Well, if she didn’t want to talk, I certainly wasn’t going to keep her. Nodding my head, I sat up. “That’s all I needed, Miss Hayes. You’re dismissed.”
Addison looked almost angry that I was excusing her. Had she expected something else? Perhaps for me to lay her across my desk and have my wicked way with her?
The thought was damn tempting, but for now, I was holding back. Until I found a way to address this issue, it wasn’t fair to either of them. If I couldn’t give them every part of myself, I damn sure didn’t deserve any part of them.
“Is everything all right?” she finally asked, making no move toward the door.
“Of course. Why?”
“You just… It seems like something’s off. You’re different.”
Different? I wasn’t sure I appreciated her observation. “Well, I’m sorry to have disappointed you.” Fearing she was going to push my buttons and I was going to unleash on her, I motioned toward the door. “You can go now,” I said, adding a slight bite to my tone.
Addison jumped to her feet and scurried to the door. I watched her go, and although I enjoyed the view a little more than I probably should have, I also knew that I had just fucked things up even more than I already had.
It seemed that I was starting a trend.
*
BEN
THE SECOND I SAW ADDISON come out of Mr. Parker’s office, I knew something was wrong. She was rattled and angry, stomping across the floor, hands balled into fists at her sides.
It was a stupid question, but I was going to ask it anyway. “Something wrong?”
Without so much as a sideways glance, she snarled, “That’s a question you should be asking your Dom.”
And that damn sure wasn’t how I expected her to respond. Mostly because it was rude, not only as her boss, but also as her…whatever I was to her. Based on her response, I was nothing.
It was the perfect moment to leave well enough alone, but I couldn’t. I had to address the situation, figure out how to soothe the waters before these two hardheaded people went toe to toe. As much as I wanted to believe otherwise, Addison wouldn’t win.
I followed her into her office and closed the door. When she turned around to face me, the glare in her eyes was hot enough to scorch the sun.
“I’m going to ask again.” I kept my tone even, trying to show her I wasn’t the enemy here. “Is something wrong?”
“And I’ll tell you again,” she hissed. “Go ask him.”
There were three things about this situation that bothered me. One, Addison was taking her anger out on me when, clearly, I wasn’t the target. Two, she was treating me with the utmost disrespect, and because I was her boss, she needed to be considerate with her response. And three, after all that we’d shared, I felt as though I deserved a hell of a lot better than that.
“Just go away,” she said, some of the bristle leaving her tone. “I’m tired of this crap.”
Yeah. I wasn’t going anywhere.
“Come here,” I bit out, unable to hold back the fury in my tone. She might be angry, but she was out of line in so many ways, I needed to bring her back in.
Addison’s blue eyes widened, but she didn’t move.
“Don’t make me tell you again.”
Like a petulant child, she stomped over to me, her arms crossed over her chest. “I need to get to work if you don’t mind.”
“I do mind,” I assured her. “I take offense to the way you’re speaking to me.”
“Too bad,” she countered. “You’re the one who barged in here.”
I held my tongue, taking a deep breath.
“Now, if you don’t mind, I’m on the clock and unless you have something you need me to do for you—in a business sense—then I’ll kindly ask you to leave me alone.”
There was nothing kind about her request.
I decided to make one last-ditch effort. “Do you want to talk?”
“There’s nothing to talk about. I’m at work and I’d do well to remember that.” Her eyes narrowed. “In fact, when I’m at work, I insist that we only discuss work. Understood?”
So that was how she wanted to play it? In just a few words, she had altered the course of our relationship.
“Are you sure about that?”
“Absolutely. You pay me to do a job, not to…do you.”
I nodded, staring at her. “Understood.”
“I mean it,” she added, her chin trembling. “I’m not playing your games.”
Addison had just made herself very clear. Acting as her Dom here in the office was obviously no longer permitted. “I think you’ve made yourself very clear, Miss Hayes.”
Without another word, I turned and walked out of her office. When Addison called out my name, I didn’t look back. Instead, I went right for Mr. Parker’s office, stepping inside and slamming the door behind me.
“What the fuck?” Mr. Parker glared at me. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Nothing,” I blatantly lied.
Mr. Parker’s head tilted slightly and he regarded me for several seconds. “You lying to me is new. I almost understood why you did it the other night; however, I’m not sure I understand now. Do you care to explain yourself?”
“No.”
His eyes widened in disbelief. “No?”
I didn’t respond.
“Does this have to do with Addison?”
“Yes.”
“What’s the problem?”
“She’s made it abundantly clear that we’re to keep things strictly professional here in the office.”
“Is that so?”
“It is.” And this was where my anger came in. “And I blame you for that.”
“Me?”
“Yes. I am sick and fucking tired of playing this shit.”
Okay, so I knew I was pushing boundaries I probably shouldn’t push, but it seemed appropriate. I was upset and I needed something only Mr. Parker could give me. Rather than ask for it, I was going about it a different way. Truthfully, it wasn’t much different than the stunt Addison had just pulled. The only difference was that Mr. Parker and I had a long-term, stable relationship, one I couldn’t rock with a few hastily spoken words. It didn’t matter that we’d had a falling-out this week. That wouldn’t unravel years of what we’d built.
