Ted growled, as he thrust forward the rest of the way. He held still though she tried to writhe around him.
Damn it
. He was too strong. She couldn’t move, no matter how much she tried.
A sharp, stinging slap landed hard on her clit. “Stop being a brat. I’m trying to keep from hurting you, little one. You’re so fucking tight that we have to take this slow.”
Meri forced her muscles to relax. He took a tentative stroke then stopped. A moment later, the blindfold was ripped from her eyes and tossed onto the floor.
“Look at me, Meri, I want to see your face while I make love to you.”
A warm, golden glow settled over her soul, a direct contrast to the frantic sensations flooding her body. He’d said ‘make love’. Even if it was just a slip of the tongue, it meant something to her.
Ted leaned in, his pelvis stroking her clit with each thrust. He took her breasts in his hands, sometimes rough, bordering on too much, and yet many of his touches were so tender they brought a tear to her eye. It didn’t matter, a gentle caress or a stinging pinch and pull of her nipples, she wanted it all.
“Sir, I’m going to come!” she shouted, unable to keep her composure.
“Yes, Meri, come for me, love. Come hard.”
She screamed as she found the release her body had been needing, even begging for, for days. Her orgasm tore through Meri, her head shaking from side to side as her back arched and she pulled against her bindings. The sensations were more intense than anything she’d ever experienced and since meeting Ted that was saying something.
Ted continued to pound into her as his orgasm swept through him. The pulsing of his cock against her highly sensitised muscles was almost more pleasure than she could handle, but she met him stroke for stroke.
“Give me a minute, my love, and I’ll release you.” Ted was lying on top her, his head resting on her breasts. “Next time, we’re using a bed. Son of a bitch, I think you killed me, Meri. I’m not complaining—I’ll die like that any time.”
She wanted so badly to put her arms around Ted and touch him, but the bindings wouldn’t allow it. Instead, she concentrated on the feel of soft hair on her chest and his scruff along the cup of her breast. His warm breath teased her nipple, but what she loved the most was his weight pressing down on her core. Ted was a large man. He obviously worked out to keep his abs well-defined. All those taut muscles, resting along her tummy, cradling her pussy, still full with his cock, was a pleasure she wanted to feel again and again.
Before she was ready for it to end, Ted pulled out of her and removed the bindings.
“Can you stand, my love?” Ted asked, as he reached for her hands.
“I think so.” She allowed him to slide her off the desk and onto her feet. “Oh my. I think you’re right, next time we should use a bed.” She hurt all over.
“I wish my office had a tub. A nice long soak would help, but I do have a shower with lots of hot water.” He led her to his private bath.
The shower was a wonderful sight, dual heads and large enough they would both fit and have room to spare. She pulled her hair into a bun and linked a lock of hair through it to hold it in place. It didn’t look the greatest, but it would help keep it dry. “Sounds good.”
Ted turned on the shower and held her tight while waiting for the water to heat up. “Now, tell me why you looked so sad when you first arrived.”
Meri’s legs were still a little shaky as she leaned against him and pondered how to answer his question. Telling Ted she was in love with him would only push him away. “I’ve been very tense today. I’m not sure what my problem was.” Maybe that would suffice.
“Most likely because I’ve been edging you. It was my fault. I should have taken into consideration that you’re still a newbie. I pushed you too hard. I’m sorry, Meri.”
“I’m a big girl, Sir. Don’t worry about it.” She loved the feel of resting in his arms. “I say that experience more than made up for it.” Sometimes she was convinced he was falling for her too and at other times it was like they were simply play-partners. The situation was frustrating the hell out of her. Why couldn’t exceptional sex be enough for her?
They took their time in the shower, lathering each other in soap and enjoying lots of cuddles. When they’d run the hot water dry, they reluctantly left the shower and dried each other off. Wrapped in towels, they sat on the couch and snuggled some more.
“What are your plans this week?” Ted asked.
“I have another charity dinner tomorrow after work. I’d love to have you come with me…”
“We’ve been over that, Meri.”
