MasterofVelvet (6 page)

After a detour to an exclusive boutique owned by one of his
trusted female counterparts from Apollo, and with Beth’s belongings—including
her precious laptop, safely stored in the trunk—Adam found it quite amusing
that all of a sudden, for the first time in forever, he was in a hurry to get
home as he drove back to the apartment. There was only one thing better than
going home to Beth and that would be going home to Beth wearing nothing but his
collar. She was gorgeous. He had a preference for tall women but unlike many
men skinny model types didn’t turn him on. Beth, with her curves, her smile,
her intelligence and her wit, did.

And he knew, now more than ever, that she was a woman of
warmth and passion who just needed a secure environment in which she could come
out and play. Anyone who wrote about submission the way Beth had wasn’t just
interested in writing about it—she wanted it, he was sure.

The bonus was that he’d discovered he loved just talking to
her as well, found out from their conversations a little more about what made
her tick—and now he carried with him a much more three-dimensional view of the
woman he had wanted to claim for so long.

When he entered the apartment, he was greeted by music
playing on the sound system. Of Beth there was no sign—until he realized that
in addition to the music, he could hear the soft but distinctive sounds of a
woman pleasuring herself. As he went further into the room, he saw first her
toes, her feet and then her gorgeous legs, twisting and writhing under the sensations
generated by—he took another silent step—the hand between her thighs. With the t-shirt
bunched up around her waist, the sight of her smooth, delicious pussy fucking
her hand was absolutely breathtaking.

He’d give anything to know what was going through her mind
right now, what fantasies she was creating in that fertile imagination—and if
by any chance he figured in any of them. Had she ever picked up on the Dominant
traits he’d shown around the office?

The enchanting sounds she was making were becoming slightly
wilder now, less controlled as she began to approach the point of orgasm and
the erection in his jeans was getting even more uncomfortable.

Adam had always prided himself on being a good Dom, taking
care of his subs’ needs, respecting their limits while at the same time testing
those limits within reason—and trying to teach his subs self-control, among
other things. Perhaps Miss Harrison could do with one such lesson. His lips
curved into a roguish grin.

As stealthily as he’d entered—funny how military training
could come in handy in civilian life—he moved slowly backward, to the point
where he could pretend that he’d only just arrived. In silence, he opened the
front door again, then slammed it shut while at the same time yelling out,
“Beth, I’m back—you’d better be decent!” with a wickedly playful tone to his
voice.

And lo and behold there she was, sitting up and looking like
butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth…although Adam reflected that he might. He
decided he would make no comment about the warm, delightful scent of aroused
female that he detected in the air. He’d put money on the fact that he’d
managed to prevent her achieving her climax and if he had, then she would be
one frustrated woman.

“I’ve got your laptop so that should keep you out of
mischief,” he said, feigning complete innocence as he placed the computer bag
beside her on the sofa, “and I’ll just take your clothes into the bedroom.
Would you like me to clear some drawer space for you?”

The play of emotions across her face when she looked around
at that comment was interesting. She was a little flushed—which was hardly
surprising—and her expression spoke volumes about trying to work out what her
answer should be.

“Umm, no, it’s okay, thanks. I mean it’s not like I’ll be
here long, is it?”

If she wanted to think that, he wasn’t going to argue the
point—for the time being. She’d need time to adjust to his new position in her
life, as well as her position in his. “Give me a few minutes, and then you can
get changed into something less comfortable—if you like.”

When Adam emerged from the bedroom, his guest was busily
typing away. From the speed at which she was typing and the lack of any pauses
for thought, she was clearly deep in concentration. He hoped she was working on
her manuscript. Sneaking up behind her for a look over her shoulder would be
easy.

His eyes narrowed as he scanned the screen. She really did
write very well. Her prose was fluid and descriptive and clearly came from the
heart, even if it wasn’t entirely accurate. Now that was something he could
help her with.

“You write beautifully, Beth, and while what you’ve written
could happen, owned subs would never indulge like that without their Doms’
permission—not unless they were bratting and actively seeking to be disciplined.
And depending on their Doms’ moods, the form of that discipline may end up not
being what they were hoping for.”

As he stepped over the back of the sofa to slide into
position by her side, Beth slammed down the lid of her laptop, her face drained
of color. The waves of tension emanating from her body were off the scale.

“Beth,” he said quietly, “don’t shut me out and don’t be
ashamed. Talk to me.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.” Her knuckles were white
where she was gripping the laptop. “It’s rubbish, just…stupid rubbish.”

