by Dakota Trace
Chapter Eleven
“Continue, Lauren,” Ethan urged the blonde as he settled in next to Sabella. When he’d dipped into Bistro Sabor for a sandwich, he hadn’t expected to see his little submissive and Lauren sitting at a table with their heads bowed together. From the animated way Lauren had been conversing and the hunched shoulders of Sabella, he’d immediately grew concerned for his sub. Even though Sabella thought their relationship only extended during their training sessions, his own personal code of honor claimed she was his to protect until their arrangement was over, or he found her another Dom. He’d been drawn to their table like a moth to a flame. Imagine his shock when he’d realized Lauren was talking about him!
“I…I…” Lauren flushed and stammered, her embarrassment and discomfort quite apparent. He could only assume it was because of his position as the co-owner of New Beginnings. She was afraid she was risking her membership by answering him.
“Relax. Go ahead and tell your friend what you know. I promise it’ll have no bearing on your membership, Ms. Haskell.”
Sabella shifted next to him, her soft jasmine scent teased his nostrils. “She wasn’t being malicious…Sir…Dr. Tremaine. She was merely trying to give me a swift kick in the rear while putting things into perspective.”
Placing his hand over Sabella’s, he shushed her. “There’s no need to try and protect your friend. Even if her purpose was to warn you off, which I’m sure it wasn’t, I don’t see you as being one easily led.”
“Damn girl, he knows you better than I thought.” Lauren chuckled nervously.
“Language, Ms. Haskell. While my partner may find coarse language a turn on, I prefer if women - particularly submissive ones - do not swear.”
Lauren tilted her head before sighing. “Sorry. I’ll try to clean up my language. It’s an occupational hazard when working with male mechanics. They have a tendency not to filter their mouths.” She gave him a hopeful smile. “As I was saying, you obviously have begun to figure my Bella-mía out. Most mistake her nice girl, go with the flow attitude, and polite submission in most things as having a weak spine.”
Ethan could see how that might happen. “Submissive isn’t interchangeable with weak. In fact, it takes more strength to submit than it does to dominate a person. But I believe I asked you to continue with what you were saying, not to discuss ideologies.”
“We were talking about you…” Lauren began.
“Obviously so. What I want to know is how the subject of my dead wife managed to come up in an idle conversation with my current sub?” Out of the corner of his eye, Ethan saw Sabella open her mouth to protest. “I will not debate this matter with you, Sabella. Until we part ways, whether we are in a scene or not, or how I actually treat you, I consider your well-being, emotional or otherwise, my responsibility.”
He wanted to nod in satisfaction when her mouth snapped shut and she slipped hands into her lap, but he refrained. Instead he focused his considerable attention on Lauren.
“I mentioned to her about the incident last night at the club. No names of course,” she was quick to reassure him. “…just that there was a Dom who’d overstepped both his bounds and those of the club, and you promptly put him in his place. You’ll have to admit you have some rather lethal moves.”
“It probably has to do with Hojōjutsu. Those who practice it are quite fast. Most don’t realize a takedown has happened until it’s too late, Lauren,” Sabella interjected.
It was Ethan’s turn to be surprised. He didn’t normally reveal his training in the ancient art of Budō which included the lesser known practice of Hojōjutsu. How had she known? His face must have expressed his surprise, because Lauren actually giggled.
“You have the familiar look of bemusement most men get around Bella, Master Ethan. You see she’s quite the brainaic when it comes to obscure facts about things she enjoys. Considering your ethnicity and her love of bondage it’s not surprising she’d assume you’re a practitioner of one of the martial arts forms from which kinbaku originated.”
“Lauren! I do not stereotype! Even after one session with Master Ethan, I could tell he utilizes the ideals of Budō, and has many of the trappings of that martial art form in his training room inside of his home.”
Lauren’s jaw dropped. “You actually got to go inside the big house? You didn’t tell me that. I figured for sure Master Ethan would take you to his playroom at the club.” Then she mumbled something under her breath which sounded suspiciously like ‘lucky bitch’.
Ethan wanted to howl in frustration. This was one reason why he didn’t understand Davis’s fascination with Lauren. Trying to follow her conversation was like following American football. If he didn’t pay close attention, he was lost within minutes. It was time to get this conversation back on track. “Enough. While I wasn’t aware your friend could glean all that from merely visiting my training room, we’re not discussing her observation skills. You were gossiping about my dead wife. Why?”
Lauren had the audacity to look ashamed of herself. “Bella was doubting herself, but I was trying to reassure her that, despite your calm demeanor, she might be just be the person to see deeper inside of you.” Her cheeks reddened. “There’s one thing my friend can’t resist and that’s a puzzle. You, Sir, with your mysterious ways and soft voice, would be the ultimate puzzle for her. So I was…”
“Trying to tempt me into pursuing a relationship with you, Sir, by mentioning no other sub has gotten close to you since your wife.” Sabella sighed bitterly, shooting a dirty look at her friend. Shifting a minute amount, he could tell when she turned her attention towards him.
