by Chloe Maddox
A muscle ticked in Claudia’s jaw as she kept a death grip on the paper. She should’ve known the past would come back to haunt her. She had turned her back on it, now it was time to pay the price. No way around that now. She would have to accept Archer’s offer simply because she needed the money.
“I’ll accept his offer, but he has to wire half of the money first.”
***
As she walked out of Madame Sauri’s office after arranging for things to be taken care of, Claudia felt like she was a different person than the one who had walked in. This morning, all she could think was that she wanted to finish hemming that dress before the show, so she could get some reading time in.
Now, she knew that in just a few short hours, Archer Paisley would be here, and she would have to ask him to kiss her, and then accept his offer to be his for 3 months. She hated that would have to break the only rule she had, but she had no choice. Her sister needed her.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Chastity commented, worry tinging her tone as she eyed Claudia up and down.
Her face looked ashen as she sat down on the chair and began to massage her temples. “Not seen a ghost, but rather heard from one. You can’t always outrun the past, I guess.”
Chastity met her gaze in the mirror, and she gave her a sympathetic smile. “No, sometimes, you can’t.”
Claudia stood up, squared her shoulders and headed towards the dressing room where she proceeded to pick out her own outfit for the day. She donned a black, knee length dress with thigh high boots. Given her routine for the night, it might have been wiser to go with something more comfy, but it might be her last night on the stage, so she wanted to remember it.
She put on her dress, they had her hair pinned up in an elegant chignon, and they put on a minimal amount of make-up. She watched the girls from behind the curtains, a small smile playing on the corner of her lips as she felt a burst of pride swell within her. She would definitely miss those girls. The music came on to announce Chastity, and she waved at her and called out ‘Good luck’ as Chastity winked at her.
Men practically drooled at Chastity’s feet, and she enjoyed it. She knew exactly how to work the stage, and she had just enough confidence, grace, and sass to pull it off seamlessly. Claudia had no idea how she did it, but she had always admired her for it. Once she was done, she winked and waved at the crowd before she walked off. She gave Claudia a quick hug, and Claudia stood there for a moment, hesitating as she wondered whether she was making the right choice.
Then, she pictured Elizabeth’s face, not as the adult she was right now, but as the little girl whose hand sought hers out during movies, and she knew what she had to do. She threw her shoulders back, smiled, and confidently strutted onto the stage.
She smirked as one of the guy's wolf whistled at her, and she nodded to indicate that she was ready for the music to start. Her eyes sought out Archer’s in the crowd, and she was surprised at how easily she found them. She gave him a slight smile, and he titled his head at her, confusion written all over his features.
She flashed him a flirty grin as she began her routine. Throughout the show, she alternated between glancing out at the crowd, and pinning him with her glance. He seemed confused at first, but slowly, he began to sit up in his chair and notice what she was doing. Soon, a smirk of his own graced his features, and he nodded as she gestured for him to go back.
He was heading towards Madame Sauri’s office where she would tell him of Claudia’s change of heart. No turning back now.
***
Claudia stood in the center of her room, thinking that she would miss the haven it had provided, but she definitely wouldn’t miss the clash of colors. She picked up the letter she had written for her sister and clutched it in her hand to make sure she would remember to give it to Madame Sauri on her way out.
She bade Chastity farewell and promised to call her then she paused in front of Madame Sauri and gave her very specific instructions, and half the money she had received. Madame Sauri nodded, put her hand on Claudia’s shoulders. “I understand. Good luck to you, Claudia.”
Claudia nodded and made her way outside where Archer was waiting for her. He smiled as he offered her his hand, and she reluctantly took it as he tucked her hand in the crook of his arm. She turned to take one last look at everyone before Archer whisked her into the limo.
She stepped into the back, and she couldn’t help the gasp that escaped her lips at how luxurious it was from the inside.
“If you think this is impressive, wait till you see the rest.” Archer knocked on the window to signal to the driver that they were ready to go. The limo began to move a while later. Suddenly, it dawned on Claudia that she was alone with Archer. Well, and truly alone with no consequences. She suddenly swallowed nervously as she eyed Archer who sat across from her, eyeing her pleasantly. He flashed her a smile as he removed her jacket, and set it across the chair next to him. He rolled up his shirt sleeves all the while maintaining eye contact with Claudia.
“Claudia, I knew you would accept my offer sooner or later, so I’m glad to see that you finally came to your senses.”
Claudia gritted her teeth at his arrogance. “I had to. Circumstances have changed.”
“So I gathered.” Archer stroked his beard. “Now, I have very few rules regarding what to follow during our time together. First, no other guys, and for me no other women. Second. In the playroom, you will call me, Sir, and you will do everything I say unless it makes you uncomfortable in which case you use the safe word. And lastly, the house is yours to explore and do with as you wish. Should you require anything further, all you need to do is ask. Any questions?”
Claudia swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Playroom?”
Archer’s mouth curved into a smile. “I told you, I have very specific tastes, and I think you’d actually quite enjoy them.”
