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He didn’t look sorry or even surprised, which meant that
Joanna went to her desk. “I don’t suppose you have the three luscious lipstick
colors piece done yet?” he asked, with just a spark of hope.

“No!” She packed up her belongings, grabbed her coat and
purse, and headed for the door.

Rick, she noticed, was still discussing strategy with their
boss, and both of them were pretending they didn’t see her. Joanna slammed the
door as she left, not caring if she ever saw her last check or not. Instead of
this newspaper offering her big break and her chance to become a real
journalist, she’d wasted three years writing garbage.

She was never going to do that again.

She was standing in the street before she realized she
didn’t have a job or a firm plan.

And she probably wouldn’t get a good reference—unless
she wanted to continue writing the same kind of articles she’d been writing for
three years.

That wasn’t going to happen. It was time for a fresh start,
time to make a change. She’d see this as an opportunity, and she already knew
she had Mike’s support. She pulled out her phone to tell him the news, then
froze.

She should let him continue to try to persuade her.

She should be bad and not tell him that she was already
convinced.

Because then, he might have to come up with some very
interesting method of disciplining her. Joanna smiled and put the phone back in
her purse. She’d say nothing to him for one whole week.

Then she’d tell him the truth.

She couldn’t wait to discover what he’d do then.

* * *

Mike arrived at the restaurant, hoping that he was judging
Joanna’s reactions correctly. He was afraid that she didn’t really like being
dominant, but it really worked for him to switch things around once in a while.
If she’d just tie him down and queen him once or twice a year, he’d die a happy
man.

He was confident that they could work it out, but he’d take
the lesson to heart. Exploring their respective fantasies had nearly come at a
high price. They needed to maintain the ritual of discussing their feelings and
desires. They still weren’t out of the woods, so to speak, even though he was
optimistic. He wanted to reclaim the impetuous passion of their early days
together, and was sure he’d found the perfect solution. He remembered how
Joanna had loved it when he played the burglar, and thought that could be used
again.

It had worked beautifully the night before, prompting such
an enthusiastic response from Joanna that he thought she’d kill him.

It had definitely been a step in the right direction.

All he had to do was convince her to move with him. He was
sure she’d love it and that she’d find a better opportunity than the job she
had. He’d just surprised her and made her feel that he hadn’t considered her
goals.

They’d talk and work it out.

Mike lingered in the doorway of the restaurant, seeing that
Joanna already arrived. She was so lovely that the sight of her made his heart
clench. He loved her so much. She’d been shown to a table and was reading the
menu, as if fascinated by it. Her cheeks were flushed, though, and he could
practically smell her excitement.

She’d remembered his instructions.

Even better, he had a good idea that she was wearing one of
the corsets he’d bought for her, because she was sitting very straight. She
looked up, saw him and smiled, all the doubts of the previous night banished
from her eyes. That smile sent fire through Mike, fire and determination and
raw lust.

This was going to work.

* * *

Mike appeared to be as easygoing and charming as usual, but
Joanna sensed his excitement. It wasn’t just about dinner either. He looked
great, having chosen a blue shirt that did great things for his eyes. She
noticed that he didn’t check his coat, but just left it on the back of his
chair.

With his leather gloves tucked into one pocket.

Joanna licked her lips in anticipation and felt her sex get
wetter.

“How was your call?” she asked.

“Great. I think they’ll be good people to work with. Very
thorough,” he added with apparent idleness. “Let’s talk about all of that over
dessert, okay?”

“Sounds like a good idea,” Joanna agreed.

Mike leaned over the table to whisper to her. His eyes were
twinkling so brightly that they completely gave him away. “Did you see that
coatroom?”

“Big and dark,” Joanna agreed with a smile, then pretended
to pout. “Too bad I didn’t bring anything.”

Mike returned his attention to the menu. “We can improvise.
I’ve been known to work miracles with belts.” He winked at her, the sight of
his pleasure sending a frisson through Joanna.

