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  I traveled through the different rooms, turning off the lights and putting away any books or magazines that had been left on the tables. After a few minutes, the only room I had left to straighten was the research section, the section I’d avoided quite well over the course of the day, but could no longer ignore.

  “It’s closing time, Lucas.”

  “That’s ‘Master’ to you, young rabbit.”

  I stopped dead in my tracks. After what felt like an eternity, I could see his shoulders shake and hear the bare whisper of laughter. He turned to me eventually and smiled wickedly.

  “That was a joke, unless of course, you’re willing to call me by that name much sooner than I’d expected.” His wicked grin shifted back into the arrogant smirk he wore so well.

  “I’ll never call you that.”

  His smile brightened. It was like degrees of arrogance in him, and, currently, he was firmly parked on high.

  “We’ll see about that, Ms. Cleary.”

  Quickly changing the topic, he added, “To what do I owe the honor of your visit?”

  My stomach rolled when I realized he was mocking me. “Would you stop being so formal? There’s no need for us to pretend like we’re polite strangers. We’ve been to dinner together.”

  Pulling the glasses from his face with one hand, he ran his other through the ebony silk of his hair, leaving it disheveled in such a way that I imagined that’s what it looked like when he crawled out of bed. Shaking myself of that image, I walked further into the room, approaching his table in the shadowed corner.

  “Do you have a thing against light?” Indicating to his location, I smiled. “Typically, people who are reading or writing prefer to be able to see what they are doing.”

  His chuckle was deep and dark, perfectly suited for his masculine beauty. I could see this man as one of the characters in his books. Flesh and bone built so flawlessly that he was temptation personified; a deadly predator that could seduce with one glance and overpower with the softest brush of his finger against a woman’s skin. The women who suddenly found a newfound interest in the library these past few days didn’t surprise me. He was the type of man who made you feel more beautiful just for being allowed in his presence.

  Brushing off my comment, he asked, “When are you going to agree to dinner again?”

  His question caught me off guard and my eyes shot to his. “Excuse me?”

  “Dinner. Like we did last night. Will tonight work for you?”

  My thoughts were jostled and I opened my mouth several times without having an answer to give. I must have looked like a damn fish with my bottom jaw silently moving.

  “Um, n – no. I don’t think so, Lucas. I need to see what I can do about Mary Be …”

  “Stop right there. There are two flaws with what you are about to tell me. The first is that you are up against the same brick wall the police would be if they felt it necessary to search for Mary Beth. It hasn’t been more than a day, there’s been no sign of a struggle and, for all you know, you are spinning your wheels without a good reason.”

  “Lucas, I…”

  “I’m not finished.” He stood up from his seat and with a smooth swagger, crossed the room to stand within inches of where I stood. The earthy smell of his cologne washed over me and my knees buckled so slightly that I doubt any person but me would have known. Lucas affected me. I couldn’t deny that. Which was all the more reason to keep as much distance as possible.

  “The second flaw is that you intend to find your potentially missing friend using a brain that has received no fuel.” A sincere smile graced his lips and I couldn’t help returning the gesture. Lucas Bates was two men in a single body. There was a side of him that was as dark as the words he put on paper, but also another side that burned so brightly, you couldn’t help but want to be closer to his warmth.

  “Please.” Reaching out, he grabbed my hand, squeezing my fingers lightly between his own. “Have dinner with me. I promise to keep it professional.” He winked. “Besides, I believe you still have to tell me what you thought about the second book I gave you. Prior to all of the drama surrounding your friend, I couldn’t stop wondering what you thought.”

  Lucas

  My house was dark when I pulled up into the circular driveway. I wondered where my assistant, Sarah, could be. She usually stayed to work late into the night, choosing to sleep in the mornings. I always found her hours strange, but, then again, there was nothing usual about that woman. With blonde hair that hung down low enough to sweep over her hips, she preferred to dress like a free-spirited hippy, but had the soul and imagination created for mystic rituals and kinky sex. That is exactly why she made the perfect assistant.

  On nights when I found myself unable to dole out the obligatory sex scene, she would often come into the room to dim the lights, set flame to the many candles strewn throughout the space and turn on music that was soft, yet took you away to some foreign place. After preparing the room, she would stand behind me, leaning down so that her hair brushed over my shoulder and across my face. She would whisper her fantasies to me in sordid detail, spurring more than just my typing fingers in response to her words and the images she described. My body would often react as well and I would suck in a breath when she’d touch my back softly as she spoke.

  However, ours was nothing more than a platonic and professional relationship. She preferred men who were on their knees beneath her rather than lording above her. We were two dominate people, working together to bring out the dark stories that we loved in an elegant and creative way that people would enjoy to read. We both were strictly aware of this fact and we could enjoy the illusion of intimacy without ever having to physically cross that line.

  My hand was on the doorknob when I heard a crashing sound inside the library of my home. My eyes shot to the window and my shoulder was against the door forcing it open with all the strength in my body. Within seconds, I was standing in the doorway to the large room and I laughed when I found Sarah cursing under her breath while bent over picking something up off the floor.

