The next morning, I woke up to an alarm going off. Automatically, I assumed it was mine, but that's when I realized I wasn't at home. Adrian rolled over, and slapped the alarm.

"Fuck." He muttered. I opened my eyes, and watched as he sat up and ran a hand through his unruly and mattered copper hair. "I have to go to work."

"Call in sick." I whispered.

"Do you have to work today?" He asked. I nodded.

"I do, but not until later on. I'm closing tonight, so I've got time." I said. He narrowed his eyes at me for a second, as if considering it. I put on my best pouty face, and looked down at my hands.

"Rosemarie, stop it." He scolded me. I quickly stopped, not wanting to be spanked again. I looked up at him, keeping a straight face. "I'll call in, but I do have to do some work here. It'll only take maybe an hour." I nodded, and smiled slightly. "Happy?" I smiled, and leaned over to kiss him.

"Very." He ran a hand down my bare stomach, before rolling out of bed and walking over to his closet. He pulled out a pair of jeans and put them on.

"I'll be in my office. I have something to take care of quickly. When you're up and ready, feel free to come up. I have something for you anyway." He informed me. I attempted to raise an eyebrow, but he shook his head. "You'll see." He motioned around his room. "Make yourself at home, you know that."

"Thanks." I sat up, and ran a hand through my hair. I watched as his eyes ran up and down my bare body, before he shook his head, trying to compose himself. He gave me that smirk before turning and walking out. I got up, and gathered my clothes, going into his bathroom. Once again, I took a quick shower and got dressed. I headed out into the great room, and looked around. It was then I realized I had no idea where his office was. I listened hard, and heard him upstairs, his voice hard and authoritative. I walked up the stairs, and followed the sound to a door down the opposite side of the hallway. I peeked inside, and saw him look up. He nodded, letting me know it was okay to come in. I entered, walking over to sit on the edge of his desk. He barked something into the phone, and ran a hand through his hair.

"That's fine, just make sure it's done by Wednesday, or they'll be hearing from me personally." He snapped. I smirked at him, and picked up his hand, intertwining our fingers. He was watching me intently now. I just looked at him and smiled. He started rubbing circles on the back of my hand with this thumb. "See to it personally, please. Atleast if you do it, I know it will be done." He then hung up the phone and turned to me.

"Hello gorgeous." He pulled me off the edge of his desk, and into his lap. I curled up against him like a small child.

"Hey." I murmured.

"How are you doing?" He asked. I smiled and looked up at him.

"I'm perfect." I assured him. He was obviously pleased with this answer. He rolled his chair back, and opened a drawer, pulling out a small stack of papers and handing them to me. I raised an eyebrow.

"What is this?" I asked. He turned me in his lap so he could look at me.

"It's a submissive/ dominant contract. I wasn't going to involve a contract with me and you, but I think you need it to understand a little bit more of what you've gotten into. I don't want you to read it now, but when you go home tonight, I want you to look over it, and you can make notes on here if you'd like, letting me know the things you have a problem with. Then, we'll talk about them." He murmured. "This entire relationship is based solely around you; remember that you have the power here. I have a feeling you'll better understand once you've read over this." I stared down at the contracts for a second and nodded, laying it on his desk.

"Okay, I'll look over it later."

"Good girl." He murmured, pressing his lips to my neck. I shuddered, and cocked my head to the side, giving him better access. He ran his tongue along the long vein in my neck, causing me to moan slightly. I felt him smile against my skin. "Stand up." He commanded. I pulled myself out of his lap, and stood beside his chair. I didn't think… I just acted. He removed most of what was on his desk, tossing it to the floor. "Clothes off, lay along my desk." He told me. My blood was instantly spiked. My heart was racing now, as I moved my hands to remove myself clothes. With shaky hands, I grabbed the brim of my shirt and worked it over my head. As I started to undo my jeans, I jumped when he spoke. "Stop." I instantly dropped my hands to my sides. "Are you okay?"

"Yes sir." I whispered. He stared at me for a second, as if looking to see if I was lying. After a few moments, he nodded.

"Continue then, pet." I nodded and continued to undress, undoing my pants and unzipping them slowly. I shimmied out of them, and kicked them aside. I started to undo my bra, when he shook his head. "No, leave those on. I changed my mind. Lay along my desk." He was up out of his chair now. I laid down on his desk. "Put your feet flat on my desk, and spread your legs." He ordered. I did as he asked. He ran his hand down my leg, his fingers leaving sparks in their paths. "You have amazing legs, Rosemarie." I said nothing. He walked around the desk, to stand at the end my head was. He leaned over me and kissed me, hard. When he pulled away, I was panting and gasping for air. He moved back down to the other end of the desk, where I was open and exposed. The only think covering me was the thin lace of my panties, and deep down… I wanted that barrier gone. He trailed his fingers up my thighs to the apex of them, rubbing me through the lace. My back arched off the desk. He pushed me back down, and shook his head.

