The 30 Day Sub (3 page)

A thought crossed his mind and Torrance smiled. He
pulled out his phone and hit Doc’s number. Mike almost answered it immediately.
“What’d you think? Did you meet her?”

The smile was automatic. “I like her. I have her
packing now.” The smell of food from each restaurant he passed added to the
mixture of anticipation. “I actually called for her number.
Text
it to me so I can get ahold of her.”
He trailed off as he spotted Cate
on the corner, next to a bookstore. She was scanning the titles on the bargain
rack that rested against the outside of the building. Small white tables sat
around the entrance. She adjusted her glasses and pulled a book out, and began
reading the back.

Torrance suddenly realized Doc was talking. “Hey,
I’m going to have to call you back. Text me that number! I need it.” He hung up
the phone. Within seconds his phone alerted him to the message. He hit the
number and watched as her head came up from the book. She pushed her glasses to
the top of her head as she dug through her large purse. Torrance wanted to
laugh: She was absolutely frantic to get at the ringing phone.

“Hello?” Her soft voice was breathless. The fact
that she pulled the glasses down and began reading the book again made his
mouth twist.

“You’re supposed to be packing, aren’t you?”

Cate’s head jerked up. The book slipped and she
fumbled it, before catching it against the front of her thighs. “Torrance?” She
looked around, and he leaned against the wall, casually. She’d completely
missed him, with all the groups of people walking around. “It’s you, isn’t it?”

“Yes, Cate.
It’s
me. I think I asked you a question.”

The book slid back into the rack. “I was just
looking for reading material. I figured there might be quite the wait for you
to get home.” She eased into one of the chairs, and he noticed her shift from
side to side, biting her lip. A laugh came from his mouth.

“You’re watching me right now, aren’t you?” She was
smiling, and damn, if it wasn’t a beautiful one.

“I am. You’re adorable.”

She paused and looked around again. As if gravity
had suddenly kicked in, her head turned slowly, and she looked right at him.
Torrance’s heart felt like it was pounding through his chest. He hung up the
phone and walked forward. Slowly, she stood.

Torrance glanced down at his watch. “Have you been
reading books since you left the diner?”

Her eyes rolled, and he could tell she was
embarrassed.
“Yeah.
I must have lost track of time.”

“I’d say so. You left over half an hour ago.” He
pulled out the book he was sure she’d put back into the rack. The cover was of
a historical couple entwined in each other’s arms. Good
ol
’
Fabio held a redhead, whose dress was falling off her shoulders. In the
background was a cliff with the view of water far below.

The book was snatched out of his hand so fast that
he looked at Cate, surprised. “Well, well. I see my new submissive has quite
the secret.” He laughed. “Historical romance is a far cry from what you’re
about to be introduced to.”

Cate pushed the book back into its place. “I once
read a book by
Thea
Devine. It was a historical. Not
romance, but more erotica. The man had a hidden sex room. It was quite the
story.”

“Really?”
Torrance looked through the glass of the little shop. “Do they sell those kinds
of stories here?”

Her eyebrows rose at him. “You want to read one?”

“Why not?
You
can read it to me out loud as we lie in bed at night. I’m interested to hear
these stories you speak of. Tell me. Are they extremely graphic?”

“Very,” Cate whispered.
“About as
graphic as it can get.”

Torrance grabbed her hand and pulled her into the
little shop. “Show me these stories. You pick out one you want to read. And not
one you’ve already read. I want to see your expressions as you speak through
the sex.”

Cate licked her lips and nodded. Her hand tightened
on his and he looked down, surprised. He’d forgotten he still held it. The act,
so innocent, was extremely intimate. He’d held plenty of women’s hands before,
but they’d never given him this sort of reaction.

“Well, we could get a book by Megan Hart. It’s not
historical, but I’m sure it’s good. Or…”

The title
Stranger
caught his attention and he reached up for the book. The cover of the two
people lying on a bed had him nodding his head. “Read me this one.”

“But you didn’t even look at the back. What if it
isn’t appealing to you? Don’t you want to know what the story is about?”

Torrance glanced at the words. “It says she pays
people for sex. It’ll work. Let’s go.”

“Wait, where are we going?” He pulled her faster
through the aisles. When they got to the counter he handed over the book and
his card. Cate stood perfectly still and quiet. He’d really have to get her to
stop questioning him so much. She seemed very nervous. Torrance was really
going to have to get her to trust him.

The woman handed over the bag containing the book,
and he threw her a smile. The moment they crossed the threshold of the door Cate
opened her mouth. He came to a stop and threw her a look. Her mouth immediately
closed.

“You’re working your way to wearing a ball gag if
you keep this up. One more question,” he warned.

The music became louder as Torrance led her around
the corner and headed toward his gallery. He wasn’t sure why he felt the need
to take her there. Maybe it was to see her reaction to the place, or maybe it
was more to give the girls at the front desk something to talk about when he
showed her off. Regardless, he wanted her there, by his side.

“Torrance?” The pure power behind her voice was
something he hadn’t expected. He slowed down and turned to her. She stepped
closer to his body, cautiously reached up and pulled his head down. The smell
of her subtle perfume had him closing his eyes and inhaling deeply. “I’m not
wearing panties, remember? You’re dragging me along so fast I can’t hold my
dress down. If one more person sees my ass…or more, I think I’m going to die of
humiliation.”

Tears were in her eyes and Torrance knew it had
taken a lot for her to speak up.

“I apologize. I got lost in my excitement. Here,” he
wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his side, “is this
better?”

“Yes, Master,” she said, her tone quiet.