  “Should I ask why you’re walking around in a completely dark room and how much whatever it is you just broke cost me?

  I couldn’t suppress the laugh that bubbled up from my chest when she flashed me a look of obvious annoyance and spite.

  Holding up a jagged piece of crystal, she huffed out a frustrated breath. “The fucking power went out over an hour ago and I’ve been trying to get work done without the benefit of a laptop, phone or any other convenient device. And I only broke some ugly as shit vase that I never understood your use for since I’ve worked for you. I’m not heartbroken that it’s in pieces.”

  Blowing out hair from in front of her face, she stared at me for a moment before returning her attention to the broken glass.

  Chuckling, I asked, “Don’t those convenient devices have batteries?”

  The glass clinked together loudly when she dropped it into a pile. “Yes. I’m sure that would be helpful; however, I didn’t think to charge the battery on my laptop and in this dark as hell house, I can’t seem to find my phone. That’s why I’m in here. I thought I might have set it down when I was going through the drafts of the new cover for your book. I didn’t like any of them.”

  Laughing again, I replied, “You never do.”

  I turned to leave the room when she called out to stop me.

  “What are your plans for tonight, Lucas? You have two interviews to which you need to respond and I have several cover shots and books that I need for you to sign.”

  The sigh that blew over my lips was tired and exasperated. “I’m in the middle of my research, Sarah. I don’t have time to think about anything else at the moment. If we want this book to be published on time and run a chance of being successful, I need to pin down the victim.”

  A sardonic chuckle escaped her. “Nice choice of words.” Standing from the floor, she dropped the broken glass in the direction of the trashcan and shrugged when it did
n’t clatter against the metal base. “Whatever, I’ll clean it up when there is light in this place.” Once she was by my side, walking from the room into the large expanse of the foyer, she asked, “What’s to pin down? She’s a weak girl who does as he says, cries a lot, he beats the shit out of her and for some reason she loves him anyway. Standard story … just write it. We’re running out of time.”

  I stopped in my tracks, reaching up to pull the glasses from my face and rub the skin between my eyes. My eyebrows furrowed down over my fingers and a headache began to throb at the back of my head. “My books are anything but stan…”

  Her hand was over my mouth before I could launch into my typical lecture regarding my books.

  “I know, Lucas. I was just joking around with you. Unique characters, refreshing plot, originality, creativity and all that, I get it. But you need to hurry up and find this girl because the masses are going to get restless and wander along if you don’t.”

  After she pulled her hand away, I responded, “Fine. I’ve already discovered my muse. In fact, I pick her up in an hour for dinner. I’m bringing her back here. Therefore, I would prefer that you call it an early night and head home.”

  “Oooooh.” Her right eyebrow arched and she pursed her lips before asking, “Should I ready the house for a little of the slap and tickle? I can shine the chains.” No other word besides ‘maniacal’ could describe the smile that spread across her face.

  “No, Sarah. She’s not that type of woman … yet. You’d hate her if you met her. She’s prim and proper and detests anything that doesn’t end happily. She likes sunshine and kittens, dew drops on petals, all that.”

  “Oh, gah! No thank you! Great. Now, I have to go brush the funky taste out of my mouth. Why in the world are you dating someone like her? It’ll never work.”

  We’d reached my bedroom and I opened the door on my way towards a shower and clean clothes. Turning back to Sarah, I answered, “Because she’s exactly what I need right now.” A grin threatened my expression when I imagined Autumn in my mind. “Besides, women like her are the most amusing types to break in.” Patting her shoulder, I added, “You of all people should know that.”

  She placed her hand on mine and pushed up on her tiptoes to kiss me softly on the cheek. “You know it. Okay, have fun tonight, but not too much. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  Spinning on her heel, she was out of sight quickly, disappearing like a phantom amongst the heavy shadows of the hall. Once I’d entered the bathroom, I quickly stripped off my clothes and moved to turn on the water. I breathed out heavily when I realized that until the power returned, I was stuck bathing in cold water.

  …

  Mahogany hair, the length of which would curl completely around her body from the moisture of the shower’s spray fell against me – small bits and wisps sticking to my tan skin. A hand reached around my mid-section, the fingers running along the creases made by the muscles of my abdomen. My head fell back as the frigid water doused me, taking the heat from my skin. Lips brush my shoulder, teeth barely grazing across and the threat of painful pleasure teasing its way over the sensitive arch at the base of my neck.

  Her tongue, pink and warm, took a small taste before pushing over me fully, only to be swallowed by the fullness of her lips. I started to turn, but she stopped me before I could face her. Her fingernails rake over my hips, down along the outsides of my thighs causing my cock to harden to a point of pain. The water falls against the taut skin and I suck in a breath through my teeth, allowing it back out in a hiss when she prevents me from reaching around to pull her body to mine. She’s slippery, so fluid in her movement that to touch her is an impossible task. Just when you think you know where she’s silently moved, you reach around to find that she’s slipped through your fingers once again.