Comprehension dawned on Claudia. “BDSM.”
Archer moved, so he was sitting next to her. “Exactly.” He began to kiss her fingers before he brought them up, so they settled around his neck.
He slowly lowered his lips to hers and waited all the while gazing at her. “I told you, I’m not going to kiss you again until you ask me to.”
Claudia huffed in irritation as she realized that she actually wanted him to kiss her. She made an impatient noise in the back of her throat before she tugged on his hair and yanked his lips down. She tasted the surprise on his lips before he eased into the kiss and pushed her backward. She sank into the velvet softness of the chairs and moaned as his tongue made contact with hers. She could feel him reach next to him, and she heard a clatter before she felt him place something cool upon her hands.
Her eyes flew open, and she noticed that he had placed her hands in handcuffs, and cuffed her to the back of the car. She stared at him in amusement. “What’s that for? I can obey you, anyway.”
“Oh, I know you will, this is just to make sure you can’t move while I do wicked things to you.” He gave her a smile that had a red hot flash of desire course through her. She shifted uncomfortably as he began to slip off his shirt. She ached to run her fingers over his muscles.
He helped her out of the top she was which was rather uncomfortable given how she was tied up, but he managed to do it. He murmured appreciatively as he began to fondle her breasts. He reached back and undid the hook of her bra. He took one nipple in his mouth and began to suck and bite until Claudia was groaning in pleasure. Once the nipple was erect, he took the other one and did the same while his hands roamed all over her body.
She began to writhe beneath him, eager to get her hands away from the cuffs, so she could touch him, but knowing that she was completely at his mercy. His hands moved down to her core, and he pressed his hand there letting the heat from his body radiate through the clothes. A whimper escaped Claudia’s lips as he helped her out of her pants, so she was left there in nothing but her panties.
“You’
re already so wet.” His eyes glinted with lust as he placed on finger down there then put it in his mouth. He sucked on carefully. “Mmm, you taste so good.”
He hooked his fingers underneath her panties, and slowly, tortuously began to slide them off until she was in front of him stark naked. He let his gaze roam all over her body before he slid off his pants.
“Just relax, and enjoy, okay? I’m not going to take you just yet. I want a bed for that, so I can thoroughly pound into you, but I am planning on tasting every inch of you, and eating you out until you scream with pleasure.”
Claudia tightened her legs reflexively. “Okay.”
Archer kicked her legs aside, and crawled up between them, so his mouth was at her center. He brought up his fingers and parted the folds and began to blow on them.
Claudia sighed as she moved closer to him. He lifted both her legs and placed them over his shoulders, so he had total and complete access.
He began licking her softly at first then faster and faster until she began to buck against him, her grip on his hair tightening her, and her entire body humming with pleasure. His tongue swiped left and right then up and down hitting all the right spots until Claudia was sure that she would explode from the mere tension, then, all of a sudden she began to feel something build up within her.
A small avalanche that kept gaining momentum, getting bigger and bigger till it sent her tumbling straight over the edge. Claudia came with a shout as her entire body convulsed in a delicious orgasm that had white spots dancing in the field of her vision. She panted as she began to draw in ragged breaths to calm her erratic heartbeat.
She felt the blood pounding in her ears as her entire body tingled in pleasure, and she released a deep satisfying breath as she heard a quiet click that let her known that the handcuffs had been unlocked. Her hands fell limply to her sides, and she stared at them as if she’d never seen them before.
The edges of her vision began to sharpen, and she noticed Archer was looking at her with an amused expression on his face.
“I knew you’d enjoy it thoroughly. I have to say seeing your face contorted in pleasure like that, that was very hot. Especially the way you responded to my touch and writhed beneath me. I look forward to seeing a similar reaction when I’m actually inside you.”
Claudia took a deep breath. “I had no idea it could be so intense.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet. It’s a whole new world, Claudia.” He winked at her as he began to put his shirt back on. Claudia lay there, trying to process this new feeling rushing through her as she clumsily put her clothes back on.
When the limo finally stopped, Archer exited the limo first and held his hand out for Claudia. She took his hand hoisted herself up only to find that her knees were wobbly.
She frowned at her knees. “What’s happening?”
“Your body is not used to that. It just experienced one of the most intense feelings ever, don’t worry. I plan on shattering your world with more of those tonight.”
Before she knew what was happening, Archer had scooped her up into his arms and walked down his driveway as if she weighed nothing more than a trifle. Claudia snuggled into his arms, feeling oddly content and safe in the arms of this man that she barely knew, but who somehow made her feel all these different and exciting things.
She grabbed a fistful of his shirt to keep herself from toppling over as he tried to balance her on his knees while opening the door. He succeeded, but before she could get the chance to fully admire the splendor of the house she was in, she was being set on a bed. It was a plush and soft bed, and she began to stretch luxuriously before she heard the door open then close.
Archer hovered over her a second later with a sandwich and a glass of juice. She sat up and hungrily wolfed the sandwich down then washed it all down with juice. She began to feel the energy rushing back into her body, and Archer watched her quietly from the side of the bed, a small smile tugging on the corner of her lips.
