by Laura Sutton
Aidan clicked on the album, Groomsmen. He started laughing as he saw the pictures of the men drunk and the series of pictures of her pouring water on them. “Lens-zilla.”
“What?”
“The men were calling you Lens-zilla when I finally got to the hotel. Thank you for getting them ready. I should have been there.”
“Don't be hard on yourself. I'm pretty sure Topher was glad you weren't so they could drink more. He says that you are pretty strict on that.”
“I am.”
“Good.” Claire smiled. He turned back to the other pictures, click on the album “Aidan Ashby” he opened the album and he was breathless. There were tons of pictures of him. The picture of Ella laughing as he spun her on the dance floor. Claire had even captured a moment of him kissing Ella on the forehead. Aidan was speechless. He pressed a button on the desk.
“Yes, Mr. Ashby.”
“I'm not to be disturbed until I call you again.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Claire.”
“You hate them.” Her shoulders slumped. Aidan looked up at her, the look in his eyes unreadable.
“Come here.” Aidan turned his chair as he pulled her down onto his lap. Capturing her head and kissing her. His hand traveled up her dress.
“We can't, not in here. They'll see.”
“Do you remember what I said at the house?” Claire instantly blushed. “I would never let anyone see you. No one can see in the windows.”
“Really.”
“Yes.”
The word was barely out of his mouth as his lips were back onto hers. His hands caressing her inner thigh. Slowly his hands went farther up, then he pulled away.
“Ms. Henderson. Where are your panties?”
“Must have forgotten them.”
“Do you do this often?”
“Never.”
Aidan hummed in approval as he picked her up, pushing his laptop back. The picture of them dancing up on the screen. He kissed her as he rubbed his thumb over her sensitive part until she was soaking wet. She moaned again, “Hush. Don't make a sound.” She bit her lip as he kept rubbing her pushing his fingers and thumb inside of her massaging her. The sensation almost brought her climax, but he stopped, letting her body calm. She opened her eyes, staying silent, biting her lip. He slipped off both of her heels as he put her foot on the desk. Her knee almost against her chest. “Put your feet on my chest. Don't drop them.”
“Yes, sir.” She said with a smile.
He ripped open a condom and slid it on. Slamming inside her. Her knees moving up to her face. The fire inside her was burning as he held her close as he pushed deep inside of her, so exposed to him on his desk. She tightened around him as the pleasure of him thrusting into her brought her climax. He climaxed soon after her. He stayed in her for a moment as he looked to her. “You may release your knees.” He said. He pulled out of her as she sat up. She watched as he pulled off the condom and pulled out a wet wipe from his desk drawer. Wiping himself first and then cleaning her. “What else did you bring?”
Her mouth went dry and she looked to her hands, fidgeting. Aidan stood in front of her. He took her hands. “What has you so nervous?”
“It's the contract.”
“You've read it.”
“I couldn't sleep after our call.”
“You don't want to sign it. It's ok, Claire. I understand. That life isn't for everyone.”
“It's not that.”
Aidan stood there as she kept looking down. “Claire, you have to talk to me. I can't address your fears if I don't know what they are.”
“I have a dark, demon-filled past. The punishments...” Aidan stood there silently waiting for Claire to finish; though his patience was wavering, “...would they be like when I cursed or worse?”
“It would depend. Normally they would be like that or a little harder. It is a punishment, not a reward.”
“If I used a safe word”
“I would stop immediately.”
“Would you?” Claire asked in a whisper almost too low for even Aidan to hear if he weren't standing so close.
“This is all about trust. Trust from you. I would not press you into something you do not want to do. Yes, I know you have a past, we would have to work out what we can and can't do. For me, it's all about pleasure, the control. I'm not about the pain, exactly, but I do expect to be obeyed.”
“In the bed only. Right?” Claire asked as she gripped the edge of his desk until her knuckles were white.
“With you, for the most part.”
“Not the others.”
“The others were not in a relationship with me. Our 'relationship' as you call it started and ended in the bedroom.”
Claire looked at him. Can I do this? Taking a deep breath, she quickly made up her mind before she talked herself out of it. Here goes nothing, she told herself. She picked up the envelope holding the contract and handed to him. “There are a few changes. I added a hard limit, but it's signed.”
Aidan took the contract and pulled it out. He saw her note and pushed it back in. “I will look over this tonight and message you. Will you tell me what had you so scared about this?” He held up the folder.
“It's not the contract.”
“Then what is it?”
“I'm afraid of the memories it may unlock.”
“Memories?”
Realizing her mistake her throat went dry and her eyes widened a bit. “It's nothing.”
Aidan grabbed her arm as she slid off his desk as if she planned to run from the room, from him. “Claire why won't you tell me about your past?”
“I've told you enough.”
“No, you have not. You told me about what happened in college, not the past you had before this. To dominate you I need to know those fears so I can set the appropriate boundaries. I don't want to cause you another night terror attack and hurt you even further.”
