Chapter Seven

Damn, his dick was so hard it hurt. Gabrielle and her responses to his domination pushed at him to the point he wanted to break his own rules and take her to bed now. He doubted she would object and just the thought of sinking into that hot little pussy of hers made his erection press painfully against his pants. The way her moisture had coated his fingers when he touched her played over and over in his mind.

He hoped David got his ass in here quick so he wouldn’t be so tempted to do something they both might regret in the morning. He worried about rushing things with Gabrielle, but he had made a commitment to David as a mentor and this was the ideal opportunity for them all. To engage from the beginning with the sweet submissive at his table would be more effective than any training session at Sanctuary would be.

Maybe he should explain to her in advance and give her some time to let it sink in…

“Good evening,” a voice rumbled from the doorway.

Too late.

“Evening.” He stood and shook David’s hand when he approached, avoiding eye contact with Gabrielle. He admired David a lot and hoped that even when their training sessions were complete, they’d remain friends.

“Gabrielle, I’d like to introduce you to my houseguest, David.” Thomas caught David’s raised eyebrow from the corner of his eye while watching Gabrielle for her reactions. A pink flush traveled up her neck and face as the implications of houseguest sank in. He could imagine her mind moving a mile a minute as she debated whether he’d been here the night before and overheard. She shot Thomas a quick glance before settling her gaze on David and giving him a soft, sweet smile.

“It’s nice to meet you, David.” Both men had to strain to hear her response as she whispered and quickly cast her eyes downward.

“Don’t be embarrassed, sweetheart. David did not watch your punishment last night, although he likely overheard you when you came.”

Her head jerked toward him, and her face mottled bright red even while her eyes sparked at him with a hint of anger. It was the cutest thing he’d ever seen in his life. Her embarrassment added to the experience even now as she sat there fully clothed, hiding her body from both of them—something she’d learn soon enough was not acceptable during their training phase. While David settled in his seat across from Gabrielle, Thomas longed to confirm her heightened state of arousal. Along with her embarrassed blush, her nipples had pebbled against her shirt, and the energy had ratcheted a few levels higher in the room. But he wanted the evidence of it on his fingers.

Sitting next to her, it was easy enough to slide his hand under her skirt and rub her cream-coated slit.

“Don’t.” The one word slid from her lips, catching him off guard. His hand stilled, shocked by her refusal.

She hadn’t turned to look at him or David but instead stared down at her plate.

“You would deny my touch, little one?”

“No, but he…”

“You think it matters to me that there is another man at the table? That my new submissive will only submit to me when it’s comfortable for her? Look at me, Gabrielle.”

Her head turned slowly until her hooded gaze settled on his.

“Stand and take off your clothes.”

“But—”

He narrowed his eyes and pursed his mouth. Fortunately, she clamped her lips together.

“The proper response to that would be ‘yes, Sir’.”

“Yes, Sir,” she managed on a shaky breath.

“Good, then do as I say—right now.” He waited as precious seconds ticked by before she finally moved from her chair. He dared not take his gaze from her for a second. Even though David sat at the table watching, he wanted her to know that she was his total and complete focus.

Her hands shook as she worked the buttons of her shirt, one at a time. Without even realizing it, her slow and nervous movements made this strip down all the more erotic. At this rate, she’d be lucky if they made it through dinner without a thorough fucking. When the last button was finally undone she slipped the fabric from her shoulders to reveal plump breasts with nipples so hard they stood at attention practically begging to be plucked. No doubt he’d be having a bite of those before the night was over.

He returned his focus to her beautiful face where the lush lips and hooded eyes bespoke an inordinate amount of desire from one glance. With a small squeeze to her hand to reassure her, he nodded to her skirt. She unfastened her waistband, shimmied the fabric from her rounded hips and allowed the skirt to slide down her shapely legs. With her totally nude, he let her stand there and be observed because he wasn’t quite ready for her to hide her spectacular pussy underneath the table when she sat. She had the kind of body he loved from the flushed full breasts topped with dark protruding nipples to the rounded belly and wide hips he ached to touch again. He easily imagined his own harder body wrapped around her lush softness as it cushioned him in sleep. He wanted to see her like this all of the time, and if he had his way, she would never be covered.

“What do you think, David?” He spoke the words while watching Gabrielle. He didn’t want to miss a single reaction, especially since they told him more than her words ever could. That and the moisture between her legs.

“Absolutely beautiful.”

Thomas smiled. “Yes, she is and aroused as well.”

“I see that. She must be a natural at this.”

A sudden urge to have her lie on the table and spread her legs for them while they ate overwhelmed him. Having her pink pussy exposed to them both for the rest of the evening would be divine and probably more than he could bear. Besides she wasn’t quite ready for something like that. He’d pushed her about as far as he dared tonight. His goal was to draw out her desires for both their pleasures, not scare her away for good.

“Have a seat, Gabrielle, but from now on, whenever you enter this house you will immediately remove your clothing no matter what. Is that understood?”

“Yes, Sir.” She spoke quickly as she moved into her chair at lightening speed. Thomas stifled a smile. His poor modest baby had a lot to learn, and he was going to love every minute of it.

