"One day on the job, and already you are calling in? You are going. I have four clients I need to see today."
"Oh." Piper resisted the desire to question the type of clients. How could she be feeling jealous? It was ridiculous and immature, and he had done nothing to deserve it.
Jeoff kissed her before sliding out of bed. "I know what's going on in your brain. I will be at the office. They are all men and very, very vanilla. I won't have any more DD sessions with the girls unless you are present or nearby."
"I don't understand. I do not expect you to change your life for me. That is not right. For you or your girls."
"I chose to do that out of respect for you and the relationship we are developing. In my world," he slipped a sweater over his head, giving Piper just enough eye candy to make her drool, "jealousy runs deep among submissives. I don't want to provoke you to that place, and the best way I know how is to make these little changes. It does not mean you will be in the room with us unless you want to be, but you will be nearby and always aware of what is going on."
"What if the other … subs," Piper played with the word on her lips, "have an issue with that? Their lives are being affected as well."
"They will all get a chance to meet you, and I hope they want to pursue being your friend. You need people whom you can trust to understand this lifestyle. Even Howard is aware of it. The old man busted me spanking my girlfriend in the back of a stall when I was sixteen. The old Geezer told me that the only way I would be effective was to go bare bottom and walked away."
"He did not!"
"He certainly did. He gave me my first crop to use, too, and has been my mentor ever since. Don't look so surprised. He used to be quite the Master in his day. He knows that I won't be involved with a woman and not have D&S as part of our deal. He might tease you now and then—just a warning."
"How humiliating," Piper blushed.
"Let me tell you a little trick for avoiding embarrassment. You can either out yourself first, which removes the surprise factor of someone bringing something up. Or," he ignored Piper's expression as he dropped his pajama bottoms, allowing her full view of his manhood before pulling up a pair of skivvy's and his jeans, "you can quickly accept it and laugh at an attempt to embarrass you. Be agreeable, and don't try to argue, or you will fall victim to the teasing. I learned that very early in life."
"Yeah, Mr. Howard mentioned that you got picked on a lot. I wanted to ask you about your childhood. You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to. I just really don't know that much about you, but you know everything about me."
"I promised to answer all of your questions if you allowed me to session with you, remember?"
"You won't have to make another deal like that again. It was, like, wow …."
"Thank you. However, I am a man of my word. I was a slow bloomer and smaller than the other kids my age, even the girls. I also liked music, which wasn't 'cool' among the lumberjack mentality I was raised around. My mother encouraged the music and bought me my first guitar. It did not go over well with my father. Coffee?"
"Please."
"Stay in bed. I'll bring it to you."
Piper nestled against the pillows, sipping the delectable brew as Jeoff continued to share his beginnings.
"Dad was a construction worker, and he busted his back to make ends meet for the family. He had dreams of becoming a hockey pro and was determined to live vicariously through me. Predictably, as a runt, I was somewhat of a disappointment to him. When I became interested in music, well, it was too much. My mom passed away from pancreatic cancer when I was eleven, and Dad went ballistic. Everything that reminded him of her was removed from the house and he told me he never wanted to hear music again."
"He was heartbroken," Piper said, sadly.
"Yes, and he was so entrenched in my mother's life that the idea of living without her was an impossibility. He had few friends to begin with and alienated all of them in the course of three months. That was when he met Betty. He promised her everything he could not give my mother … money, power and a perfect family."
"Overcompensation?"
"Quite so. She was heavily involved with church and knew the mayor's wife through her woman's group. The two of them launched a plan that got Dad involved with the city council and high profile companies in the area. Dad hated political agendas, but did it anyway to please her. He used those connections to build his construction company and outbid every contractor for miles, working himself into poor health in the name of money and power."
"That poor guy …."
"I love my dad, but he is a weak man. He allowed Betty to dictate his every breathing moment. I was her challenge, though. Even as small boy, I was not easily manipulated. I was used to a loving, nurturing mother who believed in me and encouraged me to pursue my dreams. This woman, Betty, only wanted me to change to fit her needs. She sent me to hockey lessons five days a week and constantly reminded me to succeed where my dad had failed. When I wasn't on the ice or in school, she would force me to recite poetry to her reading groups. She even threatened to dress me up like a little Dutch boy if I was not 'theatrical' enough."
"That is horrible!"
"Agreed." Jeoff wrapped his right arm around Piper's shoulders. "And even though Dad abhorred it, he allowed her to do whatever she wanted with me. He never stood up for himself against her, and he never stood up for me except for not making me go to church. These things were enough incentive to force a normal kid to act out, let alone one who already had issues."
"What did you do?"
"I grew. Finally, my body caught up with time and I zoomed past the others on the team. My anger helped me focus, and I became a beast on the ice. I was still attractive enough for Betty to want me to impress her friends, but I put an end to it when I realized that I could stop her from switching me when I disobeyed."
"She did that?"
"Frequently, and with anything she could grab. Because of that, I will never punish my girls on the backs of the thighs or down their legs with any implements. There are some Doms who practice thigh punishments, but I made a personal choice against it because of my own triggers."
