La Brat (15 page)

He watched in silence as her blush deepened. She really was the sexiest little piece. His cock threatened to burst from his trousers any moment now as he struggled to recall what his objections had been when she’d suggested resurrecting their previous relationship.

His mind was a blank. The only image he could conjure up was of Genie naked at his feet. He thanked the Lord for the security requirements, which meant that his was the only executive office with a lock on the door. A word from him, just one command, and she’d strip for him before dropping to her knees.

Then what? He’d fuck her, possibly offer her a spanking, if she wanted it. They’d have fun, then she’d go back to her office and he’d study the wedding guest list. They’d be colleagues once more, workmates who enjoyed an occasional kinky fuck. In work time no less.

So much for her ambitious plans of building a glittering career for herself. He could ruin that for her, annihilate her newfound professional self-image with just a few words and some well-aimed slaps on her delicious derrière. He couldn’t do it. Wouldn’t do it.

Aaron shook his head. It was a tempting prospect, but business was business for both of them. And if he ever let this attraction grow, become more than a quick scene behind the filing cabinet, what would that lead to? What might she expect? What would she be entitled to expect?

He’d been so sure they were over, so convinced their relationship was dead. He was not a Dom to be led by his cock, never had been. And whatever sort of sub Eugenie had been in the past—and now he was by no means certain he had understood her at all—she had matured into a beautiful, graceful woman, a woman to be treasured. She would be a submissive to savor, to take time over, her responses to be teased from her, drawn out by his touch, his words, the pain and the pleasure he could deliver.

As he regarded her across his desk, he knew he wanted that. He wanted her. Still. He had yet to convince himself of the wisdom of going back down that route, but in a flash of self-awareness, he knew that was only a matter of time.

“Not now, Genie. And not here. But soon.”

“I see. Does this mean we are—I mean, have you changed your mind?”

“We need to talk. Again.”

“Very well, Sir. This evening then?”

Aaron inclined his head. “Meet me in the library, say about eight? We should have it to ourselves by that time.”

“I could come to your apartment, Sir. Would that not be better? My studio is very small.”

“Neutral territory, I think. The library, and dinner later. I’ll book us a table somewhere. Now, though, I have to review this list and you need to leave.”

“Leave, Sir?”

“Yes, leave. Before anyone else comes in and I embarrass myself entirely.” He shifted in his seat, attempting to rearrange his trousers to relieve the pressure. His attempts elicited a smile from Eugenie.

“I understand. My apologies, Sir. I will be next door if you require anything.” She stood and made for the door. He was convinced the seductive sway of her hips as she left the room was affected just for his benefit.

It worked.

* * * *

“Nine o’clock. A table for two, please. Yes, charge it to my staff account. Aaron Praed. Thanks.”

Aaron replaced the receiver and leaned back in his chair. His erection was somewhat subdued now, though he had no doubt Madamoiselle d’André would be able to rekindle it with one lick of her delectable lips. Christ, how had he managed without her for three years? For three minutes, even?

A more appropriate question would be, why?

Because she challenged him, unsettled him. Made him doubt himself, question his prowess as a Dom. The bottom line was—she baffled him.

Aaron closed his eyes, thought back to that day three years ago when he’d provoked her into losing her temper with him to such devastating effect. At the time, he’d been angry, but that soon passed to leave in its wake pure mystification. He had no idea what had made her lose it and turn on him. He had not been unduly harsh with her, and although he had never caned her previously, she’d had no reason that he could think of to believe he’d go too far. He’d punished her before that—frequently—and she had always walked away unharmed. Why her reaction on that day?

When she first brought up the subject of their past, he had urged her to let it go, to put it behind her. Now he knew they couldn’t leave it at that. If they were to have any future together, or more specifically, if they were to resurrect their Dom/sub relationship, he had to understand her. He needed her to feel able to tell him what had caused her to snap, though he had a strong suspicion she wouldn’t know the answer if he asked her.

So, where did that leave them? Him?

