Page 6 of Disgrace

“And why is that?” His casual tone betrays the heat in his eyes and the intensity of his glare. “Did you not have fun? Because I seem to recall you had a great deal of it.” He leans forward and pushes his hands between my legs and grabs the edge of the bar stool. My legs spread of their own volition just enough before I try to rectify the error. Clamping tight against his wrist, he pulls my seat closer to him. His muscular thighs trap me, his hand wedged between my legs. Heavy lidded eyes bore into me with a fierceness that burns through my veins like wildfire, his thumb languidly stroking my inner thigh.

I take a moment and relish the utter pleasure these strange erotic feelings coursing through me evoke. My heart is beating a hypnotic pattern in my chest, hard and fierce. I am acutely aware as the precarious balance of control I hold so dear begins to slip. I feel the shift like a physical change and it is alarmingly seductive how natural it feels to give over to someone as absolutely dominant as Jason. It’s too seductive. I raise a brow, my calm façade a mask to my traitorous emotions. I use the tips of my fingers to remove the remaining ice cube from my glass, quickly palm it, and stretch out to hold it flat and hard against Jason’s rock solid erection. The ice water soaks his trousers but doesn’t diminish the heat in my palm one bit.

“Fuck, Sam!” he barks out but doesn’t move. If anything he grinds into my hand and releases a deep moan. I can’t help laughing; that was not the reaction I was anticipating but then I should’ve known he wasn’t likely to run. He was much more likely to rise to the challenge he obviously thinks I am.

“Jason.” I sigh reluctantly removing my hand. “Two Doms don’t make a right. We would not play well together. The wedding was an exception. I will give you that it was an amazing exception but—”

“But nothing.” He growls his interruption.

“See, that’s exactly why I didn’t return your call. I’m not one of your little submissives, and you sure as shit aren’t going to kneel for me anytime soon…although…” My index finger lightly taps my lips, which carve a wicked grin at the very notion.

“Yeah, keep dreaming beautiful, because that is all that’severgoing to be.” He sniffs derisively, but his eyes narrow while he slowly sips his drink. “But you weren’t always a Domme Selina?” His serious tone and leading question instantly kills my flirtatious mood.

“Oh, you have been busy.” I straighten myself creating a cool, noticeable distance.

“Daniel was just as much my wingman as I was his before he met Bethany, and you know that. I’m not being intrusive; I am stating a fact. You weren’t always a Domme.” His dismissive tone is doing little to calm my irritation.

“I doubt Daniel would’ve disclosed any details, but if he did, he would’ve informed you it was one time and it was the very last part of my training. My instructor insisted I understand both ends of the whip as it were.” I clarify stiffly.

“Quite right, too.” He nods in agreement.

“But that doesn’t make me a sub, Jason.”

“No, Samantha, it doesn’t, but you enjoyed it, so that does, in fact, make you a switch.” His gaze seems to sear right through me with fire and so much desire I’m starting to melt. What exactly I am struggling with? Is it that I actuallylikethe turn this conversation has taken? No…I can’t… I won’t let it go there.

“Not necessarily but your point is what exactly?” My attempt at annoyance seems to amuse him. He moves his hand from his drink to lightly pinch my chin making sure he holds my full attention. Not that I could look anywhere else…not that I’dwantto.

“My point, Selina, is that I want you toswitchfor me.” His lethal glare scorches my breath from my lungs as I let out an inaudible gasp. “So tell me, Selina, what is it going to take?” His assured cockiness is interrupted by my incredulous laugh.

“Oh, Jason, that is sweet, and I’m flattered, really I am.” His instant scowl darkens at my flippancy and condescending tone.

“What is it about me that you think is sweet exactly? Do I look like a man who doesn’t get everything he wants?” He slips his hand around the back of my head and grabs a tight hold of my long, sleek ponytail. I don’t flinch but my heart does feel like it is trying to beat its way through my chest.

“Do I?” I retort and hold his fiery gaze.

“Damn-it, Selina, you most definitely donotlook like a man.” He laughs out, then his lips quickly bite back a grin. “Give me one day.” He pauses to let the words sink in but the evident confusion must be etched on my face because it makes him clarify further. “Give me one day to change your mind. Spend the whole day with me and if I can’t convince you to submit to me…then…”

“Then?” I tip my chin for his answer but my movement is still restricted by his hold.

“Then it will be the first time I donotget what I want.” He grumbles, and I laugh loudly shaking free from his grip.

“And if I do agree to submit… it will be a miracle.” I taunt.

He stands, stepping into my personal space, putting pressure enough to widen my legs to accommodate him just that little bit closer. “I’ll pick you up first thing in the morning.” He leans down, his words kiss my neck like a tempting promise.

“Tomorrow? It’s Christmas Day.” I sag a little when he moves away, fighting the moan at the sudden loss of heat.

“Perfect day for a miracle.” He pauses at the doorway, holding my gaze for long seconds before stepping through the curtain leaving me a mess of heat and confusion.

“What the fuck! You scared the crap out of me, Daniel! What are you doing here?” The door to my office swings open, and apart from the night security guard, I thought the whole office block was empty. As it should be this late on Christmas Eve.

“I am going to ask you the very same question. You are going to make me feel like Ebenezer if you tell me you are working.” He flicks the main light on because I have been hunched over my laptop with just the glow of the screen to illuminate my office. I blink and rub my eyes at the instant bright light.

“No, not working, just trying to findunobtainium. It’s proving a little tricky.” I slap the lid of my laptop shut and stretch my spine out with my knuckles, cracking a few pockets of air as I do. I feel the late hour now, and I am suddenly tired. Daniel strides into the room and walks straight to the shelf where I keep my best whiskey. He pours two fingers in each glass and hands me one. Taking the chair opposite, his face is impossible to read even after all these years of working as his number two. But his raised brow is indication enough that he is listening.

“I got a second chance with Sam. Just one day…tomorrow. I don’t want to blow it but I have sort of left myself no time to actually sort anything special.” Daniel lets out a clipped laugh and sips his drink.

“I wouldn’t waste your time.” He notices my back straighten, but waves his hand to stop my misunderstanding. “Back down, I didn’t mean it like that. I meant Sam, or more likely Selina, will have been to every fancy restaurant, gallery, concert…whatever in the city. You name it, she will have seen it all on the arm of one of her clients. I doubt she would consider anything like thatspecial. What else have you got?” He swirls the amber liquid and fixes me with his intense boardroom stare. Usually I don’t have a problem with that particular look because, in a business setting, I am never without answers and solutions. In this instance, however, I have left myself absolutely no time. I have no solutions to my own problem. I hold both my hands up in surrender.

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