The Interview Read online

  But maybe Jacob was right. Perhaps the market was growing up, their taste buds expanding in a new, more rewarding direction. A great steak was still a fantastic meal and she’d never allow the various cuts that she kept as staples on the menu to be taken off. But there was always room in a good restaurant to grow and change if it wanted to survive for another decade. And she planned on keeping Ale around for a lot longer than that.

  “Rabbit,” he began, looking as if he were thinking aloud as he leaned back against the island and looked up at her old, rail station style lanterns. They were antiques transformed to work with modern technology—a blending of an old, stylish classic and modern convenience.

  “That’s a good start, but just offering a roasted rabbit dish won’t cut it. Come on, Jacob, think a bit more. I know you’ve got something else under that shiny head of black hair. Give me something more,” Anne demanded.

  He blushed, whether from embarrassment or something else she couldn’t tell, and she wasn’t about to ask. He’d have to do better than that if he wanted this job, though if she were honest with herself, he was already miles ahead of anyone else she’d interviewed.

  Jacob’s green eyes met hers solidly. Anne challenged him, refusing to look away. He was young and needed discipline, training and more experience. She was willing to give it to him, in whatever capacity he wanted, but he had to know his place as well, and it would only be over her when she allowed it.

  He looked away first and Anne smiled, knowing he’d start to learn his way soon enough. Especially if he stayed near her for any length of time. Which she secretly hoped he did.

  “Ostrich,” he blurted.

  Anne raised a dark eyebrow. “What do you know of ostrich, Jacob? If I were to give you a loin, how would you prepare it?”

  He fidgeted for a moment but quickly recovered, this time looking far more in control of himself and sure of his answer. “Ostrich is an exceptionally lean meat that takes well to a variety of flavors. A quick sear works for it, though roasting it allows for more flavor to get in there.”

  Though he sounded like he was reciting something out of a rare meats textbook, Anne had to give him credit for thinking on his feet. It was another skill all chefs needed to learn right away. She wouldn’t allow him free rein with her brigade immediately, in fact she imagined that the transition would take a good six months before he’d truly be the executive chef she’d be comfortable leaving her Ale with. But he had a glimmer of the man she wanted in that position.

  Among others.

  Anne nodded and approached him, her heels clicking against the pale, travertine tile below her. She brushed her fingertips against the light stubble of his jaw and chin. He appeared uncertain, his arms frozen to his sides as she trailed her fingers down the side of his throat to rest against the exposed patch of his collar bone where the jacket split.

  “Are you seeing anyone, Jacob?” she asked him. She had a code—if he said yes she would walk away. He’d get the job, he was perfect for it. But she would not explore this attraction to him outside of her own mind. But if he wasn’t…well… That possibility was as tantalizing as fresh strawberries with aged balsamic vinegar and rich chocolate custard. She licked her lips, the thoughts of her favorite indulgence reminding her of what else she enjoyed. Namely beautiful men like Jacob.

  He shook his head. “I’m not. Are…” He swallowed thickly and Anne watched, fascinated as his Adam’s apple bobbed against the pad of her thumb. “Are you?”

  Smiling, she undid the first button on his jacket. “No. You’ve got a choice to make here, Jacob. And you’ve got the job, so don’t think that your decision in this matter is at all dependent on your position at Ale. That one is sealed for you. This would be a private, extremely discrete matter between the two of us. Do you understand?”

  “I think I do.”

  He sounded uncertain and his beautiful green eyes shifted to the side, further adding to her suspicion that what would come next would throw him off guard.

  “I want you in my bed. For this afternoon at the very least.” Anne undid the next of his buttons, a surge of heat spreading down her legs. She shifted, pressing her thighs together to relieve some of the pressure. “You’ll do as I say and enjoy submitting to my desires above your own. Do well and this could be something more long-term. Share what happens between us with anyone else and you’ll never be invited back.”

