Command, Possess and Claim: The Collection Page 10

  As they walked across the lobby, Ellen came through the door from the parking garage. She smiled when she saw Kate and hurried to join them at the elevator doors.

  “Hi, Kate.” Ellen smiled broadly and glanced toward Matt.

  “Hi, Ellen. Matt, this is my friend and neighbor, Ellen.”

  Matt shook hands with her. “Nice to meet you.”

  The whole time Ellen beamed at him.

  “Ellen, this is Matt. We used to know each other when I lived in New York.” Kate knew Ellen was well aware this was Kate’s ex. And from the broad grin on her face, she knew Ellen suspected they were getting together again.

  If only it were true. Kate was disappointed that Matt had cut off that possibility so definitely. Yet he had some kind of proposal for her and she was dying to know what it was.

  The elevator door whooshed open and the three of them stepped inside.

  “So you’re visiting from New York?” Ellen said. “Will you be in town long?”

  “No, I’ll be heading back this afternoon.”

  “Oh, that’s too bad. It’s a shame you and Kate couldn’t spend more time together.”

  “We’ll definitely be spending more time together since I’m hoping Kate will take me up on my offer to invest in her company.”

  “Really?” Ellen gazed at Kate with wide eyes. “That’s wonderful.”

  “We’re going to discuss it over coffee,” Kate said, not wanting Ellen to get the wrong idea.

  The elevator dinged as it stopped at Ellen’s floor.

  “Well, I hope it all works out.” The door opened and Ellen stepped out, sending them a little wave as the doors closed.

  “She seems nice,” Matt said as the elevator continued moving.

  “She is. She struck up a conversation with me when we were in the laundry room shortly after I moved here, and I guess she could tell I really needed a friend. She stepped into that role, and I’m glad she did. I appreciate her friendship and support. I know I can call on her anytime I need it.”

  “I’m glad you found someone in your time of need.” His expression grew serious. “I wish I could have filled that role for you.”

  Kate shrugged. “If I’d still had you in my life, I never would have been starting out all alone in a new town.” She smiled. “I’m sure you would have let me stay with you for a while until I’d gotten back on my feet.”

  When the jobs had dried up, and the payments on her Manhattan apartment continued, she’d quickly realized that she had to make a change. She’d thought about renting another, more affordable apartment after she sold her place and staying in the city until she found something, but that would have left her in a precarious situation. When the opportunity in Connecticut had come up, she’d jumped at it. If she and Matt had still been dating, however, she knew he wouldn’t have minded her staying with him while she worked things out. That would have given her the luxury of time before she’d had to make a move.

  “Of course I would have.” Matt’s expression tightened with regret.

  “It’s okay. You couldn’t help what happened.”

  * * *

  Matt nodded, but it wasn’t true. He hadn’t known about the lies Ileana had told, or what had happened to Kate, but he did know why Kate had such trouble finding a job afterward, and he could have done something about it.

  The elevator came to a stop.

  “This is my floor,” Kate said.

  Matt followed her from the elevator and down the hall to her apartment door. As soon as he stepped inside, he knew this was Kate’s place. Bookshelves lined the walls, full of colorful books of all types. She loved books: romance, mystery, DIY, decorating, art. She had very eclectic tastes in her decor, too. She had the same beige couches with bright floral cushions he remembered, along with what looked like a new glider rocker, and the large TV armoire her mother had given her. She used to read about feng shui and she’d told him once that a television should be hidden from view when not in use. For some reason, it was supposed to improve the energy of the room.

  “Nice place,” he said as he took off his shoes.

  “Thanks. Not as ritzy as your penthouse, but it’s home.” She put her purse in the closet. “Come in. Would you like coffee?”

  “Please.” He walked into the living room and sat down on the couch.

  He could hear Kate moving around in the kitchen and the clatter of cups and cutlery. He pulled out his cell and checked his e-mail while he waited. Nothing urgent, just an acknowledgment from his company lawyer that they’d get right on the contracts first thing Monday morning.

