To Love and Obey

by Vera Roberts

“You were spying on us in the parking lot?” He smiled.

  “You need learn the same thing I told the other one in California,” Sanora leaned closer to Nick, “I know everything.”

  Nick finished his juice and stood up. “I’ll keep what you said in mind, Mistress.” He gave Sanora a long hug, “I hope to see You again.”

  “You know my number, Nicholas. I’m not that hard to reach. Once my business in California is done, I’ll come back to visit.” She gave him a warm hug back. “You can’t get rid of Me that easily.”

  “And I don’t want to,” Nick headed for the door, “We’ll be in touch, Mistress.”

  “Oh, and Nicholas?” Sanora called after him.

  “Yes, Mistress?”

  “To answer your question if I ever been in love with a submissive?” She smiled. “Yes.”

  “And how did that work out for You?”

  Sanora briefly thought about the upcoming weekend. It was going to be her thirteenth wedding anniversary. “I say it worked out just fine.”

  Thirteen

  “Make sure you softly drag your leg,” Whitney did a demonstration for Zerrin. “For some reason, men really like it when you do that shit.”

  Zerrin and Whitney met up for their weekly pole-dancing lesson. Over the past several weeks, Zerrin had gotten better at pole-dancing; climbing up the pole and sliding down it with ease. She was able to hold herself up with her legs and do a few twirls. A few times she slid too hard and fell smack on her ass. But she was determined to get better—if not for her Master, then for herself.

  “Now, today’s lesson is twirling your body while your legs are supporting you,” Whitney climbed on the pole and wrapped her legs around it. She arched her back and her body slowly circled the pole. “You need to relax and let your legs do the work. All of that yoga you’ve been doing will come in handy now.”

  Dressed in a bra, stockings, and high heels, Zerrin climbed up the pole. She tried to hold onto the pole with just her legs but found herself slowly sliding down. She got off the pole and tried again, only to have the exact same result.

  “Stop overthinking it,” Whitney cooed as she sat on the floor. “You’re thinking too hard. That’s why you’re not staying up there. Clear your mind.”

  Zerrin exhaled a deep breath and closed her eyes. She cleared her mind, erasing all insecurities and negative thoughts, and climbed back on the pole. Her legs gripped the pole and she gently arched her back, softly twirling around it.

  “That’s it! That’s perfect!” Whitney clapped from the floor. “You got it, girlie!”

  Zerrin straightened her back and slid down the pole. “You know, a few weeks ago, I didn’t think I would be able to do something like that.”

  “A few weeks ago, I didn’t think you would be able to do something like that,” Whitney laughed, “but you have improved so much, Zerrin. You should be proud of yourself.”

  A slow smile formed on Zerrin’s face. She felt confident as ever. “I am. I’m really proud.”

  “Good.” Whitney smiled. “You have a task to prepare for.”

  “I do?” Zerrin’s eyes lit up. She really loved it when Master gave her tasks to do.

  “You need to perform a dance for Him to ‘Criminal,’” Whitney noted, “and wear nothing but a smile.”

  “Nude?” Zerrin’s eyes widened. “Nude?”

  “Naked as the day you were born.” Whitney grinned. “It won’t be too bad. Just do everything that you learned over the past few weeks.”

  “But I’ll be naked,” Zerrin stared blankly at her sub sister, “like He’ll see everything!”

  “Like He hasn’t seen everything, already?” Whitney replied.

  “That’s different!” Zerrin argued. “If I’m bound and gagged, He’s not seeing me twist in funky poses and positions. He’s going to see my body move in positions that might be unnatural.”

  “That’s a possibility,” Whitney replied, “and it’s a possibility He won’t care and might be aroused by it.”

  Zerrin sat down on the floor and shook her head. “I’m not doing it.”

  Whitney sat beside her sister and a long silence passed between them. “Wanna tell me what’s going on?”

  “He’s going to compare me to you and it’s unfair,” Zerrin shook her head, “If He needs to give me punishment for defying Him, so be it. I won’t do it.”

  “Zerrin, let me ask you a question: how many times have you compared Master to other Dom He rescued you from?”