  His eyes went wide as he stared down at her and, for a fraction of a moment, Anne was afraid she’d misjudged him. But then he bent his head, opened up to her and offered himself for a kiss. She took his mouth eagerly, tasting the meal he’d made for her on his tongue and leaning into his touch as he brought his muscular arms around her back. He held her close, drifting his hands over her shoulders and back, trailing them down her spine.

  She undid the remaining buttons on his jacket, the little black dots moving under her experienced hands. Someone else might have simply torn his jacket from him. But she knew how important a chef’s jacket was in their profession and she wouldn’t do that to him—or it—just for the sake of getting to him faster. She had plenty of time to enjoy him all she wanted. His jacket slid off his shoulders and she ran her hands over his arms and the sleeveless tank he wore underneath. It went as well, joining his jacket on the counter behind him as he reached his big hands down to cup her ass, pulling her tight against him. Anne lifted her leg and hooked it around his waist, giving him better access as he slid his hands to the slit between her thighs and hooked his fingers on the silk of her panties.

  He tried to tug them down and she stepped away, not wanting to fuck him in her kitchen, because that was where this was leading. “Not yet, Jacob. In my bed,” she panted, giving him an explanation as she moved farther away from him, putting some space between them. The separation was difficult for her and she glanced around, looking for a suitable surface for them. Finding none, she went back to her original idea of having him in her large and quite comfortable bed.

  He nodded. “Show me the way.”

  Smiling, she took his hand and pulled him through her apartment to the last door at the end of the hall. She stepped into her beautiful pale blue bedroom. It was tidy and perfectly put together with a mix of Victorian touches and modern accessories. None of that mattered to her now though, as she moved Jacob to her bed.

  “Undress me,” she demanded, holding her arms out to him. She was worried he might become a placid man whom she could easily control. If he was, she’d be bored of him within the hour. But he surprised her by obeying her order in his own way. He lifted her onto the bed and covered her with his big body, resting her against the thick mattress. His hips dipped against the V in her thighs, pressing his hard cock against the silk of her panties as her skirt bunched up around her thighs.

  His kisses were erratic—he worshiped first her lips then her cheek before he trailed his tongue down to her neck and he worked his fingers on the buttons of her blouse. The thin material fell away, exposing her breasts to him. Groaning, he rubbed the outside of her pussy through her panties, making her moist as he sucked at her hard nipples through the silk of her bra. He soaked the material then quickly moved on to the next, moaning into her breasts as he moved against her, grinding her into the bed beneath them.

  “My clothes,” Anne reminded him, gasping and eager to get to the next step, where she’d see a grown up Jacob naked and begging beneath her. But first he’d have to please her. Then, if he was good, she’d let him inside.

  “Right. Sorry.” He lifted himself up, balancing on one arm as he helped take off her shirt then reached behind her to undo her bra. She gasped as her bra came away, exposing her to the cool air. Her nipples tightened and she brought her fingers away from his thick shoulders in order to tease them into hard peaks.

  Jacob kissed down her sternum, then her belly, circling her navel with his tongue then sliding her skirt and panties off in one quick motion.

  “Fuck, you’re beautiful,” he gasped, bringing his h
ands up to her hips as he moved his tongue along her inner thighs.

  Anne smiled. She kept in shape, fortunately keeping her curves in the process as well. Men loved her breasts and she enjoyed having them played with. “Now you,” she said, nodding to his pants. She kicked off her heels then brought one of her hands to her swollen folds while keeping the other on her breast. She played roughly with her nipple, squeezing hard enough to feel pain as she watched him take off the rest of his clothes.

  His muscular stomach ended in a thatch of dark curls and she followed them down with her eyes to his thick cock, standing proudly against his stomach. She licked her lips, imagining how good he’d feel inside her, how she’d stretch around him as he filled her. He got on the bed again, kneeling between her thighs, and stroked his cock from tip to base, spreading the clear pre-cum around. He leaned forward, moving up her body but she stopped him with a firm hand on his chest.

