Embedded

Dinner

He placed his menu on the table and continued. “I looked up your counseling business, Embedded Psychologist. I’ve never heard of this kind of approach where you follow your clients around all day during a pre-decided amount of time.”

“Everyone is hesitant at first but don’t knock it. It works.” Thea said confidently.

“I know,” Mason leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands together. “I’ve taken the liberty of reaching out to some of your past clients,” he said, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.

Thea lifted her glass to her lips and took a sip, only to find that it had done nothing to quench her thirst. Her mouth was dry, her heart racing in anticipation of what he thought. “And?” she asked.

He rubbed a hand over his stubbled jaw, glancing around the room. “They all say it works,” he said, his voice low and serious. He locked eyes with her, uncertainty reflecting in his gaze. “Do you think it would work for me?” He hastily added, “Not that I need it.”

Her red-tinted lips curved up at the corners, her eyes twinkling with hope. “Yes, of course,” she said, a gentle warmth in her voice.

The waiter approached their table; his hands clasped neatly behind his back. His crisp white shirt was tucked neatly into his black trousers, and he offered them a polite smile. Mason’s eyes lingered on the steak before ordering it for himself, and then he pointed to the pasta for Thea. “Is that a problem?” he asked her, glancing back and forth between her and the waiter.

She slowly scanned the menu; her lips pursed in concentration. She handed it back to the waiter when she finished, shaking her head. “Seeing as I’ve never been here before,” she said with a smile, “I trust you know what’s good.”

Mason waited until the waiter bowed out of the room and clicked the door shut behind him before continuing. He leaned forward, his face illuminated by the soft candlelight flickering on the table, “So, what do you think of my proposition?” he asked, pinning her with a gaze of desire.

She hesitated, her slender fingers clutching the stem of her wine glass before placing it back down on the table. Her eyes flitted to his, and she nervously licked her lips before asking in a small voice, “What would I be getting myself into if I do this?”

Mason leaned forward on his elbows and lowered his voice. His eyes drilled into hers, and he spoke slowly. “You would be the submissive, and I’m the dominant. You’d give yourself completely to me and follow my commands.”

Memories of her ex-boyfriend surfaced in her head. She struggled to hold back the tears welling in her eyes as she recalled the nights of verbal and emotional abuse that pushed her further into her own darkness. When he finally resorted to physical abuse, it was like a dam had broken, and Thea had to get away for the sake of her sanity. She remembered that night vividly, the fear she felt when he raised his hand, the tears that streamed down her face as she ran from his grasp. It took years for Thea to undo the psychological trauma from those years and build the courage to trust and let others in. However, one question still lingered, “Does that include…hitting?”

Mason paused the crystal wine glass at his lips, studying Thea with his intense blue eyes. “No. Never.” He placed the glass on the linen-covered table, slowly twirling the stem between his fingers. His brow furrowed as he immediately knew there was a deeper meaning behind her question. “I mean, some people are into that type of b**m, but not me. I focus more on pleasure than pain,” he searched her face before continuing, “You know, it may seem like I would have all the power, but I don’t.”

Thea’s eyes widened in confusion, and her delicate eyebrows scrunched together. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came, then a moment later, she uttered, “I don’t follow.”

He took a sip of the white liquid and fixed her with a steady gaze before continuing. “As I mentioned earlier, it’s all about consent. You have the right to stop at any point.”

Thea felt a rush of anticipation run through her body as she listened to him. Was it his tall stature, broad shoulders, or unwavering gaze that caused her heart to flutter? Her curiosity had shifted to intrigue as she was drawn in by the idea of being in control. Her stomach clenched as she remembered her ex and the power he held over her. She wanted to know what it felt like to be in control and have the power to put an end to the pain he inflicted. She shifted in her chair, her heart pounding, as she asked the all-important question, “How would I stop it?”

His eyes twinkled, and one corner of his mouth turned up in a subtle grin as he explained. “A safe word. A single word that you choose. Anytime you say it, whatever we’re doing ends right then and there.”

Thea was deep in thought when the waiter arrived with their meals, quickly setting the plates down on the crisp white tablecloth. Steam rose off the food as the waiter took a step back and bowed his head before leaving the room. “Enjoy,” he said, his voice trailing as he disappeared.

Mason and Thea tucked into their dinners, the sound of clinking forks punctuating the quietness. The air was charged with expectation as Thea put her fork down and took a breath. “Okay,” she said.

He slowly chewed, the juices of the steak bursting in his mouth. His eyes met hers, “Okay?” he repeated her words back to her with a questioning inflection before popping the next bite into his mouth.

She glared at him sternly, her hands on her hips, her voice stern and unwavering. “But in turn, you must be serious when I probe into your life. Any questions, observances, findings, and, yes, emotional talks need to be respected and engaged in!” her eyebrows furrowed as she waited for his reply.

“Of course,” he said, picking up a slice of warm bread from the platter. He took a bite and savored the flavor. “One more thing. All my submissives lived with me throughout our contract.”

She took a sip from her glass and nearly spat it out when he made the unexpected statement. Her face flushed, and she stuttered out, “You want me to live with you?!”

He sipped his wine and gave her a slow, suggestive wink. “Just for the six months,” he murmured, eyes twinkling with amusement. “It might be beneficial for you to see how I live. My routines, day and night alike. Would it not?”

Thea sat in silence for a few moments, her mind racing. She looked up at him and saw the resolve in his eyes. With a heavy sigh, she nodded. “Fine. I agree to the terms.”

He smiled broadly and clapped his hands together. “Excellent!” His voice was full of enthusiasm as he continued, “I’ll draft up a contract tomorrow for us to sign.”

“Now, I’m signing a contract?” Thea asked, twirling her fork in her steaming bowl of Parmesan garlic pasta flecked with earthy truffles.

He adjusted the knot of his silk tie, brushed a speck of lint from his tailored suit, and smirked as he said, “I’m a lawyer. It’s what I do.”

Mason and Thea pushed their plates away after savoring the last bites of their dinner. They wiped their mouths with napkins, said their goodbyes to the waitstaff, and Mason ushered Thea down the winding steps and back towards his car. He opened her door, and she sank into the navy leather seats. They chatted as he navigated the familiar roads back to her house, and the tension between them slowly dissipated.

He pulled up to the curb outside her apartment and climbed out of the driver’s seat to open her door. He extended his hand, and their eyes locked. “Tomorrow morning, nine o’clock sharp,” he said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Try to get some sleep,” he continued, his voice gentle as his mischievous smile spread across his lips. “But don’t forget to dream about me.”

Thea inched forward until her face was inches from his. She pressed her hands against his chest, her voice a barely audible whisper, “No.” Her breath tickled his neck, and she could feel his heart racing beneath her fingertips as he held his breath.

He shook his head and clicked his tongue, “Tsk tsk,” the sound carried across the night’s air. She stopped in her tracks, her back still to him, and he continued, “Already defying me?”

She glanced over her shoulder and met his gaze, “I didn’t sign it yet,” she said, her voice carrying confidence as she stood steady despite knowing it was the only resistance she could offer to the man who had just told her she was under contract to him now.