His tone made it clear the discussion was closed, implying once again that she was simply his trainee and nothing more. “Okay, just know you have a standing invitation. There is one Saturday night also and Sunday I’m supposed to go to my brother’s for an Easter egg hunt.”
“So, I’ll plan on seeing you Thursday and Friday.”
He sounded unhappy and she wasn’t sure why. Was he displeased that he had to plan something those two evenings or was he upset she had plans a couple of nights this week? Maybe she was consuming too much of his time. God, she hated her lack of confidence. She should just ask him, but she didn’t need another smack down. He’d made it clear he wouldn’t be attending dinners with her. Why did she keep pressing him?
“I look forward to it, but if something comes up, just let me know.” There, she’d given him an out. Now she just hoped he didn’t use it.
She rested her head on his shoulder and basked in the heat of his body for a few minutes. When she couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer, she knew it was time to go. “I’d better head home. Thanks for a wonderful evening.”
Ted tightened his grip and held her still against his chest. “Have I upset you, Meri?”
“No, not at all, Sir.” She didn’t want to have this conversation.
“I would never intentionally hurt you, Meri. You know that, right?”
“Yes.” She couldn’t put this at his feet. He’d made it clear from the beginning that he didn’t want a relationship. He had offered to train her and that was all. The fact that she’d started falling in love with him was on her.
“I don’t like this distance between us, Meri. Unless you open up to me and let me know what’s going on in that pretty head of yours, this isn’t going to work.” There was an edge to his voice. She wasn’t sure if he was angry or disappointed.
“Everything is fine, Sir. I just didn’t get enough sleep and I have a long day tomorrow.” She scrambled off his lap. If she continued to stay in his arms, the tears would surely pour down her face and she’d be screwed. There wouldn’t be any way to ignore the problem. She folded the towel and put it on the counter. As quickly as possible, she put on her street clothes.
“Wait for me,” Ted demanded as he dressed. “I’ll walk you out.”
The silence between them as he ushered her out of the building was uncomfortable, but she had no idea what to say. As they neared her car, she started looking for her keys. Knowing he was going to yell at her for not having them out, she decided to beat him to the punch. “I know. I should have had them in hand before leaving the club.”
Once she found them and the doors were unlocked, Ted relaxed and pulled her close. He pushed a lock of hair away from her eyes. “Maybe you should call in sick tomorrow and just sleep in.”
He sounded worried about her and that just confused her more. She’d expected a lecture about safety, not concern for her health. “I have an analysis due by Friday. Several million dollars is riding on this and I have more than a few concerns about the project. I can’t play hooky right now. We’re a small company, a hit like that would hurt.”
Ted gave her a light peck on the lips. “Be safe, Meri. You are more important than any amount of money.” He brought his forehead down to rest on hers.
He did that often and she loved the cherished feeling it gave her.
Why couldn’t he be like this all the time?
“Text me when you get home.”
* * * *
Ted considered himself a level-headed man, but if Fred didn’t tell him where Meri was, he might resort to violence. The last time he’d heard from her was Wednesday around five, sixteen hours ago. She’d been headed to that fucking charity event and had promised she’d text him as soon as she’d got home.
He’d waited until midnight before he’d started calling her phone. It had gone straight to voicemail. Torn between fury and fear, he had taken her address from her membership application and driven to her house.
When he’d pulled into her driveway, he double-checked the address with André. For once, he was glad his friend seemed to live at the club and was able to verify he was at the right house. He’d expected her to live in the typical Scottsdale executive spread. Hell, she lived in the same zip code as his parents. And yet she lived in an older ranch style home. Instead of ostentatious luxury, her home spoke of peaceful elegance, the perfect place to raise a family.
While he’d sat and waited, he’d had a long time to think about the mistakes he’d made. And he’d made plenty. He’d had this idea in his mind of what type of woman she was just because of her career choice. If he’d pushed his preconceived ideas aside and actually listened to the woman, he wouldn’t have spent the evening tearing his hair out. He’d have been by her side.
While watching night turn to day, he had gone over every conversation they’d ever had. God, he’d fucked up. She wasn’t some society bitch. If she had been, she’d still be with her ex. It took him a while to pull his head out of his ass and consider why nothing about her added up.