  “Not yet,” she said, grinning as she slid her hand to his hair.

  “No?”

  Anne shook her head. “Lick me first.”

  It took a moment for him to figure out what she meant but when he did he gave her a little smile. She kept a firm hand on his head and spread her thighs, making more room for him on the bed. The first warm puff of his breath against her clit sent shivers through her, making her throb for him. Then his tongue pressed her stiff nub and all breath escaped her lungs. She tightened her hand in his hair and held him to her clit. He moved her thighs to his shoulders and she crossed her ankles over his spine, pulling him in even closer as he stroked her sensitive clit with his tongue.

  Anne trembled against his mouth, moaning as he worked his way between her thighs and teased her clit. “Damn you’re good at this,” she panted. His deep chuckle sent breaths of hot air over her body and she shivered in his hold.

  He slid a finger into her warmth, causing her to buck against him. A second finger quickly joined the first, stretching her and making her gasp. The heat in her core coiled into a tight ball, threatening to send her over the edge. She bit her bottom lip and shook her head. Just thinking about him being under her pushed her climax closer and she moaned loudly. Not yet. She’d come when he was in her.

  “Jacob… Stop…” she gasped. “Fuck. I’m going to come.”

  He grinned up at her, his green eyes sparkling wickedly. “Then do it. Let me taste you.”

  Tempting as his offer was, she wouldn’t give in that easily. “Soon. When you’re buried inside me.”

  He gulped and nodded, slowly sitting back up. When he was kneeling, she crawled toward him then lay on her belly between his thighs. The length of his thick cock was in front of her and she pressed her cheek against it, feeling its weight against her cool skin. “Hands behind you, hang onto the footboard,” she commanded as he reached for her. He hesitated. Though she was looking squarely at his cock, she saw his right hand clench then release. After a moment or two of indecision, he appeared to take her command for exactly what it was—an order—and did as she’d told him.

  She breathed in his scent deeply and nuzzled the base of his cock with the tip of her nose. He was young, perfect and all male. Exactly what she needed at that moment. And, given a bit of direction, he appeared to take orders fairly well. She didn’t doubt that if she kept him around there would be a few missteps here and there, but she could deal with them. She hadn’t been around a well-trained sub in over a year and the peace of having a perfectly willing partner was so very tempting.

  Anne licked her lips then ran them along the underside of Jacob’s cock, making him jump erratically and suck in his breath on a wild hiss that sent shivers along her spine. He moved forward, pushing his cock against her mouth and though it may have been simply a reaction, it could not be allowed to continue. “Uh huh,” she scolded him. “You move when I give you permission. Not before. This is my playtime. You had yours. Now be a good boy and hold still.”

  “Yes, Chef.” His quiet acceptance sent a shiver of desire through her. As did his formal use of her title. Though she’d called him by his name, he hadn’t broken formality and called her by her own. The difference he clearly placed between them thrilled and excited her, making her even wetter.

  Grinning wickedly, she wrapped her fingers around the base of his cock and pulled upward toward his swollen head. She brought her lips to his sac, sucking him as she moved her hand over his thick length. She teased him, alternating between her hand and tongue as she stroked his shaft. The low noises coming from his throat told her he was becoming increasingly desperate for his own climax. Good, she wanted him on the edge—somewhere between desperation and madness was where she found her greatest pleasure. And today she’d be sharing that moment with him.

  Smiling and very nearly throbbing with need, she slid back onto her knees, though she was sure to keep her hand on him, her pale fingers a brilliant contrast to the tanned muscles of his lower stomach.

  “Lie down on your back, arms above your head,” she instructed him.

  “Are you going to fuck me now?” he asked softly, his warm green eyes following her movements as she rose from the bed.

  Chuckling, Anne went to her dresser. It gleamed in the soft light of the room, its ebony surface recently restored to its original glory. It looked new, with barely a mark on it despite being from the early 1800’s. She’d paid a hefty price to make sure of it. “Would you like that?” she asked, running her fingers along the gleaming surface of the dark wood. Aside from her knives, this piece was her most prized possession. And it held her greatest desires.

