Surrender to Me (3 page)

“Hmm…having you entirely to myself will have its benefits, I’m sure.”

Chapter 3

Martin sat at the bar, rattling the ice in his scotch as he thought about the new woman in his life. Arianna Covington had proven to be an inquisitive little thing. She’d called him several times throughout the day to keep him updated on the progress of his latest transaction. He wasn’t the least bit surprised when she offered to drop the new contracts off at the club. He had piqued her interest. She wanted to come back and see what went on at
Master M’s
.

He decided to have their meeting out in the open, away from the confines of his office. If she wanted to see what a BDSM club was all about, the least he could do was indulge her.

Martin watched as his attractive attorney walked through the mahogany doors, eyes wide, lips tightly pressed together. She wore a black pants suit and ridiculously high stilettos. Her legs seemed to go on forever. She looked like she belonged in a runway show for Versace. Her long auburn hair flowed down her back and curled at the ends. This was the first time Martin had seen it loose. He preferred it that way. His fingers twitched at the thought of tangling them in her sexy mane.

She scanned the room, looking relieved when she spotted Martin. He smiled and motioned for her to join him. Walking over to the bar, she pulled up a stool and sat next to him.

“You’ve managed to be on time today.” He sipped his scotch. “That pleases me.”

“You pay me well, so it’s the least I can do.” She reached into her bag and pulled out the contracts he needed to review. “Are we going to your office?”

All business.

He shook his head. “I thought we could have dinner.”

“Here?” She looked around.

There wasn’t much happening in the bar area. Most of the guests were in private rooms participating in demonstrations. A few submissives were down the hall attending their weekly support meeting. Martin had made his appearances where he needed to be, and now the night was his.

“Is something wrong with here?”

“Well, no.” Arianna watched as Roxy, a longtime employee and sub, made her way over to Martin. “I just didn’t think they served dinner here.”

“They don’t.”

Roxy stopped directly in front of Martin with her eyes cast down to the floor.

“Is my dinner on its way?” he asked her.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Look at me while I give you your instructions.” Martin noticed the way Arianna stared at Roxy when she lifted her head without hesitation. “I want my dinner set up in my booth. Make sure the curtains are drawn and I’m not disturbed. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“We’ll also need a bottle of white wine. Ask Gianni for a recommendation. Tell him what I’m having for dinner.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“I’m headed to Boston this weekend to see Gracie.”

A small smile played at Roxy’s lips. She and Gracie had been good friends in high school. Roxy was the one who brought Gracie to the club to meet Martin. He would always be in her debt for that.

“May I speak, Sir?”

“You may.”

Arianna let out a quiet gasp.

“My Master has revoked my phone privileges.” Roxy bowed her head in shame. “I was disobedient.”

“I heard.”

“I haven’t been able to speak to Gracie. Can you please tell her I said hi and I miss her?”

“I will.” Martin tilted Roxy’s chin, holding it between his thumb and fingers. “You disobeyed your Master and spoke to another man. I’m not pleased, but I trust him to punish you fairly. When he is satisfied with your penance, I’ll arrange for you to fly out to see Gracie. I think a visit with her will be beneficial for you. I’ll make arrangements with your Dom.”

“Thank you, Master M. I’ll do better.”

Martin released her chin and wiped a stray tear from her cheek. “I’m certain that’s true. Now, go see that my dinner is up to my standards.”

“Yes, Sir.” Roxy lowered her head, waiting for direction.

“You’re excused.” Martin turned his attention back to Arianna. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“They all act that way around you?”

“It’s the only way they know. It’s what’s expected of them.”

“I don’t understand how any woman would bow down like that. It’s not normal.”

“Maybe not for you.” Martin understood Arianna’s position. Most who didn’t participate in a Dominant and submissive relationship didn’t get it.

“It’s degrading. She can’t use the phone. She’s a grown woman.”

“Arianna, this is a lifestyle you can’t possibly comprehend because you know nothing about it. A submissive gets just as much as he or she gives. The arrangement they enter into with a Dom is consensual. Roxy is not forced into being here. Her Dom respects and cares for her. She has a very good life.”