“And what shit would that be?” he probed.
“Whatever the hell is going on with you. Your need to run away, then taking it out on Addison. You owe her an apology.” It wasn’t true. I had no idea what had taken place between the two of them and I damn sure didn’t have the right to insist he apologize. I could’ve phrased it as a request—probably should have, in fact—but I didn’t.
One blond eyebrow lifted slowly and I saw the spark of anger in his eyes. “Did you just order me to do something?”
I had. On purpose. But I didn’t admit it. Instead, I stood there, my eyes locked on his.
That worked.
A second later, Mr. Parker was getting to his feet. His expression was hard when he pinned his eyes on my face.
“Last I checked, I was the Dominant in this relationship. And unless I’m incorrect, that goes for in and out of the office.”
Yes, he was. And I wanted him to prove it. No, I needed him to prove it.
“Do you agree with that assessment?”
“Yes.” I purposely didn’t refer to him by name.
“Yes, what?”
“Yes, Mr. Parker.”
His eyes narrowed and his voice was tinged with frustration when he spoke. “Did you forget how to treat me with respect in the last few minutes?”
It didn’t take much to incite him, especially when he was in a mood, which, after last night, I knew to be the case. Whatever his issues were, they involved me and Addison, and the shift in emotions that took place when she was with us. It likely spurred whatever falling-out they’d had a short while ago, too. And somehow, I’d gotten in the middle of it.
I wasn’t necessarily proud of my
actions. The lie I had told Mr. Parker, the way I had flaunted my dominance in front of him last night when I had fucked Addison in her shower… Those reactions were beneath me, but he had finally pushed me to my limit. It was time we had this out.
To a degree, I knew where Mr. Parker was coming from. We were both hesitant after what we’d been through with Luci, but the last thing I wanted was for Mr. Parker to retreat from me. It was bad enough that Addison had just drawn a line in the sand and I had to abide by it. When we told her that playing was something the three of us would have to agree on, we’d been truthful.
I didn’t answer Mr. Parker’s question.
“You understand what you’re asking for?” he growled roughly.
Again, I kept my lips shut.
“Over here,” he commanded, his finger stabbing toward the floor beside his desk.
Making sure to keep my face blank of all expression, I took the few steps required to do as he insisted.
I knew what was about to happen and I would admit that I was topping from the bottom. That wasn’t the norm for me, which was likely the only reason Mr. Parker didn’t see right through me.
However, in this instance, I felt justified. I knew Mr. Parker was starting to question what was transpiring between us, and regardless of what it was, something had happened between him and Addison earlier. He’d handled the situation badly, and ultimately, it had affected me. I was acting out, no doubt about it.
Mr. Parker pulled out the lower desk drawer and produced his toy bag. He placed it on his desk and began rummaging inside.
“I’m trying to decide what your punishment should be,” he said absently as he began pulling things out of the bag, admiring them, then putting them back.
“Remove your clothes,” he commanded.
Tamping down some of my lingering defiance, I continued to watch him as I stripped my suit off and laid it over the chair.
When he produced a ball stretcher from the bag, I inwardly cringed. This particular toy was attached to a leash and Mr. Parker was quite fond of it. Once, I’d been forced to wear it—strapped to my testicles—while he led me around the club for three solid hours. I’d questioned one of his commands that day and he’d proven to me just who was the Dom in our relationship.
Needless to say, I’d never done that again.
He put it back.
He then pulled out the vibrating cock ring plug. The ring would circle my cock while the plug would be inserted in my ass. Should Mr. Parker choose to turn on the vibration, it would drive me completely out of my mind. When that thing vibrated against my prostate, it was damn near impossible not to come, yet when he used it, he refused to allow me to.
He put that one down, too.
Then reached into his desk drawer once more and pulled out his sturdy wooden paddle.
Ultimately, I knew that had been his intention all along.
“Put your hands flat on the desk,” he instructed as he moved around me.
I did, rebelliously remaining upright.
Mr. Parker came to stand at my side, placing his left hand on my chest. My body warmed instantly from the contact and I realized how damn much I had missed him these past few days.
I felt the wood caress my bare ass.
“I think this’ll do nicely.” The cool wood disappeared. “You, pup, seem to have forgotten who’s in charge. I’m going to give you a reminder.”
His hand slid down my chest, lower, until he was fisting my cock tightly.
I grunted.
“Does that hurt?”
“Yes, Mr. Parker,” I said on a sharp exhale. It wasn’t unbearable, and it turned me on, but it was still uncomfortable.
He tugged on my cock, forcing me to take one step closer to his desk.
“Put your chest flat, head turned to the side.”
I did, bending at the waist with my legs shoulder-width apart.
“Do you understand why I’m doing this?” His tone was calm and I knew he had purposely shoved any previous emotions away. This punishment was for my current disobedience and had nothing to do with anything else. Mr. Parker was good at compartmentalizing. It was another thing that made him an effective Dominant.
It was also the reason we were in this situation.
“I’m going to count down from twenty.” Mr. Parker leaned down and nipped my ear. “And when I get to one, you better come or I’ll give you twenty more.”