  Kate returned a few moments later with a tray that held mugs, cream, sugar, and a coffee Thermos. She set it on the table and poured them both a cup, then put sugar and cream in hers. She knew he took his black.

  Kate sat across from him on the rocker. “You said you had a proposal for me.” She seemed anxious to hear what he had to say.

  “Yes. Although I don’t think you and I can be together, I do believe you’ll eventually find a man who will make you happy and I think you’ll have to face your discomfort, fear, whatever you want to call it, about being submissive. I believe if you meet the right man, and he handles things properly, I think you can be very happy.”

  She looked disappointed as she sipped her coffee. “That’s not a proposal.”

  “True.” He leaned forward. “What I propose is that I could help you to learn more about being a submissive so you can embrace that side of yourself.”

  She put down her mug and gazed at him with interest. “How would you do that?”

  “I was thinking we could spend some time together, maybe a week or so, and I could train you. Sort of an intensive training course on how to be a submissive.”

  Her eyes grew keen with interest. “Train me how? I mean … would there be sex involved?”

  “There doesn’t have to be. I could teach you how to serve your Master, what kinds of things he might expect of you, how you should behave.”

  “But with no sex.”

  “It would be like learning the theory of flying before you actually go up in the plane.”

  She picked up her cup again and sipped. “But what if”—her fingertip circled around the rim of the cup—“I want to go up in the plane?”

  At her words, and the sultry look she shot him, his cock swelled.

  Could he really allow them to go this route even though there would be no romantic relationship between them? Then he thought about her calling him “Sir,” and assuming submissive positions, and he wondered if he could survive not having sex with her.

  “Wouldn’t it make the experience more realistic? I’d learn better, wouldn’t I?”

  “Well, yes, that’s true. If it’s okay with you, and you understand it won’t lead to anything else…” He sent her a questioning glance.

  She nodded. “Yes, you’ve made that clear.”

  He gave a single nod. “Okay, then, you’ll get the full experience.”

  “I’m curious what you’ll be training me to do. Could you give me an example?”

  “Certainly. Put down your cup and sit up straight,” he said, slipping into his authoritative Dom voice.

  She followed his instructions. As she sat up, her breasts thrust out more than when she was relaxed. He longed to tell her to take off her blouse so he could see those pert, naked breasts. But he wouldn’t. Not here. Not now. Perhaps in the future, when he had her at his home. Then he would see her naked again, now that she’d opened the door for the sexual side to be part of their training. He could hardly wait to get her into the well-equipped dungeon he had and to chain her to the wall.

  “Now it’s very important that you address your Master with respect. You already know to call me ‘Sir,’ but sometimes you can call me ‘Mr. Pearce.’ Anytime you respond to me, you should use one or the other as a sign of respect. So what will you call me?” He knew asking questions was the best way to bring the lessons home.

  “I will call you
‘Sir,’ Sir.”

  “Or?”

  “I can also call you ‘Mr. Pearce,’ Sir.”

  “Good. Now I’d like you to mix it up and start using both terms.”

  “Yes, Mr. Pearce.”

  “Good girl.” He rewarded her with a smile. “Now, many Doms will want their subs to take a certain position. Sometimes when they first see them, or sometimes when they give a certain signal. Sometimes the position is as simple as kneeling on the floor with their eyes cast downward. Sometimes it’s something more sexual.”

  “Mr. Pearce, would you give me an example of the latter?”

  Damn, she was being a real minx, but he loved her enthusiasm. “Stand up and move to the middle of the room.”

  She did so, but it was clear there wasn’t enough space in her small living room.

  “Move the coffee table out of the way.”

  She turned the rectangular coffee table ninety degrees, then pushed it against the chair, clearing enough room for what he had in mind. He grabbed one of the larger cushions from the arm of the couch and handed it to her.

  “Now, turn around and get down on all fours.”

