Work Text
“Mr. Crouse will see you now.”Robin Ballard stood, smiling at the young male administrative assistant as she walked through the office door. Jason Crouse was standing at the other end of the room, leaning against the wall and gazing out the enormous picture window introspectively.He was just as attractive as he’d looked in his profile photos. Tall and lean, well-muscled, brown hair streaked through with silver. His gray suit set off the silver streaks nicely. He wasn’t wearing a tie, and his white shirt had several buttons undone. Dark curls of chest hair peeked out of the folds of fabric alluringly.“Miss Ballard for you, sir,” his assistant announced.Jason pulled a pair of thick black-rimmed glasses out of his suit jacket pocket and slipped them on before glancing curiously in her direction. They made him even more attractive.As he walked closer, Robin could finally clearly see the beautiful hazel color of his eyes. She’d always found that photos rarely did eye color justice.He was surveying her openly now. She set her small blue handbag down on his desk and spun slowly so he could see all of her.She had worn a tight, bright yellow dress that showed off her body, and her hair was up in a high ponytail, since his profile had said he liked curves and long hair. He also preferred shorter women, so even though he was a foot taller than her, she had preserved the maximum difference between them by wearing blue ballet flats.He was smirking when she made her way back around. “Very nice,” he observed in a deep voice.“Thank you, Mr. Crouse,” she answered demurely, smiling at him wider and more genuinely than she had at his assistant. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”“Jason, please. It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Miss Ballard.”“Robin, please.”“Have a seat, Robin.”He held out his hand for her and she took it, his long fingers curling around hers. When their skin touched, a shiver ran through her and she stood up straighter.He shivered too, then bit his lip and grinned. “I’ll take that as a good sign.”He squeezed her hand before letting it go, sitting down across from her rather than behind his desk.“So will I, Jason,” she replied. “This may be a job, but I’ve found that compatibility makes the experience much more pleasant.”“I agree, Robin,” he started, leaning back in his chair and steepling his fingers as he stared at her. “So, let’s talk.”
****
Jason could hardly believe his luck. So far, Robin was far better than he’d expected. She was perfect, really, if he was being honest with himself. He’d never hired a submissive through an agency before, and he’d been skeptical.But she met every physical parameter he’d entered into his request. Long light brown hair. Big hazel eyes. Flawless pale skin. Short. And very, very curvy.And she was definitely experienced. She had been listed as an experienced submissive at her agency, but he hadn’t been quite sure what they’d meant by experienced. Seeing her in person made it much clearer.He could tell because of how she was dressed, for one. She was accentuating what he asked for without having to mention it.The neckline of her dress revealed just a bit of delectable cleavage. The rest of the tight fabric showed off the feminine curve of her belly, her shapely plump bottom, and her thick thighs.He was already finding himself immensely distracted by the thought of her bound to his bed, her silky hair wrapped around his fist, a pink blush in the shape of his hand prominently standing out against what he was guessing was the even paler skin on her ass.There were other things about her appearance that he liked that he hadn’t thought to ask for. She was wearing bright colors and no jewelry. Her lips were delicately smeared with a coat of lip gloss.Which made it impossible for him not to think about her mouth wrapped around his cock while it was hard and aching. There were few things he enjoyed more than getting head, and she was supposed to be exquisite at it.And, as he took a deep breath, he realized that she smelled amazing, too. It wasn’t a commercial perfume, either. He detected hints of amber, honey, and vanilla. It was simple, and he thought it suited her.But it was critical that her lovely smile and calm demeanor held up under scrutiny.“Let’s, Jason,” she agreed easily to his suggestion that they talk.“You’ve done this before,” he said.Her smile broadened. “So have you.”“How can you tell?” he wondered.“Your application was very detailed,” Robin explained. “You’re confident around me, not nervous. You started assessing me right away to see if I met your standards.”“You don’t miss much, Robin.”“I don’t, Jason. How can you tell that I’ve done this before, besides my profile from the agency?”