“Tell me a bit about yourself, Miss Winters.” His voice was soft and deep, and she felt herself wanting to tell him about herself. She wasn’t quite sure she liked that feeling.

  Chapter Three

  “I’m not sure what you’d like to know about me, Sir.”

  Dietrich shifted in his seat again at the way she said Sir. The images that lone word conjured up had him praying she didn’t see how hard his cock was. Every time she glanced out the window he quickly adjusted himself, not just for comfort but because his fucking cock was ready to burst through his slacks.

  “I’d like to know whatever you’re willing to share with me, Miss Winters.” If he was going to have her submitting to him and Stellan he wanted to know everything about her. And if she didn’t want to divulge information, well then he might have to whip it out of her. That thought had him nearly groaning from desire.

  “Well, I’m twenty-three. I was born and raised in Ohio, but moved to New York about three years ago. I studied liberal arts at NYU, but life got in the way, and I didn’t end up graduating. I had to make a few adjustments. I ended up getting work through the temp agency and have been doing it ever since.” Dietrich hadn’t missed the way she avoided eye contact and shifted when she brought up having to change paths regarding her studies. He didn’t want to press her if she was uncomfortable, but he wanted to know everything there was to know about Blythe Winters, especially if he planned on bringing her into a relationship with Stellan.

  “What area were you studying?” The sun was starting to set, and Walter turned on the cabin lights. He kept them low, but it was enough that it allowed Dietrich to see the subtle emotions that played across Blythe’s face. She crossed her legs, and his eyes followed the curve of her calf to her thigh. The skirt she wore crept almost indecently up her thigh, and he knew if she realized how much skin he could see she most likely would have been appalled. Before she realized where his gaze was he looked back at her face. She was staring out the window with an almost faraway expression on her face.

  “Ballet.” She looked at him and smiled sadly. “I used to be a ballerina.” She chuckled, but it was humorless. “Sounds kind of ridiculous when I say it out loud, like I’m a little girl with a dream of what I want to be when I grow up.” He didn’t know what to say, not when the pain was clear in her voice. She cleared her throat, and the smile she gave him was forced, but he didn’t delve deeper. If he wanted her trust, wanted her to relinquish herself to him, mind, body, and soul, he needed to tread carefully. It was clear this was a very sensitive subject for her.

  “Mr. Moore, can I get you anything?” Sandra appeared almost out of thin air and leaned in close to him. The scent of her cloying perfume was suffocating.

  “I’m fine. Thank you.” He gave a pointed look at the flight attendant and saw the expression on her face. It was one he had seen countless times. With the kind of wealth he had it was inevitable to attract attention of the sexual kind. Women flocked to him, despite his adamant arguments he was not interested. He may have accepted their company before he met Stellan, but since taking on his submissive lover there hadn’t been any other female or male who held his attention. That is, until he saw Blythe Winters in his office. He had known he wanted her before she even turned around and looked in his eyes. “Maybe Miss Winters would care for something? Another glass of champagne perhaps?” Blythe’s smile this time was genuine, and he felt something inside of him shift.

  “I’m fine. Thank you, Mr. Moore.”

  Dietrich didn’t know if he liked hearing “Sir” or “Mr. Moore” come from those pretty, red lips of hers. When he realized Sandra had yet to leave he waved her off and said, “Thank you, Sandra, but I think Miss Winters and I are content for the time being. If we need you I’ll be sure to call.”

  “Yes, Sir.” Sandra turned and disappeared toward the back of the cabin and behind the galley door. Hearing the flight attendant use the same title Blythe used didn’t have the same effect on him.

  “So, Miss Winters, I’d love to hear about your endeavors en pointe.” She looked down at her lap, and her dark blonde hair made a curtain around her face. He found he didn’t like her hiding what she felt from him. He leaned forward, knowing that he was overstepping the boundaries he set for himself, but unable to stop himself. He tilted her head up with his finger under her chin. Her light green eyes widened at his blatant close proximity. He brushed her hair away from one side and curled it around her tiny ear. He let his finger trail over the delicate shell, marveling that her flesh was soft and smelt of soap and something lightly floral.