“Ah, you learn quickly.” He leaned over and kissed
her head. Only after the act did he realize what he’d done. The pure shock hit
him hard. Why were things coming so natural with her? It was like he’d known her
forever. The comfort level was automatic. Torrance groaned, and Cate immediately
looked up. When she didn’t ask him why, he was thankful. “Here we are.” He
opened the glass door and led her inside the extravagant entrance.

She gasped. “How did you know? I love this place.”
Torrance looked up at Jill and Hillary, as Cate pulled him in the direction of
the historical exhibit in the back. Jill’s mouth opened. He’d forgotten that
she was covering for Veronica. It probably shouldn’t have mattered, anyway. She
was with a new master now. And they’d both agreed that it was time to call it
off. Hell, it’d been over a year since they’d been together. Yet, he didn’t
miss the hurt she displayed on her face.

He focused back on Cate and smiled at her
excitement. She looked like a kid in a candy store. Now, that he liked.

“I found this place over a year ago. Every Thursday
I try to come here to look at the paintings in the back. They’re my favorite. I
think the first time I came I stayed for over three hours just staring in awe.
They’re magnificent.”

“Odd that I haven’t seen you
around.”

Cate looked back at him. “You come here too?”

He laughed. “You could say that.”

“It is odd. Do you come on Thursdays?” They stopped
in front of the first painting and she glanced at it, but turned back to him.

“Every single one.
And
usually Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, too, but Tuesdays I take off.”

Cate’s eyes got big. “You work here,” she exclaimed.
“Wow, what an awesome job. It must be a dream to stare at all of these amazing
artworks.”

“Actually, this is my gallery, Cate. I thought I’d
bring you here to see it. I wasn’t aware you’d already been before. To know
that you have, and you love the place so much, makes me happier than you know.”

She took a step back. “You’re…”

“Torrance McLaren.”

“McLaren Gallery,” she whispered. Her eyes narrowed
as she looked at the floor. Whatever she was thinking, he didn’t think it was
good. “You know,” she breathed in deep, and opened her purse. When she withdrew
her hand, she pushed the key into his palm. “I’m sorry, but I can’t be your
sub. It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. McLaren, but I have to be going.”

Torrance was sure his mouth was going to drop to the
ground any second. Was she just blowing him off because of who he was?
Unbelievable
.
Why?

The sound of Cate’s heels echoed loudly throughout
the gallery as she hurried away. He glanced over the large black counter where
Jill and Hillary were. They were both looking down, but he knew they weren’t
naïve to what just happened––especially Jill, who had a smile on her face as
she pretended to be looking over something. Torrance shook his head and caught
up with Cate just as she was leaving out the front door.

“Cate, wait.” When she didn’t stop he lunged in
front of her. “Cate, look at me.” Slowly, her eyes lifted and met his. “What
just happened in there? Everything was perfectly fine until you found out who I
was. Why would that change anything?”

She laughed. “Why, you ask? Oh my god, Torrance.
Really?
Look at you. You’re mister hot shot, successful,
sexy, gallery owner. I know you’re just training me, but I don’t like drama.
You probably have girls knocking at your door at all hours of the night. I
mean,” her hand waved toward the door, “you even have Barbie dolls behind the
counter. If that doesn’t say enough, then I don’t know what does.” She
swallowed hard. “I told Dr. Henry that I wanted to feel secure. Safe.” She
emphasized the word. “And I hate to repeat it again, but no drama. It’s hard
for me to see how I’ll get that from you.”

Torrance listened to her.
Really
listened.
If it was so important to her, then he wanted to make sure she
felt all of those things. He wasn’t sure what it was, but there was a dark
secret within Cate. A hurt or pain that she held deep inside. It hit him hard,
and he couldn’t deny the need to protect her from whatever it was. She might
have used the excuse of girls for drama, but he knew it went far beyond that.
“I assure you that girls are not knocking on my door at all hours. Cate, you
don’t have anything to worry about. You will feel safe and secure with me, I
promise. I don’t think you understand. When you come to live under my roof, you
belong to me. I won’t let anyone hurt you. Not even myself. Now cheer up and
trust me. You’re beautiful, and sexy. Surely you see that.” One of her eyebrows
rose at him. “You are,” he said, matter-of-factly. He held the key to her. “Let
me train you. You won’t regret it, I promise.”

Cate looked at the key and after a few seconds
picked it up. “I really hope not,” she whispered.

Chapter
Four

The sound of Cate’s bags falling to the floor was
loud in the silent sub-penthouse. She couldn’t believe her eyes as she walked
up to the full-length windows that surrounded the living area. Views of the
river and countryside could be seen off in the distance, and lights from the
city were just beginning to glow brightly underneath. It was beyond
breathtaking. She couldn’t believe she was going to be living here for the next
month…and with Torrance McLaren, of all people. Jesus. What had she gotten
herself into? She was so pissed at Dr. Henry. He should have warned her before
throwing her into the lion’s den. This man was going to eat her alive.

The sun was just about set and the countryside was
quickly vanishing from lack of light. She almost didn’t want it to disappear so
quickly. The landscape reminded her of one of the many beautiful paintings in
Torrance’s gallery. She could stare at them for hours and never get bored.

The door opened behind her and she spun around to
see her master. She thought she’d have a little more time before he arrived. At
least she had made it here before he did. The consequences for her being late
were unimaginable in her mind.

“You’re here.” He smiled and pulled off his jacket,
laying it across the black leather sofa. “Now
comes
the routine. When I enter, you kneel and await my instructions.”

Cate walked quickly to where he was standing and
kneeled before him. Her eyes stared at the wooden flooring beneath her knees.

“Good girl. Have you had dinner?”