Bought: Highest Bidder(39)

I open the desk drawer and take out the contract. I need to extend it,  and I've been typing up the language for my half of the contract for the  last hour. I've been distracted by the incessant phone calls from PR  and my lawyer. I couldn't care less at this point. If my ex is going to  publish her tell-all, I'll sue her. I'm not giving her another penny.  They don't seem to agree with my tactic, but I don't care anymore.

I'm done with her. Tricia is my past, and that's where she'll stay. If  she wants to publish lies, then she can make herself a liar and wind up  in court.

I sigh heavily and hate that I've given any more energy to her at all.  My head is pounding with a relentless headache. My temples throb with  pain that just isn't leaving. I take another two Advil from the bottle  on my desk and wash it down with my coffee.

It's almost room temperature now, but I only need the caffeine. A smile  graces my lip when my fingers run over the engraving on the outside of  the steel mug. Please, sir.

She thinks she's cute, my treasure. And she is.

My heart swells for a moment, but then my computer pings with yet  another email. This one is from the executives that head up development.

I put my mug down on the desk, intent on getting to work and tying up  these loose ends. Once I'm done for today, I'm going on vacation. I want  time for just the two of us. She'll be busy once school starts, but  until then, her time is mine. And I want it all. Linda's processing  applications for another two executive assistants. I need to start  delegating more work. It's a slow going process, but I'm working on it.

I focus on the tasks at hand and make the final decisions on several  contracts with ease. Knowing that once this is done with, I'll be able  to enjoy my treasure makes the time go by quickly.

A timid knock at the office door makes my fingers pause on the keyboard.

"Come in."

Dahlia peeks her head in, only partially opening the door. "Are you busy?"

I have a moment." I really do need to get this shit done. But I can put it on pause for her.

She walks easily to the desk and I turn my chair so she can sit on my  lap. I love the feel of her body against mine. Her warmth and gentle  touches soothe me.

I lay a hand on her thigh and plant a small kiss on her neck.

"Will you be done soon?" she asks me. Tricia used to ask me that all the  time. At first, anyway. She stopped a few months into the marriage,  when she gave up.

I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. The headache is coming  on full force now. I hate that the thought of Tricia ever came to my  mind because of something my treasure said. They're nothing alike.

"I have another two hours at least," I tell her, knowing that it'll  possibly be more, but I'll come back and finish once she's gone to bed.  I'll make time for her. I'm committed to that.

"I was going to make dinner," she wraps her arms around my shoulders, "or maybe order something?"

"What do you want?" I ask her. A sweet smile slips into place on her lips.

"That's what I came in to ask you." I hug her waist closer to me, her  ass slipping against my cock and stirring desire. I nip her neck and  debate on taking her now. Sating her so she can relax while I finish  this.

"What's this?" she asks, her forehead pinched.         

     



 

I glance down at the contract on the desk. "It's not ready yet. It's the new contract."

She picks up the papers and skims through them.

My body tenses as the crease in her forehead becomes deeper and the look of unhappiness is evident in her eyes.

"I don't want to sign this," she says finally. Her voice is full of  apprehension and soft with doubt. But she looks back at me, setting the  papers down with strength and finality. She shakes her head. "I don't  want to sign it."

I didn't expect that. My body chills at how resolute her decision is.  "Do you want more money?" I ask her, not knowing what other problems she  could have with it. I've put in her needs. I know I'll meet them. These  past few days have been nothing but perfection.

Dahlia pushes away from me and climbs off of my lap, her warmth leaving  me wanting her. I grip her hips to keep her from leaving me but she  slaps me away, catching me by surprise.

I quickly rise from my desk, the chair falling backward onto the floor. A  touch of fear flashes in her eyes as she walks backward.

I raise my hands, although my voice is strong and my eyes are narrowed.  "Dahlia," I say and her eyes fly to mine. She looks angry, but more than  that, upset.

