Well, that’s never happened to me before.

I’ve seen sub drop before but they’ve never literally dropped to the ground in front of me. At least I know my reflexes are still good.

My chest is still pounding. Seeing her — Nora Payne herself — facing a St. Andrew’s cross. Her hands raised above her head. They weren’t even tied. She kept them there, willingly obeying me. She wanted to submit to me.

She felt amazing in my arms. Her little body is tighter than I thought it’d be. Soft, pale skin beneath her clothes just waiting to be turned pink.

The bathroom door opens and some redhead walks out. I grit my teeth, honestly starting to get a little worried. Three other women have gone in and come back out since Nora rushed in there. Maybe I should grab Judy and ask her to go check on her.

Finally, the door swings open and I push off the wall. Nora stops the second she sees me standing by and her eyes drop to her shoes.

“Are you all right?” I ask.

“Yeah,” she says. “I just needed a minute.”

Her eyes refuse to lock on mine. She’s obviously not all right. Not yet.

“Hey—” I touch her shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze. “Don’t worry. Trust me, these people have seen far worse.”

Her smile presses on, feigned as it may be. “Oh, no. I’m cool. I’m fine. Really.”

I hold out her jacket. “You forgot this up there…”

“Oh!” She takes it from me. “Thank you very much.”

We take a step back to keep from blocking the bathroom door. Nora nudges against me by accident and I catch the subtle scent of her perfume. It struck me earlier by the St. Andrew’s cross and my nose has been begging for another hit of it ever since.

Nora backs off, quickly moving to a more open area to get out of the way. I follow her, still not entirely convinced that she’s okay.

“So, what’s next?” I ask. “Was there another scene you were curious about?”

“Scene?” she asks, furrowing her brow.

I grin. “You really are a beginner.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, a scene is basically a—”

“Actually, Clive,” she interrupts, “I think I’m just gonna take off.”

A protective surge stuns my gut. “You sure?”

“Yeah. Things just got a little too real on me for a Wednesday night, ya know?” She chuckles and awkwardly pushes her hair behind her ear. “I should go and try to get some sleep.”

“Right.” I check my watch. Still a bit of time left on my break. “Where are you parked?” I ask.

“In the garage down the block,” she answers, throwing up a hand. “But you don’t have to—”

“I’ll walk you to your car,” I say over her.

“Clive, I’m fine.”

“Come on.”

I’m not taking no for an answer here. Hell, part of me wants to drive her home myself. She passed out under my hand. I pushed her too hard and I don’t want her out of my sight again for the rest of the night.

I lead her to the exit, pausing to give Judy a quick heads up on my way out. She takes one look at Nora and gives me a subtle wink. No worries, it means. Thanks for looking out for the newbies.

I hold the door open and Nora follows me outside. She instantly throws her jacket back on and wraps her arms around her chest to block out the late autumn chill. The weather doesn’t hurt me much but I’ve got fifty pounds on her, at least. It’s admirable, honestly; How a woman so tiny managed to become such a big deal.

I let her point the way and we set out toward the parking garage a few blocks east.

After a minute of silence, Nora clears her throat. “So, how long have you worked there?” she asks.

I count back. “Six months. Give or take.”

“Do you like it? I mean, it’s gotta be better than plugging numbers for me all day.”

I chuckle. “Well, when you put it that way…”

She smiles. “I won’t take it personally.”

“It’s different,” I answer. “More stressful, in a way. I usually don’t have to worry about Ali in accounting passing out mid-spanking.” Nora’s face screws up and I cringe. “Too soon?”

“Little bit…” She laughs.

“Sorry.”

“It’s all right. I’m sure I’ll wake up one day and find it hilarious.” Her face relaxes. “Has anything like that ever happened before?”

I nod. “Yes.”

“Are you lying to make me feel better?”

“No.”

“Pinky promise?”

I chuckle. “I swear. Things like that aren’t uncommon. It can get intense in there.”

Nora looks at me and nods, seemingly satisfied with the response.

We reach the parking garage a bit too quickly. I need more alone time with her if I’m ever going to figure out where she stashes her client list. And I honestly wouldn’t mind a few minutes alone with her in other ways as well…

My fingers tingle with the memory of her body in my lap. Her chest softly rising and falling. Blood rushing to my groin and me silently praying she can’t feel the bulge against her hip.

“Just over here,” she says, pointing across the lot.

I spot the scarlet red sedan in the corner, parked behind a giant, black truck. Once again, I’m instantly happy with my decision to walk her back to her car. It’s not the safest neighborhood and a dark corner like this is ample opportunity for someone to try and mug her. Or worse.

