Stephen reached for her hand. "You don't have any family in the area. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you."

"Why?" she asked. The moment she said the word she wished she could take it back. She didn't want to know if it was some gentlemanly obligation.

"I have no idea. I know I want you to be safe."

With his last words hanging between them, he let go and began chopping the salad. She put the card into her jeans pocket. Minutes later they were sitting eating their meal, but something was different.

Ursula didn't linger afterwards. She finished her ch.o.r.es and left before he had the chance to do anything else. Usually she stayed until he got back from wherever he went. This time, she walked the short distance home. Paul was in his chair again with another p.o.r.no on the television. She didn't even attempt to make conversation.

She went straight through to her bathroom, took a long bath, then dressed once she was finished. Sitting on her bed, she took the card out of her pocket. For some reason she didn't think this was a wrongly printed business card. Ursula grabbed her out-of-date laptop and settled on the bed.

Staring at the card she typed in Possession, Stephen Knox, and a question mark. Her internet connection was bad, so it took a few minutes to load up. The sound of moaning from the other room made her roll her eyes. She couldn't believe how much of that jerk she'd put up with.

The search came back with nothing. Frowning, she typed in her boss's name, and lots of information popped up. Feeling annoyed at her interest, she shut down her laptop before putting the card away. She knew unless it was an emergency she'd never use it. Ursula kept it just in case the time came she would need to. Paul was an a.s.shole, but he was stronger than she. She would be useless against him if he started on her.

She closed her eyes thinking about Stephen's c.o.c.k pressed against her stomach and the feel of him kissing her neck.

Stephen could have cursed himself for giving her a card with the name of the club on it. He was so f.u.c.king stupid at times. Watching her leave had been hard. He couldn't stay in the house knowing what it felt like to have her so close to him, and yet she wasn't his. Grabbing his keys he went to his car.

Drinking would be out of the equation with him taking his car. He drove the distance to where his club was. Stephen typed in the twelve digit number, and the gates opened immediately for him. Parking the car he got out and went around the back. He didn't need to enter through the front. Lucas was waiting for him when he walked into his office.

"Have you got some kind of monitor on me to know when I'm on the move?" he asked, taking his seat behind the desk.

"When your number comes through from the gate I get notified. It's extra security I installed for added protection."

"A little much, don't you think?" Stephen sat down looking at the several piles of files on his desk. "What's all this?"

"Member requests, pet.i.tions, and complaints. Also, I got a call from a Mr. Black who asked to speak with you," Lucas said.

Stephen looked up, surprised by the name. "Did he give a first name?"

"Yes." Lucas looked down at his notes. Impatient, Stephen began tapping his desk. "Lloyd Black. Does the name ring a bell?"

"f.u.c.king b.a.s.t.a.r.d." Stephen slammed back his chair and started to pace. He had hoped to never hear that name again. "I think you need to bring Tate, Kevin, and Cadeon in here."

"Sean won't accept being left behind."

"Then bring him in. Did you speak to that f.u.c.ker?"

Lucas nodded. Stephen looked down at his desk and saw the note for Lloyd Black with a phone number underneath. He wished he could have stayed at home, convincing Ursula to stay with him. Running his fingers through his hair he continued his pacing. He needed to clear his head.

Lucas came back after several minutes followed by Tate, Kevin, Cadeon, and Sean. He glared at Sean for the problems the b.a.s.t.a.r.d was causing. Possessive men were really starting to p.i.s.s him off. Shutting down the club seemed like the best solution.

They took their seats without saying a word. "I don't know why, but Lloyd Black seems to have called me earlier. I wasn't here, but Lucas took the message."

All the men, barring Lucas, froze at the mention of the name. Lloyd Black had created so much anger. Stephen had forgotten how much he despised the man.

"What do you think he could want?" Sean asked.

"I don't know, and I don't care. I want to make sure that Rebecca has all the security she needs. If he's making calls then I know something is happening," Stephen said.

"I'll arrange everything," Cadeon said.

"Won't your woman have an issue with your involvement?" Stephen asked.

"Since Tate and Kevin are not making much headway, she only responds to me. I took Violet with me, and Rebecca liked her. The two women talked for a long time. In fact, that's where Violet is now."

Tate and Kevin glared at Cadeon.

"Okay, for those of us who have no real idea who this woman is, or the guy, what's going on?" Lucas asked.

"Finally something you don't know." Sean sneered at the man. There was so much testosterone in the room, Stephen wanted to cause damage. These men truly believed in their possessive instincts. Instead of disputing their belief he chose to ignore his own problems.

"Lloyd Black was a member of the club several years ago. He's our age and comes from money, wealth. He married a young eighteen-year-old woman, Rebecca. She was sweet and charming. What we didn't know is that behind closed doors Black was a s.a.d.i.s.tic f.u.c.k who used her to get what he wanted." Stephen stopped explaining and allowed Cadeon to take over.

"They were together for five years, but he did enough damage. We do not abuse women. This is not what the club is about. We're possessive, and the club is designed for us to be with like-minded men who feel the same urges when it comes to their women." At the last part Stephen felt uncomfortable. He never knew any of the urges he heard men talk about. Cadeon was still talking.

