Not Safe for Work (7 page)

“It’s excellent so far,” Rick said. “I’m looking forward to the finished project.”

“Only the best for Horizon Developing.” Mitchell smiled like a used-car salesman, and I managed to lower my head before I rolled my eyes.

Ass-kissing doesn’t work, boss man. You want to know the way to Rick Pierce’s heart? I could probably give you a few pointers…

“Well.” Rick cleared his throat. “We should get out of their way so they can get back to work. You said the contract for the new art museum is ready, correct?”

“Yes, yes. Let me take you upstairs.”

Mitchell started to herd Rick out of the room, and I lifted my head.

We met eyes again. Rick grinned. I returned it.

And then he followed Mitchell and Marie out.

The door closed behind them. Scott switched the music back to whatever shitty rap album they’d had on earlier, and we all went back to business as usual. I tried to, anyway.

It shouldn’t have been this difficult to focus on the finishing touches for the Rainier house. Just simple details now. Minor tweaks. My mind, however, knew nothing but that look Rick had shot me on his way out. Sweaty palms made X-ACTO knives a bitch to manipulate, and shaky fingers fumbled with foam-core. I hadn’t been this distracted since the day I’d gone into my old boss’s office a few years ago, certain I was about to be given my walking papers after I’d fucked up a model.

Ever since my epiphany during the meeting, I’d accepted that things might get weird around the office if word got out, but sleeping with Rick wasn’t going to get me fired. Botching a model because I was
thinking
about sleeping with Rick? That was a distinct possibility.

Despite my preoccupation, the afternoon rolled by. The sounds of honest productivity were peppered by insults, projectiles and the prevailing lack of maturity that made this such a great place to work. For the most part, I kept myself focused on work and banter, completely forgetting about anything I was hiding from all of them.

At one point, though, Rick strode down the hall, past our windows, and my heart almost stopped.

He was deep in conversation with Dion and Mitchell, but he’d glanced in, glanced right at me as if he’d known exactly where I’d be and that I’d be looking right at him. He’d stumbled a little, but recovered quickly. Another glance. A little smile.

And then he was gone. A few seconds after that, I remembered what the hell I did for a living and got back to work, pretending not to notice the tingle working its way up my spine. After a while, even that faded into the back of my mind, and I went back to my world of models and mayhem.

Just a few hours to go, and he was once again all mine…

Five o’clock couldn’t get there fast enough. More than once, I considered ducking out to the men’s room to relieve some of my anticipation. I wondered if he felt the same, which did not help my ability to concentrate at all.

I gave the clock one last look. Promised myself tonight would be worth the wait.

And got back to work.

Chapter Nine

Drawn by the smell of coffee, I shuffled downstairs and into the kitchen.

At the table, Karen watched me over her mug. “Long night?”

“Is it obvious?”

“Just a bit.”

I poured myself some coffee. “I didn’t wake you up when I came in, did I?”

“No, no.” She smiled. “I didn’t even get home myself until almost two.”

“Yeah?” I chuckled. “Have a good time?”

She wrinkled her nose and shrugged. “Eh, it was all right. Nice guy, fun for an evening, but I don’t see a repeat performance in our future.”

“Sorry to hear it.”

“Eh, such is life.” She sipped her coffee. “So tell me about this…woman? Guy?”

“Guy.” I stirred some sugar into my cup, my mind wandering back to last night and a stupid smile forming on my lips as if they had a mind of their own. “You remember that client I told you about?”

“Which one? The guy who doesn’t know a brick from a roofing nail, or the one who’s richer than God?”

“The second one.”

Karen’s eyebrows climbed her forehead. “You’re sleeping with
him
?”

I nodded. “A little more than sleeping with him, but yes.”

“Well done, Jon.” She giggled.

“Thanks.” I rolled my eyes as heat rushed into my cheeks. “Have you eaten yet?”

“Yep. If I’d known you were cooking, I’d have skipped the cereal, but—”

“Cooking?” I snorted and pulled a box of cereal off the top of the fridge. “Not today.” While I made myself a half-assed breakfast, she took her dishes to the sink.

