Chapter Five - Tie Me Up or Down

The Mistress and Her Master

Tie Me Up or Down

I couldn’t sleep that night. Thoughts of Edward and our meeting tomorrow were racing through my mind. I still wasn’t exactly sure what to expect, but how could I? I was painfully new to this lifestyle. What did I wear? What would we talk about? Was he going to request a session with me?

Somewhere around 4 am, I groaned in frustration. Only six more hours before our meeting. Alice, Rose, and Leah had tried to pry details out of me the night before, but I was in too much of a daze to have an intelligent conversation.

Everyone had still been tense about the whole James situation, but Leah had assured us that Edward would handle it. He had more clout in the community than I had initially imagined. Almost everyone looked to him for advice and as an example. Any subs Edward had trained were almost as highly coveted as he was. The whole situation was making me entirely too nervous.

It seemed that if I agreed to be Edward’s sub, I would be watched and criticized by everyone. I wasn’t really sure how that made me feel. I was also unsure if that fact would sway my decision. I wasn’t too keen on being the center of attention.

Ultimately, I decided to at least go and talk to him before I thought too hard about it. I had to think of it from all angles at once. I also had a very strong desire to just see him, to be near him. I was sure that was going to influence my choice. That part couldn’t be helped though. He was just so stunning, so… virile. Everything about him drew you in, like he was the predator and I was the prey.




By 5 am, I gave up on the hope of getting any sleep. It was a fruitless effort. All I could do was stare at my dark ceiling. I had started giving myself a pep talk. I could have a meeting with him and I could keep focused on the task at hand. This was an enormous change and would alter my entire life. It had to be taken seriously and with a level head.

At 6 am, I began to panic again. What could someone so insanely attractive and in such high demand see in someone as plain as me? Well, comparatively speaking. I was pretty, but nowhere near the same league as he was. The thought made me doubt whether I would be able to adequately please him. I knew I was being ridiculous; it wasn’t like being attractive automatically made you better at sex. I was over analyzing everything.

When 7 am rolled around, I got out of bed and decided it wasn’t too early to start getting ready. I made coffee first, knowing I was going to need it to help me stay focused. I needed to be sharp and alert. I stood in my kitchen, waiting for the coffee to brew, and trying to clear my mind. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t stop thinking about Edward. He clouded my brain and haunted my thoughts. I was positive Eric hadn’t stirred me up this much and he was the one that had introduced me to this lifestyle, inadvertently of course.

My doorbell started ringing at 7:30. I wonder who it could be and immediately scolded myself when I checked the peephole. “I should have known it was you,” I said, addressing the two people that stood in my doorway. Each of them had a look of excitement as they stood, staring at me.

“I told you she’d be up,” Alice said to Rose. “In fact, I’d bet that she didn’t sleep a wink last night.” She gave me a knowing smile.

“I don’t think so… do I look stupid?” Rose laughed. We both knew better than to bet against Alice.

“And what do I owe the pleasure of your visit this morning?” I already had an idea and I was extremely grateful.

Alice looked shocked at a little hurt at my question. “You don’t think we’d let you getting ready by yourself, do you?”

Rose nodded in agreement before adding, “Especially on such an important day.” They both brushed past me and into my kitchen.

Alice draped a garment bad over the back of a chair while Rose set up the bagels, cream cheese, and fruit she had brought over. They really were fabulous friends.

“Thanks guys.” They both brushed me off, telling me no thanks were necessary.


“Stop fidgeting,” Alice scolded me as I shifted in my seat again.

“But Alice,” I nearly hissed at her. “It’s almost 9:00! How can you still be doing my hair and makeup?”

“I’m not. I’m done.” She took one more critical glance before she let me see myself in the mirror.

My hair was pulled half up, leaving the back falling in soft waves down my back. My makeup was subtle yet managed to highlight my eyes and lips. The combination made me look somewhat wholesome.

