“We never did the heavy BDSM stuff, like whips and collars. I couldn’t do that.”
“Did he want to?”
Marci nodded.
“Sounds like he was really into the dominant thing.”
“He was, but I didn’t suspect that until we’d been involved for several weeks. He got a bit…rough one night and insisted I call him Master. That’s when I knew he’d gone too far.”
Keefe narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean by ‘a bit rough’?”
“He…pushed me against the wall and…slapped me.”
Rage boiled up inside Keefe. If the bastard was here right now, Keefe would have no problem giving the man a taste of what he’d given Marci. “A true Dom takes care of his sub. He doesn’t hurt her. It’s all about her pleasure.”
“I know. I mean, I have a friend who’s in that lifestyle and that’s what she told me.” She looked at their clasped hands a moment, then back at Keefe’s face. “I broke up with him that night. He told me I belonged to him and couldn’t leave until he gave me permission. That’s when I kicked him in the balls and ran out of his house.”
Keefe snorted with laughter. “Good girl.”
“I’d thought about firing Ben before we got together because I wasn’t completely happy with his work ethics. In fact, Harold had given him a mediocre evaluation only a month before all this happened. I spoke to Harold about firing Ben. He said I had every legal right to do so, and he had the paperwork to back me up. I went to Ben’s cubicle with two security guards behind me and told him he had fifteen minutes to clean out his desk. I slapped an envelope on his desk that held a check with one month’s pay and told him to get out.”
“Which didn’t make him happy.”
“He made it a point to yell out as he was leaving about how I liked being tied up during sex, and how I loved having a plug in my ass while I was getting fucked.”
“That son of a bitch.” He brought her hands to his lips and kissed each one. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”
“I was mortified. I had to stand there while he said those horrible things and feel my employees looking at me. It was only on one floor since he was quickly hustled into the elevator, but I know it spread all over the building. People would be talking and stop as soon as I came up to them. Men would give me that nudge-nudge-wink-wink look. It was horrible.”
“Surely the talk didn’t last very long.”
“No, it stopped after a few days. At least, I didn’t hear anything else or get those looks. I don’t know what happened behind my back.” She shifted to her knees and clasped his hands. “I broke my rule about getting involved with an employee and I became a joke.”
“I’m not Ben Windsor, Marci. I would
never
hurt you like that.”
“I can’t take the chance of losing my employees’ respect.” She turned his hands so their palms touched. “I can’t be their boss if they’re snickering at me.”
“It wouldn’t be that way with us.” Keefe released one of her hands and cradled her cheek. “I don’t want to give you up.”
“I don’t want to give you up either.”
“So what do we do?”
“We can be together this weekend. We’re away from the office and everyone who knows us. We don’t have to hide from anyone.”
“Are you saying we
do
have to hide once we get back to Seattle?”
She bit her bottom lip. That simple gesture told him more than any words. “Marci, I don’t—“
Her kiss stopped him. “Let’s enjoy our time together, okay? I don’t want to think about anything but talking to Tyler Wilson tomorrow, then spending the rest of the weekend with you.”
Keefe didn’t want to argue with her. Once they got back to Seattle, they’d have a long talk about where their relationship was going. For the weekend, he’d do what she wanted. He nodded. “Okay.”
* * * * *
Marci hung up the telephone and sighed. It had been a very busy Friday with call after call. She would be so glad when this day was over and she could escape with Keefe.
For the last two weeks, ever since she and Keefe returned from their successful trip to British Columbia, she’d been in heaven. She saw Keefe during the day at work. Keeping up a professional image around him wasn’t easy when she wanted to drag him to the loveseat in her office every time she saw him. Sometimes, when no one was looking, he’d wink at her and give her a sexy smile. Her knees grew weak every time.
The evenings belonged to them. She’d arrange it so they never left Marshall Media at the same time. She’d go to his house after work, or he to hers. They’d talk, cook dinner together and make love.
He wouldn’t tell her what he had planned for this weekend, only that she’d love it. He’d taken her to the ocean last weekend. They’d made love to the sound of the waves breaking on the beach. She didn’t know how he could top that.
The
snick
of her door closing drew her attention. She looked up to see Keefe walking toward her desk, his expression serious.
A ball of fear formed in her stomach. Something had to be wrong for him to close them in her office. “Why did you shut the door?”
“Because I don’t want us to be disturbed.”
Marci looked at the closed door. It wasn’t unusual for her to have private meetings with her vice presidents, or any number of her employees. She’d meant it when she told everyone she’d see them at any time. She’d avoided meeting alone with Keefe because she didn’t want to make anyone suspicious.
“Come out from behind the desk, Marci.”
She’d never heard Keefe speak in that serious tone. The ball of fear in her stomach grew. She rose on legs that weren’t quite steady and rounded her desk to stand in front of him. “Can’t we talk later? It’s almost four. We’ll be leaving in an hour.”
“I don’t want to wait. I’ll get distracted when I see you in your sexy underwear and my brain will drop between my legs.”
She would’ve laughed if she’d detected any humor in his comment. The fact that he remained serious scared her. “You said you like my sexy lingerie.”
“I do. I love it. I love seeing you in it and I love taking it off you. That’s the problem. I can show you how I feel about you when we’re alone, but not here at the office.”
