Releasing Kate (4 page)

“But that’s sexual harassment—”

“No. I was told that the woman willingly participates, that the job is never part of the deal.” She took a bite of salad and chewed it. She frowned before continuing. “He especially likes to bend independent women to his will.” Her frown deepened. “It is so hard to talk to you about this. He’s been so nice to me. He’s a wonderful boss. I really hate that I checked on him. I really hate to spread gossip,” she rushed on, “but he’s been asking questions about you—personal questions about your lifestyle and beliefs. He’s read your entire employee record. He ordered a background investigation on you. I think he’s targeting you,” she finished.

Kate squirmed at the thought of someone prying into her background. Not that she believed they’d find anything. She certainly hadn’t been able to find out about her biological parents. No relatives had ever come forward to claim her after the car accident. Over the years, she’d shoved the adoption to the back of her mind. Maybe Michael would tell her if he found anything.

“Kate?”

Eileen’s soft prompt brought Kate back to the present. She took a moment, trying to sort out her conflicting emotions. She felt a thrill of fear in her stomach even as warmth flooded her pelvis. She knew that alpha males were evolutionary throwbacks. She couldn’t want Michael, could she? She reluctantly admitted that she was tempted. Even while revulsion fought for supremacy in her mind. She wouldn’t be any man’s sexual slave. While Kate wasn’t averse to a quick fling, even though he was the boss, there was no way she’d give up total control.

“He can’t do much without my cooperation,” she finally said.

“Well yes,” Eileen agreed. “That’s the whole point. He’ll pursue you until you do agree. At least that has been his pattern in the past.”

Kate shrugged. “Thanks for the warning. I’ll be careful,” she said as they finished lunch.

Later that night, Kate replayed their conversation. Was Eileen right? Was Michael a predator? Was that how he made her feel safe, protected and threatened all at the same time? And what had he meant about her clan heritage? She’d been adopted. She knew little about her biological family and what she did know made her doubt that she’d want to admit her heritage. She wasn’t sure Michael would accept that denial though. She’d already seen his edge. He didn’t seem to hide his dark side. So why wasn’t she running away from him? Was it possible that he was the right one? Was he a man she could trust with her unspoken needs?

The dark edge of sex fascinated Kate. She’d fought the impulse all of her life by choosing sensitive men—men horrified by the thought of violence toward women. Despite therapy, she hadn’t been able to rid herself of the memory of her biological mother chained to a wall, her back lined with whip marks while Kate’s father soothed ointment on the wounds. The image had been seared into her mind. They’d been so immersed in each other that they hadn’t even realized that Kate had been there. That she’d seen them.

The subsequent car accident and her adoption meant Kate had never been able to ask about the scene. She’d rationalized that she was too independent to enjoy being dominated. Violent, painful sex was wrong and socially taboo. At least that’s what her adopted parents had taught her. What society had taught
her.
Her biological parents hadn’t seemed to believe that and Michael’s parents had clearly taught him something different. What kind of family collected phallic statuary as heirlooms?

Kate sighed. There was no way she could shed her values and play domination games with a male like Michael. But she couldn’t deny that the memory of Michael aroused her to a stunning level of need. Her cunt clenched and ached. She desperately wanted Michael but there was no way she’d play submissive for any male. Was there?

The mere thought of being tied or whipped took her breath away. A heady rush of longing flooded her pelvis, confusing her. She was an independent woman. She always maintained control, never gave that advantage to a man. The dark side was wrong. She’d never indulge that desire. Repeating the refrain, she tried to convince herself that her new boss wasn’t turning her on as no man had ever done before. He’d barely touched her yet she couldn’t get him out of her head.

Kate tossed and turned. Erotic thoughts of Michael’s collection kept her awake. Were they usable? Mentally fantasizing about which statue she’d try first if she had the chance. What would it feel like, to have one of those things deep inside? She groaned. She’d been too long without sex, too long without a man. Masturbation and dildos were a cold substitute for a man’s warmth. Thinking of temperature led her thoughts to the materials in his collection. Were the dildos cold? Did he warm them before he used them? Why would any man use them? Wouldn’t the size of the dildos make a man feel inadequate?

