Sophie Oak - Chasing Bliss

New York City

Gemma took a deep breath as she slid the key into the door. It had taken way less time to get the motions done and filed than shed originally thought. They were now up to date on the case, and Patrick would be able to dazzle the partners. Shed told Patrick she would be gone all night. Now she could surprise him with both a brilliant presentation, guaranteed to get her the promotion shed deserved for the last two years, and her own dark desires. She was going to talk to him, make him understand what she wanted to try.

Hey, a guy should like a little kink in his future bride, right?

She, Gemma Wells, was a little freaky, and she was getting tired of hiding it. She needed to just walk up to Patrick and find out if this thing would really work.

Pat? She set down her briefcase, a Chanel bag shed scrimped and saved for. It was big enough to carry everything. Her laptop. The files she needed. The two thumb drives she kept on her at all times because she had to download Patricks work or he lost it. That bag was a gateway to her future, which was bright, so bright. It had to be. She was trying to follow the old look successful, be successful law. Im home, babe.

Gemma turned on the light, illuminating the tiny, perfectly decorated living room. For Manhattan it was livable, but Gemma had been raised by hippies who had spent way too much time at outdoor concerts. She was pretty sure shed been conceived to a Phish song. Cramped. So cramped. Sometimes she felt like she couldnt breathe, but this was the place to be, so she was here.

Gemma stretched and thought about taking off the silk shirt she was wearing. It was deeply confining, and she was always worried she would wrinkle it, but it was designer and appearances were everything. Patrick had taught her that.

She sighed. Was he already asleep? He tended to be a night owl. Maybe she should have gone back to her place, but Patricks was damn near perfect. She should know. Shed been the one to work with the designer. Shed hitched her wagon to Patricks three years before, and she hadnt let up. Not when hed been promoted over her. Not when hed taken credit for her work. They were a team. She would get her reward in the end.

The only trouble was she was starting to wonder if she should really marry him.

Gemma kicked off her Jimmy Choos. The shoes were gorgeous, but god, they hurt after twelve hours. Even as tired as she was, her heart was pounding a bit. She needed to know.

Patrick would either be in or she would be out.

She walked to his bedroom door, building her courage. Up until now, their sex life had been harried and a bit circumspect. She wasnt entirely sure what he would say when she told him what she wanted.

There was a large mirror just outside the bedroom door. Gemma caught a glimpse of herself. She wasnt unattractive. She was fashionably slender, with a chic blonde bob shed paid a fortune for. Sure, shed always preferred her hair longer and less platinum, but this was truly professional looking. And her makeup was flawless. She was a designer version of the girl who had grown up eating tofu and listening to lectures on being cruelty-free. There was no such thing. The world was cruel, and it paid to understand that little fact of life.

Gemma made sure she looked cosmetically perfect. She tried to forget that just two days ago Patrick had mentioned that a lot of women her age were already getting Botox. It wasnt bad. Not yet. Just a few lines. Shit. Maybe she should get a little. Just in between her eyes.

Deep breath. She would walk in and wake him up in a very sexy way and then she would say Fuck. What would she say?

Patrick, I want you to see a sex therapist with me. Ive been reading a lot about power exchange in the bedroom, and I think we should talk about it. There. That was perfectly reasonable. And when he asked what she meant? I would like very much for you to take command of me in the bedroom.

Since everyone thinks you have command of me professionally, when we both know I tell you what to do, say, and wear. Since we both damn well know that you couldnt get your head out of your own hot ass long enough to have an actual professional thought, it might be nice for you to take charge somewhere.

Yeah. She wasnt going to say that last part. Not out loud. But it was implied.

She unbuttoned the top two buttons of her Marc Jacobs blouse. If this worked out, then maybe she could move in. Hed said he wanted to wait for the wedding, but that was so old fashioned. And impractical. It was time they behaved like the two-income, upwardly mobile couple they were. And she wouldnt mind leaving her craptastic, roach-motel Brooklyn studio behind.

She was going to be successful. She was going to get what she wanted because she had worked her ass off and gone to the right schools and made all the right plays. Shed picked the right man to marry because he had a plan, too. Eventually, after their careers were fully set, they would have perfectly planned children. Yes. Willpower was all that was needed.

She put a hand on the door and then heard a little squeak.

And a moan. And that huffing noise Patrick made when he was either working out or having sex. And Patrick really didnt like to work out. She had to force him to get on the high-tech treadmill theyd bought together but kept at his place, as they did with almost every expensive purchase.

So if he wasnt exercising, hed better be masturbating.

Gemma opened the door and felt her blood pressure go straight through the roof. The hallway was dark enough that neither of the figures on the bed seemed to notice they were no longer alone. Patrick groaned and his naked ass clenched as he came, and then he immediately rolled off his partner.

That was nice. He was using his sex voice, a low growl that reminded her of a house cat with a head cold. Youre quite good, Christina.

Christina? Christina Schiller? The dumbass, just-out-of-law-school brunette with the fake tits and the faker brain? Shed graduated from some Podunk college on the West Coast more known for churning out film editors than lawyers. Shed gotten hired because the partners thought she was hot and her dad was loaded. Everyone knew that.

Thats junior partner Christina to you, she purred. There was a slight pause and a rustling of sheets. Have you told her yet? I want to make the announcement soon.

Patrick groaned, though this one had nothing to do with sex. It was the sound he made when someone wanted him to do something he didnt want to do. Babe, you know I need a day or two. We have the presentation on the Tremon Industries trial coming up. I need her to do all that research shit for me. And you know no one writes an opening argument like Gemma.

Yep. That was what shed been doing. Shed been up all night working while he was fucking Christina Big Tits and apparently promising her Gemmas job. Her heart was pounding. She knew she should move, but her feet felt stuck to the floor. It couldnt be happening. Shed worked her ass off. She was smarter than either one of the people in that bed.

There was a self-satisfied laugh that came from Christinas throat. Well, luckily my father has more money than god. As soon as I get that junior partnership, Giles and Knoxbury gets the representation contract for all of Daddys film companies. And you get me.

Yeah. Maybe you should tell her, Patrick said nervously. Shes already like put down money for the wedding and stuff. I put her off as long as I could, but she put down ten grand to reserve some hotel for the wedding.