Into The Woods (Dark Fairy tales), page 14
“Well, I don’t plan to be tied up and blindfolded, so it’s not an issue.”
“Toys?”
“Vibrators, yes. Other toys...no? What’s with all the questions?”
Maddox gave her a devilish grin. “Can’t a man ask about bondage and threesomes over breakfast?”
“I don’t know what you have working in that head of yours, but the answer is no.”
“You don’t even know the question. Why is the answer automatically no? Have you ever done anything outside of me and The Woods that wasn’t planned and calculated? Just gone with the moment and tried it. That’s how you learn what you like and don’t like.”
“I guess I never really thought I would need to know what I like and don’t like.”
“Well, if you’re in The Woods, you will have to know what you do and don’t like. After all, what’s the point of coming to The Woods if you don’t know what you’re going for?”
Sutton hated to tell him the reason she went was that it was her job. Aside from the money she was making from being with him, mingling was her only other reason for being there. The money she made from that was the only reason she was there. Glamorous clothes and kinky sex weren’t a part of her normal life. She hadn’t gone to The Woods to explore her sexual wants and desires, that exploration just happen to come upon her once she met him.
“I guess I can be a little more open. After all, I never thought I would have sex in front of anyone, or be in a peepshow. I guess I can explore a little deeper. What did you have in mind?”
“Lesson four: trusting and exploring. I have to get going. I’ll see you at twelve thirty.” Maddox gave her a quick kiss and strolled out the room.
Trusting and exploring? What in the world did he have planned? The questions he was asking did nothing but make her wonder what he had in store. It could be a multitude of kinky games made to test how much she trusted him and was willing to explore… games that she wasn’t too sure she wanted to play. Sutton stood and put her bowl in the sink. She was finding it harder and harder to keep up with this man.
***
Sutton strolled onto the twentieth floor of Hunter, Walsh, and Cline. She was surprised at the size of Maddox’s shared empire. He and his two partners held one of the largest black-run law firms in the city. Sutton remembered driving past the large building, but never had any reason to go inside. If the size of the building was any indication of his success, Sutton now completely understood why buying a car was no big deal for Maddox.
“Can I help you?” a sweet-voiced black woman asked from the reception desk.
“I’m here to see Maddox Hunter.”
The woman’s smile faded. “And you are?” she questioned coldly.
“Sutton Ryder.”
The receptionist gave Sutton one last cold look before picking up her phone and dialing. “I have a Sutton Ryder here to see you. Yes, sir. He said come to his office. It’s the door at the end of the hall,” the receptionist replied, as she turned back to her computer.
“Thanks.” Sutton gave the woman one last look. What was her problem? Was she another one of Maddox’s admirers? She knew the look on the woman’s face. It was the same look she got at the club. It was the “why is he with her and not me” look.
Sutton walked down the hall and stopped at a door emblazoned with the name “Maddox Hunter.” Turning the knob, she let herself in and was met with another assistant; however, this one was a smiling and very familiar face. It was a face that, over the weeks at The Woods, she’d come to love and enjoy.
“Well, hello, Sutton,” Jarvis greeted her, as he stood from his desk. “What are you doing here?”
“Maddox and I are having lunch.”
Jarvis’ face sunk at her words. “Oh…well he’s in his office, go right in,” Jarvis replied, as he sat back down and began working again.
Sutton gave Jarvis a smile and then turned to another door. Once inside, she heard the distinct sound of Maddox at work. The loud and very angry man was sitting at his desk yelling into his phone. Sutton wondered if he ever did any work that didn’t require him to yell. The better question was, who the hell was he yelling at all the time?
Maddox motioned for Sutton to take a seat, as he continued his call. “Fuck Peters, I don’t want damn excuses. I’ve been over this with you and I really don’t want to have this conversation again,” he shouted, as he slammed the receiver back onto its cradle. “Sutton, I have bad news. I can’t make lunch,” he said, a look of anger and disgust still on his face from the call.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes. I just have to get something settled. I’m going out of town on Friday, so I need to get this done before I go.”
“Out of town?”
“Yes. Darius comes home tomorrow, and we’re going to Disney World,” Maddox replied, a smile creeping onto his face at the mention of his son. “I will, however, see you at The Woods tonight.”
“Yes, of course. I hope everything works out,” Sutton replied as she stood from her chair.
She didn’t want to admit it, but she was a little bummed. She’d spent all morning getting pretty. She’d even broke out a long white and yellow sundress that she’d been given by Melanie—a dress she’d been saving for a special date. A special date that was now canceled because of someone’s fuck-up. She no longer felt bad for the people on the phone.
Maddox walked over to Sutton and pulled her into his arms. “You look nice. Did you get all dressed up for me?” he whispered in her ear, as he trailed kisses down her neck.
“Maybe,” Sutton said coyly.
