Red Hots (13 page)

Slowly
he moved forward, closing the distance between the two of them as he spoke. “If
I was
Mastering
you, I would have been at your house this morning
selecting your clothing. I would have given you a list of what I expected you
to eat today. Followed by how and when to go into the office then end it by
telling you how often I expected you to call me today and what time I wanted
you home. And that would only be the tip of the iceberg of my
Mastering
you.”

Every
time he uttered the word Mastering, she could almost feel the smacks to her ass
like he’d given her Sunday night. She swallowed. Somewhere inside herself, a
small corner she normally didn’t recognize, but had begun to beleaguer her
insistently since meeting Masaun, shivered at the reminder of submitting
herself to his discipline. 

Oh,
shit. Did Emmalee go through those kinds of things every day?

She
had to make him understand. “Masaun—”

“Song
Sparrow.”

“Sir.”
The title seemed to spring out of her mouth before her brain could react and
stop it. She sank her teeth into her bottom lip, a part of her wanting to call
it back.

A
half smile, knowing, appeared on his mouth, but the intensity in his gaze still
remained. “I’m not leaving without your panties.”

Without
them.
He’d only
told her to take them off. Which meant the if she gave in to the asinine
request they would still be in her possession to put them back on before she
went to court.

“Sir,”
she began, understanding that when he was in this mood it was the only name he’d
hear. “Permission to speak?”

“No.”

No
.

He
held his hand out. “Your panties, Song Sparrow, and don’t make me repeat
myself.”

She
stood there, hands at her side, debating. Beyond her door she could hear the
low murmur of morning greetings passed between coworkers and the executive
assistant’s phone already starting its incessant ringing for the day. Soon, her
team would start knocking on her door ready to meet. Tightening her lips, she
aimed a heated stare at the man before her. He was leaving her little choice.

At
an impasse, they faced off, neither of them moving for long moments.

The
first knock came.

Her
heart started to race.

Masaun
hadn’t moved. His eyes now a stone grey, held hers as his steady hand hovered
over her desk between them.

He’d
denied her permission to speak. Did that mean she wasn’t allowed to call out to
her staff that she would be right there?

She
parted her lips, only to see a single eyebrow arch high above his left eye.

She
stopped.

A
second knock came and this time voices directly outside her door spoke in
questioning tones, wondering if she was in, if they should just open the door
and check, and asking if anyone had seen her this morning and how odd it was
that she wasn’t in.

If
she didn’t make a decision soon, she’d have more than a little explaining to
do. Not willing to risk a third knock or one bold team member strutting in
while she was in the process of removing her panties, she acted. Making haste,
she stepped out of her heels, unfastened her pants and shoved them toward the
floor with her underwear. Pulling them off her feet then quickly grabbing her
panties in her fist as she pulled her pants back up.

Like
an ominous statue, he still stood in the same position, gaze locked on her
face.

After
fastening her pants, she took a deep breath to fortify herself for what she was
about to do. Lifting her hand, she placed the silken item in his palm still
warm from her body.

He
curled his fingers around her lilac frost lace
cheekini
panties; a match
to the bra she still wore.

Her
cheeks warmed as her pulse beat even faster. Without her underwear on, she felt
self-conscious and naked even though she was still dressed.

However,
she couldn’t deny the hum of naughty excitement curling around the base of her
spine and into her abdomen. She’d never dealt with a man like Masaun before,
and she knew once this was over she never would again.

“Thank
you, Song Sparrow.” He placed his fist and the delicate garment deep into his
pocket. Turning he walked to the door and pulled it open just as the third
knock was sounding.

Smoothly
she stepped into her heels as she witnessed the stunned faces of the four
people on her team. Like a nineteen fifties sitcom comedy act, they all glanced
from Masaun to her then back to Masaun again.

Masaun
turned, locking his intense gaze on her, giving her a curt nod before he
unapologetically walked away, leaving her to deal with her team.

“Come
on in, everyone, I’ll be ready to start in a moment.”

~YH~

“So,
tell me, Emmalee, have you ever gone to work without underwear on?”

