The Dom with the Dragon Tattoo (Masters of Submission #5)(23)

She felt angry herself. Tyler hadn’t asked her to drop by when she had a moment to spare. Instead, he’d summoned her like a naughty schoolgirl to the headmaster’s office. Now this sort of behavior was just fine away from Cerberus Technology, and in fact she actually enjoyed such a scenario, but she wasn’t pleased with him pulling rank on her in front of her team. He should have aired his views in private.

Making her way down the corridor, Rebecca finger combed her hair and then smoothed her skirt into place. Once she reached Tyler’s office, she took a moment to compose herself then rapped three times on the door.

“Come,” Tyler’s deep voice bellowed from inside the office.

Rebecca pushed open the door and smiled sweetly as she entered. “Hi, Ty, I think there’s been some misunderstanding.” When he didn’t smile back, she felt the first tingle of nervous energy running through her body. Claire had been right. Tyler seemed in a bad mood. Her brows drew together. “What’s the matter?”

Without answering, he motioned to the chair on the other side of his desk. “Sit.”

Even though his manner was unusually arrogant and totally unlike the man she knew at work, Rebecca did as he ordered and sat down opposite him. When he finally looked across the desk, her stomach somersaulted nervously. His eyes were ablaze with a frightening energy she hadn’t witnessed before.

He cleared his throat. “I’ve just had to justify your salary to the board. Two million bucks a year and a three hundred thousand-dollar Aston Martin are not easy to explain away, especially as you and your handpicked team for Operation Fire Wall have come up with exactly jack shit.”

Exasperated by his inflexible attitude, she decided to put him straight. “I have a great team, Tyler, and both they and I have worked our butts off to—”

Clearly angry, he thrust his hand toward her. “Enough. Let me remind you, I am your boss, both here and at home.”

If only he would let her speak. She tried again. “As I was about to say—”

He shook his head. “Oh, lady, I’d advise you very carefully not to push me any further.”

“But—”

“You just don’t listen, do you? Come here and bow before your Master.” His uncompromising tone chilled the blood in her veins, but she wouldn’t give in that easily. If this were to become a test of wills, she’d stand her ground. She raised her chin defiantly and looked him straight in the eye.

“I will not.” She spat the words out with considerable venom. “And furthermore, may I remind you that we are both within a work environment, and as such, I’m well within my rights to disobey you.”

“I’m in charge here. I decide what goes, and don’t you forget it.” He didn’t look like he was about to back down anytime soon. Well, neither would she.

“I’m my own woman here at work. We agreed, remember?” Huh, and to think she was just about to give him the good news that she and her team were ready to start the validation process of Operation Fire Wall. Well, she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction now. She’d let him stew in his own juices.

He looked incredulous, with a little anger mixed in. “Your own woman? We’ll see about that. You’re only your own woman because I allow you to be.” He stood so abruptly, the executive leather chair toppled over behind him as he strode menacingly to the office door. After locking it with a resounding click, he turned to her, his still-beautiful amber eyes blazing with rage.


“You agreed to become my sub, so by default I am therefore your Master.”

He frightened her a little now. “Yes, but—”

“A simple yes or no will suffice. No embellishment is necessary.”

She figured things were starting to get out of hand, and rather than try and face down the all-powerful man before her, she attempted to appeal to his better nature. At this precise moment in time she wasn’t sure he had one. She spread her arms wide, her hands palm up in a nonthreatening manner. “Tyler, please allow me to say that I believe you’re playing with semantics. Yes, you are my Master, but not here.”

He was having none of it. “Stand up.”

“Please, Tyler, be reasonable.”

“Stand up, I say.”

“No.”

“One last chance.”

“No, no, no.” She almost felt compelled to submit to his mighty will, but something inside stopped her. She wouldn’t make it easy for him. Although the powerful, angry man standing in front of her frightened her, she was also sexually aroused, too, and intrigued to see just how far he would run with this. Tyler’s eyes were alight with authority, and she figured he would take it all the way.

“You continue to disobey me.”

“Yes.” Aware that he wouldn’t let it lie, her panties moistened at the uncompromising look in his eyes. She didn’t want him to overpower her in his office, but then again, she did.

Without warning he pulled her from the chair with alarming force. Tyler was trying to set a precedent by taking charge of her at work. Something they’d agreed wouldn’t happen. He stared down into her eyes. “You have your safe word. Use it.”

“Tyler, this has gone too far.” Dear God, she figured he was going to discipline her right here and now in his office.

Gripping the top of her arm so tightly it actually hurt, he kicked away her chair. Its castors screeched noisily across the carpet before stopping abruptly when it crashed against the office wall. Clearly still angry, he strode around to his side of the desk and opened a drawer. Rebecca felt her libido heighten further as she watched him lean in and remove something. When he placed a leather ball gag on the desk, she couldn’t stop a sexual moan escaping her lips.