“See, now I feel bad.” Maddox grabbed Sutton’s hand and led her out the door. Jarvis jumped to attention as soon as Maddox and Sutton entered. “Jarvis, what are you doing?”
“I was just sending off the emails that you requested, and then I was going to file…”
“Put all of that on hold. I want you to take Miss Ryder to lunch. Anywhere she wants, and charge it to me.” Maddox gave Sutton a kiss and held her face in his hands. “Would you like to do anything else? Shopping?”
“No! I don’t even need Jarvis to take me to lunch. It’s not a big deal, and I don’t want him to drop everything so I can eat.”
“Nonsense, it’s not a problem. You look nice and deserve a lunch.” Maddox pulled his keys out of his pocket and tossed them to Jarvis. “Take the Bentley. I’ll see you tonight.” He gave Sutton one last kiss and walked back into his office.
“Shall we?” Jarvis asked, as he held the door for Sutton.
“I don’t need you to take me to lunch. I don’t want to interrupt your work.”
“Didn’t you just hear him say that I was to take you? That means that you have now become my work,” Jarvis grumbled. “Shall we?”
Sutton gave Jarvis a smile as he led her to the elevators. She looked over at the receptionist, who was now shooting her daggered glances.
I guess Jarvis is hers, too, Sutton thought, as she and Jarvis hopped onto the elevator car. Sutton looked over to Jarvis. He was his usual coffee-colored handsome self. His suit was a little more formal than his attire at The Woods. This time a tailored jacket and pants were matched with a crisp white shirt and black tie.
She couldn’t help but feel a little flustered at the thought of him and an elevator. The last time they’d been together in an elevator he’d very abruptly introduced her to The Woods. She still remembered his hands running over her skin. Just the thought made her giggle.
“What’s so funny?” Jarvis asked, as he turned to a giggling Sutton.
“I was just thinking of the last time you and I were in an elevator together.”
A smile crept to the corners of Jarvis’ lips. “Oh.”
“Is that how you greet all new girls to The Woods?”
“No. Just the sweet, pretty, and desperately naïve ones,” Jarvis replied, as he took Sutton’s hand and led her into the parking garage. “Where would you like to eat?”
***
Sutton took a bite of her pasta. The little Italian place was a nice choice on Jarvis’ part. She really would have settled for fast food, but Jarvis insisted on the restaurant, arguing that Maddox wouldn’t be pleased if he took her to Burger King. Sutton watched as Jarvis sipped his iced tea. He looked a little distracted, as he gazed around the restaurant. Sutton wasn’t sure but he seemed a little nervous, which was completely out of character for Jarvis.
Jarvis was always the smooth Mr. Playboy at The Woods. Every night brought another lovely woman begging for his attention. If it weren’t for the money, she would wonder why he was even working there. Jarvis always seemed too cool, and way too smart for The Woods. Where the other male staff walked around like cocky gigolos, Jarvis was a hot casual eruption of sexy. Even Sutton was a little turned on by his constant playful teasing and banter.
Yet here he was, sipping his tea and looking aimlessly around. Is it me, she thought anxiously? Is he annoyed that he had to stop his day for me? Or was he just nervous that he would say something that would get back to Maddox? After all, he was cool and controlled until Maddox came around. When Maddox was around he snapped into attention and answered his every call like a little boy. Was being told to take Maddox’s girl out to lunch making him nervous?
“Are you okay?” Sutton asked, finally tired of the unknown. “You seem…on edge.”
Jarvis looked at Sutton and then smiled. “No. I’m fine,” he replied becoming aware of his uneasiness and calming himself. “How’s your food?”
“It’s delicious. And yours?
“It’s great,” he replied, taking a bite of his pasta.
“So, can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Why The Woods? It just doesn’t seem like something a guy like you would do.”
Jarvis let out a hearty laugh. “A guy like me?”
“You know! You’re just very cool and sexy. You could probably have any girl you wanted outside of the club. Not to mention, you’re smart. You’re smarter than any guy that works there. They all seem to be eye candy, where you’re much more.”
“That’s very nice of you to say. I’m glad you think I’m sexy. Most woman do,” Jarvis teased, as his demeanor became more relaxed.
“You’re such an ass. Will you look past the compliments and answer the question?”
“I guess I came to The Woods because I needed the money. Fiona offered me a job, and I got stuck. The money and the sex become like a drug. You want to walk away. You try to make yourself walk away, but you never can. The next thing I know, I’m gold level, and making more money in one night than I ever had at any of my bullshit jobs.”
“So, it’s solely the money? You don’t stay for other reasons?”
“I want to go to law school, that shit ain’t cheap, Sutton. Of course it’s the money. At first it was the thrill of the sex. It was the thrill of being able to do it anywhere and with anyone. The different scenarios and ways that you can find pleasure were addicting.”
