Glen Cove

Chapter 2: Vanilla World

At five-foot, three inches, the top of my head barely comes to his chin, which means he is well over six foot tall. When I move my head, my cheek brushes the front of his shoulder, and he leans down - his face inches from mine.

"Do you wish to say something?"

"Yes, I um, I can't just leave my stuff here."

I'm drawn to his full lips and wonder what they'd feel like pressed against my skin.

"Pet, I assure you, your items are safe in my office."

I turn away from his penetrating gaze because the longer I peer into them, the more I'm drawn to him sexually.

Never mix business with pleasure - that's my motto.

Only this time, I'm thinking that's gonna prove far harder than it sounds. But I blame my publicist, well, no, actually, I blame Suzie Michaels, my agent, this is her fault.

The warmth of his minty breath on the side of my face and neck makes me shiver in his arms.

"Are you touring the facility in what you have on?" He tilts my chin upward and peers down into my eyes.

Right on cue, the magnetism of those eyes starts sucking me into the event horizon of one Mr. Alexandre De La Fontaine.

"What's w-wrong with w-what I have on?" I ask, stuttering then slide out from under him.

He elevates an eyebrow and grins, following me with those intense delving eyes.

"If you must ask, then you truly do not understand, pet."

Turning on the balls of his feet, he leisurely leans his muscular frame against the desk. His smoldering gaze takes in every inch of my body, making me feel seen as never before.

Wait, did he call me pet? Surely, I didn't hear him right, but the word continues to roll around in my head.

"Don't call me that."

"What?"

"Don't call me pet. And I'm not your 'little dear,' either. You may address me by Rita or Miss Wright."

I swallow hard and try to ignore my body's reaction to Alexandre's lean, muscular frame that's now pressing against me.

"I'm here to observe, not participate, which I made clear to Mr. Mathis."

His eyes brighten, and he smiles as if I've just issued a challenge - one that he's keen to take on.

"There is nothing wrong with the dress you have on in a vanilla world. It fits you well and shows off your shapely legs, and the heels add to the s*x appeal. However, you are overdressed for the club's cliental, which will make you stand out."

He brushes a strand of hair off my shoulder, and I follow the movement of his hand.

"Now, let us be clear. In this office, you may call me Alexandre or Mr. De La Fontaine, ma petite chere, but out on the floor, you 'will' address me as Master Alex or sir." He strokes his jaw. "Plus, I will call you pet in front of others, but to only keep up appearances."

"And if I'm not comfortable with that?"

"Then the tour stops here." He pauses and the silence between us weighs heavy on my chest. "Is this what you want? Do you wish to cancel the tour - your research?"

The word 'yes' sits at the tip of my tongue, but I struggle internally because my contracted project requires me to understand more about this man's area of expertise.

Plus, I'd never hear the end of it from my agent, not to mention, I have nowhere else to stay tonight.

"No, I don't wish to cancel because I'm a professional." I smooth the flowing fabric of my dress covering my thighs. "I have a job to do, and as such, I intend to do it."

"Very well, but keep in mind, your request to observe and study the b**m activities of the club for writing research is rather unorthodox, to say the least." His lips spread into a sexy, wolfish grin, making me feel like an adult version of Little Red. "Would you like to change?"

"No, I'm fine in what I have on."

Looking down at my lavender A-Line princess dress, I feel overdressed and exposed all at the same time. I fidget, avoiding his gaze and smooth the hem down over my bare thighs.

He holds out his hand. "As you wish." His lips tug upward. "Now, come."

I shake my head. "Uhm, I'm not a child, Alexandre. I don't need to hold your hand."

"Have you ever been inside of a kink club before?"

"Kink club? No, but I've read numerous articles about them."

"So, you have read about them, ma petite chere," he says with a soft chuckle. "Well, then, if you feel brave enough to forgo taking my handÉthen by all means, go solo. However, make sure you pay attention to your surroundings and stay within ear range. The Doms can smell a newbie a mile away, especially a submissive as tender as you."

"I'm n-not submissive." I chew on the corner of my mouth.

He brushes his thumb over my lower lip but remains silent.

My eyes widen as large as saucers. I release my lip and draw in a sharp breath, which makes him grin, again, before he walks to the door.

I open my mouth to speak, but words fail me.

Geez, what is wrong with me? I'm a writer, for God's sake. I'm never at a loss for words and moreover, why am I allowing a complete stranger to get under my skin?

He holds the door of his office open, and motions for me to join him in the adjacent corridor.

At the end of the hallway, he punches a series of numbers into a keypad. Each digit produces a unique sound, which replays inside my head. When finished, the red light flashes then turns green.

"Are you ready?"

I nod, not sure I could find the words to speak.

He strolls down the walkway.

The further we walk down the winding path, the tighter my stomach contracts. I can't believe Suzie Michaels, my literary agent, suggested this. Moreover, I can't believe I agreed.

We round the corner and walk up to a fire-engine red door.

A shiver runs up my spine and warning signs go off in my head. He keys in a different set of numbers, and like before, the musical melody croons in my brain.

The light on the control panel turns from red to green. A clicking noise resonates in the air. He turns the handle, and my breath catches in the back of my throat.

"This is the common room, ma chere," he says with a smile then licks his lips, full, kissable lips "It is where people go to mix and mingle." He offers his hand. "Are you sure you do not want to take my hand?"

"No, I'm fine." I stand up straight and level my shoulders. "But thank you just the same."

Alexandre's pushes the door open further then studies my face.

His lips curl upward into a broad grin, and then he steps aside.

Opening the door wider, he motions for me to enter the room. "Ladies first."

I take a deep breath and step over the threshold into another world.