48 Hours

by Callista Arman

  “No,” she said in a choked voice.

  “No, what?”

  “No, Master.”

  “Yet you wish to learn submission.”

  “Yes, Master.”

  “Very well, then.”

  He moved away, out of her vision. She kept her gaze fixed on the floor a few feet in front of the platform, not daring to watch him. At the edge of her vision, she saw him circle in front of her, approaching the French doors.

  A creak of hinges. Then Rafael’s rich voice spoke, but not to her. “Come in, my friend. It’s about time you joined us.”

  * * * * *

  Patrick couldn’t tear his eyes from Maddie.

  Her head had snapped up when he’d stumbled through the French doors. He’d nearly fallen on his face, but had managed to regain his balance by going down into a crouch at edge of the circular platform. She stared at him, lips parted, eyes wide. She was gulping breath so hard that the silver chain linking her nipple rings swayed. Her hair fell in wild, beautiful disarray, tumbling over her shoulders like a dark waterfall. Her legs were spread, her bare pussy glistening with dew.

  He’d never seen her more beautiful.

  Her gaze shifted a fraction, toward Montevale, then quickly lowered. Her chin dipped, her hair falling forward to obscure her features.

  Montevale eyed him. “So, Mr…”

  “McIllhenny,” he said automatically, rising. “Patrick McIllhenny.”

  Montevale gave a regal nod. “Tell me, Patrick.” He gestured to Maddie with the handle of his flogger. “What do you think of our Madeline?”

  “Beautiful,” Patrick whispered.

  “She believes her small breasts and big hips are less than desirable.”

  “I think they’re perfect.” He wished could see Maddie’s eyes. “I always have.”

  “And tell me also, Patrick,” Montevale said. “What did you think of our play in the restaurant tonight?”

  Patrick started. “You knew I was watching?”

  Maddie made a small sound in the back of her throat.

  Montevale laughed. “And seeing to your own pleasure at the same time Madeline found hers.”

  Patrick felt his face go hot. “Yes.”

  “Were you shocked by what I demanded of her?”

  Patrick sensed the question was a serious one. And Montevale didn’t strike him as a man who tolerated lies. “No.”

  “You pictured yourself in my place.”

  Patrick glanced at Maddie before answering. God, he wished he could see her eyes, wished he knew what she was thinking. A rosy blush had blossomed on her neck and shoulders. Was she embarrassed? Ashamed?

  Excited?

  “Yes, I pictured myself in your place,” Patrick said. Something compelled him to add, “It wasn’t the first time I’d imagined myself as Maddie’s Dom.”

  This time there was no mistaking Maddie’s shocked gasp. Shit, he should have kept his mouth shut. She’d probably never speak to him again.

  Montevale eyed him with an amused expression. Patrick drew himself up to his full height, suddenly aware of what a pathetic picture he must present. He’d left his sport jacket in the rosebushes. His shirt was ragged and torn from his climb to the balcony. His pants were streaked with dirt.

  He squared his shoulders and looked Montevale in the eye.

  The Dom turned toward Maddie. “And what of you, cara? Have you ever dreamed of Mr. McIllhenny as your Master?”

  Her reply was choked. “No.”

  Patrick’s blush deepened. Not that he was surprised. No woman would think of him that way. Especially not a woman like Maddie.

  “Excellent,” Montevale said. He turned back to Patrick. “Madeline has given me forty-eight hours of obedience.”

  “I know,” he said grimly.

  Montevale glanced at the gilded clock on the dresser. It was certainly an antique. The thing was probably worth more than the entire contents of Patrick’s apartment.

  “It’s now past two a.m.,” Montevale said. “Almost forty-four hours remain in our agreement.” He looked back to Patrick and raised a brow. “I’ve decided our little game has room for an extra player. You may join us until I say otherwise.”

  Patrick stared.

  Montevale gave him the devil’s own smile. “During that time, Mr. McIllhenny, I will endeavor to teach you something about women.”

  * * * * *

  Maddie sucked in a breath, not daring to look up. Oh, God. Instead of throwing Patrick out, Rafael had invited him to stay!

