Yes, Mr. Collins Read online

  “Don’t you think this is what you should have done before you sent this out?”

  “I am so sorry, Mr. Collins.” She zeroed in on the flaw only to see it wasn’t as disgusting as she imagined. In fact, it wasn’t even a flaw. “The semicolon.”

  “Yes, the semicolon.”

  Heat stained her cheeks. A relieved smile eased the paleness in her face. “I believe this is an acceptable use of the semicolon.”

  The temperature dropped by several degrees. “You dare argue with me?”

  Natasha’s sharp inhale cut the air. She wished she had something to lean back against since she lost all feeling in her legs. “I am not arguing with you. I am merely pointing out that the use of a semicolon is perfectly within bounds.”

  “I do not agree.”

  What the hell do you want me to do about it?

  Mr. Collins was in a snit. She would handle him as she would an unreasonable despot with too much power. Placation. “Would you like me to send out a revised e-mail?”

  “No, I would not.” Mr. Collins came around his desk and stepped forward until he was perilously close to invading her personal space. “What I wanted was for you to have sent it out correctly the first time.”

  Natasha met his stare. It condemned. Her mouth ran away from her. “It was correct, Sir.”

  Mr. Collins narrowed his eyes. He took another step. “Do not take that impudent tone with me, Miss Reynolds.”

  “I am not being impudent—”

  “Do not argue with me, Miss Reynolds.”

  Natasha held up the paper. “There is nothing wrong with this. No one will believe it to be a mistake.”

  Mr. Collins ripped the sheet from her hands. “You are on dangerous ground with me.”

  Natasha imagined the cardboard box and Mr. Yum-Yum’s pitiful meows. She thought of how high up she had climbed from the girl she’d been when working for Melinda. Natasha remembered the pride she felt in knowing she had pushed through her mediocrity—a mediocrity she never knew existed until working for Mr. Collins. Natasha recalled the generous clothing allowance he had procured for her so her new raise wouldn’t be eaten up by tailored suits and delicious shoes.

  I’m going to be fine.

  “I’m on dangerous ground? Well, so are you, Mr. Collins.”

  “Is that so?” A craven smile crooked his mouth. “Then this isn’t going to matter one way or another, is it?”

  The tiny hairs on Natasha’s neck rose. She watched him circle around her to leave the office. Satisfied Mr. Collins couldn’t hear or see her, Natasha sagged and drew in greedy gulps of air.

  I’m going to be fine. Sure I am. I’m going to be fine. . .living in my cardboard box! What the hell was I thinking? I should’ve just apologized and—wait! What did he mean by that? What’s not going to matter one way or another?

  The door closed behind her. Natasha whirled around. “Mr. Collins?”

  He undid his tie as he walked back to her. His steps, always graceful and unhurried, now took on an aggressive gait. “Yes, Natasha?”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I know you don’t. You never do until I show you the way.” Mr. Collins slipped off his suit jacket and tossed it onto a nearby chair.

  She closed her eyes and inhaled. Beginning again, Natasha summoned a professional calm she didn’t readily feel. “What would you like me to do?”

  “Take off your clothes, Natasha”

  “Excuse me?” This time Natasha stumbled back until she hit his desk.

  “You heard me. I want your clothes off but leave on your underwear. Then I want you to turn around so I can tie you up.”

  “You’ve lost your mind. It’s the contract for Blanc Industries, isn’t it? Mr. Collins, I know you’ve worked overnight several times this week—”

  “Which has nothing to do with now.” Mr. Collins crossed his arms. “You asked what I would like you to do. I’ve answered. Now do it.”

  Natasha shook her head. “Just like that?”

  “Just like that.”

  “Why now?” She sidled further down the desk. His penetrating gaze speared her in place. “I mean. . .what brought this on?”

  “You.”

  “Me?”

  “Yes, you.” Mr. Collins neatly trapped Natasha by placing a hand on either side of her. “You made the decision to submit to me shortly after you first came here.”

  “And?”

  “You admit it.” Mr. Collins smiled and observed the affect he had on her. Something akin to pride warmed his tone when Natasha relaxed a tiny bit into him. “You don’t even try to deny it. Why is that?”

