Back in Power

[ROBERT SNOW]

“That’s enough.” Robert’s deep voice echoed a little in the large room the Council had acquired for their use as a courtroom. The man pleading his case at the other end of Eponine Gascoigne’s argument stopped and looked fearfully up at Robert. All the man saw from Robert was a look as hard as ice and just as cold. “I find you guilty of endangering our secret through sheer stupidity. In the future, when a stranger offers you a ring that will allow you to walk in sunlight, test it in the privacy of your own home. If it fails, at least you will not be caught in the middle of a park where your presence can be reported by locals. I hereby sentence you to sixty days’ imprisonment below City Hall. Are there any further questions?” Eponine came to her feet, folding her hands respectfully in front of her. “Not at this time.” Robert nodded and sat a little straighter in his chair. “Then you are dismissed. Guards, take this man into custody.” The bewildered and upset Gargoyle continued to watch him with dismay but said not a word. That, at least, was to his credit. Once the man had been removed, he looked to the benches and saw no face he had not heard speak yet today. “If there are any other cases to be heard tonight, please step forward.” His harsh eyes scanned the crowd but no one stood. After a sufficient pause, he pushed himself to his feet which caused everyone to rise. “Then we are adjourned.” No one began to exit until after he had left his place in the center of the head of the room and made his way to a side door.

On the other side of the door a pretty young blonde stood waiting for him with a stoic face. There were still a few hours remaining in the work night for him and Cadence and she didn’t appear the least bit tired. It was a vast difference from a couple months ago. They had both been exhausted all the time, unable to sleep well and therefore unable to gain their strength. With the sunlight returned and their natural stone forms, Robert and Cadence both felt much more like themselves. The sex since then had been as good as it ever was and what was left of his wounds was gone in days. Except for his fall from power, it was as if the darkness had never happened for Robert. Thankfully he’d been able to acquire his old position of Head of the Council, Peter having talked Penelope into retirement. The old bat was ancient anyway and losing her touch. It wasn’t Leader, but it was the next best thing for Robert.

Cadence took up stride beside him as they made their way back to his office. “What’s on the schedule for the rest of the night?” As his assistant filled him in, he nodded at the few tasks still left ahead of him. None of them were urgent and he had no more meetings scheduled for the night. It was a nice prospect after being holed up in court. He looked down at Cadence as she rattled off his schedule. The past couple months with her had led to some strange feelings on his part. Robert had only ever cared for three people in his life: his father, his mother, and Jude. Apparently, now Jude’s little sister was making her way into his heart. Cadence had watched over him while he was in his coma and hardly left his side. She was there through his recovery and stayed with him through his new appointment as Head of the Council. He had given her monetary compensation to thank her for staying with him, but it never ceased to amaze him that she had. She could have left him and he would not have blamed her, which led him to wonder why she stayed. The only answer he could come up with was that she genuinely cared for him, which helped him realize he cared for her as well. Surprisingly, he would have done the same if she had been the one shot, not him. As unsettled as that left him, he didn’t see her any less—he just kept those thoughts to himself. It was getting harder to keep them quiet, though.

When they reached his office, Robert went straight to his chair behind his desk and sighed as he sank into it. He pondered a moment before his eyes came back to Cadence’s, curious. “If one of those rings that allowed you to walk in the sunlight came into your possession, would you use it, Cadence?” he asked. It was something of a random question, but he wanted to gauge her reaction on the new items. Personally he didn’t care for them, well aware it was not a Gargoyle’s place to walk in the sunlight, but he wanted to know how she felt on the matter.

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

Cadence never stopped overseeing Robert's recovery. She avoided his personal questions about why every time they came up, not really having a solid answer. She did it because it was her duty, because she had nothing else to do, because it was her job to aid him, because Jude would have wanted her to, because she wanted to. The woman didn't like admitting that last part, even to herself, so she simply acted coy about it all and Robert had no choice but to accept it. His inquiries often ended with a hard fuck, her noncompliance always turning him on, and she was more than grateful to accept what he gave her. It was better now that the sunlight was back, which brought her strength back and higher her ability to tolerate pain which Robert was a master of exerting.

