John had watched her for a very long time, before he ever approached her. They had been working in the same office for over a year. He had been there much longer, having worked his way up through the brokerage house, after getting his master’s degree from Yale. He was forty, graying at the temples, and had never been married. He was past that age when people played matchmaker for him.

All of his friends assumed he was a confirmed bachelor. And even though he was considered devastatingly attractive by all of the females he had known over the years, no one had ever suspected—no one who knew him, anyway—had ever questioned his sexuality. He had always preferred women since he had first played doctor at the age of six with Susie Flanagan, who had lived next door. He’d had plenty of dates over the years, and several relationships. One of these had progressed to the point of them living together for a brief while, and then ended amicably.

But as he grew older, he had learned things about himself that he had not faced in his earlier, less introspective years. He had come to realize that he needed a different kind of relationship, to be happy, to feel satisfied and fulfilled. He had started investigating things that interested him, reading about things that aroused him, and finally facing his personal reality.

He was a master, a “dom” in search of a “sub,” a slave, or a submissive. He wanted the kind of total, trusting relationship that would allow this degree of trust, acceptance and love, between two people. He wanted the freedom to be himself with his partner, and for her to feel the same. He wanted it “24/7” or as much as possible.

He had gone with the “group” from the office the last few outings, when he had learned that “she” was going as well. And he had watched her in the beginning, wondering about her, listening to her participate in the conversations, the activities, and only doing so himself when he had to. He had decided that he needed to find out whether she would be interested in a “relationship.” If his instincts were correct, he would need to proceed carefully.

* * * * *

Maggie enjoyed her work at the brokerage firm. She was an administrative assistant to the junior Vice President, Mike Waters. He was a happily married man, in his late forties, with four children, and had not shown the slightest intention of doing any “chasing around the desk.”

Maggie was a beautiful woman. A natural beauty, because she didn’t wear any makeup to work, her skin was always clean, shining, and flawless, barring the occasional blemish that dared to pop up. But she just ignored it, knowing it would go away, and saw little reason to cover it up. She had left her last three jobs because of “chasers” who wouldn’t listen to reason. And she was really enjoying this job, and didn’t want to have to leave it.

Maggie was only average height, average weight, is how she described herself. She wore her waist length auburn hair in a bun, or low ponytail at the base of her neck. Her suits were always simple and loose fitting, never hinting at her curves beneath. Which was necessary, because it was her curves beneath which usually caused the chasing to start. Her eyes were a hazel-green, with dark brown lashes, and lighter colored eyebrows. Her mouth was full, curved usually in a near smile.

It had taken her friends about two months to convince her to start participating in the twice-monthly outings that people from the office would plan. They were usually for bowling, drinks after work, and occasional birthday dinner for someone. She had reluctantly joined in, and soon began having a great deal of fun. All the people involved were single, or divorced.

There had been an occasional drop-in from the other office people, who might be on their own for an evening while their spouse, or significant other, had been out or unavailable also. And there had been a few who, while separated, had joined in to stave off the loneliness. But all in all, they were all very friendly and gregarious, and she had never had any problems with any of the men. She always made sure she sat with a female friend on either side though, or the wall, or an escape rout on the other side if two of her friends were tied up. 

There were a few of the group who were looking for more than just a friendly outing, but they either “got into the groove” of the group, or dropped out. The people here were interested in long-term relationships, either a committed one, or a friendly one. Just last week, the women had all thrown a luncheon bridal shower for one of their set, who was getting married to a young man in the group.

Everyone was quite happy for them. Next weekend was the wedding, and against her better judgment, Maggie had been persuaded to be one of her bridesmaids. A very sophisticated wedding was planned, and it was an all-weekend event, being held at her fiancé’s parents, who were very wealthy people and had an estate in upper New York.

But about six months ago, John Ford had begun joining their outings. Maggie had been aware of him since she had seen him on her second day on the job. Mike had had some special papers for her to deliver to a senior Vice President’s office, and when she arrived there, the senior VP had been standing at his assistant’s desk.

Maggie had felt a jolt deep inside her the very first time she had seen John. He was a very attractive man, but the feeling had gone deeper than that. It had seemed to pull at something inside of her, like she recognized something in him, and in herself. His assistant, Carlie, had introduced them. Carlie Smith was very friendly, and had met Maggie her very first day and had taken her under her protective wing, so to speak. Maggie had returned to Mike’s office, but all the way there, she had felt as if someone was watching her.