“You’re showing me everything I asked for, but not ostentatiously. You’re modest.” He gestured to her skirt, which stopped just above her knees when she was standing. “You’re relaxed and ready to talk, not afraid to be yourself.” He paused. “I like it. I like you. Already.”The blush he’d been fantasizing about spread across her cheeks. It was the wrong set, but still just as fetching as he’d imagined it would be.“I like you already too, Jason,” she admitted shyly.“I don’t think you’re used to that,” he inferred from her tone.She shook her head. “I mostly work with clients who are curious about what it feels like to be a Dominant. They don’t often come back once they realize how much practice and energy it takes. I’ve had quite a few short-term arrangements that lasted a few weeks. Only one that I would call long-term, sadly. Nothing like what you’re seeking, though obviously I’m open to something more permanent.”“You enjoy being a submissive. It’s not just a job for you,” he guessed, remembering her comment earlier.“I do enjoy being a submissive, Jason,” she confirmed. “And I’d like to find a Dominant who fits my needs.”He nodded. “Tell me how the company works, from your perspective. Cary Agos, the owner, told me about it, of course, but I imagine it’s a bit different to upper management.”Robin laughed. “Yes, although Cary is remarkably tapped into everything,” she assured him. “Essentially, it’s a matchmaking service. While it caters to special desires, the principle is still the same. The profiles are the first step. They whittle down the choices and detail the most optimal matches. Then Cary and other consultants step in to go through the remaining material by hand. Then a meeting like this, or perhaps something more informal, depending on what the client wants, goes further to defining whether there’s chemistry or not. What the clients actually do is up to them. Technically, and legally, of course, as I’m sure you know, considering your profession, we aren’t selling sex. We’re selling the connection. What happens after that is up to those involved in whatever relationship they want to form.”“Can you tell me about your last arrangement?” he asked. “I know most of them come with NDAs.”“They do. Cary viciously protects the privacy of our clients. I can reveal certain details, though.” She glanced at the painting that was hanging over his desk. “That piece is actually the result of my last arrangement.”The painting was one he was inexplicably drawn to at an art show he’d attended several weeks ago. It was abstract, a collection of black, dark blue, white, and yellow lines, but it was clearly meant to evoke the shape of a curvy woman.“The artist hired me for several weeks to be his muse,” she continued. “It was a little different from what I usually do, but I’m always glad to have an interesting experience. I’m afraid I can’t say more.”“I understand, Robin.” Suddenly, though, he was even more glad that he’d bought the painting. “I hope you don’t find this offensive,” he added slowly. “I just hadn’t expected to find such an educated woman available through your agency. I go to a lot of events, and I enjoy bringing someone with me who can hold a decent conversation with a variety of people.”“So you said, Jason. It’s one of the reasons we were almost a 100% match. I was an English major, and it was actually reading that led me to be curious about this type of lifestyle. Cary came recruiting at my campus, hoping to acquire some fresh talent. I was interested, and a little disillusioned with my academic work, so I took the opportunity.”“That makes you appealing to me,” he admitted.“Thank you, Jason.”“You’re older than a lot of women seeking to be submissives. I hadn’t expected to find anyone in their 30s either.”“I was in graduate school when Cary recruited me. PhD work. I’m sure you saw the degrees listed on my profile.”“I did. I like your intelligence and your age, Robin.” He leaned forward, his hands on his knees. “And as much as I’d like to begin moving this conversation towards what I want to do with you, I have a client coming in ten minutes.”“Of course, Jason. Would you like to continue our conversation some other time?”“Very much so, as long as you feel the same way. I’m not interested in anything that’s not mutual.”She stood, retrieving her purse from his desk and pulling out a business card to hand to him. “I do feel the same way, Jason. This is me. Feel free to contact me when you’re ready.”“Are you free this evening?”He already knew he was interested in an arrangement with her, so now he wanted to get it started.“I am, Jason.”“I’ll pick you up at seven,” he instructed. “We’ll go shopping for some things I’d like to get for us. Dress casually.”