Chapter 11
eleven
Scotlyn.
I adjusted my tablet and swiped through the sketches my team had sent over for the hotel I wanted to build.
Something about the design wasn’t working for me.
I made a note to request modifications because this had to be perfect.
I dropped the tablet on my lap and let my head fall back against the chair smiling.
This is really happening…
And so was me spending a month with the man helping me make sure it happened.
Today had been surprisingly normal. After an hour on the treadmill in Christian's outrageously well-equipped gym, I showered and changed into jeans and a comfy sweater before I did some exploring. The tour last night didn’t do much good because my mind was working a mile a minute, questioning my damn sanity for agreeing to the offer Christian handed over.
Today I was able to see and process the space I would be living in more clearly and I was in awe of this place. It was truly beautiful but I kept my exploring to a minimum and settled in the study after I got a text from James telling me he’d sent several emails.
I decided to bite the bullet and just tell him what was going on. I almost laughed when his only reaction was “you better enjoy every second of this deal.” James knew about my husband and how my father pulled strings in my life.
He was all for me having a little fun and said we would make this work as far as how we handled business and communicated while I was here.
I appreciate that he also assured me his discretion about my personal dealings would be handled like all other situations he had been privy to about my life in the past.
I didn’t give him every detail, but I did tell him Christian and I were spending time together while I was here and staying at his home helped keep our personal relationship private. James simply stated, “not my business” and moved on to our agenda for the day.
The sound of footsteps had me lifting my head and Christian appeared in the doorway wearing black joggers and a fitted gray hoodie. I was learning that everything about this man was sexy, even his relaxed vibe of just chilling at his home.
"Working?" He walked in with two folders in his hand.
I tried not to stare at how those joggers fit snug enough to give me a preview of what was tucked away in them and failed miserably. The way he smirked let me know he’d caught me.
"Going over plans for the hotel.”
He nodded. "Looks like you’re settling in. I saw you heading to the gym earlier. How was the workout?"
"Are you keeping up with my movements?"
"No, I was on my way to the office when I saw you heading to the gym. I did take time to appreciate the view.” He set the folders down in front of me. "Did you find everything you needed?"
"Your gym is more high-end than most fitness centers."
He looked amused but didn’t disagree. "I spend a lot of time in there. Might as well make it worth the investment.”
I nodded toward the folders. "What's this?"
"Take a look."
I opened the first one and scanned the contents. It was our business contract, which documented everything we’d agreed to.
"This looks fine," I said, closing it before I picked up the other one. It held our contract from Erogenous with amendments noted with tabs. I frowned and read each one.
"Location flexibility?" I looked up at him. "You've added your house as an alternative location for sessions."
"Did Giselle call you?"
"She left a message. I haven't had a chance to call her back yet."
Christian sat on the arm of the chair next to mine. “The amendment gives us options. We can use private suites at Erogenous or my playroom."
"You have a playroom?"
"Yes, would you like to see it?"
"Yes."
He lifted and headed to the door. "Follow me."
We left the study, passed his bedroom, and stopped two doors down. Christian keyed the code and pushed the door open but let me enter first.
The room was actually nice, designed in shades of black and charcoal. Nothing like the typical dungeon looking spaces I saw when I did my deep dive. Most of those had medieval-looking furniture with chains and dark wood. His was contemporary and looked more like a regular bedroom.
I didn’t however miss the things that made it a playroom.
There was a Saint Andrew's cross on the wall designed to look like a piece of art with black leather padding against the matte black metal.
A king-sized bed sat on the adjacent wall with black sheets and a leather headboard extending all the way to the ceiling.
Other things lined the wall next to the bed, arranged on hooks. My eyes scanned the floggers, cuffs, and blindfolds, trying to push the thoughts of being with him at Erogenous out of my mind.
I ran my fingers over a padded bench similar to the one from the club. The style was more abstract, making it look like a curved leather chaise. In the corner he had a glass cabinet with more things on display.
Christian stayed in the doorway, watching me explore with his arms crossed. Each time I looked back at him, he was staring intently.
"It's not what I expected.”