She worked hard to get the man back to where he'd been. She'd for the most part put her plotting to destroy him aside, working now to bring him back to power. It was a complete change from what she had originally planned when she'd taken the position as his secretary. Who would have every thought she would help him rise back to power? But she did. She was his pawn, being compliant even when his commands were above and beyond her normal tasks.

“Then we are adjourned.” Cadence had been sitting in the side room waiting for Robert to finish. She'd brought her nail file and polish, and her nails were freshly done, and had plenty of time to dry before he'd finished. She stood and waited for him to enter the small room. She was wearing a satin ivory blouse and a charcoal pencil skirt with stockings and charcoal peep toe pumps. Her hair lay around her shoulders in gentle waves, giving her a classic look. “What’s on the schedule for the rest of the night?” He asked not stopping for her. She followed, walking just a half step behind him and to the side. "You need to return Janet Studebaker's email, review the Michelson and Fletcher cases and call Zachariah Humphries. He's called you twice so far today." She rattled off as they got into his office. She shut the door behind her as he made his way around to his chair, sinking into it with a sigh. She stood near the door, knowing he wouldn't want her to leave yet unless he wanted her to fetch him something to eat, which was also a good possibility. The man was quiet for a moment and then his cool eyes landed on her. “If one of those rings that allowed you to walk in the sunlight came into your possession, would you use it, Cadence?” That wasn't what she expected to hear.

Cadence knew of the rings. Everyone knew of the rings. She'd pondered the question before in her mind, what she would do if she could be a day walker. It had been something she'd thought of plenty in her younger years but these days she wasn't as interested, especially considering how weak she would become. That didn't lessen her curiosity, though. She thought about it for a long moment and then rolled her shoulders gently. "I'd likely try it once out of curiosity, but that's not a lifestyle change I'd necessarily like to make. There are many things that happen during the day that I've never experienced. I suppose if given the opportunity I might try it, yes." She wasn't sure what he was getting at. Was he judging her? Gauging her answer for something? "Why do you ask, sir?"

[ROBERT SNOW]

Robert waited patiently for Cadence’s answer, his cool eyes trained on her while she considered it. He couldn’t blame her for wanting to try it if she did. There were times when even he wondered what it would be like to be in the sunlight. The more he thought of it, though, the more awful it seemed. He would burn and such a bright light in his eyes would be painful, he was certain, not to mention his weakened state afterwards…no, he would prefer very much to staying in darkness as many old-fashioned Gargoyles would prefer. These younger ones were more experimental, however. “I’d likely try it once out of curiosity, but that’s not a lifestyle change I’d necessarily like to make. There are many things that happen during the day that I’ve never experienced. I suppose if given the opportunity I might try it, yes.” Robert nodded, not quite sure how he felt about her answer. Of course he wouldn’t stop her from experimenting if that’s what she wanted, but something about it made him uneasy. She would be weakened and vulnerable in the sunlight…and that was a thought he didn’t like at all. “Why do you ask, sir?” His eyes had wandered for a moment to the floor, but they shifted back when she asked her question. With a small shake of his head, he sat up some. “No reason, I suppose. That last case just got me thinking about it. Personally, I don’t think I would take advantage of that opportunity. I wouldn’t enjoy being so vulnerable.” Normally he would never admit that he could even be vulnerable, but Cadence had watched over him when he couldn’t even breathe for himself—she knew just how vulnerable he could be and hadn’t betrayed that knowledge to anyone.

With a small sigh, he turned back to his computer monitor, jiggling the mouse so the picture could fade back in. “Would you mind going down and getting me a Rueben from the vendor downstairs? Take my card and get yourself something too.” He passed her a card he fished out from his wallet before turning back to his computer. While she ran out to get him food he could focus on the e-mail he had to write and the phone call he had to return. It was tedious dealing with his subordinates most of the time, but unfortunately he had to do so. Studebaker was inquiring about a past case and the defendant’s sentence and their possible involvement in another case. Apparently Humphries had an emergency and he had to push back his court date. Though irked by the short notice, Robert granted him the reprieve, knowing Humphries was not generally a man to inconvenience others. By the time Cadence returned, he was finished with that business and ready to review cases. He could worry about that later—he was too hungry to absorb new cases. Once Cadence pulled his sandwich from the paper bag he thanked her and gladly peeled the wrapping back. For a few moments they sat in silence, eating, but it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence.

