by Anna Stone
“You really would, wouldn’t you?”
“I would if you told me to.”
“That’s right. You like being told what to do.”
Camilla folded her arms across her chest and leaned back, examining Lindsey silently. Lindsey shifted in her seat.
“Have I told you about where I live?” Camilla asked suddenly. “Robinson Estate?”
“No,” Lindsey replied.
“It’s an hour outside the city. The grounds are lovely. It’s almost like living in the countryside. The estate dates back to the 1700s, but the manor itself has been renovated so many times that it’s basically brand new. It spans two floors, and there are over 100 rooms. And it’s equipped with every luxury imaginable.”
“That sounds incredible.” Lindsey waited for Camilla to continue. It looked like she had more to say, but she seemed to be thinking deeply.
Finally, Camilla folded her hands in front of her. “I have a proposal for you. It’s unconventional, but it could be a solution to some of your problems.”
“What is it?” Lindsey asked.
“Come live with me,” Camilla said. “Move into my manor for three months. In exchange, I’ll give you enough money to pay off all your medical bills and more.”
Lindsey blinked. Had she heard that right? “That’s… my medical bills. They’re a lot.”
“How much?”
Lindsey told her.
“I’ll give you triple that,” Camilla said.
Lindsey’s jaw dropped. “Seriously?”
Camilla nodded. “I’ll give you a generous weekly allowance too, just so you don’t feel like you’re being held hostage.”
“No way,” Lindsey said. “That’s too much.”
“Please, I have handbags that cost more than that.”
Lindsey didn’t know if Camilla was exaggerating about the handbags. What she was offering was enough money to pay off all Lindsey’s medical bills, as well as a big chunk of her student loans from her useless fine arts degree. And she wouldn’t have to worry about money for a while. She could quit her job at the call center and take her time looking for something better after three months was up.
“On top of that, my manor will be your home for three months,” Camilla said. “I’ll provide you with everything you could ever want. Luxury beyond your wildest dreams.”
Lindsey pictured it all in her head. Would there be even more fancy dinners? Expensive clothes? Parties? Servants? It all seemed too good to be true.
Lindsey took a step back. “What do you want in return?” she asked. “What do you want me to be for you?”
“That’s up to you,” Camilla said. “I’d be fine with you being nothing more than my companion. It gets boring sometimes, living in that enormous house with no one else around except for the help. I’d appreciate the company, and I think you can agree that we get along well. But there are other options if you’re interested.”
“Like what?” Lindsey asked.
“You can be my temporary live-in girlfriend.” Camilla paused. “Or, you can be my submissive.”
Her submissive? Lindsey couldn’t deny that the idea appealed to her. She’d never been anyone’s submissive before. She had only seen glimpses of Camilla’s dominant side, and she liked what she saw.
But still, Camilla was a woman. And that wasn’t something Lindsey could ignore, could she?
“Is something the matter?” Camilla asked.
“It’s just that…” Lindsey hesitated. “Like I said, I’ve never actually been with a woman before.” She felt a twinge of guilt. She was avoiding the whole truth.
“I said from the start that I’m not after sex. Quite frankly, I can take it or leave it. And I would never pressure you in any way. I take consent and boundaries very seriously.” Camilla fixed her eyes on Lindsey’s. “What I want is something much more intimate than sex, and far more satisfying. A submissive who will be mine 24/7. Who will obey me, and defer to me, and serve me. Who will do as I say without question and thank me for it every single day.”
Lindsey’s skin flushed. On the surface, Camilla always appeared laid back, if not a bit stuck up. But it was becoming clear that behind her cool demeanor was someone who needed to maintain an iron grip on control.
And the thought excited Lindsey.
“Whatever you decide, this won’t be a one-way agreement,” Camilla said. “I have certain conditions, but we can negotiate something we’re both comfortable with.”
“Wow,” Lindsey said. “This is just…”
“Crazy? I realize that. I’m not in the habit of asking sugar babies to move into my manor. I’ve never even had a sugar baby before. But when you mentioned your housing problems, the idea came to me. I think this arrangement could be beneficial to both of us.”
