"Is everything okay?" she asked worriedly as she stepped into the room, brows knitting above her kind blue eyes. Her long blond hair hung loosely around her shoulders with soft bangs framing a face warmed by laugh lines around her eyes and mouth. She was wearing a long purple sweater dress with a cowled neck and tall black boots.
Elaine tended to mother me, even though she was only ten years older than me, but she was the happily married mother of three teenagers. She never stopped being a mom. It was one of the things I loved most about her. Lord knows, I'd spent most of my life without a motherly influence since my own mother never had it in her.
"I'm fine," I reassured her. It's not like I was going to tell her I was up half the night fantasizing about a certain redhead and the depraved things I wanted to do to her. "Why don't we go over today's schedule?" I suggested, changing the subject to work.
"Certainly," she nodded even as she still eyed me with concern. Elaine could always tell when I was upset or worried about something, but I wasn't discussing this with her. "Just let me get my tablet."
A few moments later, Elaine walked back in with her tablet under her arm and two steaming mugs of coffee. God bless her, hiring her as my only employee was the best decision I ever made, even if it was originally so I wouldn't be tempted by a younger available woman. She didn't need to know that.
I was disappointed when my schedule ended up being rather light today. I was in desperate need of a distraction while I struggled to let go of this obsession with that redhead. She was constantly popping into my thoughts, and I needed it to stop. If I was busy, maybe I could exorcise the damn woman out of my head for good.
When Elaine walked out, I was left sitting there at loose ends for another half hour until I had to leave for court. I stared at my laptop and sighed. My initial thought that not fucking the redhead was a good thing, had changed after two long sleepless nights. Now, I wished we'd finished what we started. Maybe then I wouldn't be plagued by thoughts of what could have been. It was pure and simple sexual frustration, and nothing more. There was no other plausible explanation for this insanity.
That was why I was once again picturing soft ivory skin that smelled like the ocean, and big juicy lips wrapped around my now hardening cock. I groaned softly. It was time for something drastic. I grabbed my phone and pulled up Daphne's number. If anybody could help me let this go, it was her. She was open to anything, no matter how intense, and never got clingy afterwords. She was the perfect submissive.
We need to get together tonight. My text was demanding. She really enjoyed being told what to do.
She replied almost immediately. What did you have in mind, Sir?
I need to work off some steam, if you're up for it.
I'm up for anything you like, Sir. You know that.
Then be ready for a long strenuous night. I have a lot of pent-up energy.
Yes, sir. Looking forward to being used, Sir.
Like I said, she was the perfect submissive. We set up a time for her to be at my penthouse tonight, and I let out a sigh of relief. Hopefully, this would do the trick, and I could get back on track. There wasn't room in my life for anymore distractions.
"Gareth?" Elaine said from the doorway.
"Yes?"
"That arraignment hearing for this morning has been pushed up a half hour," she explained.
"Good," I said with relief. "I'll head out to the court house right now."
Thank you, God. I really didn't need to rush off just yet, but I needed to get moving before I began obsessing over that woman again. I rose and pulled my suit jacket on. I tucked my phone into my jacket pocket as I crossed the room to grab my coat from the coat rack. "I'll let you know when I'm on my way back."
"Don't forget you have an eleven o'clock appointment," she added as I walked out with my coat over an arm.
"Got it." I nodded absently as I hurried out, ignoring her bemused expression over my unnecessary haste.
My phone rang just as I walked out into the hall. I pulled it out of my pocket and sighed in resignation. It was Judge Rigby's office, and I'd been dreading this call since Friday.
"Caxton," I answered succinctly.
"Mr. Caxton, this is Ron from Judge Rigby's office," her judicial assistant said in a professional tone. "Judge Rigby would like to speak with you, sir."
"Of course," I replied in a calm tone that belied the irritation I was already feeling. "Put her on." I continued down the hall toward the elevators as I waited on the line.
