His Demands (10 page)

How indeed…

Chapter
Four

Groaning, Kaela eased back in her
chair and rubbed her eyes before allowing her hands to slip around to the back
of her neck. Brushing the tips of her fingers over the bite, she cringed. What
in God’s name had she been doing seducing him? What? She squirmed in her seat
and even after two days could still feel the effects of her spanking. Her
morning shower, allowing her a reflection at her naked body, had shown her just
how hard he’d whipped her. Broden MacGruder had spanked her hard. Hard! The
realization was wonderful on several levels, including the fact she’d been able
to do something kinky for the first time in years. How amazing.
But the seduction?
Horror filled her.

“I am out of my mind.” How in the
world was she going to be able to look him in the eyes? Thank God he’d had
appointments today or she might have called in sick. As it was, she’d stayed
inside her condo all day on Sunday, avoiding the world like the plague, or
maybe she was the plague. She’d even scoped out the newspaper ads, looking for
another job. Then again, one phone call from Broden and she was toast in town,
no matter what industry she tried to shimmy into. To fuck her boss and the way
she did it and…

“Idiot!”
Grabbing her stapler, she couldn’t
stop herself before pitching the ugly piece of metal across the room toward the
door.
Just as it opened.

“Jesus Christ!” Angel huffed, barely
avoiding being slammed in the head. “What in the hell is up with you today?”

“Eeeks!”
Jumping, Kaela blushed as the
stapler hit the side of the door, crashing down with a hard enough
thud
she figured half the administrative pool would come
racing into her office to take a gander at the crazy lady. She’d even toiled
around the officer cooler that morning trying to determine if anyone had heard
anything before slinking into her office.
Where she’d been ever
since.

“Like I asked, what in the world is
going on with you?” Angel picked up the stapler and closed the door. Shaking
her head, she inched forward. “I’m not certain this is going to work any
longer.” Giggling, she set it down and leaned over Kaela’s desk. “What gives?”

“Nothing.
Why do you ask?”

“Uh-huh. You had a mystery invite to
a party at Broden’s house. At minimum I thought you would have called on Sunday
and given me some of the sordid details.”

“There’s nothing to tell.” Kaela
avoided her gaze. There was no way she could even fess up to her best friend. She’d
never acted like a tramp around men before and no matter what pushing Angel had
done, the behavior couldn’t be condoned.

“Nothing?
Excuse me?” Angel purred as she
leaned closer to Kaela.

Nervous, Kaela brushed her fingers
over the bite again, feeling the ridges. Wincing, she looked away.

“You mean a hell of a lot more than
nothing. Come on girl, you look positively radiant. Why hide it?”

“Nothing happened!”

“Whoa.” Easing back, Angel held up
her hands. “Okay. I wasn’t trying to pry.”

Kaela could see a hurt look crossing
her friend’s face. “Look, seriously, nothing happened. The party was swanky and
we closed the deal within the first thirty minutes I was there. Then I got to
see the Saudis fondle every woman in the room and that was about it.”

Angel laughed. “Oh I bet that was
fun. Were they all dressed in festive attire?”

“Let’s just put it this way, I think
they got lucky.”

“Oh yuck!
How was Broden?”

“He was…interesting.” Heat was
rising on her face.
He was hot, fucking
me like a wild dog.
Right.

“And anything?’

“He was polite and professional.”
Kaela could almost take his kisses. She didn’t realize she was absently pressing
her fingers back and forth across her mouth until he saw Angel’s look of
mischief. “What? He said some nice things, told me to have a good time. I did
but I just realized I don’t like those kinds of parties.”

“You mean where real people are
a good time are
involved?”

“Careful or I’m going to pitch this
at you for real this time!” Kaela laughed as she grabbed the stapler.

Snorting, Angel waved her hand.
“Girl, all I can tell you is that you had the perfect opportunity taste the man
of your dreams and you didn’t? You’re pathetic.
My God.”

Swallowing hard, Kaela couldn’t
agree more.
“And what about your night at the bar.
You
obviously left with someone.”

“Not just someone, two of the
hottest male studs around. Their creamy white skin alone was enough to make me
long for a bowl of milk.” Her laugh infectious, she swayed her hips back and
forth.

Kaela giggled.
“Evil.
You’re evil I tell you. And I thought you liked chocolate.”

“Oh sugar
,
 
like
all men. Maybe you need to catch
a few hints from me, sunshine, lest you stay a virgin.”

“I told you! I’m not a virgin.”

“Oh right.
Could
have fooled me.”

Before she had a chance to retort,
her intercom buzzed. “Shit!”

“Jumpy are we?” Angel teased.

“Yes?” Kaela waved her hand as she
wrinkled her nose. There was no way she was going to be able to keep the secret
for long.

“Ms. Bryson, I need to see you in my
office now.”

As the sound of Broden’s voice
filtered into the room, the delicious Scottish accent making her long to crawl
into his office and suck his cock, Kaela panted.
“Yes, sir.
I’ll be right there.” Clicking off the intercom, she sucked in her breath.

Angel sighed. “Now I know there’s
something going on.”

“What do you mean?”

“You didn’t call him a flaming prick
or a jerkoff asshole. I think you’re warming up to him. No, I think you’re
falling head over heels in love with him.”

Snapping her head up, Kaela could
tell her BFF was looking right through her eyes and into her very soul. She was
in some kinda trouble.
“Nonsense.”
Rising from her
desk, she followed Angel to the door, trying to capture any level of composure.
Like she could, given how much her legs were shaking, her teeth rattling.

