In the Den (18 page)

“You know, my Cat, you’re the one who tells clients it’s okay to fall in love again. You even told me that.”

Catrina sighed. “It’s easier to give advice than to accept it.”

“I’m sure you’re right.”

“But I didn’t call to talk about my life.”

“Of course not. You called to stick your nose in mine.”

“That’s not true.”

“Look, sweetheart, I realize you think you know best.” Evelyn’s voice was soothing. “You want to reassure yourself that I’m aware of what I’m doing, but you’re positive I don’t. I appreciate that you don’t want me to get hurt and lose everything again, but honey, that was over twenty years ago.”

“I know, but…”

“You took on the burden in ways you never should have. And then when that jackass fiancée of yours did the same things your father did, it reinforced your worldview.” Evelyn sighed. “It was a struggle back then, I grant you, and I should have never allowed you to see the struggle.”

“Mother, you couldn’t have hid it.”

“I tried to protect you,” Evelyn said. “But I could have done better for you.”

She recalled Damien’s words. “I think you did okay.”

“I wish I could be as sure. But I do know this. Milton makes me laugh. I feel alive more than I ever have. He has plenty of his own money.”

“So why do you need to get married?”

“We don’t need to. I want to be a bride, and have flowers and a cake.” She paused. “I never had them.”

Catrina’s shoulders slumped forward. “I didn’t realize.”

Like a schoolgirl, Evelyn giggled. “And I want a honeymoon. Peggy already bought me a negligee.”

“Okay, okay. If I don’t mention a prenuptial again after this, do you promise not to tell me stuff like that?”

“Oh. Dear. I’m sorry. I was hoping you had a recommendation for a vibrator.”

“
Mother.”
She broke the word into two distinct syllables. “Ask Aunt Peggy. I’m sure she knows.”

“She recommended two—”

“Exchange financial plans. Make sure your goals align and that you have adequately saved for retirement. Social security will not be enough to keep up with cost of living increases—”

Evelyn’s laughter drowned her out.

Finally, Catrina relented.

“Do you know what
you’re
doing?”

“I’m afraid I don’t have a clue.”

“Life is short. Miltey lost his wife a couple of years ago. Don’t let fear rob you of possible joy. Be smart, but be happy.”

With that, Evelyn said she had to go. Miltey had bought her a gift certificate for a massage, and she had an appointment to use it.

Wondering at the transformation that her mother was undergoing, Catrina disconnected.

She glanced up to see Damien on one of the monitors. He filled an entire screen, and she felt him as keenly as if he were in front of her. He stood in the kitchen, looking directly into the camera. He pointed at his wrist. Even though he didn’t wear a watch, she understood his meaning. She was almost out of time. And if there was one thing she’d learnt, it was to take Damien very, very seriously.

* * * *

Over the next few days, they fell into a routine. He brought her coffee in the mornings. They’d work. He’d torment her at some point while they were alone. At night, he’d teach her something new.

Thursday, she drove to Denver and he called to make sure she had made it safely. Rather than chafing at the intrusion, she appreciated it. It was nice to have someone know her comings and goings, even though it meant she was more connected to him.

She met with her client, Lara, and they spent most of the time talking about her soon-to-be ex and her grief. Catrina helped Lara draw up a realistic plan for saving, paying down credit card debt, investing, giving her real tools to use.

“This feels better,” Lara said. “It’s something I can do other than wring my hands.”

In the doorway, Lara hugged Catrina.

She grinned with satisfaction. There was nothing more rewarding than helping others.

It shocked her when she realized her first instinct was to tell Damien about her day. She closed the door and leaned her shoulders against the wood.
Tell Damien?

In such a short time, he’d become important to her. After her engagement had ended, she’d chosen freedom over intimacy. Now she was questioning that decision. Hating the questions tumbling through her mind, she pushed away from the door.

She straightened her office, realizing she’d definitely been a brat to Damien. So what if he kept his environment in perfect order? He’d made his choices, too. Just because she’d thought his life needed to be shaken up, it didn’t mean she had the right to do it.

