Ultimatum(5)

“I’ve arranged for them to call me in case of an emergency.”

Wondering how he’d managed that, I reluctantly handed him my cell. He also took my coat, and then locked all of my belongings in a closet by the door. We stepped down into the living room. His home had been designed with a modern edge; vaulted ceilings, light oak flooring, and taupe walls that had surely never been victim to small, sticky fingerprints. His personality was stamped all over the sharp angles, the glass and steel.

I didn’t get the grand tour. He ushered me to a door, which opened into a black hole of a basement.

“Where are you taking me?”

“You’ll address me as Master when we’re alone.” He grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him. “Is that clear?”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“No, I assure you, I am definitely not kidding, and the sooner you accept your place here, the easier it’ll be on you. You’ve just arrived, and already you’ve got two strikes against you, Kayla.”

“For what?”

“Disobeying me. I told you to come naked, and you arrived late.” He gestured for me to precede him down the stairs.

“I had to say goodbye to Eve. I couldn’t disappear on her for the weekend without seeing her first.” I grasped his arm to keep from stumbling. He flipped a switch, and the basement flooded with soft light.

The room was rectangular, dark and windowless, with deep crimson walls that matched the comforter on the king-sized bed; Gage had already laid several items on the end. A rack of cuffs, chains, whips, paddles, and God only knew what else hung on the far wall. An odd-looking bench sat in front of the display. Not certain what the X on the wall, the hooks in the floor and ceiling, or the plethora of items on the shelves were used for, I tore my gaze from the terrifying sight. A group of comfy chairs were arranged on a throw rug at the opposite end. Across from the bed a swanky bathroom, outfitted with a whirlpool tub and separate shower, could be seen through an archway.

Gage fisted my hair and yanked me against him. “These are my rules. Remember them.” He trailed a hand down my throat, and his fingers settled on the buttons of my blouse. “Number one, don’t fight me. If you do you’ll be punished.” He slowly unfastened each one, taking the time to brush his fingers against my skin. “Two, unless I’ve given you permission to speak freely, always call me Master when we’re alone.” He slid his hand inside and palmed my breast. “And three, obey without hesitation. Do you understand these rules?”

“I-I understand.” I forced the words past my quivering lips.

He let out a low chuckle. “I don’t think you do. I think it’s time for your first punishment.” He gripped my hair even tighter. “Before we go any further, you need to choose a safe word.”

“And if I say this word . . . you’ll stop?”

“Yes. And then I turn you over to the authorities. Neither of us wants that.”

“Then what’s the point in choosing a safe word? You know I won’t use it.”

“Because what happens here will be on my terms, but ultimately your choice. I won’t move forward without it, so choose wisely, something you won’t forget or accidentally say.” He withdrew his hand from my breast and put a few inches between us. “It’s the only word that will save you from your punishment. Screaming, crying, begging me to stop, none of those tactics will work.”

“You sick bastard.”

“You might consider showing me some respect—I’m the only person standing between you and a jail cell.”

“Rick.”

“Rick what?”

“Rick is my safe word.”

“Who is Rick?”

I wrapped my arms around myself. “Someone I don’t like to talk about.”

“Answer the question. You’ll withhold nothing from me.”

“He’s my ex-husband.”

“An interesting choice for a safe word. Why’d you choose it?”

“Because I don’t like to think about him, much less speak his name.”

He whirled me around and curled his fingers around my wrists, then forced them to my sides. “Don’t ever close yourself off to me again. I want your legs open and your arms at your sides. Always.” He parted my blouse; the material slid down my arms and floated to the floor.

Gage grabbed a thin strip of leather from the bed. “A collar to mark you as mine. It’s discreet enough to wear in public. Don’t take it off.” He encircled my neck, then reached for a set of leather cuffs. “Give me your hands.”

Instinctively, I shook my head. “Gage, what are you gonna do?”