Bound to be Tempted: Emergence, Book 4 (4 page)

As an accountant, she worked hard all day with clients. She managed their finances. They relied on her to keep her head in the game and pay close attention to their transactions. The stress was ever-present in her mind. She never wanted to let anyone down.

The added stress of staying strong in light of her past and dealing with her parents weighed heavily also. She wore a mask every day to hide her inner turmoil concerning those two subjects. She’d been through more than any one woman should be forced to handle in her life. It had left her tarnished in ways she knew weren’t normal. But she had a deep inner strength and she would prevail.

She exhaled and relaxed marginally when she considered how awesome it would be to let Carlton control her outside of those three life issues. It would keep her sane, or at least steer her toward sanity. A break from the real world.

She trusted him.

Living with Lori had done a fine job of masking her pain for the time they’d been together, but Lori hadn’t been a firm Domme. She’d allowed Margaret more freedoms than perhaps Margaret would have preferred in hindsight. Not shocking, since it turned out Lori made a much better sub than a Domme.

Carlton would never be that lenient. She was certain. She was looking forward to it.

The door opened, jarring her from her thoughts and making her flinch. She lifted her gaze to the man she intended to submit to. He shut the door behind him with a snick that reverberated in the room and signified the beginning of a new chapter for Margaret.

Carlton rounded his desk and sat opposite her. She was surprised by his actions and thought for a moment he might have had a change of heart in his absence. His face gave nothing away.

However, when he steepled his hands and met her gaze over the top of the desk, he smirked. “You’re going to be a tough nut to crack, aren’t you?”

Perhaps he could read her better than she thought. “I hope not, Sir. It’s not my intention.” She jerked her gaze to her lap when she realized her infraction. That brought her attention to her thighs, glued together at the knee.
Okay, so maybe I’m a little out of practice. Nothing I can’t handle
.

“You still in this?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“No change of heart?”

“No, Sir. I want this.” She squeezed her thighs with both hands, feeling the sting of her nails where they dug into her skin. She was nervous. There was no hiding it. But titillated at the same time in a way she hadn’t felt for months, or perhaps ever. She had no doubt about this decision.

“I’m a very controlling Dom, Maggie. You need to know I’m demanding. I expect a certain level of perfection you aren’t used to.” He paused. “Judging by the tremble wracking your body, I assume you crave what I’m offering. You’re tempted.” Seconds ticked by. “Tell me, Maggie. Is your pussy as wet as I’m imagining?”

She flinched. He wasn’t going to give an inch right from the start. “Probably more so, Sir.”

“Good. I like that. I’m not going to pretend this arrangement won’t be sexual. It will. I want you. But I’m firm. I’m hard-nosed. I’m tough. I’ll make you want to slap me on occasion.” He leaned closer to her from across the desk and lowered his voice. “You’ve been a sub long enough to know you have the control. You’re gifting me with your submission, but the choice is always yours. And I’ll make it all worth your while.”

He may have noticed her trembling before, but at that pronouncement Margaret’s entire body shivered as though a sudden draft of extremely cold air had blown through the room.

“Two weeks with me and you’ll know what it’s like to live under the thumb of a real Dom—not just a male, but one who expects everything from you. That’s what you need, isn’t it? To experience total submission.”

“Yes, Sir.” Her voice was weak.

“You understand that’s what I’m offering you, right? Two weeks of experimentation where you can safely explore your desire to be completely dominated.”

“Yes, Sir.” She swallowed. He was absolutely spot on. And it unnerved her he could read her so well. She had no idea what sort of sub she might be after this trial, or even if she would want to continue being anyone’s sub, male or female, but she craved this experience so badly she could taste it.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had a sub. But don’t let that fool you. I’m not out of shape on the ins and outs. I’ve worked with a lot of women over the years. I would expect you to relinquish yourself to me completely if you decide to consent. Except for work, your family, and any necessary friend-related events you clear with me first, I want you to give me one hundred percent. Are we clear?”

“Yes, Sir.” She felt light-headed. This was real.

