Revealed (5 page)

* * *

Amy could have been in the foyer for a million years, give or take.

Rick strode back and forth, performing his duties but keeping a hungry eye upon her. She was so tense that she could have screamed. What if her references were out of the office? What if they didn’t give her the recommendations they’d said they would?

What if Rex changed his mind?

What if he offered something she couldn’t accept?

Could she deal with being trained as a submissive?

Amy sat in the foyer, perched on her hands, trying not to fidget. She had just admitted to herself that she’d do anything to be inside this place, when she was summoned back into the office.

Rex was sitting on the desk, drinking his tea, as watchful as a cat. His eyes seemed particularly green, and Amy wondered whether that was because he was going to fulfill her wish or his own. Athena had set her tea cup aside, and was using Rex’s laptop. She lifted a document from the printer and set it before Amy, with a pen alongside.

An employment contract.

With The Phoenix.

Amy’s dream come true.

“But…” she protested again, only to have Athena’s hand land on the back of her neck. The other woman’s perfume seemed to sweep around Amy, enveloping her in a cloud of exotic sweetness. Athena stroked her, as she might stroke a cat, and Amy caught her breath as her desire rose even higher. She’d never been with a woman, never really thought about it, but Athena’s touch was exciting.

“We do know best,” Athena whispered, making Amy shiver.

How could she say no and walk out of this place?

While Amy stared at the contract, Rex picked up a pen. He wrote in her name at the top, added a salary that made Amy blink in delight, then turned the page to a blank space for extra conditions. He added:

Specific responsibilities:

1. To enhance computer security and defend data;

2. To consult on guest applications;

3. To be trained as a submissive by both Rex and Athena

Contract is subject to renewal or termination one year after signing.

One year. It could be an eternity.

It could be the opportunity of a lifetime.

Who knew what she’d be able to negotiate in a year?

Rex dated the bottom of the page. He handed the pen to Athena, who signed. She offered the pen to Amy with a confident smile.

It was the chance she wanted, if not under the exact terms she’d envisioned. She was very aware of Rex watching her, and that he intended to sign last. She knew she couldn’t negotiate anymore.

Just because it wasn’t the perfect deal didn’t make it worthless.

After all, Amy still had an ace up her sleeve, one that might very well convince Rex to change his mind. At least she’d have a job, and a good one, and she would be on the path to more sexual adventure. She’d be inside The Phoenix, which was the best way to get what she really wanted.

Amy took the pen from Athena and quickly signed the bottom of the contract.

Athena stroked her cheek. “You brought your medical records and test results?” she purred.

“You, of all people, must know our employment terms,” Rex added.

“I brought everything, even the member questionnaire about preferences and fantasies.” Amy wanted to wince at the excitement in her voice, but it was too late to pretend she didn’t want this job at any price. She reached into her messenger bag and pulled out the required documents. Rex plucked them out of her hand and began to read them.

Amy wanted to watch him and try to guess his reactions, but Athena’s grip tightened on the back of Amy’s neck, the weight of it possessive. Athena turned Amy’s head and kissed her on the mouth. Her embrace was passionate, her tongue naughty and purposeful. The kiss was long and lingering, Athena’s firm grip keeping Amy from moving away before Athena was done.

It wasn’t up to Amy.

The situation was out of her control.

Amy instinctively wanted to end the kiss, but was afraid to annoy Athena. Rex hadn’t signed the contract yet, after all, and she was supposed to be submissive. She closed her eyes and forced herself to relax, to pretend that this was exactly what she wanted. She surrendered to the moment.

And to her surprise, she found the kiss very hot. Amy was tingling when Athena lifted her head and a little bit disappointed that it had ended so soon.

The older woman smiled at her. “Too bad duty calls,” she murmured, then trailed an appreciative fingertip along Amy’s shoulder. She turned to leave the room, her hips swinging and her heels clicking on the floor. “Where shall we put her?” she asked Rex.

“I know just the room,” he said darkly and Amy’s mouth went dry.

Athena nodded and another of those telepathic looks passed between them.

What room?

Where was it?

Why had Rex chosen it?

Which of them had easier access? Amy wanted to know everything. Her palms were damp with the uncertainty of it all—although not as damp as her panties—and she had a hard time keeping silent.

She shouldn’t ask questions. She should be submissive. She should just accept whatever they chose for her.

That was, unfortunately, the toughest part of being a submissive for Amy.

Athena granted her a quick smile and she feared the other woman had guessed her thoughts. “By the way, you have a dinner engagement tonight, at eight.”

Amy felt honored. “A corporate meeting?”

Athena laughed. “A social engagement.”

Amy was confused. She hadn’t seen social engagements in the calendars she’d viewed on their laptops. “What should I wear?”

“Nothing,” Athena said so firmly Amy was speechless. Her gaze hardened slightly. “You’re not a guest.”

Okay. That had to mean that she’d be there as staff. Serving.

“But I don’t know how to wait on a table…”

“So many protests,” Athena said, interrupting her with quiet heat. Amy fell silent, remembering she shouldn’t have spoken, and felt herself blush.

Again Athena exchanged a look with Rex. Amy felt him move closer behind her and her heart skipped.

“You’ll be collected at eight,” Athena instructed. “Before then, you’ll go to the salon and have all of your body hair removed. Tell them to use the aloe treatment. I don’t want your skin enflamed.”

