37. Olivia

Chapter thirty-seven

Olivia

V ictor’s reaction to the jersey was priceless, and I can’t stop smiling. I love giving gifts and taking care of others. I do that with my friends, but it’s not quite the same as it is with Victor. That is one of the things I’m looking forward to the most with being a submissive. Him telling me what he wants and me getting to give it to him.

Victor grabs my bag out of the trunk and anticipation stirs in my stomach. Does that mean he wants me to stay the night? I had so much fun with Ansley and Caroline this weekend, but I missed him a lot. All the way home I kept pondering calling him and asking him if I could stay, but couldn’t quite get my nerves up to do it.

When we walk into the foyer, there’s a large bouquet of calla lilies on the table. I smile widely at them, loving the fact that he remembered my mom used to get them for me and that they’re my favorite. “They’re beautiful, Victor,” I whisper.

“I also got you this,” he says. I turn around and he’s holding a rose gold bracelet in the palm of his hand. As I stare at it, my stomach takes flight. It has pennants on it that are straight and some circles. “It’s morse code.”

“Really? What does it say?” Studying it, I touch each of the pennants.

“Love you big,” he replies. My eyes snap up to his. He rubs his thumb ring with his forefinger. “I wanted you to have something that was similar.” My stomach nosedives. He’s not saying he loves me. It’s the same sentiment as when I gave him the thumb ring. Not that him giving me the bracelet means any less than when I gave him the ring.

“Thank you.” I extend my arm. “Can you put it on?” He smiles and places my bag on the ground and his jersey on the table next to the calla lilies. He puts it on, then lifts my hand to his lips and kisses my wrist. “It’s beautiful. Thank you so much.” I glance up at him and the look on his face makes my breath catch.

“Will you stay with me tonight?”

I lick my dry lips and smile at him. “Yes. I was really hoping you’d ask,” I admit.

He brings his hand up and cups my jaw, rubbing his thumb along my cheek. “Never be afraid to ask me for anything. I know the contract says Friday evening through Sunday afternoon, but you’re welcome here anytime.”

I bite the inside of my cheek as I take him in. He is the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen, and he always looks put together. Tonight he’s wearing a black button-up shirt that’s rolled up to his forearms and gray slacks.

“You might regret telling me that.”

“Why’s that?” he asks as he pulls me closer to him.

I pull my bottom lip between my teeth and swallow. “I might never leave.”

He leans down and runs his lips from my chin, up my jaw, to my ear. His tongue flicks out and licks my earlobe once. “Definitely don’t regret that,” he whispers in my ear.

My breathing becomes shaky as my heart jackhammers against my rib cage. Much to my disappointment, he steps back and grins at me. That grin causes goosebumps to break out along my skin every time he gives it to me.

“Now.” His voice dips into his Dominant tone and my insides melt. “Go upstairs, use the bathroom, get refreshed, then go to my office. I’ll be up in about ten minutes with some chocolate-covered strawberries, water, and wine.”

“Yes, Sir,” I reply.

He leans down and kisses me softly. “You are such a good girl, treasure.”

With that, he walks away. I take one more look at the lilies, swallow, and turn toward the stairs. With each step, nerves swirl in my stomach. This is the first time he’s told me to go to his office. I’m assuming it means he has lingerie laid out for me to change into. What will it look like? What if I don’t do this correctly or exactly like he wants me to?

When I reach the landing, I breathe deeply and walk to the bathroom in the hallway. Maybe he’d be okay with me going to the bathroom in his bedroom, but he didn’t say specifically, so I’d rather be safe than sorry. I use the bathroom, wash my hands, then run my fingers through my hair, wishing I had grabbed my brush out of my bag.

After freshening up, I slowly walk to Victor’s office and step inside. There’s a couch against the wall right next to the door. On the arm of the couch is a gray silk chemise. It has thin spaghetti straps and doesn’t look to be too short. I exhale in relief. I’m sure eventually he’ll have me wear something more revealing. This first time he’s beginning with something that pushes my boundaries, but doesn’t make me so uncomfortable I can’t relax.

Unsure if there are people around, I close the door to his office, quickly disrobe, and pull the chemise over my head. Noticing there aren’t any panties, I hesitate. Am I supposed to wear the ones I have on? Maybe not, but he didn’t specifically say, so I keep them on. Folding all my clothes, I place them on the arm of the chair.

I glance down at myself, enjoying the way the silk feels against my skin. This is not something I would have ever bought for myself. How did Victor know my size? The stairs creak and my heart leaps into my throat.

Hurriedly making my way to his desk, I fill my lungs, kneel on the pillow that is very comfortable, and place my hands on my knees like Victor showed me. Slowly exhaling to calm the rollercoaster in my stomach, I tilt my head down and look at the ground. The office door opens and I have to swallow several times to wet my dry throat. Where I’m kneeling, I can’t be seen from the door.

Shit. Should I have opened the door before kneeling? The rollercoaster in my stomach is about to go off the rails as his footsteps draw close. Fighting the urge to look up to see him, I remind myself how he instructed me, so I keep my eyes cast down. When he makes it to the edge of his desk, the urge grows stronger.

The heat of his gaze is like a physical touch. The longer he looks at me, the more I want to look up, but this feels like a test and I’m going to pass it. When he moves the chair, I jump, startled because he didn’t make any noise. Still, I keep my head down.

He sits and places his hand on top of my head for a heartbeat. Then he runs his fingers through my hair. The tips of his fingers graze my neck and back as he strokes all the way to the end of my hair, only to start the process over again. With each stroke of his fingers, I relax more and more. After a few minutes, he stops and I almost look up at him, but catch myself just in time.

