doing on the floor, angel?” he asked softly. “You were supposed to come downstairs to meet us.”
I opened my mouth to speak when a sob escaped my lips instead. The next thing I knew, warm arms wrapped around me, cradling me against a hard chest. My cries were muffled by his shirt.
“Shhh…beautiful one,” he whispered, running a hand up and down my back. He lifted me into his arms and took me down to the basement, seating me on a couch. He placed a soft kiss on my lips before releasing me.
Sniffing, I wiped under my eyes and noticed my surroundings. The room was large, the lighting dim. Black mats covered the floor much like the one where I had the rope experience the night before but this one screamed power.
Colin stood off in the corner, holding two long sticks made of wood. His eyes were dark, sad almost as he watched us.
“What’s going on?” I asked, my voice hoarse.
“Colin was training me. Helping me take out my frustrations on something other than you.” Parker knelt in front of me, leaning his big body between my legs. He cupped my cheek, slowly grazing his fingers to my nape. “This is another side of me that you don’t know.”
“Are you letting me get to know you, my love?” I asked tentatively.
He gave me a small smile. “As much as I need your control, you need my domination. Without those two things, this wouldn’t be possible.”
I nodded. “What are you saying?”
He looked back at Colin over his shoulder before meeting my gaze again. “In no way, shape, or form is submission a sign of weakness. I want you to know that first and foremost. Do you understand me?”
“Yes.” I nodded again. “Of course.”
Parker kissed my forehead. “Colin is my mentor but he also has taught me that I can submit.”
My heart jumped. “W-what?”
He chuckled softly. “Don’t look so surprised, pet.”
“But…you…” I shook my head. “Really?”
“I will always be your Dom but I refuse to try anything on you that I haven’t felt for my own self. And once this shit is over, I would like you to help me train people. Like I used to do before I got caught up in all of this. We can work together. Teach them that submission is exciting. Powerful. And damn controlling just as much as domination.”
“I would love to help you,” I said quickly.
“Good girl.” He rose to his feet and held out his hand. “Now, we will see if you can dominate me.”
“No. I don’t think so.” I refused. There was no way. He was Parker Reed. My Dom. There was no—
“You own the boardroom like it’s a part of you.” Parker pulled me to my feet, gently pushing me to the middle of the room.
“How did you know that?” Anxiety twisted in my gut as memories of that first day I took over Parker’s company threatened to twist in my mind.
“Every room in that building is wired. Even the bathrooms. The storage closets…everything.”
“So you heard how horrible I did?” I cringed, my cheeks heating.
“You were trying too hard at first but then you showed them, didn’t you, Keely?” He moved behind me and leaned down to my ear. “You dominated them like I dominate you.”
A shiver ran down my spine as his breath washed over my skin. “I…I guess I did.”
“Did you enjoy it?” he asked, placing his hands on my shoulders.
I nodded. “Yes. Very much so.”
“Good.” His grip was firm on my hand when he brought us over to a table that was as long, if not longer than Parker himself.
Standing from the other side of the room, I never even noticed the large slab of wood but now, it was hard to miss.
My eyes widened when Parker jumped onto the table and laid down. A part of me was excited. This was it. The time that I could rule over him. Dominate him like he had done so many times to me. I also knew that this would be it for a while. Once Hell’s Harlem showed up tomorrow, Parker and I would get no time alone. Not until justice was served. But then a part of me felt uncomfortable attempting to Dominate him like he did me. So I only said the first thing that came to mind. “I should call Agent Cross about—”
Parker growled. “No fucking—”
“Shut up,” Colin snapped, coming up beside me.
I jumped at the deep booming voice in my ear and met Colin’s furious stare. “Sorry.