She and Rose led me back to my bedroom, where a gorgeous dress was laying across my bed. It was a white summer dress with a flowing skirt and cap sleeves. When I slipped it on, it flowed around me like mist, hitting me mid calf. The red sandals added a naughty touch to the otherwise virginal look. Well, those and the neckline of the dress that framed my breasts and enhanced my cleavage. I was thankful to have these two as my friends.

By 9:30, I was in my truck, ready to make the 20 minute drive to Edward’s house. He lived in one of the many influential neighborhoods in the area and I was immediately aware of his level of wealth. It was made even clearer upon catching sight of his house.

At 10 to 10:00, I was standing in front of his massive oak door, wringing my hands. I wasn’t entirely sure I could do this, even though I knew I had to. I couldn’t go the rest of my life wondering what would have happened. That would only drive me insane. Gathering my courage, I raised my hand and lifted the knocker.

Edward didn’t keep me waiting for long. Within a few minutes, he was standing there in the doorway looking refreshing enough to take my breath away. He smirked at me, causing my heart to race, before graciously welcoming me into his home.

“I hope you had a restful evening,” he said while leading me down the hall. I only nodded, unable to force the lie through my lips. “Can I get you anything to drink before we start?”

“Perhaps some water?” I asked, needing something to wet my parched throat. He led us into the kitchen where he filled a tall glass with ice before filling it from the spicket on the fridge. When he handed me the glass I took a long pull before he turned to lead us from the kitchen.

“If you wouldn’t mind joining me in my office we can go over some things,” he gestured down the mail hall. I swallowed hard before nodding my head and following him. He sat behind a desk and gestured to a chair on the other side. I could feel his stare as I made my way over, his piercing gaze making me feel exposed and bare.

I sat with my back straight and looked back at him. I wanted him to know I was strong enough and determined enough to do this. I didn’t want to show any signs of weakness. When a few moments had passed, a small smile graced his beautiful face.

“I’m glad you don’t find the need to fill the silence with inane chatter. I’m also pleased to see that you’re willing to be patient.” I should have realized that he would be testing me and analyzing me for the entirety of the meeting, but the sound of his voice startled me slightly.

“Thank you, Sir.” His smile widened at my formal address of him, clearly showing I was willing to give him dominance of this meeting.

He leaned back in his chair and folded his hands under his chin. “So tell me Bella, what do you know about the BDSM community?”

I cleared my throat and blinked owlishly at him. I hadn’t really been expecting him to jump right in that way but was able to maintain my composure under his scrutiny. “I don’t know nearly enough, Sir.” And that was true. I didn’t know nearly as much as I wanted to know. In fact, I wasn’t sure if I would ever know enough.

He merely cocked a brow at me before asking, “And what would you like to know?”

This time I didn’t hesitate. “Everything,” I said simply.

He flashed his crooked grin making my knees shake. I was suddenly thankful that I wasn’t standing because I was certain they would have buckled underneath me. “How do you intend to learn, Isabella?”

My heart thudded to a painful stop before it started again, pounding in my chest in a rapid race. The way my name rolled off his tongue made me want to squirm in my seat. However, I sat as still as possible and looked at him clearly. “I want you to teach me, Sir.”

His eyes darkened infinitely, until they were almost pitch black. I could feel my arousal pooling between my legs, further cementing my decision and intensifying my desire for him.

When he spoke, his voice had a husky quality that crawled over my skin. “Is that what would please you, Isabella?”

Despite my desire, I couldn’t help but feel a little ridiculous. I was sitting in a well adorned office, in what had to be a real leather chair, having what was the most bizarre meeting I had ever participated in. This wasn’t like the usual mating dance at a bar or a club; this was more like hammering out a contract for carnal pleasure. The thought struck me as funny.

The whole while, all I could think about was being bound and taken by the incredibly sexy man sitting across from me. He looked, if it was possible, even better than he had last night. I could feel the current between us, pulling us toward each other; or at least I hoped it was the same for him as it was for me. I was sure that it was the physical attraction we had for one another, because I was sure after last night that I had some effect on him.

