A Journey to Submission

by Laney Rogers

  “Yes, it is,” I replied cautiously.

  “This is Joe, I work with Steve. I think you were at his place when I called last.”

  I felt a warm flush travel up my face. Oh shit, I was the hot, naked woman Steve had mentioned. “Um, yes, that’s right,” I replied.

  “Look, I don’t want to worry you, but Steve is not doing so well,” Joe said.

  A feeling of dread hit me instantly. “Oh my God, has he been hurt?” I asked. My voice sounded shaky and I braced myself for his reply.

  “No, it’s nothing like that. He didn’t feel so good when I met him this morning, but being the stubborn ass that he is, he shrugged it off, and we went to work. I guess he got worse during the afternoon, because I found him, a couple of hours ago, slumped against a wall in one of the bathrooms at the venue we’re doing security for.”

  I listened silently, wondering if he was going to tell me that Steve was in the hospital, already planning how I would get to him.

  “He wouldn’t go anywhere 'til I’d got some cover for us, but I called in a lot of favors, and it’s been taken care of. Your man sure is obstinate, honey,” he said.

  “Tell me about it,” I muttered under my breath. “How is he now?” I asked.

  “Well, I took him to an urgent care not too far from where we were. They wanted to get him to a hospital to get treatment for dehydration, but of course, he refused. The doc thought it was a virus that’s been going around, and apparently it’s knocked a lot of people off their feet, literally. His temperature was 103 when I got him there.”

  “It was that high, and he refused any help?” I was angry as well as worried.

  “Well, I’ve got some meds for him and I’m driving him back down to his place. He wanted me to call and tell you what’s happening, but he’s pretty out of it right now.”

  I was already in the bedroom, getting my hold-all back out of the closet.

  “Okay, I’ll get a cab and meet you there. How far away are you?” I asked.

  “Not far now, about forty-five minutes,” Joe replied. “Do you want me to swing by and pick you up?”

  “Oh no, I’m fine. I’ll see you at Steve’s place,” I said, grabbing clothes out of drawers and throwing them in the bag.

  “Okay, honey, I’ll see you soon.”

  I spent the next few minutes packing then called a cab. Steve was obstinate; Joe was right about that. If things were the other way around, I knew Steve would have taken Joe to the hospital, no matter what.

  I locked my apartment back up and waited outside for the cab. I really needed a car, I thought again as I paced up and down. It arrived soon after, and I got to Steve’s place in plenty of time.

  It wasn’t too long before I heard a crunch of tires and two cars appeared, pulling up close to the front door.

  The man who got out of Steve’s Mercedes was almost as tall as Steve, but was built like the side of a barn. He had a big, friendly face and lots of shaggy dark hair. Pulling a bag from the back seat, he strode up to me, smiling.

  “Liza, right? Hi, I’m Joe. If you can open up, I’ll bring him in, okay?”

  I nodded, feeling a little overwhelmed by this giant of a man. He handed me Steve’s keys and bag and I quickly opened the door, dropping the bag inside, and then went back out to help.

  Joe was already holding up Steve, together with the guy from the second car, and I saw that he was as white as a sheet as they helped him to the front door.

  “Okay, buddy, one step at a time,” Joe said, supporting Steve on his own so they could fit through the door. “This is Jason,” Joe said, and the other man smiled as he followed them in.

  “Can I help?” I offered, feeling redundant, just standing there.

  “Why don’t you go on ahead upstairs and make sure the door is open for us, honey,” Joe said.

  I rushed up the stairs and opened the door to Steve’s bedroom, going straight to his bed, pulling back the covers and turning on the bedside light.

  Joe arrived soon after, supporting Steve, who hadn’t uttered a word, all his concentration focused on just reaching the bed.

  We undressed him between us, and I drew the curtains across, returning to the bed to sit near Steve. His face was tight and drawn, but as soon as I sat down, he managed to smile and stroke my cheek.

  “Hey, baby, don’t look so worried. I’ve been worse than this before; just ask Joe.”

