Continental Life (4 page)

Pl
anting his feet on the floor, he reached inside his bottom drawer for a folder. He had been wholly taken aback by Bella’s admission of wanting to apply to the DDTC, though in reality, he had always wanted her to attend. Nevertheless, he couldn’t help but feel apprehensive about the idea despite the fact that he hated denying her that which she wanted. But could she really handle seeing him educate other women in the fashion that was necessitated by the school? And how would she feel about other men
instructing
and
directing
her? More to the point – could
he
handle other instructors
educating
the love of his life? Putting their hands on her… giving her pleasure... watching her satisfy them? He bristled at the thought. No, he wasn’t keen on sharing his Princess with anyone, not even in the name of enlightenment.

Oh hell, he didn’t even know why he was
getting so worked up over it. The director of the program and the other instructors would never allow her admittance anyway.

***

As usual after a tiff, shame began chipping away at Bella’s resolve. Xander didn’t deserve her attitude or her snide comments. The wind blew past her as she peered over the edge of the balcony and out into the night. The air was warm and damp, the moon was nearly full and a miasmic mist hung in the air over the San Francisco Bay. When another gust of wind whipped past her, a whiff of pungent sea air filled her nostrils. Squinting her eyes, she tried to make out the wondrously intricate lacework of bays, islands and coves in the distance but the night was too shadowy and the fog too thick.

Thinking abou
t the past year with Xander after he began teaching again, she realized she had been conscious only of a dreaded cessation, of an emptiness that wasn’t even loneliness. If only the two of them could escape to one of those far off little coves for a few days… or weeks… or months. To get away was so tempting. That’s all they really needed… time alone to bask in the glory of their sexuality and love for one another.
If only he would allow her to attend the DDTC…

Mechanically she went over and over their discussion and the scene that had played out only moments before.
Why didn’t he want her there?
In the three years she knew of the existence of the DDTC and Xander’s involvement with it, not once had she been allowed in to see the inner workings or to meet with the staff. Why were they all so secretive about it?

Again, she was
being distrustful when she knew better. With pulse-pounding certainty she knew that he loved her and he would remain faithful, regardless if he was at that damned school or not. To acknowledge that he may never give up teaching was something she had no choice but to accept. Xander clearly enjoyed his side job.
So who the hell was she to expect him to quit
? He had never stopped her from pursuing that which brought her happiness. In fact, he had always done what he could to help her achieve her dreams.

The s
tark reality of her actions struck her full force and her cheeks flushed with harsh self-condemnation at her selfish and bratty thoughts and actions. Knowing what had to be done, she forced herself to face her Sir.

Seated at his desk, he was working diligently on something when
she approached and lingered in the doorway. When she called out to him, his eyes shifted upward but he remained silent.

“Please forgive my disrespectfulness
, Sir…” she stopped midsentence to formulate her apology and to gather courage. “You know what’s best for me;
for us
. If you don’t think I’m a suitable candidate for the DDTC, than I respect and accept your decision.”

Without saying anything
more, she waited for some kind of reaction. Laying the pen down, Xander’s malachite eyes scanned her body before settling on her face. Some indecipherable expression flitted across his face and his lips pursed suspiciously, but the room remained silent other than the disquieting tick of the large, antique grandfather clock at the far end of the room and the thud of her heart beating in her ears. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity for him to respond, he gave her a sympathetic yet troubled look.

“Good night, Bella.”

The bite of regret pinched her heart and she sulked away with her tail between her legs.
Maybe tomorrow he would forgive her
.

A dazzling
, white blur of sun momentarily blinded Bella as she arrived at school. This day would be spent in the lecture hall listening as her professors endlessly discussed anatomy and physiology, moral and ethical responsibilities, and new pharmaceutical breakthroughs. The morning air was brisk, invigorating, and intoxicating, the sky cloudless from one horizon to another, yet a dark cloud of discontent hung over her.

Seated amongst the other students, she dug out the list of available classes f
or the upcoming summer semester. She would have to submit her schedule soon and there was to be no more procrastination. Wanting to gain a bit of headway in her education and possibly finish the program just a tad bit earlier than planned, she picked several courses including two night classes. Between clinical hours and class time, she would be busy.
Very busy.
The thought made her feel oddly depressed. Summertime for Xander would require an immense amount of traveling and she dreaded the nights spent alone in their large bed.
Only one more year…

Shifting
uncomfortably in her seat, her ass tingled and throbbed, reminding her of his large, strong hands and the price she paid for doubting him. She focused on the professor’s voice in an attempt to forget the look of disappointment on Xander’s face when she acted so immaturely, but his words haunted her. “
It’s a very serious program, the likes of which I don’t think you’re prepared for...”

