A Journey to Submission

by Laney Rogers

  Helen peered up from lowered lashes, her face stricken. I could see she was desperate to say something to him, but knew he wouldn’t allow it.

  “Unfortunately, rather than being honest, she decided to be manipulative, dragging you into this under false pretenses.”

  “What do you mean?” I whispered, a knot forming in my stomach.

  “Our relationship is not a romantic one; it’s based on our love of the lifestyle. Also, until last night, I have never, nor would I ever, so blatantly disrespect my submissive and enter into a relationship with another. However, since Helen pretty much offered you to me in a bid to get us together so she could get out, I took her up on it.”

  “It’s not like that,” Helen cried. “I knew you liked her, and she liked you. You two just needed the opportunity. I gave that to you.”

  Steve’s fist thumped the table. “It was not your place to make that decision.”

  The look of horror on my face must have registered with Steve. He exhaled, as if to collect his anger, and gave me a reassuring smile. “Let us enjoy our dinner. We can discuss it more later.”

  Steve studied us, obviously noting the sympathy I had for her. He leaned back as our plates of food arrived. When the waitress finally stopped ogling him and sashayed her ass back across the room, Steve turned to Helen.

  “Do you have anything you want to say?” he asked her, not unkindly.

  She nodded miserably.

  “Go ahead, you may speak now.”

  “I’m so sorry,Sir,” she whispered. “I didn’t want to make you angry. You know I have trouble sometimes, being able to open up completely. I couldn’t face being the one to screw everything up.”

  Fresh tears fell and I watched as Steve wiped them away. He looked long and hard at her. “I should have pushed you to tell me. I knew you were keeping something from me. It’s my job to find out what it is and help you to solve the problem.”

  “Are you still angry with me, Sir?” she asked tentatively.

  He brushed the last of the tears away. “I’m getting over it,” he said with a hint of a smile. “By the way, Seb will be joining us for dessert and coffee in a little while.”

  Steve watched Helen’s reaction to his news. She reminded me of a deer caught in the headlights.

  “He’s coming here, and you told him how I feel about him?” she asked in a fearful voice.

  “Yes, we met today to finalize the deal and he’s aware of everything. He is not pleased with your behavior, but if he becomes your new Dom, I know he will see that you don’t keep secrets or manipulate your friends again.”

  Helen picked up her fork, her face giving away how concerned she was as she took a small bite of food.

  I was confused. If it was over between them, where did that leave me?

  He turned to me and ran a finger across my brow. “So many thoughts running around in there. Don’t worry, sweetheart. Everything is about to work itself out just fine.”

  He sounded so sure of himself, but I found it hard to concentrate on the delicious food in front of me, with so much on my mind.

  The three of us ate quietly, each lost in our own thoughts. I had just plucked up the courage to open a conversation and try to relieve the tension when Steve’s eyes traveled across the room and he tipped his head in greeting.

  Turning around, I saw Seb being shown to our table by a raven-haired hostess, all teeth and smiles. She acted as if she’d like to devour him and had to drag her eyes away from his face when they reached our table.

  “Thank you, honey. I’ll take it from here,” he said, giving her a devastating smile.

  She walked away, clearly miffed at his dismissal, though Seb seemed completely unconcerned. He shook Steve’s hand then bent down and kissed me on the cheek.

  “Liza, you’re as gorgeous as ever. It’s good to see you again.”

  He was as blond as Helen was dark. Not as tall as Steve, but with the same big, muscular frame, the two men drew attention from just about every red-blooded female under sixty in the room.

  I realized at once how much I’d missed him and thought yet again how stupid my decision had been to quit my job at the club.

  Seb’s gaze turned to Helen, the smile fading as he assessed her like one might a newly acquired possession. The blood drained from her face as she stared up at the Dom, as if realizing that same truth. As her friend, I could empathize with every flicker of emotion that sparked in her eyes and I had to give her credit; at least she didn’t faint face first into her salad.

