Page 16 of Compelled Obedience

“Thanks, oh ex best friend of mine for making it sound so horrible.”

“Very funny. You know I adore you.”

“Uh-huh. We’re not talking about me here. I’m serious. You need to settle down.”

“Don’t you start too. Hell, Lachlan and Jameson are bugging the crap out of me.”

She stuck out her tongue. “All three of us are right and you know it. We’ve found the people of our dreams.”

“You’re still hiding.”

Jerking a knife from the butcher block, she narrowed her eyes. “You know why I am. My contract with Universal. A crazy morals clause that I should go to court over.”

“I’ve read the contract, girl. The clause has nothing to do with your sexuality, only crazy behavior like drugs and getting arrested.”

“And we’re still not talking about me. I’m serious. What else did this perfect woman have to say?”

I took a gulp of my drink, allowing the dirty thoughts to enter my mind once again. “Kerri knew by instinct that I’d never visited a single inner-city school. She knew I was just tossing money at something that holds no real meaning for me.”

“Don’t sell yourself short. You do care about the kids. I’ve seen you. Maybe you haven’t visited a school, but kids have been at some of the events and they flocked to you. You’re a natural and would make a great father.”

“Trying to butter me up,” I told her. “Look, everyone knows I grew up privileged. I went to the best schools. I had a loving family, even if my father was standoffish. Hell, my first car was a Mercedes. Look what I am today.”

“The most eligible bachelor in the city and how fascinating you already know her name.”

Her words recapped what Brak had told me. While he’d been teasing to a point, he’d also been reminding me that I was going through the motions of life, not living it. “What the fuck do I have to offer?”

“Dude. Everything. Charm. Good looks. Wit. Money. Don’t let it go to your head because I’ll knock your block off.”

“I’m also dominating, sadistic, arrogant, at least according to Kerri, and I require women to follow rules.”

“So what?” She shrugged and took a sip of her wine. “Women get off on that. They love to be dominated by a sexy man.”

“From your mouth to God’s ears.”

“I’m serious. How did the conversation end?”

“Well, I almost make good on my promise and dragged her to one of the hotel benches, pulling her over my lap and spanking her.” The thought was ridiculously enticing.

Candace’s eyes lit up and she burst into laughter. “That’s the man I know and love. Why didn’t you?”

“Oh, maybe because I was thinking of the term sexual harassment.”

“She’s not your employee. I remember your strict company rules. You can do with her anything you want. Including tying her down just like you enjoy.” She winked and did a little jig and all I could do was shake my head.

“She invited me to visit a school where I guess she teaches.”

“Which one?”

“Harry Carver High. I’ve never even heard of it.”

I noticed a cloud covered her sparkling personality.

“Wow. That’s a really bad area of town. I mean like extremely impoverished and controlled by gangs.”

“How would you know? You live in Beverly Hills where you have since arriving in town.”

“My cousin went to school there,” she said more quietly than usual.

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