Embedded

Dream

Thea arrived at Mason’s office the following day. She could see Mason and a woman sitting opposite each other from the doorway. The woman had a thick, dark mane of hair and wore a blouse that barely contained her ample figure. She leaned across the desk as she spoke, and her breasts were in imminent danger of escaping from her top.

Mason’s face lit up with barely repressed excitement when he caught sight of Thea. He quickly stepped around the petite woman he had been talking to, never breaking eye contact with Thea. “This is our temporary paralegal, Thea,” he said, motioning to her with a broad smile.

Thea’s face registered surprise as Mason said the word “paralegal.” She quickly regained her composure, nodding her head and responding, “Yes, paralegal. Just for a few months.”

“We’re going to be grateful for her assistance with the profusion of cases we’re expecting this season,” he said and then gestured to the curvaceous woman. “This is my faithful assistant, Kim. She keeps me organized and on track.”

Kim’s cheeks flushed pink as she giggled, her eyes crinkling in amusement, “What would you do without me?” She extended her hand to shake Thea’s, her grip firm and friendly. But Thea didn’t miss how Kim’s smile seemed strained, and her eyes glinted with a hint of duplicity. “Glad to have you on board!” Kim said with a lightheartedness that felt forced. She then laid her smooth, painted nails on Mason’s arm and gave him a reassuring smile, her French-manicured nails sparkling in the overhead light. “I promise I’ll handle this quickly,” she said, balancing a stack of papers in the crook of her left arm.

Mason watched Kim’s retreating figure with a sense of relief. His shoulders slackened once she had gone, and he gave a sigh of gratitude. His words came out in a hushed whisper, “I’m so glad you don’t have any pictures of yourself on your website. It made it so easy to get you in as a temporary worker.”

Thea smirked, “That was intentional. Some individuals don’t want to be seen visiting a therapist, so they book an appointment with a seemingly generic psychologist, Harper Banks. I step in as Thea Palmer to fit into their life as whatever they would like. I once was a coffee importer for three months, which was an absolute disaster.”

Mason held out his arm, gesturing for her to follow him to the back, right corner of the office. She trailed behind, her gaze scanning each wall adorned with framed awards and plaques. He pulled out a chair and motioned for her to sit. As he pushed in her chair and leaned over, she caught a faint hint of his cologne and heard his hushed words, “So, did you do what I asked? Were you a good girl or a bad girl?” Thea furrowed her brow in confusion as he settled into the chair beside her. He leaned in closer and said, “You know, I told you to dream about me last night.”

Thea’s face reddened as she spoke. She avoided eye contact, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. Her voice lacked emotion as she uttered, “Well, I didn’t.” She was lying, and she knew it.

Mason felt a heat rising from the pit of his stomach, and his pulse quickened as he gazed into Thea’s eyes. The way she seemed to challenge him, the air between them charged with electricity, the glimmer of fire in her expression when she looked at him—all of it made the hairs on his neck stand up. It was a yearning for ownership, a primal instinct that he wanted to explore further. She had curves and a soft voice that made him want to take control and do as he pleased. His lips curled into a sly smirk, and he made sure to let his voice drip with desire when he spoke. “I’ll have to punish you later,” he took a sharp pen from his pocket and signed his name on the last line of the contract before pushing it toward Thea.

Thea slowly scanned the contract, her eyes softly flickering from section to section. With a steady hand, she signed her name on the final page, the ink of her pen leaving its mark on the neatly printed paper.

Mason gathered the documents, a determined look on his face, and tapped them on the table to even out the edges. His gaze was unwavering, and his voice was tight as he said, “This marks the start of our six months together. You’re mine now, and when I tell you to do something, you do it without question.”

Thea’s eyes widened, and her mouth went dry as Mason spoke. Her heart raced as reality sunk in. She nodded slowly, “I understand,” she whispered.

“Good,” Mason’s authoritative voice filled the room as he strode across the floor to his desk and tapped his fingers on the curved, wood edge. His fierce gaze met hers, and a chill ran through her body. “Go home and pack everything you need to move into my place. The movers will arrive at your home in two hours.”

