Red Collar (5 page)

“I thought I told you to dress conventionally,” he said.

She turned, startled briefly. He was a tall, dark haired man, probably
in his mid-thirties, with grey, translucent eyes and a tiny cleft in his jaw. Undeniably, he was handsome. Despicable and handsome, she corrected as she swallowed a nervousness creeping into her chest.

She straightened her spine and answered stiffly. “I did.”

He frowned. “I don’t know what you call a conventional dress, Ms Ripley, but that is certainly not one from where I come from.”

She glowered. “Oh and where is that? An upper, rich society with affluent snobs who erroneously believe that the dictionary is meant to keep up with what
they
define is right? Sorry, haven’t been there.”

His eyes darkened. “You’re certainly one with words, Kate Ripley. I can give you that. Although, whichever way you see it, that is not what you will be wearing to a dinner with wealthy executives.” He walked with a threatening gait towards her. “As long as you’re my mistress, you
will
not try to attain any further clients. You are mine and solely mine. Am I understood?”

Her legs warbled from his closeness and she closed her eyes, feeling she’d lose herself if she kept staring into his. “I can’t see what’s wrong with it,” she said, determinedly.

She felt his hands wrap tightly at her waist as he drew her close to him. She felt his raucous breath over her face and travel down to her neck. She pushed at his chest in the little space between them.

“If you had worn this little number last night, Ms Ripley,” he whispered hoarsely into her ear. “I swear you would have begun your employment with me as early as then.”

She snapped her eyes open, only managing to catch him lowering his head to kiss her. “No!!” she screamed, beating him against his torso.

Surprised, he let her go. His eyes flamed with rage. “I don’t know what games you usually play, Ms Ripley, but I don’t like being teased.”

“I wasn’t… playing any games,” she stammered.

“No?” he said in a low threatening tone.

“I… I just don’t want you to kiss me,” she tried to explain. “If we have to continue with this contract, I will not be kissed. That is all I ask.”

“And the reason why I should not be allowed to kiss you
, despite you allowing me to ravage every other inch of your body?”

Kate shivered, licking her lips from the emotions he was stirring inside of her. It was just sex, she told herself. She needed to retain some self-dignity. She must. “I feel it is something I should keep for the man I love.”

He stepped back, watching her. He didn’t like what he had heard. To imagine her kissing a man who held her heart while he only simply held her body? He was a powerful man who was in the habit of owning
all
of what he desired. “Is there one I should be aware of?” he asked. He didn’t know how he’d react if she gave him an unfavorable answer.

“No,” she said in a low voice.

He heaved a quiet, relieving sigh. He ran a hand through her hair and lifted her head roughly so he could peer into her eyes. “Very well, Kate Ripley. But have you known that I
will
own you- all of you.” His gaze lowered to her lips and then caressed them softly with the end of his nose.

Her mouth inevitably parted as her body arched towards him. Her mind warned him of his dangerous proximity but the awakenings in her body betrayed her.

“You want this, Kate,” he whispered hoarsely against her lips. “As much as I do. So why deny it?”

He let her go.

Frazzled, she looked up at him.

“But no,” he continued. “Not until you ask of it yourself, I shall not kiss you.”

A cloud of disappointment fell over her. She should have been happy with what he had said. But surprisingly, she felt rejected.

She straightened her dress nervously, in an attempt to change the subject.

“When are we going?” she asked.

“Not now,” he said.

“Why?” she persisted. “You said seven. And aren’t we both already dressed?”

“You, my beautiful mistress,” he said, assessing her with eyes filled with a lustful desire. “Are not the least bit appropriately dressed. What you have worn is meant solely for my eyes only. And as for me, as you can yourself see, am not at all respectable or decent enough to venture out of this apartment.”

Her eyes travelled down to his pants. And it was then she noticed the unmistakable bulge, the length of him erect against the soft fabric of his well-pressed trouser. She flushed when she realized she was the cause of his condition.

She heard him making some quick calls. Alone for the present, Kate wandered through the spacious living room, admiring its décor. She would have enjoyed it, had her mind not kept drifting to her rather dismal future with her new and attractive employer. She stalled by the window admiring the lights of the city beyond the Hudson River. It looked beautiful from where she stood. She supposed the luxury of the penthouse had something to do with the way she felt about the view. The windows, framed with those professionally tailored drapes and swags, added to the picturesque scenery.

She had known this river all her life and so did she
, the city. But never once in all her years, had she looked upon it as she did now. There was something about being able to afford such admirable scenery. The kind where it felt there was a certain sense of ownership of such a view, where each day one awoke to see it still there, pinned onto the window of a beautifully designed living room, framed by those expensive elegant drapes.

She, unfortunately like the countless others she knew, never had the financial means
or time to bask and buy such a scene. There was always the next bill to pay, the next rent due. She sighed and took in as much as she could in case she never saw it again after tonight. She still was unsure if she had the will power to go through all that Clayton Reid had planned for the night.

He emerged from the hallway, much more composed than when he had left her.

“Shall we go?” he said, briskly.

She picked up her little purse and walked quietly towards the door. She let out a silent relieving breath that he did not complain anymore of her dress. She didn’t understand why he had changed his mind about letting her roam free among highly paid executives in what he called a lesser conventional dress. But whatever it was, she was determined to not awaken the slumbering devil inside him again.