"Caxton," Judge Rigby's shrill voice snapped out. It was like nails on a chalkboard, and I gritted my teeth. "I thought we had an understanding, but Leonard tells me you've refused to be his attorney. You said you'd represent my nephew. "
I wondered why I thought agreeing to help her out in the first place would be good for my career. I didn't even like her, and it certainly wasn't helping my mood right now either.
"That was before he assaulted me during my initial interview," I retorted immediately in a firm tone.
"He claims you insulted him and provoked him," she said waspishly.
I stopped just short of the elevators and stepped aside to finish this waste of a conversation. "First of all, he was still high on meth when I met with him, so any semblance of a coherent conversation with Leonard was impossible," I explained in a low growl as I turned to face the hallway. "Second, he expected me to lie on his behalf. I may be ambitious and looking to get ahead, but being asked to compromise my integrity isn't something I'm willing to tolerate. Third, he assaulted me," I repeated with emphasis, "so I defended myself."
"So you're just washing your hands of this?" Judge Rigby asked in angry disbelief. "This is Leonard's third strike. He could get sentenced to twenty years."
"I don't care," I interrupted immediately as I heard the elevator doors opening behind me. It was time to end this farce of a conversation. "It doesn't change the fact that I won't be representing Leonard, now or ever. You'll have to find someone else, your honor. It won't be me."
I turned to get on the elevator, only to find a pair of familiar hazel eyes looking right back at me. What the-? I stared at her in wide-eyed shock as I absently lowered the phone from my ear and ended my call.
She looked just as stunning as I remembered, with her flaming red hair pulled up and her sexy glasses. She looked like a hot librarian, and sudden lust hit me hard and fast. It was all I could do not to grab her, pull her hair out of its bun, and rip her damn clothes off right here. I wanted to crush her against me and kiss her big soft lips into oblivion.
I watched in fascination as her pupils dilated with arousal. Her face flushed red as her lips parted and her breath quickened. Damn, she felt it too, this overwhelming urge to fuck. Now I'd have my chance to finish what we started. Then maybe I could get my head on straight and let her go. I couldn't believe my good luck, and I wasn't going to squander this opportunity. I threw my most devastating grin at her.
"Well, hello beautiful," I said smoothly. "How on earth was I fortunate enough to find you here?" I had a sudden urge to touch her, so I shoved my hands in my pockets. I didn't want to freak her out. I wanted to get into her pants.
"I...I work in the building," she mumbled out uncomfortably as she shifted on her feet. Her eyes darted down the hall behind me for a second.
"So do I," I replied, amused by how much I flustered her. "I've never seen you here before."
"It's my first day."
"Really?" I stepped closer. I couldn't help myself. Her perfume hit me hard, and I suppressed a shudder at the clean fresh scent. "Where at?" I asked huskily. I clasped my right hand in a fist to keep from pulling it out of my pocket and reaching up to run my thumb over her bottom lip.
"Cooper Media," she answered. "I'm...I'm a copy editor there."
"Ah," I noticed a badge hanging off her blazer. Under her picture was the name Malory. I liked the sound of it, and it suited her well. "'Maybe we could have dinner tonight." The hallway was empty now, so I stepped even close
r to her until we were almost touching. I leaned in close to her ear. "I'd like to finish what we started on Saturday, Malory," I whispered seductively. Damn, I liked the way her name sounded on my tongue. I wanted to whisper it to her when I was balls deep inside her.
She shivered, and I was certain I'd won, but then she took a careful step backwards. "I don't think so," she said firmly, but her ragged breathing belying her words. "I need to go. I don't want to be late on my first day."
She started walking away, and I suddenly felt bereft and desperate. Neither were feelings I'd had in a very long time. I ignored the frisson of fear that thought caused me. "Malory-" I stifled the "please" that almost burst out of my mouth right along with her name. I never begged for anything from a woman. Well, not anymore anyway. I learned that lesson years ago, and wouldn't be that pathetic ever again. I could thank my ex-wife for that. However, I couldn't let her just walk away since my sanity was at stake.
She turned back and met my gaze with troubled eyes. I couldn't figure out her reticence, but I was determined to get past it. I needed her. I meant I needed her to get on board if I was going to let go of this unwanted obsession with her. "It's just dinner," I said reasonably.
She narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips dubiously. Okay, so we both knew that was bullshit. She shook her head. "I have to go." She turned and walked away.
I stared after her. The smart thing to do would be to let this go. The smart thing to do would be to take my frustration out on Daphne tonight and try to move on. The smart thing didn't work for me at all. I pulled my phone out as I began formulating a plan to get her to see me again, ignoring the nagging voice in the back of my head that wondered what the fuck I was doing.
**********
By the time I walked through the front door of my penthouse after work, my plan had already been set in motion. All I could do now was wait. I was checking my phone yet again as I walked in, afraid maybe I'd missed a call from Malory, for some reason. Alas, there were no missed calls from an unknown number. A wave of disappointment hit me.
"How was your day?" a female voice asked.
I glanced up from my phone and nodded at Jane, my housekeeper. She was standing in the kitchen to my left wiping down the gray granite counter top. Her dark hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail, her dark eyes warm and sincere. I loved Jane. She'd been my housekeeper since I separated from my ex-wife eight years ago. She was loyal and kind, and took great care of me and my home.
"Decent," I replied as I stopped to glance around for my dog. "Where's Reggie?"
"He was a little stir crazy and getting under foot, so I called Jared to take him for another walk." She smiled. "I think they went to that indoor dog park. They should be back soon." Jared was my dog walker and Jane's twenty-year-old son. "Dinner is in the warming drawer, and I chilled a bottle of Riesling for you."
"Thanks, Jane," I said gratefully.
"It's pork chops with apples and garlic mashed potatoes," she told me. "I saw it on the Food Network, and thought you'd enjoy it."
"I'm sure I will," I replied sincerely. "It smells great." Jane was an excellent cook. I always loved everything she made for me.
"Reggie will need his dinner when Jared brings him home too."
"Got it," I replied as I moved to the warming drawer of my stove. I pulled it open to peek at my dinner. It looked amazing too.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Jane said as she grabbed her coat and purse out of the coat closet by the door.
"Have a good night," I called as she walked out the door with a wave. I closed the warming drawer and headed upstairs to change out of my Tom Ford suit. I intended to spend a quiet evening alone with some good food and a book.
When I came back to the kitchen in a long-sleeve T-shirt and athletic pants, Jared and Reggie were walking in the door together. My dog was panting happily and giving me a wide doggie grin as he rushed up to me.
"Hey, Reg," I ruffled the sides of his head in my hands. "Did you have fun at the dog park, buddy?"
"That Yorkie he loves was there," Jared announced with a grin. "You should have seen it, G. It was fucking hilarious." If his mother only knew how he talked when she wasn't around, she'd have his balls. "The two of them played together the whole time. Reg laid on the floor and let that little ankle-biter crawl all over him."
I laughed. "I'm glad he had fun. Thanks for getting him out of your mother's hair."
"No problem," he replied with a shrug. "Reg is my man, aren't ya, bub?"
Reggie pranced over to Jared and leaned against his legs. It earned him an enthusiastic back scratch.
Jared was a good kid with messy brown hair and the same dark eyes as his mother. He was just about my height, but he was on the skinny side and had a babyface that combined to make him seem younger than his twenty years. The poor excuse for a beard that he was trying to grow didn't help any either. He'd been walking and taking care of Reggie when I couldn't since the dog was a pup. Jared had a real affinity for dogs, and Reggie loved him almost as much as he loved me.
"Are you teaching class this week?" Jared asked as he continued spoiling my dog with attention.
"Definitely," I answered him with a grin. I taught Muay Thai classes at a local gym a couple of days a week, one for adults and one for kids. I loved sharing my passion with others. I especially enjoyed teaching the kids, even if it tried my patience. They were like little sponges if I could keep them focused.
"Good," he said. "I'm struggling with a couple of my counter attacks. Do you think we could work on a few afterwords?" he asked hopefully.
