled. She dropped the shirt to the ground, then unfastened her jeans and pushed them to the floor, too. She peeled away her ankle socks and tossed them aside, then stood there in her white lace bra and panties.
“Keep going.”
Goose bumps flashed across her skin and she felt her cheeks flush.
“Do I have to repeat myself?” he asked in a hard tone.
“N-no, Sir.”
She reached behind her and unhooked the bra, then dropped the straps from her shoulders, but held the garment to her body with her arm. Her cheeks flushed hotter.
This is silly. He’s seen me naked.
