Beck & Call by Emma Holly Read Free Book Online

would necessarily matter. She’s very responsive.”
    Management startled Mia by crouching beside her chair, allowing Mia to look down at her obvious power superior. “Do you trust this man with your well being?” she asked. “Not just physically but also your emotions?”
    The gorgeous woman stared directly into her eyes, making the question seem even more important. Instinctively, Mia knew she didn’t need Jake’s permission to answer.
    “I do.” Her voice was husky. Management smiled as Mia cleared her throat.
    “Very well,” she said, rising to her full height again. “Mr. Reed, we’d be honored to have you … coax your new toy in our company. Please let Gabriel know whatever assistance you require.”

CHAPTER 3
    AS soon as Management left, Mia shot Jake a look she hoped would elicit answers to her questions. Jake didn’t oblige her.
    “Finish your wine if you’re going to,” he said, his amusement faint but discernible. “There’s a room backstage where we’ll meet Gabriel.”
    Not liking the sound of that, she left her wine untouched. She had a feeling she’d want her head clear for what came next.
    The space he led her to was a combination of dressing room and erotic prop storage. Most everything she saw made her nervous but also a bit intrigued. If it hadn’t been for the people presumably waiting to watch out front, she’d have liked exploring some of these things with him.
    “There’s a powder room,” Jake said, gesturing toward the open door. “You can freshen up and compose yourself.”
    The idea of composure seemed optimistic. She splashed her blazing cheeks with cold water and dried her face on a towel. The girl who looked back at her from the mirror was wide-eyed. She remembered Jake calling her a doe in headlights. She certainly fit the description then.
    You’re supposed to be like this, she told herself. This is what the plan depends on.
    She blew out her breath and went to join Jake and Gabriel. The men were conferring on strategy.
    “The rack makes a nice visual,” Gabriel was suggesting.
    For a second, Mia thought he meant her breasts.
    “Yes,” Jake said, “but I think I prefer the chair. Simple. Comfortable. Plus, there’s the Sharon Stone factor.”
    “Jesus,” Mia blurted, automatically pressing her thighs together.
    Jake turned to smile at her. He seemed very much at ease. “Good,” he said. “You look ready.”
    ~
    Her photographic brain identified the chair as an Emeco “Navy” model in brushed aluminum, quite possibly an original 1944 version designed for submarines. The things lasted forever, so she’d heard. The chair was simple, its straight unadorned slats begging for body parts to be chained to them. It sat alone on Audition’s half-circle stage, lit up by an overhead spotlight.
    The sight of it, waiting for her ass to plunk down in it, made her heart beat fast enough to dizzy her.
    This was like one of those dreams where she was supposed to sing an aria but didn’t know Italian.
    Jake stood behind her in the stage’s wing. He must have sensed her nervousness. He squeezed her tense shoulders and leaned closer. “You can’t fail,” he murmured into her ear. “Everything that happens here is on me.”
    It was nice of him to say this, but she knew they were a team. If this went pear-shaped, she’d share the blame. She forced herself to focus on Management’s voice. Though Mia couldn’t see her, she was currently speaking on the other side of the closed curtain.
    “As most of you know,” she said, “Thursdays are special at Audition. Tonight we watch demonstrations of our associates’ skills. During the presentation, silence is our golden rule. There are to be no comments or exclamations of any sort, neither to praise nor to criticize. Break this rule and security will escort you out. No exceptions, no second chances. You will respect this opportunity to learn.” She paused to let her words sink in. “Elaine? Please activate the curtain.