Kindle’s
friend sat across the desk from her, chewing a mouthful of her salmon salad.
The square plastic container was divided into four equal sections. In one
section was the creamy salad on a bed of fresh spinach leaves, the other held a
mixture of yogurt, blueberries and slices of bananas, the third area was filled
with cherry tomatoes and the final square held two small pieces of toasted,
dark rye and a corner of pistachios and chocolate chips. The lunch brought to
mind what Masaun had said that morning about how a Master commanded his sub’s
day. She wondered if Randolph had prepared Emmalee’s lunch that morning or
stood over her directing what she should pack. Kindle was sure Randolph would
have known Emmalee was meeting Kindle in her office today for lunch, given his
permission. Otherwise, Emmalee would not have been there.

It
made the basic tuna salad Kindle had delivered from the deli down the road
appear slapdash and unappetizing. Even though her friend had a man who instructed
every hour of her life, Emmalee was cared for, even in the small things. Kindle
couldn’t help feeling a little bereft that she didn’t have someone to concern
themselves with her.

“Many
times.” Emmalee picked up a tomato and popped it into her mouth. “Master Razor
is fond of that directive.” She smiled. “I have to admit I kind of like it too.
By the time I get home I’m so turned on I can’t think straight.”

“Oh,
so, TMI.”

Her
friend laughed. “As if there’s such a thing between us, prude.” 

“True.”
Kindle ate some of her heavily mayonnaised salad and felt her stomach churn as
it settled in. Picking up her sweet tea, she washed the taste out.

“Why
do you ask?” Emmalee nibbled on the corner of her toast.

Kindle
looked down into her to-go container. “No reason.”

The
crunching paused for a moment, but Emmalee remained quiet.

Unable
to take the silence, Kindle glanced up at her friend and, seeing Emmalee’s
measured gaze, she groaned.
I should have stayed on the topic of the case we’d
been discussing.

“What?”
Kindle demanded.

“Oh,
my god! Did Dom Hawk make you go without undies one—”

“Shhhhhhh.”
Kindle launched up from her seat and waved her hands, trying to silence her
friend as she rushed to her door and closed it, for the second time that day.
“Really, Emmalee. The door was open. Besides these walls are paper thin.” She
returned to her seat.

“Sorry.
I guess I don’t think about that, since most of the people I work around know
my lifestyle.” She leaned back in her chair and gave her an apologetic look.

“Well,
this isn’t a lifestyle for me. I told you what I agreed to. After this trial,
most likely it will be over between Masaun and I.”

“You
sure that’s what is best?”

Kindle
let out a dry chuckle. “Hell if I know anymore. My mind feels upside down in my
head.”

“That’s
understandable,” her friend’s tone was gentle. “It is a lot to get used to in
the beginning.”

“The
beginning is all it will be. I haven’t even been able to call him Dom Hawk…I
just stick with Sir. It’s generic and non-binding.”

“If
and when the time is right, you will.” Emmalee shrugged a shoulder. “Don’t fret
over it. You’re giving him respect and that’s all that matters at the moment.”

Smiling
at Emmalee, Kindle felt grateful that she had a best friend that was
kind-hearted and understanding. “Thanks, Em.”

She
started eating her fruit then asked, “So, Kin, when did the panty demand come
down?”

Leaning
back in her seat, Kindle let her head hit the high-back, leather chair.
“Today,” she groaned.

“For
how long did he make you do it?” Emmalee asked.

Kindle
met her friend’s gaze. “Probably when I get home tonight since he took them
with him.”

Emmalee’s
instant laughter was loud and unrestrained echoing around the office.

Kindle
was sure the sound had traveled through the walls.

There
was a knock at her door. Kindle called out for the person to come in while
Emmalee didn’t even try to control her continuous laughter.

Chris,
her researcher, opened the door a crack and leaned his head in. He glanced from
Emmalee, who was now wiping tears of laughter from her face, to Kindle. “Sorry
to interrupt. But, if I can have a few moments with you before you head back to
the courtroom.”

Putting
the lid back on her half-eaten salad, Kindle said, “You sure can. My
ex-friend
and I are done.”

“Great.
I’ll be in the conference room.” Chris left.

Emmalee
started packing up her food, laughing again. Her voice came out warbled as she
tried to get herself under control. “You know you still love me.”