  “Mr. Moore?” His name came from her as a whisper, and he found his gaze trained on his mouth. “What are you doing?” There was uneasiness in her voice, and that sound is what had him realizing what he was doing. He let go of her and leaned back in his seat. The temptation to touch her had been too strong, and he had crossed a line because of his selfish needs. He would have Blythe Winters, and so would Stellan, but all of that was in due time. Pushing her too fast would only end up in pushing her farther back. That was something he wasn’t about to risk.

  “I apologize, Miss Winters. That was completely inappropriate, but please don’t hide yourself from me.” He offered her a smile he hoped reassured her.

  “It’s fine. Everything is fine.” She pushed her hair off her shoulders, and he wondered if he rattled her that badly. “My mother put me in ballet when I was five after my father … left. I guess she thought it would keep my mind off things and help me stay busy. I took to it pretty fast and stayed with it all through high school. I knew I wanted to continue with it, and so I decided to venture away from home and start fresh in New York.” Her voice was a bit shaky, and he wondered what had happened in her life and if she would trust him with her past. She took a deep breath and continued. “I started going to school and training when I first came to New York. Everything was going great, but then I hurt myself on stage, and it ended before it even really started.” She grabbed the blanket that sat on the empty seat beside her. “Nothing violent happened, and I didn’t have an affair with my instructor.” She was teasing, and he knew it was her way of deflecting from the seriousness of the topic. “I was practicing a pas de deux. Ballet is strenuous on the body to begin with. You get aches in places you didn’t even know existed.” She started picking at the hem of the blanket. “Long story short, my partner didn’t hold me in the right position, which resulted in me falling and landing awkwardly on my ankle. Needless to say my career was over. I stopped pointe altogether, even withdrawing from school.” She unfolded the blanket and laid it over her lap. “Okay, enough with the depressing topic, Mr. Moore.” She smiled, and it was filled with so much sorrow Dietrich regretted even bringing it up.

  There were many things he wanted to say to her, things that would bring light to her eyes again and wash away the disappointment that poured from her. His reaction to her didn’t surprise him, not when he had felt just as strongly when he first met Stellan all those years ago. Dietrich relied on his gut and instincts to make multi-million dollar purchases. Those instincts never failed him, not with Stellan and certainly not with Blythe. He would teach her how to let go, to feel free and hand herself over to him with the trust he needed. Dietrich wouldn’t let her down. In fact, he would help her realize that she could be free if only she relinquished herself to him. She didn’t need to be burdened when he and Stellan could help her feel only pleasure, emotional and physical. He knew his lover as well as he knew himself, and if he had this strong of a reaction to Blythe then there was no question so would his sub.

  Instead of continuing on with a subject that clearly upset her, he simply said, “Rest up, Miss Winters.” She nodded and let herself close her eyes. Maybe she realized how easy it was to obey? She certainly did it so well. He could see plainly that she was burdened with her emotions, but he would soon show her there was no need to carry them alone.

  ****

  The plane landed a little after five a.m. local time, just as Walter said, and now they were headed toward Mr. Moore’s villa. The car that had been waiting for them was a sleek Mercedes. Blythe had only been to a few states, so flying across the ocean to another country was wondrous for her. Everything seemed so grand and wonderful, even with her jetlag weighing her down. She had woken up a few times during the night to see Mr. Moore typing away on his laptop, but he had been far too engrossed in what he was doing to notice her. He named off stunning buildings they passed on their drive to his home: Estátua de Dom Pedro IV, Santa Engrácia, and her favorite thus far, the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. She wondered if he purposefully took the scenic route because they were spread out pretty well and it seemed a bit out of the way, but she wasn’t complaining because it was a spectacular sight.

