Page 69 of Enthrall
I turned away, choking back tears and wanting neither Richard or Courtney to see them. The sound of the lift descending, taking Richard away from me, brought a gut wrenching ache.
My gaze drifted to my screensaver. The Japanese carp pond Richard had set for me, having known how much I loved the garden, now brought sadness. I remembered him sitting in my chair, the way he’d moved the mouse to reset it. The way he caught me staring, his mouth turning up at the edges in playful amusement.
I’d taken for granted swimming in his pool last night, not savored every precious second as I should have. I wiped away another rogue tear.
The entryway elevator rumbled and I readied myself for the challenge of greeting the monsieur and having to tactfully avoid the subject of why I’d declined his gift. Lotte was expected any second but he was early again. Probably hoping for a lesser punishment from his mistress, no doubt.
Nonchalantly, he strolled toward me.
He looked startled. “Mon Amie. You look... belle comme le jour!”
Blinking several times, I tried to understand what he was saying. He’d mistaken my flushed cheeks for arousal, these shudders of emotion I’d failed to suppress, these heavy breaths of distress. I calmed at the thought; we see what we want to see.
I gestured a wave of thanks to him for the gift I’d not seen since Richard had confiscated it, and elegantly slid through the staffroom door, managing to stifle back sobs until I made it to the spa.
Where I shrank onto the wooden bench before the Buddha, biting on my hand to quiet my sobs. The thought of Richard sharing his affection with Courtney brought a surge of pain in my chest and I clutched the bench, hating myself for even thinking a romance between us was possible.
Lotte soon found me. “Mia, what’s going on?”
My lips trembled and it was too hard to speak.
“What did the monsieur say to you?” She sat beside me.
“He thought I had those things in.”
“That explains his good mood.” She brushed a stray hair out of my face. “Did he upset you?”
“No.”
“Then why are you crying?” She held my shoulders. “You’re very flushed. You’re not wearing them, are you?”
“No.” Wiping my tears away felt like a losing battle.
“Mia?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“When you take your clients into the dungeons...”
“Yes.”
“Um...”
“You’re wondering if we have sex with them?”
I shot her a surprised look.
“I read between the lines,” she said. “It’s part of being a little older and a little wiser.”
With my hand pressed against my chest, I scrunched my shirt up into a ball. She caressed my back, allowing the silence to have its way.
“I won’t tell anyone,” I muttered.
“The whole point of domination is holding onto our power. If we have sex with them then we relinquish our control. We never give up our power.” She lowered her gaze. “You’re asking particularly about Richard?”
“Yes.”
