Free A Scandalous Arrangement by Ashe Barker Page A

Mine.”
    “I take only occasional weekends off. And I seldom finish work before late in the evening.” It did not escape Victoria’s notice that she had not yet advised him to go to hell.
    “You will cease those practises immediately. You are no use to me or to the mill exhausted. I will appoint another assistant to take on some of the load, and we can promote Mr. Timmins. I am convinced he will make a fine under-manager.”
    “That is ridiculous, a preposterous suggestion.”
    “You disagree? Mr. Timmins strikes me as most able.”
    “Not that. You, me, and…”
    “You and me, and the sex?”
    “Yes. That.”
    “There I must disagree with you. But before we move on to discuss the finer details, I should explain exactly what I have in mind, what I will require from you.”
    “I may be unmarried, sir, but I am not exactly ignorant in such matters. I know full well what it is that you are suggesting.”
    “Excellent, but permit me to elucidate anyway. I will wish to tie you to my bed, blindfold you, gag you. Spank you. Whip you, and fuck you until you forget your own name. This list is not exhaustive but should be sufficient to convey the general flavour of my intentions. I am looking for a mistress who is also a sexual submissive, one who will be dominated by me. Are these the matters you are not ignorant of, Victoria?”
    “I… I…” Victoria gaped at him, uncertain whether she had heard him correctly. “Mr. Luke, you cannot… I mean, no one would… Would they?”
    “Oh, yes, Miss Wynne. They would. I would, and so will you. If you agree to my proposition.”
    “No. Oh, no, certainly not.” Victoria shook her head, leaning away from him. Her actions were not lost on Adam Luke.
    “You appear frightened, and I confess I have stated my requirements somewhat plainly. I felt it best to put matters out in the open. Please be assured though, I will not harm you. Your safety and wellbeing will be my utmost concerns. Should you agree to my terms as my submissive, I will expect obedience and respect from you, and as your dominant I will punish any failure to deliver those. Such punishment will usually be physical. However, a dominant’s responsibilities do not end there. I will also ensure that you are safe, cared for, and I will give you pleasure beyond your imagining.”
    “Pleasure? You imagine I will derive pleasure from being beaten. You are deluded, Mr. Luke. Quite deranged.”
    “I am neither, Victoria. May I venture to suggest that your experience of these matters is perhaps more limited than you had previously believed?”
    Victoria lifted her chin and glared at him down her nose, an expression well-honed over the years spent running Wynne’s and that never failed to intimidate millworkers and owners alike. “No, sir, you may not. You may not venture to suggest anything at all to me. This is madness. What about if I should become pregnant? Have you thought of that?”
    “I have. I will take every precaution to prevent that eventuality, but as you rightly point out, it is a possibility. Please be assured, if there should be a child I will make the necessary provision.”
    “I don’t want providing for. I can stand on my own feet, I have for years. I want you to leave. Now.”
    Adam showed no sign of compliance with her demand. Instead, he helped himself to another cup of tea and settled back again. “Please do not forget, Victoria, this is my mill. You do not get to order me out.”
    “You cannot force me to, to…”
    “And I will not. I would never force you to do anything against your will. Quite the reverse, in fact. I will require your willing submission. I merely ask that you consider my counterproposal, and the benefits it offers. I had not intended this, but I am even prepared to grant you a brief trial period, in order that you can become convinced of the truth of my assurances. Allow me to demonstrate how much pleasure I can give you if you submit to me, and that you will emerge from