“If you were anyone else, I might take things slower, be more gentle. But you’re not. I’ve known you too long. I’ve seen you in more scenes than I can count. I know your reactions to about every imaginable practice.” He paused. “What I can’t be sure of is how you might react to me specifically. But that’s semantics at this point.

“I know deep down you’re a true submissive. You just haven’t been with the right Dom. I’ll give you that experience, and one day you’ll make a beautiful permanent sub for the right Dom.”

“Yes, Sir.” Her voice sounded foreign to her own ears. The ringing she’d sensed earlier, a residual noise from the club, returned to fill her head with imaginary sound. She winced at his words. Why did it sound as though he were already handing her off? He would groom her and turn her over to another man. The idea didn’t sit well with her, even though she knew this was what she was signing on for.

“Let me list a few things I’ll insist upon immediately with no negotiation to give you a feel for my rules. The list is long.” He paused. “I’ll expect you to stay in my home. That isn’t negotiable. I’m too controlling to allow you to live on your own. For the duration of our agreement, you’ll stay with me.

“I don’t allow cussing, ever. I don’t like to hear it from your sweet lips. It’s unbecoming. I know I’m unusual in that regard, but take it or leave it.”

Her eyes widened. That would be tough. She had a potty mouth on occasion.

“You won’t wear clothes in my home. You won’t wear underwear ever. You won’t wear anything I don’t approve of when you’re with me. Your bras will be selected by me and worn only when necessary.”

Visions of the type of lingerie Carlton would cover her breasts with made her nipples stiffen. They abraded against her bustier that suddenly seemed too small.

“You won’t be required to shave because I prefer to do it myself, and I insist upon that. Not negotiable. I enjoy it. It gives me pleasure.”

Shave? As in my crotch?
Flames consumed her face at the sudden embarrassment. No one had ever shaved Margaret but herself. She squirmed, her pussy growing traitorously wetter.

“You won’t masturbate or touch yourself in any way sexual except under my strict instructions. Your orgasms belong to me and me alone. I’ll decide when you come and punish you for every time you can’t control yourself.

“My punishments are swift and fit the crime. You will never be permanently marked or scarred. You will not be branded or tattooed under my care. You also don’t have permission to tattoo or pierce anything without my consent. And don’t ask for that consent, because your unmarked body is the sexiest I’ve ever seen in my life. I would sooner die than tarnish it with ink, bruises or scars.”

Her mind raced to keep up with his words. He spoke so fast and said so much in such a succinct manner. He wouldn’t hurt her. That went without saying. She knew him well enough to rest easy on that subject. Carlton wouldn’t hurt a bug. But the idea of enduring his punishments made her grit her teeth against the ball of need gathering low in her belly.

“You’re not my domestic slave. This doesn’t mean I won’t ask you to help around the house, but not more than any normal couple would negotiate domestic duties.

“I know this is a lot to take in. Don’t worry. You weren’t expected to memorize or remember anything tonight. I’ve overwhelmed you enough.” Carlton rounded the desk to resume the spot he’d taken in front of her earlier. He leaned his ass once again against the desk, out of her line of sight.

“I have one more question.” He waited.

“Yes, Sir. Anything.”

“Are you more aroused now than before I started my speech? Is your pussy leaking on my chair?”

“Yes, Sir,” she muttered, disconcerted by the way he made her admit that as though it were something to be embarrassed about, when in reality, it was the goal. She straightened her spine. What if she’d said no?

“Good. Then I’d say we’re almost done here.” He hadn’t touched her since earlier when he’d held her hand and then her chin. That surprised her, though it shouldn’t have. Carlton was nothing if not concise.

“I assume you drove here?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“I’ll follow you home. Do you have any questions?”

“No, Sir.” She ran through her brain, searching for anything she might be forgetting.

“Good. I want you to take a week to think about this. For the next seven days, I’d like you to concentrate on what it means to be my submissive. Take the time to consider this choice completely. When you aren’t at work or other appointments you’ve already made for this week, I’d like you to be at home, thinking about what it means to submit to a Dom. It’s been a while since you’ve had that level of structure. Make sure it’s something you truly want to explore.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s late. Let’s get you home.”

