The Submissive's Last Word (The Power to Please, Book 4)

by Ward, Deena

  “Master Porter’s sub is amazing. What’s her name?” I asked.

  “It’s Dorothy, but she likes to be called Doll.”

  “She’s around my age, but she must have been doing this a long time to be so good at it.”

  “She has. She came to the scene early. Around ten years ago.”

  I grew suspicious. “You know her well?”

  “Fairly well.”

  “Friend?”

  “No.”

  “Former sub?”

  “Yes.”

  Well hell. “A long time ago, right? And you’re way over her?”

  “She was acting as my sub when I met you, actually. I’ve been over her ever since. Not that I was ever into her. We had a mutually-beneficial relationship.”

  Whoa. That threw me back. I hadn’t a clue that he was with someone when we met. I’d assumed we were both free. “When did you end it with her?”

  “Shortly after I met with you at the Frederick Hotel.”

  I seriously needed to stop assuming things. I don’t know why I ever imagined a man like Gibson would be without company, not if he wanted it. And what man didn’t?

  I wasn’t jealous of Doll. I was more intimidated than anything. She was amazing, a vision of submissive perfection. All I could think was that Gibson was nuts to throw her over for a clumsy newbie like me.

  Master Porter gave Doll a command I couldn’t hear. She instantly dropped into a pose in front of her master’s chair, on her hands and knees, head lowered, back straight. Somehow, she polished even that position. I watched in fascination as Master Porter lifted his booted feet and propped them on Doll’s back.

  Doll didn’t twitch a single refined muscle, her glow of ideal supplication not dimming for a split second. I had no idea how she did it.

  I thought it best to let Gibson in for a hard truth. Better that he know now than later.

  I lowered my voice as far as I could and still be heard by him. “I hate to break it to you, but there’s no chance in hell that I’ll ever be your meek little footstool.”

  His bark of laughter rang out through the big room. He tried to cover it up with a cough, but there was no hiding it. The other people on the bleachers glanced briefly at us, then returned to watching the activities on the floor.

  “If you’re saying I’m going to have to settle for real furniture,” Gibson whispered, “then I guess I’ll learn to cope.”

  “Glad to hear it. And I probably won’t ever be graceful about fetching your slippers or the newspaper and what not. I’ll try, but I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you.”

  “I won’t. You did hear the part about how I dumped Doll for you, didn’t you?”

  “Yeah. What’s up with that? Look at her. She’s perfect.”

  “I’m going to let you in on a secret, but you can’t breathe a word of it to anyone, okay?”

  Hmm. I liked the sound of that. I readily agreed.

  His voice was soft and low. “I never wanted her ten percent as much as I wanted you the first time I saw you. I didn’t even remember she was with Porter and would be here tonight. She’s obviously not even close to you in perfection.”

  I smiled. “That’s a pretty awesome secret. I won’t tell anyone.”

  He gave me a long, steamy look up and down. “I’m ready to leave and ravish you in the car on the way home. And then I’m going to carry you to my bedroom and ravish you again. Probably all night long. Fair warning.”

  My stomach made a happy flip and the temperature climbed a few degrees. “I don’t know. The training session isn’t over yet. I don’t want to be rude.”

  “I’ll fill you in. They’re going to switch groups, and Jillian’s lot is going to begin grace training with Porter. His group will go with Jillian and get a lesson in pain management via the attachment of a clothespin or ten.”

  “Oh, so pretty boring stuff then. They can’t expect us to hang around for that. Let’s go.”

  He took my hand and we slipped out of the room as quietly and unobtrusively as possible. He called Lawson while we walked down the hall. When we were in the elevator, he pulled me into his arms and gave me a blazing kiss that left me panting and trembly. I was so swept away that I didn’t think about how we were leaving through the front of the club.

  I didn’t think about it at all until we were already part of the crowd, and the colored lights were flashing, the dance music thumping and the smell of beer, sweat and perfume swirled around me. People greeted Gibson as we made our way to the front door.

