Surrender to Me (2 page)

“She’s had a rough year. First the divorce and then the relocation. She needs some stability.”

“You think I can provide that for her?”

“The Master of focus and control. I think your routines are just what she needs.”

“Really?” Martin wondered what else his new attorney needed.

“Too bad there isn’t a submissive tendency in her DNA.” Hunter laughed.

We’ll see.

Chapter 2

Ari sat in the passenger seat of Hunter’s sleek, new Porsche as he navigated his way through the downtown city traffic. His anxiousness was evident in the way he kept changing the radio station.

“What?” Her cousin’s nervous energy made her uncomfortable.

“We’re going to be late again.” He slammed on the brakes to avoid smacking into the car in front of them. “Martin won’t appreciate it a second time.”

“Relax.” She rested her head against the back of her seat. “He knows we’re coming.” What had her cousin so stressed? His fierceness in the courtroom rivaled a select few. He had control over every aspect of his life and didn’t take anything from anyone. She’d never seen him cater to someone the way he had to Martin. The dynamic between the two men fascinated her.

“Martin is different, Ari.” Hunter kept his eyes focused on the traffic in front of him. “He lives by a certain code. He has expectations and rules. He doesn’t like to be defied.”

Rules?
Arianna had tossed and turned all night, thinking about the mesmerizing stranger. The very stranger who was now her one and only client.
What the hell am I thinking?

She had studied Martin’s contracts and business acquisitions in great detail before meeting him. He had found wealth and success right out of college. Early on in his career he made real estate purchases that others may have considered a ridiculous risk. By all accounts, they should have been. Urban development was on his side. He now owned some of the most sought out properties in Connecticut, New York City, Boston, and Chicago and he moved to expand. His business plan excited her. Given the opportunity, she could negotiate his contracts and help him with his expansion ideas.

Ari should have been uncomfortable with agreeing to be his private attorney, but after reviewing his portfolio she couldn’t turn down his offer. His requirements would keep her immersed in her work and that was what she needed. No more distractions. It was time to focus on her career. She just didn’t expect her new employer to be so delicious. The tall, attractive stranger with the alpha personality intrigued her. She’d felt some bizarre connection to him when he kissed her knuckles the night before.

How cliché.
She wasn’t a roses and tulips kind of girl. Her ex-husband made sure of that. The bastard had plenty of sex, hearts and flowers during their relationship, just not with her. Their marriage came to a screeching halt when he managed to knock up his twenty-year-old receptionist. There was no such thing as a fairy tale or happily ever after as far as she was concerned. It was all about her work now. She’d spent years working up to representing a man like Martin Abrams.

Mr. Abrams would be nothing more than a client. Her only client. She hoped she’d made the right decision. On the eve of her thirtieth birthday, she had decided she needed a change. Hunter suggested she move to the city and start over.

To fresh starts.

After handing the car keys to the valet, her cousin led her into the fancy building and down a long corridor. The club smelled of leather and cinnamon. The scents mingled together creating a nice blend. Very aromatherapy-like. As they walked through a dimly lit bar area, Ari noticed the secluded booths and sporadic tables throughout. The place wasn’t very crowded, but it was a Tuesday night.

“I didn’t expect it to be so upscale and quiet. I guess I pictured a nightclub.” She followed Hunter to a set of double doors.

“It’s not that kind of club.” When he swiped a keycard through the magnetic strip, the doors opened. On the other side, a rather large man sat at a desk watching a set of monitors.

“Hey, Cal.”

“Mr. Covington.” Cal smiled. “How are you this evening?”

“I’m well.” Hunter pressed the up button on the elevator. “This is my cousin, Arianna Covington. She’s Mr. Abrams’s new attorney.”

“Ah, yes.” Cal nodded as if he were expecting her. “I’m having a keycard made for you, Ms. Covington. You should have it by tomorrow morning.”

“Thank you.” Ari wasn’t sure why she would need one, but she wanted to be polite.

She stepped into the elevator with Hunter.

“A keycard?”

“Like mine.” Hunter used his again once inside the elevator. “It’s programmed to take you right to the club. Martin’s office is up there.”