Jared was pretty green since he'd only been training for a year or so. I'd convinced him to give Muay Thai a try because he needed some structure in his life. He ended up being a natural, and having something constructive to focus on had been good for him.
Before I started teaching him, he'd gotten tangled up with some unsavory people that he thought were his friends. They weren't, and thanks to them, he was sucked into a criminal case he had nothing to do with involving drugs and an assault. I'd immediately agreed to represent him for free, and got the charges against him dropped. The whole experience was eye opening for Jared, and he'd been trying hard to get his life back on track ever since. He was in college now and doing well. I wanted it to stay that way.
I nodded. "I can do that, but it'll be one on one." I eyed him sternly. "I won't go easy on you, kid."
"I wouldn't expect you to," he replied with a grin. "Thanks, G."
"You're welcome." I smiled, as if I wouldn't help him when he asked. He looked up to me, and I never wanted to let him down.
"I'll see you then," he said, then looked down at Reggie. "And I'll see you tomorrow, bub." Reggie's tail wagged enthusiastically as he followed Jared to the door, whining softly.
"See you later, Jared," I called after him as he walked out.
I fed Reggie, then got my own dinner out along with the chilled wine. I poured myself a glass and sat down at the kitchen island to eat. I was just lifting my first bite to my mouth when my intercom on the nearby kitchen wall beeped. I growled in annoyance as put my fork down. I got up and stalked across the room, then touched the screen to answer it.
"Yes, Robert?" I asked the security guy who manned the front-desk downstairs.
"Daphne is here, sir," a deep male voice said in a professional tone.
I closed my eyes and sighed. Damn, I'd completely forgotten about the plans I made with her this morning before running into Malory. I didn't want her here right now or anyone else for that matter. I contemplated having Robert just send her away, but she deserved an explanation before I sent her home.
"Sir?" Robert said worriedly when I hadn't responded yet. "Should I send her up?"
"Fine," I growled out as I scowled in irritation and ended the call without another word. I had just enough time to put my dinner back in the warming drawer before my doorbell rang. I sighed then took a large fortifying swallow of my wine before heading to the door.
I
pulled the door open to find Daphne standing there demurely in a long black wool coat that covered her from her neck to mid calf. Her head was bowed respectfully, and her long chocolate curls fell in a cascade around her shoulders. She was wearing black stiletto boots that made her even taller than she already was.
"Come in, Daphne," I greeted her sharper than I intended, but it didn't seem to faze her. I stepped aside to let her walk in. I wasn't going to have this conversation in front of a security camera.
I closed the door, and by the time I turned back to her, she'd let her coat fall to the floor, and she was kneeling in front of me. The boots were the only thing she was wearing now. Her hands were palms up on her thighs, and she stared at the floor waiting for my first command.
She looked beautiful that way, with her full breasts and curvy hips on display, and I knew she'd stay there until I told her she could move. She wouldn't speak unless I gave her permission either. As a Dom, or dominant, the power a submissive granted me over their body and mind fed a dark appetite inside me. It usually called to me, but for some reason, I didn't want Daphne's submission right now. I didn't want Daphne at all.
A sudden image of Malory kneeling like this with her red hair falling around the soft ivory skin of her shoulders came to me. I wondered if she had more freckles like the ones on her face on the rest of her body. I suppressed a shudder. I wanted to know more than my next fucking breath. I might be an asshole who wasn't interested in anything more than sex from a woman, but I wasn't going to fuck one while pretending she was someone else. It wasn't fair to Daphne. She was a good sub, and I felt bad for wasting her time tonight.
"Stand up," I said softly as I beckoned her to rise with a hand.
She immediately obeyed, rising in a fluid motion that I usually found enchanting. It did nothing for me now. It was time for her to go. I bent down to grab her coat, and her warm brown eyes watched me in confusion as I helped her back into her coat.
"I owe you an apology, Daphne," I told her as I gently lifted her hair up out of her collar. I started buttoning her coat over her nudity. "I shouldn't have invited you over here tonight. I'm sorry."
Dark Dominion: Dangerous Desire Book 1 Page 7
