Page 15 of Winning Sadie

“You do,” I said. “Always.”

“When I ask you to do something, is it reasonable for me to expect that you will do as I say, unless we discuss things and decide differently?”

“I guess.” Shame prickled the back of my neck. Simon wasn’t a total autocrat; he’d always listened to my side of things.

“This is what’s going to happen.” His dark eyes smoldered. “Layla will rearrange my appointments this week and find me a reason to be in Montreal on Wednesday. That’s the earliest I can get away. I will arrive first thing in the morning.”

I nodded, glad to know we wouldn’t be apart for too long. My next thought was distaste at how dependent I was on him, at how much I craved being close to him.

“I’ll be staying at the Charles Rose where I will expect you to have lunch with me. If not lunch, then dinner. Your choice, depending on how your family is doing.”

I nodded again, troubled by the steeliness in his voice.

“You will arrive wearing a dress with no panties. In fact, you are not to wear panties at all that day, and you most certainly are to arrive to see me there in that state. I want your mind on your butt from the moment you get up. You may bring panties with you to wear after your punishment.”

I swallowed and tried to turn away, but he held my chin.

“And when you see me, you will ask me to spank you. If I say yes, you should be grateful, because if even one iota of tonight’s anger is still burning, I will refuse. Do you understand?”

I dropped my head and murmured, “Yes.’

“Why do you think I’m making you do this?”

“Because I disobeyed you,” I stated flatly, holding back any fear and guilt that might make my voice break. Holding on even tighter to the part of me that relished the freedom when I walked away from him, free of my addiction to a man who made me weak in the knees. I wanted him so much it terrified me.

“Correct,” he said, “and because you contravened the first rule of a partnership. You made a unilateral decision and shut me out.” He unlocked the doors.

“Now let’s get you on that plane.” He came around and opened my door for me before getting my bag from the trunk.

The valet stepped forward, ready to help us. Another car had pulled in behind the Porsche and we were blocking it.

“I’ll be back shortly.” Simon handed her the keys along with a twenty and ten. “I just want to see Sadie safely checked in.”

Inside the terminal, the departure screen showed a one-hour delay on my flight, so we walked together, his hand on my shoulder, to the Business Class service counter and inquired as to the hold up.

The check-in agent, a tall, thin woman with black-framed glasses glanced at her monitor. “Sorry, Ms. Donohue, there’s been a last-minute hitch with a connecting flight from Asia. Your plane is being held so those passengers can make their connection and the departure time has been delayed by about an hour. We apologize for the inconvenience. Perhaps you’d like to make yourself comfortable in the Platinum Lounge while you wait?”

Simon stepped forward. “Are any sleeping rooms available?”

She scanned her screen. “We have one. A double. Would you like to book that for the next hour?”

“Yes, please,” Simon said. As he took my elbow and turned me toward the VIP lounge area, I noticed a voluptuous redhead dragging a large suitcase toward the Business Class check in counter. What a coincidence that Ronnie the society blogger was at the airport at this ungodly hour on a Sunday night.

With Simon’s firm grip on my arm, I couldn’t stop and say hello. My stomach was too thick with dread and desire to even force a smile.

PRE-FLIGHT CHECK

Simon

With a private room to call our own, my resolve to wait to spank Sadie faltered but I didn’t let on. I was already feeling the loss of her, and she hadn’t left yet. I didn’t want to part with bad feelings between us. Until our relationship was back on firmer ground, I needed to manage the situation with more sensitivity than I had practiced in a long time. I turned over ideas as to how to deal with the immediate situation.

On the sixth floor, the hotel host was waiting for us. He gave us the key card and led us to one of the sleeping pods provided for long haul and delayed passengers. More than ever before, I was grateful for this modern amenity. I needed time alone with the woman I loved.

I’d insisted Sadie come into the meeting with me because I knew if I left her home alone, she’d phone her mother. I could imagine, all too well, the conversation that would follow. Sadie would try to persuade Cynthia that I really was okay. Sadie hated conflict and I knew she’d try to broker peace between Cynthia and me. Cynthia would assume that Sadie was acting on my instructions, and she’d be even more contemptuous of me and even more protective of Sadie.

What Sadie needed, what we needed, was a few quiet days getting back to basics together. We needed a late-night picnic on Cypress Mountain. A swim at Wreck Beach. Early morning lovemaking followed by coffee and croissants on our sundrenched patio overlooking the sea. That was the way to cement our love again, to strengthen it until it was Cynthia-proof.

So much for those best-laid plans. Now, Sadie was headed right back into the mama bear’s den. Cynthia would have days, maybe weeks, to subvert my love. I had one hour to draw Sadie close.

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