JR (6 page)

“Last chance, Becca. Are you sure?”

Without hesitation, she rotated the knob herself, pushed open the door and took the first step inside his private laboratory.

She hadn’t expected this. The whole room gleamed, bright white and clinical, compared to the subdued colors and indirect lighting of his office. Some distant part of her mind registered the ominous
thunk
of the closing door then the snick of the lock engaging as she surveyed the environment.

In the center of the room rested a large padded table similar to the one she had relaxed on when Kurt and their colleagues had treated her to a massage at the local day spa for her birthday last year. Surrounding the table, several mechanical objects beeped and whirred. A few she recognized as standard medical equipment but most remained a mystery. In addition to the machines, whiteboards covered with notes and designs for the new invention lined one whole wall. Imbedded in another, a large reflective window she recognized as a one-way observation mirror flung back the picture of her wide-eyed stare and open jaw.

Absorbed in the surroundings, she didn’t notice the doctor approaching behind her until he caressed her hip. She flinched beneath his searing palm. He’d always been so careful not to touch her when she studied with him.

“I’ve dreamt of this for a long time,” he whispered in her ear.

Rebecca assumed he referred to the development of the Dream Machine. If it was as monumental a breakthrough as he anticipated then it would aid thousands of people, guarantee his professional success and, no doubt, make him a very rich man in the process. Otherwise, why would he be so desperate to find a subject that he risked the participation fee if she didn’t complete the study? She forced her brain to untangle the problem as she would on any other assignment.

“Tell me more about the Dream Machine. How long has it been in development? Will you show it to me?”

She vacillated between curiosity and apprehension as she thought about what was to come. “What will it feel like? What will it do to me?”

“You’ll have all the answers in time.” Catching his intense stare, she watched Kurt’s grey eyes darken. He refused to be rushed. “We need to establish some rules and get you prepared. First, while in the lab you will address me as Dr. Foster or Doctor. Do you understand?”

Rebecca comprehended the importance of proper procedure and documentation for the success of an experiment, even one as personal as this. Trying to ignore the tingle of anticipation spreading through her at the prospect of submitting to his authority, she gave him a tentative smile and answered, “Yes, Doctor.”

“Good girl. Second, to maintain the integrity of the experiment, once we begin the official proceedings tomorrow, all of our time here must be witnessed.” Although she recognized the standard procedure, she cringed at the thought of anyone but Kurt having access to her innermost desires. Revealing them to him would be difficult enough.

“I thought the intrusion of other people might be difficult for you given the nature of our study so I made a case to the review board that it could skew our results. As head of the board, Luke convinced them to agree.” He shot her a conspiratorial smirk.

A sigh of relief escaped her parted lips. She’d always liked Dr. Malone.

“Therefore, I arranged to have our initial sessions videotaped instead.” Moments ago, she would have balked at having her first attempts at passion captured on film. Yet, now, gratitude flooded her senses on hearing their sessions would be recorded. Pushing away the potential embarrassment, she focused on the bright side. If nothing else, she would always have the memories of her time with Kurt in the experiment archive.

She communicated her assent with a slight nod.

“Finally, whenever we are in this room, you will be naked.”

When she began to object, he expounded. “My interactions with you will vary during the study. You might not always understand my reasons but I expect you to act without question. Too many specifics could alter the outcome of our research. You have to trust me even if what I ask is intimate or unexpected. If you are unwilling to continue, remember you only have to say the word.”

He led her to the edge of the examination table. The genial man she thought she knew so well had transformed the moment they crossed the threshold to this room. Laying down the rules, he wielded indisputable control, making clear the extent of the leniency he had granted her while training in the field. There, he had been a mentor demonstrating ways to become a successful colleague. Here, she was clearly his subject. She had not only accepted his terms but also petitioned to be involved, granting him the right to demand her obedience.

Isn’t that what you wanted? To give up control, to let someone else take charge for once?

He reached forward. Cupping her chin, he raised her face with steady pressure until she couldn’t avoid the heat smoldering in his eyes. “Becca, I’ve seen all of you. I loved every inch. Now, get rid of your clothes or I’ll do it for you.”

A mental image of the doctor tearing her skirt off fuzzed her mind. When she paused to consider it, he slapped her ass with enough warning to make himself understood. The contact shot sparks of desire up her spine.

She yelped in surprise…and arousal. No one had ever played with her like that before. She found herself eager to see what it would be like to push him further.

“Get going,” Dr. Foster growled. Suddenly, her rebelliousness in selecting the revealing lingerie that enhanced her provocative shape didn’t seem like such a good idea. She debated testing him for one more moment before she chickened out. Unlike yesterday, she stripped off her suit without hesitation to stand proud before him in the lace teddy, matching stockings and heels.

“Damn. You have amazing taste in underwear.” Kurt exhaled a harsh breath. She slid her feet out of her shoes then bent to roll the stockings down the toned muscles of her legs. Selling her car for textbook money had some side benefits. When she shifted, his eyes fixed on the slender strap of the teddy tucked between her thighs.

“Stop,” he demanded.

With her foot in mid air, poised to draw off the stocking, she froze.

“I want to look at you.” The nylon sheathing fluttered to the floor as he placed a hand on her collarbone.

Firm, steady pressure from his fingers encouraged her to turn a circle before him.

When her back faced his front, he halted her progress with a squeeze on her shoulder. Bending nearer, his lips hovered over her ear as he whispered, “This drives me crazy.”

Her head dropped onto his shoulder when he traced the line of fabric along her crack. She imagined the way it presented the exposed globes of her ass for his enjoyment.

“You have a perfect ass.” The explicit words shocked her nearly as much as they turned her on. They also set the stage for this new facet of their relationship. Kurt wasn’t the kind of man to do things halfway. By entering this room, she had approved this intimacy. Little did he know, she craved this dark sexual journey and had for a very long time.

