COMPLETED | Take Me Down The Rabbit Hole (BDSM | 18+)

XI

An eternity later, Aspen finally turned off his computer and began clearing his desk.
He was tempted to take his tie off all the way, but that was against his own workplace etiquette, and well... Better not.
Instead, he loosened the knot and draped his suit jacket over his arm, trying to escape the building as fast as he could.
His office phone rang on the table and he picked it up, annoyed. "I am leaving, Natalie," he snapped into the phone, but his secretary snapped right back. "Sir, Alan Caulan is here to see you. He said it's very urgent."
"Send him in."
As if on cue, Alan walked into his office - almost as if he had been listening at the door.
The door clicked shut behind him, and he looked around the office for a moment before he focused on Aspen. "On your knees."
Aspen looked back at him before he slowly set the phone back in its spot and came around his desk. "Here?"
"Yes, here. Right now. On your knees."
Aspen wet his lips with his tongue before he dropped on his knees in front of Alan.
"Next time, I will not repeat myself, you hear me?"
"We're-"
"In public? Yes. You'll get used to that, I promise you."
Aspen fixed his eyes on the fabric of his dress pants, but it took Alan only a second to dig his hand into Aspen's hair and pull his head back, effectively forcing Aspen to look at him. "Do you always snap at your employees, Aspen?"
"N-no."
"No, what?"
"No, Master," Aspen corrected himself, cringing at Alan's tone. "I do not snap at my employees."
"A shame that you had to do it right when I was standing in front of her desk, no?"
"Yes, Master."
"I was really looking forward to rewarding you once we get home, but perhaps-"
"Please, I- It was an accident."
Alan pursed his lips. "Think a moment about what would have happened had your secretary been someone you should be holding in high regard, Aspen."
"I value Natalie a lot, Master. I promise you, it was an accident."
"I should spank you," Alan started. "That would be adequate for your little ... crime."
Aspen flinched as Alan took yet another step towards him, the grip in his hair tightening. "You cannot get away with things like this, Aspen. Only bad little submissives have public outbursts, do you understand that?"
"Yes, of course, Master."
"You're not getting the reward I had thought up for tonight. A shame, really, you're beautiful all exposed for me."
Oh. A tingle went through Aspen's body, and he could feel the heat rising in his cheeks. What wouldn't he give to be able to hide his face right now? He reached up, tentatively, with his hands, but Alan noticed.
"Nu-uh," he mumbled, clicking his tongue. "Hands behind your back."
Aspen obliged, gulping.
"You should be embarrassed, Aspen. I'm in the middle of scolding you, and still, all you can think of is my hand around your needy dick, huh?"
Aspen opened his mouth, gasped for air - and then closed it again, averting his eyes.
"I'm going to have fun punishing you," Alan announced, and then he finally took a  big step back, effectively breaking the hold he had on Aspen's hair. "Get your things, we are leaving."
Aspen allowed himself to exhale softly before he shakily rose from the floor and made his way to his desk to collect his jacket and briefcase. He waited for Alan to follow him to the door before he opened it and followed Aspen from the office.
"You'll apologize to Natalie," Alan whispered, reaching for Aspen's briefcase.
Aspen surrendered the leather bag without a word and knocked on the surface of the bar that separated Natalie's desk from the rest of the entrance hall.
Natalie looked up, wide-eyed, and pushed her glasses up her nose. "Yes, Sir?"
"I didn't mean to snap at you. I had a rough day,  and I'm sorry I let it out on you."
"Oh, that. It's alright, Sir, I'll see you tomorrow."
Aspen gave a curt nod. "Good evening."
Natalie nodded in response and then went back to her work, furiously typing away at whatever she was working on.
Aspen followed Alan from the building like a puppy.
"Leave your car in the garage," Alan said gruffly, "you're driving with me."
He led Aspen to his car without giving him a chance to reply, and Aspen slid into the passenger seat.
"If this happens again, you'll have hell to pay, pet."
"Yes, Master."
Alan started the car and maneuvered it through the traffic of New York rush hour, sighing every once in a while.
Aspen leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes, the words Alan had said to him playing over and over in his head. He hated that Alan seemed to know exactly what to say to get him to turn into a mess. And now, he had to come to terms with the fact that it was very likely he would go to bed tonight more than frustrated.
"What's on your mind?"
"The punishment."
"Ah, yes. I might just spank you."
"But that hurts!"
"And you think you didn't hurt Natalie's feelings by snapping at her? You deserve what you have coming for you, that much I will promise you. And if you resist your punishment without a valid reason, you'll just make it worse for yourself."
Aspen exhaled again and fiddled with his thumbs, nervously glancing at Alan. "You're mad at me."
"You haven't seen mad. No, I'm just upset. I didn't think my best friend would snap at his employees."
"Neither did I," Aspen mumbled in response. "I'm sorry it happened when you were watching. I-"
"Empty words," Alan interrupted him.
"I-" Aspen started, "I am sorry."
"You can apologize again after your punishment. Don't you dare think that sorry will cut it."
It was then that Alan finally pulled into the garage under the condo - and Aspen's stomach was in knots.