  “Aren’t you going to say hello, sweetheart?” Steve asked her mildly. “He came here for you.”

  “Hello,” Helen whispered.

  Steve covered her hand with his in reassurance. “It’s all right, Helen, we’ve cleared the air. It’s done and over with, so why don’t you pour Seb a glass of wine and relax.”

  Seb grinned. “Sounds good to me. What’s for dessert? I haven’t eaten for a good forty five minutes, so you know I’m starving.”

  Steve and I laughed. I’d forgotten about Seb’s enormous appetite and his ability to snack from dawn to dusk. The heavy atmosphere began to lighten up right in front of me. We perused the dessert menu, choosing decadent treats to go with the wine.

  “I have decided to buy into Traders and become a partner,” Steve explained. “I’ll be taking over here while Seb opens a new nightclub in Springfield.”

  My mouth dropped open in surprise. Steve managing Traders and Seb moving away?

  Steve and Seb discussed business for a while, tossing ideas back and forth about improvements, introducing food and specialty nights, and it was clear they had formed a solid friendship. They included me in the conversation, asking my opinion, which I enjoyed, and I felt happy and relaxed as we talked and laughed for quite a while. Helen was quieter and more reserved. I caught her staring at Seb a lot, and I recognized those looks for what they were. Obviously, she was extremely attracted to him and I wondered how the evening would end.

  After we finished eating, Seb ordered coffee all around. Steve looked at me and smiled warmly. My insides squirmed with excitement at the thought of what could happen after we left the restaurant.

  When our coffee arrived, I gestured to the inviting fire in the lounge area. “May Helen and I go sit by the fire?”

  “Sure,” Steve replied. “We’ll join you in a little while.”

  I smiled back at him, as we got up with our coffees and left the men to talk.

  It was quiet by the fire and we settled comfortably into two armchairs, both of us gazing into the flames. I so badly wanted to ask her all the questions that were running through my mind. Was she sure about what she was doing? Was she really ready to give up her relationship with Steve? Where did that leave me? Was I just a distraction that she had hoped would work for Steve while she pined for Seb?

  After a while, Helen put her cup on the side table by her chair and looked at me. “Liza, I’m so sorry. I should have been honest with you, too. Everything I said at the café was utter bullshit. I’ve fucked this up so badly. Look, when we met for coffee and I put this whole idea out there about Steve wanting another woman, it wasn’t true. I should have just told you everything, you know, about my feelings for Seb and wanting you and Steve to get together so I could leave.”

  “I can’t believe you lied to me,” I said. “Why bother inviting me into your relationship if you liked someone else?”

  “I knew you liked Steve, and him you, and I wanted you to feel safe and agree to meet with him.”

  I pulled my eyes away from the flames. “How did you know I felt something for Steve?”

  “Are you kidding? Do you have any idea how many times I’ve caught you staring at him, and vice-versa, when Steve and I would come to the club?”

  “Shit, I must have looked really desperate.”

  Helen laughed for the first time that evening. “No more than him.”

  “Yeah, sure. I doubt he’s ever been desperate about anything his entire li
fe. He just goes and gets what he wants; no questions asked.”

  Helen reached out and put her hand on my arm. “I really am sorry, Liza. Can you forgive me, about not being honest with you from the start?”

  I took in her worried expression and then smiled. “Yes, of course I do; and I have to be honest with you, too. I am really attracted to Steve, in a big way, so there is a part of me that is kind of relieved that you want out of your relationship with him.”

  “Do you want to enter into what could become a permanent Dom/sub relationship with him?”

  I thought for a while, my eyes back on the roaring flames. “I wasn’t sure at first, but I don’t think I could turn back now. I never felt really satisfied before, you know? It was like something was always missing when I was with a guy. After Steve took control that first time, it all became clear; what I wanted and needed. I had thought to be a submissive would make me weak and pathetic, but I’ve never felt so alive and sexual in my life.”

  “I’m glad to hear that, little Liza,” a deep voice said right behind us.

