Bound By Desire Read online

  Carrying her back to the police barricade, he whispered to her, “Shhh, shhh. It's going to be okay, Elizabeth. Everything is going to be okay. We are going to get you back to your parents now."

  Chapter Four

  Denise tapped her nails against the dashboard of Victor's car. She was not used to being a passenger and she had been biting her tongue now for the last fifteen minutes about his driving. The man had a lead foot, but she couldn't complain, she needed the ride. “I still can't believe the man chose to hit my car. Seven cars on the road block and he chooses to hit mine."

  "Well it was the only one that didn't have a set of flashing red lights on the top. You really should think about getting a set for the next car.” Victor laughed good-naturedly, smiling as he turned momentarily to face her.

  "Definitely, need a set for the next one.” Denise giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. “I think the insurance company is going to total this car for sure,” she said, remembering how bad the damage was. Victor shook his head at the memory of the twisted metal remains of her car. “One can only hope."

  "You are going to make a damn fine agent, Denise."

  "Why would you say that?"

  "Well, I knew when I interviewed you that you would be good, but it's not everyday that an agent makes that kind of sacrifice."

  "I didn't know it was a sacrifice at the time. I parked my car there to help with the road block. A normal man would have stopped his car, not rammed into mine.” Denise just laughed, thinking back on the morning's occurrences. They had spent the afternoon taking reports and interviewing fellow officers that witnessed the takedown. With no evidence of the victim in sight and the suspect using his car like a weapon, the police had been forced to open fire, and the local police shoot to kill. Not to wound or to take prisoners.

  They didn't take Brock back to jail, but for what he did to that little girl, for what he planned to do to her that afternoon, he deserved to die. Denise shivered at the thought. He deserved everything he got.

  All in all, it had been a very good day. She was still feeling the rush of adrenaline. The high of doing her job effectively and it felt unreal that the child would be returned to her parents.

  Denise threw her head back against the seat, closed her eyes, and let out a sound of satisfaction.

  "What's that for?"

  "I just still feel good.” She turned to face him, locking eyes with him for just a moment. “Thanks for the ride, Victor."

  "Anytime, Denise. What else would I do for a lady in distress? I wouldn't mind giving you a ride anytime. All you have to do is just ask."

  Denise wasn't so sure he was talking about the same kind of ride she was. “I think you are going to find I don't ask very often. But thank you anyways."

  Victor nodded but didn't stop smiling.

  "Anyway, after today I just feel like I am on a high that will never let me come down."

  "I know what you mean.” His hand drifted to her thigh and patted her leg briefly before he removed his hand. It was so natural, so friendly, not sexual in the least, that Denise thought she had imagined it. She could still feel the lingering warmth. It was the only real evidence of his touch. His expression had not changed. His manner certainly had not.

  Was he hitting on her? Was he interested in more? She wasn't sure, with his lackadaisical demeanor.

  Not that she would have minded if he had made a sexual advance on her. In fact, she still wanted more than a brief touch. Denise closed her eyes to the image in her mind. He could have touched her so much more intimately and she would have welcomed him.

  Victor let his strong hand pat her knee and the warmth of his touch drifted upward, she could feel the heat invade her as his hand strayed to her inner thigh. She opened to him, spreading her legs in a seductive invitation, which he could not ignore.

  When he felt her move into his hand, he worked his way back down her leg, pushing her skirt aside; he worked his way back up her leg. The skin to skin contact was exquisite, sending tremors of desire through her, until she felt like melting into a pool of desire.

  His fingers worked their magic on her, pushing aside the lacy underwear to run through the furry womanhood. One finger grazed her clit and she let out a low moan. He worked silently, his fingers were working their magic on her, finding her clit, he began to rub in a demanding rhythm, answering her need for more. The rhythm was insistent and her hips moved up of their own accord, in a silent demand for satisfaction.

  He never stopped driving, just letting his fingers work their magic by touch.

  Denise felt so needy and so close to finishing she let out a moan telling him just how much she desired him. Just how close she was to an orgasm.

  "Did you say something?” His rough voice triggered a slightly paranoid response in her. Was she so foolish as to have done that out loud?

  "Umm—no. I was just clearing my throat.” Her panties were wet from her little daydream. She was embarrassed to find her hands were in her lap, and she fisted her hands and moved them away from herself to not rub up against herself like that. She didn't need to let him know what kind of fantasy she had just had. What kind of thoughts had just drifted through her head, or how conflicted she was feeling right now.

  Victor arched an eyebrow at her dubiously, but continued to drive in the newly awkward silence. He was no fool and the sound that he just heard wasn't a woman clearing her throat. That sound wasn't the kind you usually heard outside of the bedroom.

  Chapter Five

  Denise fell into a comfortable routine at the office. She even developed a friendship with the only other girl in the office—the office administrator and head filer, Sarah. Most mornings they spent chit-chatting as Sarah spent the morning catching up on her filing. The filing cabinets were conveniently located in Denise's office.

  "Are you going to Victor's party this weekend, Denise?” Sarah asked her boss.

