A Dominant Man (20 page)

“
The slave is considered the most precious possession the Master retains. A Master is extremely protective of his slave, as they are completely dependent on them. The slave’s primary role is to serve the needs of their Master, relinquishing total control to them. These relationships are typically lifetime commitments.”

I’m at a loss for words. I
can only stare in awe.

“Do you have any questions or concerns?”
he inquires with a creased brow and an anxious expression imprinted on his lovely, concerned face.

I think for a moment before answering. “Would I be a sub or slave?”

“You are my sub.”

“What type of rules must I follow?”

“I will start you out slowly. I want you to acclimate to being my sub. I don’t want to rush you into anything. I will consider some simple rules to be implemented at a later time.”

“Like what?”

He thinks for a moment before answering, “For example, if I find out you broke a promise to me, such as meeting with Dante, you will be punished.”

“Oh?”

“I have to know you are safe at all times. My rules are not meant to hinder you. They are meant to help you, guide you. I only have your best interests at heart.”

“I trust you.
I’m just not a fan of the idea of punishment. Will it always be spankings?”

“No. There are many ways to discipline you. Spanking is just one.”

“Why aren’t I your slave? Why were they slaves, and I’m a sub?”

“Because I know you, you wouldn’t want to give yourself to me so completely. You would have no real say in what I do or expect of you, but you would also trust that I wouldn’t put you in any position to harm or degrade you. Though, I will incorporate certain aspects of the Master role into our relationship.”

“Such as?”

“I own you. You belong to me.”

I gaze deep into his intense green eyes, and I realize he’s right. I belong to him completely. My mind goes blank, and all I can do is watch him admiringly.

W
hen we finish, he takes our plates into the kitchen, and we head upstairs. He showers and dresses in a suit with a dress shirt open at the collar, and shiny dress shoes. All black.

“Could you be anymore jaw dropping? What am I going to wear home?”

He heads into the closet, emerging a moment later with a long, black trench coat. He opens it, and I put my arms through. He folds the sleeve up around my elbow and ties the waist strap tight. I finish off the look with my black heels from last night. I don’t look half-bad.

“You look fucking prime. I can’t stop thinking of the dress shirt you
’re wearing underneath and how well you fill it out.”

I shoot him a wide smile, and his breathing hitches.

“You look good enough to eat. Pun intended,” I repeat his words from earlier.

“Thanks, babe.”

“No, thank you. I’m the one who gets to ogle you.”

T
he elevator ride down is torture. He hasn’t touched me since we woke up. I want to feel him, even a simple graze would do. We ride down to the garage and walk to a long row of exquisite cars.

“I think we’ll take the Ferrari.”

He turns and tosses me the keys.

“Serious?” I squeak. I can’t keep the excitement out of my voice.

“Take off your shoes. I don’t want you to crash your new car before you have a chance to actually drive her.”

I don’t think I heard him right.

“What?”

“This is yours. I bought it for you. I couldn’t stand you without a car.”

“No. Nope. No way. I can’t…”

“Yes, you can and will. I want you to be able to get around, to work, to me. I don’t want to hear another word, just enjoy the gift.”

Hunt really isn’t in the mood for an argument. It’s chiseled onto his face.

“Why would you buy a car for a person you hardly know, let alone someone you weren’t with at the time?”

“I know you, Gabrielle, as if you’ve been next to me my wh
ole life. Plus, we were never not together. You just overreacted to my crumby manners.”

“
I still don’t understand why you thought you had a shot at getting back with me.”

“You said something in your sleep Thursday night. I knew I had a shot, and I wanted to apologize for the misunderstanding.”

“Flowers would have sufficed. You didn’t have to do this,” I retort gesturing to the car. “What did I say?”

“You kept calling out my name, and it woke m
e. You told me not to leave you, how you couldn’t live without me, how you feel about me.”

“How do I feel?” I ask with a shaky voice.

“Phenomenal.”

I can’t help but smile. I recover quickly.

“I mean, what did I say about my feelings?”

“You know what you said
, and how you feel about me. Besides, it isn’t polite to tell someone they said they love you.” I freeze. Every muscle tensing in me. I can’t breathe. “Are you alright?” he asks, distressed

“I thought it wasn’t polite to talk about it? You can’t judge me based on a comment in my sleep.”

He appears wounded.

“Gabrielle, get in the fucking car.”

I didn’t mean to hurt him. I feel awful, because what he said is irrefutably true, but I can’t express those words yet.

“Damian,
I…” I choke on the words as they rise up. “I don’t
not
love you. I just think it’s too soon to say such an important thing. You mean everything to me.”

I h
ave my face tilted down at my feet, as I chomp away at my bottom lip. Hunt grabs me up in his arms, plucking my lip from my teeth’s grasp, and kisses me deeply.

“I don’t
not
love you, too, Gabrielle. There’s nothing but you. You are all I see, all I need” He plants a chaste kiss on my lips. “We better go, before I defile you right here.”

He releases me hastily and
walks over to the driver door, opening it for me. I slide in, and Hunt strides around the back of the car to the passenger side. He climbs in with nimble skill and gets comfortable. She feels fast even sitting here. I can’t wait to get her on the open road and find out what she can really do.