  The Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, a church, had sat beautifully alone, with its pointed tips and stunning architecture. Maybe she would have time to sightsee a bit, to walk within the castles and churches that had been around for hundreds of years? No, there probably wouldn’t be time for that, not with Mr. Moore’s chaotic schedule.

  The rest of the ride was made in relative silence, and Mr. Moore spoke on the phone. His Portuguese was flawless, and Blythe found it quite romantic. Whoever he spoke to obviously was someone he cared for if his calm voice and gentle chuckles were anything to go by. Maybe it was his lover, or possibly a fling he met up with whenever he visited the country? She didn’t let it consume her thoughts and went back to watching the ocean roll by her. It was glorious and serene, and she let herself get lost in the pinks and oranges that painted the horizon. The break of the waves tumbled onto the shore, and the foamy white deposit it left in its wake made for a hypnotizing view. The car pulled onto a cobblestoned circular driveway, and Blythe marveled at the villa before her. The images she had seen certainly didn’t do it justice. The car stopped, and her door opened only moments later. She climbed out of the car and knew she probably looked like a tourist as she gawked at the gorgeous structure before her. The villa was more like a mansion, set right on the water. The sandy colored stone that made up the three story beach home was a few shades darker than the sand only a few feet away. Their driver, a tall, thin man going by the name of Francesco, had thinning wavy black hair and dark brown eyes. He talked quickly to Dietrich in Portuguese. The language was beautiful and haunting, and she felt herself get caught up in the melodic quality of it.

  They followed Francesco up the wide front steps that led to the front door on the first level. Blythe let her hands travel over the wrought iron railing, the metal warmed from the sun. The first level housed a porch with dark brown patio furniture. The view was stunning even though the ocean was on the other side. Francesco pushed the all glass front door open, and she followed the two men inside. The chilled air from the air conditioner hit her, and she shivered. Her heels on the shined white granite beneath her feet sounded like a herd of elephants stampeding through. The two men started speaking quietly again, and Blythe took that time to walk around and get familiar with the home. To her left was a sitting room. The cream colored furniture and earthy tone décor complemented each other well, but it was the view that stole her breath. Every wall was made up of glass and made her feel as if she could reach out and touch the ocean. She walked farther into the sitting room and followed the small hallway to the right until she came across the dining room. Of course this room was gorgeous, too, but she ignored the expensive decorations and crystal chandelier and stopped in front of the glass French doors. She turned the brushed brass knobs, and the cool, ocean breeze hit her immediately when she pulled the doors open. A circular veranda was directly in front of her with an intimate al fresco sea view. To her left and right the walkway continued to what she assumed wrapped around the first level. Above her, another veranda wrapped around the third level. She stepped onto the stone outcropping and gripped the banister. Below her an infinity pool sat with a pool side gate that accessed the white sandy beach. She was in heaven, pure and simple.

  The waves crashed on the shore, and she let the sound take her away. Closing her eyes she tilted her head toward the sky and smiled as the sun warmed her face.

  “It’s quite a breathtaking view, isn’t it?” Dietrich’s deep voice startled her, and she spun around, gripping the banister behind her. He leaned against the door she had left open. He no longer wore his suit jacket, and he had gotten rid of the tie. His hands were in the front pockets of his slacks as he watched her.

  “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.”

  He smiled at her and walked out onto the veranda to stand beside her. Blythe turned around and went back to staring at the beach. He had said the villa was on a private beach, but she wondered how much he owned. For as far as she could see on both sides was nothing but sand and water. There were no people walking the shore, and only a few, large homes were sporadically placed along the cliff’s side in the distance.

  “I’ve made dinner reservations for nine. I know it’s a bit late, but with the time difference it will be an early dinner for you. I also am meeting a former business associate, and I’d like you to meet him since the majority of my business will be in his presence.”

  “Of course, Mr. Moore.” She felt his stare on her and turned to look up at him. It seemed strange to her that she had known this man for twenty-four hours, yet she felt strangely comfortable around him. True, at times his controlling personality set her on edge, but a part of her, the part she deemed sick and twisted, liked the orders that came from him. They gave her a thrill, yet made her feel calm and relaxed. It was a strange combination of emotions and ones she wasn’t comfortable dissecting.