  Her mind recoiled. Belatedly, she realized Rafael hadn’t mentioned exclusivity when he’d delineated their boundaries for the weekend. She’d just assumed they would interact only with each other. Stupid, especially for her. She was a lawyer. She should have insisted on clarification.

  But she hadn’t. And that meant Rafael was perfectly within his rights if he wanted to share her with another man.

  But Patrick McIllhenny? He was a nice guy, but…

  She closed her eyes as a wave of humiliation swept over her. Was this her punishment? She’d rather take the flogger, or even the paddle she’d seen hanging in Rafael’s wardrobe. It was one thing having Patrick watch her climax in the restaurant. That had been a turn-on. She’d felt powerful watching him. And she could deal with the embarrassment of having him watch her through Rafael’s window. But to have Patrick tie her up, fuck her while she was helpless, maybe issue orders she would have no choice but to obey…

  And to know he’d already dominated her in his dreams! Hell, she never would’ve guessed in a thousand years that geeky Patrick had delusions about dominance. He seemed so mild and good-natured. Deferential and polite. It was laughable, thinking of him as a Dom.

  Her Dom.

  She wanted to sink right into the carpet and disappear.

  “Madeline,” Rafael said. “Look at your new Master.”

  She didn’t want to, but she knew she had to obey. She was already in enough trouble. She raised her eyes.

  Patrick’s blue gaze was stark, intense. She’d never seen him look so serious. His normally jovial expression was suddenly a study of hard angles.

  Rafael’s quiet authority intruded. “Do you accept my offer, Mr. McIllhenny? Would you like to learn the ways of dominance?”

  Patrick’s gaze didn’t leave Maddie’s face as he answered Rafael’s question. “Why the hell would you offer me something like that? What’s in it for you?”

  “I have my reasons,” Rafael said smoothly. “You don’t need to know them. You need only accept or decline. If you decline, you must leave my property immediately. No more lurking outside the windows.”

  Patrick’s face reddened, coloring the pale spaces between his freckles. Still, he didn’t flinch. If anything, he seemed to draw himself up taller. And he was tall, Maddie realized suddenly. Almost as tall as Rafael, in fact. Funny, how she’d never noticed Patrick’s height before.

  “What makes you so certain my presence won’t interfere with your weekend plans for Maddie?” Patrick asked Rafael. “I could take her out of here.”

  “But you won’t,” Rafael said quietly. “You are intrigued by my offer. And if that alone is not enough to ensure your cooperation…” He strode to the wall cabinet and opened it, revealing a flat-screen monitor. One press of a button and the image of Patrick darting across Rafael’s lawn filled the screen. The image changed to one of Patrick lurking in the bushes by the front door. Then to a video of Patrick scaling a glass greenhouse and entering the mansion via a second-story balcony.

  “My security system has a number of backups,” Rafael said. “I chose to set the alarm on silent mode, since I knew you were following. But the video recording is sent via broadband to a monitoring company. One press of a button from me and they will forward the footage to the local police.” He smiled. “The chief is a friend of mine.”

  Maddie couldn’t suppress a gasp. Patrick’s eyes had widened, too. He shifted uncomfortably. He knew he was caught—just as effective
ly as she was. The only difference was that he had the option of walking away.

  He didn’t take it. He met Rafael’s gaze and gave a stiff nod. “I’ll stay. But I’m telling you now, I don’t care what you have on me. I won’t engage in any homosexual activity.”

  Rafael’s brows lifted. “You needn’t fear on that score,” he said. “I prefer only women myself. If you stay, you will interact only with Madeline.”

  Patrick looked wary, but resolute. “Then I accept your offer.”

  Rafael smiled. “Madeline, I order you to accept Mr. McIllhenny as your Master in all things. Except, of course, if he is so bold to issue a command that runs contrary to my own. Your first loyalty is to me.”

  It was a good thing Maddie was kneeling. If she’d been standing, her knees would certainly have given way. Submit to Patrick McIllhenny over the weekend, then face him at work on Monday morning? She’d die of embarrassment. She’d have to quit the firm, maybe even move to another city.