She couldn’t stand it any longer.

She had to have him claim her now.

She grabbed her purse and smiled at him. “Will you excuse me
for a minute? I just need to go to the ladies’ room.”

“No problem. Have you ever seen such a big menu? And it all
looks so good. It’s going to take me a week to decide.”

Even though Joanna knew it would be Mike who came to possess
her, her heart was still pounding quickly. There was something forbidden and
illicit about this kind of a rendezvous, the possibility of discovery just
adding to the thrill. Having Mike pretend to be her secret lover was a lot like
visiting the Plume: the best of both worlds, a mix of danger and safety that
let her enjoy the moment without any fear.

He wouldn’t really share her with everyone in the place if
they were discovered, would he? Joanna didn’t think so, but the possibility was
terrifying all the same.

Not terrifying—electrifying. It was the perfect
combination of excitement and fear.

Joanna found the washroom easily and found only one woman
there, washing her hands, when she stepped inside. She pretended to be fixing
her lipstick until the other woman left, then went to the last stall. It was
larger than the others and had several hooks on the walls.

Her heart was pounding with anticipation. Joanna quickly
tugged off her dress and hung it up, then removed her panties. Her fingers
shook as she removed the bonds from her purse. She fastened them quickly around
her wrists, then gagged herself securely with the cloth gag. She was already
wet, quivering with excitement. She’d brought a length of cotton clothesline,
just in case he wanted to tie her up a bit more, and looped in over the other
hook.

Then she took a deep breath and unlocked the door to the
stall.

She waited, her heart racing.

She thought she’d faint when the door to the washroom
creaked open. She heard footsteps and couldn’t tell if they were those of a man
or a woman. Boots, but they could have been worn by either genre. The footsteps
halted, as if the new arrival sensed that something was wrong.

Joanna couldn’t take a breath. She closed her eyes,
acknowledging how thrilled she was, then a firm hand pushed open the door to
the stall she occupied.

She caught a glimpse of that black leather balaclava and
black leather gloves, then her vision was obscured.

“Very good,” he whispered as he dropped a silken hood over
her head. It dropped just to her skin, obscuring her vision but not obstructing
her breathing. She heard the door lock, then he chuckled softly.

He had a ribbon or a tie, because he bound the hood over her
eyes. The tension of the bond made Joanna swallow.

“Very, very good,” he said just before she felt that cotton
rope trussing her wrists together. He pulled her arms over her head so her
elbows were in the air, passed the cotton rope down her back, then knotted it
securely around her waist. He spun her around and backed her into the wall, the
cool tiles sending a jolt through Joanna.

His mouth closed around one of her nipples, teasing it to a
peak, even as his hand moved between her thighs. She was wet and hot, ready for
him, and she heard his sound of pleasure at the discovery.

“So bad,” he whispered and she heard his fly unfasten. He
gripped her buttocks and lifted her up, impaling her on his erection with one swift
gesture. Joanna would have gasped if she could have made a sound, but she was
gagged to silence.

By her own choice.

“My willing captive,” he murmured, his mouth against her
ear. “You made a gift of yourself, and I accept.”

Joanna trembled.

He moved within her, slowly building the heat between them.
Joanna was itching for him to move fast, to pound her and fill her, but he was
determined to tease her.

As if they had all the time in the world.

As if they could never be discovered.

He dragged his erection over her clitoris, making her writhe
against him. He chuckled, his breath hot against her throat. “Next time, we’ll
do it without a gag,” he threatened in a whisper. “Next time, you’ll be silent
simply because I tell you to be.”

Joanna could barely imagine doing as much, but she knew she
would obey whatever he commanded. His hands squeezed her butt as he lifted her
higher and drove deeper.

“If Mike takes you to the coatroom, lead him to the back
right corner,” he instructed. “I’ll be able to watch you from there.” He kissed
her neck, his breath hot against her skin. “I’ll be able to plan how to do it
better.”