“Yes, sir,” she teased.He swallowed roughly as he stepped behind his desk, opening a drawer to retrieve his tie. Her words had made him hard, and he had to get that under control fast.But when he turned, she was right beside him. She reached out and buttoned his shirt deftly, taking the tie from him when she was finished.“May I, Jason?”He nodded, worrying his lower lip as she flipped his collar up and looped the tie around his neck, pulling the knot she made until it was tight and perfectly centered.“Sharp-dressed man,” she whispered, winking at him. Then she glanced down, flushing when she saw the outline of his erection against the thin material of his dress pants. “Is that going to take notes for you during your meeting, Jason?” she asked primly.He chuckled, though the sound was really closer to a growl. He knew that he could ask her to take care of him right here and now. After meeting her, he was sure that she could do it in the short amount of time they had. And his instincts told him that she would not refuse. She wanted him just as much as he wanted her. She would obey him without hesitation, and that was incredibly intoxicating.But he didn’t want the first time to be rushed. He wanted to be able to savor it when he learned her body, and when she learned his.“I’ll be ready at seven, Jason,” she promised.He slipped her card into his jacket pocket, then leaned down and grabbed her elbow, pressing his nose into her hair and taking a deep breath. “You smell divine, Robin,” he panted.His grip on her elbow tightened. “I want to deserve to possess you,” he confessed. “I would greatly enjoy taking care of you. I want you to need me. To trust me.”She looked up at him through her long, thick eyelashes. “I’d like that, Jason,” she assured him.“Good.”He walked her to the door and reluctantly set her free. He grabbed her hand and raised it to his lips, kissing her knuckles lightly and making her blush again.“Robin.”“Jason.”It was obvious that they were both thrown by the amount of chemistry between them, but neither of them mentioned it. She turned and walked down the hallway, moving slowly and a little shakily.He lingered in his doorway and watched until she was gone, then turned to use his last few minutes to clear his head before his meeting.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Robin took the L home, gazing thoughtfully out the window as the city flew by. After spending just a few minutes with Jason Crouse, she was already certain that he was the best Dominant she had ever met. She was very excited to see him again that night.Even after she got back to her apartment, though, she still had several hours before she had to get ready. So she made a cup of coffee, grabbed her Kindle, and curled up in her favorite window seat to read for a while and give her brain a chance to relax before her work date.She started getting ready early. She imagined that Jason was very punctual, just like her, and she didn’t want to disappoint him by making him wait. He’d told her to dress casually, so she opted for her normal outfit of leggings, a t-shirt, and a light cardigan. She’d taken her hair down from its high ponytail to read, and now she put in a loose braid that she draped over her shoulder.As she’d expected, Jason was right on time. Robin opened the door as soon as he’d knocked. He was looking very handsome in a gray sweater and dark slacks. His hair was a little messier than it had been that afternoon, and he was wearing his glasses again.“You’re right on time, Jason,” she observed. “I appreciate that.”“I appreciate you being ready on time, Robin. Thank you.” He held out his arm for her and she wrapped her hand around his elbow. “Let’s go.”He opened the passenger door for her, making sure she was comfortable before shutting her door and moving around to the driver’s side. She didn’t ask where they were going, and after a moment, he glanced over at her, the corner of his mouth quirking up in a smile.“Good girl, Robin,” he murmured, sending a frisson of pleasure down her spine.That was one of her favorite things to be called, and it hadn’t been listed on her profile. He had figured that out himself.She smiled back at him. “Thank you, sir.”Her voice trembled slightly, giving her away. Though she’d gotten much better at controlling her facial expressions and voice since taking this job, she’d never entirely mastered it. It was hard for her to keep her emotions to herself, and she was sure Jason could read the happiness in her features and tone.Sure enough, his smile broadened and he shifted slightly in his seat. Her eyes flicked down into his lap, gratified to find that, just like earlier, he was hard enough for it to be obvious through his pants.After a few minutes, she figured out where they were going, but she kept it to herself. He seemed like the type to test her, and she intended to pass with flying colors.
