The Arrangement

By Cleo Taurus

Maggie thought life as she knew it was over, until she met the dark, enigmatic Dominant Master Joe. He alone could give her what she needed, could fill her dark desires, and the two came to the perfect arrangement for them both. But Joe had his own secrets, and a thick, protective wall that she couldn’t scale over as well as a darkness that both thrilled and frightened her. When something happens that brings them together, will she be able to pull down his barriers? Will he be able to make her understand who and what he truly is?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dragon Guild Publishing
• Release date: Apr 8, 2014
• ISBN: 9781941583012

Book preview

THE ARRANGEMENT

By Cleo Taurus

www.cleotaurus.com

Published by Dragon Guild Management & Publishing

www.thedragonguild.com

Copyright 2014 Cleo Taurus

ISBN 978-1-941583-01-2

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The Arrangement Copyright 2014 Cleo Taurus

Edited by Kat Marshall & Colette Stone

Cover Art by Reed Lane

Smashwords Edition

With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Dragon Guild Management & Publishing, PO Box 667, Warrenville, IL, 60555.

Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to all those who have served, and who came home

less than whole, especially the wonderful women of our Armed Services. To

Colette, my red-pen-loving friend, as always, your help, you ear, and your

heart has been invaluable. To my pal, Duke, who helped with some of the

medical jargon. Big, big thanks! To Ava who read this and said OMG! Big

thanks to you as well! Thank you, Pearl, who encouraged me so much, and to

Kat, my editor, my best friend, who constantly encourages me to be the best,

to paint the picture. Without you, I’m not sure I could do it.

Chapter One

They met every week, on the same day, at the same time. It was an arrangement that suited them both. It was the only way this would work between them for very different reasons. Maggie didn’t like the looks of pity, and Joe couldn’t stand the looks of revulsion he got every time someone saw his scarred face. They met during the day when the club was closed and only the cleaning staff was present. Joe made sure the crew that cleaned his Dungeon was gone before she arrived. Maggie was never late. It was the one appointment she made sure she was on time for.

On this particular Wednesday, promptly at two o’clock, she arrived at the club. The town car was comfortable, and the driver Joe had sent for her was always polite and helpful. Max held her wheelchair as she slid across the leather back seat of the town car. Maggie had stopped fighting the driver because he always insisted on pushing her until she was inside the club. But he heeded her request that he leave her just inside the front door. She would wheel herself into the dark, quiet inner sanctum. Joe was always in the same place, standing in front of the long round bar, usually with a bottle of water in his hand. Another bottle of spring water was always waiting for her on the bar next to a clean, white towel. They rarely spoke after their initial greeting. He would ask how she was feeling, Maggie would answer, and then she would ask about his week. It was their routine, and it worked for both of them.

They always discussed what device he was going to bind her to. The two now had an easy rapport, and as always, Joe was aware that with her handicapped legs, they had to be careful not to put too much stress on her upper body. Maggie was paralyzed from the hips down, a casualty of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. A nurse with the rank of Lieutenant in the Army, she was looking forward to a long career in the Armed services. But when a bomb went off near the medical center she was stationed at, it had crippled her.

That she could still feel anything at all was a miracle, at least that’s what the doctors kept telling her. In the hospital and then rehab for over a year, Maggie had learned how to move around in her chair and how to survive in a world where she was now usually looking at someone’s waist. She had gone through the angry, bitter stage, had bargained with God for the use of her legs again, and had