Chapter 16

“Mister Wilson is here to see you, ma’am.”

At the slender man’s voice into an intercom, Aiden clenched his fists. As much as he’d wanted to march into Madame Dumont’s office, he’d slowed. It was important to maintain appearances. That was Gina’s advice. And she was correct. Even twelve years later, nobody had uncovered his and Kendra’s special relationship. And he’d fucked the ever-ravenous black woman all over her office. And her sexy-as-fuck husband.

“Gina,” he muttered as his chest tensed. Though only gone a week, her absence still had his heart aching.

“She’ll see you now, Mister Wilson.” Beneath glossy black bangs, the youthful receptionist smiled and gestured for the opening doors.

When the sun caught the man’s widening blue irises, the ring leaned forward. Yes, the guy hungered. And would be easy, but so what? More toys he didn’t need. And after giving the man a quick grin, he marched for Madame Dumont’s towering entrance.

By the time he appeared in the doorway, she was already moving to the front of her desk. In a russet shaft of afternoon sun, her sleek frame glimmered. Since their discussion in Aiden’s office, she’d taken to wearing dresses far shorter than the earlier ones. While similar to before, when she’d tried to entice him into serving her, there was a difference. And each glimpse of her hungry eyes had hammered that point home. She knew her place and was trying to entice him to take her.

In this case, the curve-hugging crimson dress covered only the uppermost portions of those impressive toned thighs. And his eyebrow raised as he noted its front zipper. Much lower than earlier in the day, it provided him with a hint of lace and the firm swells it cupped.

“Good afternoon, ma’am,” he said, letting his voice carry to the receptionist before pushing the doors closed.

Once they’d thumped shut, he gave her a quick inspection while moving to a chair before her desk. After he’d halted, she swayed. In her eyes, confusion; where’d he wish for her to stand?

“We need to talk, Sophie.” After he’d crossed his legs, the plush leather creaked as he reclined. His eyebrow arched; as before, there’d been no reaction to him using the name. Always good to check. “I think it’s about time, don’t you?”

“Y-Yes, um, Mister Wilson.”

At the hitch in her voice, a grin slipped onto his face. The irony wasn’t lost on her. When last he’d been there, she’d been the one trying to control him. And she’d spoken the very same words. In its darkness, illuminated by an occasional languid flicker, the ring chuckled.

When he gestured her closer, there was no hesitation as she took two steps to stand before him. Only the slightest wobble in her slim red heels hinted of nervousness. Once he’d investigated her face, his chest tightened. Although reddened and surrounded by hints of makeup-covered dark circles, her eyes weren’t wide. Fresh red lipstick adorned her twitching lips.

Gina had been correct. Well, had confirmed what he’d surmised.

There wasn’t a hint of fear in her. From the ring, a languid pulse of energy. But from her, nothing but slow waves of—anxiety. This was what she needed. He was what she needed. When his hand skimmed upwards along a warm thigh, her only reaction was the sticky, thin strips of red lipstick separating as her lips parted. Beneath his sweeping palm, quivers erupted in her sleek, warm skin.

Only when he nudged under the hem did she swallow. Along her thighs drummed the softest taps of her twitching fingertips. After stopping his hand, fingers wide, he waited. At the tiniest whimper from her and a gentle push into his palm, he released her and again reclined in the chair. Although she first swayed, chasing his hand, she halted. In silence, she rolled those glossy lips, staring at him from beneath arching brows.

“Yes, I want you,” he said, while steepling his hands. “Yes, I think we’ll work well together. And yes, I expect you to obey. Out there”—he swept a hand towards the closed doors—”I’ll continue being your loyal deputy. I’ll not do anything to jeopardize your position. But...” With a quiet growl, he surged to his feet, stopping with his chest pressing the expensive material taut over her firm globes. As he looked down into her widening eyes, his smile broadened. “In here, or anywhere we’re alone, you’re mine. To do with as I please. That’s what you desire, correct?”

“Yes.” The single word flew from her trembling lips.

“When was the last time you were owned?”