I realized he was still waiting for me to speak and a blush flooded my face. I was tempted to hide my cheeks, as I normally would have done, but I refrained. “Yes, Sir. That would please me.”

He rocked back and forth in his chair while he considered me. “We’ll see,” he murmured before leaning forward across his desk. “First tell me, how exactly did you come to the decision to become a submissive?”

Had I not been so entranced by him, and so dazzled by his presence, I would have censored my words. Instead they came tumbling out of my mouth in a flood. “I heard about a guy on campus that was known to tie girls up and spank them before he had his way with them. Something about the thought of being taken with my consent or not was oddly appealing, so when he approached me I was all too eager for the opportunity.”

His eyes darkened once again but it was easy to tell that it wasn’t desire this time. It was fuming anger. His eyes narrowed to slits as he watched me. “What do you mean with your consent or not?” His sharp tone frightened me and I pulled back a little bit.

I stuttered over myself, trying to figure out exactly what to say. I didn’t want to make him any madder. It was terrifyingly similar to the look on his face when he talked about James. I had apparently hit a nerve. I gulped loudly before trying to do damage control. “Um… just some of the girls around campus mentioned him. They may have said they weren’t expecting to be whipped. Or tied up. One girl had hot wax poured on her. They advised me to steer clear of him.”

“And yet you did not.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement. He looked even angrier than he had before. “What is his name?” he ground out between clenched teeth.

My eyes were wide with horror and I was terrified for Eric. What had I gotten him into? My mouth opened and closed a few times before Edward’s gaze hardened. He closed his eyes and pinched his nose between his fingers and thumb. When he opened them again, his eyes had softened some and he tried again.

“Bella,” I missed the way he said my full name, but the casual use put me at ease. “Not only is what he’s doing extremely wrong but it’s incredibly dangerous too. It’s no wonder people have such a high disregard of my community.”

“Eric Yorkie,” I murmured. I had known Eric was wrong, but hearing Edward say it so calmly while the fire burned in his eyes made the idea sink in more fully. What Eric was doing was wrong. Insanely so. He needed to be reprimanded.

He wrote something down on a piece of paper before he stood and made his way to the door. “Please excuse me for a moment.” He shut the door behind him before I had a chance to acknowledge his statement. I was still afraid for Eric, but the rational side of me knew Edward wouldn’t hurt him. At least, I hoped he wouldn’t.

A few minutes later Edward came back in and positioned himself behind the desk once more. His face was clear of any harshness and he looked calmer. Whatever he had done, it had worked so I was glad. For one fleeting moment, I wondered if I had imagined the scene that had just played out.

Edward went on like nothing had really happened. “So after this encounter,” he said the word with slight revulsion, “you decided you wanted to become a submissive.” When I nodded my head he inquired, “What did you do then?”

I blushed again before answering in the most composed voice I could manage. “I did some research; at the library, on the internet, and I started frequenting Leah’s store.” Again I was struck by the absurdity of the entire situation. Here I was, shy that he knew what I’d been reading about, fantasizing about, and planning but I was planning on doing those things with him. He knew that too which started the whole strange cycle over again.

His lips quirked up on one side before he said, “Good enough. What types of activities would you consider hard limits?”

I had considered this some but didn’t know how to voice it. I struggled for only a moment before just coming out and saying it. “I don’t like blood, or any other bodily fluids for that matter. I also don’t like the idea of asphyxiation. Or extreme pain. No needles, burning, or cutting.” My hands were restless in my lap as I watched them pick at imaginary lint on my dress.

“So basically, no edge play,” he said. All I could do was nod. Then an idea struck me and I glanced up quickly.

“I don’t want other partners either. If I’m going to belong to you, I only want to belong to you.” I wasn’t sure if it was out of line for me to say that or not, but if he was going to ask me what I wanted and expected, I was going to lay it all on the line.

He stared at me for a long time, neither of us moving or breaking eye contact. I couldn’t make out the emotions in his eyes but I was frozen in place and couldn’t look away either. Finally, he spoke, “I don’t share. That won’t be a concern.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. I had put myself out on a limb there for a moment and was scared it wouldn’t hold under my weight.