  Joe chuckled. “Yeah, true. You, me and that bottle of Jack wasn’t a pretty sight, that’s for sure.”

  I raised my eyebrows and went to fetch his bag. After making sure he had a bottle of water on the nightstand, I turned off the light and we left him to rest. Joe gave me Steve’s medicine, explaining what the doctor had instructed at the urgent care place.

  Jason was waiting by the door. “Everything okay, boss?” he asked Joe.

  “Yeah, he’ll be fine in a couple of days,” Joe answered. Then he turned to me. “Liza, are you sure you can manage? I hate to just drop him off and run, but we’ve got to get right back up to Bloomington.”

  “I’ll manage, don’t worry. He’ll probably sleep for the rest of the night now, anyway,” I replied.

  “Well here’s my cell number, I’ll call you soon, but make sure you call me anytime if you need to, all right?” he said, handing me a business card.

  “Thanks Joe,” I said, with a smile. I liked him a lot and I could understand why Steve enjoyed working with him.

  He bent and kissed my cheek when we reached Jason’s car. Jason got in and wound down the window. “It was good to meet you ma’am,” he said.

  Joe leaned across him and smiled. “Don’t take any crap from him, okay?”

  I laughed. “I’ll try not to. Bye, and thanks, both of you.”

  “Bye, sugar,” he said and I watched as they drove down the driveway. Then I went back into the house, going straight upstairs to check on my patient.

  Chapter Twelve

  It was an awful night, and I sat up for most of it, sponging Steve down, and getting him to drink sips of water whenever he was awake. His temperature raged at a hundred and three degrees, and I decided, sitting on the edge of his bed in the middle of the night, that I would risk his anger and somehow get him to the hospital if he didn’t show any improvement by daybreak.

  By about four in the morning, he was sleeping more restfully, so I pulled a blanket over me and grabbed a couple of hours sleep on the armchair in his room.

  I woke at six thirty to find Steve holding the edge of my chair, on his way back from the bathroom. I jumped up and helped him back to bed.

  “You need to get some proper sleep,” he said while I put his covers straight and handed him his water.

  “Actually, you don’t get to boss me around right now. I’m taking care of you, and that’s all there is to it,” I said firmly.

  He glared at me and then his face broke into a smile. “Do you know how hot you look when you get all pushy like that?” he asked.

  I folded my arms, trying not to smile. “Go back to sleep, Steve.”

  * * * *

  By eight that morning, I had found the contact number for the builders and had called Mac, who assured me that everything would be okay, and they would drive over, pick up the keys to the club and lock up when they were done.

  When Mac arrived at the house, we chatted for a while and agreed that he would keep hold of the keys until I managed to get to the club. Knowing that it was taken care of was a relief, and after Mac left, I went back up to Steve to tell him that everything was okay with the builders.

  Apart from drinking water and taking his medicine, Steve slept for most of the day. I checked on him regularly, and spoke to the guys at the club a couple of times throughout the day.

  For a while, in the afternoon, I just sat on the bed next to Steve and watched him sleep. His face was relaxed and his arms were thrown over his head, as he slept soundly. I was getting way too attached, and I knew it.

  I tore myself away and went downst
airs to make myself something to eat, determined not to go up there unless he actually needed me.

  By the evening, I had cleaned the whole downstairs, including the fridge and the stove. I watched some TV, and then crept upstairs to check on Steve. He was sitting up and drinking some water when I went in.

  “You look better,” I said with a smile. I walked over to the side of the bed and felt his face. “The fever’s broken too, that’s great.”

  He caught hold of my hand and pulled me down beside him. “I feel so weak, it’s pathetic. I should be up by now.”

  “You should be in the hospital,” I admonished. “Why do you have to be so stubborn?”

  He grinned. “I guess it just comes naturally.”

  “Do you think you could manage some soup?” I asked.

  “Hell yeah, I could eat a horse,” he replied, throwing back the covers.

