Submissive Beauty (15 page)

“The straight-laced vanilla kind.”

“I guess…but even my vanilla friends want dirty girls in bed.”

“What Gabrielle needs is far beyond just kinky sex; surely you know that by now. She craves the freedom that occurs when she’s given permission to be as dark as her body yearns for without feeling bad about it. But she’s still struggling with feeling guilty.”

David shook his head. “How can you be so certain about what she needs? Did she tell you this?”

“No, but her body did. By pushing past her fears with every new scene, she’s begun to flower like a rose in the morning sun. It’ll take a while to learn all that we need to, but the journey will be exquisite and well worth it.”

David listened to everything Thomas had to say, soaking in his knowledge like a dry sponge. But in the end, what he wondered the most was if Thomas knew that he was already falling for Gabrielle.

A feeling he knew all too well.

If he wasn’t careful, he’d end up too attached to a woman that really belonged to someone else. For now, the three of them were together, but Thomas had some pretty unorthodox methods. How long would this last? Until Thomas said so? He certainly had primary status in this relationship, and the decision would ultimately lie with him. But would his friend be able to simply walk away when that time came?

“How do you keep your emotions out of a situation like this?” David hadn’t wanted to reveal his doubts, but as a close friend, he valued and needed Thomas’s opinion.

“With someone like her? The woman who tugs at every protective streak you possess?”

David nodded.

“You don’t.”

Chapter Twelve

The private rear entrance to Sanctuary loomed directly ahead, and Gabby grew nervous about facing her first day of work. She hadn’t seen Thomas or David since the night they’d come for dinner, and she was anxious for them both. She’d received countless emails and instant messages as both men checked up on her periodically, but they’d wanted to leave her alone long enough for her to focus on wrapping up her prior obligations so she could start work at Sanctuary free and clear.

Butterflies took flight in her stomach as she pulled her car into a parking spot next to Thomas’s Jag. After dinner, the three of them had snuggled up on her couch and watched movies for most of the night. They had surprised and impressed her all in one night. She’d been expecting them both to want more from her sexually and instead, they’d spent hours just talking as they got to know each other. She’d discovered that they had many interests in common as well as a few she shared individually with each man.

Curled between them on her couch, she’d found an amazing sense of comfort and calm that she’d craved as long as she could remember. They’d set her so at ease it hadn’t taken her long to drift off to sleep. Late in the night, Thomas had woken her long enough to carry her upstairs to her room where they’d gently removed her clothing and tucked her into bed. Not once had anyone taken care of her like that.

She loved the feel of their hands on her even when it wasn’t sexual. It still carried a possessive touch that made her feel wanted like never before. What would it be like to go to bed every night tucked in between them? A flash of warmth heated her blood. Selfish thoughts like that would get her nowhere. Not that a girl couldn’t dream.

Once her vehicle had been secured, she took the few strides to the door and rang the buzzer as instructed. Gabby licked her lips and checked to make sure her blouse and skirt were straight. Despite her relationship with Thomas, she had no intention of letting down her professional guard while working for him in a business capacity. Every job was as important as the last. She took immense pride in her work.

The door opened, and a lovely, petite woman with a beautiful smile greeted her warmly. “Gabrielle?”

She nodded.

“Please come in. I’ve been expecting you. I’m Deidre, the office manager for Sanctuary. You’re the accounting consultant, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Wonderful, Thomas has been anxious for your arrival so you can get started. Let me show you around our business office real quick. We can save the rest for later. Have you ever been here before?”

Gabby blushed furiously at the question. How could she maintain her professionalism if she admitted to being a guest here? What would the woman think?

“Yes, once for a brief visit.” She wasn’t about to lie and have the truth come out later so she opted to stick to as little information as possible.

“Great, so you’re familiar with the kind of clientele we entertain here. That’s a relief.”

Gabby looked at her curiously. “Not entirely. I was only here as a guest for a brief demonstration and then left afterward.”

“No problem. With full access to our accounting records, you’ll become quite familiar with our clientele, and I’m positive Thomas would not have hired you if he doubted your discretion or acceptance.”

Deidre’s vague response left Gabby more intrigued than ever. Activities at Sanctuary were kept very private, and Angel had only described one of the BDSM groups that held functions here.

The woman ushered her into a suite of offices with an organized desk and reception area out front. “This is my desk and each of those offices holds accounting, security and, of course, Thomas’ office there.” Deidre pointed to a closed door to the right of her desk. “He’s in a meeting at the moment and asked if I could get you settled in until he finished.”

“Oh, okay.” Of course, Thomas had to be a busy man, but she couldn’t help a knot of disappointment from forming anyway. At this point, two days of not seeing Thomas or David had become an eternity. After the big build up of showing up for the job, her nerves were a little frayed.

Deidre led Gabby through the office door marked Accounting. Two desks sat on opposite walls. One of them was a complete nightmare covered in papers at least a couple of feet high, along with discarded food trash.

Deidre frowned. “Our current accountant is a slob. He’s been putting in long hours trying to get caught up and won’t allow the cleaning staff to touch a thing.”

Gabby nodded and turned her attention to the other desk. It looked brand new, and except for the basic supplies like lamp, calculator and a stapler, it stood naked in comparison.

Naked
.

She wanted to be naked right now. Preferably on her knees in front of either David or Thomas or both. Her sex squeezed. This whole sex obsession thing was going to drive her mad.

Gabby jerked when a soft, chilled hand touched her arm.

“Gabrielle, are you okay?”