  Whitney’s question surprised Zerrin and she stumbled in her answering. “Um…um…a few times, I guess?”

  “Just a few?” Whitney prodded.

  Zerrin released her shoulders. She couldn’t stop comparing the two. It was night and day. Everything Nick had done for her was above and beyond than what her former Dom asked and required of her. “A lot,” she mumbled.

  “Don’t you think it’s funny you’re complaining how unfair He might be—which He isn’t—when you haven’t been fair this entire time?”

  “You’re right,” she agreed.

  “Zerrin, if Master spent His days comparing all of His submissives, He wouldn’t have time for any of us,” Whitney reassured her, “He treats us all differently but with the same respect. He doesn’t have a preference or play favorites. You need to focus on being the best submissive possible. If you’re not in line, trust me, He’ll be the first to tell you.” She laughed.

  “I need to get over myself,” Zerrin took a sip of water.

  “Yeah, that’s a start.” Whitney smiled. “Have you had enough rest? We still have some time left before we’re done here.”

  Zerrin shot up. “Let’s go. I’m about to set that pole on fire.”

  ****

  Nick was walking to a coffee shop when his phone rang. She had a special ring tone—“Don’t Stop Believing,” by Journey. He personally hated the song, but she loved it and he was always reminded of her whenever he heard it. “Hello, Mamma,” he answered.

  “So how’s Zerrin?” she cheerfully asked.

  “You’re awfully concerned about someone you haven’t met yet,” Nick answered back.

  “Is there something the matter with wanting to know what’s going on with my namesake?” Nicola pressed back. “I know you’re dating her, Nicky.”

  “Why would you assume that?”

  “A mother is always right no matter how wrong we are,” Nicola answered back.

  Nick loved how his mother always assumed what he was up to without asking him first about it. He decided not to argue with her; he wasn’t going to win, anyway. “What can I help you with, Mother?”

  “Kieran and Tiana are coming to town and I want you to bring Zerrin over for dinner.”

  “When is the dinner?”

  “On Sunday. I hope you’re able to make it. I would love to meet the woman that’s enchanting my son.”

  “How’s your boyfriend, Mother?” Nick decided to change the subject to something other than his personal life. He didn’t like to talk about his mother’s personal life but at least the focus was no longer on him.

  “He is just fine! He took me to see a Broadway play the other night. It was so romantic,” Nicola gushed, “he could teach you all a thing or two.”

  “Okay, so dinner is when?” Nick changed the subject again.

  “Seven p.m. I can’t wait to meet her!” Nicola smiled over the phone. “Ti amo, figlio mio.”

  “Ti amo, Mamma,” Nick hung up. He wasn’t entirely thrilled about bringing Zerrin home to his family. It wasn’t that it was too soon; it wouldn’t matter if they dated for years or just a few months. It had been years since he brought anyone home, causing his brothers to ask him if he was gay and Tony offering to set him up with a guy he knew.

  Nick was going have to prepare Zerrin to face the firing squad also known as his brothers. He was already not looking forward to it.

  ****

  It took some time, but Zerrin finally got the hang of being a submissive.
<
br />   Nick gave Zerrin a key to His home so she could handle some of His household affairs. His laundry needed to be done. His hardwood floors needed to be polished. His shirts needed to be pressed. She was supposed to create a menu for the week and prepare dishes accordingly.

  Nick told her He was a strict Dom and took the D/s relationship just as serious as He took academia. Zerrin didn’t have to wonder too far what her Master meant. He had a protocol Zerrin had to do each time she entered His home: shoes removed, she knelt down on the floor with eyes closed. She inhaled a deep breath and exhaled through her nose. She lifted her head up and spoke loudly, enunciating every word if He was upstairs so He could hear her.

  “In gratitude I serve. In thankfulness, I submit.”

  It didn’t matter if He was there, if He was upstairs sleeping, or if He was on campus. Nick could always tell if Zerrin behaved herself with just one question:

  “Did you follow the tasks?”

  The tasks were not difficult and often took less time to complete than what her Master allotted her. She found when she had remaining time, she used it to study. Zerrin often wondered if that was intentional on Nick’s part—if she was at His home with no distractions, she could study and grade assignments in peace.

