The Domination Game

ADIRE

As soon as I stepped into the apartment, I kicked off my stilettos. Allie’s breathless voice echoed through the apartment, Peter’s name on her lips.

“Allie, I’m home! If you’re up to something kinky with Peter, either wrap it up, stop it, or let me join in!” I shouted.

A loud crash followed my words, and Allie growled something at Peter. “You’re the worst, A.B.!” she yelled back.

“Anytime!” I laughed.

Something thudded against her bedroom door as I passed by, which made me laugh even more. Maybe Peter was considering my offer.

“Sorry, darling! I’m off to shower… And hurry up with him, I’m starving!”

The shower was a welcome relief. What a day. Gravin Oil was in deep trouble. Its owner was hiding like a scared child.

Now, it was my job to spin the PR and make some strategic decisions to help them reach their financial goals.

I had a meeting at eight, and it was already six. Thankfully, they only wanted a conference call, not a video conference. I needed some downtime.

I emerged in a pair of oversized sweats, a baggy sweatshirt, no makeup, my hair wet and haphazardly pulled into a messy bun, and my big red-rimmed nerd glasses on.

I was working on some diagrams on the computer when Allie emerged from the bedroom in Peter’s boxers and an old T-shirt, shooting me a glare.

“Jerk,” she muttered, walking past me. I stifled my laughter.

“Hey, are you making dinner?” I asked.

“Obviously,” she huffed.

“I love it when my personal chef cooks for me,” I teased, winking at her before returning to my work.

She laughed and got to work. Peter came out and kissed Allie, wrapping his arms around her as she chopped something.

“How long are you back for, Peter?” I asked, heading to the kitchen to make a fresh pot of coffee.

“I have to leave on Monday for about ten days. I’m on the London route this month,” he said, and I saw Allie’s shoulders slump.

“But he does look hot in his pilot uniform,” she mumbled as he kissed her.

Taking a break, I approached the counter, the smell of something delicious wafting in the air.

“So, where’s Kitty at? I’ve been here for a couple of weeks, and I’ve only seen her what, twice?” I asked, stealing a bite of Peter’s chocolate bar.

Allie laughed. “Oh, right, I haven’t told you yet. She said when you two went to that club, she met someone, and she’s head over heels for him!”

I sat up straight, wondering who she could have met in such a short time.

“What? We were barely there long enough for a decent conversation, let alone falling in love.”

I leaned back, took off my glasses, and rubbed my eyes. “Well, when do we get to meet the new guy?” I asked.

She shrugged, pushing Peter away so she could work. “Who knows? Probably right before she dumps him for having long toenails or visible nose hairs.”

I burst out laughing. “Who was the one she told us about that we couldn’t stop laughing when we saw him?”

She put down her knife and turned to me. “Oh, I’d forgotten all about him!” She started laughing too. Then we said in unison, “He sang when he peed!”

We laughed so hard that tears streamed down our faces.

“So what, the guy sang when he took a piss? I hum sometimes,” Peter said.

We stopped laughing for a second after Peter’s comment. Then we looked at each other and started laughing again, so hard that I was pounding on the counter from the pain in my stomach.

Allie slid down the cupboard and ended up on the floor, gasping for air.

Peter got up to watch TV. “You guys are mean!” he complained, and I held up my hand, asking him to wait a second before I could respond.

But Allie, still on the floor, gasped out, “Anytime!” And that set off another round of laughter and side pain.

After Allie managed to get up off the floor and we both calmed down, we sat at the coffee table eating the delicious bruschetta and Caesar salad she had made.

We sat back, chatting casually and enjoying the night. I only had thirty minutes to finish my meal before my call came in.

***

Allie was nestled in Peter’s arms on the couch, both sipping a glass of merlot, when I noticed Peter staring at me. “What? Do I have something on my face?” I asked.

He took a sip, then shook his head. “No. I was just thinking about how different you are with us than with the rest of the world. Only a few people really know you.

“And what a funny, sweet person you are… everyone else just sees the heels.” He chuckled when Allie playfully swatted him.

I picked up my water to take a sip. “Yeah, I know. I call it the Superman effect. It’s to hide my secret identity. The real me is hidden underneath my confident exterior,” I joked.

