Reformat_of_Art_of_Submission_5-16-14-3

by Michelle

  “Yes, but—”

  Dena’s eyes sharpened and Kellie knew she was in trouble.

  “Tell me the truth, Kellie.”

  She hedged, not easy with Dena. “What do you mean?”

  “You’ll never be a good poker player, or negotiator, my friend. Your face looks just like it did when you snuck Dale into our dorm room after midnight.”

  “I didn’t sneak him in.” He’d threatened to strip her naked on the sidewalk if she didn’t take him to her bed that night.

  “How did he end up in your bed?”

  “He didn’t give me a choice.”

  Dena collapsed into the booth, her mouth hanging open, and Kellie saw her putting the pieced together.

  “He forced you.”

  When she didn’t answer, her friend continued, adding up each little incident until the pile of shit evidence against Dale Connor was thigh high.

  “All those little bruises. You told me you bumped into a bookcase at the library.” Dena sat up and slammed her fist on the table so hard that water sloshed out of their untouched glasses. “You should’ve told me. You should’ve gone to the police.”

  Kellie pulled a handful of napkins from the dispenser and mopped up the table. “I did. Didn’t make a difference. His daddy took care of everything. I was branded a liar, and Dale left two months early to go to Harvard Law.”

  Their food arrived and Kellie poked at her salad while Dena did the same, sad eyes flitting at her.

  “Stop worrying about me. I’m fine.” She needed to change the subject before Dena put the pieces together and asked the wrong questions. “How’s work? Any new projects?”

  “No, not for another month.”

  “And your nephew, he’s what—six months old now?”

  “Yeah, he’s a cutie, but he’ll be better when he’s out of diapers and talking. I don’t do baby goo.” Dena’s fork stopped mid bite and returned to the plate. “Kellie? What are you up to?”

  “Just making conversation.”

  “Oh, God. I got you in the door, and now you’re going to make trouble at Private Delights.”

  “I’m trying to figure things out, that’s all. I won’t mess up your love life. You are in love with Steve, aren’t you?”

  “I think so, yes.”

  “Good.”

  “Kellie, does Mark know about your past?”

  “No. I don’t want him to know.” He’d fill in the blanks and have her out of his club in a heartbeat if he knew what she was doing.

  “He could help you deal with what happened. He’s a nice man, a strong Dom. You should tell him.”

  “It would skew the data I’m trying to collect. I’d rather leave him in the dark. I’ll be fine.” She pulled her wallet out to pay her check. “Promise you won’t tell anyone about this conversation.”

  Dena finger-combed her hair and dipped her head, the fidgets revealing more anxiety than Kellie expected, but it was too late to back out now. “I can’t make that promise. I won’t lie if either of them asks me, but I won’t bring it up.”

  Kellie agreed and stood. “I’ll see you later?”

  “Sure.” Dena said. “What exactly is the topic of your thesis?”

  She squeezed her lips shut, sure she was about to alienate one of her closest friends. “BDSM: Sensual enlightenment or a training ground for abusive men.”

  “Oh, fuck.”

  Damn, it was worse than she’d predicted. In all the years she’d known her that particular word had never come out of Dena’s mouth.

  “You can’t, Kellie. You have no idea what really goes on in the club. You haven’t experienced the real thing. Please, don’t do this.”

  “Mark is going to act as my Dom for the next few days. I should know enough to start my paper by next Monday. Don’t worry, I’ll be fair.” Chest tightening, Kellie crossed the street to her car without a backward glance, hoping Dena would trust her for another week.

  Chapter 7

  Mark pulled to the curb in front of Kellie’s townhouse and cut the engine. After her agreement, he’d gone back to the club and set some things in place for the next week, mainly asking Steve to handle the daily business of Private Delights while he was out of town. To give Kellie a true submissive experience, he needed to isolate her from her support group, and since he didn’t know any of her friends, aside from Dena, he’d set up a short trip as a surprise.

