The Beginning of Us (111 page)

Parker released me and gave another hard swat on my rear. “Stand up,” he barked.

On shaky legs, I rose to my feet, my panties still around my knees.

“Strip. Completely.”

I hesitated, glancing at the door before looking back at him. “What about Anne?”

“What about her?” he asked, tapping his fingers with impatience on the wooden arm of the couch.

Pulling my panties down my legs, I kicked them to the side and lifted my shirt over my head, leaving me completely naked before him.

“Kneel, pet.”

I did as he said. Inching a hand under his pant leg, I wrapped my fingers around his shin.

Parker fisted my hair and pulled my head back before placing a hard kiss on my mouth. “Rule number two? Do not hesitate when your Master asks you to do something.”

“But you said…”

He raised an eyebrow.

I nodded. Right. I realized then that he was training me. And didn’t that just send all sorts of excited butterflies racing through my very being?

FOURTEEN

While Parker was finishing his breakfast, I continued to kneel at his feet. I searched through my phone, finding it odd that I was still naked. Outside. And that it didn’t bother me one bit. It was freeing in a way. The cool air would wash over my skin every so often, kissing my body with a gentle caress. Goose bumps would blanket my pale form but the shiver that tingled down my back was from Parker’s fingers around the base of my throat.

When Anne brought us our breakfast and fresh coffee, it didn’t even faze her that I wasn’t wearing any clothing at all. She smiled at me and left us alone. Parker gave her the rest of the day off, telling me that he wanted to focus solely on getting me to ‘obey’ him. I didn’t know exactly what that had meant but a part of me knew that it had something to do with me lying to him.

“Keely?”

“Hmm?” I responded, looking up from my phone.

Parker took a sip of his coffee before handing me his tablet.

My eyes widened when I saw a flashing red notification, signalling someone had tried to hack into his system. “This is good, Parker. I mean, not good that someone was trying to hack in but good that we might be able to catch the person now.”

He nodded slowly, rubbing the scruff on his jaw.

“What’s wrong?”

“After all of these years, why now? Why would someone want to stir up shit now? It doesn’t make sense to…” His eyes darkened, going cold when they landed on me.

My heart jumped, realization setting in. “What are you accusing me of, Parker?” I whispered.

He pulled the tablet from my hand and cupped my chin, forcing me to look at him. “This all started when I hired you. Did Devin put you up to this?”

I gasped, my chest clenching at him even suggesting such a thing. “How…really? After all that we have been through…I told you what Devin did to me. There’s no way that I would work for him again.”

Parker released me and sat back, a heavy sigh escaping him. “I’m sorry. I just…”

I rose to my knees and grabbed his hands, kissing his knuckles. “Look at me.”

His gaze slid to mine and although the accusation was no longer there, it still hurt.

“I would never try and sabotage you or your company. I applied to work for you because I needed a job and I didn’t want to live off of Troy anymore. I told you this. Everything else that has happened between us is just a delicious bonus.”

“You’re hiding something from me,” he said, matter-of-factly.

I swallowed hard. “No I’m—”

He rose to his feet abruptly, forcing me back on my ass before he pulled me to my full height.

“Parker?” I tried prying his tight hold off of my wrist but to no avail.

His back was stiff as he dragged me behind him, his fingers digging into me.

“Parker. Please,” I begged. “Talk to me.”

He spun on me and before I knew what was happening, he had me over his shoulder and was carrying me to that special room.

My heart beat rapidly, my skin heating. The cold look in his eyes should have scared me but it didn’t. I was excited. My body trembled in anticipation for what he had in store for me.

Once we reached his room, he pushed open the double doors and placed me hard on my feet. “Get your ass in the middle of the room and kneel. Do not face me. Do not even look at me. I want your palms up on your thighs, your head bowed.” He pinched my chin and placed a hard, bruising kiss on my lips. “Do you understand me,
pet
?”

“Y-yes, S-Sir.”

He released me. “Good. Now do as you’re told.”

On shaky legs, I walked to an open spot in the middle of the large room. Not getting a chance to take in my surroundings the day before, I quickly scanned the area. Large leather objects of all shapes and sizes, most with straps, cascaded before me.