Eileen had encouraged Kate to reject any of Michael’s advances but Kate admitted she longed to feel his hands on her breasts as his cock rammed deep into her. What was wrong with a few sexual games? She was a big girl now. She admitted her sexuality. She liked sex. Eileen grew up in a different generation. She didn’t understand.

Kate wanted to know what Michael did with his toys. Her vagina ached with emptiness. She masturbated but remained unsatisfied though she had an orgasm. Kate wanted Michael—on her terms of course. Sex was always on her terms. She’d avoid his edgier games but she was certainly interested in the man. Forget the games, they’d just have sex. Sex was good. Michael never left her head while she masturbated and fell asleep dreaming of phalluses.

* * * * *

For the next few days, Michael deliberately stayed far away from Kate as he fought his libido. It was beginning to look as though this job would be far more interesting than he’d originally thought. He anticipated the challenge of gentling Kate and gaining her willing cooperation. Michael needed Kate to surrender completely, and before he was done, she would. In the meantime, he had to tread carefully. He didn’t want to scare her off.

He’d pushed too hard the other night. Kate’s stunned response to his questions told him she was a novice and she didn’t know about her heritage. Given her ignorance, he knew it was too soon to make a move even though the thought of her initiation nearly sent him over the edge.

Instead of pursuing Kate, he focused on restructuring the facility and forced most thoughts of Kate deep into the back of his mind. But she was always there. He couldn’t dismiss her entirely. Late at night, thoughts of Kate possessed him and kept him awake. He didn’t know how much longer he could resist her. How much longer could he ignore his nature?

He knew Kate was interested. He’d intercepted too many curious glances and her need called to him. She wanted him every bit as much as he wanted her. Forcing himself to be patient was hard. He stayed away from her. Only late at night did he bring her to the surface of his mind. He pictured the best way to heighten her arousal. He tormented himself by imagining the things they’d do together.

One night he abandoned any pretense of sleep and walked downstairs. He opened the cabinet in his living room and stroked a jade cock. It was his favorite piece. The cold stone had never failed to soothe his ferocious needs in the past. This time though it barely made a dent in his raging libido. How much longer could he last? If he lost control, Kate wouldn’t survive the encounter and that was the last thing he wanted.

His thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of the phone. He picked it up and heard his father’s voice. “Take her! Take her before you send the entire clan into frenzy!”

“Dad!
This is a surprise.”

“Forget the small talk. She’s a mate! You must recognize that fact. Just take her!”

“You can feel her?
In Sanctuary?
I didn’t think that was possible.”

“We’re not feeling her. We’re feeling you. You’re the one causing the disturbance in Sanctuary. Not even the elders can explain how that’s happening. So take her!”

“She’s not clan.”

“The hell she isn’t! If she causes this kind of storm in you she most certainly is clan. Why do you say she’s not? Who is she?”

“Her name is Kate. Kate Logan.”

“I don’t know any Logan family.”

“Logan is her adopted name. She has no idea about her ancestry.”

“Adopted? How could that happen? No clan child would ever be left outside Sanctuary— Never mind, that is something to figure out later. In the meantime, you’re responding to her. That means she’s one of us. She has to be clan. Tell her about us and just take her.”

“Dad, I’m moving in that direction but she’s a novice. If I move too fast it will be rape, not seduction, and while part of me would enjoy that, I’m sure she wouldn’t.”

“How could she not know about her ancestry? I’ll do some research and see if I can find out more. In the meantime, Michael, the entire clan is feeling your need. If you can’t take her soon then you’d better visit and get a fix.”

“I’ll keep that in mind and I’ll work harder on keeping myself under control.”

“Good luck, son.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Michael hung up the phone and frowned.

Telling Kate about Sanctuary and everything it entailed would just scare her off. While he could drop hints, maybe it would be better if he showed just a part of his personality. His collection pointed to domination. It didn’t reveal the mental linking that could take place between them. Kate might more easily accept the pain side than the fact they’d eventually share their minds.