“Weren’t we just in the club?”

“That was only part of the club. Anyone can patronize the downstairs part. You have to be an invited guest to get upstairs. You’ll need access.”

“Why?” Ari wondered why the whole setting seemed so secretive. Hunter was about to get the interrogation of his life if he didn’t start talking. “What kind of club is this?”

The elevator doors opened to a lavish sitting area with plush leather sofas and soft white throw rugs.

“Look, I don’t want you to freak, but
Master M’s
is a BDSM club.” Hunter led Ari through another set of mahogany double doors. “I didn’t think you would—”

Ari stopped and watched as the most unusual scenes unfolded around her. Everything was subtle, but as soon as Hunter mentioned the term BDSM, she realized something wasn’t completely right. There were long halls with doorways on either side. People were coming and going out of those rooms. There were booths and tables set back against large windows off the bar area. She could see the most spectacular views of the city from the floor-length glass. Upon further investigation, she saw sheer curtains in all the corners of the room. Silhouettes moved behind the thin material, and she swore she could see people on their knees. She wanted a closer look, but when she lurched forward, Hunter took her hand.

“Hey, this isn’t the time to observe. Suppress your investigative side.”

“Where the hell are we?”

“I wanted to tell you in the car, but I was afraid you would change your mind.”

“In the car? How about two weeks ago when you asked me to consider Martin as a client? Why didn’t you tell me then?”
Shit!
Her new client, her only client, owned a BDSM club.

“He’s really private. He doesn’t hide who he is or what he does, but he’s careful about who he lets into his circle.”

“Circle? What do you mean who he is or what he does? What have you gotten me mixed up in?”

“Martin is a very influential figure in my community. If we patronize this club, we answer to him. He provides a safe, sane, and consensual place for Doms and subs to come together. He’s helping me find a sub.”

“Ah, shit, Hunter.” Arianna knew her cousin was into dominance. She never asked how far he went. His sex life was his business, but now he made it her business. “Why would you bring me here?”

“Because Martin wanted to meet with you and you told him you couldn’t until tonight. I don’t want you to blow this opportunity. Being his real estate lawyer is huge for your career. Don’t screw this up. You said you wanted a new start. Martin can provide it for you.”

She watched as a woman dressed in black leather walked past them, pulling a leash with a sexy specimen of a man attached to it. He wore nothing but a white thong. His eyes were trained on the floor as he crawled through the club.

Oh, dear God.

“Hey.” Hunter tugged her down the hall. “It’s all consensual. You need to remember that.”

“You should have told me we were coming to a place like this.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m thirty years old. I think I can handle it.”

“Then why is your face flushed? You look like you’re going to pass out.”

“I am not going to—”

“Ms. Covington.” Martin seemed to appear out of nowhere. He was just as impeccable as he had been the night before. His well-tailored gray suit fit him to perfection. He’d loosened his tie, but still wore his jacket. His slightly overgrown dark, brown hair helped him maintain his New York City sleek appearance. His green eyes held an intense gaze on Ari as he spoke to her cousin. “Hunter, glad you could make it.” He briefly took his attention away from Ari to shake Hunter’s hand.

“Sorry we’re a few minutes late. Traffic was a nightmare.”

“No worries. I’m here all night. I’ve reserved a seat for you in lounge two. They’re expecting you.”

“Thanks.” Hunter smiled at Ari. “You okay?”

“I’m fine.” She nodded, trying to suppress the urge to hit him.

“Is there a problem?” Martin looked back to Ari.

“Ari didn’t know—”

“Hunter, I think they’re waiting for you in lounge two.” She was furious with her cousin, but not for the reasons he might think. She didn’t care what these people did in their free time, but she didn’t like surprises. He should have told her.

“Don’t worry, Hunter. Your cousin is in very good hands.” Martin cuffed his arm in Ari’s and led her down the hall. “Shall we go to my office?”

“Of course.” Ari’s voice cracked and her stomach quivered. Martin seemed so much more intimidating now that she knew what he was into. She’d picked up his dominant vibe at the bar last night, but now it was different. His imposing height and strong biceps made her mouth dry. She tingled in places she’d forgotten could tingle. She felt…

Awakened.

