Bailey: Independence #1 (10 page)

“Because I’m not one of you,” she whispered hoarsely, setting her fork down and pushing away from the table. “She’s management! She’s...”

“Who was it, Bailey?” He repeated firmly.

“She’s the head of public relations,” Bailey shoved the words out in a rush.

“Gillian Stanford?” Gabriel tipped his head to the side. “You just never know who you’ll run into. We have a confidentiality policy that is strictly enforced, Bailey. No one you meet there can hurt your career or personal life because that would mean hurting themselves, for one thing.”

“My stomach hurts. It’s a delicious lunch, but…” Her head was shaking and she turned to leave when his palm closed over her wrist. Her mouth opened to protest until she caught the look on his face, eyes dark and warning, his jaw tense. The look that had some strange voodoo power to make her pussy clench and whine like it was in heat.

“Eat. I have it on good authority that you always forget breakfast,” he went to a small cabinet and dumped a little pink pill into his palm. He placed it on the table by her hand. “Take that. It’s just a simple over the counter antacid. It’ll settle your stomach.”

“Thank you,” she recognized the shape and knew what it was, quickly downing it with the water in front of her.

“Why didn’t you come back and talk to me, Bailey?”

“Because I didn’t think you’d understand. Because I was afraid. Because I really didn’t know what I was doing there,” she answered breathlessly, taking the fork he held out to her and eating with another sigh. “Because there were so many things inside my head and I didn’t know what to do. So I went home.”

“I thought you said you trusted me? Had that changed?”

“No.” The answer came instantly to her and made her wince. Another something she hadn’t figured out. Why did he sound so calm, so in control? Oh, wait, that would be the whole Dom thing, she explained sarcastically to herself.

He never realized how relieved one word could make him or the flashing green eyes that instantly flew from the pasta she was eating to his gaze.

“If you trust me, why wouldn’t you speak to me, Bailey?”

“I panicked,” she whispered. “All of a sudden it just felt like too much. She came into the restroom and I panicked. I know where I belong in the computer room. I know where I belong when I’m training people on new software,” her head shook. “I didn’t know where I belonged there.”

“You belonged with me, at my side, or where ever else I choose to place you,” he told her in the same level, cold tone. “When you agreed to wear the collar, you agreed to trust my judgment and decisions. You belong to me and I protect my own.” He was quiet for a few minutes. “Did you believe I’d allow her to hurt you somehow?”

“All I know is she wasn’t part of the…part of the role-playing.”

“That makes it sound like a game,” he said with a lazy grin. “Think about the people you saw and the things you heard and experienced. Did that feel like a game to you?”

“Another spot inside me that’s very confused. I don’t know what it is or how it fits into…into life things. Into my life things.”

“It fits the same way any healthy sexual relationship fits. I damn near tore off heads Friday night when I discovered you’d left the club without speaking to me.”

Bailey was positive she’d stopped breathing. She knew she’d been eating. But he repeated the instruction to eat, so she ate and most of the pasta and all the prawns were gone.

“I’m sorry.”

“I understand that this is all very new to you, Bailey. But I won’t brook disobedience or distrust,” Gabriel watched the dark lashes blink quickly and he firmed up his resolve when a shimmer of moisture was brushed away. “I’ve decided on your punishment.”

Green eyes blurred by tears of confusion. Her throat clenched first, the sensation traveling through her body and ending at her wet sex. She could feel the blood pooling between her thighs, the labia swelling just at his voice. His promise. The erotic memory of him that was etched inside her mind.

Chapter Ten

“Punishment?” She hated the little squeak in her voice because it ran all the way to the damp center of her panties.

“Do you believe your behavior should be rewarded?”

“I think…well…maybe…not rewarded,” she said hastily when his scowl deepened. She sighed, feeling like when she was ten and tried talking her way out of being grounded forever for climbing out the bedroom window and into the tree instead of using the stairs and door.

“You saw how some punishment was dealt out in the club. Depending on the individual, punishment takes on many forms. You seemed to understand how important discipline was. What would the others think if I allowed my sub to be so easily forgiven for disobeying the basic tenants of the life?” All the signs were there as he spoke to her and that sent shockwaves of lust through him. “Do you want them to believe you were poorly trained?”

“No, sir…but we’re in the office,” she whispered hoarsely, the lump in her throat making her swallow. Her mind ran through all the things she’d seen and heard at the club, a shallow moan easing free.

“We’re on lunch. A man and a woman on their own private time,” he said firmly, standing up and holding his palm out. Time for a little stern, but positive reinforcement. “What does the collar mean, Bailey?”

“That you can do what you want with me,” she repeated hypnotically.

“Do you want to remove it and give it back to me?” He knew he was playing a risky hand of cards on this one, but he had to force her to hear her own words.

“No,” she knew it was her voice and the word came out quickly. Not quite eagerly, but quickly. She couldn’t deny the attraction to him if she tried or even wanted to.

“Aside from the idiots that I’m sorry you were exposed to, was there anything you and I did that hurt you?”

“No, sir.”

“So you didn’t run from me…or even from anything happening in the club.”

“No, sir.” She wanted a book. With words that could explain what she was feeling, what he’d shown her she wanted and even needed. Books she understood.

“I want to administer your punishment now, Bailey,” he took the cold fingers in his and led her back toward his desk. She didn’t hesitate or drag her feet, but the little squeak told him she was definitely nervous.

Gabriel placed one hand on the edge of his desk and moved to the side, turning her to face it. He bent her over, taking her other hand and stretching her out from one end to the other.

“Keep your hands right where I place them. Is that clear, Bailey?”

“Yes, sir,” she whispered jaggedly, her breaths turning into soft pants.