  I smiled at everyone and stayed focused on Gibson and how easily he parted the crowd. In no time, we sailed out the door, leaving the clamor behind. Then we were in his car and before I knew it, my panties were yanked off and Gibson made good on his ravish-promise.

  I hoped Lawson took the long way home.

  Chapter 10

  The next day, after seeing Gibson off to work, I returned to the cottage and slept until noon. I woke feeling delighted with the world in general.

  After I showered and ate, I toted my sketchbook and other supplies onto the rear deck. I quickly lost myself in the waterline of the lake, the reach of the trees and the wisps of clouds in the sky. It was a little chilly outside, proof that Indian summer was coming to a close.

  When I went inside to grab a sweater, I noticed my cell phone blinking. Funny, I’d forgotten to take it outside with me. There was a time when I couldn’t have been apart from that phone for more than a few seconds. These days, I might go on hours-long walks and not even take my phone with me.

  I checked my messages. One. From Isabel Vinson, simply asking that I call her. Huh. I had only spoken with her once since the day I quit work, and that had only been a brief call where she checked in to see if I needed anything. I was embarrassed and hadn’t encouraged much conversation.

  I dialed her up and she answered right away.

  “There you are!” Isabel said, her voice brisk as usual.

  “Hi. What’s up?”

  “I wanted to tell you the big news. I’ve quit Linton Cosmetics and I’m going to work for that tall drink of water at Roundtree Holdings.”

  None of this was news to me, of course, but I put on my best show. “Isabel, that’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you. You’ll love it there.”

  “I get a good vibe from the place and from Reeves. Going to make things happen there. And I want you to be a part of it. I’m calling to offer you a job.”

  “Me? Wow. Seriously?”

  “I’ll be in charge of the whole kit and caboodle, finding and analyzing potential acquisitions for the new cosmetics division. I’ll be needing a right hand woman, someone I can trust. That’s you, girl.”

  “I, wow, I —”

  “Don’t see what you have to hmm and haw about. There shouldn’t be anything holding you back from working at Roundtree, if you know what I mean.”

  She meant the videos, that no one there would have heard the scandal about me. She was right, probably. But she didn’t know that I was involved with Gibson. I wasn’t sure what I should say and what I shouldn’t.

  “I do. You’re right. It’s an incredible opportunity.”

  “It’ll mean a big raise, and a lot more hours and responsibilities. I’ll be counting on you pretty heavily and you’ll have to learn as you go. You can do it, though. You’ve got big things in you. I’ve always believed that. What do you say you and I go take over Roundtree and let Reeves retire on the rewards of our hard work?”

  I laughed. It was a funnier image than she could know. “I’m blown away that you’d consider me for this. Does Mr. Reeves know you’re offering me the job?”

  “No. He told me I could bring over whoever I wanted, though, and you’re the only one I want to bring with me. Hope you realize how special that makes you.”

  I could almost see the twinkle in her eye when she said that. “Oh, I do.”

  “So?”

  “So, it’s an amazing opportunity. Can I think about it and get back
to you?”

  “Sure you can. I appreciate you giving it thought before you accept.”

  I grinned. “Well, you are the woman who always told me I needed to think more before I acted.”

  “True. Glad you paid attention. Anyway, take your time. I start at Roundtree in a little less than two weeks. I’d like you there on the first day if you’re going to accept. Let me know before then.”

  “I will Isabel. Thank you. It means —”

  “It would be a good deal for me, too. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  “Okay. And Isabel, before you go ... the other day, I finally went through the box of my things that you sent from the office and I found your ‘Hang in there, baby’ figurine. Thank you so much. It was exactly what I needed at the right time.”

  “Funny how it can work out like that,” she said. “Serendipity’s a wonderful thing. You never know when events will fall into place, of a sudden, as if your life and everything about it was always meant to be that way. You’re only left wondering why you hadn’t realized it all along. Had some of that myself, of late.”