"Don't move, or I will punish you. You understand me?" I nodded once, suddenly afraid. That's when his palm connected with the side of my thigh. I squeaked. "Answer me!"

"Yes sir." I mended. He nodded, and that smirk filled his features one again.

"Good girl." He then started his assault again, massaging me through my panties. My back wanted to arch, but I held myself planted firmly to the desk. Fight it, Rose… fight it. It was hard, but I managed. He smirked at me. "You're learning, pet. I like it." He then grabbed a hold of the waist band of my panties and pulled them down my legs, removing them, and walking around to my head. "Arms above your head." I quickly lifted my arms. He grabbed my wrist, holding them together. He then tied my panties around them holding them in place above my head. "Do not move." He reminded me.

"Yes sir." I whispered. He walked back around to the end of the desk where my feet remained pressed to the wood. He then replaced his hand back over my sex and began rubbing his fingers along my clit. I moaned and felt myself wanting to squirm, but I had to fight it. That's when a finger entered me, and I lost it. I knew I was in for it now, but I didn't care. My back came off the desk as a long moan escaped my lips.

"Now, Rosemarie… what did I tell you?" He asked, his voice soft and seductive.

"I'm so sorry sir." I panted. He removed his fingers slowly, and grabbed my ankles, rolling me over onto my stomach. His hand came down hard on my bare ass twice, but I barely felt it. If anything it was more of an erotic pleasure than it was pain. I was too high on him now to notice. He rolled me back over, and planted my feet back on the wood grain of the desk, exposing me once again.

"Do not move, Rose." He said, authority filling his voice. His eyes fell back on my sex, and he smiled. Just that smile made me want to squirm.

"Yes sir." I whimpered. His hand crawled back up my thigh before finding its way back to where I needed him most. I moaned as his fingers connected with my clit, but I was careful to stay still. I felt his fingers move downward and then they were inside of me. I bit my lips as I held my body deadly still on the desk. His eyes were on my face now, as I tried so hard not to move.

"Such a good girl." He cooed, as he started moving his fingers in and out of me. I cried out his name, but fought to hold still. I managed pretty well until he entered the second finger inside me, and I came apart on the desk, thrashing hard. "Rose…" He chastised me.

"Damn it. I'm sorry." I cried. It was making me angry that I couldn't manage to hold still. One simple task and I couldn't do it. He flipped me over again, and delivered two more hard smacks to my already sore bottom, before massaging the area he'd hit me. He rolled me back over, and I winced as my ass connected with the wood of the desk.

"Just hold still for me pet, that's all I want." He murmured. I nodded.

"I'm trying." I whispered, my voice sounding so small.

"I know, pet… I know." He said, before plunging two fingers inside me again. I cried out and bit my tongue so hard I could taste blood, but I didn't move. He started pushing his fingers in and out of me, and I could feel myself climbing higher and higher. Please, let me come. It was the only coherent thought my mind could form as I was on the verge of release. He thrust his fingers into me one last time and curled them upward hitting my sweet spot, and I fell apart at the seams. I managed to keep my entire body still except my head, which I threw back when I cried out his name. He removed his fingers from me, and stuck them in his mouth, licking them clean of my juices. I swear I almost orgasmed again. He stared at me for a second, before smirking. "You're learning. I'm so very proud of you. Now, to reward you. What would you like, my pet?" Was he actually asking me? Was this a trick question? I regarded him incredulously.

"You're asking me what I want?" I whispered. He nodded.

"Yes, sweetheart, I'm asking you. Tell me what you want." He murmured, his voice sensual and seductive. I think he could make me come with just his voice if he wanted too.

"I want you." I whispered.

"Where?"

"Inside of me." I said, feeling my face get hot. After everything he's done to you over the last week, you blush at that? Really?

"Inside of you where, Rosemarie?" He asked. God, was he really going to make me spell it out for him? "There are so many choices. I could be inside your perfect little ass, that lovely mouth of yours, or your sweet pussy. You're choice." He said, nonchalantly. My entire body was squirming now.

"I want you inside my pussy, please Master." I begged him. It felt so dirty coming from my mouth, but if I had to spell it out for him, I would to get what I wanted. The smile that spread over his face was nothing more than glorious.