“It isn’t.” Adam very carefully sat back, his posture as
non-threatening as he could make it. “Do you know what I am?”

“Of course I do. My employer, and now…“ Her voice trailed
off and she was staring straight ahead. Even the least observant person in the
world would see her stress levels were rising with each passing second and at
any moment she could bolt for the refuge of the bedroom with its lockable door.

“Beth. My woman. Am I going to have to put you over my knee
and administer a sound spanking?”

Now that got her attention—and the color flooding back into
her cheeks. Her eyes were wide, her mouth frozen with the sharp intake of
breath. Even so, Adam could see the truth dawning in her eyes. She knew.

He hadn’t intended to have this conversation hot on the
heels of what they’d discussed just a couple of hours ago but it was looking
like he had no choice. Submission was the elephant in the room for many people—most
would ignore it, some would flirt with it but very few would embrace it.

Well, it wasn’t quite as bad as the scene his imagination
had conjured up a week earlier—but on the other hand, he hadn’t exactly wined
her and dined her…not yet at any rate. That would come later. Now he had to
tell her the truth about himself and in a way that wouldn’t make her any more
skittish than she was already.

“Yes, Beth,” he said, with the gentle authority he wanted
her to accept. “I’m a Dom and when I call you my woman I mean it. I’m going to
teach you all about the beauty of submission to your Master and you’re going to
teach me all about you.”

While her stomach performed Olympic-standard gymnastics, in
her subconscious mind Beth had always suspected it, from the first day she’d
gone to work for him—and it explained why he’d provided the perfect model for
the hero in her novel.

“Beth? Look at me. I know this is a daunting conversation to
have. I’ve already thrown a lot at you today but if you’ll let me, I can help
you to accept what I see in your eyes. Don’t be afraid.”

She couldn’t help herself—she had to obey him and the look
she saw in his eyes was like a laser beam searing the depths of her soul.

“You can’t be a Dom.” It was just too ridiculous for words.
And too coincidental. The man on whom she’d modeled her fictional Dom turning
out to be one in real life? One who wanted her? It just didn’t happen like
that. “You can’t be.”

“Why not, Beth? You’ve clearly done some research. You know
D/s exists. And for it to exist there must be practitioners of it. Is it so
difficult to believe that I’m one of them?”

Beth set her laptop down on the coffee table. She really
needed to go and get dressed properly. If she did that sanity would surely
return to this conversation.

“Where are you going, sweetheart? Don’t run away.” He caught
hold of her wrist. “Tell me what you want.”

She closed her eyes, trying to shut out that insistent but
gentle understanding voice. It wasn’t just his tone, it wasn’t just his words—there
was an additional level that was communicating with her in a way that she felt
rather than heard, and it was so hard to resist. Standing in front of him, she
had to try just one more time to stop the juggernaut—even if it meant their
personal relationship was over before it had a chance to begin.

“Adam, I’m not what you want,” she said, not sure who she
was trying to convince more, him or herself. “I’m not glamorous, I’m not
skinny, I’m not beautiful. Look at me!”

“Since you insist.”

And with that Adam made her straddle his lap, grasped the
hem of her t-shirt and in one swift movement removed it from her body and flung
it to one side.

She was incredible. Her body was as gloriously, gorgeously
imperfect as he’d hoped. Her breasts were soft and natural curves, just like
the gentle swells of her belly and hips. Her nipples, hard and tight, invited a
man’s mouth to take them. It didn’t take much to imagine how she’d look with
the adornments of bondage. She was so wrong—she was beautiful. He would teach
her just how beautiful she was.

Her face told a different story. Her expression was stricken
as she tried to cover her breasts and pussy. With the utmost care, Adam took
hold of her wrists and held her arms away from her body. Her head fell forward,
a luxurious brown cascade covering her shoulders and breasts.

“Don’t, please. I should be—“

“You should be who you are, no more, no less,” Adam cut in,
his voice calm but firm. He pressed a kiss against the inside of each pale
wrist. “Do you know what I see when I look at you, Beth? I see femininity, I
see beauty—and I see a woman who has been in conflict with herself for a very
long time.”

He studied her face for a moment. “I can take that conflict
away and give you something that will let you be at ease with who you really
are. I would consider it a privilege if you would allow me to do that. I know
what a sensual, sexual being you are already. It’s there in your writing, in
the way you were enjoying your body before I came back—“

“Oh, God, no!” Clearly horrified, she struggled against the
hold he had on her.