"Behind closed doors, Black was beating his wife, and any man who talked to her he was taking it out on her. She became his slave without thought. The punishments he dished out, she took. There was nothing to her. She didn't talk to anyone unless he forced her to. It was too late when we all noticed the changes. One night they came to the club. Someone spoke to her, and Lloyd went ballistic. He locked them in a room and started hitting her, kicking her. We saw it all on the monitor before any of us had time to react. Anyway, since then she's been trying to regain her life one bit at a time. We don't know everything that happened to her, but Lloyd ended up in jail serving time. He's not allowed any contact with her."

Cadeon finished his explanation. Stephen was sick to his stomach remembering the events. He got angry, but he'd never take it out on a woman.

"How we managed to keep this club out of the media still surprises me," Stephen said. "At the time, Black had tried to blame his whole personality on the club. He tried to make his defence based on multiple brain-washing in turn making him believe that beating a woman was the right thing to do."

Lucas cursed, and so, too, did all the other men.

"I'll contact James and let him know what's going on. Black is still a powerful man. If I know him like I think I do then he's already on the steps to getting out of jail."

"Wouldn't his money have gone to Rebecca because of the divorce and his being in prison? She'd have to help him," Lucas said.

"No. The money remains with Lloyd. Rebecca got nothing in the divorce settlement. I would guess that his oldest son from his previous marriage would be handling all of the business until Lloyd got out. But Rebecca didn't get a penny of his money. The moment he was arrested she had nothing to her name. Everything she has now is what all the members of the club have banded together to support her. We look after our own," Stephen said. "The son needs looking into. I've denied his request to join. The rumour about him is that he's as sick as his father only worse. He likes to cause pain. Lots of it. I'm talking seriously kinky, verging on being kicked out of the kinkiest club."

"I'll handle the son," Sean said.

"Are you ready for that?" Lucas asked.

"Yes. You've given up, and I need to fill my time."

Stephen watched the two men, curious about the tension between them. "Right, until we know anything further, pet.i.tions and applications will stop. I'm not dealing with this s.h.i.t without this behind us." He tossed the files into the trash can.

"You'll need to talk with the rest of the men," Cadeon said.

After the meeting in his office Stephen gave a brief talk before leaving for the night. He wasn't interested in being at a club where he felt like he didn't belong. At home he sat down in his sitting room staring at the television. He hadn't turned the unit on. The thought of sitting down and watching something left him depressed. Looking at the whiskey decanter he considered losing himself to the alcohol haze that would allow him to sleep without dreaming.

He thought about Ursula. Stephen wanted to be able to go to her at a moment's notice and knew if he drank that would be impossible. Turning away from the drink, he took a cold shower before climbing into bed.

Thinking about Ursula sent a stirring deep inside him. Right now she was probably lying with her boyfriend. His hands fisted in the blanket as he thought of that a.s.shole touching her. Would she moan her pleasure like she did for him?

Stephen went to sleep, his anger sizzling beneath the surface at the image of Ursula with another man. No woman had ever made him angry. What was it about her that made him react in such a way?

Chapter Four.

Two weeks pa.s.sed without any problems. Winter was taking hold, and Ursula hated walking home in the cold. She didn't want to ask for a ride. Stephen was always busy. Their conversation had been reserved to talking about world events, meaning the financial crisis and how she was getting on at school.

The teasing had stopped to be replaced by seriousness. He never asked about Paul, and for that she was grateful. Paul hadn't touched her since the wrist incident. She knew something would happen soon. Every time he came to bed and tried it on, she rebuffed him complaining of a headache.

After college, she walked to Stephen's house to find several cars in the driveway. She opened the door, putting her coat and bag away in the places he'd told her. Placing her key in the pot next to his, she walked down the hall. The sound of voices coming from his office made her stop. She stood in the doorway. Five men and Stephen were seated, talking. He looked up and smiled. She couldn't help it. She smiled back at him.

"If I knew you didn't have anything to do but chat I'd have demanded a lift as well," she said.

"I already pay you well."

"You get your money's worth out of me, and we both know it. Am I cooking for more than two?" she asked, turning her attention to the other men.

"Who are you?" the one with dark hair and a curious frown asked her.

"The cleaner and cook." She felt all of their eyes on her. "Do you guys want a drink?" Ursula turned her gaze back to Stephen. "You're being incredibly rude, or does your staff not get an introduction?" She folded her arms under her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

"Ursula Mills, I'd like you to meet Cadeon, Sean, Tate, Kevin, and Lucas. Guys, I'd like you to meet my soon-to-be-fired cleaner-slash-cook, Ursula."

She shook their hands before giving him a scowl. "You can't fire me."

"Why not?" he asked.

"You like me too much. You'd be lost without me, and you know it." She turned away moving to the kitchen. The men said something, and Stephen's unmistakable scolding voice sounding. She rubbed her arms suddenly feeling the chill.

She made a drink keeping her head bowed, trying to keep the tears locked inside her. Stephen's arms came round on either side of the counter locking her in place. "Why are you crying?" he asked. Touching her cheeks she felt the wetness of her tears.

