The Taking of Clara 2: Taken by the Boss (4 page)

“We’ve
got a secret. Men like Edward don’t give a shit about the secret. They find
means to exploit it or get rid of us. Be careful.”

The
call ended. Matthew would organize more security for Clara. He could handle
himself but Clara needed protection.

Getting
up from his seat he made his way into the kitchen to see his woman. She stood
behind the counter singing as she whisked some eggs into a bowl. He walked in
and her face lit up.

“How
did your call go?” she asked.

“It
went great.” He rounded the counter to her side. He wrapped his arms around her
and kissed the side of her neck. “Am I forgiven?”

She
moaned. “I don’t know. If I forgive you will all this attention stop?”

He
chuckled. “You’ve got to be joking. I love getting my hands on you.”

“Then,
yes, you’re forgiven.”

Inhaling
her sweet scent, Matthew felt his body start to relax against her.

“What
are you making?” he asked, changing the subject.

“I’ve
chopped some onions, ham and tomatoes. I don’t like a plain omelet.”

“I’ll
have whatever you’re having, baby.” He nuzzled her neck, loving the way she
squirmed against him.

“I
need you to let me go so I can cook.” She laughed when he growled against her
neck.

“Fine.”

He
sat behind the counter watching her cook. She looked so damn sexy getting food
together. If she starred in a cookery show he’d watch it purely for the
pleasure of seeing her. Leaning on his hand, he gazed at her. Her raven hair
had dried since her shower. Her cheeks were red and rosy, from the heat of the
stove or from his touches he didn’t know.

“You
keep staring at me,” she said.

“I
like watching you. I’d spend all day admiring you.”

Chapter Three

How
did he get her world all a flutter? The way he stared at her made her wonder if
he was visualizing her without any clothes. He’d seen her naked plenty of
times. Clara fried her onions, tomatoes and ham in the pan before adding the
beaten egg. When the bottom was set, she pulled Matthew’s omelet out from under
the grill then placed her omelet under. She served his food with a chunk of
buttered toast.

She
handed him the warm plate then grabbed her own.

“Aren’t
you going to eat?” she asked when he made no move to start.

“I’m
waiting for you, baby.”

She
sat opposite him. Her gaze kept going to his hands as he used the fork to place
food in his mouth. She loved having his fingers over her body.

While
she’d been in the shower she’d been tempted to call the whole thing off. Being
bought by a contract felt degrading to her. However, once she’d given herself
time to think about the consequences of another man taking her, she’d seen the
positive side of Matthew owning her.

He
didn’t own her. Matthew never treated her awfully. In fact she was free to come
and go as she pleased. The truth to her, she didn’t wish to go anywhere. In the
time they’d known each other, Matthew had gotten under her skin. She’d find no
pleasure with any other man. She loved Matthew and staying with him was the
best thing for her to do.

“What
are you thinking?” he asked.

She
stared into his eyes seeing the wealth of knowledge plainly displayed in their
depths.

“I
was thinking about the contract and how it made me feel.”

Lying
would never be an option to her. Matthew knew and saw too much. He’d spot her
lying a mile away.

“I
did it to save you.”

“I
know.” She reached over to stroke his hand in an attempt to reassure him. “I
know you’d never do anything to hurt me. You’ve proven it time and time again.
I love you, Matthew. I’m sure of that more than I’m sure of everything else. I
just wish I could bring something more to you.”

“What
do you mean?” He took her hand and laid a kiss to her knuckles.

“I
mean, you’re a wealthy man. I don’t care about that. I’m not after your money
or anything. What do I have to bring? My father is a gambler. He loses money
faster than he’s ever earned it. I’ve got nothing to give to you.
Nothing of any value.”

She
stopped speaking to gaze down at her now cold omelet.

“You
give me you, Clara,” he said. “Money means shit to me. I don’t care about that.
I only care about you.”

He
leaned over and took her lips in a searing kiss. She melted against him. The
fight inside her dying the moment his lips touched hers. He took possession of
her mouth as quickly as he took possession of her soul. Her heart ached for
him. She moaned against his lips loving the feel of the rasp of his stubble.

“Now
eat your food.” He let go of her hair to grab her hand. Matthew kept hold of
her hand as they ate. When they were finished she felt his gaze on her while
she cleaned away the dishes.

His
attention always left her breathless. When they were working in the office and
he took the time to see her, he’d leave her a nervous wreck. She wondered how
she’d be able to work knowing everything she knew about him.

“Do
you think I should look for another job?” she asked.

“What?”
Matthew moved to stand behind her.

She
turned, wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body against him. “How
can I work for you when all I want to do is fuck you?” she asked.

“Your
language is appalling.”

“I’ve
been taught by the best.”

Matthew
sank his fingers into her hair. He grabbed the length using the strands to pull
her close. Pressing a kiss to her lips, he stared into her eyes.

“You’re
not working for anyone else. I like watching you. You work for me or no-one. Do
you understand?” he asked. “I’d prefer you to stay at home, or by my side.”

“You
can’t force me not to work.”

“I
can force you to do whatever the hell I like. No work unless you work for me.
Got it?”

Part
of her wanted to shout at him. The unfairness of his decision drove her insane.
Instead, she smiled then pressed her body against his. She was starting to see
the power in her response to him. Matthew desired her above everything else. He
loved, desired and she knew he’d protect her.

“You’ve
got dirty thoughts. I’ve also noticed you’re getting bolder in your demands.”

“I
want you. I can’t help it.”

“Good,
I need to hear you voice your thoughts, Sub. I’ve got so many plans for you.”

“Why
do you keep calling me sub? I don’t get it.”

He
pushed the hair off her neck then ran his finger along her lip. “You’re not
ready to know.”

