Chapter 02: Anger Management
Her.
She was waiting in the dark, hardly daring to breathe. The fabric of the office chair was scratching against the bare thighs, and cool air from the ceiling fan rotating lazily overhead left her incredibly aware of her own nudity. The heat of her arousal battled the chill of the relatively cool room as she waited for his arrival.
Zoe had been editing a piece for her magazine when she'd gotten a text from The Boyfriend (as her friend Anna referred to him). She knew Chase intimidated her co-workers, and the thought made her smile. He was not a threatening man, and he'd never hurt anyone, she knew. He just had...anger issues. Which they had found their natural way of working through together.
She knew how he worked; he'd been back in her life for over a year now, and they had been as inseparable as they were as kids. They were only 20 minutes apart (thank you, universe), so it took little effort to begin dating formally, which hadn't come as a surprise to their families. But though she'd gotten a happy phone call from his mother--who admitted that she'd assumed he was gay--and texts from his older siblings--his sister was glad he'd accepted his feelings for her, and his brother wanted to know if Zoe was the one he'd had dirty dreams about as teenager. Charming--Zoe worked hard to keep the details of their love life secret. Because just like in high school, when she'd have rather jumped in front of a bullet than let his family see how violent he could be, she knew how to meet his needs.
Hence her current position. He had been short and to the point in his text: *Shit day. Be waiting for me at 4.* She hadn't hesitated; she's excused herself for the day, and driven across the city to his apartment. Dropping the temperature the way he liked it, and dimming the lights. She had stripped and left her clothes in his closet, and had taken a seat in his home office chair. When he entered, he would find her exactly as he liked her. Vulnerable, submissive, and aching for him.
Him.
Chase cracked his neck impatiently as he rode the elevator to his top-floor apartment. It had been a long and dull day filled with paperwork that bored him, and he was strained to breaking point. A year ago, he would have had to channel this kind of build-up into a punching bag in the gym down the road. Now, he had something much better. A sinful smile touched his lips.
Entering his home, he locked the door behind him. The AC hummed gently, and the cool hair caressed his skin, as teasing as the woman who'd set the thermostat. Chase inhaled, able to detect her perfume lingering on the air. Excitement slid through him, heating his skin and making the front of his black work slacks markedly tighter.
He strolled leisurely back to the master bedroom, discarding his briefcase, sports coat, shoes, and socks as he went. By the time he reached the bedroom doorway, he was in his slacks and black dress shirt, barefoot, rolling his sleeves casually up to his elbows.
At the door he paused, taking in the sight of the woman who had possessed his heart since childhood...and who had convinced that he even still had one. She was the one person who knew and loved both sides of him--the cool professional who spoke rarely and focused on work...and the Dom who needed to own her mind and body with control that bordered on sadism.
Per his request, Zoe was awaiting his arrival in style. Naked except for the black stilettos he'd bought her, a blindfold, and a pair of diamond earrings. She sat with her legs crossed gracefully, hands resting on the armrests. A coy smile curled her lips. She knew he was there. And she couldn't wait for him to act.
Them.
He leaned on the doorframe and smiled. "Isn't this a pleasant welcome home."
At his words, she picked up what was concealed in the gap of her thighs and raised her hand: his cuffs. He chuckled, crossing the room and taking them from her. "We'll that's a bit assertive, isn't it, sweetheart? Telling me what you want?"