  “Because it’s true.”

  “And being honest means everything to you, doesn’t it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then let me be honest with you, Natasha.” Mr. Collins tipped her chin up. He observed her flaming cheeks with obvious pleasure. “I want to finish what you started. You’ve submitted to me as part of your position. Now I want you to submit to me completely. I have your mind. I want your body too.”

  “What about my heart?” Natasha could’ve kicked herself for letting that question out the bag.

  God! What am I? Sixteen?

  Mr. Collins cupped her face. His hands, slim with elegant tapered fingers, enchanted Natasha. His touch, foreign until now, felt so right.

  “I want it all.”

  “Why now?”

  “I believe I’ve answered that.”

  “No, you haven’t.” Natasha placed her hands over his. “Why are you being this way to me now? I’ve worked with you for over a year and you’ve never indicated you thought of me as anything other than your employee.”

  “I have. You just haven’t been as observant as I would’ve preferred you to be.” Mr. Collins’ heated gaze swept over her. “I’ve been remarkably patient with you, Natasha.”

  She bristled. “Meaning I’ve been less than satisfactory?”

  “Meaning why do you think you’re here? I saw you…I wanted you…I took you.”

  Natasha couldn’t deny the thrill his words caused. “You saw me? When?”

  “One week before you started working for me.” Mr. Collins slid his hands down to loosely encircle her neck. “Our eyes met.”

  Natasha remembered the exact moment. As the summoned IT members were filing out of the boardroom, she had looked across the gleaming table and inadvertently met his stare. All the air had escaped her. It took a jostle from Jeremy, a senior programmer, to break contact.

  “The servers.”

  “Yes, when your department allowed the servers to go down.”

  Her chin went up a militant notch. “We didn’t allow the servers to go down. The dedicated servers—”

  “Yes, yes. An Act of God. I remember.” Mr. Collins caressed her throat. “You looked like a rabbit. A very delicious, adorable rabbit.”

  Natasha’s lower lip pushed out. “You thought of me as a pet?”

  “Pet? I must confess that does open up many possibilities. I’m quite sure we’ll explore it later. No. In fact, I like it so much I’ll explore it tonight. Thank you, Miss Reynolds, for your valuable insight.”

  His lazy smile made her squirm. Natasha damned the permanent blush painting her cheeks and neck. “Then what did you think of me?”

  “Prey.” Mr. Collins cocked his head in question. “Didn’t you think of yourself in that way?”

  Yes.

  Her heart thumped faster. She wondered if he could hear it. “Am I still your prey?”

  “Absolutely.” He leaned down and kissed her jaw. “I can’t wait to know how good you taste.”

  Natasha sighed in bliss. When she dropped her head back Mr. Collins took advantage and bit her neck. She jerked forward with a soft cry. Forbidden pleasure called for Natasha to stop asking questions and to just let herself be taken by her delightfully dangerous boss.

  Sometimes I can just be too stubborn for my own good. This is obviously going to be one of those times.
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br />   “Do you do this with all your assistants? Find a reason to cut them to pieces just so you can get them naked?” Mr. Collins pushed her down. She banged the back of her head against the desk. Natasha didn’t bother to hide the stab of pain it caused.

  “Never.”

  His fiery glare surprised her. Natasha didn’t think him capable of showing anything than frosty disdain. “There’s no need for you to be angry,” she pointed out while rubbing the tender spot on her scalp. “It was a perfectly reasonable question to ask.”

  “It demeans us both.” He gripped her wrists and held them above her head. “I have never fucked my secretary.”

  “Executive assistant.”

  Her prim distinction aroused his biting arrogance. “Executive assistant, secretary, office wife—they all mean the same thing. You’re mine.”

  “I haven’t agreed to anything yet, Mr. Collins.”

  He bared his teeth in a wolfish grin. “I’m not asking, Miss Reynolds.”

  “So you’d be willing to force me even if I said no?”

  “But it wouldn’t be force, would it?” Mr. Collins’ mouth hovered over Natasha’s. “You’ve already agreed or you wouldn’t be on this fact-finding mission. You want to do it but you don’t want to just be one in a long line of others. You want to be the only one. Isn’t that right?”