“So how in the world did you get him?” She paused, cringing. “I mean, that didn’t come out right. How did—”

“I know what you meant. And I’ve been wondering the same thing, to be honest.”

“You guys had to have started somewhere.”

“Would you believe he found me on that kink app I was telling you about?”

Karen’s eyes widened. “Oh. He’s into that, is he?”

“Yep. So he pinged me, and…”

“And here you are.”

“Here we are.”

“Nicely done.” She playfully jabbed me in the arm as she walked past. “From what you’ve told me, you could certainly do worse than a guy like him.”

“Not sure he could do much worse than a guy like—”

“Oh stop it.” She rolled her eyes and took a seat at the kitchen table again. “You’re a catch and you know it.”

“Mmhmm.”

She watched me for a moment. “So are you going to see him again? I mean, besides at work?”

“Seems that way.” I poured some cereal into a bowl. “I’ll, um, probably be home late tonight.”

“You dog.” She winked. “Good for you. I was wondering when you’d actually get out and meet someone again.”

“It hasn’t been that long.”

“Right. Of course it hasn’t.”

I glared at her on my way to the table with my cereal, coffee and the milk jug. “Whatever. It’s only been a few months.”

“And it’s only been a few years since the Roman Empire fell.”

“Oh, ha, ha.”

She snickered.

As I arranged everything on the table, I noticed a stack of papers next to her. “What’s all that?”

She glanced at it, and her humor faded. “Um…”

I pulled up my chair. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah.” She held up the top sheet. “Just looking into some grants and scholarships for the kids.”

My stomach knotted, and I nearly lost my appetite right then and there. I’d sworn I’d pay for them to go to school, but goddamn, the bills were eye-watering. “Any luck?”

“Just started looking.” She faced me again, completely serious now. “I figured it would be a good idea since I’ve been talking to the kids about their plans for the next school year.”

I cringed. “Do I want to know?”

“Well, the bank account probably doesn’t…”

“Fuck. What’s the damage?”

She took a breath. “Kelsey’s really eyeballing that masters program. She was going to hold off, but she really needs it to get anywhere as a counselor.”

I exhaled. “What do you think we should do?”

“I don’t think I have much of a say in this anymore. If I were still contributing to the account, it would be different.” She grimaced. “You’re paying for it. It’s up to you.”

No pressure, right?

“I want to cover it, except Tyler is looking at a graduate program too. It wouldn’t exactly be fair to pay for one and not the other.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “But they’ll get a better education if they can focus on their studies without trying to hold down two jobs at the same time.”

She nodded but didn’t speak.

I shook my head. “We promised them an education, and I’ll find a way to make it happen.”

Karen sighed. “I just wish I could do more.”

“Don’t worry about it. I can talk to the bank about a second mortgage if I need to.” Scowling, I looked around at the house I’d been living in since we’d divorced thirteen years ago. “I could always move into someplace smaller.”

“I don’t want you to give up your house, Jon.” She folded her hands on the edge of the table. “Especially not when you’ve nearly paid the place off. Give me a few more months, and I can—”

“Karen, we’ve talked about this. Yeah, it’s tough paying for them to go to school, but if paying for it myself means you’re out from under that asshole’s thumb?” I put a hand on her arm. “Then I’ll happily pay it.”

“Thank you,” she whispered. “But they need to come first. Not me.”

“It’s not a hierarchy. We’re still family. We’ll figure it all out.”

Karen smiled halfheartedly. “Well. I should get ready for work.”

I withdrew my hand. “Yeah, me too.”

She pushed her chair back. “Sorry for ruining your good mood.”

“Don’t be.” I paused to put some milk on my cereal. “It’s expensive, but there are worse things than having to figure out how to get all three kids through good schools.”

Her eyes unfocused for a second. “Good point.”

“We’ll make it work. I promise.”

We exchanged looks, and then she headed upstairs.

Alone in the kitchen, I ate my breakfast in silence. She hadn’t ruined my good mood, but the thought of my kids’ education was sobering. Two of them wanted to go to grad school, and the third was still on the fence about it. This was going to get expensive as fuck. It was already expensive as fuck.

