Darkest Dreams(15)

“I want this relationship to last.”

“It has only been a week.”

“And yet actions within a twenty-four-hour time period can change the way the world thinks. Time doesn’t mean anything, not really. We have precious little of it, and I’m not going to waste the time I have, wondering if my feelings are real. I know what I feel, I know my own mind. I didn’t come here to argue with you, or to justify myself to you.”

“Then why did you come here?”

“For Avery. She values your friendship, and the last thing I want to do is make her chose between us. I’m not going to do it, are you?”

Silence fell between them, and Ella broke eye contact first. “No.”

“Good. You don’t like me, and that is fine.”

“I don’t dislike you. I just worry about Avery. She’s new to all of this.”

“I’m going to guide her. I’m not going to hurt her, or abuse the power that she has given me. That’s not the way that I work.”

Ella sighed. “We’re going to have to learn to get along.”

“I can get along with anyone. The question is, can you put your feelings aside, and give me and Avery time?”

Another silence fell between them, and he watched as Ella paced her own apartment.

“Yes, I can. I’m sorry for being a bitch. I know it doesn’t excuse me, but I have my friend’s best interests at heart.”

“That I can accept. She really is a special woman, and I’m blessed that she gave the trust of her body to me. One day, I hope to have her heart as well. Her love.”

Ella chuckled. “I don’t think you’re going to have to wait long. I’ve never seen Avery so taken with someone. From the first moment she saw you, she was asking all kinds of questions about you. She’s been hurt before. Her previous boyfriends have only used her, and left her. It’ll be nice for someone to actually treat her like she deserves.”

“That I can promise. Truce?”

“Truce.”

He shook her head.

He’d made the right decision coming to see Avery friend. Ella meant a great deal to Avery. The last thing he wanted to do was come between friends.

“I’m going to head back to her apartment.” Pulling a card out of his pocket, he handed it to her. “Here are all my details. Call whenever you need anything.”

“Will you be taking over all elements of Avery’s life?”

“No. I only hope she’ll agree to spend a great deal of time with me, and I hope to convince her to move in with me.”

“That is a big step. Good luck with that. You’re going to need it.”

He left Ella, happy with the progress he was making. The drive to Avery’s apartment was only twenty minutes, and he parked in the only space available. He wanted her to move in, but he didn’t want to pressure her too much.

Time and patience. They were the two things he needed, and yet they were the two things he struggled with the most.





Chapter Seven


Bent over Dominic’s bed with her ass in the air, she waited for the next impact of the paddle. They hadn’t gone to his house in the country. Instead, he’d brought her to his penthouse apartment. His place was so big; it embarrassed her that he’d seen inside her small, homey apartment.

What did he think when he looked at her? Did he think she was silly with her small apartment, small job?

Stop it.

“Where did you go?” he asked, drawing her attention back to him.

“Nowhere, Sir.”

He’d picked her up, taking several items of her clothing, along with some of her books.

Pushing her insecurities aside, she focused on the man that had been in her thoughts for a lot longer.

His apartment didn’t have a playroom like the one in his basement, which to her sounded freaky. It was only when she saw it, she was able to appreciate the beauty of the playroom.

The paddle slapped against her ass. The sound echoed off the walls, and she gritted her teeth as the pain rushed from her ass, all over her body.

Dominic moved, and the paddle struck her ass on the other side. He moved, changing the angle, and direction where the hits would come from. Once he’d done six with the paddle, he changed to his hands. Each hit going a little harder than last time.

He pulled her up, and turned her, making her look back at the mirror to see his handiwork. He squeezed her ass, and she couldn’t contain her moan any longer.

“Spread your cheeks for me.”

Reaching behind her, she opened her ass, and watched in an awkward position as he ran a finger down the crease of her ass. “I’m going to fuck this cute little asshole.” He moved some of her cream from her pussy, up to coat her ass.