She had been reprimanded for doubting him, yet t
hat’s exactly what he was doing to her. Didn’t he have any faith in her abilities? She had always taken his rules and orders seriously and long before she even knew anything about the domestic discipline lifestyle. Shaking her head of her thoughts, she reminded herself that Xander knew best and had the final say in all decisions. She had stated her feelings, albeit less than tactfully, and his authority had prevailed; now it was time for her to just let it go.

Half-way through the day
she reached for her phone to find several text messages from Xander.

XP: The bright blue sky reminds me of your eyes. Your performance last night was amazing. I can’t stop thinking about you.

His words made her hungry for his touch, though she didn’t deserve it. Her other dramatic
performance
wasn’t mentioned, but it wasn’t like him to bring up her past petulant deeds. Simply moving forward and letting bygones be bygones was his way of letting her know she was forgiven and all was right in their little, intimate world.

XP: I added a song to your iTunes. Sex by The 1975. Take a moment and listen.

The cloud of disappointment that had been hanging over her lifted and she smiled impishly as she downloaded the song to her phone. After nonchalantly slipping in only one earbud, she listened to the music and lyrics. Soon she was overcome with love for Xander. He may have been a man nearing the forty year age mark, but by his playfulness and romantic heart, one would never know that. As she listened to the lyrics, she wondered what Xander was alluding to when the words
“she’s got a boyfriend anyway”
played.

MsDarcy: Boyfriend? Who would that be?

XP: The other obligation
in your life – school. I know you’ve been stressed lately, but this, too, will pass, Princess. I’m proud of everything you’re doing. Keep your head up and stay focused on the end game.

God, she adored everything about Xander. Wanting to stoke the flame that he had ignited and to relive a special memory, she offered up a silly suggestion and hoped Xander would agree.

MsDarcy: Can we reenact my first day working for you, Sir?

XP: Oh, my Dear
, Naughty Ms. Darcy, what a genius idea. Since AM won’t work, I expect to see you tonight, my office, 9:00 PM.

***

The remainder of the day for Xander was spent locked away in his office, working diligently to get everything work-related off his plate. A stop at The Center, then home to change and freshen up, and back to the office, he promised himself. Absolutely nothing was going to stand in the way of his appointment with his
‘new employee’
tonight.

Running late and having spent more time than he had planned at the
DDTC, he felt rushed yet excited. Bella would be pleased with what he had accomplished and he couldn’t wait to see the look on her face. He wanted everything to be absolutely fucking perfect. It wasn’t often that she asked for something specific when it came to their sex life, so when she did, he did his best to accommodate her and get the details just the way she had described.

After her heartfelt
admission of guilt the night before, he knew without a doubt that he couldn’t deny her what she wanted. You would think after five years of her subservience he would be used to it, but still he was stunned and amazed by her obedience, respect and love for him. He hadn’t even prompted the apology, only plucking at his heartstrings even more.

He had often wondered where her meekness and docile
manner came from. It certainly wasn’t from either her mother or father. They were both stubborn beyond comparison and full of spit and fire. So were her brother and sister. Maybe it was the effects of being a middle child, he pondered. Although, so was he and he ended up being the alpha of his clan. He knew submissiveness wasn’t inborn, generally speaking, and that in most cases, it had to be taught. So who had taught her?

He did.

A wicked smile spread across his face. Yes, he was the one who had trained her on the ways to be most pleasing to him. She had soaked it up, too. Every word and command he spoke, she had etched in her subconscious and recalled and followed like an apprentice eager to please her master. And she
had
pleased him; in every, single, possible way. Not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. She was simply the type of woman who needed order and discipline in her life and that’s exactly what he had given her from day one. Now, here they were, reenacting that day.

Dressed for the occasion and seated at the same desk he had fucked her on the first day he met her, he leaned
back in his chair as the clock struck 9:00 p.m. No Bella. He glanced at his watch several times as the minutes ticked by, each second becoming more irritated. Still, no Bella.

Unacceptable,
he grumbled to himself.
She was the one who had suggested this
…

Just as he began to pace near the
expansive window, he heard her voice in the same soft and delicate manner he did five years before.

“Mr. Pettifor?”

Turning, he came face-to-face with her. Her eyes and body had the same effect on him at that moment as they did that first day. His mouth parted in awe and his cock sprang to life when he saw her wearing the very same dress she had worn on her first day of employment.
And her scent
… exactly the same.
Skin.

He glanced at his watch to see the time: 9:07 p.m.
All of a sudden he remembered that she had been late that day. She took into account every last detail… absolutely everything… The urge to hold her, touch her and taste overrode all his good sense…

Just like it had from the first day he saw her.

