"But we can't prove it...." said Thea again, for the thousandth time in the last hour.
"She used my drawings!"
"She may have, Fran; but if she did, she destroyed your originals. The master sketches she showed me were all sealed by her. I'm sorry."
"I'll sue her. I'll sue the whole company! I'll...hmmph-unmph! " Thea wrapped one arm around me and put her other hand over my mouth.
"You'll DO exactly what I tell you," she whispered softly, but firmly in my ear. I struggled, but she had a grip around my waist. I relaxed in her hold. "Good girl. Now, take a deep breath....good. Take another deep breath." She breathed with me, and I felt myself coming down to earth.
She took her hand away from my mouth. "But L'Atrice is gonna p-umph..." Thea didn't let me finish.
"You are going to calm down. Little lady. Just calm down and listen to me. I know you're upset about these drawings, and frankly, so am I. But that's just part of the game, sometimes. A nasty part of the game-- and L'Atrice is really good at making up her own rules." I stiffened with anger, but Thea went on, her voice very soft and soothing.
"You're good, Fran. Your ideas are great. And one of these days, everybody's going to know that. Right now, you've just got to bite the bullet and be patient. L'Atrice may have stolen your idea this time, but believe me, she'll get what she deserves.... And so will you."
She adjusted her grip around my waist, enveloping me rather than restricting me. I became aware of the warmth and curves of her body behind me, and became dizzy with the wave of desire that rushed through me. I leaned against her, trying to keep my balance.
She removed her hand from my mouth, but only to replace it with her lips with a firm, lingering kiss. When I opened my eyes, I saw nothing but her full, sensuous lips. They were moving, instructing me.
"You do exactly what I tell you, baby. Everything's gonna just fine."
I was mesmerized.
Soft, silky smooth skin. The aroma of passion and perfume. The taste of wine and cinnamon. Heat. Fire. Fantasy.
"You'll do exactly what I tell you to do," Thea whispered in my ear. And I released myself to her.