But also…

I glance around. There are only a few other cars parked in this area and with that truck blocking most angles…

Nora turns to face me next to the driver’s side door. “Thanks for walking me back,” she says, popping open her little purse to find her car keys.

“No problem,” I say. “I’m happy to do it.”

She pulls the handle, opening the door an inch. “I’ll see you tomorrow—”

I rest my hand on the door, blocking it. “Wait.”

She pauses, her eyes slowly rising to look at me. There’s a flush of color on her face, like a jolt of electricity she can’t deny.

I lick my lips and shift just a little closer, forcing her head to tilt up as I stand over her. “Kiss me,” I say.

She blinks. “What?”

“You heard me.”

“No.” Her head shakes back and forth. “No, I can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Because…” She scoffs. “I shouldn’t have come back here anyway. I’m your boss.”

“Only from nine-to-five,” I argue. “And it’s the 21st century. No one cares about that kind of crap anymore.”

“I care about that kind of crap anymore,” she says. “I don’t mix business and… whatever the hell that was back there.”

“Did it feel good?”

She tries to open the door but I pin it closed.

“Did it feel good?” I ask again, inches away from her ear.

Her breath skips. “Yes,” she says.

“Which part?” I ask, digging deeper. “The pinch of the flogger against you… or that it pleased me?”

Nora closes her eyes. “I don’t know…” she whispers.

I lay a hand under her chin and guide her up to look at me. “I can make you feel like that again, Nora. You just have to submit to me.”

She shivers.

“That’s what you came out here for, isn’t it?” I ask. “To find someone who will make you forget who you are for just a little while. Someone who can dominate you… and fuck you the way you were always meant to be fucked.” She doesn’t say a word. “Nora, I’ll back off if that’s what you really want. You can start coming to the club again and find some other guy who might know a thing or two.” I caress her cheek. “Or you can stick with me, someone familiar but not too familiar, who can give you what you need.”

“And what do I need?” she asks.

“You know what.” I take a deep breath of her scent and it fires all the way down to my knees. “Let me give it to you.”

She’s breaking. I can feel it. I just have to push her a little bit further…

“Say yes,” I urge as I glide my hand down over her breasts. “Say yes and I’ll show you what I can do right now.”

Her head rolls back, exposing her neck as she rests it against the car roof. My cock twitches in my jeans at the sight of that white handkerchief fastened to her throat.

My white handkerchief.

I reach her pants and I pop the button free as tires skid around the corner from us. Her breath catches in her throat and her hesitant eyes open wider with every inch I slide her zipper down but she doesn’t stop me. The car continues on, disappearing up the echoing tower.

I kiss her, firmly enveloping her lips. It feels like a firecracker exploding against my face. Can’t say that’s ever happened before. I want to feel it again.

I kiss her a second time and her lips move to kiss me back.

She tilts slightly away from me. “We shouldn’t…” she says, her vocal elongated by desire.

“You know what to say,” I whisper. “Wait. Stop. Or…”

I slide my finger along the tip of her clit, making her gasp as she clenches my biceps. She’s so sensitive. I can feel the wetness up to my knuckles already. I want to touch her and taste her and hear her say my name.

“Wait. Stop.” I repeat it, prompting more from her. “Or…”

Nora reacts to the pressure I give her, her mouth sagging and her tongue just barely passing her lips. “Clive,” she finally says.

I part my lips to massage my tongue with hers. She fully kisses me back this time. A light moan vibrates the back of her throat, heating the blood in my veins. Her head falls again and I attack her neck, nibbling and sucking along the upper rim of the handkerchief.

“Outside the office…” I whisper, “you’re to call me Mr. Snow.”

She nods, unable to speak.

“You’re going to open yourself to me now.”

She moans in my ear, my hips gently bucking against my fingers still pressed along her clit, using my hand for her own undeniable pleasures.

“I’m going to eat you out until you come on my face,” I say.

She shivers in response and touches her lips to mine with a deep, longing kiss. I feel it all the way down in my groin as my cock throbs with need.

“And then...” I lay my free hand on the back of her neck, curling my fingers around her dirt-blonde hair. I pull it back, making her look at me. “You’re going to suck my cock. You’re going to make me come with that pretty, little mouth. Do you understand?”

A wave of pleasure strikes her and I watch as it rolls over her eyes. “Yes, Mr. Snow,” she says. “I understand.”

I release her hair. “Backseat. Now.”