But I’d find a way. No way in hell was any kid of mine losing a single night of sleep over student loans. I
would
come up with the money.

I just wasn’t sure how.

Chapter Ten

While I waited for Rick to arrive, I went through the cabinets in my dungeon to pick out exactly what I wanted to use on him tonight. So many options. So many ways I could overload his senses.

I definitely wanted him tied. Inflicting pain was fun to a point, and sensory overload was amazing, but bondage was where my passion lay. Nothing turned me on like an immobile submissive. Anything I did to him after that was a bonus. Like different sexual positions—they all had their perks, and they all stimulated in their own ways, but whether I had him up against a wall or bent over a bed or even if he was fucking me, it was the penetration itself that inevitably got me off.

So there was no doubt in my mind that I’d have him tied up tonight. Probably bent over something at some point too, but first…tied. Question was, what to do with him once he was bound? Flogging was an option, but we both had to work tomorrow, and I already had something up my sleeve for later that guaranteed Rick wouldn’t be able to get comfortable at the office. No point in overdoing it.

We didn’t know each other well enough to indulge in his hot-wax fantasy quite yet. Some of my other toys—particularly the mechanical variety—would be fun, but why break out the big guns this early in the game? I’d save those until we’d done this a few times.

A few times.

The thought brought a grin to my face. I still couldn’t believe we were doing this, never mind that there might be more repeat performances. Assuming he enjoyed tonight enough to come back for more, that is.

I scanned my collection of implements, and when my gaze landed on a small, latched box, the grin got bigger. Oh yes. I knew how I was going to fuck with him tonight.

I pulled out the box and four pairs of handcuffs, which I took to the twin bed that was set up in the corner of the dungeon. The bed was bolted to the floor, and it had eye bolts and metal rings all over the steel frame, not to mention up and down the walls and even on the ceiling. The sky was the limit for tying someone here.

After I’d put a fitted sheet over the mattress, I left the box and cuffs on the bed and went back upstairs to wait for Rick.

In the kitchen, Karen had on her jacket and was gathering her purse and keys.

“Hey,” I said. “Taking off already?”

“Yeah, we figured we should get there early so we can find a place to park. Sounds like the concert is sold out, and you know how parking is by the coliseum.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Ugh. I think I’d walk.”

“I would too, but after what
your
kids did to my hip…” She shot me a good-natured glare.

Shrugging, I chuckled. “They’ll make up for it by putting you in a good nursing home.”

“Damn right they will,” she muttered. “All right. I’m off. Don’t have too much fun tonight.”

“Likewise.”

Our eyes met, and we both laughed.

Then she came around the kitchen island, arms outstretched. As she hugged me tight, she said, “Thank you again for the tickets. This means a lot.”

“You’re welcome.” I kissed her cheek. “I hope you all have an amazing time.”

“We will.” She let me go, and we exchanged smiles. Then she gathered her things and left.

As I listened to her car head down the street, I smiled. It was good to see her getting out and having a good time. This was her favorite band, and she’d been looking forward to this concert for weeks. When the tickets had gone on sale a few months ago, we’d both been tight on cash—she’d just coughed up a retainer for her attorney, and the kids had all needed textbooks that must’ve been printed on endangered yak flesh in ink made from the tears of angels. But it was something her asshole ex would have forbidden her from doing. He hated the band, he hated her friends, and he hated her going anywhere without him. Now that she was out from under his thumb, she didn’t have any reason not to go except the cost of the tickets.

Over my dead body was she missing that show because of him, though, so I’d made a deal with Marie to let me work a few hours of overtime that week, and bought the tickets for her. They weren’t exactly front row with backstage access, but they weren’t nosebleed either, and Karen had been thrilled.

I hoped she had a blast tonight.

Meanwhile, I intended to have a blast as well, especially since a certain gorgeous submissive was going to be here any minute.

A car engine raised the hairs on the back of my neck. Speak of the devil…

I opened the front door as he closed his car door, and my whole body broke out in goose bumps. He was dressed down, of course—jeans and a green golf shirt—but he could’ve been wearing anything and still looked hot. It was his eyes, though, that made my heart go crazy. Even more than his hurried gait, his eyes said
I can’t fucking wait
.