"Oh, Jeoff. I'm so sorry."
"Life molds us to be one of two things: what others intend for us or what we chose for ourselves. I lived my Dad's dream when I was recruited after college to play for Montreal as Left Winger. I gave them six seasons as a VIP and traded to Washington Capitals. After two seasons, my Dad had his first heart attack and I went back home, taking a position with the Winterhawks as a defenseman. My third season in with them ended when Dad had a second attack. I decided not to renew my contract and to pursue a life that I wanted for myself. That was when I started my own sports-therapy practice."
"And your music?"
"That was part of regaining my life. I pulled out the old Taylor my mom had given me and began to play again."
"What did your dad say to that?"
"He was lying in his bed after open heart surgery and had tears in his eyes. He apologized for being so selfish and asked me to sing to him."
"Did you?"
"Of course. I will never refuse a sincere apology or not be there for someone who sincerely desires to have a second chance at a failed relationship. I even got him singing with me. Because of that, we are closer than we have ever been."
"And Betty?"
"She is still a shrew and is terrified of me," Jeoff chuckled. "When I bought this house from my dad, she tried to dictate how it was to be completed. I informed her that she had no authority in my life and that any respect I had for her ceased the minute she stripped me of my music and my dignity. She has said very little to me since."
"I am so sorry. I wish I could have been that strong and not allowed my parents to scar me so badly."
"We all learn to survive the best way we can. I was determined to be the opposite of my father. I saw him as weak, permissive, and focused only on cowering before this woman with whom he had fallen in lov
e. To me, it was not how a man was to behave. Thank God I had Howard. He taught me everything I know about the lifestyle. It's because of him that I am the type of man you see today."
***
Jeoff insisted on driving Piper to the stables due to the condition of the roads, chatting excitedly about the upcoming Thanksgiving game with his old teammates.
"… and after we kick each other's butts, we'll all go to the lodge for Prime rib. Doesn't that sound like fun?"
"Yeah. Sure," Piper said quietly as she stared out the window.
"What's wrong, P? We don't have to go, if you aren't comfortable."
"It's not that. Is it always so gloomy here?"
"This time of year it is. Why do you always try to change the subject when I bring up something prickly?"
"Prickly? What am I? A hedgehog?"
"In a way," he patted her thigh. "They are adorable to look at and really very nice pets, unless they get scared. Then they can really poke you hard. You put your quills up when you feel threatened or backed into a corner. I can't anticipate when that is going to happen at this point in our relationship, so you need to give me some help."
"I'm sorry. I don't always know when something is going to bother me. I'll try not to avoid the issue when it comes up, okay?"
"I'm patient." He wrapped his warm hand over hers and squeezed it. "Trust takes time, and so does the breaking of old habits. What's on your mind?"
"Thanksgiving has never been much of a holiday for me. It meant my family's getting together and finding everything under the roof to fight about. To be honest, I hate the holidays."
"Are you open to change your opinion about the holidays? I cook a pretty mean turducken for Christmas."
"Euw …."
"Don't knock it until you try it. Let's try to form some new memories," Jeoff suggested, pulling into the parking lot.
"I'll try, but I can't promise anything."
"Well, I can promise to give you something to smile about. Stay there," he ordered, exiting the truck and walking around to her door. "Be careful; it's slippery. We need to get you some decent boots. These won't grip the ice."
"Unlike you, I know how to walk without busting my ass."
One hour later, Piper humbly reflected upon those words as she sat painfully with her foot propped upon a bale of hay. Mr. Howard had wrapped it snugly in purple Coban and packed snow around the swollen limb, all the while clucking like a mother hen.
"That should hold you until Jeoffrey comes by to get you. How's your keister?" he asked jovially as he handed her a mug of hot coffee.
Piper inhaled the fragrant brew and sipped slowly. "I think I cracked the driveway when I landed. Jeoff does not need to know. I don't need another lecture about my boots."
"You can't stop that boy from lecturing any more than you can stop the snow from falling. It's in his blood."
"Yeah, I'm getting that. Will you please stop fussing over me? It's just a little sprain."
"Girlie," Mr. Howard said patiently, sitting on the edge of her desk, "if you plan on sticking around here with me and that boy, you just better get used to being fussed over. That is what men like us do for our ladies."
"There is no reason to …"
"Do you put up an argument every time Jeoffrey tells you something? If ya do, I will guarantee that it is only a matter of time before that backside of yours gets itself smacked. He don't put up with nonsense for long." The man noticed her blush and nodded. "Yep, I see you have already been introduced to the south side of his lap. Spare yourself the trouble, and just mind him. He won't ever steer you wrong."
Piper felt herself wanting to sink in her chair with humiliation at the old man's bluntness. She recalled Jeoff's advice about avoiding embarrassment, and cleared her throat. "He certainly can be a bit of a bully, can't he?"
"But always with the best intentions. He's been through a lot over the years and has learned the hard way to do things according to his heart. The last girl he had, she …" The old man stopped, "Listen to me, gossiping like an old hen in a chicken coup. What else can I get you, darlin'?"
