by L. J. Dee
“What do you mean, Chas?” I asked quickly, suddenly panicked.
“Well, before you sleep with them, you have all the power. A man with a raging hard on will say and do pretty much anything to get inside your panties,” she laughed as I frowned at her.
“He said it after sex.” Lucas Hunter might be judgemental amongst other things, but I was certain he wasn’t a liar.
“You should be OK then, Jess. Ignore me, you know what a cynical bitch I am,” she said, pulling me into a giant hug and grinning broadly.
“I can’t believe after all my efforts, it’s you that’s wound up fucking one of the most eligible bachelors in London,” she laughed and I knew what she meant. I certainly hadn’t planned it that way.
I spent the night with Dexter, trying to concentrate on Aladdin, but continually drawn into the dramatic visuals of Lucas Hunter that were replaying endlessly in my mind and checking my emails every ten minutes for the mysterious questionnaire I was supposed to complete. A dozen thoughts ran through my brain as I wondered if he wanted feedback on his performance, laughing to myself and thinking that would take seconds to complete. 10, 10, 10, 10 and 10!
It didn’t arrive until Dex was in bed and as I cast my eyes over it my mouth fell open in shock and I wondered what the hell it was for. It was a questionnaire cataloguing and requesting in detail, the intimate particulars of my sexual tastes and preferences. Hard limits I wasn’t prepared to try and soft limits I might.
Jesus Christ! I scanned through the pages as I suddenly realised what this was. Lucas Hunter wanted me as his submissive and he was gauging my opinions on the ground rules for our relationship. My heart swelled in my chest and I giggled uncontrollably, rolling around in giddy excitement at the prospect and answering the questions without too much thought.
Most of the answers were the same – ‘open to experimentation’. How the hell did I know what I did and didn’t like before I’d done it? The thought of some of these things filled me with apprehension, but I was keen not to rule anything out completely in the knowledge I might miss something really bloody good. The bottom line was - I’d have my safe word if I didn’t like it and I trusted Lucas to stop. He wasn’t some crazed, hormonal teenager. The man was a sexual powerhouse and control was his middle name; the thought of being dominated by Lucas Hunter sending a delicious, intoxicating shiver across my skin.
Hard Limits: I circled ‘none’. It was the final question as I smiled and pressed send, still euphoric, laying back on my bed and wondering in the best possible way what I’d just got myself mixed up in.
CHAPTER 14
I made a special effort to dress for work the next day, with my best underwear, stockings, one of Chas’s very tight below the knee pencil skirts and a soft silk blouse, just sheer enough to make out the outline of my bra underneath. I was aiming for secretary sexy, and as I saw Melody’s double take I guessed I’d succeeded.
“Mr Hunter said to send you in as soon as you arrive, to finalise the details of your termination,” she said haughtily and smugly and my stomach sank, hoping momentarily that Chas hadn’t been right. I knocked quietly and made my way into his office, my heart pounding through my chest at the thought of seeing him again, and slightly nervous at Melody’s words.
I needn’t have been as I watched him look me over, smiling as he gestured for me to take a seat. The heat in his eyes was undeniable as I sat, looking up at him shyly. It was different here, this was his office and in here I would take his lead. So, not that different then, I laughed to myself.
“I have a proposition for you and two contracts,” he said and I wondered what the hell he was up to now. “One is for business, one is for pleasure,” he smiled, licking his lips as he watched my narrow eyed reaction and I couldn’t deny I was nervous. This was my job, or at least it had been, and I needed to ensure above all else that things were right for Dexter and I.
“So which is it to be, Miss Evangelista?” he smirked, holding them both up.
“Business,” I said, smiling at the flicker of disappointment that flashed through those beautiful features as he passed me the first contract to look over.
“I don’t want to give you the fifty grand,” he said seriously as my eyes flew to his, shocked and dumbfounded for a moment and hoping that Chas wasn’t right and Lucas wouldn’t screw me...twice.