  "What party?” Denise Walden looked up from her stack of paperwork she had yet to complete.

  "You mean you don't know? Oh! I shouldn't have said anything, I am sorry."

  "Don't be sorry. How would you know he didn't invite me?"

  Sarah flushed. “I just assumed. I mean you're so dominant—I mean, you and he have always seemed to get along so well and most of the other special agents are going, but they have been his friends for years."

  "He invited everyone but me?” Denise sounded incredulous.

  "Well, the single ones, at least—he probably just thought—you know his parties are special—he may think you don't want to come."

  "Why not?"

  "Oh, no offense—it's just you're so vanilla—"

  "Vanilla? Just what is that supposed to mean?” Denise's voice had a dangerous edge to it.

  "Yeah, and he's so—I'm just putting my foot in my mouth now aren't I? Look—I'm really sorry, but there is nothing I can do to change things. I'm going to go now before I make things worse. Bye."

  * * * *

  Denise was busy in her office when Victor came in to see her. Her heart skipped a beat as she met his eyes. They had become close over the last two months she had worked for this satellite office. She had worked hard and made a lot of progress on several cases. She had made several new contacts and informants. But this wasn't just about her doing her job. She had come to think of him as a friend and not just a boss.

  He closed the door behind him, giving them privacy. Which she didn't mind, but she didn't ask for either. It just proved how he was used to taking charge and being in control of his environment.

  Not being invited to his party should not have bothered her, but it did. She thought they were friends.

  Evidently he didn't feel the same way.

  It just felt so high school to be “outed” like this. Denise jutted out her chin, and prepared to dig in her heels. If he could act juvenile, then so could she.

  "You wanted to see me, Denise?” His voice sounded so smug, so superior. She wanted to wipe that expression off his face. He took a casual stance, with one hand in his grey dress pants. His brown eyes sparkled at her merrily. He could have been a model in that business suit. Damn him for being so good looking. It messed with her in ways it shouldn't. He was her boss.

  Denise tried to phrase her words in her mind before she spoke. If he knew why she called him here to talk would he be any less happy? “It's not really important, but I heard you are having a party?"

  "Yes.” He didn't deny it.

  "This weekend?"

  "Yes."

  Denise frowned at him. She was used to be able to intimidate men easily, and nothing seemed to crack this façade of his. He didn't look the least bit uncomfortable for her having brought up the party. Certainly he realized he didn't invite her? “Yes, well the only reason I am bringing it up is because if it happened to anyone else they may have felt uncomfortable being left out."

  "Is this about you? Are you feeling left out, Denise?"

  "Yes—and—no. What I mean is if you did this to anyone else I would have to say something, because by leaving that one person out, it would make them feel ostracized. Personally, I have been hardened enough to not care, but to someone else it could really hurt their feelings.” Denise's eyes caught on the off white card that he slipped out of his pocket. “I didn't ask to speak with you to force an invitation. I just wanted to help make you a little more aware of other people."

  "Are you finished?"

  "Yes."

  "Who told you about this party?"

  "It doesn't matter."

  "It actually does matter, but since you won't tell me, I will figure it out on my own. Did they tell you what goes on at my parties?"

  "All she said was it was the special kind.” But her legal assistant Sarah did seem to like remembering th
e party. That was before she became uncomfortable from having brought attention to Denise's lack of an invitation.

  "She?” he repeated, smiling at her. She winced at her disclosure. She had not meant to give out too much information. And she probably just narrowed his suspects down by half. Well, in this office, it was over half. More like down to three people.

  He walked the invitation over to her and laid it on her desk. “My parties are very special. I just didn't think you were into that lifestyle, Denise."

  He was regarding her with a wary expression, scrutinizing her reaction. She noted his set face, his clamped mouth and fixed eyes.

  "What kind of lifestyle? Is this one of those swinger parties? A kinky sex party?” As she asked that question, she became aware of another kind of excitement overcome her body.

  The corners of his mouth twitched in response. “You might call it kinky. It's where people can be free to express themselves and doms and subs can hook up and pleasure each other. It is not always about the sex, either."

  "Doms?” she questioned, searching her mind for what the word meant, what it could be an abbreviation for. It sounded foreign and nothing clicked in her mind at the word. So her expression remained blank.

  "Dominant,” he answered her, letting her put the clues together. At the exact moment she registered what he was talking about, she blushed furiously, her face turned scarlet. He enjoyed watching her expression change to surprise as she registered what he was talking about.

  "Oh ... You mean like giving pain?” She never did have a good poker face. She could feel the heat in her cheeks at the thought.

  "Pain can heighten pleasure."

  "Oh my...” Her voice drifted off key at the end. She felt an erotic thrill sweep over her body, at the way he said that. His eyes locked with hers, and his words stuck in her mind. As if he was not just answering her question, but giving her a personal invitation to play.

  With him.

  "I didn't think you would want to come, Denise, which is why I didn't give you an invitation earlier, but if you change your mind feel free to come.” Victor's grin spread wide across his face before he exited her office and closed the door behind him.