  My anger builds with each bit of her teasing rebellion. I decide to move away, to turn on her and break her down, to take, rather than be taken. I wanted to force her submission and to make her beg for me to do it again. When her hand fell on my cock, my thoughts were momentarily shaken. I shuddered beneath her delicate touch, but when her hand gripped, I bit the inside of my lip, my hips bucking over her palm, silently begging for her to stroke.

  “Fuck!” My hand hit the wall and I leaned forward to press my forehead against the cool stone tile. It wasn’t her hand wrapping around my cock and it wasn’t the soft skin of her palm that moved over the stretched skin. Pulling my head up into the spray, I opened my mouth and allowed the water to rush inside my mouth, filling to the point of spilling back out and over my chin.

  Sarah’s words replayed in my head. The image of Autumn in chains at my feet – begging. I wanted nothing more than to extract the darkness from something so pure, to see the beauty of her pale skin laid out before me as I forced myself inside her body and her mind.

  Slamming my hand down, I turned off the water that was doing nothing but steaming over the heat of my skin. I stepped out of the shower, quickly toweling off before moving to the closet to choose a slate grey pair of slacks and a white shirt. I chose to forgo a tie, opting for a casual appearance for tonight’s dinner.

  Once I navigated through the pitch black of the hallways and foyer, I was in my car on my way to Autumn’s small and humble home. I’d pulled up to the curb and stepped out of the vehicle, noticing that, for once, the rain had appeared to subside. While walking up the sidewalk, I hoped that the power to my house would be restored prior to taking Autumn there after we left the restaurant. She would refuse, I was sure of that. But her refusal was the part I enjoyed. It was easy to manipulate a woman who wanted nothing more but to be forced to the ground, but the act lacked the quality of fear that made my dick fill and throb with the need to be sheathed in the wet warmth of a woman’s body. Most times, the orifice didn’t matter, just as long as the woman who wrapped herself around me had the ability to break, to fold and submit. Autumn’s stubborn nature was the key to her destruction, the element that caught my attention and the factor that made her the perfect target. Like the men I studied, the ones who spent their lives committing acts of evil in the pursuit of the all-time high, I, too, suffered from an inherent need to wield power over others. My tastes were far more seductive and sultry. I was better skilled in the power of suggestion and the art of manipulation, but there was still that small taste of anger, the desire for dominion, that reigned inside my head. I fuck the woman beneath me without the need for blood, but that doesn’t mean I give it to them any easier than the characters in my books.

  My hand rapped on the door three times. She opened it so quickly, I was knocked off balance in my shock.

  “Hello, Lucas.”

  My eyes narrowed on the oversized cable-knit sweater she wore in the boring hue of cream. Under that were stone washed jeans that were frayed at the bottom where the hem fell under her step. Dirty white sneakers graced her delicate feet and my gaze locked on a small hole torn open with age.

  “Please tell me you haven’t dressed yet.” Peeling my eyes from her clothes to focus on her grinning face, I added, “I’d be happy to assist.”

  “I’m sure you would, Mr. Bates. However, I’m not in need of your help. This is what I’m wearing tonight. You said it was strictly professional, therefore I see no need to impress you with sultry attire.” Her lips twisted up into a grin so bright, that she appeared punch-drunk in her belief that she’d won.

  However, that wasn’t the case.

  Reaching up, I gripped her chin between my thumb and forefinger preventing her movement, but not hard enough to hurt. She gasped, her blue eyes opening wide into two round orbs that reflected my image back at me.

  “When you are with me, Ms. Cleary, you will dress like the woman you should be.”

  My hand was around her bicep before she could respond and I stepped into her house, pushing past the threshold she’d created by her position in front of the door. Underneath the prudish layers and polite mannerisms, I knew there was a first class slut waiting to be u
nleashed. The look in her eyes, the pucker of her lips, the way she touched me or lifted her eyebrow, they were all hints of the beauty that existed beneath the surface, bound and chained by the expectations of a society in which neither of us should exist. I don’t know what made her this way, so sheltered and ordinary, but from this moment forward, I made it my job to transform Autumn into the woman she was dying to become.

  Autumn

  His hand closed over my arm and I had to stifle a startled yelp at the speed in which he’d moved. Before I could react, I was being dragged through my house. His eyes were desperately seeking out the door to my bedroom. I wanted to protest, to kick out and stop him from pulling me along, but each time I reached out with my free hand or attempted to wrap my foot and ankle around the bottom of heavy furniture, he turned, effectively blocking me from grabbing onto anything that would halt his pace.

  “Lucas! Stop!” My fingers brushed over the doorframe that led into the hallway and before long, he’d discovered the location of my bedroom and had me thrown onto the mattress. He didn’t speak or even look at me before pulling open the closet doors and rifling through the clothes hung neatly within.

  “Don’t you have anything that doesn’t have a neck line to your chin or a hem line beneath your knees?”

  The scrape of the metal hangers against the pole was like fingernails on a chalkboard. After he’d sorted through the clothes in one direction, he appeared to power through them in opposite order all over again. I sat in a state of shock, watching as he finally selected a red wrap-style dress – one that Mary Beth had purchased for me and that I refused to wear.

  He turned to me with delight in his eyes. “Now THIS will be much better suited for a woman as beautiful as you.”