Corporate Cowboy (8 page)

I swivel back and when I do, hear the office door click closed behind me.

For a moment, we stand there staring. Finally, I break the silence.

“Yes?”

“Yes, what?”

“The one more thing.”

“Of course.” He motions back to the chair I was sitting in. “Have a seat.”

I don’t hesitate and sit. He settles himself behind the desk and picks up his phone. After a moment, he says into the device, “Chad, no calls.”

I hear another series of clicks behind me and my stomach jolts. I arch a brow, but Gage doesn’t seem to notice. Locked? Is “no calls” code for
lock the doors and leave me alone
? I guess we are finally getting down to business.

I exhale slowly and grip the armrests. No backing out now.

Chapter Eight

Gage stole a moment to gather his thoughts. The time was now or never.

He’d spent the morning doing anything and everything to push Emma out of his head so he could work, and then the instant she stepped across the threshold of his office, her eyes downcast as she crossed the room, every ounce of adrenalin inside him raced through his body and straight to his dick.

Get a grip
.

She was just another fuck. The chase with this one was a bit different but the outcome would be the same. He’d enjoy toying with her for a while, finally take her, possess her, and send her on her way.

“Emma,” he began, “look at me.”

Slowly, she lifted her gaze. Her doe-eyed innocence never failed to make his gut clutch in desire. Her softness was edged with a spunk he’d not anticipated, but enjoyed. More than once, he had wanted to burst out in laughter at something she’d said. For some reason she made him smile.

All of that was foreign. No woman ever made him smile.

Yes, get a grip.

“First, I want you to know that your promotion has nothing to do with my proposition to you. That is separate. They are in no way connected. If you do not agree to the terms of our personal contract, your job and your promotion remain intact.”

She thought about that a moment then tilted her head. “Okay. Thank you.”

“Second, neither of us are leaving this room until we have come to an agreement about our personal business.”

She nodded. “Or not.”

“I would prefer that we come to terms.”

“That remains to be seen.
Sir
.” Her eyes sparkled and he wondered if she realized how sexy she was when they did.

“Do you still have the contract?”

“Yes.”

“Have you read it, Emma?”

“No.”

That surprised him. “All right. Then let’s get to it.” He pushed another folder across the desk.

“I have the one in my bag.”

“That’s a boilerplate. No names, no negotiation points. Do you think I’d let you leave here with my name on anything? This one is a bit more specific. Since you appear to like things spelled out succinctly, I think it will meet your expectations.”

She eyed him, the twinkle gone, then slowly reached for the folder and dragged it toward her. She opened it and picked up the single page. “This is it?”

“Yes.”

“Hm.”

“I will walk you through it.”

“I can read.”

“Let me put that another way, Emma. I will walk through each item, and we will discuss. If there are negotiations to be made, we’ll do them now.”

Gage fixed his gaze on Emma’s face. She held his stare while she opened the folder in front of her. Without looking at his paper, he began. “Item number one. We agree to one weekend of sex, and sex of my choosing. The location is at my ranch. You will give yourself over to me, and I will be in complete control for the entire weekend. You will be my submissive and follow my commands. The weekend will begin at five o’clock on Friday evening and end at nine o’clock Sunday night. You will choose to give up control to me, Emma, and in return, you will receive great pleasure.”

Emma cocked her head. “That is a guarantee?”

“Yes.” Gage paused. “Emma, there is something I want you to understand before we go any further. I am a Dom. I am an Alpha, dominant male. I have an insatiable sexual appetite. Vanilla sex does not satisfy me. I need more.

“Sex, for me, is a business deal, as you so eloquently put it yesterday. I am not into relationships. I prefer scheduled, vetted hook-ups and never with a woman for more than one time. I do not have sex for love and definitely not procreation. There is never any emotion associated with my sexual experiences. Ever. I don’t caress, cuddle, or whisper sweet nothings in your ear. I fuck. That is all. Sex in my world is black and white. No gray. And you need to understand that this weekend is nothing more than that.

“Of course, it is not all about me, Emma. I believe there are many things you can learn about yourself, and about sex, by having this experience with me. It simply depends on whether that is something you want—and if you will submit to me.”

He measured the look on her face. It wasn’t a look of fear or disgust, but perhaps one of question and curiosity. Maybe a hint of concern.

He continued. “Look, Emma. I am safe. I am very careful with my partners. I don’t go to clubs, dungeons, or attend BDSM socials. My lifestyle is not public. It is very private. But you need to understand something, and I mean really understand this. I need control. I have an intense need to control women. And I have a very strong desire to control you, Emma Lavender.”

He paused.

“So, what are your questions?”

She didn’t immediately speak but let her gaze play over his face. Gage tried hard to maintain a steadfast demeanor, to show nothing to sway her questions one way, or another. He half expected her to flee. It wouldn’t be the first time a woman hearing that speech had done so. But Emma, she was different, and so perhaps….

Then she said, “What if there is something I do not want to do?”

“We will address that next.”

“Okay… When?”

“Do you agree to item number one?”

Emma sucked in a breath, held it, and then exhaled. “Yes.”

Inwardly, he was relieved but knew there was more ahead. “All right. Item number two has to do with your hard limits and a safe word. This addresses those things you absolutely will not do. Because I don’t believe you know enough yet to make a wise decision about this, we will come to terms in the coming days. Is that acceptable?”

Emma swallowed and glanced to the contract, then looked up. “You are right. I need more information.”

“I agree. That’s why I want you to do two things within the next twenty-four hours.”

Her blank expression went wide-eyed in question. She waited for him to go on. “If you will look in your folder, you will see a separate sheet of paper with some website links. Tonight, you are to review those sites and when you come to work tomorrow, you are to present me with your lists. The first list is of things you like to do, or have done to you, when having sex. The second list is of things that intrigue you and you want to learn more about. The third list is of things you will not do. Your hard limits. They could also be things that frighten you.”