  She swallowed hard, chastising herself for her stupidity. He wasn't that uncaring. She had to have known there was a real reason he didn't invite her, not ignorance. She fingered the invitation in her hands before opening it. She couldn't imagine what it would be like. She had always been a dominating, successful woman in a career that wouldn't allow her to be anything but aggressive. The men that were attracted to her always wanted her to be just as aggressive in the bedroom. Here was an opportunity to live out a fantasy she had always dreamed of.

  Her darkest and most secret fantasies could come true. But did she have the courage to make it happen?

  Chapter Six

  Denise checked her blonde wig for what seemed the hundredth time that night. She reapplied her lipstick and checked her makeup as well. She had stayed away from her usual colors to help change her appearance in every way she could think of. She even added a beauty mark just outside her lips. She could be a dead ringer for Marilyn Monroe tonight.

  She bought a white dress just for the occasion. Nothing like her usual wardrobe. This dress pulled tight on her bodice, pushing her breasts forward and showing off her legs. It flowed softly around her, heightening that soft feminine look. Tonight her clothes said, “Come and get me.” Her usual clothing screamed out power and control, giving no quarter for anyone that would challenge her. Whether it was in the streets or at the office, she was always in control.

  She knew she intimidated most men, and the few that were drawn to her wanted to be controlled. For once, she wanted a man that wasn't afraid of what or who she was. She wanted to feel thoroughly conquered. To feel what it felt like to be completely dominated by a man. Just once. This is why she chose to wear white tonight. The instructions in the invitation were quite clear. Doms identified themselves by wearing black and subs wore white.

  So she naturally chose white.

  No one would ever recognize her tonight, and that was her goal. Not be recognized. To live for the moment, with no consequences for what tomorrow would bring.

  Denise approached Victor's house with her heart pounding in her chest. The windows were lit up in the night by the interior lights. The house was huge, much bigger than her condo, but he was the director. The outside of the house had elaborate landscaping, with white rocks running under a bridge. The Tudor style house was lit up with spotlights, lending to its magnificence. It held an old world charm to it. Even the driveway was authentic looking, lined with cobblestones.

  She was greeted by the door by a gentleman dressed in a suit. Denise didn't recognize him as an agent, he must have worked for Victor in some other way, perhaps as his butler. “May I have your invitation, please?"

  "Yes, here it is.” She pulled out the invitation nervously from her purse and handed it to the man.

  He took the invitation from her and led her inside by her arm. “Right this way, madam."

  Denise smiled nervously, trying to look confident, when she didn't feel that way in the slightest. She scanned the sea of men and women dressed in black and white, trying to steady her breathing and analyze her next move. I can do this, she assured herself, I just have to make a plan of attack and go from there.

  Denise worked her way over to the bar and ordered herself a drink. She took a seat there to assess the men in the room. She sat nervously watching the other men, assessing faces and watching them interact with the women. Just how did you do this? Would it be all right to approach a man and say this is what I want from you? Was there some kind of protocol in this world, where the subs would never consider approaching the man. Maybe she wasn't cut out for this. Maybe she should just go home right now.

  She took the glass of bourbon and tossed it back to raise her courage.

  She had never done this before. There were going to be a lot of firsts tonight. She had never been submissive in sex before. She had also never picked out a man by his physical attributes. Never looked at a man like a piece of meat, just able to give her pleasure, but that was exactly what she set out to do now. She was determined to make this a night to remember. To find a man who made her heart beat a little faster. A man who could make her melt with one look. A man who rocked her world.

  A man like ... Her eyes were frozen on the man approaching her.

  She should have known Victor would be the first to see her. He was already wrecking her plans, and making his way over to her. He was dressed in solid black, and she had to admit he looked damn sexy in that outfit. He approached her with a single minded purpose that made her look away nervously. She hoped he did not recognize her. Her heart sped up, it had to be beating a hundred times a minute right now.

  "You're new, aren't you?"

  "Yes."

  "And talkative I see?” He peered at her curiously, arching an eyebrow. “Do I know you?"

  "No—You can just call me Dee."

  "Ah, a lady of mystery. Well, we will let you keep your secrets for now, Dee.” He emphasized the name with a throaty purr that brought goose bumps up on her flesh. Nervously she fingered her glass. She wasn't sure if he knew her secret or not, but he wasn't calling her by name.

  "Thank you."

  "Is this your first time, Dee?"

  "Of course.” She blushed in response.

  "Beautiful and shy."

  "Thank you.” She felt the heat rise to her face again. Was he flirting with her?

  "Then perhaps you are looking for a strong hand to guide you?” Victor's hand covered hers on the counter, eliciting an immediate response from her body. She wasn't sure if she liked it or not. This was her boss. He was sexy, and he was one hell of a looker, but how could she continue to work with him if he ever knew?

  "Yes,” she replied, not wanting to remove her hand from his.

  "What are you looking for tonight, Dee?"

  Denise just blinked up at him. Too afraid to put her fantasies into words. And to experience it with Victor? She would never have crossed that line, if he hadn't offered first. But now...