Because she’d be serving as a submissive and slave, and someone might want to explore her charms. Where? When? How many of them? What gender? Amy could hardly think straight, but had to recall that she wasn’t supposed to. “What salon?” she managed to ask.

Athena smiled. “Ask Rick. He knows the one we use.”

So, Rick would know exactly where she was going and why. The idea of everyone in the house being aware of her status made Amy’s heart flutter. Before it had just been her and Eric, and their own little secret. That had been pretty hot, but having many people know her role was both terrifying and thrilling. Did the other staff ever just help themselves? Whose fault was that perceived to be? How much did they know at this salon? She looked at the carpet and tried to get her pulse under control. Rex’s hand landed on the back of her neck, a possessive weight that made her jump.

“She’s all yours for the moment,” Athena said from the threshold, casting Rex a significant glance. “Make it count.”

“Oh, I will,” he said, his voice deep enough to make Amy shiver. “I will.”

Amy’s heart went wild as Athena shut the door firmly behind herself. She was alone in the office with Rex. He said nothing for the longest time, but she could feel him studying her. She was sure he could smell her arousal. She halfway thought her knees would give out if he touched her. Then he caught her shoulders in his hands, and she welcomed his firm grip upon her. It steadied her in a way. She felt herself swaying slightly toward him, and her mouth opened of its own accord.

This was it.

* * *

Pursued by the police, and all because of the Count.

Athena was fuming as she left the office. She strode through the house, blind to its charms. How
dare
he do such a thing? Oh, she knew what he wanted. It was the same as he always wanted: he wanted her to come back to him, or at least to fight another battle with him. He was taunting her. He never had wanted to let her go and she’d been overly optimistic to imagine he might do so.

She’d thought that humiliation would part their ways forever.

Evidently she’d been wrong.

The question now was what to do about it. She and Rex had to ensure their new venture wasn’t threatened, much less falsely accused of a crime like human trafficking. She had to talk to Julian, to ensure that he had them as protected legally as they could be.

She paused in her room, astonished that she’d come that far under the weight of her anger, and forced herself to take a deep breath. Somehow she had to turn the tables on the Count. Somehow she had to surprise him, and make his little scheme backfire completely.

First she had to find him.

He’d always stalked her in the past, which left her at a disadvantage. She had no idea where to begin the search. Could she lure him into coming into her sphere of control? It seemed like a long shot, especially with no way of contacting him. She went to the window and stared out as she thought, her fingers drumming on the glass. There had to be a way.

A glimmer of light caught her eye and she looked down reflexively. A man in the park opposite had a camera, one with a large zoom lens. The light caught the outside lens again as he lowered it, then he turned his back quickly to her.

He’d been taking a picture of the house.

No, he’d been taking a picture of
her
.

Athena shut the drape and stepped back, still watching him through the sheer. She knew there was something familiar about him.

Yes, he’d been the park several times this week. She’d assumed that he’d recently moved into the neighborhood. He strolled across the small park with his camera, taking pictures of the other houses that faced the square.

Because he knew she’d seen him.

Anyone could have been doing surveillance on her or the house, but Athena didn’t believe in coincidences. This man was somehow connected to the investigation Amy had discovered.

Which meant that he or someone closely associated with him knew where to find the Count. Athena watched him until he disappeared from view, memorizing the way he stood and how he walked, ensuring that she’d recognize him again.

Because this stranger in the park was the key to her revenge.

* * *

Rex let Amy worry about his plans for a few minutes, the silence growing so heavy that she thought she might scream from the tension. She wished she could turn and look at him, but he held her right in front of him. She could feel his breath on her neck. She could feel the heat of his body. She felt desperately uncertain what she was supposed to do.

What was he going to do to her?

When was he going to start?

He pushed his fingers through her hair finally, lifting it off the back of her neck. “I want that hair tied up in a ponytail,” he finally said, his tone crisp. “All the time.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Yes,
master
,” he corrected, the stern tone in his voice making her swallow.

“Yes, master.”

“Now.”

Amy bent away from his touch, feeling cold after she’d done so. She reached into her bag for a brush and an elastic for her hair.

“There’s a mirror in the bathroom there,” he instructed. “I want you naked and on your knees. Immediately.”

“But the computer security…”

Rex spun her around and caught her chin in his hand. He leaned down, his gaze boring into hers. “You will not object to any command,” he said, his tone hard and his eyes harder. “You will work in this office, on your knees, naked and at my feet, every day. You will be compliant and willing at all times.”

Amy swallowed. “Yes, master.”

“And you will bring the leather paddle from that drawer when you return from the bathroom.” He released her and began to roll up his sleeves with purpose. “A good spanking will take the edge off your attitude. Some submissives need to be softened up before each scene. I suspect, Amy, that you are one of them.”

She did like to be spanked. How did he know that?

Did he like to be spanked? Because Amy thought it would be incredibly exciting to dominate the master. The very idea made her knees shake. “Shall I bring some bonds, master? So you can tie me down?”

“Your suggestion is both bold and unnecessary.” Rex turned on her with a cool smile. “I’m not going to bind you,” he said softly. “You’re going to hold your pose as instructed. You will have your first taste of compliance today, Amy.”

Hold a pose. Stay as he placed her, while he spanked her. Amy was used to being tied down and spanked, used to fighting against her bonds as the punishment was inflicted upon her. She was used to being overwhelmed, then struggling in futility to free herself.