  Kate sank to the floor and knelt on her hands and knees.

  “Put the pillow in front of you and rest your head on it, then lift your ass in the air.”

  She put her head on the pillow and, as instructed, pushed up her butt.

  “Now, widen your knees.”

  He watched her try, but her skirt prevented it.

  “My skirt’s too tight, Sir.”

  “Hike it up.”

  She shimmied the fabric up her thighs and spread her knees wider.

  “Now, usually you’d be naked and your Dom would want you to grab your ass cheeks and pull them wide, opening yourself to him.”

  “Yes, Mr. Pearce.”

  He almost gasped when Kate hiked her skirt up to her waist, revealing her totally naked ass. He hadn’t meant it as a command. And, damn, he’d forgotten he still had her panties. His hand slid to his jacket pocket and slipped inside, finding the lacy garment there. He’d found them on the bedroom floor this morning and tucked them in his pocket to give them back to her, but with the rush to leave this morning, he had forgotten before they left the house.

  Kate grasped her ass cheeks and drew them apart, revealing her intimate folds. They looked slick and ready for him. His cock pushed insistently at his pants. He wanted to kneel down behind her and glide right into her welcoming depths. Right now. He ached to do it.

  “Now what, Sir?”

  Thank God for the distraction.

  “Now, you learn that you should remain quiet until your Master addresses you. He might want you to stay in this position for minutes, or even hours, at his pleasure. When you’re like this, he might want to just stare at you. He might masturbate while he looks at you, or he might tell you to touch yourself.”

  “Like this, Mr. Pearce?”

  She glided her fingers along her slit, then pressed them into her slick flesh.

  “Stop,” he said sharply. “You’ll also need to learn discipline.”

  He stood up and walked toward her as she drew her fingers from her pussy and went back to holding her backside.

  “Move your hands.”

  She let go of her delightful ass and rested her arms on the pillow, her elbows near her face. He placed his hand on her warm, round ass and stroked, then pulled back and smacked her cheek.

  “What do you say now?” he demanded.

  “I don’t know, Sir.”

  “You say, ‘Thank you.’”

  He slapped her ass again.

  “Thank you, Mr. Pearce.”

  He slapped her three times, catching her in mid “thank” with the second slap.

  “When your Master slaps you several times, wait for the end. If there’s a pause between slaps, then you can thank him. You’ll get to know what your Master likes.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Her delightful ass, so red and round, called to him. His hand stroked over it and his cock twitched. He stroked her smooth flesh, then his fingers found her folds and glided over them. He could almost come on the spot at the feel of her slick, needy opening. His fingers pressed into her a little, then withdrew, then pressed in a little deeper.

  A knock sounded at the door. He jerked his hand away.

  “I hope that gives you an idea, Kate.”

  She lowered her ass and pushed herself to her feet. Her cheeks glowed as red as her ass. She was clearly as turned on as he was. Of course, he already knew that.

  “Thank you, Sir,” she murmured, then pulled down her skirt and smoothed it with her hands.

  * * *

  Another knock. Kate hurried to the door. Damn the timing of whomever it was. Kate had been going crazy with need for Matt to touch her again, and when he started stroking her, pushing his fingers inside her, desire had swelled within her. Just a few minutes more and she was sure Matt would have driven his huge cock into her, and fucked her like crazy.

  She peered through the peephole. It was Ellen holding a plate. Kate opened the door.

  “Hi, I thought I’d bring over some brownies for you to have with your coffee.” As soon as Ellen saw Kate’s face, her eyes widened. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

  “Not at all,” Matt said as he headed for the door and grabbed his coat. “I really need to get going. Kate, I’ll send over those papers on Monday and I’ll call you about setting up that appointment we discussed.”

  He bent down to put on his shoes and tie them up.

  “Do you really have to go now, Matt?” Kate asked.

  He stood up. “Yes, I really have to get back.” Then he disappeared down the hall.