Michael was an intelligent man. Kate was an innocent. It shouldn’t be that hard to get close to her and convince her that they both wanted the same thing. He ran a hand through his hair. A few scenarios flitted through his head before he realized just how easy it would be to put her by his side. He smiled and went back to bed. This time he slept.

Chapter Four

Three days later, Kate got a summons to a meeting at five o’clock on a Friday afternoon—Friday of a holiday weekend. Kate sighed. She’d been looking forward to three days off. Pete had administrative call and Kate hadn’t had a break in months. Unfortunately, a late meeting didn’t bode well.

Kate walked into the executive suite, feeling naked without her lab coat. She’d left it in the department because of the bloodstains and her spare was in the laundry. The holiday had started early for some people and X-ray had been swamped by emergencies. Despite the fact that the command to appear annoyed her, and she missed her pockets, she wasn’t going to show up in a dirty coat.

Eileen’s empty desk reminded Kate that Eileen always took long holiday weekends. Kate had been so busy she’d forgotten that Eileen wouldn’t be here. A vague sense of unease washed through Kate when she realized the entire floor was quiet and deserted. Eileen wasn’t the only one who’d started the holiday early. It seemed as though everyone except Michael was gone.

Kate knocked on his door. He opened it and gestured her inside. Tension curled in her stomach. She heard Michael shut the door. Then he locked it with a distinctive click.

Kate turned to look at him, her eyebrows raised.

“Relax. This is a private conversation and I don’t want to be disturbed.”

Who would disturb them? Everyone was gone. Kate fought a sinking, vulnerable feeling. Was she going to be fired? Or encouraged to resign?

“Thanks for coming.”

“No problem,” Kate said. She ignored his roaming eyes despite the fact his gaze felt like a warm caress. “I’m always available.”

“Not yet, but you will be,” he said so softly that Kate nearly missed the comment and before she asked about it, Michael continued. “Pete is worried about you.”

Stunned by the blunt statement, Kate remained silent.

He raised his eyebrows, waiting for a response.

Kate pulled herself together to say, “Do you have a problem with my work?”

“Your work is excellent.”

“Then I don’t see the problem.”

“The problem is that Pete is underutilized. He could easily run the department. He wants to run the department.”

“I’m aware of that. Do you want him running the department?” Kate struggled to keep her anger under control.

“If I do?
What are you going to do about it?” he asked in a soft, unreadable voice.

“You’re the boss, but if you want Pete in charge, where does that leave me?”

He waited.

“I agree that Pete is good and that he is underutilized, but I like my job and have no intentions of just handing it to him.”

“Then he’ll leave and I really don’t want him to do that.”

Kate knew she should denigrate Pete. She should undermine his position as he’d done to her. She didn’t want to sink to that level though. She wouldn’t make herself look better by stepping on someone else, even Pete. Kate sighed. “Pete is very capable and you’re right, we don’t want to lose him. Do you want me to leave?” Kate asked. The unexpected direction of the conversation left her too startled to be diplomatic.

“No. I most certainly don’t want you to leave. You’re both too capable to lose.”

“Then what do you suggest?” Kate fought to stay calm. She was furious that Pete had obviously been talking to Michael.

“I’m not suggesting, I’m telling. Pete is going to take over the department. He’s a very happy man right now.”

Shock coursed through Kate. She’d joked about losing her job but she’d never expected it to happen. “Am I being fired?” she asked, unable to keep the tremor out of her voice. She wanted him to make it explicit.

Michael smiled. “No, you misunderstand. I want to promote you. I want you to take a position as my assistant. Your reports are tight and concise. Your analyses are logical and sound. I want your help keeping this place together.”

Michael perched on the edge of the desk. He loomed over her, reminding her of his size and power.

“It’s the perfect solution, given that both you and Pete are underutilized. Besides,” he continued, “you’re one of the few people here who
doesn’t
seem to be afraid of me.” He paused while he tilted his head as if examining an interesting specimen. “Why is that?” he asked softly. “Why aren’t you afraid of me?”

“Should I be afraid?” Kate countered.

“Only if you are afraid of facing a challenge.”