He’d asked if she thought he was a tight ass.

Maybe he was.

And maybe that restraint was the very thing that attracted her to him.

She sent him a text message, letting him know she was on her way back. And as she slid into the driver’s seat, she realized how much she was looking forward to seeing him.

The next afternoon he asked if she’d like to attend the Den’s event, stay in their quarters, go out or travel back to his house.

“How about dinner out?” she asked. “Then we can sneak in the back way? I’m not ready to step out in public as your sub.”

“Even though you wore a white wristband and scened with me last week?”

“It’s different.”

He nodded.

“I can’t explain it. It just is.” When he just looked at her, as if he were unconvinced, she thought it through and added, “Maybe the same reason you didn’t want me to play with Gregorio. It’s just not… A week ago, things were different.”

“They were,” he agreed.

“I didn’t know how you’d react to seeing me, if the invitation was still open. And now, I don’t want to be with anyone else. Unless, of course, it was your choice as part of my training.”

His jaw tightened. “It’s not.”

“Thank you.”

He swept back an errant strand of her hair.

As usual, he chose her outfit, this time jeans and a sweater.

“No bra,” they said simultaneously.

“A gift arrived for you.”

“For me?”

“Get ready to go and meet me in the living room.”

Half an hour later, she joined him. He was staring at the fire, an ankle propped on his knee.

He stood the moment she walked in.

No matter where or when, he treated her as if he was glad to see her. She appreciated that more and more.

“You look beautiful, as always, Milady.”

“Thank you, Damien.”

“Come here, please.”

She recognized that tone. He had something planned, but it wouldn’t do her any good to ask what it was. Rather than raw nervousness assailing her, curiosity tripped through her.

“Lift your shirt and show me your tits.”

She did.

He pulled out a pair of unusual-looking clamps.

“Your gift,” he said. “Nipple jewelry.”

The small hearts were pretty, and she suspected they’d stay in place just fine. They weren’t meant to inflict discomfort like some clamps, but rather, she suspected, meant to be a constant pressure.

“Present your breasts to me, Milady.”

She did as he instructed, lifting them toward him.

“I’ll be cutting dinner short tonight.”

His hoarse admission delighted her. She loved knowing she affected him as much as he affected her.

He sucked on each nipple to distend them before attaching each heart.

“How does that feel?”

“I know they’re there,” she said. “But not bad.”

“Let’s go before I end up taking you to bed without feeding you.”

At the restaurant, he ordered a bottle of champagne.

“Are we celebrating something?”

“I made a deal with the firm in England.”

“Congratulations.”

The bottle arrived and she toasted his success.

They each enjoyed a steak dinner, and she was debating whether or not to order dessert when he said, “Get the chocolate cake. You’ll need your energy.”

The combination of his words and the nipple jewelry put her on the edge of her seat.

When the server returned, he ordered the chocolate cake and offered coffee.

“Just the cake,” Catrina said. When they were alone, she added, “I don’t want to linger. I’m anxious to go home.”

“So you don’t want to go to a movie?” he teased. “Maybe dancing? Ice skating?”

“No.”

He smiled. “Ah. This must be about your nipples and state of arousal? How does the jewelry feel?”

“Even though the pressure isn’t terrible, they’re starting to drive me crazy.” As if he didn’t know it.

“I like looking at the outline, and I like you putting up with them because I requested it.”

“Requested?”

“You’re always free to refuse.”

She was discovering that she liked pleasing him, and she knew he went out of his way to make sure she was happy in return.

He took care of the bill then escorted her outside. He opened her car door then said, “Wait.” He slid his hand inside her lapels and flicked at the hearts.

She hissed.

“Milady,” he said, indicating she should get in the car.

Catrina wasn’t sure if he had been trying to teach her the importance of reaching out to her subs before the scene. But now she understood it on a whole new level.

All afternoon, with his words, his actions, the way he mixed in serious conversation with smoldering, blunt sex talk banked the embers of desire. He stoked it along the way so that when he finally touched her, need flared until it consumed her.

