“Training starts now, Mia. To do the job of Vice President of Client Services at SRE you must know what your clients will experience. They will come to you for information, advice and counsel. The only way you can truly help them is if you’ve experienced it yourself, to feel what they’ll feel. So, what do you think of Suite Five?” Asher asked, unknotting his tie and pulling it from his collar.

“It’s cold, both physically and visually. It’s not very comfortable.”

Asher grinned and nodded while draping the tie over his jacket. “Then it does its job. That’s exactly how it should feel in here. The submissive is supposed to feel physically insecure in this suite to help grow his or her trust in the Dominant.” He turned, locked eyes with Mia and sauntered toward her. “I hope to gain more of your trust today.”

Mia took a deep breath and her shoulders began to relax.

“Having said that, I’m sticking to the plan. Not like last night. Training is mandatory for this position and if I can’t control myself and train you properly, someone else will have to do it. I won’t have that. No one else touches you. Do you understand?”

“Of course,” Mia whispered. She couldn’t imagine going through this with anyone else.

“You remember our safe word, Mia?”

She nodded and stared into his dark brown eyes.

“Thorn.”

“Yes and please use it when you need to. Don’t think of it as a show of failure or fear. It’s the only way I’m going to understand your limits. Any questions before we begin?”

Mia’s eyes darted around the stark suite. “Cameras?”

Asher grinned. “The camera is in the mirror…” He strode to the large mirror where the note was placed and pointed. “It’s off and security is instructed to leave it off, unless you prefer to have it on,” he said and raised his eyebrows.

“No. No camera. This is going to be hard enough for me.”

“The purpose of the surveillance is not so that our security can watch, believe me; they’ve seen so much that it’s like watching a baseball game to them. It’s for the safety of our clients.”

“I understand but I still don’t like it. Plus I don’t feel unsafe with you,” Mia said with a shy smile.

He stepped toward her while unbuckling his belt. “I’m glad to hear that. Now turn around.”

She smiled at him and turned to face the wall once again. His silky, commanding voice washed over her body and soaked the juncture between her legs. Strong hands immediately kneaded at her shoulders and down her arms. Warmth sank into her flesh and she leaned back to capture more of his body heat. She relaxed momentarily but was snapped back on guard when his powerful hands encircled her ribcage and his fingers slipped between the buttons of her blouse. The sound of tearing fabric filled her ears as buttons popped from their stitching and flew in different directions. She sucked in a breath as he rid her of her shirt in one fluid motion.

“Put your hands together behind your back,” Asher’s honeyed voice buzzed through her.

She did as she was told and laced her fingers together at the top of her ass. The jingle of his belt buckle rang in her ear followed by a whoosh of leather sliding through fabric. Warm straps encircled her wrists, the buckle clanging in uneven tones as he tied it tight between her hands.

Mia swallowed hard and pulled at her hands, trying to loosen the bonds. She was firmly bound with no chance of freedom. Her breath quickened, stoking the fire growing in her belly. The bed springs creaked and she turned her head toward the sound.

“A submissive would be punished for that peek,” he growled.

She whipped her head back to face the wall.

“Come to me.”

Relieved to leave her corner, Mia spun on her heels and stepped toward him. Asher sat on the edge of the bed with his feet apart and patted the top of his thighs, beckoning her to the spot in between his knees. She complied and the heat of his hands enveloped her body as he pulled her in. She arched her back while his fingers teased up to the lacey band across her ribcage. He unsnapped her bra before pulling her hairpins, releasing her long, dark locks. Coiling her hair around his palm, he pulled downward, tipping her face toward the ceiling. He fondled the lace fabric of her bra, which only stayed secured by her arms pressed against her body. He slowly removed the band of lace and a rush of chilly air surrounded her breasts. The cool temperature was replaced with liquid heat when he took her nipple between his teeth. Mia moaned as sparks traveled from her breasts down to her core.

“Keep your legs straight and bend forward.”

Heated palms slid down her back, encircled her waist and guided her forward so that she was bent over his leg, her face and chest resting on the bed.

From the corner of her eye, she caught a partial reflection of the back of her legs and her ass, lifted high in the air. Her pussy ached with exquisite need as she watched his hands gently lift the fabric of her skirt. Mia closed her eyes as his palm rubbed small circles over her ass cheek and thigh. The heat suddenly disappeared and her eyes shot open in time to watch his hand come down with a slap. She whimpered as the sound echoed through the room. His palm continued to rub the sting from her suddenly very pink cheek. He followed the same routine on the other side and she cried out in passion the second time, anticipating the erotic burn. Craning her neck, she admired the matching pink splotches on both ass cheeks.