At last his eyes lifted to Cadence’s and he looked at her curiously. “You weren’t with me the last time I was head of the Council. It’s a new set of responsibilities I’ve thrust on you in the last few weeks. You’re handling it well, but you haven’t had many questions for me. Is there anything you need clarified?” Though their relationship was more than just a business one, Robert liked to make sure Cadence was able to handle her job. His other employees he didn’t care all that much for, but Cadence had to deal with him all night, every night and she was one of very few assistants who actually did their job for him quite well. He wouldn’t hesitate to tell her she was the best assistant he’d ever had. Then again, their physical relationship probably cast a shadow of bias on that opinion. Either way, he didn’t need her backing out now because she was frustrated by any of her new duties.

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

“No reason, I suppose." He said with a shake of his head. "That last case just got me thinking about it. Personally, I don’t think I would take advantage of that opportunity. I wouldn’t enjoy being so vulnerable.” Cadence hadn't really thought of that, but she supposed she wouldn't either. She hated how weak she'd become during the darkness, how minor things caused pain when they never had before. She gave her own nod of understanding, not going back on her previous words. She would still likely try it maybe once, just to see, but perhaps privately. She was still watching him as he turned away from her and back to his computer. “Would you mind going down and getting me a Rueben from the vendor downstairs? Take my card and get yourself something too.” She gave a nod and took the card, exiting the office quietly.

A lot had changed over the last few months. Robert simply asking if she minded going was certainly something new. He had always demanded in the past, and he still did so, but perhaps more kindly now. Cadence wasn't entirely sure how she felt about the change. He was still rough with her, and still cold and hard, but maybe not as hard. She felt torn on how to really feel about it, though. She liked when he was the villain, it made him less human and easier to hate, but she hadn't hated him in a long time. In some ways it was nice, though. Being valued. The young woman tried not to think on it much as she went to the cafe to order her boss's food.

Cadence returned with a bag of food and waters for them both. She never used to order anything for herself, not wanting his handouts, but she was hungry and he wanted to pay. He always had a since remark about her not getting something anyway and though she enjoyed stirring him up, she wasn't necessarily in the mood to do so at that moment. She went to his desk and pulled the sandwich out, unwrapping it with care on his desk so that he wouldn't have to. She placed the water beside it and the little container of coleslaw that accompanied his meal. She then took her salad out and took a seat, quietly digging in.

“You weren’t with me the last time I was head of the Council." She looked up at him with jade eyes, swallowing the bite in her mouth and pausing her fork. "It’s a new set of responsibilities I’ve thrust on you in the last few weeks. You’re handling it well, but you haven’t had many questions for me. Is there anything you need clarified?” She stared at him for a long moment, unsure what he meant. He'd never asked if she needed clarification before. Instead Robert chose to berate his inferiors when they've done something wrong as his way of correcting the behavior. She'd been on the receiving end of that plenty of times in the past. "If I needed clarification I would approach you with my concerns." She lied. She would never do that and he knew it as much as she did, but it was her way of telling him she wouldn't complain. She would figure it out and if he had an issue with her performance he could berate her as he'd one before. Cadence wasn't entirely interested in things changing for them. It was comfortable where they were in their strange tango and she broke his eye contact to look obediently down at her food. Both knew she was anything but obedient, though. "Is there anything more you need me to do for you, sir?" She asked peering back up at him. "To make my performance more satisfactory?" Her tone was hindering on condescending, wanting to rile him up in a way. She preferred him mean. It seemed oddly safer.