It left him relying purely on his Dom instincts. He would talk to her tonight, and tomorrow and the day after that. He’d keep on talking to her, probing her recollections of what had happened and how she had felt that morning. He would manage, somehow, eventually, to see the events through her eyes and identify the trigger.

If—when—he was successful, and knew what he’d done wrong the first time, he would invite her to replay the scene. This time he would get it right. Then they might be able to move on.

Chapter Eleven

Underwear? Yes or no?

Eugenie stood in front of her mirror, wondering whether to wear panties or not. Aaron had hinted pretty strongly that he wanted to scene with her, and he had a definite preference for an uncovered pussy. He always liked her to be accessible, but would she be making assumptions?

Well, perhaps she would, but she’d deal with the consequences if need be. If Aaron got as far as discovering her pantieless state, she suspected he’d be inclined to applaud rather than take issue. Now, could she also manage without a bra, or was that just too obvious?

It was a couple of minutes after eight o’clock when she slipped into the library. Aaron was already there, at ease in one of the large leather winged chairs, a tray of coffee on the low table in front of him. He glanced up and smiled as she entered.

“I am sorry to be late. I had a call just before I left—Elise.”

“No problem. I ordered coffee for us. And I booked a table at La Mignon for later. Nine o’clock all right?”

“Yes, that will be lovely.” Eugenie sat in the chair at Aaron’s right and accepted the cup he handed to her. She took a sip and placed it on the table, then folded her hands in her lap.

“You look wonderful. I like that dress.”

“Thank you.” She reached for her coffee again, conscious of his pensive stare.

“Miss d’André, are you wearing a bra?”

“No, Sir.”

“I see. Knickers?”

“No, Sir.”

He nodded, offering no further comment as she proceeded to drink her coffee. At last, Eugenie could bear it no longer.

“Sir, I apologize if I overstepped the mark. I just thought it best to make my position clear.”

“Your position?”

“Yes, Sir. As your submissive. If you’ll have me back.”

“Well that’s plain enough. I appreciate a forthright subbie. It saves a lot of trouble. And time. You weren’t always given to such plain speaking, though.”

“No, Sir.”

“Which gives rise to our current predicament. So, here’s my position. I do want you back, but not until we’ve talked. Really talked. We should have done this years ago. It’s my fault we didn’t, but I intend to set that straight right now.”

“I see, Sir. What is it you wish to discuss?”

“I wish to discuss what happened the last time we scened together. I want to know why you reacted as you did. Can you enlighten me at all?”

“I was—angry. Very upset, Sir. But no matter how distressed I was, I should never have done such a thing. I do appreciate that. I would be grateful if you could overlook my outburst and allow me to atone for my behavior. If you have a cane, Sir, I would be honored to accept the ten strokes now. Or more, if you think it appropriate.”

“I see. A generous offer—I may take you up on that. And yes, I could lay my hands on a cane if need be. You mention being angry and upset. Distressed too. What about scared? Were you frightened of what I intended for you?”

“Maybe. A little. That is not what I mainly recall, though.”

“So, what had so upset you?”

“I had made you angry. You were disappointed in me. Again.”

“And? That’s hardly a reason to lay into me. Just the opposite, really.”

Eugenie stared at her fingers, lacing them together in her lap. “This is difficult. I am not certain. It was just… I felt—frustrated. I was so often in trouble. I made many mistakes.”

“A lot of them on purpose. You wanted me to spank you.”

“I did, but that is not such a bad thing, surely.”

“I would have preferred you to just ask me. Tell me what you wanted. I can’t read minds, and I don’t like being manipulated.”

“I apologize. I am making you angry again.”

Aaron leaned across and took her hand. “No, Genie, you’re not. I’m trying to understand. Whatever you say to me this evening, I won’t be angry. I want to know what’s in your head. So, back to that morning. You say you felt frustrated, and that suggests to me that you expected something different from me. I had told you I intended to punish you.”

“Yes, Sir. You did.”

“So why did you find it frustrating when I did just that?”