Standing,
Kindle walked around the desk. “Yes, but I don’t like you very much at the
moment.”

Rising,
with her small soft side cooler in hand, Emmalee hugged her. “I’ll take that.
Call me if you need me. To scream or talk.”

Staring
into the sincere eyes of her friend, Kindle nodded. “I will.”

Emmalee
left to get back to her job, and Kindle picked up her briefcase from the side
of her desk where she’d placed it when she’d come to her office to meet Emmalee
for lunch. She started to head to the door, when she back tracked her steps.

At
her desk again, she pulled out the key from her pocket and opened up the drawer
where she kept her purse. Opening the basic black clutch, she pulled out her
cell phone. There was a missed call from an unknown number that she wasn’t
concerned about.

However,
there weren’t any missed calls or messages from Masaun. She didn’t know what
she had expected. Maybe that he would give one of his commanding texts that
read
PUT PANTIES ON
... Then she would beg Judge Geneon for a brief delay
of start and run to the local department store and grab a new pair.

But
there was nothing. Sighing, she returned the phone and rose after securing her
desk. As she walked from her office she was tempted to still ask for the late
start just to prove to the man that he wasn’t the boss of her world.

Even
with the defiant thoughts roaming her mind as she went down the hall, she didn’t
act on them.

What
she had with Masaun was nowhere near the caring relationship that Emmalee had
with Randolph, but Kindle was willing to satisfy that little corner in her soul
that wanted the consideration with the pseudo attention Masaun gave her, until
it was over.

Chapter nine

“Hi…um,
Sir. It’s Kindle.”

He
could hear her sigh through the phone. By her stumbling of what to call him, he
knew that she was still either struggling over her acceptance of his role in
her life, or she was still pissed about him taking her underwear yesterday.

He
smiled at the thought of her placing her panties, still carrying the heat from
her body and even slightly dampened by the cream of her sex, in the palm of his
hand. He’d placed the underwear in his pocket and had not removed them until he
got home. As conservative as Kindle portrayed herself, he would have expected
her to be an all-cotton kind of woman. However, the wispy lace panties proved
what he already knew, she was sensual by nature. And secretive.

She’d
almost had an epileptic fit when her coworkers had knocked on her door. Her
wanting to keep their relationship just between them was completely alright
with him. It was how he conducted his own lifestyle and the management of
Decadent Treats.

“Hello.”
Sitting at his desk, he saved the document he was working on and leaned back in
his chair, holding his cell phone to his ear. He’d keep the conversation just
as casual as she’d started it.

“We’re
on a ten minute recess, so I only have a few minutes.”

However,
she’d thought of him in that moment. He felt a warm caress around his heart.
Refusing to analyze his response to her words, he listened.

“Court
should adjourn around three today, but I will need to meet with my team
afterwards for a while.”

“That’s
understandable.”

“If
seven is not too late, I should be able to get away by then.” He could hear
other people’s low murmurs, and he figured she’d found a room or alcove to call
him.

“I’ll
expect you at seven, Song Sparrow.”

She
paused, but said, “I’ll be there, Sir.”

They
ended the call. Nothing more needed to be said. Masaun sat his phone down on
the desk, taking pleasure in the fact that she’d called his cell instead of
attempting to avoid him and leave a message on his office line. It could have
been as simple as a case of her realizing it was only ten o’clock in the
morning and chances were he was in his office and would pick up that phone. Or,
it could have been that she had understood after yesterday’s events he wasn’t a
Dom that liked to be disobeyed on any level.

He
hoped it was the latter. He wanted Kindle to begin to think of herself as his
submissive. It may only be for a short time, but he could not deny the
satisfaction that dominating her had brought to his life. A surprise, but the
pleasure was there just the same.

~YH~

“Kristy,
you did great today.” Kindle stooped down before the little black girl with the
big, brown eyes. Eyes that were filled with more wisdom than any eight year old
should have.

Kristy
Martin was the last abduction victim of Peter Dashell, and she was also the
only survivor able to testify. The other four children were dead and buried
beneath his prized tomato garden.

The
little girl’s mother, a single parent, occupied the chair beside Kristy and a
social worker was on the other side of the table.