[ROBERT SNOW]

Robert could tell Cadence was taken aback by his question when she looked up at him. In a way, he was taken aback by his question as well. For about the millionth time in the last several months Robert wondered if the brain injury hadn’t affected him more than the doctor said. Maybe the doctor didn’t think his behavior was strange, but Robert did. Then again, his attitude hadn’t changed toward everyone, just Cadence. He was much gentler in his dealings with her these days and she never failed to show her surprise at his kindness. This irked him to some extent. Why couldn’t she just accept his kindness without the suspicious looks? “If I needed clarification I would approach you with my concerns.” Robert’s brow furrowed but he gave a terse nod. He knew better—Cadence would never come to him for clarification; she always tried to figure things out on her own and asked forgiveness later if her solution wasn’t the right one. She looked away and he wasn’t sure what to say. Things had become so uncomfortable between them since he was shot in the head. His own eyes wandered back to his food, giving her another moment to speak before he would dig back in.

“Is there anything more you need me to do for you, sir? To make my performance more satisfactory?” The hint of condescension in her voice sent a pang of annoyance through him and he looked up from under his arched brows at her. Why did she insist on mocking him? The woman was practically asking for his heavy hand. Actually, she probably was. As much as she liked to withhold her satisfaction from him, Robert knew how much he pleased her with his rough handling. If she was going to provoke him, then he would be sure to deliver and make her regret doing so. He folded his hands in front of him, forgetting his sandwich for the moment. “Now that you mention it, yes, there is. I think you have slipped in your performance since we were together on the top floor of this building. I have been merciful in dealing with it until now, but I think it’s time I address it. You will present me with my schedule and my docket for the next day before you leave each night. Whether you e-mail it to me or physically place it in my hands is up to you, but I want to be better informed. Also I will expect a meal to be here after court everyday—this should be easy enough to manage and I will let you know before the hearings what I would like for you to provide. You’ve been very good at providing me with case files, but I would like them to be in order as they will appear on the docket the following night. Also, I want no voicemails—I’d prefer if you took a message for me and gave it to me when possible.” Mostly these were nit-picky things that he was harping on, but he knew his demands would irk her to an extent, such as fetching him food every day. Of course some days he would probably fetch it himself, but he wouldn’t tell her that now.

He leaned back in his chair a little, tenting his fingers in front of him as his calculating eyes held hers. “And one more thing—adjust your attitude. If I show you a kindness, you will not question it, verbally or otherwise. Most people would be relieved at the leniency I’ve shown you in the past several weeks but you always appear as if I’ve wronged you. Every kindness get some kind of challenging comeback and I’m not entirely sure why. I only know that I don’t appreciate it. Is it so difficult to accept my gratitude?” His icy eyes never left hers, wanting to know what was going on in that pretty little head of hers. Robert didn’t like to be questioned and Cadence’s constant silent questioning of his behavior was unacceptable. She needed to be aware of that.

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

Robert leaned back, neglecting his sandwich for the moment as his hands folded before him. She could tell immediately that she struck a nerve which pleased her. “Now that you mention it, yes, there is. I think you have slipped in your performance since we were together on the top floor of this building." This was news and her brow arched ever so slightly. Surely he wasn't serious. "I have been merciful in dealing with it until now, but I think it’s time I address it." She was annoyed almost instantly and it was difficult to contain that. She'd always done so well in hiding her disapproval for him, but as he ticked off the list of things he expected of her she could feel her blood beginning to boil. Was he serious? Who did he think he was? Her performance was stellar. She reminded herself he was trying to get under her skin, and though he was succeeded she couldn't let on. Her lips pursed into a thin, hard line as she stared at him, seeming mostly stoic but the fire blazed fierce in her darkening eyes. He was asking a lot out of her, to do thing she didn't care to do, things that were demeaning even. She'd done a great deal for him, stood by him when no one else would, and she deserved better than this. Then again she'd been snide first. She should have expected something like this in return.

“And one more thing—" Her eyes narrowed slightly. What else could he possibly add? "adjust your attitude. If I show you a kindness, you will not question it, verbally or otherwise. Most people would be relieved at the leniency I’ve shown you in the past several weeks but you always appear as if I’ve wronged you. Every kindness get some kind of challenging comeback and I’m not entirely sure why. I only know that I don’t appreciate it. Is it so difficult to accept my gratitude?” Yes.