  She wasn’t responsible for keeping the home clean, and she was thankful for the weekly maid service. Learning new dishes had proven to be a challenge for her. Every dinner needed to have at least three colors on it—His demand. “The more colorful the plate is, the healthier it is,” He once mentioned to her. “You’ll get used to it.”

  That evening they were going to have spinach-stuffed chicken breasts with steamed carrots and mashed potatoes. Zerrin carefully counted the colors. Yes, that’s three colors. She was pretty sure beige wasn’t really a color, but it would have to do.

  She quickly prepared dinner and put the chicken in the oven to bake. She hurried upstairs to write in her diary. She took a quick glance at the past entries; she had grown so much as a submissive. She sounded like a bubbly little girl in the earlier entries, not sure where to go or what to do. Her later entries showed the growth in her. She was no longer an unsure submissive, wondering if He would to flog her if she sneezed the wrong way. She was now a confident woman, assured of her thoughts and decisions. It made Zerrin smile.

  Dear Diary,

  It feels like it’s been ages since I’ve written in my journal, huh? So much has taken place. Nick introduced me to more people in the lifestyle at a place called The Boundary. It was nice to get to know other submissives and meet their Dom/mes. It’s like my eyes have been opened to something new and wonderful. It really is a community for everyone, no matter the preference. No one judges, no one criticizes. Everyone is open and so welcoming. I wish I’d discovered The Boundary sooner.

  But I believe everything happens in the order it’s supposed to happen. It can be frustrating at times and I may not understand what is going on in the universe, but I’ve learned to keep my patience and just wait. My parents going into the “profession” that they did was for a reason. My brother channeling his pain into a career was for a reason. Me getting accepted into NYU was for a reason.

  Meeting Master was for a reason. Maybe that reason was to show me there’s more to life than what I know.

  To Him, I’m grateful.

  Zerrin.

  A timer indicated the chicken was ready and Zerrin closed her journal entry. She had a little time to prepare the dining table before her Master came home.

  ****

  “Mmm…” Nick sniffed the air as he entered his home. “It smells delicious, tesoro.”

  Zerrin just finished setting the dining room table when Nick came home. She immediately stopped what she was doing and bowed to him. “At Your will, Master.” She smiled.

  “Thank you, tesoro.” Nick dropped his messenger bag and pulled his girlfriend close to him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her a proper kiss after not seeing her all day. Slow, methodical, gentle, and electric. His tongue searched for hers and found it again and again.

  He suddenly pulled away from Zerrin and grabbed his messenger bag, heading upstairs. Zerrin turned around and wondered why he would intentionally leave her hanging in the manner than he did. She was hot and bothered and a slight wetness was forming between her thighs. She calmed down and re-focused her attention on dinner. She had spent the better part of two hours preparing the meal. She was going to enjoy it.

  It would take her mind off getting off.

  ****

  Over dinner, the pair conversed about school and students, sharing overheard gossip and discussing classes. Once dessert was served, Zerrin joined Nick out on the balcony. “What did you want to be when you were a little boy?” she asked.

  “A firefighter.” Nick smiled. “I thought they were the coolest cats. I still do. I have some cousins who are firefighters. What about you?”

  “A ballerina,” Zerrin said to Nick’s surprise, “I know I’m not built for one, but they were always so dainty and so pretty.”

  “You can be whatever you want to be,” Nick reminded, “it’s like what my mother always taught me—a dream deferred is not a dream denied.”

  “I know, but I’m content with who I am and who I want to be,” she let out an easy breath, “I still have a ways to go, but I’m on the right path.”

  Nick nodded approvingly. Zerrin had grown so much into her submissive role it was as if she had found her lifelong calling. It was remarkable to see the girl who he interviewed a few months prior to the woman standing next to him. Still, he wondered if she would be able to handle total submission to him. “I want to try something different tonight.” He put down his wine glass. “I want to test to see how far you would let me go.”

  Zerrin’s curiosity was piqued. “I’m listening, Master.”

  “You’re aware of the mummies, right? Ancient Egypt?” He asked.