“I
was scared.” Kristy held a blue crayon in one hand, she’d been coloring a
picture of an angel, but allowed Kindle to hold the other between both of her
hands. The little girl showed remarkable success over the last eight months,
since she had been discovered and rescued. Kristy withheld eye contact from any
adult, shied away from any sort of touch except her mothers and hadn’t spoken
for two weeks following her return home. However, the child trauma counselors
for the county had made amazing progress.

Kristy
being able to testify had been one of the major events CA Harvey had gotten the
judge to hold the trial for. With all the evidence stacked against CKP Peter,
Kindle didn’t need the little girl’s testimony to prosecute and get a
conviction on the sadistic bastard, but Kristy needed a chance to stand up
against her tormentor. So that when she grew up she would know she was solely
responsible for her abductor receiving his due justice.

“I
know you were, sweetheart. I am so proud of you.” Kindle felt her throat
tighten at the memory of the brave little girl’s testimony.

Judge
Geneon had emptied the courtroom of everyone, reporters and curious observers
there to watch the trial were escorted out before Kristy had come in. Kindle
had made sure she stood close to the witness stand but at an angle that blocked
the little girl’s direct view of the defendant. Until she asked her if she saw
the man that took her from the museum during a school field trip. Stepping
aside, she’d watched Kristy lift her small hand and point a steady, accusing
finger at CKP Peter. Kindle had wanted to cheer and hug the girl right there
knowing the struggle Kristy Martin had gone through to get to that point.

Kindle
was thankful that the defense attorney had given Kristy mercy and refused to cross-examine
the little girl. Simeon was shrewd and at times used devious tactics to get his
guilty clients off, but he wasn’t heartless when it came to children.

“For
real, you were proud of me, Miss Kindle?” Her brown eyes softened with wonder.

She
swallowed to keep her voice steady and said, “For real proud.” She rubbed the
back of Kristy’s hand.

Kristy
sprang up from her seat and wrapped her arms around Kindle’s neck. Bearing the
slight weight of the little girl, Kindle pulled her in close as she returned
her embrace.

When
Kristy released her and slipped back onto the chair beside her mother, Kindle
rose. “You all are free to go. Court is adjourned for the day.”

Gina
Martin stood and thanked Kindle. “I’ll be here tomorrow. Kristy’s grandmother
will stay at the house with her.”

It
had been that way since the trial began on Monday. Gina had wanted to be
present during the entire trial of the man who had stolen her little girl and
had her for three days before she was found. It was for that reason Kindle had
called Gina to the stand as her first witness. Since her testimony was complete,
the mother chose to occupy the front row directly behind Kindle.

“Then
I’ll see you tomorrow at nine.” Kindle watched the trio stroll from the room.
Once the door had closed behind them, she’d allowed her trembling legs a break
as she lowered herself into a chair.

She
just needed to breathe. Before the little girl she had put on a good front, but
she’d been overwhelmed with emotion all day knowing Kristy would be testifying.
In a case involving such a small child, there was always the risk of
retraumatization to the victim and that was the last thing Kindle wanted for
her. However, the day had been a success.

Kindle
wanted to see Peter Dashell underneath a jail for life for his actions against
Kristy and the other children. The death penalty was legal in Virginia, but she
wasn’t going for it. She knew what inmates did to child molesters and
pedophiles in prison and she wanted Peter to suffer every day for the rest of
his life for what he’d done to the children. Death would be too merciful.

“Kindle,
you alright?”

Lifting
her gaze, Kindle hadn’t even realized Alejandra, a junior attorney on her team,
had come into the room. Forcing a smile on her face, Kindle stood. “I’m fine.
Just taking a breather.”

“Tell
me about it. It was a tough day.” Alejandra Vega, a Mexican-American woman of
twenty-seven, was new to the field by a year. She was holding a stack of files
and Kindle’s briefcase.

“Yes.”
Kindle took her briefcase and led them both from the room. “Has the team
already headed to the office?”

“Everyone
but Chris, he went to get pizza. He snagged your credit card from your briefcase.”
Alejandra smiled.

Laughing,
Kindle said, “Of course he did.” Chris had followed her from her first
practice, and knew her well. He knew she would never allow her team to pay for
food when they were working late, because she saw it as her job to feed her
staff. “We’ll get started on rehashing today’s events and he can jump in when
he gets back.”