“He punishes her.”

“When she disobeys. It’s in her contract.”

“A contract that can’t possibly be enforced in court.”

“Spoken like a true lawyer.” He finished his scotch. “The contract is to protect them both. It lists what is expected of a sub and what the Dominant’s responsibilities are. They outline hard and soft limits. We create a safe, sane, and consensual environment, and that contract maintains trust between the two parties. As long as it is upheld between the parties involved that’s all that matters.”

“To each his own, I suppose.” She shrugged. “I’m your real estate attorney. What you do here is none of my business.”

Then why are you here, kitten?

“I’m very open, Arianna. If you have questions, I’ll be happy to answer them. People should be educated in my lifestyle. It isn’t as uncommon or bizarre as you may think.” He reached for her hand. “I hope you won’t judge me without getting to know me.”

“Um, no.” She looked down at their joined hands. He liked the way her cheeks turned colors when he flustered her. “Of course not. This whole environment is different. It’s going to take some getting used to.”

“I understand.” He ran his thumb over the soft skin of her hand. “If you’d prefer not to meet here anymore—”

“It’s not a problem.”

“Very well.” He smiled because as he suspected she wanted to be there. “Will you join me for dinner?”

Martin couldn’t remember the last time he’d asked a woman to have dinner with him. He usually just summoned a sub when he was in the mood for company. Gracie was the last woman he’d spent any time with at all. Perhaps it was time to explore his options. Obviously, Arianna would be different than the women he dealt with, but he liked the change. When Gracie left him for Cade everything changed. He hadn’t been interested in another sub. As a matter of fact, he hadn’t been interested in another woman until now.

“I’d love to join you for dinner, Mr. Abrams.”

“I’d like you to call me Martin.” Allowing people to use his name wasn’t a privilege he granted often, but everything was different with her. He stood from the bar and picked up her briefcase. “I hope you like Italian. I ordered enough for six people. I wasn’t sure what you would want.”

“Italian is fine.” She took his extended hand and walked to the back of the club with him. “Why didn’t you just wait and ask what I would want?”

“I’m not used to asking.” He motioned for her to take a seat in the huge u-shaped booth that overlooked the Manhattan skyline.

“Oh, Martin.” She giggled. He liked the way his name tumbled off her lips. “You have a lot to learn about non-submissive women.”

“I’m hoping you can give me a few pointers.” He slid in next to her. “Maybe you can teach this old dog a new trick.”

“Does the old dog really want to learn new tricks?” She tossed her hair to the side, causing the warm vanilla scent to radiate between them. Something inside Martin’s stomach stirred.

“I never really thought about it before today.”

“What changed?”

The intrigue of my fiery, redheaded attorney.

“Nothing, everything.” He placed his hand over hers. “Maybe it’s your presence, Ms. Covington, but I’m thinking of adding some variety to my life.”

“I’ll never kneel before you.” Her sweet breath caressed his lips. “Just so you know.”

His dominant side begged to break free.

“Is that a challenge?”

“Just a fact.” She smiled as she removed her hand from underneath his and placed it on top.

Ah yes, Master M is definitely up for this challenge.

* * * *

Friday night in the city and Arianna had nothing to do. Martin’s contracts and any other business for him couldn’t be done until he returned from Boston on Monday. She wondered why this trip to Boston was so important. Who was Gracie to him?

After that night in the club, she’d eaten lunch and dinner with Martin every day of the week. He took her to several swanky restaurants but never back to the club. They had conducted business in his Manhattan office about five blocks away. Neither of them had discussed why they weren’t meeting at Master M’s. Arianna asked a few questions about his lifestyle throughout the week, but nothing too deep. He had been open with his answers except when it came to Gracie. He’d always managed to change the subject when Ari inquired about her.

Ari shouldn’t have cared, but the lawyer in her wouldn’t let it go. It wasn’t just her inquisitive legal nature either. Ari found herself jealous of a woman she’d never met. She didn’t know what bothered her more; how absurd it was to be jealous over a stranger or the fact she could have feelings for a man she hardly knew. A man she had no business forming a personal relationship with. Even so, after six hours of his absence, she missed his presence. He was the only friend she’d made in the city since moving there.