“Beth, stop it.” His voice held a warning he knew she
couldn’t ignore. “What I saw was exquisite. I wanted to watch you bring
yourself to orgasm and one day I will.”

Her pussy was still wet when he slipped a hand between her
legs—his gaze never leaving her face as he eased his fingers between her labia,
stroking her still-swollen clit. The play of emotions that she was experiencing
was plain to see. She was torn between wanting what he was doing to her,
wanting to listen to him and wanting to fight everything.

He knew what was going through her mind—that nice girls
weren’t supposed to let strangers do things like this to them, nice girls
weren’t supposed to actually want or even like sex at all. He’d seen it all
before, heard it all before—but this time, because it was Beth, it was different.
He wanted so much more for her—for both of them.

“Why are you doing this to me, Adam?” she whispered, trying
to move her pussy away from his hand.

“Because you’re mine. Tell me how you feel. Right now, Beth.
Tell me.”

Her eyes were haunted in the moment before she turned away
from him. “Ashamed. I feel ashamed.”

Adam swore under his breath. “That was never my intention,
love. No one should be ashamed of their desires, their needs. I can teach you
never to be ashamed again.”

“Train me, you mean?” Now she was defensive.

“I’ve used that word, yes, but it’s not the way I work. Oh,
some Doms do, but I prefer to think of it as teaching because it’s as much
about you teaching me as it is about me teaching you. For example, I would need
to learn your limits, both soft and hard—the things you won’t do now but might
do in the future and the things you’ll never do.

“Now—when was the last time you had a lover? When did you
last have a man do this to you?” He tapped her clit, felt her body tremble in
response.

She clearly wasn’t expecting that question either and Adam
felt almost primitively pleased that there was no instant response. He was even
more pleased when she admitted that the brief relationship had both started and
ended in the two months before she’d come to work for him.

“And you dumped him, didn’t you?”

She went still. Adam could tell by her expression that he
was right. His Beth needed a strong man to give her what she really needed from
a relationship.

“And no lovers since,” he concluded thoughtfully. “Does
masturbation satisfy you or do you miss having a cock inside you?”

He could see that the bluntness of the question shocked her—she
also had to learn that clear communication would be an intrinsic part of their
relationship. He started to stroke her pussy again, noting that she was wetter
than she had been a minute or two ago. On the face of it, it would appear that
she did need a cock—his cock—to satisfy her hunger.

So where did he go from here? He could take her into the
bedroom and begin to prove to her that she was a natural sub, or he could keep
her by…letting her go. In one fluid movement, he released the wrist he was
still holding and stood up, setting her back on her feet. Before she could say
anything, he’d also replaced the t-shirt but before he spoke, there was one
thing he had to do. He lowered his mouth to hers and placed a gentle kiss on
her lips.

“Go and have a shower now, love, and dress up. I’m taking
you out for dinner. Think about what I said, and we’ll talk about it again
tomorrow.”

Beth was almost shaking as she stood under the shower. This
wasn’t her life. There’d been a terrible mistake and somehow she’d been
transported into someone else’s life by accident. Otherwise she’d have to
consider all the things Adam had just said and done to her and none of that
could possibly be true.

He’d said he was taking her out for dinner. At that precise
moment, there wouldn’t be much point—because the thought of food made her want
to throw up.

Once she’d showered and dried her hair, Beth delved into the
bag Adam had left for her, expecting to find the clothes she’d asked him to
collect from her flat. They were there all right—along with some things she
didn’t recognize, a cocktail dress in teal satin with a black lace yoke and
long black lace sleeves, a pair of stylish peep-toe black heels and a matching
evening bag.

He obviously meant her to wear the dress for their dinner
date.

Dinner date. Beth wondered how long it was going to take her
to get used to the idea that she was Adam Granger’s latest conquest.

“Now you’re getting silly!” she muttered under her breath.
Conquest,
indeed
.

She could be stubborn and uncooperative about it, she
supposed, and put on the jeans and baggy top that she’d also found in the bag. But
the truth was she didn’t want to be stubborn and uncooperative. She wanted to
please him.

It was just a pity he hadn’t thought about underwear as
well.

“You don’t need it, Beth,” came his amused voice from the
direction of the door, in response to her mumbled comment. “The bodice will
support your breasts and the panties stay off—as my woman, you’ll only wear
underwear when I give you permission to do so. Now get ready. You’ll wear the
dress, the thigh-highs and the shoes. And don’t overdo the makeup.”