  “Yes.”

  She pulled open the small top drawer and took out a soft, finely braided flogger that had cost her more than most chefs made in a month. But for the quality she desired, the price was no object. She brought it down with a loud smack against her outer thigh, testing the familiar weight of the piece in her hands and the bite of the strands against her heated skin before reaching in to pluck a small foil package from the box she always kept at the ready.

  Anne turned toward Jacob, pleased to see that he had followed her instructions and stretched himself over the bed, his arms hanging loosely over her footboard. His heavy cock stood erect against his stomach, asking to be fucked, while the warmth of his gaze nearly begged for the same. Keeping the flogger close by her side, she walked around to the foot of the bed. Her thighs brushed against his fingertips but he made no move to grab for her. Bending low, she rewarded his control with a kiss.

  “You grew up well, Jacob.” She straightened up then pulled the silk ties from the bottom of the bed along with the thin pillow she kept for just such an occasion as this.

  “Thank you, Chef.” He watched her, tilting his head to see what she was doing as she placed a pillow under his wrists to keep them from becoming sore against the wooden footboard. She secured his arms above his head, checking each of his wrists to make sure the silk wasn’t too tight.

  “Has anyone ever tied you down before?” she asked, coming back to the side of the bed.

  He shook his head and tested his wrists. “No, Chef.”

  Watching him carefully, she was pleased to see that the restraints didn’t appear to upset him. There was no worry or fear in his face, only curiosity and the heady desire that flushed his tanned cheeks.

  “You’ll have a safe word,” she informed him, her fingers stilling on the tight muscles of his forearms.

  “I don’t want one.”

  Smiling, she shook her head. “Too bad. I want you to say ‘marmalade’ if you need to be let go. Can you do that for me, Jacob?”

  “Yes, Chef.”

  His breath caught as she joined him on the bed, placing a thigh on either side of his slender hips. Placing the flogger on the bed beside her knee, she carefully opened the condom wrapper and, after tossing the trash into the bin beside her headboard, slid the rubber over his engorged cock.

  He made no protest to her safety concerns. Perhaps he was just that smart since he couldn’t possibly have known that a
sking to go without a condom would have had him thrown out on his naked ass. She smiled down at him and positioned herself over his cock. Kissing him, she tasted herself on his lips and felt his cock jerk forward to hit her hand as she guided him toward her body. Anne gasped loudly as he entered her, her body easily adjusting to his unfamiliar shaft. She moved against him, breathing him in as his cock slowly pushed inside her.

  “Fuck yeah,” he groaned, breaking their kiss.

  Anne moaned, agreeing with him fully as her heavy breasts rubbed against the thin hairs of his chest. She whimpered, lowering herself fully onto his cock then leaning back, trying him out. He was an amazing fit, large enough to fill her completely and thick enough to stretch her around his width. She rolled her hips, helping him hit all of the best parts within her, then reached for her flogger.

  His eyes followed her hand as she lifted it then draped the fine strands over her sensitive breasts. “Know what this is?”

  He shook his head.

  “A flogger. The sensation of it hitting skin is delicious.” She demonstrated for him on her belly, the wide patch of red lines and the heat that followed them making her shiver. His cock jumped and she smiled, knowing the unconscious reaction for what it was—an interest in knowing what the flogger felt like.

  Anne brought the strands down gently against his chest, following the path of the flogger over his nipples with her eyes as she teased him. “Tell me now, Jacob, can you be marked?”

  He sucked in a breath. “Yes, Chef.”

  Smiling, Anne nodded and brought the flogger a few inches above his left nipple. “Do you want to be?”

  He squirmed and managed a small smile.

  “Tell me.”

  His smile turned into a frown but he didn’t exactly look upset. More confused. “I want to be marked,” he tried, sounding hesitant.