“Now I’d like to state some of my expectations.” I nodded for him to continue. “First, I insist on all of my subs living in my house. I don’t do part-time relationships. If you agree to sub for me, you will stay here and follow my guidelines and schedule. Second, I would prefer if I was your attending physician in order to assure you get the best care possible. Part of my job as a Dom is making sure that any of my subs are in the best health possible. I also insist on you being screened for drugs or any sexually transmitted diseases. Once I am assured that you’re clean, you will require an IUD since I don’t like to use condoms. Are we clear so far?”

My mind was racing. Was he really entertaining the idea of taking me on as his submissive? I felt giddy at the idea and nodded enthusiastically. He opened a drawer and removed a manila folder. “Inside you will find any further information you need. What are your current living arrangements?”

“I live alone. In an apartment,” I was able to get out.

“When is your lease up?” This was moving along very quickly. I hadn’t anticipated it being so fast. Then I thanked my lucky stars that my lease was nearly up for renewal anyway.

“At the end of next month,” I breathed.

He nodded once, decisively. “That gives us just enough time.” He made a few notations on the pad in front of him before he looked up at me again. “You’re more than welcome to use the furniture I have in the room you’ll be using, or I can put it in storage so can use your own.”

My head was reeling. I had gone from wondering what I would do if he accepted me to making plans on storing furniture and moving in. It would all be over and done with in just a few short weeks. Amazingly though, there was no sense of panic on my part anymore. I had a feeling deep down, I was ready for this.

The thought of using the beautiful furniture I had already come across was incredibly appealing. “If that’s fine with you, I’ll go ahead and put my things in storage, or sell them. I do have a question though. Actually, I have two.” He raised both brows and gestured for me to continue. “How long do you usually train a sub for and what exactly do we have just enough time for?”

“The second is easy. For the next three weeks I’ll be doing various sessions with you in order to test our compatibility. We’ll know by that time whether or not we want to continue with our relationship. Plus it takes a couple weeks to get all the test results back.

The first part isn’t so simple. I’ve had subs for as little as a few months to as long as a year and a half. Each person is different as each person’s preferences and desires would be different. Let’s see how the next few weeks go first.”

I wasn’t sure what to think about that. He’d never trained a sub for more than 18 months. I guess I’d have to make the most of the next year and a half.

“I understand you’re a student too, right?” I wasn’t sure how he knew that already but assumed he would have gotten that information from Leah. I nodded in response. “I’ll need a copy of your schedule so that I can make plans around it.”

This was all very detailed and precise. It was also a little invasive. Did he really have to know what my schedule was like all day, every day? It seemed a little excessive, but who was I to say? “Is all of that really necessary?” Somehow I felt that if I had questions, I should probably air them now. The tides would change very soon, and the time for questioning his motives would come to an end.

“If I am to plan sessions, I’ll need you at your peak. I need to allow you ample study time and personal time in order for you to be at your best. The better you feel and the more relaxed you are, the easier it will be for you to concentrate on the intense amount of pleasure we will give each other.”

Something about the way he said those words, so briskly and in that husky tone, I was a heaping pile of girlie need. I was tingling all over and felt like I would overheat. I was sure he noticed as he continually glanced at my heaving chest. “Does the idea of that excite you Isabella?”

He went and said it again. I whimpered out a ‘yes’ as my stomach muscles clenched. I was teetering on a very fine edge. He was by my side in an instant bringing me out of the chair. “Come with me.” And he led me from the room. We walked toward the stairwell and went to the full attic on the third floor. When he opened the door, it wasn’t an attic, but an entire playroom. From what I could see and the items I could place from my research, it looked like a well equipped room. The sight of it made me tremble.

He was right behind me in an instant, his mouth right next to my ear. “I want to learn your body, Isabella. Will you allow me that pleasure?” It was a purr, slow and sensual. I could only nod.