"I don't know." He took hold of her arm, turning her to face him. His knuckles grazed her cheek, wiping away her tears.

"I don't like seeing these," he said.

"Why didn't you want to introduce me to your friends?" she asked. It was stupid. She was his employee. Their relationship meant nothing out of the bounds of him being her boss.

He cupped her cheek, tilting her head back to stare into her eyes. She felt the pull of his gaze, the tightness in her body alerting her to his closeness. He wasn't close enough. The obsession she was beginning to feel about him was scaring her. There was no way Stephen could ever be hers.

"They're part of a whole other world. When we're here, you're no one else's." The words confused her.

"Whose am I?" she asked.

"Mine."

Someone let out a cough making them break apart. She quickly made the drink, taking it into the other room. The men stared at her as she placed the drinks down in front of them. "There is sugar if you want it."

"What if we want coffee?" one of them asked.

"You didn't ask, and you get what you're given." She left them alone, doing her ch.o.r.es. For dinner she made them all a sandwich. When Stephen asked her where hers was, she mentioned getting back to her boyfriend. He glared at her, but she left without looking back. It was early, and she decided to take a walk in the park. Her thoughts were all jumbled up. Someone b.u.mped into her causing her to fall on her a.s.s.

"I-I-I'm sorry," the girl said, helping her to her feet.

"Don't worry." Ursula stood brushing herself down then looked at the girl in front of her. She gasped. The woman looked like death. Her hands were shaking, and her hair looked ready to fall out. "Are you all right?"

"Fine." The woman walked away. Ursula didn't know whether to follow her or not. When the woman disappeared into the darkness, Ursula carried on moving towards her home. Paul wasn't an incentive to get home quickly. She took as long as she could before her fingers were too cold to stand being outside in the cold.

She entered their apartment. The stench of alcohol and cheap pizza a.s.sailed her. She was beginning to find everything a.s.sociated with Paul repulsive.

"Have you been f.u.c.king your lover?" Paul sneered. Ursula turned to see the card Stephen had given her in his hands.

"What are you talking about?" she asked. Dropping her bag on the chair, she removed her coat then faced him again.

"You're out of the house. You don't want me to f.u.c.k you anymore. What's going on? I'm not good enough for your ugly face?" he growled.

She rolled her eyes, feeling more angry than scared. "Leave me alone. You've been drinking again instead of getting off your own fat a.s.s and looking for another job?" Placing her hand on her hips, she glared at him. In light of everything going on around her, she saw the man before her in a new light. How could she have put up with him for so long? He was a self-centred, lazy-a.s.s b.a.s.t.a.r.d. Her parents' warnings ran through her mind. At the time when they'd voiced them she thought they were being difficult. Now she saw what they did. "I want you out of my apartment. We're through." She threw his c.r.a.p at him feeling angry at herself for living with such an ungrateful loser. "Get your s.h.i.t, and get out."

"This is my place," he yelled.

"Yeah. I'm the one who has been paying the rent. I paid for this f.u.c.king furniture. The landlord put the place in my name seeing as I was paying for everything. You were already close to losing it anyway."

She s.n.a.t.c.hed the card out of his hand. "This is mine."

Paul pushed her. The anger she'd only seen once before was unleashed. She dodged his hands moving away. The slap to the face caught her off guard. In no time at all, he pinned her against the sofa, his foul breath on her face. She screamed, and he covered her mouth.

"Do you really think you're better than me? No man would want you. I took you in because no one else wanted you."

Ursula thought about Stephen. It was time to make that phone call. She wished she hadn't left before talking to him properly. Using all of her strength she pushed Paul off her, running into her room and locking herself in the bedroom. Her hands were shaking, but she managed to dial his house number. When no one answered she growled in frustration. She glanced at the door when she heard Paul kicking and yelling at her.

She dialled Stephen's mobile number praying for him to pick up.

Stephen watched her leave. He'd upset her, and he hated to see her hurt when he'd been the one to cause it. Introducing her to the others hadn't entered his mind. The moment he saw her standing there in front of him, he'd been a goner. In her winter clothes, she looked so adorable. The image of her naked had struck him making him jealous, watching the other men in case they were thinking the same thing.

"You never told us you had a new house cleaner," Cadeon said.

"I didn't realise whom I employed was any of your business." His hands fisted as he thought about these men l.u.s.ting after his woman.

His woman?

Where the h.e.l.l had that come from? Ursula wasn't his woman. She never would be. He didn't want her that way.

Stephen shook his head in an attempt to rid the thoughts from his mind. The rest of the men were smirking at him. "Can we just get back to the problems at hand?" He listened with half an ear while the other thought about the revelations going through his mind. The way he touched her wasn't appropriate as a simple employer/employee relationship. Licking his lips, he recalled the feel of her full, lush body in his arms, the buds of her nipples pressing against his chest. His d.i.c.k began to swell in his pants at the thought of Ursula and her body. Would her nipples be small or large? Red or brown? Sensitive? Did she like to be nibbled or sucked?