“Fifteen years ago.” While again her voice began strong, it faded. “He, uh, wasn’t very good. Or, um, kind. He only—”

At his raised palm, she quieted.

“Okay. So, it’s been a while.” He stroked his chin while inspecting her quivering frame. “And since then, you’ve been ... What? Striking yourself?”

“Sometimes.” She gulped, then nodded. “Oui. Um, y-yes, master.”

“Sir. Simply sir will do when we’re together like this, Sophie.”

“Merci, uh, thank you, sir. Yes. Whenever I miss ... Mon Dieu, I miss it so much. Only, it’s not the same. Lashing myself. I know—”

“—it’s coming.”

“Oui.” She bobbed her chin. “Exactly. Sir.”

“And what else?”

“What else, sir?”

“What else do you miss, Sophie? I mean, I’ve seen the college pictures. Was that simply a phase?”

“No!” At the abrupt reply, her eyelids flew open. “Sorry, sir. No. I miss ... I enjoy...”

“With anyone?” While rubbing his temple, Aiden tilted his head.

“Anyone you wish me to, um, be with, sir.” After speaking, she swallowed before rolling those glossy lips.

“And if I wish to keep you for myself?”

“I’d...” There was a sudden intensity in her gaze. As her brown eyes melted, she swayed ever so slightly towards him. The ring snickered. “I’d enjoy that too, um, sir.”

“Women?” With an eyebrow lifting, he scratched at the stubble under his chin. And as he remained motionless, every breath mashed the heated points of her chest further into him.

“Women, uh, sir?” Even as she swallowed, her eyebrow raised.

“How do you feel about female partners, Sophie?”

“Uh ... Well, um, it’s been a while, but...” For a moment, her eyes faded. “I enjoyed them, sir.”

“Good.” With her heartbeat hammering those sharp nipples into his chest, he sighed. “So, how would you prefer we begin?”

“Begin, sir?”

“What would you do to seal our pact, filthy little Sophie?”

“Um, I could come to your place, sir?” As she gulped, her pursing lips glistened. Her gaze was filled with hope. And boundless hunger. Borderline desperate. “Tonight?”

“Okay. That’s acceptable.” He nodded. “And until then?”

As she scanned the wide glass windows and the broad desk, her eyebrows lifted higher. Yes, he’d said their first time should be without an audience. But Gina had pointed out nobody could see into the office during the day, anyway. That it would be an excellent test of Sophie’s loyalty. When she returned to him, one hand raised to the zipper spread across her firm chest. But right as her finger yanked downward, he gripped her wrist.

“You’d fuck me?”

“Yes, sir,” came from her in a firm tone that sent a puff of heat into his neck.

“Just like that, naughty Sophie?” While leaning forward, he kept his gaze locked on her.

“Oui. Uh, yes, sir.”

“Fifteen years?”

“Yes—” Her voice halted when he placed his finger across her waxy lips.

“It was a rhetorical question, Sophie.” After removing his digit, he ran it along her cheek. Barely audible, a whimper slipped from her shaking lips. “I remember. Why me?”

“Sir?”

“I mean, okay, I show up. Supposed to be hot shit. But I’m ... Let’s be kind, I’m ineffective. So why me? Like before I even arrived, you had expectations, correct? Hopes?”

“Um, y-yes, sir.”

“So, why? How did you hear of me?”

“I don’t, um, know. Sir. One night. I’d heard you were coming. Did a little research. Nothing unusual. You’d done very well in your prior position. But that night, I couldn’t sleep. I kept seeing you. Your eyes. A ring. Flames. I don’t understand, sir. But ever since then”—she gulped—”I couldn’t get you out of my mind. Then you appeared—”

“—and failed.”

“Oui. Um, sir. So, I was unsure. Confused, non. Maybe I’d misunderstood. Were you supposed to serve me? It was all so strange.”

With his chest a block of chilly steel, he focused, lasering in on the ring as it attempted to hide in an inky black corner. As it trembled, he gripped it tighter with his mind. And squeezed. Coated in ice, the shaky band yelped.