Mr. Smith's Whip by Brynn Paulin

completed the surreal setting. It was as if she were being led, handcuffed, into an office building. She half expected a frenzied secretary to come rushing out of one of the closed doors along the hall.
    Colin stopped halfway down the corridor and opened the door there. Inside a woman with spiky red hair reclined behind a counter, her feet on the surface while she read a magazine. At their entrance, she swung her legs down and stood.
    Olivia blinked as she looked at the stranger. She looked like a manga action figure in her short, short pleated skirt cropped top and jacket, white thigh-highs and patent leather pumps.
    “Mr. Smith!” the woman exclaimed with a smile. “I haven’t seen you in a while.”
    “Hullo Syb. What’s this?” he asked, motioning to her clothes.
    “Duh, this is my Sailor Moon costume. Master likes it. Hopefully, he’ll be down later if things stay calm in Security. Besides, I like it. What’s the point of having a dress-up job if you can’t have fun?”
    He chuckled. “Why indeed? And that’s why we’re here.” He gave Olivia’s chain a little tug and brought her forward. For the first time, a shot of humiliation pierced her. What was she doing and why was she letting him do this to her? In front of other people?
    Syb came around the counter. “You need her dressed?”
    “Yes. I made an appointment earlier with my instructions.”
    “Right-o, old chap,” she quipped in a terrible Brit imitation accompanied by a cheeky salute. “I’ll get her all fixed up then bring her to you. Where will that be?”
    “I’ll be reading on four.”
    “Gotcha! I’ll have her there in about twenty minutes.”
    “Perfect.”
    He turned to leave, but Syb stopped him. “Dude! The chain. You know I don’t touch one unless it’s my own.”
    Torn between fascination and irritation, Olivia watched the pair converse as if she weren’t right there. Questions assailed her. Colin had requested for her to be “dressed”? The idea gnawed at her, though it hadn’t when he’d sent her clothes earlier. Perhaps that was because it had been between only the two of them. Now, there was a third, another woman , involved. Olivia didn’t really like it. Didn’t he trust her to pick her own things? Did he find her regular clothing boring?
    She also found his interaction with Syb intriguing. Syb was obviously a sub, but she didn’t seem deferential to Colin other than his title. It confused Olivia. Colin seemed so strict with her, dominating all her actions when they were in a scene—which she sensed was now . His demeanor only backed down slightly when they weren’t in the midst of D/s action. It was obvious he was a natural leader and, dare she say, Master.
    “I’ll see you shortly, love,” he said, turning Olivia. Approval lit his features. Warmth seeped through her and washed away some of her confusion. What he required of her was different from anyone else. She pleased him, as no one else did. Heat kindling in his eyes, he pulled her forward. “Behave for Syb,” he rasped for her ears only. “And no one touches you. No one but me. Understood?”
    “Yes, Sir,” she replied, feeling the dampness rush to her folds at his possessive demand.
    Apparently satisfied, he unclipped the chain from her collar. Grabbing her upper arms, he yanked her to him. The chain bit into her flesh as it was trapped between his hand and her skin, but she ceased to notice as he kissed her with all the passion of a man about to plunge his cock into his lover. Her heart slammed into her ribcage as her body responded. Her blood pulsed behind her ears like a gushing stream while her limbs shook as if she’d run miles with no rest.
    Heavy longing settled in her core. She needed him, yet this was goodbye—for now. She’d still have to wait.
    Slowly lifting his head, he stared into her eyes. “The best is yet to come, Livvy.” Oh, please, yes.
    Breathless, she watched him leave. Immediately, she felt the emptiness throbbing