  After I ended the call, I went for a stroll down to the lake and considered what Isabel said about events falling into place. Perhaps that was what was happening for me at last. When I was with Gibson, it felt so right that I couldn’t doubt it. It was as if we’d been waiting for one another, and now that we were together, it was easy to believe in its future, not question it or worry over it.

  I knew, intellectually, that our relationship was too new to assume success, and yet, I couldn’t imagine what might stop us. I didn’t want to imagine it. Yes, I had issues to work out, but I knew Gibson would be there with me, helping. This relationship, our future, it was an understanding, a belief that didn’t require tangible evidence to prove.

  Everything was coming together. Serendipity.

  I spotted Xavier sitting on the dock, fishing, and I headed his way. He turned and smiled when he heard my footsteps on the wooden planks.

  He patted the dock. “Join me. I don’t have a pole for you, but I’ll let you clean my catches if you want.”

  I sat down beside him. “Nice try. I’ll pass.”

  “Ah, gone are the days when you were eager to learn everything I had to teach. How sad.”

  “You were too good a teacher. I’ve mastered Smelly Fish Guts 101 and don’t need any more practice.”

  He smiled, adjusted his floppy fishing hat, the ends of his salt and pepper hair poking out from underneath it. “If I can’t have your labor, then I’ll happily settle for the pleasure of your company.”

  I watched the red bobber on Xavier’s line bounce up and down with the gentle motion of the lake’s waves. A heron waded near the far shore and I heard the calling of the estate’s peacocks somewhere in the distance.

  There was a crispness in the air that seemed to heighten the native scents, the grasses, the trees, the cattails and the lake water itself. The sun warmed my back but I pulled my sweater around me tighter in front against the slight chill blowing gently across the lake.

  Xavier reeled in his line, checked his bait, then tossed the line to a different spot. “You’re thoughtful today.”

  I nodded. “I just got offered a job.”

  “That’s wonderful news. What kind of job is it?”

  “For one thing, it’s at Roundtree.”

  “Oh, I see. Then Gibson —”

  “No, he isn’t the one.” I briefly explained to Xavier about Isabel.

  “That should make you feel good about yourself. She obviously thinks highly of you,” he said.

  “Yeah. It does. I’m not sure about it, though.”

  “Because it’s at Roundtree?”

  “Yeah. I don’t know that it’s a good idea to work with Gibson if we’re going to be ...” I wasn’t entirely sure what to say about my relationship with Gibson.

  Xavier supplied the answer. “You think there could be problems being involved with the owner of the company where you work.”

  I didn’t know how he knew that Gibson and I were together again, not that we’d been trying to hide it. “That’s it. Exactly.”

  “I can see how you’d feel that way.”

  “It could complicate things. And Gibson’s more important to me than any job, even a great one like the one Isabel is offering.”

  He gave me a long look. “What about the job? Is it something you’d enjoy doing?”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it.”

  “You should. Only accept it if it’s a position you’d be excited about, something that’s meaningful to you.”

  “Oh, well. Xavier, where I’m from, we have jobs, not callings. The most you hope is that you can put up with your job enough hours every day to pay your bills. Meaningful is meaningless. You don’t turn down a lucrative offer like Isabel’s simply because it might not fulfill you.”

  He gave me a small, wistful smile. “I know you think we live in a fantasy bubble on this estate. You believe we’re out of touch with reality.”

  I glanced around the idyllic scenery and shrugged. “It’s not a judgment. But look around. This isn’t real life. This is an impossibility for people like me.”

  “I haven’t always been this lucky, Nonnie. My parents were blue collar and I got my first job when I was twelve, sweeping the floors at the mill where my mother worked. When I came to work here, I felt like you do, that this place was a fairyland and the people here had no idea what it was like outside the gates.”

  “Then you understand. I see this place and I’m overwhelmed that it exists and at the same time it’s an illusion. As if the least puff of outside air could scatter it into nothingness.”