*

Sprawled out on his chaise after their reenactment, he held Bella close. The buzz of traffic far below
and the whir of a helicopter overhead could faintly be heard, breaking their entrancement. They lay like that for nearly thirty minutes in the quietness of the moment. Reaching for his phone in the crumpled suit jacket that was tossed to the floor, he cued
Love They Say
by Tegan and Sara. They would be making new memories this night, as well.

Like a drugged and over-sexed lunatic, Bella beamed up at him.
“I don’t care what you say; you’re a romantic, Mr. Pettifor.”

Smoothing h
er hair, he kissed her forehead. There was no denying it, he was, and as long as Bella was the one on the receiving end of it, he always would be.

Naked, h
e strode to his desk to retrieve his gift for her. With her now leaning on an elbow, he seated himself on the edge of the lounger next to her and handed over an envelope.

“I hope your summer schedule isn’t set in stone yet.”

“Why? Is it my bonus?” she asked jokingly as she ripped into it.

“
Of sorts…” he barely resisted a smile.

Reading over the document, Bella’s eyes widened with animation and she squealed like a teenager who had just gotten her first car.

Abruptly sitting up, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed every inch of his face. “I’ve been accepted to the DDTC! But how? I didn’t even fill out the application,” she pulled back to stare into his eyes as her breathing became ragged with excitement.

“I filled it out for you last night.”

Tears bordered her lashes and a deep pink hue stained her cheeks. “After the way I acted?”

“
You’ve been stressed, but I know your heart was in the right place when you said you wanted to go. And the truth is: you were right. This is a good opportunity for you to learn exactly what I’ll require of you as my wife and what you should expect from me. How could I deny you, Princess?”

Shaking her head, she reread the letter two more times
, each time her smile widening just a touch more. Proud of himself, Xander puffed his chest out and a mischievous grin spread across his rugged, clean-shaven face. Bella wore the look of elation well. Making her happy and seeing the sparkle of bliss in her eyes was one of the things in life he cherished the most.

“But you said I probably wouldn’t be accepted
and that I wasn’t a suitable candidate. What changed everyone’s mind?”

Xander ros
e and made them each a martini, hers extra-dry with two olives, just the way she liked. “The better part of two hours, but every now and then I can make a good case, and…” he took a gulp of the liquor and handed Bella her drink. “…I never said that. You should know they’re less-than thrilled about accepting you and not because you’re
not a suitable candidate,
because we’re engaged. But it’s a good thing for the both of us that I have a way with words.”

Dipping her fingers into the glass, she
confiscated an olive and popped into her mouth as she grinned back at him. “I know…” she sucked the ends of her fingers clean. “I watched you work your linguistic magic for more than two years. They didn’t stand a chance against you, did they?”

W
ith his drink in hand, he strolled to the large bank of floor-to-ceiling windows and surveyed the bright lights and Bay below him. “Hell no, they didn’t. I wasn’t leaving their offices without a firm answer from them, be it negative or positive. It was either accept you as a student or accept my resignation and they’re not ready to see me leave just yet.”

Bella gasped and
he peered over his shoulder to see her brows knitted together. She looked genuinely upset, though he had no idea why. Was it so farfetched for her to think he would leave if they denied an education to the woman he was going to spend the rest of his life with and someone who was dedicated to living the kind of lifestyle that they so wholeheartedly believed in? How hypocritical would that have been?

“I kind of wish you hadn’t d
one it now…” she quietly admitted as she placed her drink on the floor next to the lounger. “What if they had said
no
and you were forced to quit? You would’ve resented me for it, Xander.”

“I absolutely would not have re
sented you,” he spoke firmly, moving next to her and setting his drink down beside hers. Taking a firm hold of her shoulders, he looked her square in the eyes. “First of all, I wouldn’t have threatened them if I didn’t intend on going through with it or if I didn’t believe in the point that I was trying to make. Secondly, my teaching has been one of the reasons you’re stressed. If I left now, it would have been only a slight change of plans since I have every intention of quitting once you’re done with school anyway.”

The distressed look
on her face quickly disappeared and she threw her arms back over his shoulders.

“Before you go getting all sappy…” he continue
d, “the administrators, Headmaster and other instructors, including myself, have very strict guidelines for you. They’re writing them up now and want to meet with you in the next few days to go over the particulars. There are several things to contend with and my own personal issues I have to get past, but we’ll go over all that eventually. After you hear everything that’s going to be expected of you, you may change your mind about wanting to attend.”

***

Xander said nothing more, only leaving her to guess what his personal issues about her attending were. Nothing was going to change her mind – no amount of rules or regulations. As far as she was concerned, she had already been taught by the best, so not one single thing those people threw her way would deter her, no matter how stringent it might be. She was being given one chance and one chance only to finally see Xander -
Professor Pettifor
– hard at work and the goings on of the mysterious DDTC. This was her opportunity to be under his rule and command once again and that tantalizing fact alone could get her through anything.