He led me to the center of the room and near a padded bench. His lips ghosted across the skin at the back of my neck, never truly making contact and his hands doing the same thing along my arms and down my sides. He was crumbling any resolve I might have had and building the anticipation higher than I thought it could go.

“If things get to be too intense for you I want you to say ‘truck.’ I’ll stop immediately and we’ll talk about what made you uncomfortable. Okay?” It was all whispered into my ear causing my spine to tingle.

“Yes, yes…” I all but moaned out. I hadn’t moved an inch and my body was nearly quivering with need.

“Close your eyes.” His fingers ghosted over my eyelids, causing them to droop and finally to close before he ran his fingers across the planes of my face. The pads of his thumbs swept across my cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose, and across my lips. His nose skimmed along my jaw line, barely making contact.

He brought his hands up the middle of my back and slowly dragged the zipper down; opening the part in my dress until it barely clung to my shoulders. One careless brush of his hands had the garment pooling around my ankles. I heard his sharp intake of breath and knew he liked my surprise. Well, Alice and Rose’s surprise anyway.

Underneath my dress was a concoction of black lace. The bra was a balconette style that pushed my breasts up and had my cleavage pouring over the top of it. The bottoms were black lace boy shorts to match the bra. The red contrast stitching made the ensemble scream ‘walking sex.’ I looked up to see his eyes were dark again, peering deep into mine. Looking for something.

“Climb up on the bench please.” I moved to obey immediately, scrambling to the top of the oversized ottoman with a ladder of sorts on the side. Once I was to the top I realized that my midsection was much closer to Edward’s face. I was positioned so I was just about a head taller than him. The thought of that thrilled me. “Put your arms up behind your head, Isabella.”

My arms shot up, closing behind my head in a classic subservient stance. The image was magnified due to my near nudity. I was almost completely exposed to him. He walked around the platform taking in the sight of my near nakedness. “Put your hands up and cross them at the wrists,’ he instructed.

He was behind me now; I could fee his presence there. Then, I felt the silky texture against my face. I tried to pull away and heard him chuckle lowly. “They’re only black scarves, to blindfold you.” I calmed immediately. As long as I knew what was happening to me I was willing to try it. My arms were in position, I was up on my knees, I was blindfolded, and I could feel him staring at me. His eyes raking over my form. I felt a trail of arousal slide down my leg.

“Do you know what BDSM stands for?” His voice was right behind me as his hands continued their journey of my body, never really taking hold, but merely brushing along my skin. My skin was tingling everywhere he touched.

I shook my head as I wasn’t sure I could trust my voice. He dropped one hand to grab something before trailing it back up my body, trailing cold metal in its wake. Taking my wrists in his hand he was able to quickly cuff me over a suspension bar above my head. I could feel my breasts thrusting forward in this new position and felt his hands trailing over the black lace there.

“It actually stands for three acronyms in one.” His lips ghosted across my breasts and dipped down to my stomach. “B/D stands for Bondage and Discipline.” I felt a paddle tap me on my lace-covered bottom and bucked my hips. He spanked me a few times until my buttocks were warm. My breathing was picking up.

“D/s stands for Domination and Submission.” His fingers trailed over my throbbing sex but refrained from applying any pressure. He trailed his fingers over my covered eyes, then brushing my cheek bones. He skimmed my bound form, on my knees for him. My body was trembling, his magical hands working me into a frenzy

“And S/M stands for Sadism and Masochism.” Without warning he reached forward and pinched my clit roughly between his finger and thumb. Goosebumps covered my body and I felt a tightening in my stomach. My movements stilled before the trembling grew into violent spasms as the pleasure wracked (through) my body. My mouth opened into a silent scream and the most powerful orgasm I had ever experienced bombarded my senses.

Light and sound ceased to exist and for one brief moment, time stood still. Then it all came crashing down on me in a torrential storm of sensations. I screamed his name and my body went limp, dangling slightly from my wrists.