Kate remembered Eileen’s warning and wondered what kind of challenge he had in mind. Thrilled, but wary, she didn’t reply.

Michael suddenly stood.

Kate couldn’t help noticing the very large bulge in his pants.
Stop it. Don’t get distracted
, she told herself.

Michael walked behind his desk, picked up a piece of paper and handed it to her. “This is the job description. The position will be very good for your career. It will give you experience in the executive suite and more familiarity with the other departments,” he said.

“This is unexpected,” Kate said.

“Think about it over the weekend,” he said. “Give me your answer Tuesday morning. Remember, it will be very good for your career and it comes with a generous raise.”

Kate spent the weekend trying to relax but her thoughts whirled and gave her no peace. Michael, not the job offer, occupied her mind. He was firmly entrenched in her head. She thought about his collection. She thought about his eyes. She thought about his scent. She thought about his size. She thought about his power.

She warred with herself, asking why he’d so easily taken over her thoughts. She’d never before felt such a constant lust. How could she want this man? He was everything she rejected in men. She’d worked hard to bury the memories of her biological father’s cruelty. The memories rarely surfaced now. How could she even think about working so close to an alpha male?

Kate wanted to make him lose control but at the same time, she couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to give him complete control of her. Usually she could take or leave any man. No one had ever threatened her peace of mind the way Michael did and she simply wasn’t sure how to counter his effect. Complicating her emotions was the fact she wasn’t sure she wanted to resist him. She couldn’t remember ever being so excited and aroused.

She wondered what it would feel like to be dominated by such a man. Kate knew he was a chest-beating male even though she hadn’t seen much evidence of that lately. She knew it lurked just under the surface, covered by a thin veneer of civilization. Why then did he fascinate her? Yes he was a prime example of masculinity but overt masculinity was something she typically avoided. Didn’t she? Yes, she did. She preferred men who were in touch with their emotions—men she could…manage.

Yet Kate wanted to see where a relationship with Michael could lead. Would he make a pass at her? Did she really want him to? Yes. If he didn’t make a pass soon, she would. Otherwise she’d always wonder what they could have had. Kate simply wanted an amusing and arousing fling. It didn’t matter that he was the boss. She could keep her heart in check. She’d been doing it for years. Besides the novelty of Michael would wear off once they worked together and she saw him every day. So Kate went to work on Tuesday and agreed to work for him.

Kate wasn’t prepared for the fact that Michael liked touching. A gentle hand on the back of her neck eased her tension. A hand on her arm guided her through doors. He made fleeting contact with her breasts. His erection teased her back when he stood close behind her. He never once took a wrong step. Most men grabbed—he didn’t. Most men didn’t listen—he did. His ability to pay attention, to focus his total attention on Kate to the exclusion of everything else, was a heady ego trip. He seemed to be ever present, orchestrating every movement. Softly, with subtle touches, he aroused Kate to fever pitch. But he didn’t make an obvious pass. By the end of the first week Kate was ready to scream with frustration.

The next week Kate took the initiative. She leaned into him. She reached out to touch him. She made excuses to lean over him, pointing out things on reports. Kate needed him in a way she’d never experienced. He inflamed her senses. Kate could feel his pleasure as she moved toward him. Subtle rewards, never talked about, never examined, as she fell deeper and deeper under his spell.

Her friends worried though.

Three weeks after being promoted, Janet entered Kate’s office like a whirlwind.

“Kate, you don’t seem to realize what he’s doing to you,” exclaimed Janet, worry and frustration lining her face.

“Janet, he’s not doing anything!” Kate exclaimed. “I know I haven’t seen much of you lately but that is nothing new. Our relationship has always been sporadic since you moved to nights.”

“No, no, no, even Eileen says my messages aren’t getting through. Don’t you know that he vets all your phone calls and all your mail? Even your email routes through his first?”

“What are you talking about? I get my messages.”

“Ask Eileen if you don’t believe me. I’ve left four voicemails since you started this position. Have you gotten any of them?” Janet asked.

Kate looked at her with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Was she right? Was Michael really intercepting all her communications? Why would he intercept her messages?