“Before you start her up
, I need you to understand a few things. One, you should remember she has serious kick with a V12 engine. You must watch the gas pedal, especially in the rain. When it does rain, switch this red knob to wet, it helps with traction and manages the amount of power you use when taking off. The sport setting is normal, what you use on most days. The race setting tightens everything up, its use obvious, but I prefer you don’t use that or the last two.”

He goes over the ins and outs of the car, every button, knob, screen, and switch. By the time he’s finished fifteen minutes later, I feel like I know this fine piece of work on a very personal level. I’m dizzy. “Other than that enjoy her, and be careful, please.”

I give him an are-you-serious expression.

“I’ll do my best not to enter any street races.”

I slip off my heels and hand them to Damian. I stick the key in the ignition and press the start button on the wheel. The engine begins purring for me. I punch the R button in the middle console, for reverse obviously, and ease her out.

“Like I said, you look ace in this car.”

“Thank you. Not just for the compliment but the present. Scarlett is incredible.”

“Scarlett? Is that her name? I purchased her because she reminds me of you, curvy, eye-catching, and a wild ride.”

This guy can certainly pour it on.

“Don’t distract me when I have your life in my hands.”
He seems to come to the realization that I’m entirely in control. I feel for him. He needs it so much, and he’s willing to surrender it to me. The act is endearing and a turn on. “I’ll take care of you, I promise.”

He relaxes a bit, his body
going slack in the seat. I pass the row of cars, classics, exotics, SUVs. Suddenly, I notice the sporty, black, mystery car that followed me around all week, and I stop behind it.

“What’s that?”

“Koenigsegg CCXR”

“That’s
the car you were stalking me in.”

“Yes.”

I guess he doesn’t think it odd to do that
.

I ease on the accelerator, cautiously creeping Scarl
ett toward the exit, and merge her into traffic. We make our way to my place with Damian’s fingers firmly clasped on his knees, right leg extended out as if he could break the car if need be. I don’t think the hills help any.

W
e arrive at my building about ten minutes later, and I park her in front. We stroll in and head up to my apartment, arms linked the whole time. I jump in the shower while Hunt makes us coffee. I’m in and out in fifteen minutes, and I do my hair and make-up in about twenty. My hair is straight, and my make-up is clean. I select a black sheath dress, with black suede pumps and matching clutch. I grab a black coat and leave my room to find Hunt. He’s in the living room reading the newspaper and drinking coffee in a chair by the window.

“I’m ready.”

He glances at me over his shoulder and rises with quick agility. “Gabrielle,” he breaths, “You look incredible. Black is a becoming color on you.”

“Thank you. It doesn’t look half-bad on you
, either. You’re eyes are illuminating.”

“Thanks, babe.
” He smiles softly, but it fades quickly. “Are you ready to go to my other place?”

There’s a double meaning in his words as if he means somewhere within himself.

“Yes, let me just grab a bag for your things and the muffins.”

He perks up. “What kind of muffins?”

“I made chocolate chip.”

“You made them?” He licks his lips seductively. “I would love to eat your moist muffin.”

“You’re depraved, Hunt,” I reply with an arched brow and an amused grin. “I made a second batch. I can throw them in the bag to take back with us. Maybe we can have them for breakfast or something.”

I throw his things into a bag and snag another for the goodies. “Ok. Now I’m ready.”

“After you, doll.”

He takes t
he bags from my hand and guides me out, locking the door behind us.

“You’ll do anything to get your
big, greedy hands on my muffins, slick,” I utter with a smirk.

Hunt pauses at the endearment. “My mom used to call my dad that,” he murmurs.

“Used to?”

“My parents passed away when I was ten.”

Oh, poor broken boy. Is this what he couldn’t control?

“I’m terribly sorry to hear that. How did…”

“I won’t talk about it, at least not now anyway.”

“Understood.”

We head down the corridor toward the elevators, his hand placed on the small of my back. I want to hear more, but that’ll have to wait. Right now, we have to go face our pasts.

H
e drives, allowing me the opportunity to watch him handle this opulent vehicle.

“You look ace in my life,” I blurt out.

Hunt doesn’t look at or say anything to me. His hands clench the steering wheel, his breathing extended and harsh. When we reach a red light, he grasps my chin and kisses me slow, rough.

“You’ve become my life
, Gabrielle. I’d move the world for you.”

I realize right then, I love him, but more importantly, I know he feels the same for me. We would do anything for each other.

“You already do. My world.”

All of a sudden, a barrage of car horns blast at us. Hunt spots the green light and punches it.

“This is going to be an awakening for you. I’m finally going to consume you the way you’ve consumed me.” I spy his side-glance down at my gartered thigh, which is exposed, my skirt hiked up near my panties. “How am I going to make it until tonight?”

“Why punish yourself? When you could
be punishing me instead?” I reply, licking my lip and tracing a finger along my thigh where the hem of my dress ends.

“Fuck, I was wrong about you,” he mutters to hi
mself as we arrive at another Art Deco building close to the center of downtown. Damian gets out and opens my door, tossing the keys to the valet.

I’m
so nervous, the acid in my stomach is working overtime. I’m sure being terrified about the funeral isn’t helping. I don’t want him to put everything together. I’m unsure of how he’ll handle the situation.

Hunt’s
hand is extended out to me, offering me a safe, fall-free exit. I fix my skirt before latching on, and we stride in, hands clasped tight and trembling.

We’re greeted by an impressive marble lobby wit
h the same décor as the outside, but I can’t get a good look as he rushes me through to the elevators.