I heard the lock snick as he freed each wrist before he gathered my in his arms and carried me to an oversized arm chair. I assumed he was going to set me down and was surprised when he cradled me to his chest and sat down with me in his lap. He nuzzled my hair before he murmured, “So incredibly responsive.” He pulled away and lifted my chin so he could look in my eyes. “Thank you,” he said and kissed my forehead.

I smiled in return and dropped my head to his chest. I felt him brusquely massaging my arms, from my wrists to my shoulders, and back down again. He took my hands and rotated them around, working out all of the kinks. Then he ran his hands up and down the lengths of my spine.

“That was our first lesson. I’d like you to be here on Tuesday and Thursday, if possible.” He was still running his hands over me, making me purr in contentment. If that was going to be the norm for our relationship, I could get used to things really quickly.

“Mmmmm… yes, that’s wonderful.” I hoped he knew I was talking about both the massage and the meetings.

“But for now,” he continued, almost like I hadn’t even spoken, “you will rest. You may say you had a restful night, but your body and your eyes say differently.” He swept me up into his arms and descended to the second level. He moved swiftly into one of the bedrooms and had me wrapped in the comforter and comfortable in a few minutes.

“You will need to start taking better care of yourself Isabella. No more sleepless nights.” Then he kissed my forehead and walked out, closing the door behind him.


When I awoke, I noticed there were flowing, sheer white curtains all around me. I sat up quickly and took in the sight before me. I was in what looked like an antique canopy bed in a very large bedroom. There was a vanity table between two floor length windows and a matching writing desk, dresser, and armoire. All of the furniture was a dark cherry color. When I looked in the corner, I noticed a sitting area in front of a small fireplace. The upholstery on the chairs was a soft green color, almost like sea mist.

The room was done in pastel greens and blues aside from the curtains on the bed. I got out of bed and saw myself in the floor length mirror beside the armoire. The blush covered my body when I realized I was standing in only my bra and panties. I spun around before I noticed a black satin robe draped over the end of the bed. I smiled softly as I fingered the material. I could definitely get used to this.

I pulled the robe on and tiptoed my way through the house. I wasn’t sure where I would find Edward, and I wasn’t entirely sure where I was in his house. There were several hallways and I hadn’t been that alert when he’d whisked me through the house earlier. I made my way to where I assumed I would find the stairs. Instead I came to another dead end, but I could hear huffing coming from behind one of the doors.

I put my ear to the door and could distinctly hear someone panting on the other side. I blushed again at the thought of what I may have caught Edward doing. Before I could decide whether to go back the way I came or make myself known, I lost my balance and crashed into the wall.

The door whipped open and Edward stood before me, clad in a pair of gray gym shorts and matching tank with a dark ‘V’ of sweat in the middle. My eyes went wide. I knew he was built under his clothing, but coming face to face with it when he was exuding so much power and raw sexual magnetism was an entirely different thing. My heart was racing inside my chest and lust clouded my features.

In an instant he was down at my side, running his hands over me. I could hear him speaking, but I couldn’t make out the words. He waved a hand in front of my face and I was finally able to focus.

“I’m sorry… what?” It was all I could say. The only thing my brain could think of.

He eyed me warily before saying, “I was asking if you were okay. You didn’t hurt yourself, did you?”

Before I could stop it, the laughter burst through my lips. It really wasn’t that funny, but the strangeness of the entire day was finally catching up to me. Edward just stared at me for a moment before cracking a smile and shaking his head.

“I’ll take that as a no, but please, in the future, try to be more careful,” he said, solemnly.

I bit the inside of my cheek to suppress any more laughter and nodded my head. “I promise I will try, but I should have told you I’m extremely clumsy.”

His brows furrowed as he processed that information. I was instantly nervous that I had said something to hurt my chances of becoming his sub. What if he didn’t want a clumsy girl that might be dangerous to have around the equipment? My heart pounded for a moment before his expression cleared and he was pulling me to my feet.

“Did you have a good rest?” His eyes were light and there was a small smile on his face.

“Yes, actually. I feel much more refreshed, thank you.” I rolled my shoulders as if to prove my point.