Cadence sat there for a long moment looking into his eyes and meeting his icy gaze with her own. Her pride was something that was difficult to relinquish, and though she often did so with Robert it never became personal. It had always been business, but this seemed too personal. She didn't need to be so cool in her responses to him and she knew it, but she was comfortable with their repertoire. Them being kind to each other made her believe their relationship would go into a direction she wasn't sure she cared for it to. She wasn't entirely ready to let go of everything yet, refusing to admit her feelings were real.

"You're right, sir." She finally grumbled, standing up and closing the lid to her supper. "Ive been far too sloppy over the last few weeks and I will remedy that, effective immediately. If you'll excuse me I really should get started on tomorrows agenda. The sun waits for no one, myself included." She smoothed her skirt. "Thank you for supper. You'll have your agenda by close of day." She informed him, moving to leave. If he wanted to play that way, she would play. Cadence was excellent at games, and stubborn enough to play to the bitter end.

[ROBERT SNOW]

Robert watched Cadence with a smug but small curl to his lips, seeing how annoyed she was by him. He loved when he achieved little successes like this. The woman had provoked him and he had returned the favor which always gave him a great sense of satisfaction. “You’re right, sir.” Of course he was right. Robert Snow was always right. She got to her feet and closed the lid to her supper which made him frown slightly. He hadn’t dismissed her yet… “I’ve been far too sloppy over the last few weeks and I will remedy that, effective immediately. If you’ll excuse me I really should get started on tomorrow’s agenda. The sun waits for no one, myself included. Thank you for supper. You’ll have your agenda by close of day.” She moved to walk away which irked him again. As much as he loved to watch her leave, Robert wasn’t ready to take in the perfect curve of her narrow hips and beautifully shaped ass. He got to his feet and moved after her. “I didn’t dismiss you yet, Miss Higgins.” If she hadn’t stopped, he would have grabbed her and forced her to a stop. As it was, he easily moved in front of her and strode to the door, closing it from any prying eyes. His fingers moved quickly to the lock which almost silently slid into place. When he looked back at her there was an almost dangerous smile on his lips, one a wolf might wear just before it went in for the kill.

“I have another item you can place in your calendar. This Saturday you will have dinner with me. Mind you, that’s not a request—that’s an order. Formal attire will be required.” He studied her stoic face and though it might have failed to escape someone else’s notice, Robert could see the surprise there. It was time he treat Cadence as more than his secret lover. His injury and long recovery proved to him that Cadence was much more to him than he’d cared to admit before. Even now he was reluctant to admit he had feelings for anyone, particularly a woman, but his injury left him too tired to deny it entirely anymore. Cadence was growing on him as her brother had done before her, yet it was different in its own way. Robert had never let a woman mean to him what Cadence meant. He relied on her and now he was set on keeping her. She could deny her own feelings as much as she wanted, but her support throughout the hardest time of his life only proved to him that she cared for him as well, however little. If Robert Snow could manage to feel something in his cold, stony heart, surely Cadence could too.

He looked at the salad in her hands and gently took it in one of his, placing the box on a nearby end table. Then he stepped back in front of the door, blocking her exit and watching her with challenging and hungry eyes. “Before you get started on building tomorrow’s agenda, I have further need of your assistance. You’ll need to come closer, however.” His eyes remained trained on hers, never leaving those fiery green spheres. He wanted her to know that this was not an option—she could come closer or she could make this harder on herself.

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

She heard him moving before he spoke and she felt the tiny hairs at the nape of her neck prickle with annoyance. He'd annoyed her, and just as it had been in the beginning, she didn't want him near her at the moment. “I didn’t dismiss you yet, Miss Higgins.” She stopped, tense with agitation though her feelings weren't necessarily visible when you looked at her. She watched with bitter annoyance as he moved to shut the door, hearing the lock sliding into place, though she knew it would whether she'd heard it happen or not. When he finally turned to face her once more he had a deeply arrogant grin on her face, the type most people would like to slap off, or better punch.

