Author: Tara Sue Me
His Julie. He really shouldn’t think of her like that yet; it was much too soon. But all he had to do was remember her sighing into his touch, bending to his will, and the look of amazement that covered her face when she discovered something new, and he knew it was a lost cause. He was already thinking of her as his.
He walked around the apartment, making sure everything was in place as he had requested. The locks and alarms, call buttons and phones. He checked them all. But he kept one eye on the couple in the kitchen. They were sipping coffee and talking intensely about something.
“Everything looks good, Grandma,” he said, walking into the kitchen. “What are you two ladies discussing?”
“We’re talking about men. You in specific. ”
Julie raised an eyebrow at him. “Stories of your childhood. How you used to torment your sister. ”
He placed his hand on his heart and sat down at the table. “Me?”
“He was awful. Just awful,” his grandmother said. “But just when I thought they’d be enemies forever, they’d crawl under the table and he’d read to her. ”
“Shel Silverstein,” he whispered. “I remember that. ”
“The poems, yes. ” His grandmother’s forehead wrinkled. “Wish I remembered where those books got to. ”
“I have a set I can bring you,” Julie said.
“Oh, no, dear. I couldn’t ask you to do that. ”
“You’re not asking, I’m offering. ”
His grandmother lightly patted Julie’s arm. “You’re such a fine lady. Now, Daniel, you treat her right. ”
“He does, Mrs. Covington, I promise. ” Julie’s face was the tiniest bit flushed. Her breathing just a bit hitched.
“He better. You let me know if he doesn’t. ”
“Yes, ma’am,” Julie said, and then turned the conversation to the upcoming spring season, suggesting a few flowers she thought would work well in a patio garden.
While she talked about it, Daniel had the most vivid picture of Julie working in his garden naked. He decided he was particularly ready for spring to come as well.
• • •
“The next group meeting is the weekend after next,” he said hours later, when they were back at his house, lounging on the couch. “Will you go with me?”
“Can I wear a red bracelet?”
His heart threatened to beat out of his chest in happiness. He’d wondered if she would want to turn in her white for red, but thought it best it was her idea. He circled her wrist with his fingers. “If you show up with me, wearing a red bracelet, everyone will assume you’re my submissive. Will that bother you?”
She leaned back and he could tell she was thinking through her response. He was glad she took time to ensure her answer was honest and didn’t spout off what she thought he wanted to hear.
“No, it won’t bother me,” she finally said. “I’m realizing I am a submissive, so it makes sense I’d wear red. And I’m not interested in being with anyone other than you, so I don’t mind if people assume I’m yours. ”
His Julie, his grandmother’s words came back to him. But now he added his own: his kitten. “I do enjoy your rational side. ”
Her eyes grew dark. “I’m sure if given enough time, you’d enjoy all my sides. ”
“Trust me,” he whispered. “I plan to. ”
She sank deeper into his arms. “Can I think out loud for a bit?”
“Of course. ”
“Sasha said she thinks Peter wants to collar her. I guess I’m just worried for some reason. She’s never had a collar before. ”
He ran a finger along her neck, unable to stop himself from picturing her wearing his collar. “For me, it signifies the bond between Dominant and submissive. When I have a collared submissive, it represents my commitment to her, and hers to me. I would hope it holds the same meaning for Peter and Sasha. ”
She was silent. He imagined she was thinking about Sasha. As far as he knew, Peter had never collared anyone before. His own thoughts were so focused on Peter and Sasha, her next question surprised him.
“How many submissives have you collared?”
His finger dropped from her neck. “Three. ”
“Is that a lot?”
“I was too young when I collared the first. Didn’t know enough to know what I didn’t know. I waited a few years before the second. We were together the longest, but she moved away. Job promotion. ” He paused, remembering her words that she couldn’t pass up the opportunity. It wasn’t until later he realized it was for the best. “The third wanted something more permanent than I was willing to offer. We went our separate ways two years ago. ”
“I’m not sure if that’s a yes or no to my question. ”
“I’m not sure there is a yes or no to your question. ” He twirled a strand of her hair around his finger. “Some Doms have more, some less. Some have more than one. ”
“Would you? Have more than one?”
“No. ” He gave her hair a tug. “That wouldn’t work for me. When a submissive wears my collar, I want all my attention and care dedicated to her. I’ve never been one to share my affections. ”
“Yet you haven’t collared anyone in two years. ”
He had not. He hadn’t found anyone he wanted to collar. Not from lack of offers. Several submissives in the group had subtly expressed their interest. His response had always been a kind but firm no.
That was all before Julie, though.
“No, not in two years,” he said. “To echo what a smart woman told me earlier, perhaps I’ve just been waiting for the right person. ”
SEVEN