I took a breath and sank to my knees, making sure to place my hands palms up on my thighs and keep my head bowed. I couldn’t tell if he was mad at me, or playing, or what, but the deep dominant tone of his voice set my skin on fire but also made my stomach clench with guilt. I didn’t want to upset him. Those were definitely not my intentions but I couldn’t tell him everything yet.

“One of the things a submissive must learn is to obey,” Parker said. “A Dom should not push that sub further than necessary so as not to literally break them but…” His feet came into my field of vision as I waited for him to continue. “If that sub is already broken, it’s the Dom’s job to make them whole again. To put those pieces back together.” He pinched my chin, tilting my head back. “Look at me.”

My eyes slowly lifted to his, my breath catching at the warmth in his gaze.

“It’s my job to push you past limits where you are comfortable. You may think you won’t like them, but as your Dom, I know what you like and don’t like. But that is also why a safe word is set in place.” He smirked. “Just in case. Eyes down.” He released me and continued walking around me, enunciating his words with each step. “As a trainer for this lifestyle it is my job to find out in advance what people’s hard limits and soft limits are. Do they like rope play? Wax play. Some even may prefer needle play.”

My heart gave a start. Needles? Seriously?

“Yes, needles, pet.”

My mouth snapped closed, not realizing I had spoken out loud.

“Since you are new, I won’t punish you this time for speaking out of place. Remember, in this room, you will call me Sir and that’s it.”

I nodded. “Yes, Sir.”

“In time, since I’m not experienced in rope play, I would like to learn and make you really fly. But that type of play can be dangerous as you can cut off circulation. If you use the wrong rope, it can cut and scratch into your skin.” His hand caressed my head. “In time, pet. I think you would look beautiful flying high in the air as I fuck your body into pure divine ecstasy.”

I opened my mouth to respond when I remembered that I didn’t have permission. Being told what to do, when to do it, how to do it, should have scared me. A part of me thought that there was something wrong when I felt elated at giving up control. That piece of myself that allowed even the smallest ounce of domination to take over. Even just being told to kneel made me feel relaxed, like my bones and muscles were setting into place every time I knelt before Parker.

“Eyes on me, pet.”

I looked up slowly and found Parker kneeling before me.

“When we’re in this room and you want to speak, just ask for permission.”

“Permission to speak, Sir?”

“Go ahead.”

“I just wanted to say that I would love to fly.” I shrugged. “I also…it relaxes me when you ask me to do something.”

He kissed my head and rose to his feet, walking to a large object with a black satin sheet covering it. When he revealed the item, I found myself staring back at me as I glanced in a large, floor-length mirror.

“That brings me to my next point.” He stood beside me, our gazes locking in the reflection. “You showed interest in the Master/slave relationship. We have only been fucking for a couple of weeks so we are no way near that point. But your curiosity impresses me. I’m willing to go further, if you are. Look in the mirror, pet.” He brushed his hand over my head, petting me.

A soft sigh escaped my lips, a smile tugging at my mouth. I was naked, my arms wrapped around his leg. He oozed power in his black suit as I knelt at his feet, completely bare for him.

“What do you say? You want to give it a shot or not? We could just go back to doing what we’re doing but if you want to explore further, deeper, find out what makes us both tick—”

“Yes,” I blurted out. “Please, Sir. I want to.”

He grunted in satisfaction. “Alright. One thing you need to know about me, Keely, is that I’m a hard man to crack. I don’t give into incessant begging. No matter how hard my cock is, I’ll go through blue balls first before giving into your whims. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Good girl. Now stand.”

I rose to my full height, keeping my eyes downcast.

“You can look at me now, beautiful,” he said softly.

I met his gaze.

He placed a light peck on my forehead and grabbed my hand, kissing the back of my knuckles. “I’m sorry if I scared you a couple of minutes ago. I just don’t like being lied to.”

“I’m sorry. I want—”

He silenced me when he crashed his lips to mine, forcing his way between mine. Roughly pulling and sucking at my tongue, he swallowed my groans of pleasure. He released me and brushed his thumb over my swollen mouth. “You will tell me when you’re ready.”