  Xavier shook his head. “That won’t happen. The place is tougher than it looks. And anyway, it has a mighty protector. Gibson.”

  I nodded. “That’s true. And you, too.”

  “We’re aware that it can be an ugly world, no matter how it might appear. We know what we’ve got, that it’s precious. I think you haven’t realized that you’re part of this place, too, and are granted the privileges that go along with it.”

  “I don’t understand what you mean.”

  “I mean, dear, that you’re with Gibson, in a relationship, are you not?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You don’t have to take a job for the money. You can find something you love to do without any consideration of salary. That’s the reality of your new situation.”

  I laughed. “You’d have me be a kept woman.”

  “No, that would imply you’re trading sex for your material needs.”

  “Exactly. And anyway, I’m not a gold digger. I don’t care about things like clothes or cars or that stuff.”

  He sighed. “Money. It’s difficult to explain to people who have never had it. I know this because it took me a long time to understand it, coming from nothing the way I did.”

  “Gibson told me I don’t get it.”

  “You don’t. Not yet. But you will. In the meanwhile, don’t accept the job with Isabel right away. Think about it. Is there anything else you would rather do, or is the business world your calling? I hope you give some consideration to your artistic talent, explore what you might do with that.”

  “You can’t support yourself drawing pictures of the lake, Xavier.”

  “You don’t need to support yourself.”

  “Here we go again.”

  “Precisely.”

  We smiled at one another and gave up our friendly argument as a lost cause.

  I wondered about the job Isabel offered me and if it was something I might enjoy doing. The only things I thought when she made the offer was that it was timely and I needed a job, and that I hoped it wasn’t charity from Gibson.

  I’d be okay working for Isabel. I admired her and knew there was much she could teach me. She was fair, reasonable, honest and intelligent, not exactly common attributes in a boss, in my experience. Isabel would be the best part of the job.

 
As for the work itself and what my day-to-day responsibilities would include, I could only guess, since Isabel hadn’t described them. Her right-hand woman. We would be researching cosmetic companies, finding the right ones to recommend for purchase and development. Did that sound exciting?

  It apparently did to Isabel. Did it to me? I didn’t know. And anyway, it didn’t sound bad. For all practical purposes, that wasn’t a terrible recommendation.

  The sun sparkled on the miniature whitecaps which had been kicked up on the lake’s surface by the irregular gusts of wind. Lovely. There was no reason to hurry my decision about Isabel’s offer. She said herself that I should take my time.

  I readily tabled my pondering and turned to Xavier, my teacher. Onto other topics.

  “I was wondering,” I said. “How does a BDSM five-some work?”

  He pursed his lips and stared out over the lake. I thought I saw a twitch in his cheek, but couldn’t be sure.

  He responded with an air of finality which didn’t invite further queries. “If you have to ask, you’re not ready for the answer.”

  Damn. So much for the surprise attack. I sighed. It wasn’t like I had expected it to be that easy anyway.

  Sure would have been nice, though.

  Gibson came home from work early that evening and we ate dinner with the Martins at the main house. When we finished, Gibson headed off to dress for our evening out and I returned to my cottage. I needed to find a sexy outfit, what Gibson had requested I wear that evening.

  It took a while, but I settled on a tight, knit wrap top and a short, fitted skirt with a slit in the back. Gibson approved when he arrived, but said the top would look better with no bra, and I pretended I thought so, too. Who was I to argue? I lost the bra.

  We headed out into the night in his trusty town car, good old Lawson steady at the helm. I tried in vain to get Gibson to tell me where we were going. He would only say that he hoped I would find it more exciting than the training session.

  I watched the road signs and saw we were traveling away from the city, rather than into it.

  We chatted about this and that. I told him of Isabel’s job offer and he seemed to approve, or at least, he didn’t disapprove of the idea of us working in the same complex. He said that he wouldn’t mind my company on the long commutes.