Claire nodded. She could not tell him. She was under oath and too terrified that she would lose him. “Aidan, you would burn that contract in an instant, change your name and move to another city to get rid of me if you knew the darkness of my past. I like you a lot and I'm willing to try though I don't think that I will be very good as a submissive and I know nothing about it except what my counselor has told me about it.”
“I'll teach you,” Aidan said as he leaned down and kissed her. He reached down grabbing one of her shoes. “Leg up.” He picked it up and he slipped her shoes on and then repeated with the other. He slid her dress down, tugging at it until it was as far as it could go and smirked. “Perfect. Now, what are you doing today?”
“Doctor's appointment and then I'm looking at a few locations around the city.”
“You’re moving here?”
“No. A spot for my gallery. Topher didn't tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“I figured after you made us sign those papers that he would have spilled all the beans.” Claire laughed. “I’m using the money from the paintings that I sold to create my own gallery. Maybe even sign my actual name instead of signing in braille.” Claire bit her lip as she looked to the blue painting that hung on his wall. “Alyssa thought it would be safe enough. Though I may use a different last name. Topher gave me that idea.” Claire smiled as she remembered the late-night talks that she and Alyssa had, and Topher had joined it.
“You know, I've been fighting non-stop with Alyssa trying to get more out of her.”
“I know. But I got to have something within the gallery for people to look at. Like I said earlier, that painting should not be in your office.”
“Remind me why is that?”
Claire blushed. “Honestly?”
“I prefer that you always be honest with me.”
“I paint the colors that I see.”
“Yes, through the lens your emotions flow to all your creative masterpieces.” Claire stared at him; Alyssa had been talking to him. Through the lens, she had said so many time
s before. She cleared her mind so that she could concentrate.
“Those weren't the colors I saw when we kissed in your penthouse as I told you at your other house? I actually painted that after I had a dream.”
“A dream? A dream about what Ms. Henderson?”
“You.”
“I see. What were we doing?”
“Pretty much what we just did on your, now messy, desk.” Claire smiled. Leaning closer to his ear, “It's the colors I see when you make me come.” Claire kissed his cheek and turned to move to the other side of the desk. Aidan stood there a bit stunned at the honesty. She was a breath of fresh air with her truthfulness. He straightened his tie as he looked from the painting to her.
“So, you are looking for a gallery?”
“Yes, and if I don't go, I'll be late for all my appointments. I'll eagerly await your text this evening.” Claire said with a smile, giving an awkward wave, as she quickly turned towards the door.
“Call me and tell me what the doctor says,” Aidan commanded as she touched the door, she walked quickly from the office, seeing that he was already reading through a file that she had noticed beside his computer. So, commanding.
She pulled out her cell phone and texted a quick reply after the elevator doors closed tightly. “No. -C” Claire smiled. He may command her in the bedroom but there was no way that she would speak to him about what happened in her doctor's appointment. It got too close to the world that she hid from him and planned to keep hiding from him until her death if she had her way and Alyssa did not tell him anymore.
Chapter Thirteen
Claire barely made it in time for her doctor's appointment at Ashby Hospital. She sat down with a smile on her face. She had to take off her heels and run full force, but she did it. “Appointment for Claire Henderson...”
“Claire. You're late,” Doctor Julia Gordon said coming around the corner.
“I had thirty seconds to spare.”
“Says the girl who's usually fifteen minutes early to everything,” the doctor said with a smile, shaking her head.
“True but I was... busy.” The blush spread through her whole body no matter how she tried to stop it. The doctor smiled at her.
“About time. Let's get you to an examining room.” Doctor Gordon chuckled. Her brown hair bouncing as she shook her head, laughing.
Claire followed her. She was a little nervous, but she kept reminding herself she had done nothing wrong. Nothing to be nervous for. Claire sat down on the paper covered table. “So, Claire, how have you been feeling? Been sleeping?”
“I'm good. I just came for some birth control.” Claire said quietly.
“I see our sessions are helping.” Claire blushed as she felt the doctor looking her over. “Ok, you know the drill, change into this,” she held out a gown. “The file says it's time for a whole check-up.”
“I was afraid of that,” Claire muttered as she took the gown and went into the bathroom that was in the room. She had always gotten this room when she came into the hospital. The doctor had been with her since she first came into the hospital almost ten years prior. Of course, the hospital's name had changed and was greatly updated from the first time that she had been in there. Doctor Gordon took her case when she came into the hospital since she was trained in the most different kinds of medicine and Claire couldn't take many people in the room. Claire liked Doctor Gordon and they formed a bond with one another.
Claire came out of the room as the doctor checked all the scars on her back. “They’re fading. A few of them are almost gone completely.” Claire nodded silently. She hated talking about her scars. Yes, they showed that she was a survivor and it was true that she'd rather be alive than dead, but she felt the scars made her ugly. The doctor noticed the quietness. “Heard you were going to get your gallery soon. Let me know when it opens. I'd like to be there.”
“Do you think it's ok to use my family’s money? I have never touched it, never wanted to, but...”