She was afraid this would happen. She’d hoped it wouldn’t be this soon. “I thought you understood why we have to keep our relationship a secret.”
“I thought I did too, but I don’t like it. I don’t like hiding the fact that we’re lovers. I don’t mean I want to take you on top of your conference table where anyone can see us, but touching you when we pass, or kissing you… I’d like to be free to do that.” He took a step closer to her. “I’m turning in my resignation.”
If he’d said a fifty-foot dragon had been spotted in downtown Seattle, she wouldn’t have been more surprised. “What?”
“We can be together without breaking your rule if I’m not your employee.”
“Keefe, no. I don’t want you to give up your job.”
“I don’t see where I have another choice. I love you, Marci. I don’t want to hide that anymore.”
It was the first time he’d told her he loved her. His sweet words melted her heart. She couldn’t resist touching his cheek, caressing his jaw.
Before she could comment, her door swung open. Marci was shocked to see Anne Marshall sweep into the office. She quickly jerked her hand away from Keefe’s face.
“Hello, Marci.” Anne walked up to Marci and hugged her. “I’m sorry for dropping in unannounced.”
“No, that’s fine.” She glanced at Keefe, then back at her boss. “Anne, this is Keefe Donegan, your new Logistics Vice President. Keefe, Anne Marshall, the owner of Marshall Media.”
“It’s an honor, Mrs. Marshall.”
“Anne, please. Calling me Mrs. Marshall makes me feel old.”
Marci quickly glanced over Anne’s attire. No one would call Anne Marshall old, despite being in her mid-sixties. She wore black slacks, a gray sweater with several strands of silver chains over her full breasts, and black boots. A long gray leather coat completed the outfit. Her silver hair was styled perfectly, her makeup generous but not gaudy. She was a striking woman, one who drew the attention of men much younger than she. Marci had seen that first hand during the many lunches she and Anne shared.
“Would you like coffee or tea?” Marci offered.
“No, thank you, dear.” She slipped off her coat and laid it on the conference table with her purse. “Let’s sit down so we can talk.”
“I’ll leave you two ladies alone—“
“No, Keefe, stay. What I have to say to Marci includes you too.”
“Excuse me?” Keefe said before Marci had the chance. Anne had just met Keefe. Whatever she had to say to Marci couldn’t possibly include him.
Anne smiled. “You both look confused. Let’s sit down and I’ll explain.”
She led the way to the seating area. Anne sat in one corner of the loveseat, Marci to her left, Keefe in the armchair on her right. “I just flew back from visiting my son in Arizona. As I get older…” She grimaced. “What an ugly thing for a woman to have to say. Anyway, as I get older, I find I’m enjoying the warmer temperatures more and more. I love the natural beauty here, but there’s natural beauty in Arizona too. Plus my son is there, and my grandchildren. I want to be closer to them.”
“You’re moving?” Marci couldn’t imagine not having Anne close to talk to whenever she needed her. They went to lunch at least once a month. Marci would miss the talks she shared with Anne. “When?”
“I have an appointment with a Realtor Monday to put my house up for sale. And…” She looked from Marci to Keefe and back again. “I’m selling Marshall Media.”
Chapter Fourteen
The whole world fell out from under Marci. Not only was she about to lose a good friend who’d been a substitute mother, but her job too. “What?” she asked weakly.
“My son has no interest in the business. My grandson or granddaughter might be interested, but I doubt it. They’re still teenagers and have no idea of their future careers. So I think it’ll be better if I sell the company.”
Marci didn’t know what to say. She looked at Keefe for help. He sat with one ankle resting on the opposite knee, watching her. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking from his expression.
“Wow.” Marci swallowed. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Tell me you want to buy it.”
Again, Anne had said something to completely floor Marci. “What?”
“You’ve done an outstanding job of running Marshall Media since Conrad died. I think you should buy the company and continue to run it.” She glanced at Keefe. “Maybe with a partner to help you.”
“A…partner?”
“I know all about you and Keefe. Peggy told me.”
“
Peggy
?” Marci couldn’t believe one of her best friends had betrayed her.
“Don’t be angry at her, Marci. She didn’t mean to tell me. But I’m glad she did.” Anne glanced at Keefe. “I’m glad you found someone special.” She looked back at Marci and winked. “And good for you to hook a younger man.”
Heat climbed into Marci’s cheeks. She gazed at Keefe to see his eyes twinkling. He winked at her too.
“So. Let’s talk about you buying the company.”
“Anne, I can’t. Marshall Media is worth millions. I don’t have that kind of money, or the resources to
get
that kind of money.”
Anne tapped one finger against her chin. Marci could see the light in her eyes when she’d apparently made a decision. “Get your wallet.”
“My wallet?”
She made a shooing motion with her hand. “Just do it.”
Marci had no idea what Anne was up to, but did as she requested.
“Give me fifty cents.”
“What?”
Anne held out her hand and wiggled her fingers. “Give me fifty cents.”
She still didn’t know what Anne was doing, but opened her wallet and removed two quarters. She laid them in Anne’s palm.
Anne turned to Keefe and held out her hand. “Give me fifty cents.”
Keefe’s eyebrows drew together. He looked at Marci, but she couldn’t help him since she didn’t know any more than he did. She shrugged.
He dug two quarters out of his pocket and gave them to Anne.