Bound Beneath His Pain (Dirty Little Secrets 1)

I pick up my pace, moving around the corner, finding Neil zoomed in on his monitor, totally unaware of my arrival. He’s speaking into the phone. “I’m sorry, but Mr. Holt has meetings this afternoon. He can see you tomorrow morning.”

I hired Neil a year ago after I officially gave up on hiring female assistants. The young females were either a distraction to me or I was a distraction to them. The middle-aged women were all bearing children and I went through two maternity leaves that left me with terrible temps as a replacement. And it seemed unfair to hire older women because of the stressfulness of managing my schedule, which is basically my life, too. So then I found Neil and haven’t looked back.

When I enter my office, I immediately spot the leggy blonde staring out at the view of the Financial District. “Hello, Juliet,” I say, announcing my arrival.

She spins on her heels, giving me the luscious smile that I’ve appreciated for the last three years. “Good morning, Micah.”

My chest lightens, as it always does in her presence. “Thank you for coming on such short notice.” I wave out toward the black leather couches in the sitting area of my office. “Please sit.”

Juliet takes her seat, settling her red dress over her knees, and smiles. “So, who is the lovely lady who’s stolen you away from me?”

I lower into the chair opposite her, arching a brow. “How do you know that’s why I called you here?”

She gives me a level look. “Because it’s the only reason you call me into Holt, Micah.”

I chuckle. Juliet knows me well, probably better than anyone, maybe even better than I know myself. In her world, she’s a woman who plays a submissive role to men and enjoys kinky sex rather than regular sex. In my world, she’s a thirty-two-year-old st

unning woman who has integrity and is loyal to me.

I have no doubt that most Holt employees think Juliet is my sister. But she’s not family, not even close. Juliet lets me live out the very darkest of my fantasies with her. There’s nothing she prevents me from pursuing.

With her, I don’t tame the beast inside. I indulge him.

What I give her is complete honesty, total trust, and a stable man in her life that she once told me she needed, since her father abandoned her and left her with emotional trust issues. That’s why when a new woman comes into my life that holds my interest, Juliet is the first to know.

That’s our promise to each other.

She flips her long curled blond locks over her shoulders. “So, get to it and tell me about this new lady in your life.”

I lean back against the couch, propping my shoes on the edge of the glass coffee table between us, crossing one ankle over the other. “She isn’t in my life yet.”

Juliet’s red-painted lips curve into a sly smile. “Already calling me to take a break without even a date set. I’m intrigued. Tell me more.”

I ponder the woman I met today, deciding what to tell Juliet. Allie’s sharp and clever personality holds my interest, as does her sweet and gentle heart, but it’s the way she melted under my watchful eye that captivates me most. She’s responsive to me, and even now my cock is hardening remembering the way her cheeks flushed and her nipples became hard points beneath her thin blouse. Things I don’t need to share with Juliet. “She would impress you.”

Juliet’s brows arch over her light blue eyes. “How so?”

“She’s loyal.”

“That’s rare,” Juliet acknowledges.

“It is,” I agree, and I value loyalty. Most people in my world would turn on me in a second flat to get my money. “Today she changed my mind from dismantling a company to saving it.”

“Interesting.”

“Precisely,” is all I have to say. Because it’s unlike me to change my mind, and I don’t have to tell Juliet that. I never make decisions based on emotion. I make them based on profit. But today I hadn’t.

I slide my fingers across the smooth leather armrest, trying to figure Allie out, knowing all I really need to know is how she cracked my defenses. I know she’s beautiful, pure, untainted, but I don’t know why she shakes my legendary discipline. I also know I’m not going to get those answers today. “Moving on,” I say, pushing those thoughts aside. “Any reports from Lace?”

I had appointed Juliet CEO of Lace six months after we decided to stop dating and simply sleep together casually, with the agreement that she tells me only what I need to know. I pay her five times what the job is worth and doubled what she made as a therapist, plus sinful bonuses whenever the club has a good quarter.

Deep down, I know Juliet took the job because I asked her to, because that’s what she does for me. She gives me what I need when I need it. And she takes joy in doing that for me, it’s the nature of her submissive personality. I take care of her financially because that’s what I can give her. She never expects more, and that’s what makes our relationship work.

“All is well at Lace,” she reports. “The erotic circus is shaping up nicely. We’re putting on a couple shows that I imagine will draw in many curious new minds, which I expect will bring more memberships.”

“Good.” There’s not much more to say on the matter. I gave Juliet complete control of the club and I’m pleased with whatever she decides. I rise and Juliet follows, as I ask, “What are your plans now?”

“Well, now that I have a little freedom,” she says, straightening her skirt, “I plan to visit Lace’s private room tonight.”