They
strolled down the back hall to take another exit away from the reporters out
front. Kindle just didn’t have the tolerance today to field questions.

“May
I say something…that truly may not be any of my business?”

Keeping
up her stride, Kindle glanced at the woman wondering what was on Alejandra’s
mind. “You may as long as I have a right not to answer.”

The
younger woman’s chuckle was light, still exhibiting her youth and naivety.
Kindle knew once the girl had been a prosecutor for a while she’d laugh less
often, her soul weighted from the grimness of humanity she’d witness over and
over again.

“Of
course. Well, I just wanted to say that the hunk…you know
that
guy in
your office the other morning.”

Kindle
didn’t need her to emphasize which guy, Masaun’s image had already come up in
her mind. “Uh huh.” Had Alejandra seen something between her and Masaun?

“Well,
he’s very hot. If he’s your man, you’re one lucky lady.”

Saying
Masaun was hot was an understatement. The man made commanding sexy. “Why would
you think he was my man?” Kindle asked. They reached their wing and waited for
the elevator to take them up.

“The
way he looked at you. The quiet boldness, like we weren’t even there. It was
intense and passionate without being sleazy and crude. You know like a lot of
guys look at a woman in a bar, as if they’re trying to figure out what kind of
underwear they’re wearing beneath their clothes.”

She
could verify the thoughts going through Masaun’s mind as he’d given her that
final fiery glance. However, one thing was for sure, he didn’t need to
determine what kind of panties she wore, because he had them in his possession
when he strolled away.

“I’ll
keep that in mind.” Refusing to confirm or deny the relationship between her
and Masaun, Kindle steered the conversation in the direction of the case.

Tonight
would be soon enough for Masaun to command her full attention, right now she
just needed to get through the next few hours.

Thoughts
of the dominant male could wait.

~YH~

Masaun
stood at his back window, staring out into the yard. He could see the extension
he had built onto the back of his house—a dungeon he used when he used to hold
play parties at his home. He hadn’t had one in a while. A long while. The
dungeon was accessible from a door inside his personal, private playroom that
he never allowed anyone else to use, or from going outside the door to the
backyard.

Taking
a breath, he glanced over at the clock on the wall. It was five minutes to seven
and he expected Kindle to arrive at any moment. She hadn’t called with any
excuses about needing to work longer or time getting away from her and she just
preferred to go home, so she should be on time.

After
work, he’d gone to The Dollhouse to work privately with a Dom and his
submissive wife. The man had learned through their play time that his wife
truly enjoyed being dominated in the bedroom. They had done the adult thing and
actually talked about entering the lifestyle. Masaun liked the couple, who had
been married for eleven years with five children, but they still took time to
keep their intimate relationship active.

Following
the two-hour session with them, he’d come home, gone for a run then downed a
protein shake to boost his energy and showered. Now, he waited.

His
doorbell chimed at exactly eight o’clock. He wondered if she had been at his
front door already and just stood there until the precise time.

Leaving
his post, he went to answer the door. “Good evening, Song Sparrow.”

“Hello,
Sir.” She stood on his porch dressed in the same black and pink pinstriped
pantsuit he’d seen her wearing in the recap of the televised court case he
watched while he dressed.

He
hadn’t given her instruction on what to wear, that would have meant her going
home first and he didn’t want the delay. Stepping to the side, he allowed her
to come in. “You may hang your jacket up in the closet and place your shoes
inside as well.”

“Yes,
Sir.”

The
widening of her eyes revealed her surprise. He was sure she probably expected
him to have her naked and over a bench the second she walked in.

“We’ll
get to our session soon enough. I’d like to talk first. Have you eaten?”

Her
jacket was hung and she was in the process of removing her shoes, ebony heels
that almost placed her eye to eye with him. Glancing up to meet his eyes, she
said, “No, Sir. I got pizza for my team members but I didn’t feel like eating.”

“Good.
Join me in the kitchen, I make a mean hoagie.”

Her
eyes lit up and a small smile curled at the corner of her lips.  Now
barefooted, her lips were not too far below his if he wanted to lean his head
down and kiss her.