“Why?” I asked, unable to hide the dejection and panic in my voice as he watched me closely, still smiling.
“Don’t worry, Jess. I didn’t say you couldn’t have it. I said I don’t want to give it to you.” I relaxed slightly, knowing that at least the offer was still on the table.
“What do you want?” I asked as his face lit up and I rolled my eyes knowing exactly what that little look was all about. He was playing with me and now was not the time for games.
“What’s the proposition?” I asked, losing patience as he chuckled, the low, deep sound reverberating through every inch of me as I looked at him, biting my lip to stop myself smiling back.
“We are going to have to work on patience. You are good at events, Jess, and we run a lot of them. I would like you to use the money to set up an events business together with me. You will be the main partner and run it as you see fit, but I will be here to help you set up the legal and accountancy side and I will match the investment.
“A hundred thousand pounds!” I gasped, not quite believing what he was telling me as he laughed gently.
“It’s a small amount of money to start a business, Jess, believe me, but your overheads will be incredibly low. There is space in the building for you to set up here, that way you won’t have rent and I will utilise my contacts to ensure the start up is as straightforward as possible. I will help you all I can and know that you have the capability to do this, Jess,” he smiled as I just stared at him. “I figure with what we save on external agencies, you’ll be turning us a profit in no time,” he smiled. When he put it like that I totally understood his logic.
I couldn’t believe what he was offering. My own company and I would run it with Lucas Hunter. The man was a powerhouse with contacts everywhere and his business credentials were unquestionable. He was offering a dream on a plate.
“Where do I sign?” I quipped, grinning broadly and opening up the contract to look at the particulars.
“Take your time to read it, Jess, but am I to take it that you like the idea of Hunter and Evangelista Entertainment?” he smiled as I stared at him wide eyed.
“I love it, Lucas. Just one thing though. It will be Evangelista and Hunter,” I grinned as he laughed out loud. “I thought it might be,” he winked, passing me the other contract.
“This one binds us in pleasure,” he said seriously as I held out my hand nervously. “It is based on your questionnaire and I need to know you’ve read it thoroughly before you sign. It is designed to protect us both, Jess, to ensure your safety and happiness and it’s important that you understand what you are agreeing to. This is the one I’m most concerned about. You haven’t done it before and while I appreciate you’ve done some research and spoken to Zac, like anything in life, the fantasy is rarely like the reality. While I am training you, I will have to punish you and there will be times where you think I’m being unnecessarily harsh or cruel even. Everything I do will be for your own good and your development as a submissive. I haven’t been particularly strict, but there may be things you’re not sure about. Read it thoroughly,” he said as I glanced down the never-ending list of sexual possibilities as a shiver of excitement through me.
It was the section focusing on the nature of the relationship that caught my attention immediately. None of this had been in the questionnaire, as I realised he expected to see me three times a week in the club. He would be the one to initiate contact and control the scenes. Respect was demanded at all times, regardless of where we happened to be.
I would follow his instruction and take his lead, and there were detailed outlines of the various ways I’d be expected to greet h
im, but there was no mention of anything else.
The following paragraph stressed at great length the importance of safe words and open communication. I decided to utilise that for a little conversation of my own, taking a deep breath as I looked up at him.
“In the interests of open communication, there isn’t much detail on what I can expect,” I said as he pulled a bemused frown. It was evident from his expression that he wasn’t effectively reading between the lines.
“What is it you’re unsure about?” he asked, smiling gently.
Well I wasn’t talking about the number of orgasms, I was certain there’d be plenty of those, watching the delicious trail of his tongue as he tried to stifle his smile. I needed absolute clarity and guessed I’d have to spell it out. “This...thing...this relationship,” I stuttered, wondering why I was seized by a sudden attack of nerves when I tried to describe it. “You haven’t put anything in here about seeing me outside the club. I’ll only be your submissive then?” I was bumbling this, unable to express myself without using the ‘G’ word. The small smile that played around his mouth suggested he knew what I was getting at.