"What were you expecting? Chains and whips?"
I grinned. “Maybe… or at least something with less style."
He looked amused. "Function and style. It’s possible to have both."
I motioned to a padded section of the wall. "What's that for?"
"Restraint in a standing position."
"And that?" I pointed to a curved piece of furniture.
"Spanking bench. Different angle than the standard one."
I nodded and tried not to seem affected but my imagination was going crazy with possibilities and definitely not in a bad way.
"Questions?" he asked.
"Is this new too? Like the rest of your wing?"
"Yes. You'll be the first woman I've ever played with in here."
"You’re offering a lot of firsts with me.”
"Is that a problem?"
"For me, no, but I’m still curious about why."
He pushed off the doorframe and moved into the room. "You're the first sub I've wanted a contract with. The first I've invited into my home." He crossed the room and stopped right in front of me. "Don't read too much into it."
"Hard not to."
"Try. This arrangement is about mutual benefit, that’s all."
"And everything that happens in here will be consensual?"
"Always. Same rules as at Erogenous. Same color system. The control is in your hands. I’m in charge but you set the boundaries."
I nodded. "Okay."
"Okay what?"
"I agree to the amendment."
He smiled devilishly slow and gestured toward the door. "Let’s go."
When we got back to the study, I signed both contracts, feeling anxious and relaxed at the same time. I handed both folders to Christian and he signed as well.
"One more thing." He tucked the folders under his arm.
I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t think I can handle one more thing.”
“This one is easy.”
He led me through the house to a garage I hadn't seen during yesterday's tour. When he flipped on the lights, I couldn't help but laugh.
"Of course you have a car collection."
Six vehicles were arranged in two rows, luxury and sports cars, each one probably too expensive to be driven.
"Pick one," he said.
"Excuse me?"
"You wanted your own car. Pick one to use while you’re here."
I walked between all of them, examining my options. A black Bentley similar to the one Miles drove. A Mercedes-Maybach. An Audi SUV, and shit…
This is definitely what I want. A custom, matte black Aston Martin.
"This one.” I ran my fingers over the roof.
Christian's expression tightened. "You sure?"
"Yep. This is perfect." I smiled sweetly. "Problem?"
"That's a limited edition. One of twelve worldwide."
"You said to pick one."
"I was thinking something more practical."
"None of these are practical."
“The Bentley is?”
I rolled my eyes and he grinned. "It has a back seat."
"Do I need a back seat?"
"Eventually." The way his eyes moved over my body made my stomach flip. I tapped the Aston Martin. "I still want this one."
He sighed and reached into a cabinet near the door to get the key fob. "Please don’t wreck my car, Scot."
"I'm an excellent driver."
"Better be." He handed me the key.
"I feel privileged. This is platinum treatment. This thing has to be worth half a million?—"
"One point two million," he corrected.
"Shit… that much.” I glanced at the car.
“That much, so please don’t wreck my fucking car.”
“Oh this is definitely the platinum treatment.”
"You're worth it and not just because your pussy is so good."
I rolled my eyes. "Charming."
"I try."
"Not very hard."
He laughed and pointed to the car. “Let’s do a test drive?"
"Now?"
"I need to make sure you can actually drive and won’t wreck my shit."
I raised an eyebrow. "I can drive, Christian."
"This goes from zero to sixty in three point two seconds."
"Sounds like most men I've dated. Quick start, disappointing finish."
He laughed hard. “I don’t have that problem. You will never be disappointed."
Before I could get too caught up in that, he removed his phone, checking the screen and holding it up.
"I need to take this and I have a few other calls to make. I'll be heading out for a while."
"Business?"
"Unfortunately." He handed me the key. "Make yourself at home. The code for the gate is programmed into the car already."
"You're trusting me with your million-dollar car on day one?"
He paused at the garage door. "Should I not?"
"No, I'm just surprised. Men don’t like to share their toys."
A sexy smile surfaced as his eyes traveled the length of my body. “No, we don’t.”
Then he was gone, leaving me alone in the garage with a very sexy car I wasn’t sure I would be willing to leave after all of this was over.