With that he walked past her without a backward glance,
heading for the bathroom.

Beth stared after him. All of a sudden a strange feeling
came over her, as if her skin didn’t quite fit right anymore. This was an Adam
she’d never seen before and she didn’t quite know what to make of him. Was this
the side of him that all his previous girlfriends had seen? Was this a glimpse
of Master Adam? She suspected it was and the shiver that went through her was
one of excitement, rather than fear.

She wasn’t used to going without underwear and the feel of
the fine fabric on her skin was almost sinful. Adam was right about the bodice—it
was almost like a corset, while the skirt had just enough material in it to
allow her to walk comfortably. Well, comfortably enough—she certainly wouldn’t
be going anywhere in a hurry in this dress!

With just a touch of lipstick and a quick flick of mascara,
she ran the brush through her hair, and took in her appearance in the
full-length mirror. It was like looking at a total stranger but instead of
being shocked by the transition, Beth felt…complete.

Having left the bedroom to Adam, she was in the main living
area looking out of the huge windows when she heard movement behind her. If she
was dressed up to the nines, would he be similarly attired? He’d scrubbed up
quite well for the office Christmas parties, she remembered, even though he’d
never stayed long.

Talk about suited and booted. Quite simply, he was stunning.
All of a sudden her ideas about this dinner date ratcheted up several notches
on the casual to formal scale. The man could surely make simple black and white
look like the sexiest fashion combo on the planet—three-piece black dinner
suit, the quality unmistakable, crisp snow-white shirt and a black bow tie with
gleaming black leather shoes. With his height and build and the commanding air
that he wore like a second skin, he couldn’t help but attract attention. He
certainly had hers as he made his way toward her.

“So, where are you taking me?” Beth asked, trying not to
stare too much.

“A little place I know.”

She shook her head. “Adam, you might as well tell me. I’ve
booked tables for you at all your favorite restaurants for the last three
years.”

“Not this one you haven’t.” She could hear the superior
smile in his voice as well as see it on his face. “Turn around.”

“Why?”

A look was all it took to make her obey him.

“I have something for you.”

It was metal and it was cold—and it had the close fit of a
choker rather than a necklace. “What is it?”

His hands were warm on her shoulders. “Not what you’re
thinking, sweetheart. We’re a long way from that. And when it happens, if it
happens, you’ll know exactly what I’m doing to you.” She felt his lips brush
her temple. “Now let me look at you.”

Beth performed a slow pivot in front of him, coming to a
stop when she faced him. Close up, he was even more beautiful and
overwhelmingly masculine. She found herself wanting him to kiss her. “Well?
Will I do?”

He looked at her in silence and with each passing moment
Beth felt her level of anxiety rise. It went off the scale when he spoke, his
tone affecting her every bit as much as his words.

“Lift your skirt and stand with your legs apart.”

With trembling hands, she lifted the hem of her dress to
mid-thigh, her stance as wide as she dared. Her heart was racing as she met his
gaze. She thought it might stop altogether when she saw the dark disapproval
there.

“All the way, Beth,” he said gravely. “I want to see that you’ve
obeyed me. And keep your eyes open.”

Her face flamed as she exposed herself to him. Her breath
hitched when he swiped a determined finger through her moist folds, raised it
to his mouth and very deliberately tasted it. Tasted her.

“Aroused already, Beth?” His smile was that of a hunter
whose prey was firmly in his sights. A slow burn started in his dark eyes.
“You’ll do very nicely. You can cover yourself up now. How are the shoes? Can
you walk all right or shall I carry you down to the car?”

The sudden return to relative normality threw her for a
second but as she smoothed the dress down over her thighs Beth regained her
composure enough to react as if what had happened was nothing out of the
ordinary.

“In that suit?” It had to be Savile Row’s finest. “Thank
you, but I can manage to walk in flats.”

He looked pointedly at her feet. “You call those flats? No
wonder you damn near broke your ankle.”

“These are flats compared to what I usually wear. What I
usually have to wear to have any chance of not having a permanent crick in my
neck when I’m in the office. Although I would need stilts to avoid the risk
completely,” she added with a hint of mischief in her eyes, a distant part of
her mind wondering why she was behaving so flirtatiously now when she’d been so
scared and nervous a short while ago.

To make sure her point was hammered home, she took a step
closer to him and in a clearly exaggerated manner, lifted her chin to look him
in the face.