  His beautiful new sub made him wait a few minutes before she opened the door. It wouldn’t be her last act of defiance, but he looked forward to curbing each one.

  “Pack a bag.” Damn, he loved that incredulous expression. He planned to see it a lot this week.

  “What?”

  “We’re going on a little trip. Don’t question me again, little sub.”

  “What are you taking about?” she asked.

  Mark tipped her head up with one finger under her chin. “From this moment, I’m your master. Treat me with respect and don’t question me. Follow directions and be rewarded. Misbehave and suffer my discipline.”

  Kellie stared at him for a minute, defiance and confusion mixing in her eyes. “Can I at least ask where we’re going so I’ll know what to pack?”

  “Corpus Christi.”

  “Isn’t it a little early in the year for the beach?”

  Defiance was unacceptable but the cute new submissive didn’t know the rules. Yet. Mark took a deep breath. “You have five minutes before I carry you out the door.” Grasping her hands, he gave them a squeeze. “Your only response is ‘yes, master.’ Say it now.”

  She struggled for a moment and then gave him the words. He released her hands and followed her to the bedroom where she pulled a suitcase out of the closet.

  “You won’t need those,” he told her when she tossed a handful of panties into the case.

  “We’ll be going out to dinner, so add a dress or two.”

  She added a nice dress and a skirt and top to the bag, then threw in some shorts and jeans, socks, tennis shoes.

  When she tried to add a nightgown, he took it out of her hands. “This won’t be going with us.”

  Kellie fumed but didn’t complain and when five minutes were up, she zipped the case closed. She’d followed directions, not exactly willingly, but it was a first step in her training. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Good girl.”

  But when he picked up her suitcase, she said, “What, I don’t have to carry it myself like a good little slave?”

  Mark let go of the bag and sat on the edge of the bed, torn between putting his head in his hands or pulling her across his lap for a swat or four. Kellie liked to push his buttons. Her strong sense of self drew him to her and he knew she’d be wonderful in submission. Letting her see that in herself would be the hardest part of the training.

  “Come here, Kellie.”

  When she got close enough, he captured her arms and pulled her up to his knees. “Submission is letting others make decisions for you, trusting them to take care of you.” He tugged her to the side of the bed. “Lay across my legs.”

  Her eyes widened but she complied, expecting his actions to confirm her ideas about his lifestyle and end this relationship before it started.

  He wasn’t about to let that happen.

  She settled against his thighs and he placed his palm on her back, tipping her enough that she was off balance. Holding her in place, his left hand slid from her waist to her hip and then to her thigh. Her skirt fell all the way to her ankle but a quick grasp and fling had the fabric draping across her back. She shouted in surprise but couldn’t rise with his hand firmly planted between her shoulder blades.

  “Relax, Kellie. This won’t hurt—much—and it will teach you to be compliant.”

  She squirmed until his hand landed with a soft whack against the back of her thigh. He lingered there, the soft skin warming under his hand, while the rest of her body remained perfectly still. His girl waited for the next move and he wanted to build the anticipation. Focusing on the w
arm skin, his palm dropped a little lower and when it encountered the seam behind her knee, he tapped his fingers along the side of her leg.

  Her respirations increased.

  His hand moved higher on her thigh, rubbing up and down the tense skin, increasing the pressure between palm and bare flesh until the friction created heat.

  A whimper escaped her lips but he wasn’t finished. He’d barely started. Mark’s eyes were on her ass and the light green panties covering it. He moved like a flash of light, smacking her butt cheek and returning to her thigh, rubbing up and down before striking again. She called out the first time his hand made contact with her ass, but each successive stroke earned him an increase in her intake of air.

  He’d surprised her. Kellie hadn’t planned to enjoy her punishment.

  He measured the rise and fall of her shoulders when he told her to stand. Her face was flushed and her eyes were down but there were no tears. “Look at me, Kellie.”

  Her eyes were clear and soft with a hint of confusion.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did I hurt you?”

