Elsa scanned the street again. The messagewas obviously from Mr. Black who was watching her, but from where?Or maybe he sent the message just assuming that she would be ontime. She found the key and opened the door and was immediately hitwith the smell of old oak wood. An opulent railed staircase gracedthe foyer that was decked out in hand-painted glass tiles. She hadnever seen anything quite like this home and she hadn’t evenventured into the other rooms yet. Undecided as to whether or notshe should wait for Mr. Black, her curiosity got the best of herand she roamed through the house slowly, taking in hersurroundings. To her dismay, there was only the bare minimum offurnishings: a small bistro table in the dining area with twoseats; a red velvet chaise lounge in the living room with amatching duchess chair with white trim nearby, and nothing else onthe lower level.

When she climbed the long stairway to thelarge master suite, it was just as barren as the rest of the house.In the middle of the room sat a king-sized, brushed metal, canopiedbed draped in white silk linens. It was an odd spot for the bed andlooked out of place. The only other piece of furniture was a woodenchair facing the double bay window.

She then found her way to the master bathroomto find fresh towels in every size, all in white, along with avariety of body soaps and oils. Doing a double-take, she lookedherself over in the large mirror that nearly covered an entirewall. Her sad eyes stared back and she smiled at her reflection,trying to convince herself that she was doing the right thing. Sheneeded the physical intimacy that only a man could provide withoutthe trouble of an emotional attachment and that’s what Mr. Blackwas offering. Of course it was the right thing.

Glancing at her watch, she realized she hadbeen waiting for nearly twenty minutes. She didn’t even have aphone number for Victor to call to make sure he was coming. Shescanned the details of the text message only to find the number waslisted as private. Leaving the suite, she found a locked door atthe far end of the short hallway that she assumed was anotherbedroom and tried to peek into the old style keyhole only to see itwas blocked from the other end. Elsa hated locked doors and shejimmied with the door knob for nearly a minute. She even searchedher handbag for something to pick the lock with but to no avail.Giving up, she went back downstairs and seated herself at thebistro table to play a game on her phone for several minutes as shewaited.

Looking at her watch again, she began tobecome irritated. Thirty-five minutes had passed since her arrival.The least Mr. Black could do was call and let her know he was onhis way. Moving to the chaise lounge, she loosened the top buttonof her shirt, kicked her shoes off and laid out on it, resting herhead back and closing her eyes. She hadn’t even realized she haddozed off until a sensual dream flickered over the insides of hereyelids. Hot, needy hands were felt on her body as they workedtheir way up and over her calves and then thighs. She felt herskirt tugged and hiked up underneath her bottom and her pantiespushed to the side. Just as a tongue slicked across her folds andtickled her clit, she arched her body and thrust her hips.

Elsa’s dreams had always been vivid andrealistic, and there was no reason to believe this time was anydifferent. She was positive she was dreaming and didn’t want toawaken. Her pussy muscles began to tighten and contract when shefelt a firm squeeze on each of her breasts and a tweak of hernipples. What followed next were warm, moist lips on her mouth. Herlips parted instinctively as she fought to stay asleep when thefaint taste of cigarette and mint assaulted her senses. A raspytongue slicked across her teeth, then massaged the ridges of theroof of her mouth. The sensation was alluring and erotic and feltso real she didn’t want it to end, but a sudden sharp bite to herbottom lip brought her back to reality and her body tensed as hereyes popped open. Victor was standing above her, his hands restingat his sides, his eyes gleaming, his mouth still glistening wetfrom their brief oral encounter, and his dark-gray slacks barelyconcealing his hard-on.

“You taste even better than I imagined,” hewiped his mouth.

Breathless and with her heart beatingrapidly, she swung her legs over the side of the lounger andsmoothed her hair down and her ruffled skirt back over her legs.Her first sexual activity with Victor had proven to be just asmystifying as everything surrounding him. Still dazed from herhalf-asleep kiss, she did her best to compose herself. Even if hehad been imagining what she tasted like, she was more than just alittle irritated with Mr. Black for taking liberties with her whileshe was unaware. Quickly slipping her shoes back on, she stoodbrusquely and grabbed her purse. She pushed past him and as shemoved toward the front door, she was halted by his deep voice.

“Leaving so soon? We’ve only just begun ourlittle game,” he stated just as she turned the knob and cracked thedoor open.

Elsa peered over her shoulder to see Mr.Black watching her with an intense yet smug look on his face. Isthat what this was to him? A damned game? “You told me this wasn’ta game, remember?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “I lied.”

Her mouth became unbearably dry at thethought of being played with. She didn’t want to be hurt again. “Isthat how this game is played? With lies?”

“The game is played in a variety of ways, Ms.Cassidy. Stay and I’ll teach you the rules.”

Playing a game with the intriguing manstanding before her sounded like a tempting and nearly impossibleidea to resist. She knew it was wrong and stupid beyond comparisonto consider, but still… she wanted to play his game.

“You could’ve called and let me know that youwere going to be late,” she said softly but with her eyes revealingher agitation.

Passively and without inflection, heresponded. “Yeah, I could have.”

If her pussy wasn’t still throbbing fromVictor’s oral assault, Elsa would’ve walked out the door, but shemissed the kind of attention that a man’s mouth could lavish onher. She vacillated, and finally closed the door and turned to faceMr. Black. When she did, he was seated at the bistro tablecompletely sure of himself. Casually seated in the chair with hislong legs leisurely stretched out in front of him, he held hergaze. As if he could sense her need, he rested one hand teasinglyon his upper thigh, drawing attention to his still massiveerection. It was a heady invitation and one she found impossible toresist. Pushing her shoulders back, she lifted her chin and walkedquickly to the table and seated herself across from him and daredto meet his eyes.

“Wise decision,” he simpered, his tonguepoking out to moisten his lips.

As she sat watching him stare at herimpassively, she wondered if he would mention their littleinterlude. Perhaps she should bring it up herself. She opened hermouth when Mr. Black cut her off.

“No speaking, Ms. Cassidy. Not yet. Not untilI’m done going over the particulars of this agreement. My rules aresimple, though you may find them hard to abide by. For that reason,I want your complete understanding and consent as to what you’reagreeing to.” Just then, he reached into a briefcase that sat onthe floor next to him and pulled out a piece of paper. Placing itface down in the center of the small table, he held his hand overit, shielding its contents. “My rules are absolute. I don’tnegotiate and I don’t concede. Ever. Either you agree to mystipulations or walk away. Am I clear?”

She eyed the paper dubiously and contemplatedhis words thoughtfully. The seriousness of Mr. Black’s statementsent a ripple of awareness through her, but when her eyes rose tomeet his, the possessive look in his hunter eyes mingled witheagerness and signs of hidden tenderness on his rugged face tuggedat her soul. He wanted her and she welcomed his rules.