Meri hadn’t done anything wrong. She hadn’t lied on her application or to him. It was his notions that were way off base. He was the problem. His fucked-up sense of self-worth was the problem, not Meri.
It had taken a phone call to James at around three in the morning before all the pieces had finally fallen into place. James had been the one to run her background check and he had, as always, been exceedingly thorough. Ted had assumed her ex had wanted a stay at home wife and mother for his kids, but Ted had been dead wrong. Her husband had wanted a cash cow and had left her because she refused to be drawn away from her employer who had put her through college and taken a chance on her when she was just starting out. Meri didn’t care about making a name for herself, she cared about repaying the people who had stood by her.
Meri wasn’t like his family. She wasn’t worried about her reputation in the community. She wasn’t ashamed of his career or him. Meri was a unique soul who valued people based on their character, not on their societal ranking or size of their wallet.
Fuck it all!
Once that had sunk in, pure unadulterated terror had seeped into his bones. Meri hadn’t gone home with someone she’d met at the event. She hadn’t simply forgotten to text or fallen asleep. And that meant something bad had happened. She’d told him one of the reasons she hated going to those things was because she didn’t feel safe. He should have been there with her. But asshole that he was, he’d let her go alone. He had James checking with the police and the hospitals.
Ted had been at her office building the moment the doors had opened. If Meri was conscious, she would have let work know what was going on and therefore Fred knew a lot more than he was telling. If Fred didn’t start talking soon, Ted was going to lose his temper.
“Look, sir, I think something has happened to Meri. I’m about to lose my mind with worry. Please, if you know she’s safe, just tell me that much.” Ted was clenching and unclenching his fists. He’d never wanted to be wrong so badly in his life.
Fred sighed. “Mr Stevens, all I know is we got a message on the main line from an unknown number. The woman said she was Meri, but her voice sounded strange. She said she wouldn’t be in for a few days. That’s it.”
“When did the call come in? Can you tell me the number? I’ll…” Ted’s phone buzzed. He took a step away from Fred and answered it. “James, what have you found out?”
“She was admitted into St Joes last night. Apparently, she was a victim of a mugging. According to Captain Bradley, they roughed her up pretty badly. She suffered a concussion, cracked ribs and a broken ankle.”
“What room is she in?” Ted turned to leave, but Fred caught him by the arm.
“You’re talking about Meri, aren’t you? What happened? Is she all right?”
Their eyes met and Ted was torn between sharing his knowledge and keeping Meri’s confidence. “She’s going to be okay, Fred. I’ll have her call you.” He fervently hoped he was telling the truth.
“I suspect her phone is broken or missing.” Fred handed Ted a card with his phone numbers on it. “Make sure she calls me. I’m worried about her, too.”
After he was out the door and alone in his car, he asked James the question that had been beating at him. “James, I’m back. Sorry for the interruption. What’s her prognosis?”
“She’s going be feeling like shit for a few days and her ankle may need surgery, but she’ll make a full recovery. Pay attention to the traffic, Ted. She’s going to need someone to take care of her for a while. You can’t do that if you’re in a hospital bed, too.”
“Thanks, man. I owe you one.” James had gone out of his way to help him, despite the fact that Ted had tried to keep a wall between himself and everyone else.
As Ted pulled into the parking garage of the hospital, he noticed how dark it was. Meri had told him she didn’t like walking to and from her car in places like this and that she always tried to find someone from the event to walk with her. He was such an asshole. How could she ever forgive him for not being there for her? Some Dom he was. His sub had told him there was a problem and he’d ignored it because it didn’t fit well with his plan.
He’d learned his lesson, at Meri’s expense. Damn it. If she was willing to give him another chance, he vowed to never make that mistake again.
Ted was just about to enter the hospital when his phone buzzed.
“Ted, I just heard.” His friend and business partner’s voice came on the line.
“André, I was going to call you after I’d had a chance to see Meri. But since I have you on the phone… I need some time away from the club. A few weeks or so, maybe longer. I don’t know yet. I can handle the toy line from my laptop, but someone else will have to cover DMS duty.”