“Frighten me?”

“You may see some things on those sites that frighten you or you don’t understand. We should talk about those things.”

She looked back at the paper. “It’s a lot of links.”

“There is a lot to understand, Emma. I don’t expect you to know everything, but I want you to have a firm beginning understanding of what you are getting into. Explore, watch and read. Then make your lists and bring them to me tomorrow morning. We will then discuss.”

She nodded. “All right, but I want it noted that if we do not come to agreement on this item, the entire weekend is off and the contract is null and void.”

“Of course.” That was fair. He scribbled on his copy, glad that she was making some effort to have her thoughts known. Good. “Duly noted.” Chad would draft the final document later today.

“Item number three. Emma, we discussed yesterday that I do not believe you are ready to spend a weekend submitting me. I believe you need information and training. For that reason, the weekend at the ranch will occur two weeks from this past weekend. In the meantime, you will begin training, of sorts, as my sub. That means, from the time we sign this agreement until the end date on that Sunday evening, you will answer to me, respond to my wishes, and do as I say. Sex may, or may not, be involved in this training. You will be available to me, twenty-four-seven.” Gage paused and watched her eyes dart back and forth. “Do you understand, Emma?”

“I… I think so.”

“Don’t hesitate, Emma. I may have to punish you.”

“We haven’t talked about punishment.”

“That will come.”

“Can you write that in there? Because, I want to make sure that we do talk about punishment.”

“Emma, it’s simple. Once you agree to our terms, if you need to be punished, you will know what that will entail.”

“Can you tell me now? I’m…I’m actually fearful of pain.”

Gage sighed and leaned closer into the desk. “Emma, I promise you, I will not harm you or cause you great physical pain. A punishment will match the offense, so that you will associate one with another. I can’t guarantee that I won’t resort to spanking your ass if the need should arise. But I will tell you now that if you challenge me today and require discipline, your punishment will be to stand naked at the window behind me, spread eagle, your tits smashed against the glass, wearing nothing but those delicious red heels you have on, while I work. Afterward, if you have endured your punishment nicely, I will reward you by fucking you from behind while you are clinging to that glass. Is that clear enough?”

She shifted in her seat. Her cheeks flushed pink. “Yes. Quite.”

“All right. The rest of this will go quickly.”

“Thank God,” she said.

Gage lifted a brow, but ignored that. “Item four is the nondisclosure statement. You must agree to total confidentiality. I am to remain anonymous. And you are to practice complete discretion.”

“Agreed,” she said.

“Items four, five and six have to do with physical and mental health checks and a background screening. Fortunately, we’ve already done the regular company background checks. I require a clean bill of health, mentally and physically, before we move forward. You will visit the company doctor for a complete blood work up and physical. Chad will make the appointment. Is all of that understood?”

She nodded. “Yes. And you will do the same?”

“I will provide you with the paperwork of my clean bill of health.”

“Physically and mentally?” She grinned.

Gage closed his eyes. “Woman, you are bound and determined to try my patience, aren’t you?”

“I just want to make sure I’m not hooking up with someone who had not been duly vetted.”

Her face was a mite smug. Was she teasing him? He felt the most uncanny urge to round the desk and gather her in his arms and kiss the smugness off her pert little face. Instead, he peered into her eyes, lowered his voice, and said, “Emma, I will provide anything you like as long as you consent to giving over your pretty little pussy to me. But I assure you I am physically and mentally healthy. I get an exam monthly from my doctor. Chad will provide the latest results for you.”

“Thank you.”

Gage cleared his throat. “May I go on?”

“Absolutely.”

“All right. Item seven.” This clause might be a deal breaker if she reacted in any way other than was acceptable to him. Of course, if she stopped to think about it, she’d realize her hands were figuratively tied. Gage continued. “In exchange for this weekend, you will receive a new job—back in Charlotte. You will relocate immediately, and I will pay the expenses. Once this weekend concludes, you are never to contact me again. You are never to speak of me, or our time together, personally or professionally, with anyone, at any time, now or in the future. Our relationship will not exist once the weekend is over. Do you understand this, Emma?”

For the first time, her face was devoid of emotion. Gage was unsure what that meant. Her expression reminded him of someone who might be in shock—blank and emotionless. He was certain what he just said to her was unexpected, and that sent up warning signals for him.

Goddammit, please don’t let her be clingy and needy.

He lowered his voice. “In order to do this, Emma, it has to be clear that this is not a relationship in the making. I don’t do relationships. There is no hope for any kind of future—friendship or lovers—for you and me. This is the way I live my life. If you choose to be a small part of it, then so be it. But Emma, if you have any hesitation whatsoever, do not consent.”

She cleared her throat. Her gaze remained fixed with his. “I agree.”

Gage let those words hang in the air for a moment. “You agree that you should not consent?”

She shook her head. “No, I agree to your terms. I consent to submit to you. Sir.”

“You are certain.”

“I am.”

All right.
“I’ll call Chad to make those few changes on the contract.”

“I will sign that one,” she said, “if that works for you. I’m ready to sign now. I’ll initial your notes and you can too. Let’s do it.”

Before you back out.
“Are you certain?”

“I am.”

He wasn’t going to ask again. Gage initialed his notes and signed at the bottom, then pushed the paper over to Emma. He watched as her gaze traveled down the page and she, one by one, initialed the notes on the agreement. Then with a deep sigh, she signed the bottom, her name under his.

Appropriate.

Her gaze slowly lifted until their eyes connected. Her irises danced. “I suddenly feel very vulnerable,” she said, and then after a moment, smiled. “And a little wicked.”