Her eyes widened. “No.”
A whisper, so he tried again. “Significant other?” Sooner or later, he’d get an answer he could work with.
The man finally let go of her arm and stood, one hand on the back of his chair for obvious support. “Bill Telcher, Premier Realty,” he said. “Who are you?”
Derek looked from one to the other then fixated on the red fingerprints on Elizabeth’s arm. By morning, there’d be a dark bruise on her fair skin, one that was obviously manmade.
Wise of the man to let go of her arm. It was a rare day when Derek suffered fools and hurting a woman put the real estate agent in a position to be eliminated. Or at least maimed.
With a single fingertip, Derek caught at her chin and lifted until he could see her eyes. “Did you expect this treatment when you came here for dinner?”
“No.”
“Does this happen on a regular basis?”
Her mouth opened and closed twice, but no words were spoken until her companion chimed in.
“This is none of your business. She’s fine, aren’t you, ‘Lisabeth?”
“Mr. Telcher, this is Derek Lyons, our new client.”
Her answer hadn’t addressed his question. Instead, it threw the other man into a speaking frenzy about the real estate business in the Denver area.
Derek turned away with an eye out for a member the staff. Joe, true friend he’d always been, was one step ahead. In short order, her plate was relocated to their table just as their meals arrived. Derek refused to listen to her halfhearted argument and pulled out a chair.
“Miss Kane, please sit down and enjoy your meal while I speak with your employer.” He saw it all, her surprise at how swiftly the situation had changed, the orchestrated exit of her boss, and the control he exerted. The fear he’d seen in her expression was gone but something else had taken its place. A wariness of what she didn’t quite understand.
Nothing he couldn’t handle one way or the other.
After a long minute, she sat in the chair he offered and Joe asked her about the real estate business. Free for the moment, Derek followed the restaurant manager to the front door.
“Telcher.” The man stopped and turned at his name, providing the perfect venue for Derek’s lecture. He crowded the smaller man. “If I ever hear of you putting hands on Miss Kane’s person or speaking a disrespectful word to her, I will personally make sure you spend the rest of your sorry life in poverty and pain. Do I make myself clear?”
The tremble in the man’s body might’ve been caused by the amount of liquor he’d consumed. Hard to tell at this point. He backed away, turned, and fell into the waiting taxi without a word.
Derek returned to the table, telling himself he’d done the right thing by interfering on Elizabeth’s behalf. No one should be treated in that manner by an employer. A single thought slipped in, overlapping with his sudden urge to protect her, one more disturbing in its clarity. A picture of Elizabeth naked and tied to his bed, her lovely blue eyes begging for his touch. He yanked his chair out from the table and sat, forcing the image out of his head and focusing on the conversation Joe and Elizabeth were pursuing.
His food had arrived while he’d been speaking with her boss and he cut into his steak while she continued to discuss the Denver economy with his buddies. He’d acknowledged her intelligence and quick wit while they’d driven all over town, but their interactions always stayed in a business category all its own.
The sudden awakening of his dominance after six years stung in ways he wanted to forget.
He wasn’t ready to return to the lifestyle.
Pulling Elizabeth into it would undoubtedly send her screaming down the highway in shock and disgust.
Her expression when that blowhard boss grabbed her arm told him more than words ever could. Elizabeth Kane was a woman in need of a softhearted gentleman without kinks or dominance issues.
Derek sighed over a sip of wine and Elizabeth turned to him. Her cool palm lay across his wrist, her words a whisper. “Thank you, Derek, for, you know, Mr.—” He stopped her. “Nothing to worry about, Elizabeth. Nothing at all.”
They’d spent two full days on the hunt for the perfect location, but he’d only mentioned a private club. Exclusive, upscale, with no hint of bondage or sex games. Information she didn’t need. And yet, the urge to enlighten her fought with his conscience. Adding another uncomfortable experience to her day wouldn’t endear her to him.
When he opened the passenger door of his rental, she smiled again. “Thanks for the ride. I’ve never seen Mr. Telcher drink so much. I don’t know what happened.”
“Don’t apologize for the man. That’s his duty, not yours. I’m just glad you’re safe.” Derek focused on the road instead of the woman next to him. He ached, his body responding to her proximity and the sound of her voice. Damn it to hell, this was not the time for him to release his inhibitions and reenter the lifestyle he’d enjoyed with his wife so many years ago.
And Elizabeth wasn’t the right woman.
Fuck. Tomorrow morning, or maybe tonight if he could get ahold of the pilot, he’d fly back to Dallas and hit Private Delights. Finding a willing submissive wouldn’t be hard. But he would be. Hard and ready.
Her phone chimed as he pulled into the spot next to her car. She pulled it out and glanced at the message, but quickly shoved it back into her purse while she opened the door.
Derek reached across the console and put a hand on her arm. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Thanks for the ride, but I really need to get home.”
“I’m going to follow, make sure you don’t have any trouble.”
“Oh, Derek, that’s very kind but I’ll be fine. It isn’t far. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
The door shut on those nice words. Too nice to cover the tremor in her tone or the tremble of her fingers on that phone she’d shoved into her bag. Something was wrong and he couldn’t let her deal with it herself. Rather, wouldn’t let her face it if he could help. When she pulled out of the parking lot, he followed for a few blocks, watching her careful turns until she pulled into the driveway of a neat little bungalow.
She didn’t appear to notice when he parked at the curb, her hand on the phone, eyes glued to the message. She jumped when he stopped at her side. “Elizabeth, what’s wrong?”
They stood at the edge of the porch light’s reach, just enough of a glow reaching them that he could see the fear in her expression. He stepped back, a few inches away from her, and said, “I would never hurt you. If you know anything about me, that fact is the first you’d know.”
She waved her hand between them. “I-I know.” Filling her lungs, she turned toward him. “I’m afraid I won’t be available tomorrow. One of the other agents will help with your search.”
“Did he fire you?” Damn that stupid boss of hers. He wouldn’t dare after his drunken state.
“No. I have some personal issues to take care of, that’s all.”
“Let me help.” She shook her head, her body half following the motion, and he noticed the cell still clenched in her hand. Derek cupped her wrist and brought the phone into the faint light. One squeeze illuminated the message.
Parole granted. Released in three days.
The front door opened. A small boy jumped down the shallow steps and flattened against her legs. “Who’s he?”
Derek looked into a small face with Elizabeth’s eyes. “A friend, I hope.”
Table of Contents
Whip Me Up, Tie Me Down
Copyright
Special thanks
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
> Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Three weeks later...
About the Author
An excerpt from Tie Me Up in Pearls
Whip Me Up Tie Me Down Page 13