How did this big beautiful man know me so well already? He never forced anything from me. Never tried fucking with my head, making me think I wanted something when I really didn’t. He was gentle. Rough around the edges but I knew that he would never hurt me. “Do you like pain?”

He raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean? Am I a masochist?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m not a masochist and I’m not a sadist but I do enjoy reddening your ass.”

I glanced away, my eyes roaming over the objects. “What if I needed pain…?”

“Need and want are two very different things, pet. We’ll work on that. If you need pain to get out of your head, I’m willing to help you there but I don’t need it to get off. Now, seeing my marks on your body would be hot as hell.”

I smiled.

“I’m also sorry for accusing you earlier of trying to bring my company down.”

“I understand why you would but I promise you, this has nothing to do with me.”

“I know, angel,” he said softly. “I know.” His back straightened. “Now, which object would you like to know about first?”

***

Several hours passed and my brain was overloaded with information but Parker never pressured me into anything that I didn’t want to do. He hadn’t restrained me since the night before when I was introduced to the St. Andrew’s cross. Everything was so new. It was nothing like the books that I read. Parker was informative and never judged my questions or said that they were stupid in any way. Although at times I felt dumb for asking them.

“What makes a good Dom?” I asked as we sat on the couch, drinking red wine and eating cheese and crackers.

“He or she is informative. Protective. And they also make mistakes.”

I looked up at him as I stuffed a cracker in my mouth. “What do you mean?”

“We’re human, Keely. Any Dom that tells you that their way is the right way and that’s it, isn’t really a Dom in the first place. No way is the
right
way,” he said, using air quotes. “What works for us may not work for others. Also, someone’s kink may not be our own; that doesn’t mean we have any right to judge them.”

“I think my brain hurts from all of this information,” I mumbled, curling my feet under me.

He laughed and took the glass of wine from my hands. “Lay down.”

I did as he said without hesitation, resting my head on his lap. I was still naked, not allowed to put on any clothes since that morning but I didn’t mind at all. “Parker?”

“Yes?” he responded, wrapping a hand around my throat. His thumb brushed back and forth along my jaw, soothing my racing nerves.

“I’ve been naked all day and you haven’t done…well anything about it.”

“Are you asking why I haven’t fucked you since the limo last night?”

I nodded.

“It’s all about control, pet, but I also…” a wicked grin spread on his face as he winked, “want to build up anticipation.”

I rolled my eyes and huffed. “I’m going to end up hating that word, aren’t I?”

He chuckled. “Yes. And at times you won’t think it’s fair but know that what I do, I do it for you.”

The phone rang a moment later and when Parker answered it, I sensed a moment of hesitation.

“Yeah,” he greeted the caller.

A deep chuckle sounded through the phone but I couldn’t make out any words.

“What do you want?” he said through gritted teeth.

I sat up, placing a hand on his arm, my stomach clenching with anxiety.

He looked my way before placing the phone on the table. “Talk.”

Another laugh. “So demanding.”

My heart gave a start. “Devin,” I said on a gasp.

“That’s right, baby. You know, it’s funny. For someone that spent so much time trying to get away from me, you sure were easy to find.”

“I’m not stupid, Devin. I knew you would find me,” I said, jumping when Parker placed his hand on my nape.

“I taught you well.” I could almost hear the amusement in his voice.

“No, my
father
taught me well,” I bit out. “Now what the hell do you want?”

“Tsk tsk. That’s no way to—”

“Devin,” Parker snapped. “Answer the fucking question.”

“Oh I will, but I need you to do something for me first.”

“What?” Parker shifted in his seat, his body going stiff.

“Open the door.”

Parker swore and hung up the phone before pushing me down the hall, demanding that I get dressed. He didn’t have to ask me twice. I wanted nothing to do with Devin. In any way. Ever again. Parker also commanded me to stay in the room but there was no way that I would make Parker deal with him alone. Devin showed up for me. He wanted something. From me. I didn’t know what but I would make damn sure that he wouldn’t get whatever it was that he was looking for.