considered for a
moment, and the sight of Edwards spanking the secretary flashed
through her mind briefly but vividly.
“I don’t mind if you ask,” she said,
suppressing the excitement she felt. “But I do not promise to
answer.” Edwards nodded, and she saw admiration in his eyes.
“Are you currently in a romantic
relationship?” he asked her, and Gabrielle saw his gaze shift from
her face to her body, felt the brief caress of his look at her
curves.
“I’m not,” Gabrielle said,
wondering—hoping—and uncertain where Edwards was leading.
Certainly, she thought, if he did try to make an issue of her
marital status, she would contest it.
“That’s interesting… do you have frequent
one-night stands, or do you satisfy your needs through
self-pleasure?” Gabrielle felt herself blushing and glanced down
for a moment, trying to compose herself.
“Why do you ask?” she managed to say, licking
her lips self-consciously and finally meeting Edwards’ gaze once
more.
“You strike me as a very sensual and very
sexual woman, Gabrielle. I can’t imagine that you’d live a life of
utter celibacy without some form of gratification of your needs.”
Gabrielle’s blush deepened, and she took a breath to steady
herself. She couldn’t quite believe that Edwards was obviously
hitting on her, in spite of the fact that there was no other
explanation for his behavior.
“I manage,” she said, fidgeting slightly. In
spite of her discomfort, she realized that her body was heating up,
that she was becoming slick with desire. She bit her bottom lip,
trying to keep herself steady. She knew—she could tell—that Edwards
was enjoying her discomfort.
“And just how do you manage?” he asked her
quietly, his gaze focusing on her eyes, her lips. Gabrielle shifted
in her seat, feeling an unaccountable urge to flee. She had been
fantasizing about this man—a little at least—from the time of their
first meeting. She had wondered what it would be like to be
dominated by him. Now that it was really happening, however, she
wasn’t sure how to respond to him.
“I… find partners, if I am feeling a
particular need,” she said, her voice cracking slightly in
uncertainty. “I do…engage in self-pleasure on occasion.” Gabrielle
was both embarrassed and exhilarated, barely able to maintain eye
contact with Edwards as she spoke. She forced herself to sit up
straighter in the chair and take a deep breath. She was not going
to let him dominate her so easily, she told herself firmly.
Edwards stood up, towering over Gabrielle as
he stepped around his desk. He was only inches away from her, and
Gabrielle felt her heart pounding in her chest. He was so much
taller than her, and she could see his lean, muscular build through
the fine suit he wore. Irrelevantly, she wondered how he had time
to go to the gym with everything else he had to do. “How do you
pleasure yourself?” he asked her, his bright blue eyes looking down
into hers. Gabrielle sat back, feeling intimidated by him but also
attracted to him all at once.
“I—I have some personal toys,” she stammered,
surprised at how shy she was suddenly. If any other man had asked
her about her personal gratification habits, she would have either
refused to answer or would have bluntly detailed the variety of
toys she had at home. Edwards nodded.
“I have some personal toys as well,” he said,
standing upright and walking back around to the other side of his
desk. “Of course, it’s considered much nicer to share.” He smiled
faintly, glancing at Gabrielle as he opened a drawer in his desk.
Gabrielle heard rustling, the sound of metallic clinking, and the
next moment, Edwards withdrew and displayed a pair of handcuffs,
holding them up so that Gabrielle could see them. “Stand up,
please.” There was not even the slightest suggestion of a
question—a request—in Edwards’ words. Gabrielle stood, her
portfolio case
Learning to Kill: Stories