by Yvette Hines
She laughed. “I’m sure. Marc, Devon and Christopher had to contend with six sisters they had to show they were men.”
“Did I hear my name?” Her brother Marc led the line of her brothers coming from the kitchen area.
Soon, she was hugged and kissed by so many siblings, in-laws and nieces and nephews it made her eyes water. She really loved her family and they were the perfect medicine to ease the ache in her heart over Brad.
“I think someone wants to meet you.” Josie, number nine, baby of the family, was walking gingerly escorted down the stairs by her husband, Kyle a white man with bright red hair and even brighter grin. He moved slowly as if he thought at any moment his wife would need his assistance.
Gabriella smiled at her brother in-law, but her heart soared as she saw the small bundle in her sister arms. “Oh, my goodness. When did you have the baby?” She rushed toward them.
“Three days ago. Mom wanted it to be a surprise for everyone.” Josie met her at the bottom step. “My doctor advised me not to travel from Philly, but there was no way I was missing Christmas.”
Getting the baby from her little sister, Gabriella peeled back the soft white blanket and saw the little face wearing a blue cap. “He’s beautiful.”
“Gabriel Lincoln Stevenson,” Josie told her.
Tears of joy rolled along her cheek as Gabriella glanced up from her nephew to her sister. “After me?”
“Yup. I thought a first son needed the name of his first aunt. Merry Christmas.”
Lifting a little hand, Gabriella kissed the back of it. “Oh, Gabriel, I’m going to have to tell you all about how much a pain your mother was when she was a little girl.”
The room exploded with laughter.
“Don’t you dare, Gabriella!” Josie stomped her foot appearing like the contrary child she had been at two.
That just made the rest of the family laugh even harder.
chapter eleven
When her cell phone went off two days after Christmas Gabriella just wanted to toss it across the room. She’d arrived back home late last night from Maine and just wanted to sleep. Why she had signed up for prep this morning she didn’t know.
“Foolish woman,” she chided herself as she shoved herself into a sitting position. She blinked slowly and stared around her room waiting for her brain to wake up, before she rose.
Normally, she enjoyed the solitude of her apartment, but after being in the bosom of the Mitchem clan for three days she longed to have someone to talk to. Alone wasn’t all it was chalked up to be.
Finally rising, she padded into the kitchen first and started the coffee maker. She would need the boost once she got out of the shower. Yawning she headed into the bathroom to start her morning routine.
An hour and forty-five minutes later she walked into Strong Blends, in slacks and a blouse, her hair back in a plain bun with her make-up subdued.
“Hi, Rodney.” Grabbing a fresh apron, she tied it around her waist as she spoke to the black guy who was wheeling the cart of bread to the prep station. “I guess I’m on deserts.”
“Not as bad as you are with designing the icing, Gabriella,” he teased.
But, Gabriella knew what they all knew, she was terrible, her hand wasn’t steady enough to do the job well.
Sticking her tongue at him, “She said, well it will have to do with only the two of us here.”
“No, you’re not.” Dillon, a brown hair white man, came out of the cooler carrying a tray of cupcakes.
She looked from one man to the other. “Did I have the schedule wrong? Before I left for my Christmas trip I thought I was on for this morning.”
“There’s been a change.” Kenmore stood at the opening of her office.
“Oh.” Gabriella looked at the shop manager and wished someone would have told her before now she could have still been catching Zs. “Well, I guess I can go home.”
“Master Genuine would like to see you downstairs, China Doll.” Kenmore told her with a smile on her face that Gabriella could not describe as anything else but wicked. “Leave your apron.”
“What does he want to see me about?” Am I getting fired? Gabriella removed her apron and hung it back on the peg with the other workers who were not there and took her purse down.
“You will see, soon.”
Taking a fortify breath, Gabriella walked around the other three and moved back into the main dining area and went down the back hall past the customer bathroom and entered the combination to the dungeon door.
“Hi, China Doll. Belated Christmas greetings.” Pepper stood on the landing with a large box in her hands when the door opened.
Titling her head, she stared at her friend who was smiling like a cat who knew where the hidden bowl of cream was located.
“You too, Pepper. How was the holiday for you and Meyo.”