“Treasure, look at me,” he commands. I look up at him, grateful he’s allowing me to. He’s changed from his slacks and button-up shirt to pajama pants with no shirt. Swallowing at the sight of his chest, my nipples harden, and now I’m fighting the urge not to rub my thighs together as I look into his eyes. He rubs his thumb over my bottom lip. “You did so well.”

He turns the chair slightly so he can lean down and kiss me. I want to push into his touch and demand more. Who knew this would turn me on so much? When he pulls back, disappointment churns in my stomach.

He rubs his thumb along my bottom lip again. “The next time you come in here, don’t close the door unless I tell you to.”

“Yes, Sir.”

What if one of the staff is up here and sees me? Reminding myself he has my best interest at heart, I don’t argue with him. Instead, I choose to trust him. He smiles at me.

“I’m so proud of you, treasure.”

His praise fills my heart with so much joy. “Thank you, Sir.” I wish I could express to him how much his words mean to me.

He takes my hand. “Stand up, treasure.”

Pushing up from the ground, I stand before him. Victor turns his chair and widens his legs, pulling me so I’m between them. His hands rest on my thighs and even though they’re on top of the silk, they might as well be touching my skin. Heat settles in my stomach and slowly travels to my core, making me want to rub my thighs together again.

“How are you feeling?” he asks as he looks up at me.

Swallowing and taking a deep breath, I tell him the feeling that’s the easiest. “I feel wanted.”

“You are. What else?”

My breathing quickens at his quick response. He didn’t even hesitate, and he wants me to continue. “I feel sexy,” I whisper. “For the first time in my life.”

“You are,” he replies. I inhale slowly. “I’m telling you the truth.”

“I believe you.” And I do. “I trust you more than I’ve trusted anyone since mom.” The slight sign of relief on his face makes me pause. He was concerned I wouldn’t trust him. How am I ever going to be able to give him up when the time comes? I want to keep him forever.

“Come here, treasure.” He pulls me onto his lap and adjusts me so I’m cradled in his arms. Laying against his bare chest, I lift my hand to touch him, but pause.

“Can I touch you?”

Not knowing what the protocol is, it’s safest to ask. This is a learning process, so he’d correct me if I’m wrong, but from my understanding, it’s best to ask in situations when I’m not sure. He rubs his lips against my forehead.

“Yes.” Running my fingers over his collarbone, his shoulder, and down his arm, I’m tempted to kiss his scars like he did mine. “I saw where you wrote in your journal. I’m going to read it now. Okay?”

My throat closes up at the thought of him reading it with me here, but nod. “Okay.”

“Treasure, I’m not telling you. I’m asking if it’s okay. I am going to read it, but I understand if it makes you uncomfortable for me to read it in front of you.”

Just with him giving me a choice makes me feel better. “I’m okay with you reading it.”

He kisses my forehead. “I want you to sit here quietly while I read and let me hold you.”

With a nod, I settle against his chest again. He opens his laptop, gets situated, then he begins to run his fingers through my hair as I return to running my fingers along his beard, neck, chest, and arm.

Thinking about what I wrote, there isn’t anything I’m afraid of him reading. I wrote about my weekend and the feelings that arose in me. It felt that everyone else seemed so comfortable in their skin while I still struggled, but they could probably say the same thing about me. We let people see what we want them to see. I told him how I loved that he had Leo go to Atlanta. While some women would feel it was controlling, it made me feel safe.

Writing in my journal gave me the opportunity to describe how it felt the first time he called me treasure and how much I appreciate his patience with me while at the same time pushing me beyond my comfort zone. It’s easy being honest with Victor. It’s easy being exactly who I am with him and because of that, I’ve grown more since he’s walked back into my life.

Everything in me wanted to ask how long was this going to last, but I’m scared of the answer. I make a promise to myself that I will one day. Closing my eyes as he continues to read, every muscle in my body relaxes as he alternates between massaging my scalp and running his fingers through my hair. This is the most content I’ve ever been in my life.

When he’s done, he leans back in his chair, but he doesn’t stop his ministrations and he doesn’t tell me to move, so I don’t. After a few more minutes, he wraps his arms around me and holds me close. I sigh and wrap my arms around his waist, holding him tight.

“You did so good, treasure. I want you to write in your journal every week. Okay?”

“Okay,” I promise.

“There might be times I’ll ask you to write in it more, but I’ll let you know.”

“Yes, Sir.” My body has molded itself to him, and I never want to move.

“Do you have any plans this weekend?” he asks.

I furrow my brows. “I thought I’d be with you.” Unease settles in my gut.

He rubs his hand up and down my spine and shushes me. “You will be with me. I apologize. I didn’t ask that correctly. Do your friends have plans this weekend?”

I release a breath at his explanation. “No, I don’t think so. I can ask. Why?”

He’s quiet for a few moments before he answers. “I need to figure out a way to get Connor McMillian to speak to me. I’d like for him to come to the pub Friday night.”

“I’m not really friends with him, though,” I say.

“I know, but you are friends with Caroline and isn’t she dating his best friend?”

“She is, and her sister is dating his brother.”

“Julian?” He sounds a little shocked, but I nod anyway. “If you can, please ask and see if they can all come.”

“You’re doing this just for a chance to speak to Connor?” I ask.

He sighs. “Yes, I’ve been trying for a while now, but he won’t speak to me and I need his help.”

I finally push up and look at him. “What aren’t you telling me?”

He stares at me for a long time, like he’s trying to decide if he wants to answer or not. “It’s time to take Donovan down.”