“Yes, Sir.” Every minute she waited to be with him would be torture now that she’d tasted his brand of paradise, figuratively, of course, but she was itching to make that real. She had no doubt in her mind she would agree to his terms. They might be harsh, but harsh was what she needed. Her skin tingled as she imagined all the things he could do to her with his words. If he added his hands, his mouth, his cock…

Now that she’d decided she wanted to experience everything he’d outlined and more, she felt an urgency deep in the pit of her stomach. She wanted him to fuck her. She wanted to know what it was like to feel a man’s cock inside her. And she wanted that man to be Carlton. How had she never realized this before tonight?

Instead of making a public statement by traipsing through the lingering patrons of the club, Margaret was glad to find herself following Carlton out the back entrance. “I can find my way home, Sir. You don’t have to follow me.”

“I know. But I prefer to ensure you arrive home safely. Don’t argue with me.” He led her to her car, helped her inside and then proceeded to his own.

She followed him with her eyes as he approached a black Land Rover. She smiled. It suited him.

Her fingers shook violently as she started the engine. She had to grip the steering wheel with both hands to keep the car steady as she backed out and drove home. Carlton stayed on her bumper, as expected. Someone else rode his bumper, making her feel like she was leading an entourage.

Every time she looked in the rearview mirror, she could see both cars. Weird.

When she pulled up in front of her apartment, Carlton parked behind her. The car behind him went on by. She stared at it, feeling a chill climb up her spine as it eased by her. She shook away the paranoia.

She found Carlton at her side again immediately, opening her car door and then taking her keys from her to lock her car with the fob before unlocking her apartment and ushering her inside.

Everything the man did was deliberate. He was overbearing, as she’d known he would be. He stepped inside her space without invitation and glanced around. She watched his face, realizing it wasn’t her belongings he took in, but rather the lack of an intruder. He was a safety guy. After all, safety was his job at Emergence. The fact that it would spill over into his private life shouldn’t surprise her.

Carlton turned to her and spoke for the first time since they left the club. “I want you to lock this door, remove your clothes and spend the weekend meditating on this decision in the nude. Do not touch yourself sexually at any time. That’s a hard rule of mine. I’m a discerning individual. If you ever masturbate without my permission, I’ll know by your reaction when I question you. If you doubt me, try it. If you lie to me, I will find out.

“When you’re not at work next week, follow the same rules. No clothes. No masturbating. Get your mind in the space. Consider what you’re agreeing to.” His gaze penetrated her to the core. She didn’t doubt his words. The man was astute to the point of possessing supernatural powers.

Margaret stared at his mouth as he spoke. He was so fucking sexy, every detail chiseled to perfection.
Might as well stop thinking four-letter words, Maggie. If you don’t, they will leak out of your mouth
. She shivered. Only God knew what Carlton’s punishments might be like.

“Are we clear?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“I’ll be texting you throughout the week to make sure you’re okay.”

Why wouldn’t I be okay?
She nodded instead of arguing. “Yes, Sir.”

He had a nostalgic expression that glazed his eyes, and he shook his head subtly as though erasing something he’d seen from his mind.

Carlton grabbed the door in one hand, and then he turned back to face her. “Go to the doctor this week and get a clean bill of health. I’ll do the same. I would never put a submissive in danger. You shouldn’t allow it either.” He narrowed his gaze. “Always make sure you have proof that whatever Dom you’re with has been cleared medically.”

She nodded.

He turned away from her and left without another word. He shut the door behind him, leaving her standing in her own home, shaking, feeling as though her sanctuary was somehow no longer sacred. He was watching her, even when he wasn’t there. She could feel his intense gaze on her face, even though his car engine started and he pulled away from the curb.

She shivered for the millionth time as she took a deep breath and removed her skirt and bustier with trembling fingers. She squirmed out of her G-string, feeling his nonexistent gaze on her, admiring her body while judging her stance.

She straightened her shoulders and carried her clothes to her bathroom. She closed the door, still feeling his eyes on her body. It didn’t help. He was inside the small space with her. She peed and then brushed her teeth, trying to ignore the sensation that he was all-knowing. It consumed her. Although physically she was alone inside, emotionally Carlton Fisher had gotten under her skin. She couldn’t escape him again even if she wasn’t with him.