“So does this mean you’re back together?”
“No,” Dena said. “But let me bask in the aftermath a bit longer before making me face reality, okay?”
Julie had a plethora of questions she wanted to ask, but out of respect for Dena, she kept them to herself. As they drove into the night, she glanced to the side and watched a single tear make its way down Dena’s cheek.
Julie still noted a lingering sadness in Dena’s expression when the blonde came to talk with her the next day. They sat around Julie’s table, sipping coffee, and chatted about a little bit of everything before the conversation turned to the previous night.
“Is it odd, playing in front of someone like that?” Julie asked.
“I’ve done it so often, I don’t think about it much. Maybe it was the first few times. ” Dena’s gaze grew wistful and Julie imagined her to be thinking about Jeff. “The thing is, when I’m there, in the moment, my attention is so focused on him, there’s no room for anyone else. ”
Julie had expected her to say as much. It was obvious in watching the pair the night before that Julie’s presence had not been acknowledged above the bare minimum.
“What did you think?” Dena asked.
“It was”—Julie searched for the right word—“intense. So much more than I thought it would be. But it also reminded me of a dance, though that doesn’t seem right either. It’s just the way your bodies moved. Together. How he would make a move and you’d somehow know just how to respond. Is it always like that?”
Dena placed her coffee on the table. “No, not always. Remember, Jeff and I have played many, many times and I wore his collar once. There’s more intensity to be expected in a relationship like ours. Emotions don’t have to be involved, of course, but I’ve always found play to have more
of an edge when they are. That’s why I picked Jeff. I wanted you to see the emotion. ”
“The emotion you still won’t talk about?” Julie asked, figuring it wouldn’t hurt to try again to find out what happened between Dena and Jeff.
“Nice try, but no. Besides, we’re talking about you. ”
“One day,” Julie promised, “we’re going to talk about you. ”
“Not if I can help it. ”
“You didn’t see what I saw. You didn’t see the emotions I saw between you and Jeff. ”
Dena grew even more serious. “That’s the thing, don’t you understand? The emotion between you and Daniel would be the same. ”
Julie thought about that. It hadn’t occurred to her while watching or even as she thought back on the scene later. Yet, there was truth in the statement and she shivered, imagining Daniel watching her the way Jeff watched Dena.
Across the table, a self-satisfied smile covered Dena’s face and she sipped her coffee.
“Ask yourself this,” Dena said. “Have you ever felt more safe or protected than you were under Daniel’s command?”
Julie didn’t have to think too long to know the answer to that one. She hadn’t. Whenever she knelt at his feet, she knew he would guard her with his life. Just thinking about it made her yearn for that feeling.
“No,” Julie finally answered. “I haven’t. ”
“I’ve known Daniel for years and if there’s one thing I know about him, it’s this: he protects what’s his. And if you’re in his playroom, for that moment in time, you’re his. ”
Julie swirled her coffee, trying to ignore the ache in her heart. She didn’t want to be his just in the playroom. She wanted to be his everywhere and all the time.
“He’ll push you,” Dena continued. “That’s what a good Dom does, but he’ll never take you too far. And, Julie, trust me on this: if you let him, Daniel could be the one to give you your wings. ”
• • •
Friday night Julie drove to Daniel’s house, her heart racing the entire way. She’d thought about calling and letting him know she was coming, but only entertained that thought briefly. It would be better if she surprised him. She couldn’t even think about what she would do if he wasn’t at home. It was doubtful she’d be able to work up the courage to come again.
She stood on his front porch, her heart pounding so hard, it echoed in her head. Her hand trembled when she rang the doorbell. It seemed to take forever for the door to open, but surely it was mere seconds.
Daniel’s face was a combination of shock and surprise when he opened the door and saw her.
“Julie?”
The nerves that made her hand shake took over her entire body. Even her toes trembled. “Can I come in?”
“Sure. ” He stepped out of the way to let her in, but she only cleared the threshold. He closed the door. “Is everything okay? You look—”
He stopped talking when she knelt in front of him.
“Julie?”
She kept her eyes on the floor. “I’ve made my choice, sir. ”
He didn’t say anything. He didn’t move. Her head throbbed with one unwelcome thought.
What if he didn’t want her anymore?
TEN
Daniel stood dumbfounded at the sight of Julie on her knees at his feet. It was more than he’d thought possible, but first . . .
“Stand up, Julie. ” His voice sounded rougher than he intended.
Slowly, she came to her feet and when she met his gaze, he saw uncertainty. It pained something inside to see her look at him that way. He wanted to erase her unease and get to the bottom of why she’d said and done what she had.
“Come sit down and talk,” he said, taking her hand and leading her inside to a couch. Once they were seated, he kept her hand in his. Clasped his other around it. “Tell me what happened. ”