“I’ve been thinking about having you naked all day.”

“Me, too,” she replied, looking at him.

Everything he did—from driving, to running a corporation, to dominating her—exuded his controlled power. Experiencing it turned her on.

They returned to the Den with only the valet noting their arrival. The man gave a quick salute, acknowledging Damien as he pulled into the garage.

He put a hand on her shoulder to stop her from getting out of the car. “Show me your breasts.”

The unexpected way he issued commands always startled her. She was certain he did it on purpose to keep her guessing. Knowing there was a houseful of people only feet away increased her tension.

Her hand trembled as she pulled apart the knot in her coat belt.

Damien stood close, not helping, just watching as she followed his order.

She lifted her shirt, and the cool air chased goosebumps up her body.

“Even better than I imagined,” he said. He squeezed her nipples.

She winced.

“How do they feel now?”

“Achy.” It would have been impossible for her to have worn actual clamps the entire evening. As it was, the dull, throbbing pain had distracted her. But this was different, it was actual discomfort. “That hurt.”

“Do you want me to take them off?”

Her shirt still raised, she looked up at him and knew this was another lesson. “If that’s your pleasure.”

“Oh, damn, Milady. Well done.”

He released his grip on her nipples. Pain ricocheted through her, leaving her pussy wet and anxious.

“Leave the hearts in place.” Then he added, “Put your shirt back down.”

She exhaled but didn’t protest. While she would have liked to remove the jewelry, submitting to his will gave her pleasure.

He opened the door to the back stairs, and she preceded him up.

“Have you ever been fucked up the ass, Milady?”

She gripped the banister tight to avoid tripping up the stairs.

“I mean before tonight?”

Looking over her shoulder, she said, “No.”

“Then I look forward to being your first.”

Her whole body felt shaky as she entered their rooms.

“You’ll find lube under the sink in the bathroom, along with condoms,” he said after he flipped the switch to turn on the fireplace. “There’s also a butt plug in the top drawer in my closet. Put it in. That will be the only thing you’ll be wearing when you return to me.”

When she didn’t reply, he asked, “Are my instructions clear?”

“Yes,” she whispered. She cleared her throat and said again, “They are.”

“First, your nipples.”

She took off her coat and draped it over the back of the couch. Then she took off her shirt and dropped it.

“Maybe I’ll make you keep them on. I love the way they look.”

“Of course, Damien. Your choice.”

“Come here.”

When she stood in front of him, he closed his fingers around them.

“I wouldn’t do this with actual clamps…”

She looked at him.

Rather than releasing each, he pulled them off simultaneously.

She yelped.

“Just as gorgeous.” He curled his palms around her breasts then sucked on the peaks to help ease the sting. “Perfect,” he said a moment later.

Even though the hearts were gone, a tenderness remained.

“Now, go.” He nodded, and she turned from him.

Near the bedroom doorway, the sound of his voice made her freeze.

“Stay there until I say otherwise. I like that view of you with no shirt, jeans, the way your hair hangs down your back.” He sucked in a breath. “Everything about you does it for me, Catrina.”

She glanced over her shoulder, even though she knew that might incur his displeasure. “You do it for me, Damien.”

“Get on with it, Milady. I’m growing impatient.”

Images and thoughts crowded her mind as she went into his closet. At her house, he’d had no qualms about going through her clothing, but entering his closet and rifling through his drawers seemed overly personal.

It wasn’t just a drawer. It was a treasure trove. Clamps, floggers, even a vibrator. Toward the back, she found the small plug and her breaths came closer and closer together.

In her closet, she finished undressing before going into the bathroom with the glass piece. It took her several tries to insert the slippery thing, and she was ultra-aware of its presence, shifting in her as she moved.

Carrying the lube and a condom, she returned to him.

Damien was seated on the couch, one arm across the back. To her he was devastating.

As always, being nude while he was fully clothed reminded her of her submission, as she was sure he’d intended.