Even Deeper Read Online Free Page B

down on the bed and then opened the hotel door once more. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. You call him.”
    It took me a moment to figure out the time in L.A., to decide which number to dial. Then there was Jack’s voice, warm and reassuring, asking me about the flight, about the room, about the clothes.
    “I knew you’d like that store,” he said, making me wonder when he’d last been to Paris. Jealousy flickered through me as I visualized how many women he’d bought gifts for at the lingerie shop where Alex had taken me. Or how many girlfriends he’d shopped with himself.
    “When will you get here?” I asked, rather than voicing the questions in my head.
    “Tomorrow night.”
    I sighed with relief. I only had one more solo day with Alex. I could handle that.
    “Tell me what you bought.”
    I listed the items, spreading them out on the bed as I spoke. I could almost hear Jack smiling as he said, “Anything else?” So he knew. He already knew.
    “A crop.”
    “Is Alex in the room?”
    “No, Jack.”
    “I want you to get dressed in one of the new outfits, and I want you to be ready when he comes back in.”
    “Ready…” I echoed, nervous. “Ready how?”
    “You were his toy today, weren’t you? He took care of you. He played you. Tonight, he’s yours.”
    “Come on, Jack…” How did he expect me to… Why did he want me to…
    “The crop was a gift for me,” Jack said, sounding suddenly cold. “I will enjoy using it tomorrow night. But this evening, you’re in charge.”
    I laughed, so fucking nervous, unable to think straight. I was tired from traveling, but that wasn’t a good enough excuse. Jack was asking for a lot.
    “Go get dressed, like a good girl, and when he comes back to the room, I want you standing tall and strong.” Had he known I’d slumped down on the bed, fear mingling with insecurity? “I like the thought, Kid. That image is what’s going to get me through the night without you. Don’t think this is easy for me, either.”
    I looked down at the items on the bed. I needed Alex’s help to get into most of the corsets, but there was an outfit he’d slipped into the pile when I wasn’t looking. A vinyl zip-up bustier with matching skirt. Had Jack told him what to buy? Did Alex know what was coming?
    I felt as if I’d been wet for days, turned on for so long that I’d forgotten the pleasure of reaching the end.
    “Touch it,” Jack said, as if he were right next to me. “Pick it up.”
    I reached for the weapon. The crop felt heavy in my grip. Could I do this?
    “If I were there…” Jack started, and I pressed the phone hard between my shoulder and ear. “If I were there, would you be having a problem?”
    No. Shit no. He’d tell me what to do, and I’d do it. The distance had given me pause. That was all. I would have done anything to please Jack. All I had to do was look in his eyes, see the set of his jaw, feel his hand on my skin—and he owned me. So why couldn’t I be a top when he wasn’t in the room? I’d whipped Alex before, and I’d seen Jack punish him, as well…and, yeah, I’d found both scenarios sexy. I live to submit, but I can appreciate the thrill of being in charge.
    Slowly, I felt the power start to build.
    “Go get ready,” Jack said. “Go get ready, Samantha. But I want you to remember this—tomorrow night it’s going to be you.”
    ###
    “Tomorrow night it’s going to be you.”
    Those words echoed in my head as I began to get dressed. I put on the vinyl bustier, the short vinyl skirt. I found a pair of black fishnet stockings in one of the drawers, and then looked at the bottom of the closet at my row of shoes. I’d brought all-black shoes with me: my favorite patent leather penny loafers, stacked high-heels, and knee-high boots with silver buckles. These were the ones I slid on before admiring myself in the mirror.
    The only thing missing?
    The crop.
    How did Alex know to stay away so long? How did Alex know to give me time