Joanna was hot and dizzy, on the cusp of coming.

“Do you like to be watched, Joanna? Will you like knowing
that I’m watching you get fucked?”

She made a quiet little moan of assent.

“You’re so hot and hungry,” he told her. “You’re so naughty
and nice. I’m going to have to discipline you daily, Joanna. In fact, I might
have to steal you away to get the job done right.”

Joanna couldn’t imagine anything better. She arched against
him, rubbing herself against him, tipping her head back and moaning. He moved
more quickly then, as if he couldn’t resist her, and Joanna wriggled against
him. She wanted to drive him on, to make him claim her, to force him to lose
control. He pumped harder and pounded deep, stretching her and claiming her.

Until he drove hard inside her, nipping her neck with his
teeth, as he came in a rush. His cock ground against her clitoris as he rolled
his hips, the pressure sending Joanna over the edge. She gasped and felt her
legs lock convulsively around him as she came and came and came.

He leaned against the wall for a moment, his head thundering
close against her own. Joanna fought to catch her breath, realizing that each
time Mike took her was better than the last.

He lifted her high and put her on her feet, his hands
running over her body. As always, the feel of the leather gloves made Joanna
want to purr with satisfaction. He pinched her nipples again and chuckled when
she caught her breath.

“Great boots,” he whispered, then pushed up the silk so it
just covered her eyes. He unfastened the gag, then kissed her slowly, all the
passion of their union in his kiss.

Joanna was short of breath when he stepped away, and more
than a bit dizzy.

“Count to twenty before you leave,” he advised as he untied
the rope, and then he was gone. Joanna thought she heard him whistling when he
left the washroom.

She leaned against the wall and reached up. She found the
ribbon tied around the silk hood and unfastened the bow. She removed the silk
hood and looked around in wonder, amazed at what she had just done.

And as she removed her bonds and stowed everything back in
her purse, she had to acknowledge that this game of Mike’s could become
addictive.

* * *

Joanna was radiant when she returned from the washroom.

Mike felt overwhelmed himself. It had been incredibly hot,
and he wished he’d thought of doing that with her before.

He knew he was going to need a serious dinner to perform at
his best, twice in such rapid succession, but the illusion had to be
maintained.

That was part of why the game worked, and he wasn’t going to
be the one to let his partner down.

Joanna sat down and gave him a sunny smile. “Maybe we should
talk about your move now,” she said. “Tell me why you think it would be so good
for both of us.”

“You’re asking me to convince you?”

Joanna’s eyes twinkled. “I know that you can be pretty
convincing.”

Their gazes locked and held for an electric moment, one that
send Mike’s confidence to the moon.

His plan for the weekend would be perfect.

* * *

Rex was obsessed.

He opened a parcel from Julius delivered by courier, both
hungry for news and feeling detached from his old life. There was an invitation
in Athena’s hand, one that Julius confessed he knew little about. The police
apparently had abandoned his apartment and he could return home. Rex read
through all of it and left it on the kitchen counter, unable to summon the
interest in returning.

He should have left Leya’s house. He should have moved on,
but he couldn’t leave. He told himself that it was only practical to wait in
case Michelle managed to get the contract signed, but he knew that wasn’t the
truth.

He wanted to see her again. He wanted to possess her again.
He still cared about doing the right thing by the child, but Michelle filled
his thoughts. He reviewed the images on his cell phone with a compulsion that
he knew was unhealthy.

He was doomed to have his heart broken again, if he
persisted in this unhealthy attraction. He was going to be left alone again,
but still.

It was her vulnerability that captured his heart.

Yet, at the same time, she was trying to overcome her own
fears. He admired people who made their lives into what they wanted. He’d
admired that about Louise and Leya, although neither of them had displayed much
vulnerability. He found himself thinking of Joanna, and her delicious
uncertainty in exploring his world. He’d thought himself in love twice, but his
feelings for Michelle far exceeded what he’d experienced before.