His touch broke her from her thoughts. Fitting his palms to her, he cupped her buttocks. What she had always considered extra junk in the trunk seemed to please him.

Rebecca glanced over her shoulder, satisfied with her boldness, as she unclasped the crotch of the sexy garment, deliberately disobeying his instruction to stay still. He indulged her by letting her goad him but it reassured her to see she had his rapt attention.

Feeling secure and sexy, she continued.

She tugged the tight fabric over her head, drawing a sharp breath when the lace rasped against her sensitized nipples, which grew harder by the second. As soon as she dropped the lingerie on the floor, Kurt pounced from his rigid stance. His left arm clamped around her waist like an iron band as his right hand splayed high on her back, forcing her to bend over. She braced herself with her palms on the table in front of her a moment before he spanked her ass again.

The crisp sound reverberated in the room. As the shockwaves of pain and pleasure flew through her, she was relieved he hadn’t treated her like a fragile patient. Before she could figure out what he expected of her, he scooped her into his arms only to deposit her on the inviting, terrycloth-covered table.

“Enough teasing. Let’s get started. Don’t test me, Becca. I
will
punish you and you aren’t ready for that yet.”

She squirmed a bit on the platform although it was more comfortable than she had imagined. She tried not to glance up at him, knowing he would detect her arousal, but she couldn’t take her eyes away from him for long. Turning her head, she realized her mistake when the bulge in his slacks shifted, with heavy thumps corresponding to his heartbeat, a mere inch from her face. She longed to reach out and discover how firm and hot his shaft must be. Judging by the size of the tent forming in the front of his pants, his erection would be huge—

far bigger than either of the men she’d been with before.

When Kurt stepped back, she wondered if he could sense her hungry stare on his crotch. Eyes fixed on hers, he began to unbutton his shirt. The sight of his well-muscled body mesmerized her, confirming all her daydreams. He was more than halfway done when some semblance of her intelligence returned. Her gaze shot to his and she asked, “Dr. Foster, what are you doing?”

The trembling in her voice dismayed her.

“It’s only fair you see me too. I hope it will help you relax. You don’t mind do you?” As though she would object to the dark golden muscles revealed to her. The ripple of sinewy flesh along his chest and abdomen and the light trail of hair leading into the waistband of his slacks fascinated her. His fingers worked the fly of his pants with deft movements while she checked to make sure no drool escaped her salivating mouth.

Face flushed with heat, the first bead of moisture pooled inside Rebecca’s womb. She focused on burning every detail of this scene into her memory for the lonely nights ahead. His fingers slid inside his bulging boxer briefs. When he nudged them down, she thought it proper to avert her stare but found she couldn’t. His long, thick erection sprang free and bounced against his flat stomach.

The whimper that escaped when she wished she could taste him brought her back to her senses.

She jerked her eyes away, causing Kurt to chuckle. “Go ahead and look. If we can’t be comfortable with ourselves, how can we help others with their intimate issues?” She couldn’t bring herself to gawk at his hard-on even though it was the object of her obvious desire. Instead, she focused on his feet then followed the trail of silky charcoal hair, admiring his powerful legs until she realized she’d ended up right back where she started.

His testicles drew up tight against his body, leaving his scrotum wrinkled and a shade darker than the rest of his skin. She wanted to trace a finger up the prominent veins making his cock throb.

The physical evidence of his arousal comforted her. He couldn’t fake this reaction. Last night she had begun to doubt that the chemistry between them affected him as it did her. She even wondered if she’d imagined the desire in his expression while he’d examined her on the couch in his office.

But she’d been right. He wanted her, too.

Disappointment zinged through her when he pivoted, took a lab coat from a hanger on the wall and threaded his arms through it. With sure, efficient motions, he knotted the belt around his tapered waist. The gesture accentuated his broad shoulders. The coat highlighted his hard, throbbing erection, which parted the fabric in the center, standing out, framed in white. Kurt bent over her prone form. For a moment, she thought he would kiss her. Instead, he engulfed her wrist with his hand then stretched it above her head. She chastised herself for forgetting this was his job.

“Dr. Foster!” A fuzzy band wrapped around her wrist, pinning it in place.

“Shh, it’s all right. I just need you to stay still. Today’s session will ease you into the experiment. I’ll prepare you, accustom you to the environment and test out some equipment. Baby steps.” He fastened the fur-lined cuff then attached it to the peg above her head before moving on to repeat the procedure with her other hand. Arms crossed, the position forced her breasts to stand out, drawing attention to her engorged nipples.

Kurt trailed his fingers along her torso until he found the two straps on either side of her waist then drew them through the buckle in the middle. He rested his palm on the supple skin of her abdomen, causing her muscles to jump beneath his fingers. He rewarded her with a tight smile, then cinched the belt until he struggled to remove his hand from beneath it.

He brushed his palms across the sensitive skin below her belly button, then down her legs, accustoming her to his touch. Finally, he clasped her ankles in his firm grasp before strapping them to the table as well.

Rebecca couldn’t still the instinct to struggle. She wriggled against the bonds, testing their strength, and discovered she couldn’t move more than a fraction of an inch. She’d never done anything like this before. The fear and thrill inside her competed for dominance.

Panic threatened to wash over her but she fought to subdue it. She had always looked out for herself. The thought of lying back, passive, accepting whatever he chose to do to her, terrified her.

“Breathe.”

His voice drew her away from the edge. Glints of anticipation sparkled through the fear. She battled her initial reaction, reaching for the exhilaration underlying her apprehension. Trusting anyone other than Kurt would have been impossible. With him, though, she was aroused and surprised to find her senses heightened.