  “And you, Mr. McIllhenny. You will accept my commands as well, both for yourself and for Madeline. And if you are so foolish as to disobey, I will not hesitate to transmit the video you saw to the police.”

  “I understand,” Patrick said. His voice was strained. Still, his eyes held an unmistakable gleam of anticipation.

  “Splendid. You strike me as a bright and resourceful young man. You have potential, I think, as yet untapped. I think you will find my instruction highly valuable.”

  Sheesh! What was she, a continuing education seminar?

  “Madeline,” Rafael said. “Stand.”

  She obeyed, keeping her eyes trained on Patrick as she did so, since Rafael hadn’t told her she could look away. Patrick stared back at her, his gaze flicking over her body, taking in the collar, the nipple rings, the chain encircling her waist and cinching her pussy and ass. His scrutiny lingered on her shaved mound for what seemed like quite a while. Maddie kept her hands at her sides, though the urge to cover herself was fierce.

  Did he like what he saw? The thought came out of nowhere. Unconsciously, she straightened her shoulders. Patrick had said her small breasts and big hips were perfect. Did he really mean that? Or had he said it because he thought it was what Rafael wanted to hear? She tried to read his mood but for once Patrick’s expression was closed.

  It was hard to remain motionless under his inspection. She was excruciatingly aware of her faults, in a way she hadn’t been when Rafael looked at her. She wondered why that should be. Rafael was the more handsome of the two men and despite being at least twenty years older, Rafael obviously spent more time at the gym than Patrick did.

  Perhaps she felt more shy with Patrick because Rafael was her fantasy. There was no sense in feeling inadequate in your own dreams, was there? But Patrick—Patrick was part of her everyday world. He kept her computer running, for Pete’s sake. When you got right down to it, he was almost her servant—the servant of all the lawyers at KK&R. His windowless cubicle was on the lowest level of the building and his salary was a pittance compared to hers.

  But for the next forty-four hours, she’d have to obey Patrick as her Master. The tables were well and truly turned.

  Patrick stood silent for a long time and Rafael made no interruption. Finally, the churning embarrassment in Maddie’s mind ebbed. She took in the disheveled condition of his clothes for the first time.

  He’d scaled a greenhouse to reach a second-floor balcony? If she hadn’t seen it on video, she never would have believed he’d have the guts to do it. Rafael’s house was huge and the first-floor ceiling was high. Climbing to the second floor was no joke. And then breaking in… The man was nuts.

  Why had he done it? To make sure she was okay? Or because he wanted to watch her get fucked? She searched his blue eyes. They were wary. Guarded. Almost as if he was as embarrassed with their new relationship as she was.

  A soft whir sounded overhead. Patrick looked up, startled.

  Maddie didn’t need to. She’d seen Rafael pick up the remote and press the button. She knew what was happening.

  The spreader bar descended slowly, until the ends of the chains dangled on either side of her face. Maddie licked her lips, her gaze flitting inadvertently to Patrick’s crotch. The fabric of his pants cupped an enormous bulge. With a start, she realized his cock had to be every bit as big as Rafael’s. Would she enjoy feeling it inside her?

  Rafael moved out of her line of sight, to her right and slightly behind her. When he spoke, his voice seemed to curiously clinical. Even so, his words reverberated in her skull.

  He addressed Patrick. “Madeline is quite lovely, though she may not realize it. Taking her mouth gave me great pleasure, as did fucking her slick passage.”

  He might have been a car salesman.

  Patrick’s jaw set, but he made no reply.

  “I believe you will enjoy her.”

  “I’m sure I will.” Patrick seemed to be recovering from his initial shock of being discovered in Rafael’s sitting room. The uncertainty in his voice was gone. His tone was deeper, more decisive. Not at all like his usual self-effacing joking manner.

  “Clasp your hands behind your back, Madeline.”

  She obeyed Rafael’s order immediately. The motion thrust the tips of her breasts toward Patrick. The balls and the connecting chain swayed. His gaze dropped to her nipples.

  A slight smile played at the corners of his mouth. When he looked back at her, she saw amusement in his blue eyes. Damn him! He was enjoying her helplessness.

  “You may touch her now,” Rafael said.