“While I’m sorry to hear about the death of your wife, Master Ethan, rest assured I’m not going to throw myself at you, no matter what my friend thinks I need.” She tossed her napkin on her untouched plate of food. “If you’ll excuse me, I find myself not to be all that hungry anymore.”
She wiggled, as if she were expecting him to move out of her way. Trapped as she was between the wall and his body, she honestly couldn’t go anywhere until he did move. It was a situation he used to his advantage. There wasn’t a prayer in hell he was going to let this go. She had some misperceptions he was going to clear up before she left, but he didn’t need an audience to do it.
“Yes, I do mind.” He brushed his thumb over her cheek, before turning back to Lauren. “I need a few moments alone with your friend, Ms. Matchmaker.”
“Of course.” Lauren slid out of the booth. “I’m just going to make a stop in the ladies room.
He nodded as she snatched up her purse. “And Lauren?”
She paused, looking over her shoulder at him. “Yes?”
“If you pull something like this again, I will revoke your membership to the club.”
Her eyebrows drew together as Lauren opened her mouth to protest, but he was quick to cut her off.
“And while it probably won’t stick because of my partner, let me assure you, Davis would attach such strings to the reinstatement, that somehow I don’t honestly believe you’d be prepared to accept. So unless you wish to find yourself under his thumb, please refrain from interfering in my relationship with your friend.”
She nodded her understanding before scurrying away.
A disgruntled sigh came from his right. “I can’t believe you just threatened my friend. While she seems impulsive, I assure you she means no harm.”
Turning his attention back to Sabella, Ethan shifted his body again until he effectively had her trapped in the corner. “You’ll find I dare many things when it comes to your well-being, Sabella. I won’t have you upset just because a well-meaning friend speaks out of turn. You were upset when I arrived, and I only can assume it’s because she told you I was married.”
She stiffened. “I have no claim to you, Dr. Tremaine. I’m yours under only the most temporary of circumstances. When we leave practice behind, we’re nothing more than casual acquaintances - which I can only hope your wife, if she were still alive, woul
d’ve understood.”
“Really?” He lifted his hand to her check. “Somehow it didn’t feel that way last night when I was holding your nearly naked body against mine, our breathing harmonious as I guided the rope over your flesh.” He gave a sharp bark of laughter. “And my wife definitely wouldn’t have understood.”
Her breath caught, her eyes flaring with a desire she quickly banked at the mention of his wife. “Last night was nothing more than the normal reaction to bondage. My body always…”
He pressed a finger against her lips. “Don’t lie to me, Sabella. I could feel your surprise, your impatience, as I guided you through the most basic of ties. Your reactions weren’t those of a jaded nawa jujun, who has delved many times into the freedom ropes offer. No, yours were one of awakening, of wonderment, of anticipation as I guided you towards a place where, by your own admission, you’ve never been.”
Her chest rose and fell with her breathing. “Just because I’ve never experienced the fabled subspace doesn’t mean I’m so hungry or desperate I’ll allow myself to be used…”
Sliding his fingers across her cheek, he slid his hand into her hair, then tightened it warningly before cupping the back of her head. “Our agreement guarantees it, Sabella. And you’re truly naive if you think once we leave the practice room behind that everything between us returns to equal footing.” He wanted nothing more than to show her what she was missing by denying them. But as the submissive, she had the power. “No matter how misguided Lauren was, she had a very valid point. She said you were uncomfortable with the status quo. Do you know why?”
Keeping her eyes lowered, she effectively avoided his gaze. Something else he was about fed up with. “I have no reason to be unhappy with it. You’re giving me exactly what I asked for.”
He studied her expression. “But you’re still uneasy. Even now when we’re not in a scene, notice how you lean into my palm? How you sit next to me with your head high, shoulders thrust back, but with your eyes lowered? You respond to the Dom in me as surely as I respond to the submissive in you. Our responses have nothing to do with the demonstration.” He sighed before shifting back. “Look at me, Sabella.”
Her eyes lifted to meet his. As he suspected, the submission she wasn’t even aware of offering, was there for any Dom who was worth his salt.
“If your self-doubt is coming from this, I’m sorry. Rest assured you aren’t the only one who had a rough night, or an issue with coping with the connection between us.” He removed his hand from her hair, pulling back and breaking their physical connection. “When we started this, I agreed I wouldn’t expect anything more than what we agreed to. I won’t break my word, even if I long for more, for myself. ”
She nodded as he slid out of the seat. Allowing her to stand, he was careful not to touch her. But before she could make good on her escape, he pressed close until their bodies were mere millimeters apart, her breath teasing the skin under his open collar. “That’s not to say, Sabella, if you come to me, however, I won’t give you what you need.” His finger traced over her cheek before lifting her chin with his index finger to lock eyes with her. “All you have to do is open this pretty little mouth and ask.”