“I’m
ready, Matthew. Please, no more hiding. I promise. This is not about the
contract. I’m yours for the taking. There is nowhere else I want to be. I’m
yours.”

She
felt in desperate need to be owned. Clara didn’t understand her own feelings.
She’d been told many times how important her role was. A woman in the world
needed to show her strength in the working world. Clara held no desire to be
like others. The thought of Matthew taking care of her filled her with joy.

“You
don’t know what you mean,” he said.

“I
know what I’m doing. I’m not stupid, Matthew. I’m your woman. There is never
going to be another man like you. I’m ready for whatever you want me to do.”

She
took his hand and pressed it against her breast. “I’m yours in heart, mind,
body and soul. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”

She
closed her eyes as he ran a thumb over her nipple. Intense pleasure coiled inside
her, starting in her clit and ending at her nipples.

“You’re
so responsive.”

“Please,
tell me.”

He
let out a sigh staring at her, contemplating his next move.

“I
call you sub because the term is short for submissive. You’re a submissive
woman, Clara.”

Licking
her lips, she stared at him waiting. There was more he wanted to say. She saw
the evidence in his gaze as he looked her over.

“This
is a lot harder than I anticipated.”

Kissing
his hand, she smiled up at him. The trust she felt for him consumed every part
of her. Matthew, in his own way, had proven to her he’d never hurt her. Her
best interests were the only things that concerned him. “I trust you. Tell me
the truth.”

He
stroked her cheek. The nervousness on display appealed to her. In that one moment,
Matthew appeared more human to her than not in his weakness. What scared him?

Most of the time he always looked so in control and dangerous.

“What
is it? You’re scaring me.” She chuckled at the words.

“You
can’t run or hide. If I show you what I want from you, you’ve got to be honest
with me all the way.” He gripped her cheek tightly.

Covering
his hand with hers, she nodded. “I trust you. Show me what you want from me.”

He
brushed his lips against hers. “This is all about you.” Matthew kissed her one final
time then led her through to his study. He moved toward a locked door. Through
that door was the key to understanding Matthew. She knew it and part of her was
afraid. What if she couldn’t live up to his expectations?

Shaking
the fear aside, Clara braced herself for what was about to happen.

*
* * *

Matthew
felt nerves grip him. This was part of his soul. Grabbing the key from the hook,
he opened the door to the darkest part of his life. If Clara found the thought
of being with him appalling then he’d have opened up a wound that would never
heal.

He
flicked the light switch, which showed the room in all of the glory he’d
designed.

“This
is my playroom,” he said.

Her
gaze roamed the room.
“Your playroom?
Is that code for
something?”

“No, not to the right person.”
He stood back watching her
enter the room.

She
swallowed then made her way farther into the room. Her hand reached out to the
nearest object before her hand closed into a fist. “What is this place?”

“This
is who I am. I’m part of this world.”

“I
don’t know what this world is. I don’t understand. How does this make me a
sub?”

“I’m
dominant, Clara. To others I’m simply a Dom. Do you get the connection?”

A
jerk of her head let him know she understood his words.

“This
is a little out of my league.”

She
moved over to the spanking bench he’d purchased over a year ago. He’d never
taken a sub in this room. This place was for his personal pleasure. Matthew had
been waiting for the right woman. That woman stood less than a foot away from
him. He stared at her tempting ass as she bent over the bench. Her innocence
startled him. The desire to walk over and spank her rounded curves gripped him.
He stemmed the need inside him by going to her side.

“It’s
a spanking bench. This is used to punish a sub or to please her or him.”

“Men
are subs?” she asked.

“A
sub is a submissive.
A person who doesn’t challenge or need
to be in control.
There are many other ways of describing a sub. That is
just my definition.” He ran his fingers through his hair in an effort to control
his raging lust.

For
many months he’d fantasized about having Clara in his room. The vision of her
there far exceeded the fantasy.

“This
is what you want from me?”

“No, not just that.”

“You’re
talking in riddles, Matthew. I need you to tell me what you need.”

She
turned to face him. The confusion on her face made him curse. He’d prepared for
this moment. Planned for this moment in the same way he planned a business
deal. Unlike business deals, though, his heart wasn’t on the line.

He
took her hand and pulled her in close.

“I
want to take you somewhere. It’s a club I frequent. I think you’d learn a lot
from going there.”

Clara
nodded. “I need to know more about this side of you. How does this fit in with
your life? Do all the women you date know this side of you?”

“No, not all of them.”

She
turned to him with a smile and licked her lips. “I look forward to learning
more.”

He
kissed
her,
pleased she hadn’t run from him. “Are you
afraid?”

“No,
I’m not afraid. Knowing you saved me with that contract has made me realize how
much I mean to you. No man has ever tried to protect me from my father.”

“I’ll
protect you from everything. You’re mine, Clara.”

Matthew
kissed her lips, loving the feel of her beneath him. Their time together could
only get better. He kept hold of her hand as he led her out of the room.

“We
don’t have to leave. You can tell me everything you want about what’s in
there.”

Matthew
wondered how far he’d be able to push her.

You’re a Dom for fucks sake. Take control
and show her what it means to be your woman.

He
didn’t understand why he hesitated. The love he felt for her wouldn’t be
diminished. If her feelings for him were anything like his then nothing he’d be
able to do would turn her away.

Moving
back into the room, he settled her on the chair in the corner. The room wasn’t
particularly spacious. This part of his life helped to sooth him.

“When
you’re in here you’d be my sub. You won’t speak until I tell you to. Your sole
purpose would be to please me. In pleasing me you’d find your pleasure as I’d
be the one to gift you your pleasure.” He stroked her cheek then went over for
some equipment. Grabbing a dildo and a silk bind, he moved over to her.

She
stared at the dildo. He saw the flash of desire in her eyes seconds before she
turned to the silk bind.