He followed after her, locking the door to his beautiful penthouse behind him. As much as she loved it, she dreaded going back to it again.

“If you had worn this little number last night, Ms Ripley, I swear you would have begun your employment with me as early as then.”
His words ran through her mind again and she shivered at the thought.

She felt his palm curve in the small of her back as he led her into the elevator. She was tempted to shrink away from his touch but decided she was only bein
g childish. She held her ground stoically; despite every nerve in her body was pleading for her to flee.

He didn’t say much in their short journey to the car park, other than “This way”. He led her to his dark Bentley. She had assumed he would be driving a sports car like a Ferrari or Lamborghini. She was surprised when instead he opened the door to his sedan. She was now utterly certain he liked flying under the radar. She felt he didn’t like to throw his lavish lifestyle into the open. If anything, he seemed to be the kind who loved his privacy and took the necessary steps to ensure that it remained so. There was something about that she found attractive.

She slid into the co
zy seat of the car. She gracefully held back her awe as she admired the interior of the car. Although a less dear asset for someone as wealthy as Clayton Reid, it still was a luxury for someone such as her.

She gave him a short glance as he drove out of the car park and into the busy streets of the city. She turned to watch the view outside her window.
She realized he had veered into an unfamiliar zone of the city. Her eyes widened in wonder as she admired the well adorned window displays. He slowed down as he entered Fifth Avenue, moving past 49
th
Street and towards 60
th
Street. These were some of the most expensive shopping streets in the world, hosting prestigious boutiques.

He came to
a stop, parallel parking skillfully into an empty car space.

“Let’s go,” he said, opening his car door.

She followed quietly, clueless as to where they were going. There were boutiques all about her. Quite an unlikely place to host an executive dinner.

He put an arm around her and guided her into a clothing boutique.

“Clayton,” said a young effeminate man, rushing up to him.

“Jess
e,” Clayton replied.

Jesse
gave him a small peck on his cheek. “Where have you been these days?” he teased. “I don’t see you so often. I noticed you weren’t at Max’s engagement either.”

“No,” Clayton
said, simply.

“Well, I can’t say you missed much. It was just about the same as the other three Max has had. I sometimes feel Max has engagements for the heck
of it, you know. Although, I have to say, his choice of fiancées does improve by the year.” Jesse brushed his long blonde fringe back as he spoke.

Clayton
smiled. “Yes, I’ve met Sophie. She seems she might be the one for Max.”

Jesse
snorted. “May be so. But there is no telling just yet when it comes to Max.”

Clayton sm
iled again. “This is Kate, Jesse,” he introduced.

Jess
e’s eyes assayed Kate from her head to her shoes.

Kate shifted nervously at h
er feet. It seemed Clayton after all
was
intending to give her a classy makeover. She wasn’t sure if she should be offended. On the other hand, she didn’t want to embarrass her new boss. She stood quietly, trying to give the man a composed smile.

“Is she the one you told me about?”
Jesse said.

Clayton nodded. “
I need her in your finest.”                           

“But of course, Clayton,”
he said, rolling his eyes and led Kate gently by her elbow. “Don’t you worry, darling. When we’re done with you, you won’t even recognize yourself.” He scrunched up his nose at her dress. “And maybe later, you can help us burn that thing you’re wearing. Does it even have a name? Whatever it is, it certainly shouldn’t be allowed to live.”

An hour later, Kate emerged from within the boutique. She wore a soft, chiffon gathered butterfly dress that fell short of her knee and fitted at her waist, accentuating her slim figure. She felt almost regal, standing in her new silver dusted high-heeled pumps.

Jesse and his staff did an amazing j
ob as they did a quick race for shoes and hair stylist in the short time they attended to her. It was obvious that Clayton was not just a special client but a close friend to Jesse.

She felt a tingle in her heart as she watched Clayton look up from his cell phone. He was quiet but she felt his eyes
rove every inch of her. And when he raised them to meet her own, she almost froze. There was an unmistakable desire for her in them and it unfurled a new heat within her.

“So you like?”
Jesse interrupted, breaking his spell-binding gaze.

Clayton reluctantly shifted his
eyes. “Thanks Jesse,” he said with a small smile. “I knew I could trust you to pull this off.”

Jesse waved his hands. “For you, baby, anytime.” He leant closer as he took Clayton’s credit card
, dropping his voice. “By the way, where did you find her? She is a stunner. But do yourself a favor and send her over for a few wardrobe lessons later.” He gave him a small wink.

Clayton bit back a grin, trying to avoid Kate’s glare.

Kate huffed. She could guess well enough what they thought of her and her dress. Probably if she had as much money as either of them to spare, she could also afford designer fashions and rub their snarky grins in their faces. She tried not letting their disguised jibes get to her. It was unsurprising that she had avoided this part of the city for this very reason- the wealthy, close-minded snobs who looked down at anyone who couldn’t meet their standards.

Once they left the store, she deliberately stepped away from Clayton, trying to avoid his touch
, the best as she could.

*****

Clayton frowned. He wanted to pull her back roughly to him when she flinched the second time he tried to put an arm around her waist.

Did he insult her for changing her dress? But her dress was even more offensive. There were parts of her that should never have been seen by anyone. He knew because they aroused him just as
much as it infuriated him. She had come all the way from her home, probably hardening every man on her way to his place.