Author: Tara Sue Me
“Well, maybe if you’re good . . . ”
She punched him. “You know what I meant. ”
He caught her hand and brought it behind her back, stepping close, and trapping her. “I know exactly what you meant. And I want you to know it delights me that you know what the bed is, and if you’re interested in seeing it after dinner, I’ll be more than happy to show you. ”
She twisted out of his grasp, just because she felt like teasing him. “Promise?”
“Fire, Julie. You better be careful. ”
His words warmed her body and intensified the needy ache between her legs. She thought back to the previous weekend, how his body pounded into hers. The way her cl**ax overtook her. The weight of him, satisfied and sated, heavy against her.
“Why? Will you burn me, Daniel?”
“Only if you don’t consume me first. ”
• • •
They took their time talking over dinner, while eating the seafood stew Daniel had made. He kept the conversation light, talking about learning to cook from his grandmother, and how his sister was teaching her daughter how to make bread. What he didn’t talk about was anything related to sex, the meeting two days before, or the playroom under their feet. She eventually realized he was waiting for her to start.
“How was the party last night?” she finally asked.
“Since I didn’t have to throw anyone out, I would call it successful. ” He didn’t show any surprise at her question. He simply leaned back in his chair, calm and relaxed.
“Do you often?”
“No, not often, but more times than I’d like. We have rules in place, not only to protect our privacy, but also to keep our members safe. ”
She took a swallow of her water. Now or never. “I read the checklist. A lot of it sounds dangerous. ”
“It’s not just the obvious things like edge play. It could be as simple as having a submissive tied too tightly, in the wrong position, or not realizing how deep they are in subspace. ”
“Sounds like a lot of responsibility. Makes you wonder why . . . ”
“Why anyone would be a Dom?”
“Exactly. ”
“I can’t speak for every Dom, but for me, having a submissive give herself to me completely, to grant me the right to control her pleasure, to allow herself to be used by me—it’s the greatest turn-on there is. ”
“And those who say you’re just in it for the power trip?”
“Don’t understand the absolute devotion a Dom holds for his sub. How he protects her and holds her above all. ”
When he put it in those terms, and looked at her the way he was, his blue eyes so piercing, yet so gentle? It made her insides melt.
It also made her want to give herself to him. Completely.
She knew Daniel wouldn’t push her, wouldn’t make the first move. She just wasn’t sure she was ready to strike the match.
“The other thing I wondered,” she said. “In your relationships, do you expect submission all the time?”
“Do I want a twenty-four/seven submissive?” At her nod, he continued. “No, for me personally, I want obedience in the bedroom or playroom only. ”
“But last weekend?”
“Was wonderful. ”
“Yet I wasn’t kneeling, or calling you ‘Master,’ or anything. ”
At once, his eyes grew dark and unyielding. “Think back, Julie. Remember. Was it a negotiated power play scene? No. But was it, perhaps, somewhat more than the sex you’ve experienced before?”
Well, when he put it like that.
“It was certainly something else,” she admitted. She took another sip of water and wished for just a second that the glass contained something stronger. Finally ready, she met his gaze. “One last question. ”
“Ask me anything. ”
“Will you show me your bed?”
• • •
He didn’t ask her if she was sure and he didn’t clear the table. He simply nodded, rose to his feet, and held out his hand. Likewise, she stood and placed her hand in his.
As he led her through the house, he talked of the bed: where he found it, how he transported it, and the custom bedding he had to have made. She was thankful because it gave her something to think about besides what she’d just asked for. Even still, her mind couldn’t focus on the details of the house.
Up the stairs and down a hall he guided her, all the while holding her hand. The room he led her to contained the most massive and beautifully made bed she’d ever seen. It was huge, with two hand-carved posts at the foot and a wooden canopy overhead. The delicate woodwork begged you to run a finger over it and she could only imagine the time it took the carpenter to create such a masterpiece. She was awed just thinking about how many centuries it’d seen.
“Wow. It’s exquisite. ”
“Yes,” he said, but when she looked at him, his eyes weren’t on the bed. They were on her.
She felt very small in the midst of his room, next to his huge bed and him. His eyes were intense with desire and his voice was coarse when he spoke again.
“Stay with me, Julie. ” His arms came around her and his breath was hot against her ear. He nibbled her earlobe. “Let me show you the pleasures of my world. ”
His erection pressed hard and heavy against her and chills shot down her back just from imagining what he wanted to do. She’d known by asking to see his bed, she’d be taking a step into a place she’d never been. To be dominated, was that who she was? Who she wanted to be?