“That’s cute,” he said. He looked surprised after he said it. “The way you just wolfed it down like a kid. Anyway, I’m glad you’ve got your energy back because our activities are only just getting started.”
“Is that so?”
“Oh, yeah, definitely. Since it’s your first time, I’m going to start you off slow, but next time, we’re definitely going into my playroom.”
Before she had a chance to respond to that, she was lying flat on her back, and Archer was tugging her clothes off of her. She eagerly helped him out of his own clothes till they fall into a heap of tangled limbs on the bed.
He reached into the drawer next to him for a condom, and he put it on. He reached out and flipped her on her stomach and spanked her ass. Her first reaction was surprise, but then she discovered that she actually liked it. She heard him open a drawer and take out something else, and she was surprised to feel something very soft glide over the contours of her back. It felt like a feather.
She didn’t have to wonder for long because soon Archer flipped her back on her back, and she saw that he had the feather between his lips, and he began running it over the front of her body, tracing every curve and dent he could find. Her body erupted into goose bumps as she tangled her hands in his hair and tugged hard.
“Good, that’s good,” he mumbled as he spat the feather out of his mouth and nuzzled into her neck. In one swift movement, he thrust inside of her. Claudia stilled for a second as she adjusted to the feeling of him being inside of her. He began to move slowly at first as he pressed her breasts together then faster and faster till she began gyrating against him, matching his pace.
The sound of their heavy breathing filled the room as her hands came around his ass and squeezed while his arms came up around the headboard and rested there as he picked up the pace. They both came a while later, and absolutely spent, they lay in each other’s arms and drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 6
Over the next few weeks, Claudia came to know Archer pretty well. Beneath the fake arrogance, and kinky taste in the bedroom, Archer was actually a very laid back guy. He had a very inappropriate sense of humor at times, but he always managed to make her crack up. He was cultured, well read, and even though he practiced law, unlike a lot of lawyers, he actually did his best to get justice for his clients.
He was very charismatic and very persuasive which was why he managed to get to the top so quickly. He could probably convince you to sell your house without blinking if you weren’t comfortable. Claudia enjoyed talking to him, and sparring with him about many topics including music, movies and books.
Claudia had discovered a deep love for the classics with Elizabeth Taylor, Cary Grant, etc., and Archer was quite happy that he was able to introduce her to that whereas Claudia introduced him to the world of Jazz, and the likes of Miles Davis, and Nat King Cole. He was very reluctant at first, but soon, he began to seek them out on his own, and they’d listen together.
The only thing they couldn’t seem to agree on was books. Archer had a taste for the latest thrillers or horror stories. Claudia had a bit of a wider net considering she read anything she felt like reading, and it didn’t depend on the genre. It was a topic of endless debate for them, and one she very much enjoyed.
Her life in that mansion with Archer felt like it was suspended in time, away from everything that her real life had to offer. Sometimes, she wasn’t sure it was all real until she woke up in bed in the morning and rolled over on her side. Most times, she would find Archer there, sleeping next to her peacefully. Sometimes, he’d leave for work early, and she wouldn’t find him next to her, but she always enjoyed watching him sleep whenever she saw him next to her. He looked so peaceful, and she felt this unfamiliar and unexpected rush go through her whenever she watched him sleep.
She realized that she was beginning to care for Archer which was problematic to say that least. She told herself that she couldn’t get attached to him because the whole arrangement was about se
x, but if she was being honest with herself, it had more to do with her past, and the reason she kept running away. She didn’t want to hurt him. That’s what scared her most of all. If she hurt him now right as she was starting to care for him, she’d never forgive herself.
She couldn’t seem to help herself though. The more time she spent with him, the more she began to feel her feelings grow. She tried not to get attached to him. She tried to stay away until night came, and she figured she could just go through the motions like she heard a lot of women do, but the second he touched her, her common sense went right out the window.
She discovered that Archer was right. She did quite enjoy a lot of things that fell under the category of BDSM. They had experimented a lot, and she found that she quite enjoyed light bondage, the many soft and hard materials he let trail over her body, kinky role-play, and a lot of other things that made her flush the second she began thinking about them.
She didn’t know how she had avoided it for so long, but she knew the reasons why. She wondered if Archer would think differently of her if he knew. She hoped he wouldn’t, not that she ever planned on telling him, but still. Sometimes, she pictured telling him, but what good would that do?
She knew Archer was fond of her, but she doubted that what he felt for her was as deep as what she felt for him. So, telling him wouldn’t do either of them any good. It would just create awkwardness and false expectations. Claudia headed towards the phone and hesitated.
She hadn’t called her sister in years, but she decided she had time on her hands before Archer came back, so she dialed the number and waited for her sister to pick up. Her sister sounded shocked to hear from her at first given that they hadn’t spoken in years except for the occasional letter.
A pregnant silence filled the space between them. “How’s Jenny?”
“She’s getting better, the money you sent covered all her expenses, and then some. How did you manage it?”