  Natasha stared into his eyes, caught in their dark, hypnotic pull. “Am I?”

  “Yes. I told you already. I am not dating anyone, nor am I engaged or married.”

  “So you came to me.”

  “I came for you. I grew tired of waiting for you to realize what this has been all about between us. I’m taking you and I want you completely.” His tongue furtively tasted her. Mr. Collins groaned when hers met his shyly. He pulled away, jaw line clenched. Gripping her chin, Mr. Collins bit out, “Now I want you to fully understand what we will be doing here. Are you ready to listen?”

  Natasha trusted that no matter what Mr. Collins said if she really didn’t want to be his lover she didn’t have to. Logic dispassionately stated she should turn him over to HR and resign. Natasha found that option utterly distasteful.

  I want him. I think I’ve always wanted him on some level. Maybe the fear hasn’t just always been fear?

  She reached up and caressed his cheek. “Yes, Mr. Collins.”

  “Such a good bunny. So soft and sweet,” he crooned while kissing her palm. “You’re my little pet, aren’t you?”

  Natasha nodded. She flinched when he tapped her cheek with one forefinger.

  “You will answer me properly, Natasha, as you always have. You will still address me either as Mr. Collins or Sir. And just so you know, there are many rights you haven’t earned yet including the use of my first name.”

  The challenge stirred her instinctive need to submit. “Yes, Sir.”

  Natasha’s whisper succeeded in announcing her deepest sentiments. Mr. Collins closed his eyes. His face relaxed into a pleasure-hungry expression. “I knew you were perfect for me, Natasha. I am always right but this time it feels exceedingly good.”

  “How can I please you, Mr. Collins?”

  He looked at her. “Do you want to please me?”

  “Oh, yes.” It was true. Natasha had wanted to satisfy this man from the very beginning. Never did she really let herself imagine it could be sexually and now that it was. . .

  “Your daytime duties will not change but I will be that much harder on you.”

  Distress etched itself in her brow. “But I haven’t done anything wrong!”

  “No, you haven’t, but I will be watching. I don’t want the fact that you’re my pet to give you the false impression that I won’t be as exacting as I’ve been.”

  “I would never slack off on my work, Mr. Collins!”

  “Calm down, pet.” He released her chin in favor of tunneling his fingers through her hair. “My bunny isn’t completely defenseless with her sharp, little fangs. All I have to do is insult the impeccable Miss Reynolds’ professional reputation and you come out slashing and biting. I will have to make note of this.”

  “Mr. Collins, bunnies don’t have fangs.”

  “I say you do. Don’t be shy. I happen to like your fangs.” He rubbed her hair between thumb and forefinger, seemingly enjoying the inky color and soft texture. “If I wanted a spiritless pet I could go downstairs and find one right now. I don’t want that.”

  “You want me to defy you then?”

  “No.” Mr. Collins tightened his fingers and tugged her hair sharply. “Defy me and I’ll wear my hand out on your backside. I command. You obey.”

  Natasha’s heart jumped into her throat. Trepidation danced along her spine but curiosity played on the strings of her imagination.

  He’ll spank me? I haven’t been spanked since I was seven. I wouldn’t like it. I’m sure I wouldn’t. . .well, maybe?

  “Then what do you want from me?”

  “Your days here will be mine, of course. I will also want four nights out of the week. This will leave you three nights to spend as you please—as long as your activities please me.”

  I go to school three nights a week. I’m sure he already knows since he never asks me to stay late on those nights. I better make sure.

  “Meaning what, Mr. Collins?”

  “Meaning I do not share. See someone else and this is over. Understood?”

  His ferocity caused her to squeak, “Yes, Sir.”

  Okay. I guess school isn’t what he means. I never would’ve pictured Mr. Collins to be the jealous type. He’d have to care about someone to feel jealous over them, wouldn’t he?

  “Good. Continue as you are, Natasha. Continue to match me, to push yourself to keep up with me, and we’ll get along beautifully.”