“Good, there was something I forgot to mention earlier and was hoping I could talk to you again before you left.” He was leading me around a corner and to a hallway I hadn’t noticed before. When it opened up to the main staircase I laughed at my luck of bypassing that hallway completely. Although, it had led me straight to a sweaty, sexy Edward. I’d count that as a win in my favor.

“Of course, whenever is good for you.” We bypassed the stairs and went to another hallway the led to my room. I hadn’t noticed my dress hanging in the open door of the armoire; otherwise I would have put it on instead of the robe. But there it was now, like it had been there the whole time.

He gestured to my clothing, and to my shoes sitting just inside the door of the armoire. “Why don’t you go ahead and get dressed and I’ll be back for you in 10 minutes.” I nodded in agreement before he backed out of the room.

While getting dressed, I noticed little things about the room that I liked. I hadn’t given it a complete inspection earlier, but I made sure to do so now. There was a full bathroom in the room, but it was more like a bath suite. There was a deep, sunken Jacuzzi tub in the corner on a raised platform. In the other corner was a two-person shower room. The entire door was made of glass, taking up one whole wall, highlighting the tile walls. There was a bench that ran the entire perimeter of the small room and multiple shower heads. The blue and green colors were repeated in here.

I was lost in a fantasy about the shower when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I jumped and my scream echoed and bounced off the walls of the shower. A deep rumbling laugh sounded from behind me. I looked back to find Edward laughing, at me. I narrowed my eyes slightly while he caught his breath.

“I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to scare you. I called your name, when you didn’t answer I came to make sure you were okay.” A chuckle escaped and he cleared his throat before continuing, “You had your head inside the shower, but I thought you heard me.”

My hand was over my racing heart and my voice was a little shaky. “It’s okay. I was just admiring the room and having a little dream about that shower.” My cheeks pinked up at my admission.

A sly grin crossed his face. “Well, I’m glad you like your room.”

I blinked in surprise. My room? Then it dawned on me. This was going to be my room when I moved in. I was so overcome with joy I leapt at him without thinking. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!” I had my arms thrown around his neck and I peppered his face with kisses. I ended with a loud smacking kiss on his lips before taking in his stunned expression.

His hands were resting lightly on my hips and his eyes were wide with shock. I realized what I had done and was completely embarrassed. I hadn’t meant to actually throw myself at him, but my excitement had gotten the better of me. I took a step back and cleared my throat. “I’m sorry. I got a little carried away.”

He blinked a couple times before regaining his control. He sent me a bright smile. “Don’t apologize; you just caught me off guard. Now, we have a couple more things to discuss. Shall we?” He took my elbow and led me back downstairs to his office. We walked in comfortable silence.

We sat down, him behind the desk again, me in the leather chair opposite him. He leaned back before speaking. “Do you have any formal clothing?”

His question took me by surprise. “Formal clothing?”

“Yes, formal clothing. Such as evening gowns, heels, clutches, etc. If not, I will arrange a shopping trip with Alice and Rosalie. I’m sure they would have no qualms about outfitting your closet for me.” It was nice to know that he understood fashion wasn’t my forte.

“Of course. I’ll let them know.”

“I also meant to ask you about your job.”

“My job?” I was confused. What did a job have to do with this?

“Yes, do you have a job?”

“I work at the campus library, but why?”

“There won’t be any need for you to work there anymore. You will have everything you need here.” I wasn’t comfortable with the idea of taking his money. He would already be doing so much for me; I didn’t want to take advantage.

“Um, I appreciate it, but I don’t know if I’m comfortable living off of you like that. I want to earn my way.”

His laugh was warm. “Silly Isabella,” he shook his head. “I should have mentioned that you’ll be living here as my housekeeper. I will pay you for that.”

Now I didn’t feel so uncomfortable. Surely he wouldn’t want everyone knowing about his alternate lifestyle, some people wouldn’t be too receptive of that. Most people would be under the impression that I was only his housekeeper, and his sometimes escort, I would know differently. I nodded my head in understanding. “That makes sense. I’ll put in my notice.”