  “Yes, why?”

  Nick moved closer to Zerrin and caressed her face. “I would like to make you one.”

  “Say what?”

  ****

  Zerrin should’ve known something was peculiar when she saw all that Saran wrap in the playroom closet. She hadn’t thought much of it at the time, other than it was one of Nick’s little quirks. As she calmly lay on the bed, completely immobile from being wrapped in Saran wrap from shoulders to ankles, she wondered what other little quirks her Dom boyfriend had.

  The room was softly lit and she could tell, despite the blindfold covering her eyes. It was completely quiet and room temperature. It felt like solitary confinement and she was being punished for something she wasn’t entirely sure yet. How did a quiet evening turn into Zerrin satisfying a mummy fantasy of her Dom’s?

  “You think too much,” Nick spoke quietly as he watched her. “I see your lips moving and you’re making faces. You need to be still and keep calm.”

  I need to be still? I need to be still? Where in the hell am I going to go, fool? “Yes, Master,” Zerrin replied.

  “This is to help you meditate and focus. It’s not a punishment.” Nick’s tone was soothing. “I need all of your energy and attention on me. Use this time to think about where you have been and where you want to go. I’ll be back in a short while.” He then turned off the light and left the room.

  There Zerrin was—alone with her thoughts. She briefly heard some faint shuffling – Nick wasn’t too far from her. But she couldn’t rely on him. There was going to be a time when Nick wasn’t going to be around and she needed to handle things on her own as if she were in charge. He already gave her the reins in the classroom. Maybe he was testing her patience and mental strength at home.

  Almost a half-hour later, Zerrin felt Nick’s presence again. She softly yawned and briefly wondered how long she had been asleep; the mummification had relaxed her that much. Her Master clearly knew what was best for her before she did; she felt more at peace and calm.

  A straw was placed to her lips and Zerrin took a sip. Ice-cold w
ater. She felt the water trickle down her throat, rejuvenating her senses. She then felt her blindfold removed from her eyes. She slowly opened them up and was graced with Nick’s smile.

  “Relaxed?” He asked.

  “I am, Master.” She smiled.

  “You were running on all cylinders the moment I came home and didn’t stop to slow down. I had to cool you down before you burnt yourself out.”

  Nick seemed to know what Zerrin needed before she did. “Thank you, Master.”

  “You’re welcome.” Nick took out a pair of scissors and began to cut through the plastic wrap, releasing Zerrin’s limbs one by one. “I have one more activity I want us to engage in tonight before we end our play session.”

  “Oh?” Zerrin asked.

  Nick finished cutting up the plastic wrap and removed it from Zerrin’s body. He helped her sit up in bed and sat beside her. “It’s completely up to you if you want to do this. You don’t have to.”

  Reverse psychology. Maybe Nick wasn’t using it intentionally on Zerrin but whatever he was going to suggest to her, she was eager to do. “I’m listening, Master.”

  “Remember my portfolio?”

  “Yes?”

  “I want you to be the last and final picture in it.”

  Fourteen

  “Yo, I didn’t like how that sounded,” Jake Campbell spoke back into the microphone at the recording studio, “let’s do that take over.”

  Jake Campbell knew he wanted to be a hip-hop star when he was younger. He could remember watching Yo! MTV Raps and seeing the latest music videos from his idols, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Run DMC, and Ice Cube. He would listen to mix tapes over and over, studying the delivery and flow of the greatest rappers. He would critique the rapping style of the worst rappers.

  Most importantly, he knew he wanted to be one.

  He was lucky enough to sign a deal with a major record label when he was seventeen and spent most of the time helping other artists, writing and producing them. When it was his time to shine, the label wanted Jake to parlay his parents’ notoriety into his music so they could capitalize off it. It was an idea Jake seriously pondered at first. He heard stories about how ruthless his father was, threatening to kill a drug runner’s entire family—grandma included—if he shorted him again. He heard plenty about his mother’s role in the organization—the brains behind it all and the reason why he and his sister weren’t strapped for cash. What better way for a rapper to build street cred than to have the son of the most infamous drug dealer spitting his tale?