“They aren’t anymore?”
“No. Now I guess I’ve become numb to it all. There is nothing that excites me. Sex has become a mechanical act. An effort to pass time until I get into NYU. Then I’m taking my money and running.”
“You make it sound as if you’ll never be able to enjoy sex again.”
“No, I enjoy sex. It just takes a special person to make me feel the thrill.”
“The thrill?”
“You know. That heart-stopping, body-shaking feeling you get during sex. It’s the feeling that your bodies are intertwined in an orgasmic symphony and you’re playing hard to get to the crescendo. With sex in The Woods I always come, but it’s really more of a tension release than lovemaking. That’s the one bad thing about The Woods. The screwing takes you to another level. Each time you do it, it gets stronger than the last time. So you spend so much time searching for something that feels better. It’s like I said: The Woods are like a drug.”
“I don’t plan to take it there. I don’t need sex like that.”
“Please, you can’t get past the romantic idea of what sex is. Why do you think you’ve only been with Maddox?”
“I like Maddox.”
“It’s not a fairy tale, Sutton. Maddox isn’t going to sweep you off your feet and make you a princess.”
“Who said I thought he would?” Sutton replied, angry at his assumption.
“Well, you’ve only ever been with him. Not to mention the romantic look you have around him. We won’t even get started on the car.”
“How do you know about the car?”
“Who do you think picked it out? Look, I warned you. I told you that it wasn’t a good idea to get involved with Maddox. So now you’re going to have to deal with the consequences,” Jarvis lectured.
“What consequences? It’s not like we’re dating we’re just…well, I don’t know what we’re doing, but it’s nice. It feels good.”
“It’s trouble. It’s trouble waiting to happen.”
“Why don’t we just stop dancing around the topic and you tell me what’s on your mind Jarvis.”
“Fine. Maddox is a great guy, but he has his issues. He comes with baggage that a girl like you can’t handle.”
“Are you talking about his son? I know all about Darius.”
“Darius is just the icing on the cake, Sutton. It’s not my place to put his business on blast. However, as your friend, I want to say ‘be careful.’ The Woods are filled with secrets. Everyone in The Woods has something to hide. I just don’t want you to get caught in something that will hurt you.”
Sutton took in Jarvis’ sobering words. She knew that Jarvis knew something, but wasn’t at liberty to tell her. The idea that something Maddox had in his past could hurt her made her nervous. Did it have to do with Darius’ mother? Sutton’s anger calmed, as her eyes met Jarvis’. “What can hurt me?”
Jarvis let out a hard breath, and sighed. “Other people’s pasts, and their need to keep secrets. Sutton, you and I are different from these people. We don’t have millions of dollars in the bank. We come from normal families with normal values. Money changes you. The people on the highest levels don’t see that not everything can be bought. The higher you get in life, the more secrets you have and the more you do to keep those secrets. To the higher levels, you and I are expendable—part of their fantasy lives. They are more than happy to build you up and make you feel like you’re on their level. However, they have no problem taking you apart again. So just be careful and always keep your eyes open.”
Sutton went back to her food. The thought that Maddox could destroy her was hard to take. Maddox wasn’t like all the other men. He was a little stern, but he cared for her. He wanted her to be better, hence the lessons. She was grateful for Jarvis’ concern, but she knew her man.
Her man. The idea brought a smile back to her face. Maddox was her man. He was a sweet, kind man. It didn’t matter what he’d done in his past. That was then, and she was his now.
Chapter Thirteen
Lesson four: Trusting and Exploring.
Sutton lay on the soft satin sheets. She had been right to be a little frightened at his questioning that morning. She was now naked and spread-eagled on a bed in room five. Her legs and arms were bound to the posts of the bed, and her eyes blindfolded.
I should have kept my mouth shut, she thought anxiously, trying her best to decipher the sounds in the room.
There was the slight creak of the door, and then Maddox said, “On the bed. Wait for my command.”
Who’s in the room, she thought, as she whipped her head around. All she could see was black.
“Maddox who’s here,” Sutton asked, her nerves hanging on each of her words.
Maddox placed his hand on her stomach and gently began to caress her. “Calm down. You can trust me. Nothing will happen without your constant.
Sutton took a deep breath and tried to believe his words. She remembered their conversation from that morning. Maddox had said, “I would hope that if you let someone tie you up, that you trusted they wouldn’t take advantage of you.” Sutton was hoping he was right. When he had walked her into the room she was quite aware what room five was. The whips, riding crops, and canes were positioned on racks on the wall. There were premade restraints on the bed.
“This is a lesson in trust. That part you have passed. Now, let’s get to the second part, exploring.”
“Exploring what?” Sutton murmured apprehensively. “What are we exploring?”
“We’re exploring your willingness to try something new, something that scares you.”