“Only my submissive?” he laughed gently. “I appreciate you haven’t done this before, but you’re seriously undermining just how big a commitment this is. As a partnership we will be exclusive, embarking on a relationship that is underpinned by immense trust, open communication and mutual respect. I suspect that our bond will be much deeper than you realise,” he said as I nodded, pulled into those incredible blue eyes as my breathing sped up.
I was trying to rationalise this against the only relationship I’d ever had and that clearly wouldn’t work. He sensed my dilemma.
“This contract is unique for me too, Jess. I have never had a submissive new to the lifestyle, which is why there are far fewer rules than usual. The contract is not legally binding or set in stone. I imagine there will be lots of additions and amendments along the way. For example you specified no hard limits, and I guarantee there will be plenty of those, we just don’t know what they are yet,” he smiled. My stomach tightened anxiously as a simultaneous thrill ran through me which hadn’t gone unnoticed.
He began to pull something up on his monitor, turning it to face me. “Read this, it might help with your understanding,” he said, sitting back in his chair and watching me closely. My smile faded the instant I realised what it was. It was another contract and I swallowed hard. Of course he’d done this before. He was an experienced Dom. What I didn’t like was how jealous I felt. I read through the section slowly. It was the one I’d been struggling with.
Holy shit.
Everything was detailed from her attire to the times they’d meet. How they should greet him, address him and exactly what they could expect in return. The level of detail stunned me as I tried to contain my shock.
They wouldn’t contact him. There would be no time outside the allotted schedule and no expectations of any further relationship. In fact, there were three different clauses with alternative wording that said exactly the same thing, just in case they were in any doubt.
“You could scrap that whole paragraph. Four words would cover it, ‘I won’t date you’,” I quipped as he laughed. It wasn’t in mine, but the comparison had definitely aided my understanding.
“I get it. I shouldn’t expect to be strolling hand in hand beside the River Thames with you anytime soon,” I smiled. The relationship was clearer, but I felt glad he hadn’t hammered it home three times in black and white for me.
“As I said, this is unique to both of us. I’d prefer to start off with some basic rules and take it from there,” he said reassuringly as I smiled. “As your Dom it’s my job to support and protect you through this process, not frighten the living daylights out of you before we get off the blocks.”
My spirits rose instantly. The openness of his attitude and the contract meant more flexibility for me to adjust and acclimatise. He had ruled some things in, but little was ruled out and a surge of warmth flowed through my veins. It wouldn’t ever be what I had with Jake, but neither had he stipulated that there was no room for development. I already felt certain that reining in my feelings for Lucas would be easier said than done, as I pushed back the visuals of us laughing on the riverbank. I was getting carried away. I needed to run before I could walk. He hadn’t even spanked me yet!
“Thank you for breaking me in gently,” I smiled broadly as he quirked a dark eyebrow, smirking sexily with a mischievous curl of those incredible lips that hit me straight between the thighs.
“I didn’t promise that,” he winked, as my brain wandered to more carnal thoughts. I forced myself back. I wasn’t finished yet.
“How will this work?” I asked, holding up both contracts as he laughed, shrugging his shoulders.
“I haven’t done it before. This differs from other relationships, so I guess we’ll have to compartmentalise,” he said as I gazed across at him, rolling the word over and over in my brain. Compartmentalising suited me. It meant that I could keep my life with Dex separate from my life at work and my relationship with Lucas at the club. Three separate parts that didn’t intertwine. It was perfect in theory.
“Okay, we compartmentalise,” I smiled, knowing that I had to give it my best shot. It wasn’t really possible for Lucas and me to spend time together in the traditional sense anyway. This seemed like the perfect option; everything I wanted in black and white, awaiting my signature. I wanted to tell him, but I couldn’t. It didn’t make any difference to my abilities at work or our relationship at the club, and most of all I was scared; terrified that this dream would disappear in a puff of smoke if he knew the truth. Soon I would tell him, but not yet.