Thomas picked up the dinner bell, and the caterer he had hired for the night walked in with their salads on a tray. Renewed alarm flashed across Gabrielle’s face at the woman seeing her sitting there without a stitch of clothing. He grasped her hand and spoke softly. “Nothing to worry about, sweetheart. Becky here is a caterer from Sanctuary and well used to seeing people in various states of undress at all of our public or private get-togethers.”

The tension didn’t fully leave Gabrielle’s body but her shoulders did relax a fraction. Good enough. He wanted her to be comfortable with what he asked of her but not too comfortable. Keeping her slightly off balance and aware that anything could happen next would feed both their needs. She seemed eager to submit, but her lack of actual experience meant there were natural barriers he had to break down. It annoyed him that society put pressure on people to act and conform to certain standards even if it went against a person’s basic nature. A pity really.

She reached for her salad fork, freezing in midair when she realized what she’d done. For someone who’d had no formal training, she had more knowledge than he’d expected. They’d barely begun to discuss any rules or expectations for any situation, so he didn’t expect her to know she should ask for permission, but her soft questioning gaze automatically turned to him and waited.

His cock jerked forcefully against his pants with renewed interest. Damn.

He nodded giving her the permission she sought and watched her spear a cherry tomato with her fork and bring it to her mouth. When her pretty red lips closed around the tines of the utensil, he had to bite back a moan at the picture she presented. It was time to get some conversation going about something—anything—that could take his mind from burying himself inside her.

Thomas glanced at David to see him watching with a smile perking at the corners of his mouth. It wouldn’t do for him to lose control the first night of his friend’s training.

“So Gabrielle, what kind of work do you do?” David broke the sexual tension with a benign question that Thomas mentally thanked him for.

“Please feel free to call me Gabby.” She glanced at Thomas. “Although I know you prefer Gabrielle.”

“I rather agree with Thomas. Gabrielle suits you better.”

Both men began to eat as Gabrielle explained her job as a contract accountant. From her description, it sounded as if she had vast experience with a variety of clients.

“That reminds me about the job I wanted to discuss with you.”

“Yes, I’m anxious to hear about it.” She put down her fork and turned her full attention to him while Becky served their dinner of Chicken Marsala, Gabrielle’s favorite he’d been told.

“It might not be as exciting as your thinking,” Thomas laughed. “We’ve had a sudden influx of activities going on out at Sanctuary, and our resident accountant has been having a rough time of it. In fact, he’s several months behind on balancing our books, and I’m a little concerned.”

“So you need a temp to help him get caught up?”

“There’s a little bit more to it than that.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’d like for everything to get back on schedule, but I’d also like to get an audit on all the records for the past year.”

Gabrielle’s eyebrows drew together. He could practically see her mind calculating and contemplating the job. He was confident that with her references and obviously sharp mind, he’d made the right decision in choosing her. In more ways than one.

“Do you suspect something fishy?”

Yep, smart girl.

“I have no real reason to; I just think the being behind makes me uncomfortable.” He wasn’t prepared to get into the details of this with her. He’d rather she go in and double check without any preconceived notions.

“Sometimes, the first gut reaction is the most telling.” Gabrielle twirled her wineglass, sliding it back and forth between her fingers. “I have a couple assignments that are ending in the next couple days so after that I could clear my schedule for you. It sounds like I’m going to need some time. Of course, I won’t know how much until I see the status of the bookkeeping for myself.”

“Of course.” He had a hard time taking his eyes from the woman who watched him intently but with such caution. But the thing he did notice was the way she seemed to have forgotten the state of her undress. Talking about her work had animated her as well as distracted her, and now, she appeared comfortable.

“David, why don’t you tell our beautiful guest how we met? I think she’ll be interested in that story.”

Gabrielle’s head turned almost reluctantly back to David, not taking her gaze from his until the last possible second. A sense of attachment was beginning to form, which he took as a very positive sign.

“Well, about six months ago, I ended a long relationship with a sweet but very vanilla woman. I’d been having thoughts and desires for a more intense relationship, if you know what I mean, and when I finally confessed, she freaked. I left the next morning.” Thomas knew his story well, but he wanted Gabrielle to hear it, to understand what they would be undertaking if she agreed to the co-training. “Once I got settled into a temporary apartment, I started to explore everything I’d learned through BDSM research.”

Gabrielle shook her head and set her chin onto her hands, absorbed by what David had to say. “I know exactly what you mean; my experience was all too similar.” Startled, Thomas schooled his face to not show his surprise as he settled in to watch them both.

“After a few visits with some local groups, I decided I needed a mentor. Someone with a lot of experience who could train me not to go to far, to learn to read the subtle signs a submissive gives when she needs something, that kind of thing. Long story short, through a few well-placed referrals, I landed on Sanctuary’s doorsteps looking for Master Thomas.”

Gabrielle’s head swung sharply in Thomas’ direction, her eyes wide and her mouth in the form of a small O. “You’re his trainer?”

“As of last week.” Thomas stroked the smooth skin of her cheek and glanced his fingers across her lips. “Gabrielle.” His hand gripped her chin and tilted it up until she stared into his eyes with no option to look away. “I want to train you together.”