Allie laughed. “So, is there a Lex Luthor out there that we should be aware of?”

I nodded, setting my water bottle on the table. “Yes, but the villains are everywhere! You see, the villains are—brace yourself—men!” I shrieked.

Allie put her hand to her head, pretending to swoon.

“And their goal…is to tie me down!” I said, feigning horror, and Peter chuckled. “Don’t laugh at me, Peter. It’s a terrifying thought!”

He touched his forehead, as if I was being absurd, which was my intention. “Alright, Supergirl, what’s your kryptonite?” he asked.

“Easy answer, falling in love. Can’t let that happen to me,” I replied, keeping it simple.

He glanced at Allie and planted a kiss on her. “It’s funny how one friend is ready to fall in love with every man she meets, while the other wants nothing to do with it… Fascinating.”

I leaned back, observing them. “We’re perfectly balanced because we have one friend who’s head over heels for her soulmate.” I smiled at the pair of them.

DAVIS

The night was icy as Davis watched snowflakes descend from the sky through the enormous penthouse window before him.

East coast winters could be harsh; his days were now dark by 4:30, making for a long, drawn-out night.

He gazed out at the Charles River, his mind still occupied by the woman who hadn’t left his thoughts since he saw her at the club.

Standing in his sweatpants, he longed for the lively city of Houston.

Being home on his ranch was something he craved more than anything, not to mention it was in the sixties in the winter, and it wasn’t this damn cold.

He wished he could just fly home and enjoy some decent barbecue. Hell, they don’t even have good sweet tea out here.

He ran his hand through his hair as he mentally grumbled. He loved Boston—great city, good people, and a fantastic piece of ass!

He turned to see his nightly entertainment smiling in his bed, but the smile didn’t last long.

All he’d been thinking about since he first laid eyes on her was Adire Black and why the hell she hadn’t called him.

Did she think he just handed out his personal cards with his personal number on them to just anyone?

He thought when he saw her that day in Yancy’s office that she recognized him from the club, that she was already planning on meeting him, but now, he wasn’t so sure.

If he could just figure out why he felt the need to pursue this woman…twice now! He’d actually left his date at the table to find her.

He thought he must be going crazy. Since when did he go out of his way to meet a woman?

Then to invite her for a drink—hell, dinner—only to be rejected both times? He couldn’t recall the last time a woman turned him down.

Maybe she was trying to play hard to get, but not even a call…

She was a stunning woman. There was no denying that. But it wasn’t like he hadn’t been with many beautiful women before.

She definitely wasn’t one of the usual young women he would bring home at night. He turned, running his hand through his hair, glancing back at his bed.

Hell, even his wild romp tonight didn’t erase her from his mind. What made him so damn crazy around her?

He thought of her eyes. Blue eyes with patches of yellow and a few brown specks. Just like the freckles on her adorable nose.

He really liked those freckles and wondered if she had more elsewhere.

Her hair was a dark blonde with rust-colored highlights running through it.

It was long in the back, and she had straight-cut bangs that shagged across her forehead, framing a soft heart-shaped face.

She was average height, five-four, five-five, but would fit him perfectly with his tall frame.

She wasn’t skinny, but she wasn’t chunky either. He could tell by her legs and arms she kept herself in good shape, and Lord, did she have a great pair of tits and ass!

He mentally scolded himself. Damn it, all he could think about was this damn woman! He grabbed his phone off the dresser and left a message for Terry for the morning.

“Please call Ms. Black and schedule a meeting first thing in the morning.

“Let her know I’m not pleased that we’ve not heard back from her or any of her associates dealing with our accounts,” he ordered, then hung up the phone.

That should get her in there pretty damn quick. Then he’d see if this was just a fleeting interest for a woman who rejected him or if he really was losing his mind.

What he really needed was a good night’s sleep. The more prepared he was to head to the office in the morning to deal with a certain woman, the better.

He put his cell back down where he’d picked it up, heading to bed to try to get some sleep.

When Ms. Black walked into his office in the morning, he couldn’t believe that he had only thought of her as beautiful.

This woman was breathtakingly gorgeous and sexy as hell, with her polka-dotted blouse hugging her curves, navy blue skirt clinging to her body perfectly, and red stiletto heels matching her lipstick.

At that moment, he knew he was in fucking trouble!