  “I’ll show you to your room where you can get settled in.” He turned without further comment, and she followed him back inside. They took the stairs to the second floor, and he led her to a set of double doors to right. When he pushed the doors open she let a sigh slip from her lips at what she saw.

  “The walls are glass to ensure the guest gets an unobstructed view of the ocean. Your bathroom is over there.” He pointed to a door to his left. He walked up to a console on the wall and pushed a button. The glass suddenly darkened, and she realized it automatically tinted the windows. “This panel controls the lighting, heating and cooling, and of course the tinted windows. Be at ease knowing no others can see into your room once the tint is activated.”

  Blythe was speechless. She took everything in and let her smile spread across her face. Turning to her employer for the next four weeks, she hoped she didn’t seem like a foolish novice. He was wealthy and worldly, and here she was, a girl from Ohio who hadn’t been anywhere compared to him. “Thank you so much, Sir.”

  He stared at her for several silent moments, and she felt her smile fade. No doubt she was making a fool out of herself with her excitement. “I’m sorry. It’s just so…incredible.” Heat suffused her, and she turned away when he didn’t answer.

  He cleared his throat and said, “Well, I know it’s a lot to take in, but you’re doing well with everything given the fact you were thrust into this situation, Miss Winters.” She turned and looked at him with surprise. Why his praise meant so much to her she didn’t know, but hearing those words come from him had pleasure filling her. Before she could say anything else he nodded and left her alone.

  Once the door shut behind him she giggled out loud and let herself fall back on the big bed. She looked at the ceiling but couldn’t stand still for long. She should get a few hours of sleep, but her excitement was far too strong. First she had to look around her new room. Pushing herself up Blythe took everything in. A small neutral colored loveseat sat in front of the windows. The floor was the same white marble as the rest of the house she had seen thus far. Making her way to the bathroom she pushed the door the rest of the way open and turned the light on.

  Damn, but it’s a beautiful bathroom. She couldn’t help but smile at her thoughts.

  Unlike the light coloring of the rest of the house the bathroom was done up in black and white granite. The counter had crescent-shaped deep, double sinks. Although there were no windows in here the twin skylights above her let in ample light. On top of the tiled walk-in shower there was also a Jacuzzi tub. Walking back out to the room she glanced at the double doors that led out to the veranda, but was suddenly just too damn tired. She turned back and saw her bags by the end of the bed. She hadn’t seen them initially, but had to assume Francesco had brought them up and she’d skimmed over them in her excitement. She picked her first suitcase up and set it on the bed. She needed to get everything out and organized, but as she opened it and saw the layers upon layers of clothes, she just couldn’t find the energy to unpack.

  She didn’t know what to wear to dinner, so she grabbed a black dress with capped sleeves and a form fitted bodice. She picked a pair of red heels from her other suitcase and set them aside. Before she collapsed on the bed she grabbed her phone and snapped a few pictures to show Austin. No way would he believe the kind of set-up she was in. She stripped off her clothes, grabbed her phone, and slipped under the covers. The scent of unfamiliar surroundings filled her, but homesickness hadn’t hit her yet. She only had about an hour to sleep, but she would take it. She made a quick call to her mother and Austin to tell them she landed. She really didn’t know if she would have much time to call them while here, but assured them she would try every few days. After setting her alarm and closing her eyes, the image that came to mind was Dietrich Moore and how addictive he looked in his damn suits.

  Chapter Four

  Dietrich maneuvered the car through the narrow roads of Lisbon. When Blythe had come down in her simple, yet seductively stunning black dress his cock had instantly swelled. She left her dark blonde hair down in loose waves, and the image that continued to slam into his mind was having the thick locks wrapped around his hand. He wanted to pull her head back with her hair until her throat was bared in a beautiful arch of delicate splendor. Shit, he was getting hard again.