For two weeks, Dominic avoided his home. Instead, he often slept at Cramer Industries. His office there was merely a single room of an expansive penthouse on the top floor of their headquarters. He had a plush bed, fully stocked closet, and a few members of Tudor's staff on hand to take care of meals and cleaning. A home away from home, or in this case, a bunker to hide in, while two tumultuous ladies stayed at his estate.

At least with Mir, he desperately wanted to see her, but was too afraid of what he might find there. Resentment didn't linger within the tender pink scratches on his chest. The mental assault and the physical repercussions were part of his penance, as far as he was concerned. However, it wasn't enough. It would never be enough. And every time he looked at her, he'd picture the blade in her chest and the blood dripping from her throat. It may have been an illusion, but it branded his memories with as much clarity, if not more so, as real, physical traumas from his past.

He didn't know what to expect from Mir, but he promised her the ability to live life without fear of her gift. He would do everything in his power to grant that, even if it wouldn't be enough to redeem him.

Karina, on the other hand, was a completely different story. He avoided her like the plague because she was one. Toxic, all-consuming, and painful.

Unfortunately, he needed to discuss Mir's progress, and Walt could only relay so much between the two of them.

"Good morning, Ms. Sokolov."

"Ms. Sokolov? Why so formal?"

She sauntered into his office in a slinky white dress, the fabric sheer enough to hint at her underwear. Dominic, however, was simply grateful she was wearing something underneath it.

"Because, Ms. Sokolov, you are an employee and I am your employer. The way we address each other should reflect that relationship."

She stood at the chair poised before his desk as she considered his words. After a moment of thought, a devious smile curled up her cheek.

"Of course, Mr. Cramer," she replied in a seductive purr. She then sat down with her long legs crossed so that the slit in her dress exposed the length of her creamy thigh. "How may I serve you?"

He repressed his need to roll his eyes and instead interlaced his fingers upon his desktop, resting on his elbows as he leaned forward.

"I want to discuss Ms. Hart's progress."

"Considering how obstinate she is, I think I'm doing a stellar job."

Though pride rang in her voice, the coquettish curl to her words had evaporated. Dom took a deep breath as he released some of the tension in his stiff muscles.

"You have been." He leaned back and ran a hand through his hair. "Perhaps you're a bit brash, but I knew what I was bringing to the table with you, so I have no complaints. In fact, your forthright nature is what we need to combat her strong will. However, keep in mind we're not trying to break her, we're only trying to break down her walls. We need her to rely on self-control rather than a hard exterior."

"I understand, Mr. Cramer."

Dom noted how she lingered on his name and bit her lip, but he kept his face stony and silent. Without a reaction, she rolled her shoulders and continued.

"But the armor is there and it must be cracked."

"Or you get her to take it off willingly."

"I hear she's been willing to take it off for you in the past. Why don't you train her instead?"

She didn't repress the bite of agitation in her voice, and she didn't hide her sharp glare from him. Dom may have many qualms with Karina and her tactics, but he respected her unflinching determination. Which is why he let the comment slide off his back before addressing her concerns.

"I will not sit here and pretend that I didn't experience some intimacy with Ms. Hart."

A series of snapping sounds disrupted his words, and he looked at Karina, only to find her observing her hand instead of him. With a cool expression upon her darkened face, she opened her palm and sent small colored pieces from her hand over to a nearby waste bin using her telekinesis.

"Pardon me," she said in a bland monotone, "it seems I've broken a few nails."

Better than my chair, he thought as he recalled the night he broke up with Karina and the resulting tornado of destruction brought upon by her fierce emotions.

"That's all right. In fact, I'm quite impressed with your restraint. You are truly a talented Gifted and the mastery you have over your emotions is to be admired. That's why we hired you to help, Ms. Hart."

It wasn't much of an olive branch, but a smile returned to her face as she shifted in her seat.

"I'm happy to share my expertise, Mr. Cramer. You'll find I have many tricks that I've developed since I last saw you a year ago."

"That's great, and I'm hoping some of what you've acquired regarding control over your emotions can be incorporated into training. Pushing her limits is well and good, but maybe... Karina, what are you doing?"

"I thought it was Ms. Sokolov now."

The purr in her voice had returned and so had her brash determination, which Dominic felt firsthand as an invisible force pressed into his thighs and teased the base of his cock.

If you give a mouse a cookie...

"Exactly," he growled, his hands gripping the armrests of his chair as she rubbed the inseam of his pants, tracing his growing length. "I am your boss, not your lover. We don't have a blanket acceptance of these kinds of actions anymore. I don't want you touching me like this and I'm telling you to stop."

The pressure withdrew immediately. Karina, however, wasn't one to surrender easily, even if she recognized the boundary Dominic had set.

"Fine, I will not touch you, mentally or physically," she said with a sniff. "But, that doesn't mean I can't touch myself." Her words grew with anticipation as a devious idea blossomed inside her.

She bit down on her lower lip and cast her gaze over from the corners of her painted eyes. Without further warning, the straps of her dress slid down her shoulders, revealing the lacy white bra underneath. A moan curled in her throat as she slid deeper into her seat, the cups of her bra peeling off to reveal the pert breasts beneath. With her fingers occupied with clenching the armrests, an invisible hand pinched her nipples, tugging and pulling. Then the skirt of her dress lifted, revealing a matching white thong, which dragged down her legs without the help of any visible force. Her knees pushed out and her wet lips spread open so he could see her throbbing core. Panting and twisting beneath her invisible hands, she writhed upon his chair, arching her back in ecstasy.

He only needed a minute for his proper brain to kick into gear and pry him out of his chair.

"Feel free to work out whatever you need to in here, but I expect you to focus on mental control in future sessions with Ms. Hart."

He did what he could to walk out of his office at a calm, easy pace, despite the hairs rising on the back of his neck and the hardened member between his legs.

I'm not sure my balls can survive these two.

With a sigh, he headed for the garage, intending to spend another night faraway from the beguiling women in his house.