“I have another item you can place in your calendar. This Saturday you will have dinner with me." The muscle in her left arm actually twitched with how hard she was tensing. Dinner with him? What for? "Mind you, that’s not a request—that’s an order. Formal attire will be required.” He didn't mention anyone else being there which surprised her. No, it was dinner with just him. It was a public display of affection, a nice dinner just them, but why? Why did he need to stray from the comfort of their current relationship. Her lips were pursed slightly and her eyes dark. She didn't like to be told what to do. Fucking him was one thing, in a lot of ways it was all business, but a date seemed too personal for her liking. It was bad enough she was having conflicting feelings about him lately, she didn't need a date to complicate matters more.

Cadence didn't answer whether she would go or not, not that it would matter if she had an answer considering he'd given her no choice. She could not show up which would certainly annoy him, but the consequences wouldn't be in her favor. She had a feeling it would anger him in ways she hadn't quite done yet. Then again she could cut ties from him all together. Get one of those stupid rings, disappear from Scriptor Bay. The option was there, she could take it if she desired. Robert took her salad from her hands, shaking the thoughts from her mind as her focus cleared as she looked up at him. “Before you get started on building tomorrow’s agenda, I have further need of your assistance. You’ll need to come closer, however.” Cadence typically enjoyed his advances, but her sour mood made her uninterested in his harsh hand today. Not only had he verbally offended her, he was now placing her in a compromising personal position. Her jaw was set hard in place and she didn't know if she should follow his command or not. Any idiot knew what was about to go down between them, and she wasn't in the mood. "The distance between us is suitable enough for me to hear whatever else it is you need, sir." Her tone was cool and even, a hint of a growl lying beneath her words. She was in no mood to play his game, having grown accustomed to him being kinder lately. How could he possibly think they should have supper together? What did he get out of that? Unless it was to try and see her squirm. He did have a way of doing that..

[ROBERT SNOW]

Why Cadence even bothered to fight him anymore was beyond Robert’s comprehension. He could see how annoyed she was with him by the way her jaw set and her eyes glared. It didn’t matter—Robert Snow always got his way, even if he had to force it. Cadence could deny him all she wanted but she would give in eventually. She always did. “The distance between us is suitable enough for me to hear whatever else it is you need, sir.” So she would play hardball. He knew exactly how to counter it, having done it several times before. His feet set and his hard eyes bore into hers. “I don’t believe it is. Come closer.” Of course she hesitated and he allowed enough room for that hesitation, but her outright refusal was not allowed. Still she remained where she was and Robert felt the irritation burning beneath his skin once more. Most people would not have been given that generous fifteen seconds he gave her to follow his command. In one swift motion, Robert stepped forward, gripped Cadence by her upper arms and spun her around so her back slammed against the door and his body immediately pinned her there. One hand was enough to stay her arms above her head, pressing down firmly to keep her still. His eyes burned with icy fire as he looked down into her eyes. “You know I do not stand for disobedience, Cadence.” The deep, soft growl of his voice reverberated between them, letting her know not to fight now.

His free hand moved from her hip up to her stomach and higher, tracing over the buttons of her blouse slowly. When he reached the topmost button his fingers slowly began to unclasp them. He moved closer so that his lips were right against her ear, waiting to feel her breath begin to hitch. “I needed to tell you what I intend to do to you.” His fingers continued to move lower, her buttons undone to the line of her skirt. His fingers traced along the ridge between her skirt and her blouse, gliding gently over her stomach. His lips just slightly curled against her ear, his fingers slipping into the top of her skirt. “I intend to fuck you hard enough to make you scream. Of course you might not want to scream lest it call attention to us, but you’ll be hard pressed not to.” Just the thought of her screaming made his pants feel tighter. Nothing turned him on more than the sound of a woman’s screams. His hand slid over the apex of her thighs before continuing its decent only to travel back up again under her skirt. When his fingers neared her mound he could feel the humid heat coming off her. “You can pencil this in for the same time tomorrow, too.”