"That sounded so dirty, Rose. I loved it." He said, that wicked gleam in his eyes. He undid his pants, pushing them down and kicking them to the side. He approached the end of the desk and grabbed my ankles, placing them over his shoulders. He pulled me to the edge of the desk and buried his face in the apex of my thighs, his tongue harassing me, lapping at my clit and the wetness there from the orgasm a few moments ago. I cried out, and shook violently but he didn't stop. It wasn't long before I was spiraling into another orgasm and before I could even comprehended, I was back on the desk, and his cock was inside me. I cried out and arched my back upward, as he started moving in and out of me. I grabbed onto the sides of the desk, and held on tight as he continued pounding into me. I felt myself building, and knew he was on the edge as well. I felt him quiver inside me, and we both lost it, coming apart at the same time. My entire body was shaking, and the exhaustion slowly began creeping up on me. He pulled out of me, and gathered my clothes. He laid them beside me, and untied my hands, handing me my now stretched out panties. He smirked.

"Good luck with those." He mumbled. I tossed them aside, and pulled my jeans on, before pulling my shirt back over my head. He was already dressed, and presentable once again as I stood up. My legs quaked, and I grabbed the desk for support. He chuckled. "That was rather enjoyable." He said. I raised an eyebrow.

"Rather?"

"It was amazing." He mended, pulling me into his arms and kissing my hair. I giggled. I stumbled around his office, picking up the things he'd thrown off his desk. "We'll have to revisit this some time." He handed me the contract, and motioned for me to head downstairs. My body was aching and I was beyond exhausted. Instead of going to the bedroom, I went straight for the couch, laying my contract on the coffee table. I pulled my legs up and hugged my knee's curling into the fetal position. He walked over and sat down beside me, pulling my head into his lap. He ran his hands through my still damp hair.

"You are so beautiful."

"You say that a lot." I murmured, looking up at him. He smiled down at me.

"Because it's true, and I don't honestly think you believe it. It makes me angry to think you consider yourself anything but extraordinary." I didn't say anything, as I met his green eyes gaze. He lifted my shirt, revealing my stomach and all of my scars.

"I'm damaged." I whispered.

"There is beauty in the damaged, little one. Always remember that." He said. I was lost in those endless green depths that were his eyes. "Why did you do this to yourself?" I knew the question would come up at some point or another; I just didn't want it to be so soon.

"I grew up in a bad situation. My parents weren't exactly the best role models. Their relationship was… abusive. I watched it all happen, and my mom just wouldn't go. Then the alcohol got involved… and it got worse. As I child, I just cried all the time… but when I got older, I realized I had to find a way to cope with the mess I was in. Drugs and alcohol I couldn't do, just for the simple fact that they were the cause of most of my parent's problems anyway. That's when I resorted to pain. The pain made it all go away. It was a sense of release… a sense of knowing I was in control of atleast one thing I felt. At first, I started off small… tiny cuts on my wrists every now and again. I'd use a pen or a needle. Anything I could get a hold of…but as things progressively got worse… the cuts got deeper and they happened more frequently. When I finally hit puberty and started my period… it was out of control. That's when I started in on my stomach, using a pocket knife I'd bought from a pawn shop on my way home from school. My dad paid for medical help. I had a shrink, and she's try to get me to talk, but I just wouldn't. I was dealing just fine on my own… or atleast I thought I was. I didn't need help when I'd found a way of handling it just fine by myself." I said. I realized I'd lost myself somewhere in the story, because Adrian's gaze was fixed straight ahead and remained impassive. "I felt like it was my fault. Their problems, their fights, I always felt like I was stuck in the middle. I was the cause. I hated it more than I'd ever let them know. When I was in school, I was made fun of. I was slightly anti-social. I always wore a jacket to cover the scars. People knew what was going on, but they wouldn't let me be. That made my depression slightly worse. That's when I went after my legs. The scars there look a lot worse due to the fact they were the most recent. Most of those were done my junior and senior year of high school." He remained silent but he finally forced himself to look down at me. Sympathy filled his gaze, but I shook my head. "I don't want your sympathy, Adrian." I murmured. He traced a scar, and took a deep breath.

"What made you stop?" He finally asked. I picked up my right wrist, and showed him the longest and thickest scar there. I sighed, and closed my eyes.