“We’ll discuss that later. This box is for you. Let me escort you to Master Genuine.” Pepper passed the box to her and led the way.
Following her friend, Gabrielle ran a million and one thoughts through her mind on what could be going on. Her birthday was in July so all the secretiveness made no sense to her.
At Genuine’s office door in the dungeon beside the stairs, Pepper gave one firm knock. When a deep voice called out from inside, her friend opened the door dipped with a small nod and stepped aside.
Carrying the box, Gabriella entered the office and heard the door close behind her, leaving her alone with her boss and club owner. She bowed her head low and waited for the older man to acknowledge her.
“China Doll, welcome back.”
“Thank you, Master Genuine. I was told you wanted to see me, Sir.”
“Yes. Please look at me,” he instructed her.
Rising her gaze, she took in the features of the man she respected like an uncle.
“You’ve had quite a few years with us. I’ve watched you over that time. I think it is time you found a Dom that cared about you, respected you and would sacrifice his own needs to ensure yours were fulfilled.”
Perplexed, she didn’t know what he was leading to. He had Kenmore and everyone knew he didn’t take on other subs. She stood silent, her body beginning to tremble.
Is he going to revoke his permissive covering and put me out of the dungeon?
“Do you want the same thing?”
“Yes, Sir.” Her voice quivered.
He gave a brisk nod. “I thought as much. Please, go into the locker room and change and come out when you are done.”
“Yes, Sir.” She didn’t move.
“You are dismissed,” he granted.
“Thank you, Sir.” She turned and exited the office.
She noted the shake in her legs as she crossed the large empty dungeon floor.
Once she was in the women’s locker room, she set the box on one end of the long bench. Removing the lid, she peered inside and saw a note sitting on the tissue paper. It read:
China Doll,
Dress in nothing, but what is inside. Put on your make up. Don’t forget the red lipstick. Do not delay.
She didn’t waste a lot of time trying to understand the unsigned note. Instead, she immediately stripped off her clothing and placed them in a locker then peeled away the tissue paper and pulled out the single item inside. Moving the paper, she found blue and black flower, other than that the box now empty.
Holding the garment up, she recognized the apparel. It was a 1960’s vintage-style mod swing coat. Laying it on the bench, she grabbed her purse and went to the mirror and pulled out her makeup. It took her no time to blacken her high arched eyebrows, add a soft gray eye shadow, eyeliner on her top lids and mascara. Her final touch was the requested catwalk red color-stay lipstick.
Running a comb through her bangs, she added the flower directly above her left ear. Dumping her purse in the locker she shut it and picked up the coat. Fastening the two big buttons, she stepped back to the mirror and checked her appearance.
Because of her short s
tature, the coat landed mid thigh, concealing her bare body beneath. Not that she would have had any problem moving around the dungeon nude. As a sub, you learned quickly that modesty had no place. In the community they adored all body-types, in all forms and sizes.
Exiting the locker room, she was surprised to be greeted by Master Pam.
“Hello, darling.” Unlike normal, Master Pam was dressed in a corset and slack.
Nodding her head, Gabriella said, “Hello, Ma’am.”
“Come with me, please, China Doll.” Not waiting for her agreement, the Domme turned and headed toward the back hallway of the dungeon where the play rooms were located.
With each step behind the other woman, Gabriella felt her heart pounding faster.
They passed the sharps play room, the medical room and arrived at a private session area. Inside her feet stuttered. Not because of the people setting in chairs, which included Master Pam who took her seat and guided Marigold to her knee. Also, Master Geniune, Kenmore kneeling beside him, Pepper kneeling beside Dom Meyo, Delilah sitting on the floor beside Dom Steel and Alesha on the front row on her knees between her two Doms; Ursus and Mustang. Finally, she saw a man standing to the side, in the shadows that appeared uncomfortable and out of place as Brad had the day she met him, she knew though it was his brother Brian.
Because center stage was the man she never expected to see again, Brad. He stood beside a St. Andrews cross in a navy blue t-shirt and black jeans holding a dragontail whip.
The quivering of her body became a full shake as a cry broke passed her lips.
“Come here, China Doll,” Brad commanded. His gaze on her was intense and his voice brokered no argument.