He suddenly grabbed her thighs and hoisted her onto his hips, his hardness rubbing between her legs. Even through layers of clothing he could feel how hot she was. One hand squeezed her ass hard, the other one teasing beneath her skirt. His knuckle ground into her sweet spot hard before he gently circled it with the same knuckle and then repeated the process moments later. “I’m feeling generous, however. Where would you like me to fuck you, Cadence?” Again his knuckle dug deep into her sunflower seed, provoking her to answer. His eyes watched her intently, waiting for her answer impatiently. He would force her cooperation if he had to.

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

She knew by the way he was looking at her that he wasn't pleased with her unwillingness to comply. “I don’t believe it is. Come closer.” She defiantly stayed in place, almost daring him to do something about, knowing full well he would and part of her wanting him to. She was simply more comfortable with him treating her like an errant child, rather than doting on her as though she were something more than just his secretary. Cadence saw the ice in his eyes and she returned it, expecting the sudden movement that was to come. He stepped forward and grabbed her, spinning her and pushing her hard against the door, pinning her there with brute force. She never one flinched, though her heart rate picked up as she stared up into his eyes, much closer now. “You know I do not stand for disobedience, Cadence.” He growled, but she had no reply. Of course she knew, which was precisely why she'd disobeyed. She thought it had been more transparent.

Despite the fact that she was now getting her way, she was still more than a little annoyed with his prior treatment. When his fingers plucked at the buttons on her blouse she attempted to tug her hands free of his grasp, but naturally she was unable to. He'd regained all his strength, and where she had as well, she simply wasn't as strong as he was. She swallowed hard as he leaned closer, his breath tickling her ear and making chills run down her spine. “I needed to tell you what I intend to do to you.” Her heart began to hammer harder, and though she wanted to say something to annoy him, words were suddenly lost on her. His expert fingers finished their decent down the front of her blouse and she could feel the cooler air kiss her warm skin as it was exposed. Her stomach clenched as his hot fingers moved over her bear skin and she sucked her bottom lip in with annoyed anticipation.

“I intend to fuck you hard enough to make you scream." He cooed into her ear as his fingers pushed into the hem of her skirt. Her eyes slipped shut and her stomach twisted violently as need blossomed within. How had he become her kryptonite? "Of course you might not want to scream lest it call attention to us, but you’ll be hard pressed not to.” She hated how right he was. In the end, despite her best attempts, she was only his puppet. He could make her do anything he wanted if he set his mind to it, and if he wanted to make her scream, there was no doubt in her mine that she would, though she hating knowing it was true. His hand was scorching hot as it trailed down over her body. She could feel it easily through the material of her skirt, and she gulped as his hand slid under the material and began to travel north once more, knowing was in store for her considering her recent transgression. “You can pencil this in for the same time tomorrow, too.” A soft breath rattled out of her mouth, one she was sure he could hear considering how close he was, though she wished otherwise.

Cadence should have expected what came next, but his quick movement took her by surprise. One moment he had her pinned to the door, the next her thighs were in his hands and she was hoisted onto his hips as though she weighed absolutely nothing. He filled her with raw, agonizing need and she suddenly hated him all over again. Robert squeezed her ass and pressed the knuckles of his other hand into her sex, taunting her and reminding her how completely helpless she was to his needs. “I’m feeling generous, however. Where would you like me to fuck you, Cadence?” Again her stomach twisted as he pressed his knuckle into her button once more and making her breath hitch. She tried desperately to hide the way she was feeling when he looked into her eyes, but it was all lost on Robert. He knew he'd won, it was written all over his face. It was a game they played often, one he always defeated her in. She would play hardball for a few minutes and he would push her to the brink until she finally caved and gave in, but despite how many times they played she never tired of it, and part of her knew neither did Robert. He wanted her disobedience. If he didn't then he wouldn't bother to play. "You think just because I'm hot and slick I want you to fuck me?" She growled softly at him, her eyes slightly narrowed. She saw his annoyance immediately, but knew deep down he wasn't really all that annoyed. "Your presumptions never ceases to amaze me, sir." She all but cooed at him.