It was possible for me to come from him paddling me. Nonetheless, it did require me to focus and I had to get to subspace quickly.
“Are you ready?”
I grunted again when he squeezed my dick. “Yes, Mr. Parker.”
Relaxing as much as possible, I waited, expecting the feel of the wood against my ass.
A minute passed, then another. My anticipation grew exponentially.
Smack! “Twenty,” he said, his tone even.
“Oh, fuck,” I growled as heat bloomed across my skin.
One thing about Mr. Parker, he didn’t go light on me.
Something I loved about him.
Smack! “Nineteen.”
The next one came almost immediately after.
Smack! “Eighteen.”
With his hand still wrapped tightly around my dick, I knew he could feel how hard he made me. Regardless of who had instigated it, this was something we both needed.
Smack! “Seventeen.”
Another quick one followed.
Smack! “Sixteen.”
The next few were spaced evenly and I began to drift on the high from the endorphins flooding my body. My cock throbbed in his hand, my body jerking with every brutal whack of the paddle. My mind went fuzzy and the blessed high known as subspace took over.
Smack! “Eleven.”
I couldn’t keep from moaning when he fisted my cock more roughly and another solid smack followed, then another.
Smack! “Eight. What’s your color, pup?”
“Green,” I whispered, letting the high take me.
Smack! “Seven.”
He continued, his voice ringing out after every glorious slap of the wood against my ass until I barely registered him saying one at the same time his hand tightened around my dick.
I came with a roar, my entire body feeling the electric currents that raced down my spine.
Mr. Parker’s hand disappeared and I heard him moving. A second or two later, he returned, rubbing the soothing oil over my smarting ass. It would ultimately hold the heat in for a little while, but I knew I deserved it, so I didn’t mind.
“Stand up and thank me, pup,” Mr. Parker ordered.
I pushed myself upright, then turned to face him. He gripped my face with his hand, his fingers and thumb digging into my cheeks. He wasn’t angry, but he was certainly disappointed. It made me feel like shit, although I’d been the one to provoke him.
“What do you have to say?”
“Thank you, Mr. Parker,” I whispered. “Thank you for disciplining me.”
Mr. Parker leaned in and pressed his lips to my forehead. “You’re welcome, pup.” He pulled back and stared at me. “However, don’t think for a second that you can top from the bottom ever again. The next time, you won’t like what your punishment will be. Now clean up your mess so you can get back to work.”
Well, I should’ve known the man was on to me.
Mr. Parker was nothing if not perceptive.
Thirty-Nine
ADDISON
I HAD ROYALLY FUCKED UP.
More so than I’d ever fucked up anything in my life.
And that was saying something considering one time I had set my bedroom curtains on fire when I didn’t want to live with one of the many foster families I’d been pushed upon. Needless to say, they had said good riddance pretty damn quickly.
Still, this felt decidedly worse than that.
I’d seen the understanding on Mr. Snowden’s face the other day when I insisted he leave me alone. And right there, as we’d faced off in my office, I real
ized the instant he’d written me off completely.
The past three days had been proof of that.
But, hey, I was used to it. I’d been written off by everyone in my life, so it didn’t necessarily surprise me.
Granted, I had been bluffing in an attempt to get a rise out of him, hoping we could figure this thing out together, but it had backfired in my face. He had called my bluff.
Although I had only insisted they leave me alone in the office, they’d chosen to wash their hands of me entirely. No more dinners with them, no more sharing a bed, no more conversations on the sofa, no more kneeling at their feet, no more kinky assignments. And no more having my outfit selected by Mr. Snowden.
What made it worse was the fact that Mr. Snowden was being so polite, even though I had verbally attacked him for absolutely no reason.
That night, I had gone back to my apartment alone. I’d never heard from either of them. Then on Saturday night, he had taken me to Dichotomy for my shift, but he didn’t stay. He’d instructed me to call him when I was ready to be picked up. I did and he took me back to my apartment without so much as a single word.
Every day this week, while in the office, Mr. Snowden and Mr. Parker were treating me with complete professionalism. Each morning they greeted me kindly, then disappeared into their offices. I was always prepared with coffee and they both generally accepted. Once that was delivered, I was back at my desk and they were at theirs.
The week had started relatively slow. With Dale on the phones full time, I was only dealing with the handful of calls that were directed to me, which left me with quite a bit of time on my hands. But I was happy to say that things were finally picking up now that the week was winding down. Mr. Parker and Mr. Snowden were now sending me emails with specific instructions for what they needed me to do. Between that and making calls to their managers to introduce myself, I’d kept myself busy.
Or I had. Right up until I’d made the phone call to the last manager on my list. Now, it was eleven o’clock on Friday and my bosses had taken Master Edge to lunch again to discuss business, so I was left to my own devices.
I started out the morning working with Luci, helping her to get one of the empty offices set up for Mistress Jane. She would be starting on Monday, and the big bosses wanted us to ensure she had everything she needed. Because it gave me something to do, I had also ensured that the other offices were stocked with supplies for when Master Edge and Master Zeke came on board.
Their Rebellious Submissive (Office Intrigue Book 3) Page 33