"I'm good. Please, tell me. I won't say anything to him, I promise." Piper's eye lit with curiosity.
"Not much to tell. He broke the Code and it destroyed the relationship. It happened a long time ago, but it changed him."
"What Code?"
"The Dom Code. It's an unwritten understanding that the Dominants practice in the lifestyle. I lived by it for fifty-two years with my sweet Emily, may she rest in peace. It made for a nearly perfect marriage and a happy life."
"I'm sorry. It must be awful to lose someone after so long. I can't imagine it," Piper touched the back of his hand.
He smiled down at her. "There is nothing to be sorry about. I had what most men dream of. She was the perfect wife in every way: beautiful, feisty, rebellious, and always there to challenge me to be a better man."
"I'm confused. I thought the idea of this submission thing was to get away from that type of behavior."
Mr. Howard chuckled. "Only if your relationship goes to a master/slave level. Jeoff doesn't engage in that aspect of the community, although he has several friends who do."
"How far does this lifestyle go?" Piper asked.
"Farther than you can imagine. Over the years, the community has broken into sects, allowing each individual pursue the best fit for them."
"He mentioned something about the lifers and the players. Tell me about this girl."
"She presented herself to him as a lifer, wanting to learn all she could and go as deep as possible in the lifestyle. She was a bit masochistic, but other than that she seemed pretty normal. She wanted a collar so badly she could taste it and begged him to bring her to that place in her training. He was in love and did not see what was happening. Her demands, and his obliging them, was what we call topping from the bottom. He gave into her needs because he loved her and wanted her to be happy."
"What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing, if you live in the vanilla world. In DS, things are different. A submissive is rewarded not from what she does, but from what she doesn't do."
"That makes no sense at all."
"You're familiar with the term squeaky wheel, right?" Piper nodded. "This type of behavior gains attention in the vanilla world, where it typically leads to the gal getting her way. It also lends itself to the loss of respect because it's nuthin' but a form of manipulation."
"Yeah, I get that. I hated listening to my mother nag. It drove me crazy and made me want to scream. I lost count of how many times I caved in just to shut her up and get her to leave me alone. It made me sick every time, and I hated myself for not saying no."
"Yup. That is exactly what happens, and it results in destroyed relationships and years of harbored resentment. That is why the DS lifestyle is so effective in keeping partnerships strong. A submissive does the opposite of a vanilla female. She learns to sit silently and accept her position, regardless of what it is. She finds peace in not wanting or demanding. Once she is there, she is content and grateful for anything awarded her."
"But in a relationship, don't you think it's important to express your needs and have them met by your partner?"
"As you learn about each other through normal conversation and day to day life practices, we discover our subs needs. A sub might ask for something, quietly and gently, and she trusts that she will be heard and granted her desire if her dom believes it to be the best thing for her. When Jeoff gave you that pony, were you expecting it?"
"Not at all, it was a total surprise. I didn't even know he was aware of that desire."
"He listens, watches, and knows how to ask questions. He also knows that for you to be happy and content means getting rid of the old belief system that you have lived with your entire life. Little by little he will help strip the old from you and replace it with something new and wonderful."
"Get back to this chick. What did he do wrong to break this code?"
"He gave in
to her demands, and the more he gave, the more she wanted. She never learned how to be content and submit to the natural order of things. It fell to pieces when she started to interfere with his work and the working relationships. Her insecurities and inabilities to relinquish her control and trust him gave way to petty jealousy. She wanted to be present for every session, partake in every discussion, and be included in all his decisions. She refused to accept his 'no' and went as he called, 'bat crap crazy'."
"But she was his girlfriend and if he was, you know, involved with other women …"
"There was no sexual interaction, and she knew it. No, it was simply her inability to trust and truly submit to him. The final straw was when she accused him of setting her up to be dependent on him and blamed him for her reactions. That accusation nearly broke his heart. That was when he decided the relationship was unhealthy and that it would never go where it needed to be."
"Why? Isn't that what this whole submissive thing is about? Making us depend on him?"
"No. It is about teaching you to trust him to lead you in a direction where you can become the best person you are capable of being. With or without him in your life. He is the coach of the team. The object is to make you find ways to be the best player, the VIP. Her accusation questioned his love and integrity. Like I said, it crushed him pretty bad."
"Maybe she didn't mean it that way. People say things when they are hurt that they don't think about."
"Yes, but after being with him for so long, she knew that she was expected to take responsibility for her own behavior. It was just easier to blame him and use that as an excuse to throw a tantrum. It was just one ugly mess."
"I feel for both of them," Piper said, softly.
"You're a good girl with a big heart. Things always work for the best. She found herself a player online, got together with him, and started going to parties to satisfy her needs. She is now happily married with two kids and gets her fix as she needs it through the party scene and the group of people she has befriended there. She contacted Jeoffrey a few months ago to thank him and tell him that she would not have been so happy had he not forced her to look elsewhere."
Piper's Journey (Into Submission 1) Page 11