Neither could I, so without a word, I stood aside and gestured for him to come in. And just like that, we were in the foyer, with my dungeon beneath our feet and the whole night ahead of us. My pulse sped up even more, especially as I wrapped my arms around him and gazed up at him. It was weird—we’d been together last night and the night before, and yet it felt like it had been ages since we’d been in the same room. Like it was an enormous relief to find ourselves in the same place again.

I cupped his face and kissed him. “It’s good to see you.”

“You too.”

I moved my hand up into his hair and claimed another kiss, sliding my tongue between his willing lips as everything about him—his presence, his body heat, his hands on my waist—turned my knees to water. I was still in control, but damn, kissing him was a good way to warm up to the idea of
losing
control.

But that wasn’t why he was here, and it wasn’t why we were doing this. I was a Dom, for God’s sake, and I would stay in control.

I broke the kiss and forced myself not to show that I was out of breath. “We should go downstairs and get started. Or else I’m going to fuck you right here in this foyer instead of tying you up downstairs.”

“Lead the way,” he said quietly, breathing hard.

I did, taking him down into the basement.

At the dungeon door, he paused. “Am I… Is this where you want me to undress?”

“Did I tell you to undress?”

“N-no.” He gulped. “Just…uh…”

“I’ll tell you when it’s time.” I pushed open the door and waved him in.

“Sorry,” he murmured, and stepped into the room.

In the middle of the floor, I halted, and nodded downward. Immediately, and with only the slightest wince, he went to his knees.

“Good.” I stroked his cheek. “You’re ready for this, aren’t you?”

He nodded. “Absolutely.”

“Ready to play around with a few toys and some bondage?”

He swept his tongue across his lips. “Absolutely.”

That kind of enthusiasm—as if he were this close to trembling with excitement—turned me on like nothing else.

“Before we go too far,” I went on, “tell me the safe word.”

“Red.”

“Good,” I whispered. “Stand up.”

His eyes never leaving mine, he rose, and once he was on his feet, I slid my arm around his waist and kissed him. He didn’t put his arms around me, but he returned my kiss. No, that wasn’t right. He
welcomed
my kiss, his mouth surrendering to the gentle demands of my own. Even his kiss was made of submission. My God. I couldn’t believe this man was mine for tonight.

And if we kept kissing like this, I’d wind up fucking him right here in the middle of the floor again. Which was hot. Ridiculously hot. But I had other plans for him tonight.

I pried myself off him and forced my voice to stay even despite the fact that I was out of breath. “This way.”

I led him across the room to the bed. His eyes darted toward the cuffs, but then went right to the box.

I pulled it to the edge of the mattress, unsnapped the latches and lifted the lid. “Pick your poison.”

He gazed into the box, and his eyebrows climbed.

I was a big fan of Wartenberg wheels and had several variations of them laid out on the gold satin liner. They were all roughly the same—a pencil-sized handle with a spiny wheel attached to one end—but some were sharper than others, and some had multiple wheels while others only had one.

“You ever experienced one of these?”

Eyes still fixed on the box, he shook his head.

I pulled one of the single wheels free and held out my other hand. “Give me your arm.”

He extended his arm. I grasped his wrist and turned it so his forearm was up. Gently, I touched the wheel to his skin, gave him a couple of seconds to get used to the idea and then rolled it across his forearm.

“Hmm.” He curled and straightened his fingers, the muscles rippling beneath the skin. “Doesn’t seem too bad.”

“Well. Not on your arm.”

Rick blinked. “Where else exactly—” His eyes darted to the wheel in my hand. Then to me.

I grinned. “You game?”

He shot the wheel another wary glance. “I’m…yeah. Yeah, I’m game.”

“I thought so.” I laid the wheel back in the box. “Which one do you want me to use?”

He looked them over again. Eventually, he selected another single wheel, this one with slightly duller spikes than the one I’d used on him. “How about this one?”

“All right.” I took it from him and slid it into my back pocket. Then I cleared the cuffs and box from the bed. “Now you’re going to strip, and then I want you to lie down on your back.”