If she had looked back, she would have seen that she was quite correct. John watched her the whole way, until she was out of sight. He had felt the jolt and the connection also. And from that point on, he had been watching Maggie silently, waiting, and wondering. Several times he had been very close to asking her out alone, but he had quickly learned that Maggie was as slippery as an eel. She managed to never be alone, with him, or any other man, he had noticed. That is only reason he started joining in on the group outings, when he learned that she was attending them also. At least here, he got closer to her than before.

* * * * *

Maggie had learned quickly from Carlie, that John’s joining their social group was a “really big deal.” No other member from the senior level joined the casual outings, even though they were free to do so. Of course, John was the only single man at the senior level. Maggie had also learned from her friend that John had asked who all the members were in their group, and then he had asked to join in.

Maggie had at first suspected that maybe it was because of her, but she had quickly disabused herself of that notion for he had never made any attempt to catch her alone, either at work, or on their outings. Of course, there had been a few times that they had been alone, but they had been accidental times. So Maggie had calmed her foolish heart, her worries, and reminded herself that if a man was interested, he didn’t beat about the bush…so to speak. He came out with it, and moved things along rapidly.

So the time they had ended up dancing together, the only slow dance of the evening, she had put down to accident. It just happened he was at her side when the music had started, and he had turned to her.

“Care to dance?” John asked softly.

From somewhere deep inside, she muttered, “Yes.”

His movements were clean and smooth, as if he’d had professional lessons even. Of course, the feeling of his arms around her, his hard body pressed against her soft one soon had her heart racing madly. She was desperately short of breath by the time the dance finally ended, and jerked away from him, out of fear of her own reactions to him.

“Is something wrong?”

His voice had been like velvet and even now she could hear it in her daydreams. Dear God! His arms around her, the scent of him, and the feel of his hard, muscular body against hers had caused her body to respond as a woman. The dampness between her upper thighs, her racing heart, and difficult breathing, had scared her. Most importantly, it had made her realize that her feelings were out of control. And that was something she didn’t allow to happen, because in the past, her feelings had usually gotten her into trouble.

She’d gone back to the table, and when he managed to sit next to her, she spent the rest of the night squirming in her seat. She was hot and needy for him; her womanly wetness had come unbidden. She felt her face flush when she had felt his gaze on her one time, and that had only made things worse. 

From that time on, she had worked hard at always keeping her female friends close at hand. She had done very well, except for last week. The group had gone out to a movie, and there had not been enough seats together, the place had been packed. She was unaware that John had worked hard at maneuvering her to be with him at the end, so they had to sit a couple of rows back from everyone else.

He didn’t touched her, but she smelled his male scent mingled with his aftershave, and felt his body heat. With each passing minute she just got hotter, and wetter. Finally the movie came to an incredibly hot love scene and two things happened. The scene had involved some light bondage to the woman, followed by the man possessing her lovingly, and completely.

At the end of the scene, Maggie had been sitting there tense, both from the scene itself, its subject, which was a bit of a surprise to her, and the proximity of John.

“I rather think that wasn’t all acting on their part. It looked like they were having too much fun.”

John’s soft whisper teased her and the side of her face. The fact that he had echoed her own thoughts was unnerving and she gasped in surprise and agreement. When she turned to look at him, there was a fire burning deep inside him and it sent a message from his inner being to hers. She wanted to break eye contact with him, but she could not. Then it was John, something on the screen capturing his attention, that turned away first. Maggie had wanted to escape to the bathroom, but she’d been afraid that her rubbery legs would not support her. And so, she had sat through the rest of the movie, trying to calm her breathing, her heart, and her racing desires to a semblance of normal.

After the movie, they had all gone out to a nearby bar, for drinks and light dinner. Maggie had grabbed Carlie, and told her she had to sit with her. She knew her friend had looked at her strangely, but she had agreed. And even though there were nine other people at the table, Maggie had felt that at times, when her eyes would stray to John, that they were alone. And she admitted to herself for the very first time that she wished they were alone. The danger of involvement at work be damned!