"The day before graduation… my boyfriend of about a year broke up with me. My parents had no idea the hell I was going through with losing someone who had been such a big part of my life. They yelled at me, and told me to suck it up and deal with it. That I was graduating and there was no time to be weak now that I was about to be out in the real world. I couldn't take it anymore, so I locked myself in my room and took the knife to my wrist, except this time… I cut with the intent to end it all… my life, my pain, my suffering. I wanted it gone. I was just so hurt, and everything had come crashing down on me so suddenly. I just didn't want to live anymore. My mom found me when she came to get me for dinner. I was rushed to the emergency room, and given numerous blood transfusions to replenish what was on my bedroom floor. I missed my high school graduation because I was in the hospital on the verge of death." I realized I'd never told anyone this part of the story. The only one that knew about it was Lissa, and that's because she was around when it happened. I'd never actually come out and told someone of my cutting habits, and the darkest time of my life. I'd lost myself in the story, remembering back to the day I thought I was gone from here.

"Rose…" He murmured. I looked up at him to find him gazing down at me, pain in his eyes. I smiled and sat up, crawling into his lap. He wrapped his arms around my waist, tight. I reveled in the feel of his arms around me, like he was the only thing holding me together.

"I healed and was sent to a psychiatric center for a year or so. When I got out, I went back to my parents place and packed my shit. I got a job, and worked for a little over minimum wage in an office building downtown. I put a down payment on an apartment, and started my life on my own. Then Lissa moved in with me, and started helping with rent. I eventually quit my office job due to the dickheads that worked there that kept trying to cop a feel. I then was hired on at the coffee house, and have been there ever since." I told him, wrapping up my story.

"And your parents?"

"I haven't seen them since I was eighteen." I whispered, burying my face into the crook of his neck. I'd never admit it out loud but I slightly missed them. I kept telling myself it was only because of my mother… I missed her. My father… that man could rot in hell for all I cared.

"I'm sorry that you had to go through all of that." He murmured. I just shook my head.

"Don't apologize for something that wasn't in your control. Maybe… maybe if I'd have known you then…" I said, pulling away so I could look at him. He met my gaze.

"I would have taken you away from that. I would have… God, I would have showered you with everything you could have possibly wanted. I would have made your life worth living." He promised me, holding my face in his hands. I met his gaze, and shook my head.

"My past is my past… it's done and I can't go back. You make my life worth living now, and that's what matters." I informed him. He smiled for a second, before a thought obviously occurred to him, because his smile faded.

"Do you ever… have the urge to… cut yourself anymore?" He asked. I quickly averted my gaze, but he grabbed my face. "Rosemarie, look at me." I quickly met his gaze.

"It's… it's a defense mechanism I came up with long ago. It's sort of engrained into who I am. I can't say I think about it often, but I can't say the urge isn't there sometimes." I murmured. His grip on my face tightened, and I flinched slightly, but he didn't let go.

"I meant what I said… you are never to do this to yourself… ever again. You understand?" I nodded instinctively. "Answer me." He snarled.

"Yes… yes sir." I breathed. The look of anger in his eyes was scary, and I feared him for a moment. He then pulled me against him, and I knew it was okay.

"I can hire you're a professional for you to talk to when you feel like that."

"No… No. I am not going back to that. I'm fine on my own. If I ever have a problem, I talk to Lissa or Christian or Dim-." I cut myself off when I realized the name I was going to say. He noticed too. "Well, I used to. I won't anymore… now I have you."

"But I can't promise I'll be the best to help you." He said. I shook my head.

"I don't need you there to solve my problems, Adrian. I don't need you to be my guiding light when something is wrong. I just need you to simply be there. There was a time in my life when I had no one. Knowing that I have someone… it's more than enough." I murmured. He just nodded.

"I will always be here for you, Rose." I looked down, and then back up to meet my gaze. "Even if… even if this doesn't work out, our relationship… just know you can always come to me. I'll always be here."

"You sound like you don't say that too many of your submissives." I said.

"Because I never have. I just… I don't know. I just hate the thought of us not working, and you going back to that." He said. I smiled but then my face grew somber.

"I will never be that again, Adrian." I whispered. He nodded.

"Good." I looked up and caught sight of the clock, before cussing.

"FUCK, I'm going to be late for work." I jumped up. "Eddie?" I called. He appeared moments later. Adrian watched me, as my panic set it.

"Eddie, please drive Ms. Hathaway back home." Eddie nodded once.

"I'll get the SUV." He said, before disappearing. Adrian gracefully uncurled himself from the couch, and walked me out to the elevators and the parking garage. He pulled me into his arms.

"When will I see you again?" He asked.

"Graduation?" I murmured, it sounding more like a question. He frowned, but nodded as if that were an acceptable answer. He pulled my contract out of his back pocket, and handed it to me. I'd completely forgotten about it.

"I will see you then." He pulled my chin up and kissed my lips. "Keep in touch and have a good day at work."

"Yes sir." I said, before turning and running to the SUV. I'm going to be so fucking late.