****
He took a deep breath as he stepped out of the car and went around to open her door for her. She hadn’t reacted much to their destination, which made him think she’d been here before. Honestly, he would have been surprised if she hadn’t. Foreplay Chicago was one of the best sex shops in town.She took his arm again as she stepped out of the car. Her colors were much more understated this evening, he noticed. Black leggings, dark yellow t-shirt, burgundy cardigan. She pulled it off just as well as the bright dress and accessories earlier, though.He opened the door to the store and led her inside. He wanted to show her that he’d thoroughly read her profile, see if she had read his just as closely, and watch her reactions to the items he picked out on the fly.“I know it’s not required by your agency, Robin, but I’d like to have a more specific arrangement moving forward. I thought this would be a good place to start working that out.”“I agree, Jason.”She smiled up at him and he reached out, pushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She blushed and her skin prickled, and he smiled.“I like how sensitive you are, Robin,” he told her. Her blush deepened as he moved her towards the first display that had caught his interest. “Most of my play is toy-free,” he admitted, noting that she nodded, indicating that she already knew that. “I prefer to use my hands and other body parts whenever possible. But there are a few basic tools I like to have available, and I also like to buy fresh supplies when I meet a new partner.”He looked through the glass dildos on the display, finally picking one with purple and yellow swirls. He turned it over carefully, making sure it was in good condition as he asked, “Do you have a dildo, Robin?”She shook her head. “I don’t, Jason. Why glass?” she wondered.“Glass dildos warm and cool easily,” he explained. “They’re fantastic for temperature play.”He glanced at her to gauge her level of interest. “That sounds intriguing.”She reached out and touched the glass dildo, circling her thumb slowly around its head. Jason bit the inside of his cheek as his slacks got even tighter. She knew exactly what she was doing.He grabbed a basket and set the dildo carefully inside. As they walked past several shelves, Robin reached for something and then handed him a plastic package. “I have one of these,” she revealed, winking at him.He read the text. “Screaming Demon Mini Vibe.”He raised his eyebrows at her playfully and she giggled. “The horns stimulate your erogenous zones, and it’s waterproof.”“I’ll have to experiment with it,” Jason decided, putting it in the basket. “Do you use yours often?”“Only when I’m not serving a client,” she revealed.“Mmm.” He stored that tidbit of information away for another time. “Another thing I like about you to add to the list, Robin.”She smiled. “I prefer all my pleasure to come from my Dominant when I have one, Jason.”He groaned softly. “So far, Robin, you are a dream come true, but you are not making this easy on me.”She giggled again. “I can tell, Jason.”She would have been blind if she couldn’t. He didn’t like to brag, but he was a very well-endowed man, and it was obvious even before he started getting hard.“And yet you have no remorse,” he teased, walking her to another display.Anal had been listed as a hard limit on her profile. That didn’t bother him. He didn’t have much use for all of the work it took to prep for that when there were plenty of easier things he could do instead.But he didn’t mind a little of that element in his play. This display had plugs in a variety of sizes. He watched Robin carefully, noticing that her eyes were drawn to the ones with colorful jewels for handles.“I’m fine with anal being off the table, Robin,” Jason assured her. “But any thoughts about these?”“I’m willing to experiment with them, as long as I have the right partner.”She glanced up at him, giving him another brilliant smile. He smiled back and selected three stainless steel plugs in the smallest size, each tipped with a jewel of a different color. He chose fire colors. Orange and yellow, two of her favorites, and red, one of his.“So far, you’re a very thorough reader, Jason.”“I do my best, Robin.”They stopped in front of whips and crops next. She licked her lower lip as she studied the wall they hung on. Spanking was listed as a favorite on her profile, but there weren’t any other details included, so Jason had no idea what she liked to be spanked with.He picked up a whip made of mostly feathers. “What about this?”She wrinkled her nose distastefully. “If you’re going to spank me, Jason, I want to feel it.”He laughed. “What do you prefer, Robin?”