What’s wrong with me?

She looked around the lobby of
Master M’s
debating whether she should approach the mahogany double doors. She had access to the main club. No one would question what she was doing there. If they did, she wouldn’t have an answer. She wasn’t even sure why she was there. The club, Roxy, and the things that went on behind those closed doors had been on her mind all week. She wanted to learn more about Martin’s lifestyle. She’d researched as much as she could on the internet, but knowing she had a source for firsthand knowledge tempted her in a way it shouldn’t have.

Martin wasn’t her type. She saw the way the subs acted around him. She could never do what he needed or be who he wanted. That reality had been nagging at her. Why did she care if she wasn’t a match for Martin? Because he’d been flirting with her all week and she liked it. Incompatibility didn’t seem to factor in when they were together. She wondered why he’d be interested in her. It wasn’t as if she’d ever participate in his games.

With shaky hands, she slipped her keycard through the slot and the doors opened. Cal greeted her with a smile.

“Ms. Covington, what brings you here this evening?” He typed something on his keyboard as he monitored the screens.

“I’d like to leave something for Mr. Abrams. Do you mind if I put it on his desk?” Luckily, she’d remembered to bring her briefcase with her.

“Of course, go right up.” He nodded. “Mr. Abrams said you’re welcome here anytime.”

“Thank you.” Ari’s heart felt like it might explode out of her chest as she rode the elevator up. When she stepped off the elevator and walked through the main doors, she noticed the club appeared busier than usual, but it was a Friday evening. The bar area overflowed with customers, if that was what they were.

Ari tried not to stare, but she couldn’t help it. There were so many things to watch. There were women in beautifully designed corsets kneeling at their Dom’s feet and men catering to the needs of their Dommes. She watched as one extremely sexy, half-naked man fed his companion oysters. It was strangely erotic. Now she really wanted to know what was going on behind all of those closed doors that lined the long hallway. If these people were this uninhibited out in the open, exactly what could be observed in those rooms?

“Ms. Covington.”

Ari turned to find Roxy standing behind her. She seemed taller than Ari had first thought, but maybe that was because she wasn’t looking down or kneeling.

“Can I help you with something?” Roxy’s long blonde hair flowed down her bare back. She wore a backless, olive green dress and no shoes.

“Hi,” Ari said. “I’m just here to drop something off for Martin.”

“He’s in Boston.”

“I know.” Ari tucked her hair behind her ear. “I was in the area so I thought I’d put the papers on his desk.”

“His office is locked.”

“Oh.” She should have realized Martin wouldn’t leave his office unlocked. “That’s okay. It’s nothing urgent.”

“Are you sure? I could get one of the security guards to open his door for you.”

“No.” Ari didn’t want anyone telling Martin she had gone in to his office, especially when he would know there was no reason for her to actually be there. “It isn’t important.”

“Since you’ve come all this way, can I at least get you something to drink?”

“What is it that you do here? Are you a waitress?”

“My Master would never allow that. I’m Master M’s personal assistant. I do whatever he needs around the club.”

Martin has a personal submissive assistant?
“Do you sub for him?”

Roxy shook her head. “I have my own Master.”

“I’m sorry. This whole BDSM thing is very new to me.”

“It’s okay.” Roxy looked sympathetic. “Master M is a great teacher.”

“No,” Ari said. “I’m not his…well, I’m his attorney.”

For the first time, Ari saw a genuine smile on Roxy’s face. It eased Ari’s nerves.

“What?”

“He likes you,” Roxy said. “I haven’t seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you since Gracie. I watched the two of you the night you had dinner here. You make him smile.”

“We’ve only known one another a week.” Ari glanced over at the bar and made eye contact with the attractive man who couldn’t stop gawking at her. He hadn’t taken his eyes off her since she started talking to Roxy. He didn’t look away when she caught him. He was overly confident. It sent a chill down her spine.

“Are you interested in him?”