* * *

Four hours later, Thea found herself at Mason’s penthouse, and when she arrived, she was overwhelmed. The building was so tall that it cast an imposing shadow over the city, and Thea felt a sense of vertigo as she gazed out the window. His penthouse was enormous and tastefully decorated, as the walls were adorned with luxuriant paintings. Thea was overcome by her belongings packed into boxes and scattered at her feet. She didn’t know where to start unpacking. Just then, Mason entered the room and spotted one of her boxes open on the floor. “I told you to pack everything, but I didn’t say anything about unpacking. Don’t worry, Thea. The movers will take care of that for you. Let me give you a tour of the place!” he said with a smile.

He opened the door to her bedroom, and she gasped. The bed was a solid piece of mahogany, and the linens were plush and soft like clouds. She saw a red silk robe folded on the bed that seemed to glow in the sunlight pouring through the windows. He motioned her towards the bathroom, which was fit for a queen with fluffy towels and soaps, a full-sized bath with massaging jets, reed diffusers infusing the room with lavender, and candles flickering along the edges of the sink. Finally, he took her to his playroom filled with an array of whips, ropes, riding crops, and more for her pleasure. Everything begged to be used.

She rested her finger on the two worn leather cuffs that hung from the wall. Her eyes were distant, as if lost in thought. “I’ve been thinking about my safe word,” she whispered.

Mason’s gaze intensified as he spoke, the hint of craving in his eyes making her heart speed up. “Yes?” he drawled out in a low, throaty voice.

She nervously chewed on her bottom lip, her eyes searching his. “I was thinking maybe… ‘Mason’ would be my safe word,” she said, her voice barely audible.

Mason gave a low chuckle, his eyes twinkling with mirth, “I like that. But I think we’ll need something else in case I get too carried away.”

Thea slowly raised her gaze to meet his, her lips lightly pressed together. She cleared her throat before speaking hesitantly, “What about... ‘pumpkin’?”

He rubbed his hands together, his eyes gleaming with delight. His broad smile revealed a row of perfect white teeth as he said, “Pumpkin it is!”

He showed her the rest of the house before stopping at her bedroom door once more. “Make yourself at home. I’ll see you in the morning,” he said before disappearing down the hallway and leaving her to explore her room in solitude. She unpacked her bag and changed into something more comfortable, looking forward to a good night’s rest.

* * *

Thea yawned loudly as the morning sunlight streamed through her bedroom window, finally waking her from her deep and dreamless sleep. She peeled away the heavy blankets and forced herself out of bed, trudging into the kitchen. Mason was already there, looking sharp in a tailored suit, typing away on his laptop. He glanced up and slid her a steaming cup of freshly brewed coffee. “You’re up late,” he said with a smirk.

She glanced at her watch, her eyebrows raised. “Late?” she asked. “I need at least an extra two hours to decompress from others’ issues.” She took a sip from the steaming mug and noticed a brightly colored dress with delicate lace accents hanging off the back of a door to her left. “Is that for me?” she asked with one eyebrow quirked.

Mason’s gaze moved slowly over her body, lingering on her curves and the swell of her hips. His voice softened as he spoke. “Of course, I like my subs to dress sexy. You have such incredible curves, so why would you hide them?”

Thea felt the heat creeping up her neck, warming her cheeks until they were a deep shade of rose. Sexy was not a word she would have ever used to describe herself. He looked her up and down like he was devouring her with his eyes. She wanted to disappear to hide from his gaze. “What am I? Your Barbie?” she asked.

Mason raised the cup to his lips and blew on the steaming liquid before taking a sip. His lips curled into a smirk as he said, “Well. If the size two shoe fits...” He set his cup down and studied her reaction.

Thea replied, asking, “What about the counseling sessions?”

He leaned in close, and his gaze intensified, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity. “I’m still fully committed to them. But until then, you’re mine to do with as I please,” his voice was low and demanding as his words stroked her skin like warm water.

Thea’s mouth dropped open in shock, and she struggled to keep up as her mind raced through the implications of what he had just said. She looked up and met his eyes, and after a brief pause, she replied with a single word, “Okay.”

Mason’s face was lit up with enthusiasm as he chirped, “Get a move on! We have an appointment to make at the office!” He gave a satisfied chuckle as he watched Thea scurry to her bedroom, the new outfit in one hand and a steaming cup of coffee in the other.

With trembling hands, Thea quickly changed into the outfit Mason had chosen for her. Taking a deep breath, she looked in the mirror and ran her palms over the fabric, trying to quell the excitement growing inside her. What would it feel like to submit to someone else?