“Not at all.” She gazed at him with blazing eyes. “When?”
He smiled. “I was hoping we could spend a week together.” His eyes heated as he watched her bite into a plump, juicy shrimp. “I can clear my schedule anytime you like.”
That surprised her, since Matt was a very busy man, with a huge corporation to manage. But then, he had a team of people to depend on. And Matt had always been able to set aside time for her. It seemed that hadn’t changed.
She had also checked her schedule in anticipation of this request. Her team was actually just past the initial stages of their latest project and things were going smoothly.
“I could arrange to get away next week, or if that’s too soon, maybe—”
“Next week would be perfect.” His smile lit his face and she longed to grab his hand and drag him out to the limo where she would proceed to rip his clothes from his very broad, muscular body and devour him.
Over the rest of dinner, he talked about arrangements. The driver would pick her up at her apartment on Friday afternoon. He asked if she could get off a little early so she wouldn’t lose the whole evening traveling. By the time they finished dinner, they had the details sorted out and he talked to her about running a business in a less hectic place than New York and how she had adapted. She carried her end of the conversation, but all she could really think about was what would happen when he dropped her off at her apartment. Would he come up for a drink?
Would he stay the night?
On the ride to her apartment, her heart thundered in anticipation and she couldn’t help glancing at him from time to time, wondering what he was thinking. Their conversation had petered out and they rode mostly in silence. When the driver finally pulled up to her door, she turned to Matt.
“Would you like to come up for a drink?”
“No, I’m afraid not. I’ve got an early meeting in the morning.”
Disappointment rocked through her, but he took her hand and kissed it, his warm lips brushing her skin. “But I look forward to seeing you Friday.”
The driver opened her door, then saw her to the building entrance and opened the glass door for her, too. She glanced back at Matt and smiled, then proceeded into the building. Damn, she didn’t know how she’d last until Friday.
* * *
Kate gazed out the car window at the huge mansion as the driver opened the door for her. He carried her bag up the steps and rang the doorbell.
Seconds later, Matt opened the large, oak door. She smiled at the sight of his strong, handsome face.
“Kate, so nice to see you.”
The driver placed her bag inside the door, then took his leave. Matt closed the door behind him.
“Would you like some dinner?” he asked as he took her coat.
“No, I ate on the trip here.”
There had been a selection of prepared food available in the limo: sandwiches, salads, a fruit plate, even pizza slices. She hadn’t been particularly hungry—she’d been totally preoccupied with what would happen with Matt this evening—but she ate something anyway because she hadn’t wanted to waste time with dinner once she got here.
He picked up her overnight bag and led her up the stairs to a large bedroom. She was disappointed when she realized it wasn’t his. He set her bag on a bench by the window. There were no clothes in the bag because he’d told her to bring only the clothing she wore. He would be dictating what she wore this week as part of her training.
He pointed at items on the bed. “Put that on and leave your clothing folded outside the room, then meet me downstairs in ten minutes. On the dot. I’ll be waiting for you in the living room.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Her insides tingled at the exchange. He was starting right into it.
He left the room and closed the door behind her. She gazed at the black leather items sitting atop the pristine white bedding. She walked over and lifted the boned corset, and realized it would not cover her breasts. She sifted through the items and did not see a bra.
She stripped off her clothing and folded up her suit and blouse, then wrapped the corset around her midsection and hooked it up. She found a leather thong and pulled it on, then stared at the four straps with buckles still lying on the bed. Finally, she realized they were ankle and wrist cuffs and she put them on. Finally, she put on the five-inch, steel-stiletto-heeled shoes.
She glanced at herself in the mirror and blanched at the sight. Was that really her? The corset pulled her waist in tight and the high heels made her legs look incredibly long. Her breasts, totally bare, seemed larger than usual in contrast to the tight black leather hugging her torso. Even more so with her hard nipples thrusting forward.
She crossed to the door, but as soon as she pulled it open, she realized she’d be walking through this big house half-naked. He probably had staff and someone might see her. She glanced at her watch and realized she had no time to think about it, since she had less than a minute until Matt’s imposed deadline. She glanced around quickly before she laid her clothes outside the door, then she walked carefully down the stairs, gripping the banister tightly. She wasn’t used to shoes this high.
* * *