  “No way, Steve. Come on, if you collapse, I’m never going to be able to pick you up. Promise me you’ll stay in bed until tomorrow, and I’ll bring you something to eat.”

  “It would be a lot easier to promise if you were naked, sub.”

  “I’ll get the soup.” I left the room quickly, hearing him laugh as I went downstairs.

  I was glad he was feeling better, but I knew he still had to rest. He was very pale still, and the fact that he hadn’t argued when I told him to stay in bed told me that some of what I’d seen upstairs was an act, to reassure me.

  Still, there was no reason I couldn’t do as he said. So I made the soup, putting it on a large tray with toast, and some juice I’d found in the fridge. Then I took off all my clothes and picked up the tray, making my way back upstairs to his bedroom.

  When I walked in, Steve was facing the other way, back under the covers.

  “Here’s your soup, Sir,” I said, walking toward the bed.

  He turned over in bed and opened his eyes, then broke into a huge grin.

  “Now that is what I call service,” he said, sitting up and taking the tray from me.

  I backed away and he frowned.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” he asked. “At least sit with me, if I can’t have you right now.”

  I got into the bed next to him and he ate some of the soup. I was worried at how much was left when he put the tray to one side, but at least he’d had something.

  We lay together for a while in our favorite position, with my back to him and his arms around me. I sighed with contentment when he moved his hands to my breasts and caressed them, gently rubbing each nipple between his thumb and forefinger. There wasn’t any need for words as we lay there together, and after a few minutes, his hands stopped moving.

  I thought he’d gone back to sleep, so I jumped when he suddenly spoke. “I want you to take my car to the club tomorrow, Liza. You have a license right?”

  Apparently, he had just been lying next to me thinking, not sleeping, and I was surprised at how much I minded that his hands had left my body while he did so. However, I told myself that he was ill, and tired, and I needed to push any anxieties I had about that to one side and answer his question.

  “Yes, but I haven’t driven in a while. Are you sure you trust me with it?”

  He was silent for a minute. “I’m trying hard to trust you, no matter what,” he eventually replied, and I knew he was referring to Anna and our conversation the other night.

  I decided to lighten the moment. “Well, okay. If I crash it, just take it out of my wages.”

  He chuckled. “There’ll be a lot bigger punishment for you if that happens.” He ran his hands over my breasts.

  “Okay, I’m out of here,” I said, slipping out from under his hands. “You need to rest and I’m stopping you from doing that.”

  “Get back in here and we’ll go to sleep together,” he ordered.

  With a sigh, I slid back in under the covers and he turned off the light next to him.

  It was so good to be wrapped up in his arms, and before long, I heard his breathing slow to a steady rhythm. I closed my eyes and soon fell into a deep sleep.

  The next morning, I was up and showered before Steve even opened his eyes. When he woke, he seemed better than the day before, and I made sure he ate something and took his meds before I got ready to leave.

  He grabbed his keys from the night stand, where Joe had left them, and handed them to me. “Call me if you need to, sweetheart. I’ll be awake.”

  I took the keys from his hand and bent to kiss him. “I’ll be back by lunchtime. Promise me you’ll rest while I’m gone.”

  “Get out of here, woman, and let me rest in peace.” He grinned, and as I turned to leave he smacked my ass. “Yep, feels good. I must be getting better.”

  The action confirmed what I had thought about him being over-tired, and I smiled, glad that he sounded more like his old self.

  Driving Steve’s Mercedes to the club felt really good. It was an easy car to drive and I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed being behind the wheel. Pulling into the parking lot at the club, I made a mental note to buy a car as soon as I got back from visiting my parents.

  The work inside was going really well and I spent a while talking with the guys, letting them know how Steve was doing and going over what was going to be done today.

  In the office, I found I’d had several responses already to the ads I’d placed, so I worked for a while setting up appointments, and then gave Carly a call at work.