Angel stopped short and gave her a
once over. “Let me give you a piece of advice, darlin’ Life is too short. Go
for all the gusto you can grab but um…be careful.”

“Careful?”

“Uh-huh. You will be bitten in the
ass a few times. Then again, I think that’s exactly what you want. Now isn’t
it?” Angel’s eyes dancing, she purred as she strutted down the hallway.

Kaela stared after her, longing to
be the vixen Angel was. As thoughts about Saturday night infused her mind,
giving her pussy something to quiver about, she walked nonchalantly to his
office and lightly tapped in his door.

“Come in.”

The tone was unusually gruff. When
she entered the room she could tell his demeanor was simply pissed off. “Mr.
MacGruder?”

“Close the door.”

Dear God. The man was pissed. Not
that she expected any special treatment or anything but a few nice hellos
instead of barking might just be in order. She closed the door and walked
toward his desk. He was doing what he usually was when she entered his hallowed
grounds, staring out the window.

“Sit down,” he commanded.

“That’s all right. I’ve been sitting
all day.”

“I said, sit down.” Broden remained
where he was, his back to her.

Kaela shuddered and sat down,
crossing her legs demurely. Who the hell was she kidding? He’d seen her in all
her befuddled glory.

He shook his head, remaining quiet.

Patience?
Right now she had no sticking
patience.
Get on with it.
Clearing
her throat, she fidgeted and opened her mouth twice to say something, but
thought better of it.

“So, I see we have a bit of a
quandary,” Broden said quietly.

“Quandary?
Just what would that be?” Who used
a word like that any longer?

He turned slowly, his eyes wide
open.

Kaela found
herself
nervous as a kitchen. Blinking rapidly, she tried to read his expression, but
there was no way. He was masked.
Much
like you were the other night
. Pushing back her ugly inner voice, she
longed for a padlock to slam it away permanently.

“Yes. You see you seduced me.”

His bluntness she usually
appreciated.
Until now.
“I…seduce…you?” Holy shit! He
was serious.
Well, you did go there with
the distinct purpose of seducing him. Didn’t you?

“Yes, you did.” Broden inched closer
to the desk.

“Wait a minute. I seem to remember
you were there.”

“Oh I was.”

Kaela waited for him to say
something else. His haughty attitude wasn’t just surprising her. It was enraging
her. She rose to her feet and glared at him. “You called me in her to admonish
the fact we…I mean me…I mean… Oh shit!” Tears welled in her eyes. Her dream man
was nothing but a tart himself. Rolling her eyes, she looked away. This was all
her fault.

“Yes, Ms. Bryson. You seduced me and
while I certainly was there, enjoying every moment, the fact remains, you enticed
your boss in to an illicit tryst.”

She still couldn’t tell where he was
going with this.
Sexual harassment?
The
loss of her job?
A nervous tick appearing in the corner of her mouth,
she absently pressed her hand over her mouth before smiling brightly. “Yes, I
did. What now?”

“Seems like you
have a choice to make.”
Broden walked around the desk, sitting down slowly on the edge. He folded his
arms, his eyes never leaving her face.

“A choice?”

“Yes, a choice.”

If the man dragged this out any
longer she was going to rake her nails own the side of his oh-so sexy face.
“Okay, are you going to tell me or do I have to guess?”

“Patience.
We’re going to help you learn that
through discipline.”

Visions of the spanking filled the
back of her mind and for a few seconds Kaela struggled to breathe. “Are you
going to fire me?”

“That’s entirely up to you,” Broden
said quietly, his face remaining emotionless. “What you did was conniving at
best and you know that and very much against the rules of the company.”

At least it was all out on the
table. “I should have known.” She knew her voice held arrogance, but damn it,
she’d only seduced him and… Okay, so she had gone to his house with the strict
intent of getting him into bed.

“Are you being rude?”

“Yes, I am.” He seemed surprised at
her answer. Kaela sniffed and took a step toward him. “What do you want me to
do, resign? Are you going to demote me, publically humiliate me?”

“Hmm…
All good
suggestions.”

He was enjoying this way too much.
Don’t rip his eyes out. Don’t do it.
Swallowing, she nodded over and over again. “I did something wrong and deserve
to be punished. That’s what you’re saying, isn’t it?”

“Yes, you do deserve some form of
punishment for your ridiculous behavior. Are you asking for a spanking?”

Kaela snapped her head in his
direction. Was he actually serious? While his face held a slight smile, she
could see he was dead serious.

“Remember Ms. Bryson, you need to
ask for what you want and what you know you need.”

My God.
He was indeed playing
this
card. The very one she was never
going to be able to live down. Her boss had drawn a line in the sand the size
of the Sahara desert. Kaela contemplated her actions and while she knew this
was completely against everything rational and normal and… She closed her eyes
briefly and thought the entire moment through. “I would like…I know that I
need… Would you please spank me for my ridiculous behavior?” When she opened
them the look on his face was far too smug.

Broden exhaled slowly and gave her a
contemplating look before rubbing his chin. Standing, he closed the distance.
“Very good request.”

She wanted to scream out in
frustration. If he kept the suspense building any longer she was going to act
on her inner child.

“But I have a much better idea and
way for you to atone for your sins.
Much better indeed.”

“I’m all ears,” she said
sardonically, no longer enjoying this game.

“You can choose to resign or become
my submissive for a solid week.”