Authors: Madeleine Oh
IntheArmsofaLover (13 page)
“So I was told. I’ve never had my DNA tested but why should
I?”
“So you’re part of the family business.”
“As are you now.” He reached over and took her hand, just as
the waiter returned with the most tender and tastiest steaks Poppy had ever
eaten. The rich sauce was verging on decadent and the garnish of miniature
vegetables completed the dish.
Chewing slowly and appreciatively, Poppy thought about his
last statement. “Part of the family business? Me?”
“Of course you are. You’re the manager of Madame Prioux’s
latest passion.
Les Coquelicots
lavender farm. We’re all cogs in the
family machine and I think you’ll do well. You certainly impressed Madame
Prioux, if Luc is to be believed.”
“So he said.” She went on, “Do you think Jean is jealous of
you? Is that why he is so difficult?”
“Jealous? Maybe. But he and Luc were the sons, I was the
dependent if you like. I never saw myself as their equal, or competing with
them that way. I worked hard at school as was expected of me and later did my
best at university because I saw it as a way I could repay their generosity. As
for Jean, oh Poppy, he is a troubled and unhappy person. I don’t understand his
motives and I don’t think Luc ordered this expensive meal for us to sit here
and talk about his errant brother.”
Fair enough. “Would I be right thinking Luc owns this
place?”
“You would. That’s why we have this entire room to ourselves
whilst downstairs, people have been turned away.”
Rather gave one pause. “That was nice of him.”
“I think it is intended as our reward. He wants to be sure
you stay.”
“I’d hate to have to leave now that I’ve met you.”
“I am so glad to hear that,” he replied, reaching for his
wine. “And I look forward to Friday when I will have your lovely naked bottom
at my mercy.”
“So am I.” She had to be nuts to say that out loud but it was
true, and her body was already responding. If he went on like this much longer,
she’d be in no state to get back to work.
He raised his glass to her. “I think, my dear Poppy, we will
do very well together.”
“We have so far.”
“I want more from you. You realize that don’t you? I want
you tied down and helpless. I want your complete trust and I want your glorious
and utter submission.”
“But not all in one weekend, I hope.”
“No,” he replied. “I can be patient and there is so much I
want to do with you. But we have time and the anticipation will make your submission
all the sweeter. For both of us.”
“I’m so damn glad I met you!”
“I’ll make sure you never regret it.”
And that was a good moment for the rather decadent, coffee-flavored
crème brûlée
to appear.
Sadly, she had to skip coffee. No point in getting any more scowls
from Madame Blanc. So he walked her the few meters back to the shop and they
got a dirty look all the same.
“She is a sour-face harridan,” he whispered. “I’m glad you
will no longer work for her.”
“She thinks I’m a loose woman. Luc came by earlier and now I
come back with someone else.” It would be tactless to mention Didier had also been
sighted.
Stéphane smiled. “None of her damn business, besides, you’re
mine. Don’t forget that.” As if she were likely to. “I wish I could see you
this week but I have to go to Paris. However, on Friday I will be here to spank
you as I promised. I will pick you up when you leave work. It will be your last
day, won’t it?” She nodded. “Then we must celebrate. I will take you to my
house and show you my equipment.”
A new twist on “come and see my etchings”. “And what equipment
might that be?”
He gave her a kiss. A nice, prolonged one obviously designed
to scandalize Madame Blanc. “My whips and chains,” he replied. “And I have a
chair you will find most interesting.”
“A pity I have to wait until Friday.”
He squeezed both her hands. “It will be worth the wait, my
dear Poppy. You have my word on it.”
She didn’t doubt him in the least.
Madeleine Oh is an expatriate Brit, retired LD teacher and
grandmother now living in Ohio with her husband of thirty-five years. She has
published erotic short fiction, novels and novellas in the U.S., UK and
Australia.
Madeleine welcomes comments from readers. You can find her
website and email addresses on her
author
bio page
at
www.ellorascave.com
.
Tell Us What You Think
We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You
can email
the
author
directly or you can email us at
[email protected]
(when
contacting Customer Service, be sure to state the book title and author).
Madeleine
Oh
Dominant
Lovers 1: Hand of the Master
Dominant
Lovers 2: Touch of a Dom
Party
Favors
anthology
R.S.V.P.
anthology
Single White
Submissive
anthology
Summon
the Masters
anthology
Tied
with a Bow
anthology
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
In the Arms of a Lover
ISBN 9781419947803
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
In the Arms of a Lover Copyright © 2014 Madeleine Oh
Edited by Grace Bradley
Cover design by Dar Albert
Cover photography by atmanphoto, igorigorevich
Electronic book publication July 2014
The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of
Ellora’s Cave Publishing.
With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not
be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written
permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home
Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.
Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this
copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or
distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without
the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including
infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable
by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
(http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print
editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of
copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons,
living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The
characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.
The publisher and author(s) acknowledge the trademark status and
trademark ownership of all trademarks, service marks and word marks mentioned
in this book.
The publisher does not have any control over, and does not assume
any responsibility for, author or third-party websites or their content.
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the
multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Be sure to visit EC on the web
at www.ellorascave.com to find erotic reading experiences that will leave you
breathless. You can also find our books at all the major e-tailers (Barnes
& Noble, Amazon Kindle, Sony, Kobo, Google, Apple iBookstore, All Romance
eBooks, and others).