TheOneandOnly (3 page)

“I want to make sure you understand my intentions before we
go any further. If you take the job—and I certainly hope you do—I want you to
quit your other jobs. Consider it a conflict of interest requirement. I don’t
like you working twelve-hour shifts. Is the pay enough to replace your current
income?”

“More than. I’ve been thinking about the offer and if I take
it I would quit the diner and the bar, but I’d keep the campus job. It fits
with my classes and wouldn’t interfere in any way.” She needed to make sure she
didn’t just roll over and give in to him on everything. It would be so easy to
do that. Michelle had fantasized about him taking command of her many times. She
kept pinching herself to make sure this was really happening.

“It’s during the day while you’re already on campus?”

“Yep, it’s very convenient. The pay isn’t much, but I’m also
getting office experience and that will be handy when it’s time to get a real
job.”

“That’ll work. I realize you’re taking a big chance giving up
your means of support and I appreciate your concern toward dating someone you
work with. Just to make it clear, you’d be reporting to Steven, but in the
spirit of total disclosure, I’m the sole owner and Steven does answer to me. I
started thinking about the risk you’d be taking, so I spoke with my attorney.
He came up with a unique employment contract. It is a cross between a prenup
and a trust fund. How long do you think it would take you to replace those
jobs?”

Sean had spoken with a lawyer already this morning?
“A few weeks, a couple of months, at the most.”
Where was he going with
this?

“I wanted to take the risk off you. My attorney will create
a special account in your name only. If for any reason you find it necessary to
quit or if you were fired, you would automatically be given ten thousand
dollars from the account. I figured that would give you three-and-a-half months
to find a new job.”

“I’m not comfortable with that, Mr. Jameson. I don’t want,
nor do I need, your money.” She grabbed her purse and started to leave, but
remembered he’d locked the door and set the alarm.

“Whoa.” Sean shackled his hand around her wrist, a light
touch but unbreakable. “Michelle, please sit down and talk to me. I’m trying to
protect you, not scare the hell out of you.”

She looked down at his hand. He instantly let go and raised
his hands in mock surrender.

“Sit down, please.” His voice dropped an octave or two.

Michelle sat back on the couch, her knees weak. The outrage
over being bought ran headlong into her hormones when he used that tone.

“Tell me what I did wrong.”

“I’m not for sale.”

“I’m glad to hear that. I’m not into the buying and selling
of submissives, even for charity purposes. Too dangerous. If I thought you were
after money, I would never have set up the fund the way I did. You only get the
money if we part ways. You don’t get a dime other than your bartending
salary—which, by the way, is the same pay we were giving the last bartender—if
you keep working here.”

She didn’t know what to say. “I’m sorry. I guess I jumped to
the wrong conclusion.” After a calming breath, Michelle wiped her palms on her
jeans. “I’m really not comfortable with taking your money. “

“Good. Then we both have a reason to make this work.”

“Sean, I’ve seen the women who come to breakfast with you.
Some of them are gorgeous and they’re into kink. Why are you offering this to
me?”

“Why are you considering it?” he countered. “I’ve told you I
find you attractive, that I keep coming to the diner to see you. You haven’t
shared anything with me.”

He was right. She’d been very closemouthed about her
feelings. It wasn’t fair to leave him in the dark. “I’ve started looking
forward to your visits and I make sure I always work the third Saturday of each
month. I trade shifts if I have to,” she admitted.

“You’ve invaded my dreams. I think about you all the time.”

If he was willing to admit it, she would too. “I’ve had a
few dreams about you too.” She felt her face flaming.

Sean was quiet for a few moments. He appeared to be studying
her. “What kind of dreams, Michelle? Were they erotic? Maybe one of the hot
scenes you’d read about?”

“Now that would be telling. I don’t think I’m ready to do
that just yet.” She smiled as he laughed.

“I’d be happy to tell you some of mine, but maybe I should
take you on a tour first.”

Sean left the couch and opened his office door, then waved
her down the hall. He pointed to a door across the hall from his. “This is
Steven’s office, but he rarely uses it. He spends most of his time in the
arboretum.”