  We both jumped and looked around. The two big Doms stood there, smiling, and I felt a blush spread up my neck and face.

  “Oh, that’s just great,” I muttered under my breath.

  “Are you frowning at me, Liza?” he asked, the smile disappearing, being replaced by a look that made me rearrange my facial features instantly. I guessed he was back to being my Dom, whether I was ready or not.

  No, Sir,” I replied, trying to look innocent and surprised at the same time.

  Seb laughed. “You are going to have your hands real full with this little sub, my friend. She was certainly a handful when she worked for me.”

  I forced myself not to reply with a sarcastic retort, and sat in silence instead. Both Steve and Seb laughed at the huge effort I had to make not to answer back.

  Helen was looking nervously from one man to the other. Steve caught her obvious discomfort and moved to her, holding out his hand to help her up. After she stood, he kissed her sweetly on the mouth and placed her hand in Seb’s.

  “We didn’t have a formal contract,” Steve said, “but it’s all right for our arrangement to end now. I wish you every happiness, Helen. Seb feels the same attraction that you do, and he would like to see where this could take both of you. I couldn’t have let you go to just anyone. Trust him, confide in him, but most of all—be honest with him, always.”

  “I will, I promise. Thank you for understanding,” she replied, tears beginning to fall once more.

  “Come on, don’t be a crybaby. I’m not that awful.” Seb grinned and the atmosphere lifted as we all laughed.

  The two Doms shook hands, and made arrangements to meet for business the next day. Helen let go of Seb’s hand and he glanced at her, but didn’t stop her as she walked over to me.

  “See you soon, Liza. Thanks for being okay about everything. Good luck.” She grinned, and hugging me, she leaned in close and whispered in my ear. “If anyone’s a handful, it’s Steve.”

  I giggled, then clamped my hand over my mouth at once. It was too late; he’d heard me, and as I looked over Helen’s shoulder, he raised an eyebrow quizzically.

  “I stand corrected. We’ve both got our hands full,” Seb laughed.

  “Apparently so. Come here, Liza.”

  I quickly went and stood next to him and we all said our goodbyes. As they walked away, I saw Seb put an arm possessively around Helen’s waist, and I was genuinely pleased things had turned out so well for her.

  My situation, however, didn’t seem quite so settled. Steve guided me back to the chairs by the fire and we sat. He stared at me long and hard.

  “Good luck? Am I really that much of an ogre?” Both eyebrows were raised this time.

  I decided to go the humorous route. “Well, not in my opinion; although I can’t speak for any other subs you’ve had in the past.” I grinned up at him.

  His eyes crinkled and he broke into a big smile that sent shivers of delight through me. “You are a breath of fresh air little, Liza. I love that you’ll take the risk of pissing me off just to see if I’ll laugh.”

  I basked in his praise and we sat for a while in companionable silence. I wondered if I he was upset about Helen leaving and was just putting on a front.

  “What’s on your mind, Liza? Talk to me. Ask me everything you need to so we can move on from this.”

  I took a deep breath and, true to my nature, decided to plough straight in. “You’re okay about just handing her over like that?”

  Steve frowned. “I knew about Seb two weeks ago, and I accepted that she clearly wanted to move on. I was just waiting for her to be honest with me. A D/s couple can’t exist without the honesty and communication. You know that now, right?”

  I nodded. “Did Seb know that she felt that way about him?”

  “He did after I told him. Look, Helen didn’t say a word until I finally confronted her today, which I did because she dragged you into this. I couldn’t put up with the secrecy any longer. I just won’t play that sort of game. I spent time with her this afternoon. I made her tell me exactly what she was looking for, now that she’d discovered her needs had changed.”

  “What needs could Seb meet that you couldn’t?”

  “Helen wants to push her boundaries a lot further than I’m comfortable where pain is concerned. They make an excellent match. He can explore those needs with her safely, because he’s a good Dom and I trust him. I wouldn’t have settled for anything less.”