“A good old-fashioned hand,” she admitted. “Or a paddle.”He nodded, selecting one that looked like a ping-pong paddle, except that it was covered in smooth black leather. It also had an overlay of black lace and black satin ribbons hanging from the handle.He went right past the more hardcore whips and canes. They were not to his taste, and they’d been hard limits on her profile as well.Then they came to one of his favorite sections. Restraints. It was one of the reasons why Robin had ended up at the top of his list, he knew. She was a rope bunny. She didn’t want to just be cuffed or bound a little bit. She wanted to be seriously tied up.He selected his preferred style of bondage rope, measuring it out until he had enough for a few of the techniques he wanted to try on her first. She watched him eagerly, squeezing his arm.“You know Kinbaku,” she murmured.“I’m impressed, Robin. You referred to it by its true name. Shibari is how it was listed on your profile.”She shrugged. “Cary insists on that because it’s a term that he claims is more easily understandable for most of our clients. I prefer to be well-informed.”He smirked, picking a set of four soft, flexible, adjustable restraints in a zebra print. Robin’s profile said it was one of her favorite patterns.“Those restraints are my favorites,” she pointed out casually.He was immensely pleased with himself. He glanced at her as they continued to walk. “Do you like the marks the rope leaves on your skin, Robin?”“Very much, Jason.”“I like to take photos before, during, and after I do Kinbaku,” he revealed. “For private use, only, of course.”“Can I get copies?”“As many as you’d like.”“Then I am more than okay with that, Jason.”“Good girl, Robin,” he praised her, stroking the underside of her chin with his fingers.She blushed fetchingly as they walked past the collars and leashes. He didn’t even slow down a little. Pet play was not his thing, and it was another hard limit for her.He also bypassed the gags. He enjoyed hearing the noises his partners made while he pleased them, particularly if they were begging.He did have a question for her about those, though. “Why are gags a hard limit for you, Robin, out of curiosity?”“I like to be heard,” she answered easily. “I’m loud.”“I like that.”He stopped by the lubes and massage oils, making sure to grab his favorite brands, all edible, in her favorite flavors and scents. Grapefruit, peppermint, pink lemonade, strawberry. He also grabbed a basil massage oil that he very much enjoyed and hoped she would like.Normally, he probably wouldn’t have bought so much at the beginning of a new arrangement, but he had such a good feeling about Robin that he couldn’t help himself.The sexual tension between them was palpable. He was still mostly hard in his pants, and he could tell from her breathing and her posture that her belly was tight with desire.As he walked over to the lingerie, he attempted to defuse some of that tension. He didn’t plan on anything happening between them tonight, as much as he wanted it to. But he wanted them to know each other better before they dove into the deep end. He’d made that mistake with submissives before, and he didn’t want to make any mistakes with Robin. She was too special.“What were you doing before I arrived this evening, Robin?” he asked.“I was reading,” she replied.That had been listed as one of her hobbies on her profile. “What were you reading?”“Jane Austen. I’ve read all of her books multiple times. I was reading Persuasion this time. It’s my favorite.”He nodded, making a mental note to get her some nice books as a gift. He didn’t have any family or close friends, so he greatly enjoyed giving his submissives everything they wanted and needed, and he had the money to spare.“You also listed cooking and home design as hobbies, Robin. Tell me about those.”“I taught myself to cook a few years ago. I love watching cooking shows and reading cookbooks and then trying to make new things. Though I’m not opposed to ordering pizza if I mess it up.”He chuckled. “I’m sure you noticed that I like to cook too. I’d enjoy cooking for each other, and together.”“I’d like that, Jason,” she assured him. “As for home design, that’s more of watching the shows and enjoying shopping kind of thing at the moment.”She laughed and he smiled. “Sounds fun,” he offered. “I’m sure I have no style at all. Maybe you can help me. But, for now,” he gestured at the wall, “how do you feel about lingerie and heels?”The wall held many items he’d love to see her in, but he wanted to know her preferences.“I don’t wear heels in public,” she said firmly. “I don’t like wearing them in private either, but I can be convinced. I do like having pretty matching bras and underwear, if I can find them. Sometimes it’s hard in my size.”