One by one, I remove the ropes from her red, sore ankles and wrists. She has not paid enough yet, but seeing the marks the ropes have made on her body does nothing to excite or thrill me.

Riley sits up and stretches out her arms. “I don’t know about you, but that was the shortest thirty-something hours I’ve ever lived through.” She pulls the sheets up over her breasts. “I guess time flies when, well… you know.”

“That’s because you’ve only been here for four hours or so. Do those rope burns hurt?” I ask, taking one of her hands in mine to take a closer look.

The pretty little hellcat slaps my hand away. “No need to put on the bleeding heart act. I’m good.”

I ignore her defensive tone and get back into bed beside her.

“Get on top and ride, gingersnap.”

Moaning, she lifts up and straddles my legs. She finds my hands and place them over her breasts, massaging both my fingers and her breasts at the same time. Once Riley is satisfied that I’m fondling her flesh the right way, she rolls her hips, rubbing her wet heat along my rigid shaft. A condom is in her hand and ripped open before I notice her move. Mind you, I’m occupied with her breasts, which fill my hands so perfectly that it takes a bit more effort than normal to raise my head and capture her nipples in my mouth one by one.

She arches forward at my touch, hands now in her hair as she starts to lose it. I grind out a demand against the flesh of her breast, commanding her to slow down. I’m not inside of her yet. She slides her hips back and finds my cock to roll on the condom. Wrapping her arms around my head and neck, Riley uses her knees to rock forward. Before long, my cock head is surging past her folds as she lowers down along my shaft.

My pelvis moves on its own, tilting up to meet her movements. I fill her so deeply she lets out a gasp each time I hit a spot deep in her core. She rolls her hips, taking me further. I pick up the pace. My lips slip from her nipple to give her more room to move. I’m lost watching her bounce on my cock, breasts bobbing as her opening clenches the base of my shaft.

Riley is so close, I can see the climax beginning to distort her expression. I help her along by using my thumb to flick her clit. The extra contact has her body pulsing and her breaths short and punchy, until she snaps her eyes shut and whimpers. Her weakened, quivering body stiffens as she loses herself in this orgasm. Her hips rock forward for a while, and soon slow down until she falls forward on my chest. Her body is so still and peaceful, I let her rest a while.

“What’s your plan for the rest of my time as your sex slave?” she asks the moment her breathing comes back under control. “Let me guess. Whips? Ball gags? A sex swing? No, wait. I know. Put a collar on me, attach a long, shiny chain, and show me off to your billionaire buddies. Please, Malcolm.”

“Enough with the sarcasm,” I tell her.

Lifting her off me, I ease out of bed and head over to the bathroom.

I can keep her here all night and all day tomorrow. That’s what my dick wants, but instant gratification doesn’t tend to lend itself to anything beyond the horizon. I dispose of the condom, throw a towel around my waist, and return to stand at the side of the bed.

It’s time to come clean with the highlights of where things stand. The high points include the fact that no charges will be laid against her. Her friends have already been released. She will be offered the articling position. The offer is good, as long as she follows through with the public apology, and the return of all documentation she’s gathered about our linkage to the two energy companies.

I relate my update to that effect. Her mouth drops open, and stays that way for a solid twenty seconds.

Riley scratches her head. “Alexander Industries wants me to work for them. Me? Are you sure I’m not missing something?”

“Positive.”

“Why would they do that? I mean why would you do that? It is your family’s company after all. What’s the logic?”

“Isn’t is enough that you’re an astute law student with real passion to affect future change?” I ask, not ready to give her anything more. Overwhelming her too quickly will scare the hell out of her. I’m also trying to demonstrate some goodwill here.

“Oh yeah. Right.”

I head to the bedroom door and turn to face her. “You’re free to go,” I announce, pointing to her belongings. “One of the drivers will take you home.”

She gives me a skeptical sideways glance. “What? Is this some kind of trick?”

“No. I assure you it’s not.” I nod at the night table. “I left my card over there. Contact me after the holidays. I’ll get my assistant to arrange a start date with legal.”

She stares at me, silently assessing me from across the room. “You’re serious, aren’t you?” When I don’t answer, she slowly crawls off the bed and picks up her clothes. “I need a few minutes,” she says, and steps into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Her quick return to the room a minute later, and fully clothed too, tells me she does not want to take a chance that I’ll change my mind.

On her way out, she stops in front of me and stares up into my eyes. It takes all my will not to drag her back into my arms and carry her right back into that bed to finish what I started.

“Are you sure?” she asks for good measure.

I nod.

“I don’t know what to make of these developments, but… thank you.”

I’m tempted tell her that I should be thanking her, but I don’t. “It was great meeting you, Miss Hampton.”

“Same to you.” Riley begins to leave, but stops short in the doorway and looks back at me. “I should be running out of here like a bat out of hell.”

“So why aren’t you?”

“Honestly? A few reasons. I also get the distinct impression you have something weighing on your mind that you want to share with me.”

Riley is right on the money. There’s nothing else I’d rather do right this second than unburden myself to her. My decision to let her leave now lays the groundwork for building a bridge of trust between us. No matter what’s going on in my head or my chest, I just can’t presume that there’s room to take a leap of faith so fast.

“What am I missing here?” she pushes. “Tell me. Give me something. Anything.”

“Merry Christmas to you and yours,” I say with resolve.

“Thanks. Have a great holiday.” With a nod, she steps into the hallway and I watch her leave.

Taking a shower helps clear my head. I grab my things and head up to my private suite for a change of clothes. It’s time to go back to the office. I’m on my way out of the clubhouse when my phone buzzes. I slide it out of my pocket.

The message reads, “Mr. Alexander. This is Miss Hampton.”

I reply with, “You took my business card. Good move.”

“Do you want to know something?”

“Yes.”

“If I come back, I’ll be there of my own free will.”

I smile and hop in the back of the waiting town car. “Perhaps.”

“Or how about this instead? 35 Morningside, Apt 503, Buzzer 768.”

There it is. It takes two to build a bridge, and she has just laid one plank on the other side.

“Sure. When?”

“How about now?”

“It’s one in the afternoon.”

“Shut up and get over here.”