“I’m glad you found someone in your time of need.” His expression grew serious. “I wish I could have filled that role for you.”
Kate shrugged. “If I’d still had you in my life, I never would have been starting out all alone in a new town.” She smiled. “I’m sure you would have let me stay with you for a while until I’d gotten back on my feet.”
When the jobs had dried up, and the payments on her Manhattan apartment continued, she’d quickly realized that she had to make a change. She’d thought about renting another, more affordable apartment after she sold her place and staying in the city until she found something, but that would have left her in a precarious situation. When the opportunity in Connecticut had come up, she’d jumped at it. If she and Matt had still been dating, however, she knew he wouldn’t have minded her staying with him while she worked things out. That would have given her the luxury of time before she’d had to make a move.
“Of course I would have.” Matt’s expression tightened with regret.
“It’s okay. You couldn’t help what happened.”
* * *
Matt nodded, but it wasn’t true. He hadn’t known about the lies Ileana had told, or what had happened to Kate, but he did know why Kate had such trouble finding a job afterward, and he could have done something about it.
The elevator came to a stop.
“This is my floor,” Kate said.
Matt followed her from the elevator and down the hall to her apartment door. As soon as he stepped inside, he knew this was Kate’s place. Bookshelves lined the walls, full of colorful books of all types. She loved books: romance, mystery, DIY, decorating, art. She had very eclectic tastes in her decor, too. She had the same beige couches with bright floral cushions he remembered, along with what looked like a new glider rocker, and the large TV armoire her mother had given her. She used to read about feng shui and she’d told him once that a television should be hidden from view when not in use. For some reason, it was supposed to improve the energy of the room.
“Nice place,” he said as he took off his shoes.
“Thanks. Not as ritzy as your penthouse, but it’s home.” She put her purse in the closet. “Come in. Would you like coffee?”
“Please.” He walked into the living room and sat down on the couch.
He could hear Kate moving around in the kitchen and the clatter of cups and cutlery. He pulled out his cell and checked his e-mail while he waited. Nothing urgent, just an acknowledgment from his company lawyer that they’d get right on the contracts first thing Monday morning.
Kate returned a few moments later with a tray that held mugs, cream, sugar, and a coffee Thermos. She set it on the table and poured them both a cup, then put sugar and cream in hers. She knew he took his black.
Kate sat across from him on the rocker. “You said you had a proposal for me.” She seemed anxious to hear what he had to say.
“Yes. Although I don’t think you and I can be together, I do believe you’ll eventually find a man who will make you happy and I think you’ll have to face your discomfort, fear, whatever you want to call it, about being submissive. I believe if you meet the right man, and he handles things properly, I think you can be very happy.”
She looked disappointed as she sipped her coffee. “That’s not a proposal.”
“True.” He leaned forward. “What I propose is that I could help you to learn more about being a submissive so you can embrace that side of yourself.”
She put down her mug and gazed at him with interest. “How would you do that?”
“I was thinking we could spend some time together, maybe a week or so, and I could train you. Sort of an intensive training course on how to be a submissive.”
Her eyes grew keen with interest. “Train me how? I mean … would there be sex involved?”
“There doesn’t have to be. I could teach you how to serve your Master, what kinds of things he might expect of you, how you should behave.”
“But with no sex.”
“It would be like learning the theory of flying before you actually go up in the plane.”
She picked up her cup again and sipped. “But what if”—her fingertip circled around the rim of the cup—“I want to go up in the plane?”
At her words, and the sultry look she shot him, his cock swelled.
Could he really allow them to go this route even though there would be no romantic relationship between them? Then he thought about her calling him “Sir,” and assuming submissive positions, and he wondered if he could survive not having sex with her.
“Wouldn’t it make the experience more realistic? I’d learn better, wouldn’t I?”
“Well, yes, that’s true. If it’s okay with you, and you understand it won’t lead to anything else…” He sent her a questioning glance.