“Because… Because I thought you would be nice to me in the morning. If I stayed in the spare room all night, alone, as you told me to. I came downstairs early, but you didn’t seem to mind that. You gave me food and I thought you would hold me, perhaps tell me I was a good girl for waiting all night. Then you would fuck me. But you didn’t. You just seemed to want to carry on punishing me, even though I had obeyed you and I had apologized. You still were not satisfied and I felt…let down. I wanted it to end and I thought it had ended, then you ordered me into the dining room and made me lean over the table.”

She fell silent, tears pricking her eyes as she relived the intense emotion of that morning. She felt again the dismay at realizing her punishment was to continue, the uncertainty that she could ever satisfy this implacable Dom. And above all, the sheer bloody unfairness of it all.

“Genie, you said I seemed to want to carry on punishing you. But I hadn’t started.”

“What more did you intend? Would it have continued all day, and for another night perhaps? And another? I could not bear that.”

“Another night? What do you mean?”

“I suppose I thought you might make me spend another night alone. That was a cunning punishment to choose. I hated it, but I realize now that was what you had intended. It was awful, though, knowing you were in the next room but refusing to let me be with you. I wanted you to hold me, to forgive me, but you would not.”

Aaron narrowed his eyes in concentration, then she caught the gleam of sudden awareness and understanding. “Oh, shit.”

“Sir?”

“Fucking shit.”

“Excuse me?”

“I never realized. Never even considered the effect a night on your own would have on you. I simply meant you to remain safe until I was cool enough to administer the caning. It was not meant as a punishment.”

Eugenie stared at him, incredulous. “Of course it was. How could it not have been? I hated being separated from you. You knew that.”

“I didn’t.”

“But you must have.”

“Why would I? You lived alone. I worked long hours and so did you. We were often separated for days, weeks sometimes.”

“Not at your home. When I was there, I was with you. Always. You never locked me in a room alone.”

“I didn’t lock you in.”

“It was the same thing. You told me to stay there, even though I begged to come with you. To sleep in your bed with you.”

Aaron’s expression was now one of utter amazement, closely followed by dismay. “Christ, what was I thinking? God, sweetheart, I’m so sorry. I honestly never even considered that possibility. You did ask me. You did beg. I should have known.”

“You did not know? You did not intend me to be upset by that?”

“No. God, no!”

“I… Oh.”

“So, in the morning, you came looking for me, expecting aftercare. And I made you prepare for a caning. Christ, no wonder you were upset.” He chuckled, a mirthless sound. “I think I got off lightly, considering.”

“Even so, to do as I did…”

Aaron reached for her hand. “Maybe your reaction was over the top, but you were sorely provoked. I do see that now. I could tell at the time that something was badly off, but I convinced myself it was just that you weren’t truly a submissive. I was wrong. I should have talked to you, or better still listened.” He paused, his smile tinged with sadness. “For what it’s worth, I’d already decided not to go through with the caning. You took matters into your own hands, though, before I could tell you that.”

“You mean, if I hadn’t lost my temper…?”

He nodded. “Just a couple more seconds would have done it. Better still, I should have pulled back earlier. It should never have got to the point where you felt desperate enough to hit out. I failed you, as your Dom, and I apologize.”

“No, Sir. It was…”

“Genie, I was the one in control. I could have changed how that scene went. The worst thing is, I let myself believe the problem was down to you, that your submission was at fault. Or perhaps your lack of it. Shit, I even left you believing that too. I can’t tell you how much I regret how it turned out, that morning and afterward You tried to talk to me, and I shut you out.”

“But it is turning out all right now,
n’est-ce pas
? We are talking. We understand each other now.”

“Well, we’re certainly getting there. I’m just amazed you still trust me enough to even contemplate letting me near you again.”

“I love you, Sir. I have never stopped loving you. So, it is simple, I think.”

“Genie, nothing about this, about you, was ever simple. You challenge me at every turn, and there will be times I suspect when you’ll just plain baffle me. But I want to try again with you and I swear I’ll pay better attention in future.”