The Enticement

“Yeah, that must have been strange. But now look at the great opportunity you have to educate so many people.” Her voice dropped a notch. “And I can’t wait to brag to my friends about the famous writer I knew back when she was a novice submissive.”

“Blogger,” I corrected. “I wouldn’t say I’m a writer yet. I’m a blogger.”

“Semantics, Abby.” I pictured her rolling her eyes at me. “It doesn’t matter what you call it.”

We talked a few more minutes before saying our good-byes. By that time, Nathaniel had made it back in the house, having decided to swim by himself. He came into the library and shook his head at me, showering me with water droplets from his hair.

I shrieked and held my hands up. “What are you doing?”

“Getting your clothes wet so you have to take them off.”

I brushed the water drops off my arm. “There are better ways to go about getting me naked.”

“But this was more fun.”

I loved seeing him so lighthearted and playful. Almost made up for him getting me wet.

“I’m going to get you back,” I threatened, trying to think up something evil and mean I could do to him in return.

“I look forward to it,” he said with a wicked grin.

“Well,” I said, standing up. “You’ll have to wait. I still have the thirty-minute meditation you assigned me.”

His grin fell. “Damn. I didn’t expect that to bite me in the ass.”

It wasn’t the first time I wanted him to bend a rule or tell me I didn’t have to do something he’d commanded. And just like all the other times, I knew he wouldn’t change his mind about my assignment. So I gave him a quick kiss and headed upstairs.

Chapter Six

Three weeks later, Meagan called the Friday morning after my first piece went up.

“Abby!” she nearly yelled and I held the phone away from my ear. “You won’t believe it! It’s fabulous!”

“The post generated a lot of hits?” I guessed.

“It’s beyond that. It is a hit. It’s beat the next-highest story on WNN by nearly double the number of hits in its first twenty-four hours.”

I was stunned. My piece?

“You’re speechless. It’s okay. I was, too. Your idea to play up your husband’s wealth was brilliant. People are all about rich, good-looking Dominants.” She took a hasty breath. “If you keep generating this much interest, we’re going to have to rethink your role. But, hell, we’ll talk about that later. Let’s celebrate! Free tonight?”

I could hardly keep up with her, the way she bounced from one topic to the next. “What?”

“Let’s go to a club. Me and you. Tonight!”

“Tonight?” My mind calculated all the things I’d need to do. “Let me call Nathaniel and arrange for someone to watch the kids. What time and where?”

We made arrangements for her to come by the penthouse and then I called Nathaniel.

“I think it’s a great idea for you to go out and celebrate,” he said. “We’ll spend the weekend in the city?”

I thought that would be perfect and we arranged a time to meet at the apartment so he could watch the kids. I buzzed around the house, packing a few things and walking around in a general daze. I still couldn’t believe my piece had generated so much attention.

“You’re the real deal, Abby,” Meagan had said before we hung up. “You’re the wife and submissive of one of the wealthiest men in the city. Who just happens to be one of the best-looking, too. Of course, your readers don’t know what he looks like, but still.”

“And you can write,” Nathaniel had added when we talked. “Don’t sell yourself short or think it’s just because you married me. It’s what you’re writing that people are responding to.”

Once Elizabeth made it home from preschool, I loaded everyone into the SUV and we took off to our penthouse. After arriving, I sent Nathaniel a text letting him know where we were and he sent one back saying he’d be getting home early.

I tried to keep my mind occupied. Elizabeth and I baked cookies, and after Henry’s nap, we all went for a walk in Central Park. We would pass people and I’d wonder if they’d read my article. Surely the odds were good at least some of them had. I hid a smile as we left the park; it was like I had a secret.

Nathaniel was home when we made it back. I gave him a quick kiss before heading to the bathroom to get ready. It’d been a long time since I’d been out to a club. I sorted through my closet, trying to decide what to wear. I finally settled on a short, black, one-sleeved lace dress. I loved the way I looked in it and it would be perfect for clubbing.