Chapter Twelve
Both Lauren and Sabella picked their way along the walk leading up to the barn housing New Beginnings. Watching where they placed their feet, the last thing either girl needed was a fall because of the light dusting of snow on the ground. If it hadn’t been for the crunchy white stuff under foot, Sabella would have sneaked a peek up the hill towards the ‘big house’ as Lauren called the private residence of Davis and Ethan. It’d been over two weeks since she’d seen Ethan. Their second appointment, scheduled a week after their first, had been canceled when Ethan had been called out of town to testify in a case in Los Angeles. After their confrontation at Bistro Sabor, she had almost been relieved. She’d been ready to throw herself at his feet and beg him to screw her up against the nearest wall. But instead, she’d said her good-byes and went home. Not only had Ethan given her food for thought, Lauren’s frank talk about her father had made her stop and re-evaluate what was going on in her relationship with her dad.
“Come on, girl. Quit lolly-gagging. It’s fuckin cold out here.” Dressed in her typical subbie attire, Lauren had her long blonde hair pulled up in a high ponytail and under the long winter jacket she wore little other than the mini skirt, leggings, and a leather corset over a fine linen blouse. In a way she reminded Sabella of some lusty pirate’s captain from the 1800s.
Following her into the cozy barn, Sabella wasn’t surprised to see Davis, all decked out in leather gear, at the door checking IDs. Where on earth he’d found enough leather to cover his massive frame was a question she’d have to ask later. She didn’t think they made leather pants in a size large enough to accommodate Davis’s nearly seven foot frame. As her friend approached the behemoth of a Dom, she scanned the area, wondering if Ethan was going to make a presence tonight. She’d gotten his message earlier in the day at home, but had chosen to ignore Ethan’s summons. If he was indeed here, she’d merely claim she hadn’t returned home before coming. In fact, she was still dressed in the soft velveteen leggings and poet shirt she’d worn to the youth center earlier in the day.
“You’re in so much trouble, girl,” Lauren said as she returned with a sheaf of papers in her hand. Handing them to her, Lauren blocked Sabella from view as she handed Sabella a pen.
Accepting them, Sabella shrugged. “Why do you say that?” She glanced down at the paperwork. It looked like a standard consent form. It outlined the club’s rules, along with the disclaimer holding neither Ethan nor Davis responsible for any risky behavior which resulted in the injury to the person signing the contract.
Lauren grabbed her arm and squeezed. “Why didn’t you tell me you ducked out on Ethan today? Davis just warned me, if you go into the club, to not be surprised if you end up strapped over some spanking bench or St. Andrew’s Cross while Ethan warms your bottom.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Sabella looked down at the papers longingly. She hadn’t been out to a club since before her dad had taken ill. She needed this night out in the worse way, but was it worth pushing the temper of her temporary Master? She chewed on her lower lip as she weighed her options. According to the agreement she had with Ethan, he could punish her during a scene, but since they weren’t in a scene as long as she didn’t break the club rules, her bottom was safe. “I haven’t done anything wrong, Lauren. I haven’t been home today at all. I came here directly from work. Even if Ethan did call the house today, he could’ve easily enough called my cell, or my work if we had an appointment for training. I told you he canceled our last appointment. I’m not going to be punished for not being a mind reader.” She mentally crossed her fingers, praying that was the truth of the matter. “Besides I’m sure he has better things to do than worry about me.”
“Somehow I don’t think it’s going to matter.” Lauren warned. “But as the old saying goes, it’s your funeral, girl.” Lauren guided her up to Davis.
“Greetings, Master Davis.” Sabella kept her voice soft and respectful. “If you have a moment, I’d like to ask you a few questions?”
Davis gave her a smile, before signaling to Kaleb, who obviously was also working the Subbie Night. If Lauren hadn’t told her that her boss was a member of the club, she’d have been shocked to see him. As Kaleb replaced him, Davis guided her off to the side so they weren’t holding up the line. “So what can I answer for you, Ms. Sabella? Our contract is quite forward and to the point.” He gave a grin. “I made sure it was.”
“It’s not the contract, per-se.” Sabella felt herself flushing. “I was curious about the protocol for approaching a Dom at these functions.” She took a deep breath. “In my previous experience, I had to let the Dom come to me. As a submissive I wasn’t allowed to do the pursuing. I was wondering if it was acceptable to approach the men here tonight, or if I need to wait for one to come to me.” Glanci
ng around at the large majority of women, most of them beautiful, she sighed. “With the rest of these beautiful subs present, I’m sure the competition will be fierce.”
Davis frowned, his hand curling around her arm. “I think you’ve misunderstood. This isn’t a hook-up joint, Sabella. It’s a night to cater to a submissive’s needs, while providing a safe environment. If you’re looking for nameless sex, I suggest you head down to the nearest leather bar and try dancing on some tables.”
Her eyes widened in shock at his harsh words. Nameless sex wasn’t what she was looking for at all. She loved sex, just like the next gal, but she’d take the spiritual release she found when giving over to another at the moment. “I…I wasn’t insinuating I was looking for a sexual hook-up. I merely wish to indulge in my need to submit to another. It has been too long since I’ve brought pleasure to a Dom, even of the most basic kind, Master Davis.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I’m desperate enough and would be willing serve drinks to the Doms to achieve this.” She suddenly felt like bursting into tears.
“Oh.” A contrite expression crossed Davis’s face before his hand dropped away. “Have you told Ethan about…”