Without hesitation, he peeled off his shirt. I had everything set up and ready to go, so I stood back and watched, enjoying every second of this man getting naked against the backdrop of my home dungeon. I almost wished those painted-on windows were real, if only so someone might walk past and see Rick Pierce stepping out of those snug jeans or sliding his boxers over his hips.

He folded his clothes and stacked them neatly on the floor by the footboard. Fully naked, he faced me, but then jumped as if he’d suddenly remember there was one more step he hadn’t yet completed. He lay back on the bed as ordered and gazed up at me.

From my other pocket, I withdrew a black satin blindfold and handed it to him. “Put this on.”

He gave it an uncertain glance, but then slid it down over his eyes.

“I’m going to cuff your wrists and ankles,” I said. “Safe word again?”

“Red.”

“Good.” I patted his thigh, and he tensed, sucking in a sharp breath. “You all right?”

He nodded. “Yeah. Just, uh, never know where you’re going to touch me.”

“That’s the idea.” I drew a fingertip alongside his cock, prompting a delicious gasp. “Keeps you guessing.”

He bit his lip.

I picked up the first pair of cuffs. As much as I loved using ropes—there were few things sexier than a man wrapped up in rope—tonight was a night for cuffs. With a toy like this, I wanted as much of his skin exposed as possible. More room for me to play, and more room for him to wonder where the wheel would come down next.

I closed one cuff around his wrist, and secured the other to the bedpost. “These have a quick release tab. Make sure you can open that.”

He twisted his arm slightly and found the tab with his thumb. The bracelet fell open, letting his hand fall to the bed.

“Good,” I said, and fastened it to the bed again. “You can use your safe word at any time, but you can also get loose if you need to.”

He nodded but didn’t speak. As I cuffed first his hands, then his ankles, to their respective corners of the bed, he didn’t make a sound.

Once he was secured, I stepped back to admire my handiwork for a moment. Though silver bracelets weren’t nearly as sexy as ropes, this was still hot. Just like how Rick was jaw-droppingly sexy in a suit but still made my knees weak in jeans and a golf shirt, the way he wore cuffs was enough to make my heart skip. Especially in this spread-eagle position.

I pulled the Wartenberg wheel from my pocket and sat down on the edge of the mattress. Rick shifted a little, the cuffs clinking against the metal frame.

For the longest time, I did nothing. He had to have known I was there since he hadn’t heard me leave and he’d apparently felt the mattress dip, but with the blindfold in place and no sounds to give away my next move, he had no way of knowing what was next.

I touched the Wartenberg wheel to the middle of his abs. Instantly, every muscle in his body tensed, his abs pulling tight as he gasped. As I rolled it up the center toward his chest and onto his breastbone, his spine lifted off the bed, pushing his skin against the spikes.

“You like that, don’t you?”

“It’s…” He shivered. “Different.”

“Mmhmm.” I lifted the wheel off, then brought it down on his pec and circled his nipple.

“
Shit
.” He tilted his head back, probably trying to channel some nervous energy but afraid to move while the wheel was against such a sensitive area.

Oh yes. This was going to be fun.

Every inch of his body was a different place to be mercilessly teased, and he rewarded every spiky taunt with the most delicious responses. Rolling the wheel along the inside of his upper arm brought out a groan that he almost tamped down, but soft fingertips down his rib cage killed whatever attempt he made to silence himself. Drawing ever-smaller circles on his abs and hips, inching closer and closer to his cock and balls, made the muscles quiver and contract. Teasing one nipple with the wheel and one with my fingertip made him thrash, as if his body couldn’t comprehend those two sensations at the same time.

How many times had I surreptitiously gazed at him in meetings, wishing I had a shot at him? Wishing I could see what he kept hidden beneath those flawlessly tailored suits?

And now…

Now here we were.

His lean, beautiful body stretched out in front of me, tied down and turned on. Fuck. I didn’t always incorporate sex into a scene like this, but I didn’t usually have a submissive who aroused me quite as much as he did. My erection was starting to get annoying, and what better way to relieve that tension than driving Rick a little further out of his mind?

Without a word, I unfastened the cuffs around his ankles.

“Lift your hips.”