Nicole Edwards - Perception

“Ladies first,” he told her with a grin that gave her a glimpse of straight white teeth.

“Thank you,” she answered, trying not to smile back at him and failing.

Once inside, Mercedes did her best to stay out of his way. There wasn’t much she could show him, and he wouldn’t have to go far to see everything. The warehouse was huge, without a lot of walls. Not to mention in desperate need of some cosmetic surgery.

That was an easy fix, and if what Shane had told her was true, Xander wouldn’t be bothered by a few blemishes.

So, she stood back, watching him move around the warehouse.

She was drawn to him, just as she had been when he’d stepped through her office door. But she realized after just one glimpse that she shouldn’t be drawn to him. They were too much alike.

Just that morning, while she had waited for Xander to arrive, she’d dared to ask Shane a little more about the mystery client who was coming to see her.

“He’s a Dom,” Shane had told her.

Interesting. “Does he belong to the same club you do?” she had inquired, hoping to sound casual. Shane had informed her that he was a member of Kink, an opulent BDSM club she’d heard about, but had never visited.

Mercedes belonged to a club, but she hadn’t bothered to mention that to Shane. She’d been surprised to find out Shane was a Dom in the first place, and still hadn’t produced the nerve to question him more even though she was intrigued.

“Yeah. He’s the one who got me in there.”

Yep, that’s about all she learned about Xander Boone. Well, other than what the Google search had offered her. He wasn’t just a Dom. He was a rich Dom. A very successful, rich, Dom.

Which meant he was off limits.

And that was a good thing because the man’s charisma was palpable, and when he turned those sexy, moss green eyes on her, had she been any other woman, she might’ve swooned.

She wasn’t the swooning type.

“I want to know how serious the owner is to sell,” Xander stated firmly as he made his way toward her. “There’re quite a few things that have to be done to this place to get it up to code.”

Ok, so the man definitely wasn’t new to this.

“I can ask.”

“I prefer to tell,” he told her as he approached. “I’ll list out the issues because I do want to make an offer. I assure you, it’ll be fair.”

Mercedes nodded her head as she watched him. Yes, she certainly could see his dominating personality. It was prominent, yet somehow not terribly overbearing. If that were even the right word to use to describe a man who stood at least six and a half feet tall and was built like the defensive line of a football team. The whole freaking line.

“So what do you say? We’ll go back to your office and get things started?”

Although he’d kindly phrased it as a question, Mercedes got the distinct impression that he was informing her, not asking.

Mercedes was speechless.

For the first time in her entire life, she didn’t know what to say. And that was saying something because not only was she a damn good real estate agent, she was also a formidable Domme.

One who, from this moment on, knew she could easily like this man.

As a friend. And nothing more.

Soft opening of Devotion…

Tuesday

Xander Boone couldn’t take his eyes off of the dazzling blonde walking through the door of the private room he had reserved at Devotion. The beauty he was currently eyeing was none other than Samantha McCoy, the alluring wife of Logan McCoy, a man Xander considered a friend and potentially a future business partner.

Tonight at the soft opening of Devotion, just like almost any night from what he’d heard, Logan’s wife had certainly garnered some attention. Xander’s was no exception. He might not know her all that well, aside from what her husband had mentioned, but Samantha had a way about her that drew people. It was in her eyes.

Considering she’d set her sights on him specifically, according to Logan, Xander knew she was making an honest effort to get his attention.

It had worked.

Then again, thanks to his conversation with Logan, Xander had been expecting it. The fact that he was always interested in shaking things up a little, he had committed to playing along, hence the reason they were there.

Making no attempt to conceal his appreciation for Samantha’s physical appeal, Xander continued to eye her as she made her way closer.

He offered the hint of a smile when she tentatively walked into the room, allowing the door to close behind her as she stared up at him. There was curiosity gleaming in her celadon green eyes, along with what he sensed was something akin to nervousness as she glanced down to the toy in his hand and then back up to meet his gaze.

Mission accomplished.

Sure, Xander had purposely untucked and unbuttoned his shirt and carried the mini flogger with him to answer the door, but that was for effect. Mostly. He wanted to see her reaction, and he got exactly what he was expecting. Samantha was walking into a situation that she was not all that familiar with, but he’d already known that thanks to his conversation with Logan.

Sue him for wanting to have a little fun with her.

As Sam and Logan moved slowly into the room, Xander continued to study her, his eyes perusing her lean, slight build. There was no denying the fact that the woman was gorgeous with her long blonde hair, glowing green eyes and tons of curves. However, the way she carried herself, – strong and confident – despite her reluctance to the situation, was far more enticing than just her mere physical beauty.

Xander was immensely drawn to a woman’s inner strength. More so than any physical characteristic. In fact, it was a prerequisite of his.

And he’d met a number of submissives who didn’t quite understand the concept. He’d played with many who were under the incorrect notion that a Dom was looking for a woman who would just roll over and submit.

They were wrong. Dead wrong.

At least as far as Xander was concerned.

The stronger a woman was, the more he admired her. Regardless if she would easily submit or not.