A light knock at the door interrupted Kate’s processing. She looked up to see Michael standing there. He didn’t look happy. Tension radiated off him in waves and Kate thought it was a good thing his eyes weren’t actually lasers or Janet might have been fried.

“Janet,” he said softly, “don’t you have work to do? I know Kate does.”

Janet threw Kate a terrified glance as she hurried out of the room.

“Is it true? Are you intercepting my messages?”

Michael replied by closing and locking the door. He leaned back and stared at her.

Kate met his glance and stayed silent too.

“Yes,” he said finally. “If you check with Eileen, you’ll find that it is not just your messages I intercept. I’m doing the same thing to every department head and supervisor. The feds aren’t sure if the last manager was the only one involved in the fraud. They asked me to keep track of communications from anyone who might have been involved.”

“So Janet’s messages didn’t get through because?”

“Because you know personal communication on office equipment isn’t allowed,” he answered smoothly. “Have you checked your home answering machine lately?”

Kate sighed. She hadn’t spent much time at home lately and she’d told him two days ago her answering machine was broken.

He smiled and shrugged. “Simple answers,” he said on his way out the door.

Kate sat still for a moment and then went into the outer office.

“Is it true? Does he really go through all communications?”

Eileen looked grim.
“Every piece.
Not only does he go through it, he deletes anything not job related. It is in the policy book that he has the right to do that. We just aren’t used to anyone following through.”

“If Janet calls again, would you tell her everything is okay, that I’m just really busy.”

“I wish I could,” replied Eileen, “but he told me not to take any personal messages.” She shrugged helplessly. “I know this is a little bizarre but you know what a good boss he is in every other way. I’ve never enjoyed working as much as I do working for him. But I still think he’s targeting you. Maybe another job…”

“I think you’re wrong,” Kate stated before turning and walking back to her office.

She couldn’t imagine the possibility of not seeing Michael anymore. Michael was a wonderful boss. He was patient. He explained. He understood human weaknesses. He rewarded good work. He was just great.
Besides Kate was in lust.
Eileen worries over nothing,
she told herself though she couldn’t shake the feeling of danger. Forbidding and dark like a coming storm, the feeling seemed nearly alive and it weighed her down. But since she couldn’t pinpoint the source, she told herself there was no logical reason to feel danger.

Michael wanted Kate. He didn’t know how much longer he could wait to advance to the next stage. He told himself she wasn’t quite ready though his seduction had been agonizingly slow. He’d stopped all the visions so she wouldn’t be scared off. She wasn’t quite desperate enough to accept his customary practices. He knew she was ready for sex but not his brand of sex. He knew he had to wait but the waiting was driving him crazy. He longed to cup her tight butt and spread it wide for his entry. He clenched his jaw. She wasn’t ready. If he moved too soon, he’d lose her.

He cursed his impatience. He felt the clan working hard to help him calm his raging needs. He should go visit but he knew no one could substitute for Kate. She was his mate. He needed her and he needed her soon.

* * * * *

Kate saw Michael a lot during the next week. Every meeting, every trip through the hallway, he seemed to be everywhere. At times during meetings, she’d look up to find his eyes on her like a physical caress.

Michael continued throwing her intellectual challenges. He forced her to get better. He pushed her to levels she’d never reached before. She was so busy thinking about his intellectual demands that his emotional demands slipped past all her defenses. He kept her occupied.

His critiques were never harsh. Rather he’d ask softly, “Is this the best you can do?” then sigh in acceptance if she truly believed she could do no better. And rarely, she’d get the quick, breathtaking smile of approval. Kate found herself living for that smile.

Her days became longer so gradually she didn’t realize that he was slowly filling almost every waking moment with work. Work with him. He became her existence until she was spending twelve to fourteen hours a day with him. All the clues and hints and warnings were there. Kate simply refused to think about it.

The following week was again hectic. Hospital inspectors came to verify their certification. From six in the morning to midnight Michael and Kate scrambled. They found records for the inspectors. They accompanied the inspectors on tours and generally rushed to meet ever-changing needs.