“Arboretum? Aren’t gardens outside?” She was intrigued now.

Sean gave her a prideful smile and swung open the door at
the end of the hallway.

“Oh my God, Sean, this is beautiful. How did you accomplish
this?” The roof was warehouse height and they needed every inch of it. Huge trees
and plants of every shape and size filled the space. Off to the right was the
bar. Straight in front of her was an amphitheater of sorts and beyond that was
anyone’s bet. It was impossible to get a feel for just how large the space was.
There were skylights in the roof and indirect lighting, which she suspected
used grow-specific light bulbs. “Are all these plants real?”

“Most are live plants. I pay a landscape crew a small
fortune to keep this area as pristine as possible. I’m very proud of the club and
I want you to enjoy it here.” He put his arm around her waist and walked along
a path, pointing out certain plants and features.

“This isn’t what I expected at all. In the books I’ve read,
they always talk about dungeons. I thought I’d find flickering lights, lots of
black and red and chains everywhere.” She laughed self-consciously. Maybe she
could work here. If she just blocked out what was going on and focused on the
drink orders and the beautiful landscaping, she might be able to do this.

“Oh we have the requisite dungeon. It’s in the basement. You
don’t need to go down there for work and since you haven’t played before, it
will be a long, long time before we’d venture there together. If ever…”

Now her curiosity was piqued. If she decided to take the
job, she’d be sneaking a peek before long. “You make it sound ominous.”

“For someone who won’t tell me a single fantasy, it could be
a little daunting. We’ll ignore that part of the tour.” As they walked along
the path, Sean stopped near a secluded spot. “Have you read about a St.
Andrew’s Cross?” He was pointing to a wooden structure with ropes, vines and
manacles hanging from it.

“Yes, but I’ve never seen one before. It’s taller than I
imagined.”

Sean stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders massaging
the knots away. “Tell me about one of the scenes you’ve read.”

Michelle considered saying she didn’t remember any, but what
would be the point? He’d know she was lying. Refusing wouldn’t be any fun
either. “Sophie was…” She waved her hand toward the cross. “And Greg flogged
her.”

“Was she facing the cross or away from it?” His voice was a
whisper near her ear, sending delicious shivers down her body.

Her nipples had hardened and the sane part of her brain
hoped he wouldn’t notice. Fat chance though. He seemed to catch even the
smallest detail. “He flogged her backside. She was blindfolded. I don’t think I
would like that.” She could have bitten her tongue off for sharing that piece
of information. What had gotten into her? She needed to get a grip and stop
visualizing her and Sean in the scene.

“It narrows your focus and heightens your responses. Why
does it frighten you?”

Glancing over her shoulder at his handsome face, she decided
there was no point in playing coy. “I’d want to see what was happening, what
was coming next. I guess I have trust issues.”

“Seeing what’s going on won’t stop it from occurring. Only
using your safeword would stop a scene. Besides, you need to trust a person
completely before you let them restrain you. Playing in the club gives you a
modicum of safety. Our universal safeword is ‘censor’. If you hear it, get a GM
immediately. I’d prefer you didn’t intervene personally.”

“GM?” Her voice had taken on a breathy tone she wasn’t
familiar with.

“Garden Monitor, or Dungeon Monitor if they’re stationed
downstairs. They’ll have a yellow armband.”

“Okay.” His warm hands, touching and massaging her shoulders,
was all she could think about.

“I want to try something. Will you let me? I promise you can
get free at any time.” His seductive whisper slid along her neck making it
impossible to say no.

She nodded.

Dropping his hands to her waist, he nuzzled his lips along
her neck. “Thank you.” Sean used his body to urge her toward the cross.

Holy shit, what was she doing? Her breath was coming in ragged
bursts. Flames were licking her body everywhere he’d touched her. He was too
potent. If she didn’t get a handle on things fast, she’d melt at his feet. As
if sensing her distress, he set her away from him. He ran a hand through his
hair. Could he be as affected as she was?

“Put your back against the cross. I want you to face me.
Remember to take slow, even breaths.”

She smiled. Yeah, he noticed every little detail. If he was
playing her, then she was in for the biggest heartbreak of her life. Should she
regroup or go for it?

