Command Performance Read Online Free PDF Page A

similar business proposition—to act as his submissive-for-hire.
    “All of you shut up,” Nell said. “Our situation was completely different.”
    “Yes, very different.” Jeremy gave his wife a salacious look. “For one, you weren’t by any stretch of the imagination a ‘nice girl’ when I met you.”
    “Well, Mireille Durand is a nice girl,” Mason said. “It would just take a few dates. Some photos for the tabloids. I can trot her out to the awards shows, I guess.”
    Constance waved her hands to get their attention and signed a rather long statement with a frown.
    “She’s right,” Kai said. “How are you planning to break it off when you don’t need her anymore? I mean, assuming she’s not your perfect match.” He gave Mason a look. “And if she’s wholesome, I doubt she will be.”
    Mason shrugged. “Couples break up. Like I said, we might not make it past a few dates.”
    “But won’t everyone assume she broke up with you because you’re too subversive?” Nell asked.
    The table fell silent. “So what are you saying?” Mason scratched his forehead. “I’d have to go out with her for more than a few dates?”
    “That’s why I think you should just be up front with her—” Jeremy started, but the women waved him down.
    “I think she’s pretty, and you already said she’s a nice person,” said Nell. “I think you should be your gallant, sweet self and date her for a while. Six months maybe. That’s not really that long. Introduce her to people and get her into those movies she wants to be in, for God’s sake. Make her so famous that when you break up with her, she won’t even notice until her publicist points it out.”
    Mason thought a moment. “It might work. Maybe we can help each other out.”
    “But don’t phrase it like that,” said Nell. “It’s so unromantic.” She cut her eyes at her husband. His answer to that was to wrestle her out of her chair and over his lap for a few wild spanks while she shrieked and laughed uncontrollably. Mason watched in jealous amusement. What he wouldn’t do for a fun, kinky relationship like theirs. It’s not like he could grab Mireille Durand and turn her over his lap, even after they’d been dating for a while. Jesus, why couldn’t he just find a nice, perverted woman to settle down with?
    Because his goddamned PR problems had to be fixed first.
    After dinner, Kai broke out the champagne, and soon the loaded glances were flying. Nell’s impromptu spanking had set the tone for the rest of the evening. Mason’s problems were forgotten, replaced by an undercurrent of sexual energy. Jeremy, Nell, Kai, and Constance had been having foursomes for a while. Just before the ball dropped, the couples discreetly excused themselves from the sunken living room to file upstairs to the Chandlers’ play space.
    Mason looked over at Sats and put down his champagne. “I suppose we should leave and let the fabulous four do what they do best.”
    “You could stay, you know. Join them. They wouldn’t mind.”
    “Ah, but I’d be a third wheel. Or fifth wheel, I suppose. Maybe you and I can...?”
    Satya sobered and shook her head. “New Year’s resolution. No more casual sex.”
    “Oh, come on. Really? Why?”
    “It’s time for me to stop. Not that I haven’t enjoyed it, but it’s keeping me from moving on and doing the things I should be doing. Like finding a real guy.”
    “I’m a real guy.”
    She took his face in her hands and squeezed his cheeks. “You’re a mirage. A fantasy.”
    “Yes, to everyone but you. You let me be real. I need you.” He hated how desperate he sounded, but it was true.
    Satya was unmoved, of course. “Don’t overreact, Mace. It’s time for you to move on too. Jess left you two years ago.”
    “Thanks for yet another reminder.” How could she be so glib about all this? Because she was Satya and she was heartless. “You should have told me last time that it was going to be the end.”
    “Why? So