Looking at Samantha now, Xander noticed the way she was clinging to Logan, holding on as though he were her lifeline. In his opinion, her response to his presence was somewhat deceiving in the sense that it gave the distinct impression she was unaware of what might happen tonight. But from what Xander knew of her, he wasn’t fooled. Samantha McCoy was anything but oblivious.

Xander’d had the pleasure of talking to Logan on more than one occasion about this scenario specifically, and the little adventure they were about to embark upon had been in the works for a couple of weeks, ever since they had a definite date determined for the opening of Devotion.

His first impression of Sam? Quite the opposite of what he’d seen of her tonight, he’d have to say. During his first and only encounter with her outside of the club, he’d pegged her for all business, all the time. But then he’d seen her with Logan a few minutes ago in the hallway, and she’d definitely been getting down to business, but not the way Xander figured her to.

Seeing her standing there, her hands gripping the iron rails that surrounded the second floor with Logan’s hand hidden beneath her skirt had been gratifying. If he’d had any concerns about what she wanted, he was eased somewhat by seeing her pleasured by her husband right there for anyone and everyone to see.

She had certainly passed his initial test.

Nodding his head toward the opposite side of the dimly lit room, Xander urged Logan and Samantha farther inside. Since Logan was already up to speed on how this session would go, Xander didn’t feel the need to give him guidance. Watching as Logan took Sam’s hand and led her over to the lone chair that sat in a corner on the opposite side, he waited.

Knowing that he didn’t have time to waste, as soon as Sam had her back to him, Xander tossed the small flogger away and  moved to the other side of the room to retrieve the one he intended to use.

His hand had barely wrapped around the braided handle before his slacks were getting a tad uncomfortable. Just the thought of what was about to happen had his cock rigid and anxious.

Knowing that he wouldn’t be able to pay attention to Samantha and do what he needed to do, Xander turned his full attention back to the woman who’d been his main focus for the last few hours. Mercedes Bryant. The mouthwatering woman standing on the opposite side of the room.

Xander wouldn’t deny the fact that there were plenty of beautiful women in the world; he’d had the pleasure of being with plenty himself. But truth be told, not a single woman held a candle to Mercedes. As far as he was concerned, she easily outshined every other woman in the world.

He’d thought so ever since the first time he met her nearly a decade ago.

Mercedes was breathtaking. Mile long legs that would wrap around a man perfectly, luscious curves that he could easily fill his palms with, jet black hair that fell to her waist, exotic steel gray eyes that saw everything, and alabaster skin that just begged for a man’s touch.

She was riveting.

And those were just a few things Xander found so fucking desirable about the woman standing there, waiting for him.

In all of his thirty-five years, he had never met a woman who had captured his attention the way she did.

But he knew firsthand that there was more to Mercedes than just a pretty face and a tantalizing body. Truthfully, through the years that they had been friends, he’d been more captivated by her intelligence, her strength, and her wit than anything else.

And she had enamored him. He just had never let her know.

Without a doubt, she was the most tempting woman he’d ever laid his eyes on. And he could guarantee she had absolutely no idea he felt that way.

Because if she did, he knew she wouldn’t have agreed to this.

Xander was a pro at keeping his true feelings to himself. After all, he’d spent years doing so. In his business, it didn’t benefit him to show his hand too soon. His poker face was without flaw. He prided himself on his ability to hide any and all reaction. And in his defense, he’d been attempting to lure Mercedes to him for longer than he cared to admit. However, as it turned out, subtlety wasn’t exactly his specialty. Not where Mercedes was concerned.

He was tired of being subtle. He was also tired of waiting. So, just like everything else, it was time he took control. In the one way that he was intimately familiar with.

Mercedes moved, drawing his attention to her outfit. When he picked her up that evening, they’d both been dressed for the formal affair that they were attending. Over dinner, she’d stolen his breath with the sexy black dress that had highlighted her voluptuous figure incredibly well, giving a sexy glimpse at her more than impressive cleavage.

However, since they’d entered the play room, she had changed her clothing. At his request. The black corset with its fiery red ribbons, the short black skirt and knee high black boots with the four inch heels was one of the sexiest outfits he’d ever seen her wear and yes, he’d seen her wear plenty, not to mention less.

After all, this wasn’t the first time he’d watched her closely.

Torn between eyeing the woman whose gaze was boring into him and doing what needed to be done, Xander glanced between her and the St. Andrew’s cross.

He met her eyes again and nodded slightly.

“Over to the wall.” His instruction was gentle yet firm, not offering any room for confusion or argument, which, of course, was the intention.

Time to begin.

* * *

Mercedes crossed paths with Xander as she moved to the far side of the room as instructed. She met his gaze as she did and noticed the sexy smirk tipping the corner of his lips.

Arrogant bastard.

He seemed to be getting a huge kick out of this. Then again, it wasn’t often – translated to never – that anyone would get Mercedes to agree to something like this.

Then again – her hesitancy notwithstanding – she had to admit, she was both nervous and excited about what was going on here tonight.

Since the day she’d been introduced to Xander Boone many years ago, they had spent a lot of time together. In the simplest of terms, they were business associates, not to mention, friends.