The Enticement

“Do you?” I asked. “I was under the impression you wanted me to be some sort of robotic submissive.”

“What gave you that idea?” He spoke calmly with no hint of judgment or anger in his tone.

“Not even a full week into an experimental twenty-four/seven role, you decide you want something more structured and intense than what we’ve always had and agreed to.”

“And that equates to me wanting a robotic submissive?”

Hearing the words said out loud exposed them for being as nonsensical as they were. I lifted my chin. “It made more sense in my head, but yes, that’s what I think.”

“We’ve been together how many years and you can think that of me?” His voice was still calm, but it now held an icy edge. “I’m insulted.”

“I’m being honest—isn’t that what you wanted?”

“I don’t know. To hear you talk, I want a robot.”

“You can be so obtuse sometimes.”

He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it. He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. The intensity of his scrutiny made me feel more exposed than when I’d been naked before him.

“Tell me what’s going on,” he said, once more calm and in control.

“Why do you assume something’s going on?”

“Because I know you.” He leaned forward. “Every inch of your body, every response it has to me, every sigh you sigh in pleasure, and every moan you give me in need. And I know you love everything about being on your knees before me. So for you to sit there and tell me otherwise leads me to believe there’s something else going on.”

I acted as matter-of-factly as possible and shrugged my shoulders. “Think whatever you want. I just don’t believe it’s a good idea to change things up.”

“I’m giving you one last chance to tell me what’s really going on.”

Or what, I wanted to say. “There’s nothing going on.”

Our conversation was interrupted by the waiter bringing our food. Nathaniel kept his eyes on me while he spoke to the young man. “We’ve had a change in plans. Wrap these up to go and bring me the check.”

He was silent on the way back to the hotel. Unlike the quiet, peaceful silence of a few days ago, this silence had an uneasy and uncomfortable undertone to it. I didn’t even try to do anything to ease it. I slid all the way over to my side of the backseat and stared out the window.

We didn’t touch as we got out of the car when it arrived at the hotel. Nathaniel held the door open for me and took the take-out boxes without saying a word. If I thought the night couldn’t get more uncomfortable, I was wrong. Charlene was standing in the bar area as we rounded the corner to the elevators.

“Nathaniel!” she called, walking over in heels that made her legs look impossibly long. “I was hoping to run into you.”

I snorted. “I’ll bet.”

“Charlene,” Nathaniel said. “Is there any way this can wait?”

She came to a stop in front of us and swept a curl behind her ear. “Not for very long. Is it possible to get in touch with me later this evening?”

No fucking way.

“I can call you in an hour,” he said, his tone flat.

Un-fucking-believable. I’m sure my jaw hit the floor. Rage boiled inside me so hot, my insides quivered.

“Looking forward to it.” She waved at me. “ ’Bye, Abby.”

I gave her my best fake smile. Bitch.

Nathaniel ran his fingers through his hair once we got inside the elevator. A sure sign he was agitated.

Well, good. That makes two of us.

If I’d thought the car ride to the hotel was uncomfortable, the elevator ride to our suite was even worse. I could almost hear the tick, tick, tick of the coming explosion. I waited until we made it into our room and he closed the door behind me.

“I don’t feel like talking,” I said. “I think I’ll go to bed. You go call What’s-her-name.”

“Not until you tell me what the fuck is wrong with you.”

“Okay. Fine.” I stopped and put my hands on my hips. I had his collar on, but since he’d asked, he was going to get his answer. And I probably wouldn’t be respectful about it, but at the moment, I didn’t care about consequences. “You want me to tell you? I know why you couldn’t have lunch with me.”

His expression didn’t change. He made one hell of a poker player. “And why was that?”

“I saw you with her in the bar! You said you were in a meeting.”