“No sound, Bailey. No matter what. I’ll lock the door,” he backed toward the office door. “Take a step back. Good. Stretch your legs out behind you. Keep your back straight. Separate your legs, Bailey. Beautiful,” he murmured, his cock thrusting against the front of his slacks with a throbbing that demanded attention.

He moved behind her, his cock pressing against her ass, his hands slid down her arms to hold her palms flat against the dark wooden desk.

“Does it startle you that you’re aroused, Bailey?”

“Yes…” The word rushed out as if seeking an explanation. “Yes, sir.”

“You were aroused on Friday. Did that frighten you?”

“Yes. I…I don’t understand why,” she whispered plaintively. “I mean…I know why…but it’s so different.”

Gabriel let his hands move to her front, cupping the firm mounds beneath the soft cotton dress. He forced himself to breathe deeply. Forced his body to wait. He thought about her words. She was a programmer. All things had explanations for there to be solutions.

“For now, just feel, Bailey,” he whispered and kissed her neck.

She didn’t know which felt better, his hands physically restraining her or simply obeying his command. But if it meant he had more hands to use, so much the better.

He placed one palm in the center of her back and pressed her down.

Her breasts squished against the desk. He backed away and she suddenly wanted his warmth back, his heat and his weight against her. There was nothing there but the occasional touch or sound of him. His touches were soft, teasing and made her clench the muscles of her pussy tightly in anticipation.

She felt the cool air of the room move along her thighs as he pulled her skirt up. Very slowly, she felt the fabric rub against the back of her legs. Her nipples ached in response, because they couldn’t get any tighter. Or maybe it wasn’t the cold.

Gabriel sighed, the simple wide strip of lace that circled her hips was black, the crème colored flesh peeking through the cut out bit of cover.

Her hands started to move and seconds later, a sharp large palm swept up and across the exposed cheek barely covered by a pair of lace panties.

A startled yelp broke free, her eyes wide and the languid feelings abruptly gone.

Gabriel leaned against her back again, his hands sliding roughly down her arms and taking her palms in his. He placed them out on the desk, spread as wide apart as she could reach.

“Place your forehead on the desk top,” came the clipped order. “I instructed you not to move. Did you understand that order?”

“Yes!” She hissed, remembering that they were in an office on the top floor of the building with most of Tacoma and Puget Sound below them. Another slap struck her ass. “Yes, sir!”

“Much better,” he ran his tongue along her throat, his mouth near her ear. “Are you mine to do with as I please, Bailey?”

Oh, god!

“Yes, sir,” she whispered in answer, the throbbing he’d begun in her pussy spreading with each touch of his mouth against her skin. She wanted him to finish. She needed him to finish or it was going to be the longest day of her life until she got home!

“And you trust me to know what you want? What you need?”

Oh, god!
Her head bounced against the surface when his palm came down sharply again.

“Yes, Sir!”

“Do not move again, pet,” he whispered, pulling himself away and realizing it was damn difficult. He wasn’t accustomed to losing his control; misplacing his focus. But somehow, Bailey O’Conner managed to shatter both with very little effort.

Bailey closed her eyes. Listening. She opened her eyes at the sound and saw his jacket lying on the chair. She tried to focus on something. Anything. But when his palm swept in again, this time straight on, she jumped and pulled her lips together to swallow the yelp.

“Why are you being punished, Bailey?”

“I...” she hesitated and jumped again with the next swat. “Because you can?” She squeaked weakly. She really wanted to rub her thighs together. She really wanted his fingers stroking her!

His low, warm chuckle distracted her for a moment.

“That’s a good reason, but not the right one,” he told her, another swat to the other cheek. “You’re beginning to glow a very pretty pink,” his palm stroked over the sensitive flesh and lace. “You have a beautiful ass. Perfectly shaped for me.” He slid his fingers into the back of her panties, down the cleft between her cheeks and stroking through the puffy labia, wet and hot.

Bailey felt the sweet place sneaking up on her seconds before his palm came across her ass again.

“Why are you being punished, Bailey?”

Oh, god! Think, think, think,
she ordered herself in a panic.

“I…I left! Because I left?” Another swat had her pussy clenching, her breathing jagged. “I didn’t talk to you!” She whispered hoarsely, frantically searching her mind for all the things he’d told her. All the important things that were part of the whole world she’d stumbled into.

Then it came to her.

“I didn’t trust you. Oh, god, I didn’t trust you or talk to you about…about what was wrong. I’m sorry. I panicked,” came the lost whispered answer.

“But it won’t happen again, will it, pet?” Gabriel pulled the packet from his pocket.

“No, sir.”

“Do you want to come, Bailey?”

“Oh, god…please...Sir.”

“Tell me why you wore the collar, Bailey?”

Her mind whimpered and let the damn sound free through her lips.
Answer
, her brain shouted! But another swat had her jumping, her breath held for a long minute.

“Did you take it off when you got home, Bailey? Friday night,” he prompted.

“No. No, not until I showered in the morning,” she answered hurriedly, trying to find the answer he wanted. Her ass was stinging and felt like it was on fire! And her pussy was wet and swollen! All the sensations, all the nerve endings were blending into one long, hot stream.

“Did you put it on after your shower?” Gabriel indulged himself, letting his palms stroke over the blazing pink ass, his thumbs meeting in the center and caressing down teasingly.

“Yes.”

“You weren’t wearing it yesterday.”

“It was training day. I have to be...they don’t listen if I’m not dressed a certain way,” she answered quickly, pulling thoughts from inside her.

“Why did you wear it, Bailey?”

“Because I wanted to be yours,” she said in a soft rush. “Because I could pretend…pretend it was still Friday.”