  Her answer, when she finally gave it, came out in a hesitant stutter. “No.”

  Mark smiled. “No, Master.”

  She repeated the phrase with a hiccup and he didn’t gloat. Not yet.

  “Please remove the panties. I don’t like them, and I want to know you’re bare for me.”

  It took her a few minutes to prepare herself before she complied. He nodded, said ‘good girl’ and picked up her suitcase.

  “Kellie, I need you to decide on a safe word, something we agree to be your signal that I’ve pushed too far.”

  “Can’t I just say no?”

  “It’s too common. Choose something you and I will both remember, and tell me when you’ve decided.”

  The drive to the airport was quick, since they weren’t flying commercial. His private plane waited at a municipal airport not far from the club. The added benefit of a private plane was his companion’s speechless demeanor when he directed her to board ahead of him.

  The copilot stowed their luggage while Mark led her to a plush captain’s chair. He brushed away her hands and buckled her seatbelt before settling across from her.

  “I had no idea. I feel underdressed,” she murmured.

  “From my perspective, it’s the other way around, but I’ll let you keep your clothes on for the time being,” he told her.

  “The club must be doing well,” she said.

  “True, but it’s not my only business. Don’t be too impressed. Most of it was inherited.”

  The pilot came into the cabin for the preflight briefing and Mark turned away from her, his hand firmly on her knee while he spoke to his pilot. He didn’t introduce her and Jack didn’t look at her while they discussed the flight plan. His point was made when she looked out the window.

  “We’ll be in Corpus in a few hours. Not as fast as a commercial jet, but less crowded and I like making my own schedules.”

  Kellie smiled, still unsure of herself in this situation judging by the look in her eyes, but that was a good thing from his standpoint. Shaking up her status quo would push her to experience his lifestyle more fully. Especially when she had only him to rely on.

  “Don’t worry. I’ve arranged for dinner to be served once we’re in the air.”

  “Oh. Thank you. I didn’t—I mean, I thought we were going out to dinner tonight, but—”

  “I surprised you. Get used to it. I like keeping you on edge. It gives you opportunities to complain.”

  “So you can spank me again?” she asked, her voice catching at the word spank.

  “You enjoyed it?”

  Kellie dropped her eyes, then her chin, and her cheeks pinkened.

  “Don’t be embarrassed. I wanted you to enjoy it a little. Not all the spankings will be like the first.”

  The plane taxied onto the runway and took off. Once they leveled, Mark unbuckled his seatbelt and got comfortable. He needed to push her and he’d looked forward to the flight all day. “Time for you to get comfortable, Kellie. Take off the top and stretch a bit.”

  “What?”

  “You agreed to be my sub for the week, did you not?”

  “Yes, but not in public.”

  Mark raised a brow. “I don’t recall any qualifiers.” He drummed his fingers on the arm of the seat and let her sweat. “Have you changed your mind about your research?”

  “No.”

  “Would you rather I place you with another Dom?” Not something he’d allow, but she had the right to refuse him.

  “No.” Visibly uneasy, she fiddled with the buckle of her seatbelt and released it. Head down, she procrastinated. Mark gave her all the time she needed. Only she could make the choice to comply or not.

  Her eyes locked on his with a hint of defiance. Kellie yanked the top over her head and dropped it on the seat beside her.

  Her nipples peaked under the thin flesh colored bra and a telltale drop of nervous sweat slipped down between the mounds of her well-proportioned breasts. “Finish it, Kellie.”

  Her mouth set in a thin line, embarrassment warred with defiance, and then her hands moved to the back clasp. The bra took its place beside the shirt and she was gloriously bare.

  “You’re beautiful, Kellie. Absolutely beautiful.”

  She flushed, not from the nakedness but from the compliment, and it made him think twice about pushing further. Perhaps a slow and easy approach would work best for her.