“I won’t ever ask you to wear heels, Robin,” Jason promised.Most shorter submissives he’d had liked wearing heels because it made them taller. He liked that she was the exception. As he glanced over the wall, he thought about having items custom-made for her. She was right about her measurements potentially making things difficult.“I don’t mind lingerie when we’re playing,” she continued. She tugged on a thong hanging from the display. “I don’t like having my private parts flossed, though.” She nudged him playfully and he chuckled again. “If I’m sleeping in it, or just wearing it around the house, I want it to feel nice. Silk, satin, or soft cotton.”“I like that you have solid answers for all of my questions, Robin. Nothing makes me more frustrated than when a submissive tells me that whatever I want is fine. That’s not what this kind of dynamic is about for me. I derive pleasure from knowing that my submissive is happy and has what she wants and needs.”She beamed up at him. “I don’t find any fault in that at all, Jason.”“I hope not, Robin.” He paused. “Do you like to dress up? You wore a dress earlier today.”“I don’t mind dressing up if the situation calls for it. But what I’m wearing right now is more my style.”“Are you opposed to skirts?” he prodded. “I do love easy access.”She giggled. “I like skirts, Jason, and I don’t mind wearing them for you.”“Thank you.” He glanced around one more time. “Is there anything else you’d like?”“I think what you’ve picked is a fantastic start, Jason.”He nodded. “Let’s check out, then.”He steered them toward the counter and set down his basket so the clerk could ring up their purchases. It wasn’t a man he recognized, and he was surprised when he turned to Robin and started flirting after he’d given Jason a stiff, reluctant greeting.“Hey there, beautiful. Back to the grind already? You know, if you want a good man, I’m right here, and I get a discount.”His attitude immediately got under Jason’s skin. Even if the man knew that Robin did this for a living, he should have still respected that she was standing here with another partner.He felt incredibly territorial. His brow was furrowed, and his gaze was dark and angry. But he found those feelings quickly receding as Robin squeezed his arm and leaned her head against his shoulder.“It’s not a grind when you find the right person, Blake,” she explained matter-of-factly.Jason felt a burst of pride. She thought he was the right person. Someone else might have thought she was lying for the clerk’s benefit, but he could tell that she wasn’t.The clerk’s face fell as he finished their transaction, and he didn’t bother telling them to have a good night.Once they were back at the car, Robin faced him, taking his hands and quickly apologizing. “I’m sorry, Jason. I’m a regular here, and Blake flirts with me every time I come in. I’ve never given him cause to think I’m interested, but he always tries. But he shouldn’t have done that while I was with you. I didn’t know he was in tonight until we were at the counter, so I didn’t have a chance to warn you. But I want you to know that when I’m with someone, I’m not with anyone else, regardless of if it’s personal or for work. I don’t muddy the waters. Okay?”He glanced at her and softly asked, “What about Cary? I heard rumors that he sleeps with some of his employees.”Robin nodded. “He does. He asked me, and I said no. I don’t think it’s a good idea to sleep with someone I work with. Which may sound strange, considering my job, but Cary’s my boss, and it always leads to gossip that his lovers are getting preferential treatment. I don’t want to play that game. No matter what I do, I want to be known as good at it because I’m good at it, not because I slept my way to the top.”Jason slowly nodded and put his hand on her cheek. “Thank you, Robin. I appreciate all of that. I’m the same way. I don’t have more than one arrangement at a time.”“Good, Jason.”He opened her door for her and drove her back home. They were silent most of the way. Mentally, he was preparing himself to leave her, which he knew was going to be difficult, as much as he thought it was a good idea.He parked and walked her to her door. “Can I take you to breakfast tomorrow, Robin? At seven?”“Yes, Jason. That would be lovely.”He stared into her eyes, and she stared back as he lifted her knuckles to his lips and kissed them just like he had earlier. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then,” he promised huskily.“Tomorrow, Jason.”He let her fingers slip from his, turning as he got to the step. “You’ll be on my mind all night, Robin.”She smiled. “You’ll be on mine too, Jason.”He waited until she was safely inside and had locked the door before heading back to his car for a long, lonely drive home.