“I’m not going to use the manacles.” He slid them to the
other side of the cross. “The vines are a great visual effect, but they are a
little scratchy.” He pushed those behind the beams also. “I’m going to use
rope.” Sean ran his hand down her right arm to her wrist. He linked their
fingers and brought her hand to his mouth for a soft kiss on each finger.

Potent, too damn potent
. Her heart was pounding so
hard he had to hear it. She was trying to breathe calmly, but it wasn’t working.

“Since I promised not to tie you, you’ll have to help me
out. Hold the wood here. Can you do that comfortably?” He was in her space. As
he held her right hand along the edge of the wood, their cheeks touched and his
chest brushed against her breasts. His left thigh was between her legs, urging
them farther apart.

Not trusting her voice, she nodded.

Sean’s hand cupped her left cheek as he kissed her. “Answer
me verbally, Michelle. I may not always be able to see your face.”

“Yes, I can hold it,” she whispered.

“Good girl. Close your eyes for me and just feel.”

With his body pressed so close to hers, she almost missed
the feel of the rope wrapping around her arm. Very lightly, she tested her
bonds.

“I’m going to slide the end of the rope through the wrap right
here by your shoulder. If you were to push away from the cross, they would come
unwound.”

His hand brushing across her nipple as he looped the rope
caused her to moan. Her body was hypersensitive to his every touch.

“Oh Michelle, you’re so responsive. Do you have any idea
what you’re doing to me, girl?”

Her breathy chuckle didn’t sound like her at all. He was
turning her into something she was not. Yet she went along willingly. Craving
more.

Sean took her left hand in his, lightly kissing her wrist
and the center of her palm. “So beautiful, Michelle.” He slid her hand along
the smooth, thick piece of wood.

Slowly, he wrapped another piece of rope around her free
arm. Once it was secure, he rested his forearms on her collarbone and sank his
hands into her hair. Long, sensual fingers caressed her scalp. As she moaned at
the incredible feeling, his mouth descended upon hers. Locked in a scorching
kiss, Michelle rubbed her aching breasts against Sean’s chest, wishing they
were skin to skin.

Sean eventually softened the kiss and pulled back, his
forehead laid against hers as they both fought to catch their breath.

“Sean?” she whispered once she could.

“Yes, Michelle,” he answered without pulling away.

“I’d like the job.” She giggled.

He tipped his head back and laughed. “I’m so glad to hear
it.” He placed a soft, sweet kiss on her forehead. “Close your eyes again,
baby. I’m not finished with you yet.” He dropped to his knees.

Sean nuzzled her crotch through her jeans as he wound the
rope down her leg. “I want you, Michelle.”

“You want the woman you fantasized about. You don’t know me
yet. Just like I don’t know the real you, only the man I made up night after
night.” Her brain had definitely flipped the talk switch on and the filter
switch off.
When the man of your dreams says he wants you, you swoon at his
feet, not argue with him.

“What kind of books have you been reading, Michelle? Haven’t
you heard of love at first sight, soulmates, two halves of one whole? Where’s
your romantic instinct?”

“My instincts have been tempered by reality starting at a
very young age. My mom went through more husbands than I can remember. Each one
was Mr. Right until he beat the crap out of her. The nice guys she dated were
too boring, so she tossed them to the curb too.” Holy shit, why was she telling
him her life story? Maybe she should ask him to gag her—then she’d keep her
mouth shut.

“My parents were childhood sweethearts. They’ve been married
almost fifty years and they’re still very much in love. I want that. The sex
without strings thing gets old. I want more. I want to build a life together.”
Sean’s breathing was just as ragged as hers.

They came from different worlds, but they were together
right now. Michelle tipped her head back and focused on what she was feeling.
Both legs were bound. It hadn’t felt like he’d knotted them, but she doubted
she was strong enough to break free. It didn’t matter. She wanted to be right
here with him. He pulled her shirt up and nuzzled her stomach. His whiskers
scraped against her lily-white skin, making her wish she’d eaten fewer late-night
suppers and spent more time in the sun.