“Claire. That money is not theirs. It's your money. It comes from good investments. Use the money. Follow your dreams. Be happy.” The doctor sat down in front of her on her stool. “Claire, I have been hoping for this day. The day you finally start living and find someone to be with. I'm glad that Alyssa has been there for you, but you need to find a guy that loves you and will show you how to love.” Claire looks to her, biting her lip. “Ok lean back, legs apart.”
The appointment was done. Their talk still playing in Claire's head as she took the small pack of pills and put them in her bag. Claire bit her lip but finally walked out of the hospital with a purpose.
“Jessica!”
The red-headed secretary walked briskly into Aidan's open office door. “Yes, Mr. Ashby.”
“Can you find out which realtor Ms. Henderson is using and the buildings he's showing her?”
“Yes, sir.”
Jessica moved from the room, looking through her record files. Making a few phone calls, she smiled as she finally found what she needed. Jessica walked back to Aidan's door, knocking.
“Enter.”
“Mr. Sharpe is her realtor,” She handed him a file. “These are the locations that he has planned to show her. She is meeting him in fifteen minutes. Should I cancel the rest of your meetings for the day?”
“No. I just wanted to look at the buildings.” Aidan took the paper and keyed the buildings into his computer. He looked at building specifics on the realtor site and located the buildings and the locations. Aidan picked up the office phone and called Mr. Sharpe. Aidan looked to the paper with Claire's signature on it. She had signed the contract; he knew that he could provide for her.
Claire walked into the realtor's office with a smile. She was finally doing it. She was going to use her family’s money and completely pay off a gallery of her own, and not rent as she planned. It was a dream that she had been planning for years. The moment she was through the door an older gentleman stood up quickly.
“Ms. Henderson? I'm Mr. Sharpe. I have all the locations picked out to show you today that was within what you said you were looking for.”
The day passed as Claire looked at the building. “There is one more. It's not exactly what you were looking for but it's cheaper and it needs a lot of work done in it to make it a gallery, but space and location is perfect.”
“Let's see it,” Claire said with a smile. She was having an amazing day. After the doctor told her to follow her dreams and to use the money she didn't care about the cost. She just wanted the perfect gallery that she had always imagined when everything else looked too dark to go on. Claire got in his vehicle as she imagined what the gallery would look like.
Mr. Sharpe pulled up in front of a warehouse with big bay windows. The neighborhood was a lot of businesses and high-rise buildings. Claire smiled as she could see Aidan's building down the street peeking above the other buildings. His place must only be about a mile away she guessed. She walked into the gallery and froze. “This is it. It's perfect.” She said as she walked in. The place was completely bare.
“You sure?” The realtor asked. He was not sure about the place. He had not originally thought to show her this place, but Mr. Ashby had told him to show her this spot. He sighed, hating that the man was right.
“It's like a blank canvas. I can turn this place into my dream gallery without too much work.” Claire bit her lip as she walked around.
“There are a few offices back here.” The realtor leads the way as Claire followed him. “Up those stairs is an entire apartment.”
“Really? May I?” She pointed at the stairs.
“Of course.”
Claire climbed the stairs slowly. This place was perfect. She could live and work there. She would not have to live above a bar or in the bad part of town any longer. She sucked in her breath as she looked around. The loft apartment covered the entire gallery. Two huge rooms and a huge open space was perfect to allow her to put up her design desk and even get the extension to that desk.
She could even have her studio up here and not in one of the offices below. “I'll take it,” Claire said her voice almost a whisper.
“Very well. I will start that paperwork.”
“When can I move in?”
“Immediately once the payment is posted.” Claire stood there staring at the room. The place felt alive to her; like anything was possible in this place.
Mr. Sharpe moved down the stairs towards the front of the gallery, away from earshot and picked up his phone, pressing redial. “She is taking that property that you suggested. Yes, sir. My office will fax you the paperwork. Yes, sir.”
He hung up and text his office. Soon there was a ping on his phone. He walked back towards the stairs and called up.
“Ms. Henderson?”
“Yes.” She moved to the stairs and started walking down to meet him.
“The payment has posted. Here are the keys.”
“But I haven't paid yet.”
“It was purchased anonymously and put in your name.” The man smiled and she took the keys. Aidan. Aidan had bought her the gallery that she wanted. She was happy for the gallery, but she hated that he had bought it. She could afford her own gallery. She took a deep breath. She's allowed him to buy the gallery, it was part of the rules in the contract she had signed; but she was paying for the remodeling.
She pulled out her phone when she was in the car with Mr. Sharpe. Scrolling through she found Aidan's name and typed out a text. “I really appreciate the gallery but I'm paying you back!”
“No.”
“Yes. It's too expensive.”
“Claire, it's only money.” He texted.
“Please.”
“You should spend your money on a LONGER dress.” He texted.
“Let's deal... I will buy a longer dress for everyone else and a shorter one for you if you at least let me pay for the renovation.”
“Deal.” Aidan's reply was curt. She knew that he probably did not like that he could not pay for everything, but she needed to do this on her own. Be her own person.