"What's wrong?" I ask her, although I'm not a fucking idiot. I shouldn't  have implied that it was about money. It's a habit of mine. It's hard  breaking them, but I know my treasure better than that. It's not about  the money for her. I should have known that.

"I don't want your money," her voice cracks slightly as she crosses her arms and looks away. "I'm not-"

"I'm sorry." I walk toward her, slowly moving my hands around her hips. I  can tell she wants to push me away, she wants to leave, but she's my  Submissive.

She should have known better than to leave me like she did. She knows  better than that. But then again, I knew better than to bring up money.

"Look at me," I say and as the words leave my lips, she obeys. A small  frown mars her beautiful face. "Whatever you want to change in the  contract, just let me know."

She shakes her head, and her face crumples. "I don't want a contract."

My grip on her tightens, and my heart races in my chest.

"I don't know why you want this if we're …  if we're more than this." Her  voice is shaky, and she's obviously extremely upset. I don't understand  why though.

I hate that she's questioning me. I need contracts. Whatever she wants to change, I can alter. I don't mind that.

"I want this, treasure. I need this." I understand it's fucked up. But I  do. I need to know that when I make her angry, or when I fail her, she  can't leave me. I need to know she'll still be here and I'll be able to  make it right.

"This is what I want from you …  equality," she stresses the last word and  I still don't understand. I don't get what this has to do with the  contract or anything for that matter.

"You are my equal. How can you not see that?"

"I'm your Submissive. I can't be both!"

"You are my Submissive, my other half and my equal. They're all one and  the same." It pisses me off that she would think less of herself.

She looks lost again. I'll show her what it means to be mine. My  everything. She's best when she submits. She's more comfortable in that  role. This questioning everything isn't what she needs.

"I'll change whatever you want, and you'll sign the contract." I'm forceful with her. It's what she needs, I know it is.

"Now get on your knees." She just needs a hard fuck. I've been too busy  for her. I won't make the same mistake I made with Tricia, not with her.  I can't let her get away from me. I won't let my treasure slip through  my fingers.

She looks back at me with uncertainty. "Did you kill him?" she asks me.

My heart stops in my chest, my blood running cold. She hasn't asked. She  hasn't brought it up since she got the text messages from her mother. I  could tell she knew. It has to be obvious.

"Where's this coming from?" I ask her.

"That's not an answer." Her voice is low, and wavers.

"I'm your Dom, you'll do well to remember that right now."

"I thought you said I was your equal?" she asks as she cocks a brow at  me, her voice broken and raw. My heart twists in my chest.

"Yes, you are, and yes, I had him killed." The words slip from my lips  before I can stop them, my heart beating so hard it slams with pain on  each beat.         

     



 

She gasps and steps back slightly. My breathing comes in ragged as I  wait for her response. I never intended on telling her. I didn't want  her to have to carry the weight of knowing. But I won't lie to her.

"He deserved to die, Dahlia. Not only for what he did to you, but what  he continued to do after." My words are full of conviction, but she  doesn't respond.

She looks toward the door, but I don't want her to leave me. She's scared, and I can comfort her. I can make this right.

I breathe out deeply. "I need you to understand that you're safe. I'll always make sure you're safe."

Her breathing comes in quicker, and she looks so lost. She's forever lost and insecure. If only she'd listen to me. "Come here."

"No," she's quick to respond, and it pisses me off.

I narrow my eyes at her. "Treasure," I say and my voice holds a note of  admonishment. She's going to be punished for deliberately disobeying me.

"You're not leaving, Dahlia." I won't let her go. I can't. I can't lose her.

"I have to." I close my eyes at her words, hating them. My hands ball into fists at my side.

"You don't have to do a damn thing but do as I say. Come here."

"Don't make me stay. Please, don't make me stay." My body heats with  anxiety at the fear in her voice. She's afraid of me. Tears leak from  the corners of her eyes. No. I shake my head, denying that this is even a  reality. This wasn't meant to hurt her. I only meant to give her  justice.