What the hell?

He opened the door to his office and ushered her in. “Please have a seat. Can I get you something to drink?”

“Water, please.” The dryness in her throat intensified.

He walked over to a large hutch on the other side of the room and poured her a glass of water from a crystal pitcher.

She sat down on the leather sofa, placing her briefcase next to her. “Your office is beautiful.” Soft brown and green tones covered the room. The cream leather sofa accented the dark cherry desk. “This building is amazing.”

“I was surprised you agreed to meet me here. I wasn’t aware Hunter was this open with his family about his lifestyle. It’s refreshing.” He handed her the water. “You don’t see it often.”

“He didn’t tell me what kind of club this was until I stepped off the elevator.”

“I see.” Martin removed his jacket and draped it behind his chair before taking a seat at his desk. “I guess he had no choice at that point. So what do you think?” He smiled, the amusement apparent in his voice.

“Of your club?” Ari felt heat creep up her neck. “I don’t really have an opinion.”

“Really?” He tapped his long fingers against the wood of his desk. “Interesting.”

“Hunter said you help bring people together. Is this some kind of a dating service?” Her curiosity had gotten the better of her. She’d be grilling Hunter the whole way home, but now she wanted to hear what the top Dom had to say.

“Not exactly.” He laughed. “I pair Doms with subs
.
Sometimes people in the community need some help finding one another. It wasn’t something I set out to do, but when I opened the club over a decade ago, I brought a few people together and it spiraled from there. They expect it from me now.”

“Can people in your club get together without your help?”

“I can’t dictate what everyone does, but I do make most of the connections here. I find it keeps people honest and no one gets hurt.”

“What about you?” Ari’s inquisitive nature couldn’t be helped. “Who makes the connection for you?”

“Do you miss the courtroom, counselor?”

“I’m sorry,” she said. “When I agreed to be your attorney I had no idea you were a Dom.”

“Now that you know, will it be a problem?”

“You can tell me to mind my business. It’s not as if I’ll be tangled up in any of this…” She motioned around the room. “…anyway.”

“I would have been disappointed if you hadn’t cross-examined me. You should be informed. I’m not ashamed of who I am.”

“Does someone match you up, or do you save the best subs for you?”

Martin smirked, and normally Ari would have thought that was smug, but not on him.

What the hell?

“I’ve been a Dominant for twenty-two years. I’ve been in full-time arrangements, and have taken part in casual play. I haven’t had a permanent sub in a while.”

“Why not?”

Martin glanced at the picture frame on his desk. Ari couldn’t see who was in it because the actual photo faced him. Was it a girlfriend or a sub? “Just haven’t found the right match, I suppose.”

“What happened to your submissive?”

“She got married.”

Ari saw the distance in his eyes. They didn’t seem as vibrant as they had a few minutes ago and he wasn’t amused anymore. There was a story behind the submissive, but it was his story to tell. She wouldn’t like it if he went digging into her past and interrogated her about her bastard ex-husband. She backed off.

“Your private life is none of my business. What you do or don’t do in your club is no concern of mine. I was a little shocked Hunter hadn’t told me before bringing me here, but the truth is, it doesn’t matter. I agreed to be your real estate attorney.”

There!
All business was a better way to handle Martin Abrams.

“I’m hoping you’ll be a little more than that.” He got up from his chair and walked around to where she sat. Leaning against the desk, he crossed his long, muscular legs at the ankles. “We’ll be working closely, every day.”

“We will?” Ari’s voice projected above a whisper. What was it about this man that reduced her to a puddle? She wasn’t the type to let such a domineering man take over. But then again, she’d never encountered anyone like him.

“I’ll expect you to be available when I need you. Can you do that?”

She nodded.

“Words.”

“Huh?”

“I like to be answered with words. Do you think you’ll be able to meet my demanding schedule?”

Oh my.

“Yes,” she said in a firm voice. “I’m a professional, Mr. Abrams. I wouldn’t have agreed to take you on exclusively if I couldn’t handle you.”