  “Oh, Kate, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that you were … Well, I thought it was just a business meeting.”

  “And why don’t you think it was?”

  “Well, first there’s your face. It’s flushed. And then there’s the fact that I could see the edge of your lace panties in his suit jacket pocket.”

  * * *

  Late Monday morning, Kate received the papers from Matt’s lawyers. He definitely had an efficient team. Of course, knowing Matt, he’d probably already had the papers drawn up and just needed his lawyers to attend to the final details.

  She looked them over. Everything was totally reasonable. After lunch, she took a walk and dropped the papers off with her lawyer, who had an office just a few blocks down from hers. He promised he’d look them over by the end of the day tomorrow and they’d meet to discuss them. She sent Matt an e-mail, telling him she’d be discussing the papers with her lawyer the next day.

  That night, she dreamed of Matt. Touching her, commanding her. Making love to her. When she woke up, she masturbated to release the sexual tension thrumming through her.

  God, she wanted him, and she was desolate that he didn’t think they could make a go of a relationship, but she knew he was probably right. The relationship had been failing two years ago and it was unrealistic to believe it would be different now.

  Why, then, did he want to teach her how to be submissive? Would he do that in hopes of turning her around and making their relationship work?

  Personally, she didn’t think it would work. She liked being submissive. She liked it too much. That was the whole problem. The only reason she was doing this was because she wanted to be around Matt a little longer, in an intimate way. And she knew, if he was training her as a submissive, he wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off her. That had been proven again and again.

  So they might not be able to have a long-term romantic relationship, but they could continue a sexual relationship. For a little while, anyway.

  The next morning, her lawyer called to set up an appointment for that afternoon, and they decided on four o’ clock. She shot off an e-mail to Matt. After lunch, when she returned to her office, she checked her phone messages. There was one from Matt.

  “Hi, Kate. I just wanted to let you know that
I’ll be in town this afternoon and will join you at your lawyer’s office. That way, I’ll be on hand to answer any questions or concerns, then we can sign the paperwork and get that out of the way. I’m hoping you’ll join me for dinner afterward so we can discuss that other matter.”

  That other matter. The one where she became his slave for a week. Her breathing became labored at the thought.

  As she walked down the street on the way to her lawyer’s office, enjoying the bright sunshine and relatively mild temperature of the January day, a limousine pulled up beside her and the passenger window glided down.

  “Kate? Want a ride?”

  She glanced over to see Matt smiling at her. Her heart began to pitter-patter. The door opened and she stepped inside. She’d been enjoying the walk, but she enjoyed seeing Matt even more. Her knee brushed his as she sat down and heat pulsed through her.

  The ride took only a minute since they were already so close. Matt accompanied her into the office and they pored over the papers together. Any issue her lawyer brought up, Matt responded to with ease, and on a few points, he approved changes to the wording to satisfy her lawyer. They were small enough that they just wrote the changes in, then both she and Matt signed the papers.

  Matt held out his hand and she shook it. “Congratulations, partner.”

  His big hand encompassing hers felt good.

  He opened his briefcase and pulled out a check, which he handed to her lawyer. It felt so official now. Matt was her partner. Shouldn’t she feel nervous? Relieved? Maybe even panicky?

  In truth, she felt all those things, but they were totally overshadowed by the sense of wonder she had just being near Matt … and knowing they’d be spending a leisurely dinner together, and maybe something more afterward.

  Matt smiled as they exited the building and headed for the limo awaiting them on the street. “Now, I’m taking you out to a celebratory dinner.”

  They drove across town to an elegant little bistro she’d never been to before.

  “So, Kate,” he said after they’d ordered. “Have you thought about my other offer?”

  Had she thought about it? She’d hardly thought about anything else. Hot images of him training her filled her days, and those images came to life in her dreams. They’d kept her at a sexual height for days. So much so that she could see herself sliding right under this table and devouring his cock rather than the delectable shrimp cocktail the waiter had just placed in front of her.