Swallowing, she blinked the water from her eyes and moved slowly toward the man before her. When she stood in front of him, he cupped her face and kissed her. Everyone else in the room faded away; it was just the two of them.
Leaning away, from her, he said, “I missed you.”
Silent, she stared at him, not believing he was not only still in Charlotte, but that he was dressed like he was and where he was.
“Did you miss me, China Doll?”
“Yes, I missed you.”
His eyebrow rose slowly.
She realized in her excitement what she’d missed saying. “I missed you, Sir.”
He gave her a small smile and caressed the side of her face. She felt the calm stead touch to her soul.
“I love you.” His words were clear and the emotions shinning in his eyes were just as bold. “Do you love me, China Doll?”
“Yes, Sir.” She didn’t hesitate.
“I came here for a visit and discovered a woman that was bold, sassy, sweet and beautiful. I couldn’t get you off my mind. I couldn’t stay away from you.”
Hearing his words was like a rain storm following a long draught. Her heart was beating so hard she thought she would pass out. Taking a deep breath, she stayed focused on the man before her not wanting to miss a single thing.
“When I thought I’d lose you forever it was like someone had ripped my heart out of my chest. I couldn’t fathom living without you.” Cupping the back of her head, he pulled her against him.
She felt his heart beating in time with her own.
“Did you want me to go away? Leave you alone?”
She shook her head. “No, Sir. Never.”
“Good.” Releasing her, he stepped back. “Will you willingly submit to me?”
When she started to speak, he held a finger up, stopping her.
“Understand, that your submission means that you’ll be relocating to Baltimore with me. At least until I can get a position at a family clinic in Charlotte. We need an office manager and I think you’d be perfect for the job. I want to protect you and learn how to properly guide you in the lifestyle.” He paused, for a moment. “I’m still learning, but if you are willing to grant me your submission, your trust then before our friends and family I vow to do all I can to be the Dominant you need.”
Standing there, she could see he was leaving himself vulnerable to her rejection. Even though she loved him, she had never allowed her heart and will of submission to be one. She knew he was asking her permission to be her lover and Dom.
Can I do this? Can I give of my heart and body to one man?
She looked across the platform at the one man and knew the answer clearly.
As she kneeled before him, she said, “To you I submit. Your cuffs I will wear, you collar I will adore. To you I submit. One rule my heart will obey, your words. To you I submit; to your instruction, your guidance, your law, your punishment. To you I submit. I bow my head, rest on my knees and yield my heart. I give you my trust, my word, my obedience and no other will I submit. You are my Dom. My Knight because you are the guardian of my souls freedom.”
She heard his breath catch as she brought her head down, pulling her hands behind her back she waited; unmoving and her breathing controlled and even. This was where she was always meant to be—before this man.
Squatting, before her, he placed a finger below her chin and guided her eyes to him.
“I accept your submission. Dom Knight for you I will be.” His kiss was light, but no less powerful.
Ending the kiss, he took her hand and helped her to her feet.
“Do you have any objections to the dragontail?” he asked.
“No, Dom Knight.” She liked the sound of his name on her lips and felt pride in the fact he allowed her to choose it.
“Then please join me in our first scene. Your safeword is mistletoe.”
She smiled as she reached up and undid the buttons of her coat, handing it to him. Turning she walked to the large wooden X, raising her arms she waited.
He came around the side and hooked the first cuff on her wrist and then the other one.
As he leaned against her and started stroking her back, allowing her the connection of his touch, she asked, “Permission to speak, Sir.”
“Granted,” he whispered, his hands still moving in a slow caress.
“You’re invited to next year’s Christmas, with the Mitchems.”
He placed a kiss on her shoulder. “I look forward to it.”
~Happy Holiday!~
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I've been penning erotic tales since 2006, on the hedonistic side of the romance genre. However, I've been writing romance under a different pen for a while. I'm eclectic by nature. My stories range from paranormal, contemporary, BDSM, sci-fi and historical. Mostly short stories, but occasional full-length novels.
I'm married to my best friend. A guy that makes me laugh 'til I can't breathe and one who steals my breath every time he walks into a room. I believe in happily ever after like the rising of the sun depended on it.
If you’d like to find out more about my books, visit my website. http://yvettehines.com
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