Derision (The Broken Bonds 7)

I pull back to look at her, admiring her flushed face as she jerks the bra through her sleeve. A move I always enjoy. Pressing my palms against her inner thighs, I spread her legs apart. “You’re right,” I say, wedging myself between her knees to lock her in place. “I won’t make that mistake again.”

Her attention is aimed down at the floor. I hook a finger under her chin and raise her gaze to mine. “Otherwise, the selection of this dress pleases me.”

She presses her lips together, a small, nervous tell before she says, “The selections didn’t leave much choice at all. My options were either naked or naked.”

This makes my lips twitch on the verge of a smile. I had no idea how mouthy she could be when pushed. “Again, all choices that would’ve pleased me.”

I move in closer, anxious to taste her lips, but she moves back. “You said you’d clarify our…situation once I was dressed.” She raises an eyebrow. “Partially dressed is adequate?”

I do smile now. “Perfectly adequate.” Nudging her plate closer, I nod toward her food. “Eat. You’ll need your strength.”

I take my seat, leaving her atop the table next to me, while I stuff a forkful into my mouth. I chew slowly, savoring each bite as she struggles to feed herself, awkwardly cutting into the omelet and then bringing each bite up with a hand beneath, ready to catch any drops.

The notion that I should’ve put her in my lap hits me—and I envision just what it would feel like to take her ass while burying her pretty face in my omelet.

Well, considering she’s still sitting on the table and hasn’t yet fled, there’s hope to indulge all sorts of whims later.

I clear my throat, pushing all temptations away. “It’s not that difficult to understand. You only have two options. The first is you remain under my ownership, where you’ll continue to work at Lark and Gannet, but as my personal paralegal. You’ll get a bump in salary, an excellent insurance package, and you’ll be under my protection. Which means none of the other partners can touch you, or so much as speak to you without my consent. Nothing will change for you, other than you’ll be required to accompany me to The Firm on weekends, where you’ll prove your submission to me.”

Which I need from her more than anything. She’s my pawn in the gambit.

“The second option is to leave,” I continue. “Because now that you have been advanced, you’re simply a liability to The Firm and its members. More so, you’re a threat. They will never trust that you’re ignorant of the details.”

She stops trying to feed herself and stares down at me with wide eyes. “So what…? Oh, my god. They’d kill me?”

To protect what they’ve built, their investments, their identity…some members of The Firm wouldn’t hesitate. But Alexis is mine, and as such, she doesn’t have to fear any of them.

As far as the partners go, they might be sadistic pricks, but they’re not villains. “No. No, Alexis. The threat is not one of physical death, but of your life as you know it. Your career, your reputation, your prospects – the end result may feel like death, but as you have yet to enter The Firm, I’m offering you an out.”

She’s only marginally relieved. “How?”

“Tell me now that you have no wish to advance as my sub, and I’ll inform the partners that last night was a good fuck, but that’s all. You got your feelings hurt when I told you that I had no intention of taking our relationship further. You put in your notice and, embarrassed, took a job elsewhere. One that I will make sure you have, along with a new place and means to start over.”

It’s the only way I can be assured that she’s out of their reach. The partners believe they can use her to toy with me, and so they will.

“Why…but why would you do that for me?” she asks.

Why indeed. That’s the insufferable question that has no answer. Not yet.

She swallows hard as I study her, the burning questions almost as annoying as her arms blocking my view of her tits. “I mean,” she says, “why not just send me away now and be rid of me as a complication for you?”

This much I know. “Because I want you. Because I desire to possess you.” Because the thought of anyone else touching you sends me into a fucking rage. And above all, because I fear what will happen to my sanity if I don’t understand the draw this woman has over me.

“Regardless of my desires,” I continue. “These are my terms. You comply to them now, or you walk out the door. The choice is yours.”

“What if I change my mind later?”

I crick my neck, working out the tension. This, right here, is why I never cared to take a sub. “Once you’re in, it’s not as easy to leave. This should be decided now. But, there is always an out clause. If you choose to leave, you’ll be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement that will prevent you from sharing what you see and hear. Confidentiality is heavily enforced by the law within The Firm. We are lawyers, of course.” I try for a smile, but I can tell it offers her little assurance. “Regardless, no one has ever needed to enforce their out clause, as all members are rigorously vetted beforehand.”

Just as she was.

“Make your choice,” I say, then finish off the rest of my breakfast.

I’m not easily distressed, but the length of time it takes her to mull her decision over has my hand gripping my fork; damn near bending it.

“All right,” she says, and I look up into her green eyes, truly appreciating their deep hue for the first time. The spark of curiosity is there, and I smile.

“All right,” I repeat. “That is your response after so little information?”