  I told her about the events of the last couple of days, and she told me she had collected up my belongings from work and had them at her place now. I told her I’d phone her when I got back from my parents, and after the call ended, I realized I’d never got around to telling Steve that I was going to visit them.

  I decided to tell him that afternoon, without fail, and after arranging for Mac to keep hold of the keys so they could lock up today, and let themselves in tomorrow, I left the club, wanting to get back to the house to see how Steve was doing.

  I made one quick stop at a supermarket, to pick up more juice and some fresh fruit, then drove back to his place, bringing the Mercedes to a stop right by the front door.

  Steve was in the office sitting at his desk, talking on the phone with papers strewn all around him. He looked more like his old self, but I noticed the shadows under his eyes as he leaned back in the chair, the phone pressed to his ear.

  I went to the kitchen and made lunch, and after a few minutes he walked up behind me, putting his arms around my waist and kissing my neck.

  “You’re taking such good care of me,” he murmured into my hair.

  “You’re worth it,” I replied, turning and smiling at him.

  We ate lunch together and he told me it had been Joe on the phone, checking to see how he was.

  “He’s like an old woman,” Steve said as we went to the sitting room, me with a coffee and Steve with more juice.

  “He was very concerned about you because you should have been in the hospital,” I replied.

  “Jesus, I hate this stuff.” Steve held the glass of juice up. “I need coffee,” he complained.

  I laughed. “Just drink it; juice is way better for you than coffee.”

  “You know, you’re on borrowed time with all this bossing me about shit,” he growled, putting the juice on the side table. “I may not be up to throwing you over my shoulder and taking you to my office to get a paddle for that sweet ass of yours, but it won’t be long. Remember that, sub.”

  “Yes, Sir,” I said, and felt a dampness form between my legs at the mere suggestion of him punishing me. I had missed his dominance more than I cared to admit, but I knew he needed more time to get over the virus that had made him so ill.

  Grabbing the coffee out of my hand, he pulled me down onto the big armchair and I settled in his lap. We talked and I told him about going to my parents place, and how I felt about it.

  “You should go, sweetheart,” he said. “If you need to tell her what you think, then do it. See your family, spend
time with your brother and dad, and then come back here to me.”

  It was what I needed to hear and we sat together for a while, my body snuggled against his. When I opened my eyes, and glanced at my watch. I couldn’t believe it.

  We’d just slept for nearly three hours.

  I sat up, noticing at once how pale Steve was. “Shit,” I murmured, getting off his lap and checking his forehead. There was no fever, but I knew that he should get back upstairs so he could rest properly.

  Grumbling and complaining about bossy women, but not putting up the fight I’d expected him to, he went back upstairs. I cleared up the kitchen then put a movie on, determined to leave him to sleep peacefully on his own, worried that he had overdone things while I had been at the club. After the movie was over, I checked the house was locked, turned out some of the lights and went to soak in a bath.

  Lying in the hot water I closed my eyes, and instantly saw Steve’s hard body, covering mine, fucking me, my hands bound, legs tight around his waist. Aroused by my imagination, I knew what I wanted to do, but my mother’s words threatened to spoil the moment once again.

  I opened my eyes and threw my head back in frustration. Taking a deep breath, I closed them once more and pushed the empty, bitter words to one side. I raised my hand, sliding it down my body to my breast and teased my nipple, pinching it between my wet fingers.

  My free hand moved down and I parted my legs, letting my knees fall against the sides of the bath.

  I stroked my sensitive folds under the water and my arousal grew as more images flashed through my mind—me tipped over Steve’s lap, ass in the air, while he spanked me hard with a paddle. Then his hard, thick cock in my mouth, as I knelt before him, my hands bound behind me, his hands grabbing my hair as he came, pumping his hot semen right to the back of my throat.

  The throb of need escalated and I imagined Steve taking me from behind, his shaft pounding into me, one of his hands restraining both of mine while the other spanked my ass. I moaned as my fingers fucked my pussy hard, then slid to my clit, pinching and rubbing it, my hips bucking each time, knowing that I was going to come very soon.