Embedded

Thinking

Thea nervously paced the length of her cramped studio, her bare feet barely registering the floor’s hardwood as she moved back and forth. The clock on her kitchenette wall ticked away the minutes until the arranged time. She couldn’t believe that he had asked her to enter into a submissive relationship with him, nor could she believe that she had actually given it serious consideration.

Startled, Thea stepped back as she heard a soft but firm knock on her door. When she opened it, she was met by a distinguished-looking man in a fitted black suit. He held out a beautifully crafted gold box with a delicate pink bow and a bouquet of vibrant red roses next to it. “Are you Thea Palmer?” he asked.

She stepped forward lightly with her bare feet, her eyes flitting left to right as she peered down the hallway. She stopped and turned back to the speaker, one eyebrow raised. “Yes?” she replied cautiously.

“These are for you,” he told Thea, handing her the large box and roses. Nestled among the petals was a card held in place by a clip. He winked at her and smiled, “The card is in the roses,” he said before turning and walking away, his voice echoing behind him.

She carefully set the vase of long-stemmed roses on her coffee table and smiled. She ran her fingers along the soft petals and inhaled the sweet aroma; it had been years since someone had given her flowers, let alone such a luxurious bouquet of roses. She plucked the delicate white envelope tucked between the petals and opened it.

To my intrigued Psychologist,

I command you to wear this tonight.

Xoxo, Mason

Thea rolled her eyes and snorted in disbelief. “He COMMANDS me?!” With deliberate slowness, she released the tight ribbon knot and carefully lifted the box lid. Inside, carefully folded, was a midnight black lace dress and a pair of ruby red heels.

Thea held the dress up to her body, feeling the stiff material scratch lightly against her skin. The neckline was low and curved to show an elegant amount of cleavage as it draped around her back, only revealing a brief peek of skin. The hemline fell below her butt, showing off enough leg but not too revealing. She reluctantly placed it back in its box and let out a frustrated groan. She couldn’t deny that it was beautiful, but it wasn’t something she typically wore. She plopped down on the couch, her eyes glancing up at the clock, which read 6:00 pm. What am I going to do?

The night sky sparkled with countless twinkling stars as the clock struck 8 pm. Mason arrived in front of Thea’s apartment in his sleek black Audi. He exited the vehicle, the cold air biting his skin with a teasing chill, making him shiver for a moment before he adjusted to the cold. He walked around the car to the passenger side and pulled out his phone just as it started to ring. He immediately silenced it with a swipe, determined not to be interrupted tonight. A sly smirk played on his lips as he anticipated the night ahead. Thea had posed a special challenge for him, one he was confident he could overcome. He’d been a Dom for years now, and he was sure Thea wouldn’t be any different, and by the end of their arrangement, she’d be begging for his mercy.

Mason slowly drew his gaze away from his phone as he heard the shuffling of feet and the sound of a door opening. His eyes shot up, and he felt as if his breath had left him. Gone was the bookworm who stood before him in his office that morning. That woman had been replaced by a seductive siren. Confidence filled her entire being as she strutted towards him, and he instantly locked eyes with her. Her lips glowed a brilliant red, her black lace dress clung perfectly to her curves and hugged each one just enough to tease what lay beneath, and her hair fell gracefully down one side of her body in the most tantalizing way. As he admired her, Mason felt like the world had stopped spinning for a few seconds. He was mesmerized and could only stare in awe at her presence.

Thea’s mouth gaped open as Mason stepped forward. He wore a sleek black suit that showed off every one of his muscular lines, and his blond hair was styled in a pompadour that accentuated his strong jaw. His piercing blue eyes instantly locked on Thea, and the air seemed to sizzle with electricity between them. His lips curled into the sexiest smile she had ever seen, one that spoke of secrets and mischief without uttering a word. At that moment, Thea knew that this night would be different than any other before it.

Thea stopped abruptly before him, her eyes wide with a hint of accusation. He stood tall and proud, his broad shoulders thrown back with a smirk on his lips. He raised an eyebrow and said, “You wore it,” his tone playfully challenging.

“Did I have a choice?” Thea asked.

“No,” Mason opened the passenger door and motioned for her to enter. His smoldering gaze made her heart skip a beat as he leaned in, his lips brushing her ear and rasping, “Or there would have been consequences.”

* * *

As Mason pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot, a small man in a bright red valet vest approached the car. After exchanging a few words with Mason through the open window, the man reached into his pocket for a small silver key ring. Mason stepped out of the car and opened Thea’s door as the valet slid into the driver’s seat, one hand resting casually on the steering wheel.

Mason held out his elbow and waited for her to loop hers through. The cool night air brushed her skin as they approached the entrance of the restaurant. Red and gold banners flapped in the wind, and two guards stood vigilant at their posts. Mason stepped aside and held open the door for her, his eyes twinkling under the moon. He leaned in close and spoke quietly, “After you.”

The waiter guided them through the restaurant, the clink of silverware and the whisper of conversation fading as they moved farther into the depths of the building. They followed him up a winding staircase and through two velvet curtains before entering a small, candle-lit room with white linens and glassware. The waiter managed to open a bottle of Chablis swiftly and gracefully, pouring two glasses with steady hands. He bowed, allowing them a moment alone to review their menu.

Thea’s eyes skimmed the options before her, lingering on the pasta section. After a few seconds, she lowered her menu, and her gaze mingled with surprise and curiosity when she asked, “How did you get my address?”

He continued to study the menu, not daring to look up. His voice was confident. “I asked my sister. I told her all about our first session, and I wanted to show my gratitude by sending you a gift.”

“So you lied?” Thea continued to probe.

Looking up from the menu, he flashed a smile that made her stomach flutter. His eyes were gentle as he spoke. “Of course not. It was a great session,” he said, “The best one yet.”