I could feel his eyes burning into me as I read them through once more. They were fairly straightforward black and white versions of everything he’d promised. I signed as soon as I was done, sliding them across to him, the familiar burst of electricity shooting up my arm as my fingers grazed his.
He rose from his chair, walking behind me and I was glued to mine, jumping as he put his hands on my shoulders and bent to kiss my cheek from the side.
“I like this outfit,” he said softly as strong hands cupped my breasts, squeezing them roughly. I gasped at his audacity, loving every second of the contact. “I think you’ve worn it deliberately, Jessica.” I could hear the smile in his voice as he played with my nipples, teasing them through the soft fabric, over and over again, flooding my core with warmth. I moaned gently, groaning in frustration as he removed his hands and moved slowly back to his chair. He was watching me closely and grinning as he resumed his position behind his desk. His gaze dropped to observe my swollen nipples that were now poking noticeably through the silk of my blouse. “Very responsive,” he smiled as I flushed, wanting more, but knowing I wouldn’t get it here.
“Thank you for this, Lucas,” I said, looking up at him and smiling as he nodded.
“We’ll celebrate over dinner,” he said, holding my gaze. Shit.
“I can’t do dinner, I’m sorry,” I tried to smile as he frowned at me.
“Are you playing hard to get, Miss Evangelista?” he asked, watching me closely and I couldn’t help but laugh at his words.
“I hardly think so Lucas, it’s a bit late for that,” I smiled as his face lit up, eyes dancing and probably having the same flashbacks to yesterday that I was having. Evenings were too hard for childcare without a significant amount of notice. Not that I was about to tell him that.
“Tomorrow then?” he smiled as my own smiled faded.
“I can’t Lucas. I’m not being difficult. I have plans with Chas tomorrow,” I smiled.
“What plans?” he asked firmly and I couldn’t help but laugh. Mr in control was back and I needed to get used to that.
“Tomorrow is my birthday. Chas and I go out to a little American diner near our place, it’s kind of a family tradition,” I smiled as he sat back in his chair regarding me closely.
“I like to cele
brate when I close a deal. You’d rather do that than come to The Ivy with me?” he asked seriously. The man was trying hard and it was tempting, but I always spent my birthday with Chas and Dex. It was a day of mixed emotions. I swallowed hard. It was neither the time nor the place for those emotions and I needed to keep them hidden.
“It’s not that, but I’ve made plans now. I didn’t know about all this then, so it wouldn’t be fair for me to change them. Another night, Lucas?” I asked, smiling as he nodded. If he pressed for a firm date now he’d be bordering on looking desperate and I knew that desperation wasn’t his style. Hell, it probably wasn’t even in his vocabulary.
I turned as the office door opened and Charlie came bounding in, saving me from any more conversation about night’s out as I smiled up at him.
“What’s all this, meeting with your PA?” he grinned at Lucas and I couldn’t help the flush that rose up my body at the thought that he might know about yesterday.
“We’re just finalising the details of Jessica’s termination,” Lucas said flatly and Charlie couldn’t hide his shock as he turned to me.
“You quit, Jess?” he asked as I smiled.
“No, I fired her,” Lucas interrupted before I could answer, looking at me and then his brother.
“Jesus, I’m not surprised you look happy. What are you going to do with the payoff?” he grinned at me and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’ve gone into partnership in the events business with Lucas,” I laughed, watching the pure unadulterated shock spread across Charlie’s handsome face as he stared first at me and then at his smirking brother. He was clearly unsure whether or not I was joking.
“No shit?”
“No shit” laughed Lucas.
“Well, well. Maybe you might want to look at this,” Charlie smiled, shoving a piece of paper into my hand as I glanced at the details.