  “She’s lucky to have had you as her Dom,” I said, feeling better about what had happened.

  He smiled and rubbed my cheek with warm fingers. “What else is it sweetheart? That brain of yours is still churning something around.”

  He missed nothing, and I felt myself begin to blush again. “Well, I’ve read a little about… you know… BDSM stuff, in the past.”

  He grinned. “You’ve read up on the D/s lifestyle, huh?”

  I looked down, embarrassed.

  He put one finger under my chin and lifted my head to meet his gaze. ”Would I be right in thinking you’d like to go and try a few things you read about?”

  He gazed into my eyes and smiled wickedly, and I found myself grinning right back at him.

  “Yes, please. I thought you’d never ask.” I sounded brave, but underneath my words, I wondered just what I was getting myself into, putting myself at the mercy of this commanding dominant.

  His deep laugh made my core begin to pulse with anticipation, and as we walked through the lounge toward the exit, Steve’s hand rubbed my ass possessively. I smiled self-indulgently at a couple of the women who had glanced up as we walked by, and felt childishly triumphant. “That’s right, ladies, he’s all mine.”

  I put on my coat and we headed back to the car. He opened the door for me and as I slid inside, he lowered his head until it was level with mine.

  “I hope you know what you’re in for, Liza, because I intend to explore every part of that hot body of yours until you’re screaming with pleasure.”

  The air around me seemed to heat up at his words, and I was filled with trepidation and excitement at the thought of what was to come.

  Heading back across the bridge, I studied Steve’s profile as he guided the car through the late night traffic. He was one of those men who just oozed confidence and a certain strength that made people realize he wouldn’t be messed with. I looked at his large hands on the wheel and let my mind wander, imagining those same hands tying me, spanking me, making me scream…

  “Do I pass inspection?”

  He looked over and, embarrassed, I mumbled an apology.

  “I liked it, Liza. Relax.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay?” He glanced at me with a frown.

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Better.” His eyes returned to the road and I settled back in the comfy leather chair, ready to enjoy the journey back to his place. I stared out the window, enjoying the glowing cityscape
.

  “Strip, Liza,” he commanded.

  My head whipped around and I looked at him in astonishment. “Here? Now?” I stammered. “I can’t. People might see.”

  “You can. Unless you want me to pull over and do it myself,” he replied calmly.

  Horrified at the thought of being stripped at the side of the road, I shrugged out of my coat and placed it behind me on the back seat.

  “You look beautiful tonight, and I apologize for not paying as much attention to you as I would have liked. There were things I had to sort out, but that’s no excuse.”

  Warmth spread through me at his words, but my hands still shook as I undid the halter neck of my tight, red blouse. I leaned forward and tried to find the zipper at the back.

  “Here. Let me help you.”

  I dropped my hands and Steve reached over, finding it at once with his right hand as the left stayed on the wheel. Goose bumps broke out at his touch, every nerve ending responding to him.

  The clasp for my bra was at the front, and I undid it, letting my breasts spring free of the thin fabric. I felt so exposed, even half-undressed. I couldn’t imagine sitting here, totally naked beside him. Just thinking those words however, caused my nipples to harden into tight buds from anticipation, as well as the cold night air.

  “Very nice, sweetheart.” I shivered as his knuckles brushed across them, sending little jolts of electricity straight down to my pussy.

  He took his hand away, to turn up the heat, adjusting the vents, so warm air blew gently across my breasts. His hand returned, taking each hard tip in turn, rubbing it between two fingers.

  My back arched in response as my clit throbbed and dampness formed between my legs. He licked his fingers and pulled gently on each nipple, the moisture leaving them over-sensitive in the now warm air.

  “I meant completely naked, Liza.”

  With an effort, I pulled my mind back to the job of removing my clothes. Hands fumbling, I undid the zipper of my black pants and peeled them down my thighs, over my knees and let them rest at my ankles. Steve put his hand back on the wheel to negotiate an exit, and I took the opportunity to slip off my high heels, then the pants.