“What? Oh yes, yes, I’m fine. And please call me Gabby. I prefer it.” She refocused her attention on the assistant and the job at hand. Thomas was counting on her to complete this job quickly and efficiently. In fact, every time they’d discussed it, she’d sensed a great sense of urgency. She wanted to discuss that with him today once she’d had a chance to get a lay of the land so to speak. See what she was up against.

“Okay, Gabby it is. Where would you like to get started? I’m here to help you in any way that I can.” Deidre moved over to the file cabinet. “Most of the historical stuff should be found in here, but I’m afraid most of the current paper records will be in that mess over there.” She motioned to the cluttered desk that hurt Gabby’s sensibilities and sense of organization just to look at.

“How about access to the electronic records? These days, I’d expect to find most of the current data there.” Deidre gave her a blank look and walked quickly from the room.

Gabby took a seat and started pulling things from her briefcase. First things first, she had to be organized. Before she got even a notepad removed, Deidre returned with a Macbook in hand along with its power cord. She silently plugged it in and booted it up, setting it on the desk in front of Gabby.

“This computer is already set up on the company network, and Thomas made sure it included all of the access you’ll need. He kept it under lock and key until this morning to ensure it remained clean.”

Gabby watched and listened closely. This process—this caution being taken—seemed to indicate there was more to the story than Thomas had explained. Did he suspect foul play with his accounting books? She glanced at the messy desk.

“Why is he not here this morning?” Gabby tipped her head toward the empty chair.

“He works a second shift schedule and will be here after lunch. He and his wife used to work different shifts to save on daycare, but now, that he’s divorced I assume he just keeps the schedule because it’s what he’s used to. That and he usually plays here at Sanctuary late into the night.”

Gabby raised her eyebrows at the tone in Deidre’s voice. She got the distinct impression that the office manager did not like the accountant at all. A low burn of anger began to simmer. She and Thomas were going to have a talk about this. His letting her walk into a hornet’s nest unaware was unacceptable. Submission to him in her personal life was one thing. Not taking her seriously as a consultant…

“So anyway, you’ll find all of the current accounting records on the hard drive in the folders labeled by year. If you don’t have any questions, I’ll just get back to work and let you get settled in. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’m here to assist you in any manner that I can.”

“Thank you, I’ll let you know if I think of anything.”

Deidre nodded and strode from the room, closing the door behind her.

Gabby let out the breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding and got to work. She removed her notepad, pencils and her beloved and well-worn calculator she never worked without from her bag. Happy to have a private space to work in, she removed the jacket she’d worn over a sheer blouse and kicked off her shoes. She’d grown accustomed to working at home so much lately that being in an office and wearing a suit seemed foreign to her. She’d have to ask Thomas how he felt about casual clothes. Gabby smiled. Knowing him, he’d likely have her working in the nude if she wasn’t careful.

Once she was comfortable, her fingers hit the touchpad of the computer a few times until she located the folders she sought. She grabbed a pencil and began taking notes as she worked her way through every subfolder. Before long, she quickly forgot everything around her as she went into sleuth mode. If there was even the slightest anomaly, she’d find it.

* * * *

Sexy strands of golden hair curled around Gabrielle’s face as she worked, giving her an alluring aura that pulled at Thomas. From his vantage point, he could just make out the sweet dark nipples poking at the sheer fabric of her blouse, enticing him to touch and nibble. He’d instructed her to wear no undergarments while at Sanctuary. So far so good. Not that he’d expected anything less.

Thomas had heard her arrive and regretted being unable to greet her. He had ached to see her this morning and pretty much every waking hour since he’d seen her last. Watching her now, he wanted to command her to spread her sweet thighs for him. He already knew what paradise awaited him. That worried him.

Instead, he’d forced himself to make a sales call that he knew would take hours, anything to take his mind from the woman who had him by the balls—something no other woman had accomplished.

But no amount of time away from her seemed to make a difference. In fact, the situation had worsened. He had half a mind to grab her, push her face first onto the desk and plow into the tight heat that beckoned. Images of her soft body pliant underneath him threatened his sanity. The urge to take, claim and simply rut like an animal rode him with every second he’d been away from her. He’d finally come to the conclusion that there was no reason to deny himself another second.

She belonged to him. At least for now.

Ten minutes had passed since he’d stopped in her doorway, and she’d neither noticed nor moved other than to scribble something on the notebook beside her. Whatever she’d found on the computer screen enthralled her completely. While he was curious to see what she’d been up to so far today, his needs were priority. Time to find out what she’d worn underneath that skirt.

“Hello, beautiful.”

She jumped when he spoke, scrambling to pull herself together. Her pencil fell to the floor, and she dropped from the chair to retrieve it. When she bent over her skirt rode up, practically revealing her ass. Thomas took advantage of the situation and moved quickly behind her. He slid his hands up her legs and over her bare, smooth bottom. Gabrielle froze at his touch; her breath hitched while his fingers wound their way to the lips of her now exposed pussy.

“Spread your legs,” he ordered.

She panted, a cross between a sigh and moan, but she did as he asked and moved her knees, willingly giving him total access to her body.

“Such a good girl.” His fingers traced along the soft folds before spreading her wide. “A nice pretty pink pussy that’s getting wetter by the second. God, I’ve missed touching you.” With this free hand, he speared her cunt with two fingers, closing his eyes as her heat surrounded him.

“Oh.” Her moan incited him to push deeper. He rubbed gently against the tender walls inside, back and forth until her hips moved in tandem with his hand. To his delight, her moans grew loud with little thought to her surroundings.