Page 151 of Enthrall Climax

The room been elegantly decorated to match Richard’s taste and passions. Black and white prints hung on the walls, evidence of his adventures from around the world. The gorgeous painting hanging mid-center was of Andrea Buckingham—not her face, but that body was unmistakable. The starlet had swept Richard up into a whirlwind of self-discovery. She was the woman who’d stolen his heart.

I nodded at the painting. “When does her film come out?”

“Next year.” He grinned. Richard had been the Dom who’d trained Andrea in the art of BDSM and given her an authentic edge to pull off the role. “I’m going to the Cannes Film Festival with her.”

“Good for you. Should be fun.”

“Bring Mia, she’d love it.”

“That’s generous of you.”

“So, why are you in town?” He raised a finger, wanting me to hold that thought, and pressed a button on his desk phone. “Hey, Pilar?” he called out. “Please bring us two cups of Cole Earl Grey.”

“Right away, sir,” came Pilar’s reply from the kitchen.

“She’s going to freak out.” He rolled his eyes and mimicked her accent, “Mr. Cole never did it like that.”

“Still, her pot cookies were something else.”

“True.” He arched a brow. “She was forced to make them by a wayward submissive.”

“She wasn’t forced to eat them though.”

We laughed at the fond memory of a high Pilar, and strolled over to the leather couch, the same one I’d once sat in all those months ago when I’d held meetings here. A slice of the past that brought nostalgia. Even the submissive support frame hanging from the ceiling made me reminisce. I recalled capturing Mia upside down in it and fucking her deliciously.

I miss her.

“You were about to tell me why you’re here?”

“The construction on the new building downtown is almost complete.”

“Hmm…and the real reason?”

I smiled. It was impossible to get much past this man. He was super sharp and we’d known each other long enough to see through the bullshit. “I’m here to ask a favor.”

“Anything for you.”

“First, how have things been here?” I asked. “Anything new?”

Richard updated me on the transition. It was good to hear everything had gone smoothly.

There came a bang at the door and Richard leaped to his feet and hurried over to open it. He beamed at Pilar. She had kicked the door because her hands were full carrying a tray. So very her.

Richard took the tray from her. “Look who’s here.”

Pilar’s gaze found me and she shrieked, “Dr. Cole! I should have known when Mr. Booth ordered Earl Grey.”

I got up and greeted her with a big hug. “How are you?”

She waved that off. “Always good.”

“How’s the boy?”

“He graduates soon,” she said proudly.

I swapped a glance with Richard. “Which university does he want to go to?”

She looked dumbfounded. “He’ll be getting a job.”