  Mark stood and offered her his hand. With her fingers in his palm, he tugged her to her feet and led her to the back of the cabin. A table situated between two seats provided a dining area, and when they were seated, the co-pilot brought out their dinner. She flinched when he placed the basket of food between them.

  “Relax. My crew is professional and they won’t bother us.”

  “But I’m naked,” she whispered.

  “Not quite. Now eat. It isn’t fancy, just something from my favorite deli. What would you like to drink?”

  A compartment opened at his touch to display a variety of soft drinks and bottled water. As she ate, she relaxed and Mark followed suit. He’d planned for several outcomes from this trip, one of which was turning around and going home if need be. Not his favorite scenario, though. That would be her complete surrender.

  “Water, please.”

  He passed her one, took a soda for himself, and waited for her to take a bite of the sandwich before he spoke. “I have a house across the street from the beach. It’s quiet and we’ll have privacy for your lessons. My housekeeper will be in residence and I want you to get used to being nude for me no matter who is in the room. It’s the first step in submission. You’ll abide by my wishes regardless of the location.”

  Kellie chewed and swallowed quickly. “Why can’t I wear clothes?”

  “During your time with me, you’ll allow me to take care of you in every way.” Mark smiled and took a bite of his sandwich.

  And studied her face, the twitch of her fingers, the long line of her spine as her shoulders flexed. A bit of rebellion flared in her eyes, but mostly, he saw curiosity.

  The fact that she listened was enough for the moment. At least she was listening.

  “I’ll choose your clothes or keep you bare. I’ll touch you, or not, as much as I care to, and I’ll train you as a submissive. By the end of the weekend, you’ll have a much clearer understanding of the submissive mindset. The comments you heard from the women at Private Delights will make sense.”

  “May I ask a question?”

  Damn, he liked the way she phrased that, already falling into the submissive role. “Of course.”

  “Since there will be touching—”

  “Sex, Kellie. There will definitely be sex.”

  Her faced turned a lovely shade of pink. “Since there will be sex, I’d like to discuss protection and health issues.”

  “Perfect. I was about to bring i
t up myself.” He took a sip of his soda and set the bottle down. “I have a thorough physical and blood workup every six months, since I manage the club and spend a lot of my time on the main floor. Not that I participate in the encounters every night, but one can never be too careful.”

  She looked a little green around the gills and he felt the urge to back off some. Kellie Winsor needed a gentle hand. “I haven’t been in a relationship in several months. The business end of the operation has taken much of my attention. Never the less, I take care of my health and I won’t compromise yours.”

  “Thank you.” She twirled the water bottle with both hands, letting it slide around in front of her on the table. “I haven’t been in a relationship—I ended my last relationship a year ago, and I’ve had all the tests since then. I wanted to be sure everything was—I wanted to make sure I was healthy.”

  He sensed a problem here, and getting to the bottom of it might take longer than a week. “Is there anything about the relationship I should know about, Kellie?”

  “No.”

  Mark bit into his sandwich, using it to buy time to think without alerting her. The unknown bothered him, always had, and he could tell by the set of her face that she wasn’t in a frame of mind to tell him the whole story. Kellie’s eyes dropped to her food and she picked at the chips he’d opened for her.

  “Will anything in your prior relationship affect your response to the D/s lifestyle?”

  Now they were both using food as a thinking tool. Eventually, she answered without eye contact. “I don’t think so.”

  “Kellie, look at me.”

  The few minutes it took for compliance worried him more than her silence. Until she told him the entire story, he couldn’t hope to fix it. The last man in her life must have been a complete bastard. He reached across the small table and lifted her chin with two fingers. “If anything I say or do bothers you, tell me immediately.”

  “What if everything you do or say bothers me?”

  At least her attitude had returned. He’d missed it. They shared a smile, breaking the tension for a moment.

  “One more thing.” Mark waited until he had her full attention. “Birth control. You may not have noticed the condom dispensers all over the club, but they’re refilled regularly. However, condoms break. All female members are required to have a backup plan.”