  She closed her eyes, overwhelmed and giddy by their change in relationship. “I don’t want to anger you, Sir, but I don’t know if I can do this.”

  “Look at me.” Mr. Collins waited until she complied. “Why not?”

  Heat burned the back of her eyes. Natasha blinked rapidly, humiliated to be crying over something that had yet to happen. “If I fail at this, if you and I don’t make it, then what will happen?”

  “To your position?”

  “To me!” Natasha grabbed his collar and yanked him closer. “I’ve lived this past year to becoming everything you could ever need in an assistant. I’ve dedicated my life to you! If you throw me away, if you turn me out because I’ve disappointed you—”

  Mr. Collins captured her lips and swallowed her fears. Pulling her up off the desk, he gripped her neck with one hand while ravaging her mouth. “That cannot happen because you belong to me, Natasha.”

  “Sir. . .” She bit his bottom lip and groaned.

  “You may not understand what it means when I say this but you will.” Mr. Collins kissed her one more time, pulling away slowly as if he wanted to continue kissing her for the rest of the night. “Hush and take off your clothes for me. Let me see what’s mine.”

  She flushed, hands shaking and mind adrift in a sea of lust. She unbuttoned her jacket, fully aware of his penetrating ebony stare. Keeping her eyes downcast, Natasha removed the black jacket and laid it down on an empty chair. Heart thumping, throat dry, her body trembled with contradictory impulses.

  I do want to do this so why am I so nervous?

  “Keep going, pet.”

  His purr provided the right kind of encouragement. Natasha slipped off her pretty plum chemise before unzipping and shimmying out of the matching pencil skirt. Carefully folding her clothes in a neat pile, she placed them with the jacket before turning back to face him.

  “Very, very nice.” Mr. Collins swished his finger. Natasha obliged by turning about in a circle. “I knew you would be lovely but this is beyond my imagination. I’m glad in your choice of underclothing. I don’t know what I like better—your corset or your knickers. They both make me hard.”

  “Thank you, Sir.” Natasha did her best to stand still and not give i
nto the need to bounce from foot to foot.

  “Why do you wear a corset? You already have such a small waist.”

  Natasha hemmed. Although her reasons made perfect sense to her they did seem odd to admit. “Mad Men.”

  “The show?” Mr. Collins raised a brow in surprise.

  “Yes. I wanted to bring a little bit of that time back. The fashions but not the inequality. . .” Her voice died as she considered the present circumstances she agreed to be a part of.

  “I see.” Mr. Collins smirked, as if recognizing Natasha’s crossroads between lofty ideals and untidy reality. “Do you remember what else I wanted from you tonight?”

  His gentle prodding made her twitch with liquid desire. She wanted so badly to please him, to make Mr. Collins never regret making her his. “Yes, Sir.” Without waiting for further instruction, Natasha walked past him to bend over his desk.

  “Good girl.”

  She heard him approach her. His warm fingers crossed her wrists at the small of her back. Natasha docilely allowed him to secure her with what felt like his tie.

  “Do you want to know why I am tying you up, Natasha?”

  Excitement tickled her nerve endings. Warmth spread from between her thighs. “Yes, Sir.”

  “I elevated you from prey to pet. As my prey I just needed to run you down and do what I wanted with you.” Natasha’s sharp inhale caused him to whisper in her ear. “You like that. Don’t worry—you’ll get a chance to stretch your legs. I won’t always want to be so nice to you.”

  “Sir, you’re embarrassing me.”

  “Whining is unbecoming of my pet.” Mr. Collins bit the nape of her neck. He regarded Natasha’s violent shudder with supreme satisfaction. “And pet is what you are tonight, Natasha, so I have to tie up my precious pet or she might think to run away from me because she gets scared.”

  “No, Sir.” Caught up in the magic of his words, and the vicious pleasure of his bite, Natasha’s limbs deadened. “I don’t want to run away.”

  “Good. One night I’ll have you crawl for me while on a leash. Won’t that be fun?” Mr. Collins slapped her bottom hard. “Now up on the desk, head down, and arse up. You are not to get down—no matter what I do—until I say you can. Understood?”