  Patrick’s gaze heated. Maddie entire body stood rigid as he climbed onto the platform. He seemed all too eager to touch her. Where would he poke first? Her breasts? Her pussy? Her ass? She wanted to die.

  He surprised her by making contact with none of those places. Instead, he held her gaze as he raised his hand to her face. He touched her cheek, then, with a featherlight stroke, traced a line around her cheekbone and along her jaw to her chin. Half of a heart. She stared at him. His expression was harsh, but distant.

  He turned his hand. It was trembling, she realized. The back of his fingers brushed over her neck, down the center of her chest. They came to rest between her breasts. Her nipples, still constricted by the nipple rings, hardened to tight beads. She was sure he’d noticed, but he didn’t reach for them. Nor did he tug the connecting chain, as she thought he might.

  His hand fell to his side.

  “Remove Madeline’s breast jewelry, Patrick,” Rafael commanded.

  She heard his sharp intake of breath. She watched, mesmerized, as his hand moved to her right breast. Taking the lower ring of the figure eight between his thumb and forefinger, he squeezed gently, releasing the clasp on her nipple.

  It was as if he’d set the tip of her breast on fire. The blood rushed back into her freed nipple as a burning, throbbing, itching ache. She couldn’t suppress a moan.

  Patrick’s gaze snapped to hers. “Did I hurt you?”

  “I didn’t give you permission to speak to her,” Rafael said in a sharp voice.

  “Sorry,” Patrick mumbled. Quickly, he released the other nipple ring.

  Again, Maddie gasped.

  Patrick’s brow furrowed, but he said nothing.

  Rafael spoke again. “Step away from her.”

  Patrick hesitated, then obeyed.

  “Very good. Let’s get down to business, shall we?” Rafael strode into full view. Maddie couldn’t help but stare at him. He was so beautiful, so commanding. She longed to press her lips to his bare, muscular chest. Beg him to send Patrick away.

  He shook his head. “Madeline, I told you to look at Patrick, not me.”

  Reluctantly, she tore her eyes from Rafael.

  “I’ve discovered Madeline has trouble taking orders,” Rafael told Patrick.

  A brief smile passed through Patrick’s eyes. “I’m not surprised.”

  Maddie frowned.

  “A good submissive obeys her Master instincti
vely,” Rafael said. “She asks no questions, has no thought but to follow his orders. For some women, this comes easily. Others, like Madeline, have more spirit. More passion. They require guidance. Discipline.” He eyed her. “Punishment.”

  Maddie shut her eyes as a swell of anxiety swamped her. She’d hoped Rafael had changed his mind about punishing her. But it seemed he hadn’t. He was going to flog her with Patrick watching.

  “Open your eyes, Madeline.” She could hear the displeasure in his voice.

  She’d disobeyed again! Her eyes flew open. Rafael stepped away, toward the wardrobe. When he reappeared, the leather flogger was back in his hand.

  “Now wait a minute,” Patrick said. “That thing looks like it could do some damage. You can’t—”

  “Madeline and I have an agreement,” Rafael said. “She has accepted the boundaries I set and this flogger is well within them.” He turned to Maddie. “Is that not true, cara?”

  “Yes,” Maddie muttered.

  Rafael’s brows shot up. “Speak clearly, Madeline. I don’t tolerate mumbling.”

  “Yes,” she repeated.

  Rafael gave her a pointed look.

  “Yes, Master.”

  Rafael chuckled. “You can see for yourself,” he told Patrick. “She needs discipline. She needs to learn every choice has a consequence. Look above you, cara.”

  She obeyed his command. The spreader bar hung within easy reach, chains swaying gently.

  “Lock your wrists cuffs to the bar,” Rafael said.

  Maddie blinked at him. “You expect me to chain myself?”

  Rafael sighed. “No questions, Madeline. Obedience.”

  The hours until Sunday night stretched endlessly into the future. There was nothing to do but obey, as she’d promised. Her breath hissed through her teeth, but she managed a reply.

  “Yes, Master.”

  Chapter Six

  Every goddamned drop of blood in Patrick’s body rushed to his cock. Not a drop was left in his brain. He felt like the top of his skull was about to permanently detach from his body.