This arrangement. Because that was all it was, in the end. Camilla knew that it was all pretend. And this offer was too good to pass up.
“If you’re not interested, I won’t be offended,” Camilla said. “I’m open to a more conventional sugar baby arrangement.”
“No,” Lindsey said. “I’m interested. It’s just, it’s a lot. Can I think about it?”
“Of course. Take all the time you need.”
Lindsey didn’t want to take time. She wanted to say yes right now. But leaping into something like this was irresponsible.
A waiter approached their table. “Will you be having dessert?” he asked.
“Yes,” Camilla said. “Let’s see. The crème brûlée, or the tiramisu? I simply can’t decide.” She thought for a moment, then smiled.
“We’ll have both. Life is too short. Why not live a little?”
By the time Lindsey returned to Faith’s apartment, it was late, and Faith was already asleep. Lindsey wished her friend was awake. She wanted someone to talk to about Camilla’s proposal.
She sat down at the kitchen table and placed her phone in front of her. She was still reeling from the kiss Camilla had given her when they parted. Lindsey liked kissing Camilla. She liked just being around Camilla. She wanted nothing more than to say yes to her.
But Camilla was practically a stranger. Although, after two dates, Lindsey was beginning to get a sense of what the woman was like. She could be warm and outgoing at times, sharp and cynical at others. And Camilla seemed very conscious of the fact that their arrangement was nothing more than just that.
So why not take Camilla up on her offer? Lindsey could just treat these three months like a job. She was selling her soul at the call center every day, so this would be an improvement. Not to mention that it would be a step up from her current life. Three months of luxury and romance, with a magnetic woman who wanted to spoil Lindsey in exchange for her submission.
It was strange. This past year, Lindsey had been a constant mess of anxiety and indecision, lost and directionless, but too afraid to take the slightest risk.
Right now? She had no doubts about what she wanted to do.
Lindsey picked up her phone and dialed Camilla’s number.
Camilla answered after a few rings. “Hello, Lindsey. I wasn’t expecting to hear from you so soon.”
“Camilla,” Lindsey said. “I was thinking. About your proposal.”
“And?”
“And my answer is yes.”
The other end of the line was silent.
“Which parts of my proposal are you referring to?” Camilla asked.
“All of it,” Lindsey said. “Yes, I’ll come live with you. Yes, I’ll be your companion. Yes, I’ll be your submissive. Yes to everything.”
“I’m glad you decided to accept my offer. We can discuss the details over the next few days. Once we’ve come to an agreement, you can move in whenever you like.”
“Okay,” Lindsey said.
“And Lindsey?” Camilla asked.
“Yes?”
“From now on, you’ll call me Mistress.”
Chapter Six
“This is crazy,” Faith said from the kitchen. “You know that, right?”
“I know.” Lindsey tossed a pair of jeans into her suitcase. “But I’m doing it anyway.”
It was 8:30 a.m. Lindsey had a couple of hours before the car Camilla sent was due to pick her up. Fortunately, she’d been living out of a suitcase for the past few weeks, so she didn’t have much to pack.
Faith sat down on the couch with a bowl of cereal. “How well do you even know Camilla? What kind of woman invites a stranger to come live with her? She could be a serial killer!”
“Camilla is not a serial killer,” Lindsey said. “I trust her. And I feel like we have a connection. I wouldn’t be doing this otherwise, no matter how much money was involved.”
“Okay,” Faith said. “But what I don’t get is that a minute ago you were on the fence about even meeting her because she was a woman. And now you’re going to be her live-in lover?”
“I’m not going to be her lover.” Lindsey pulled her phone charger out of the wall and tossed it into her suitcase. “I’m going to be her submissive.”
“Isn’t that the same thing? Isn’t the whole point of all that kinky stuff to get off?”
“Not really,” Lindsey said. “There doesn’t have to be sex involved. There doesn’t even have to be anything physical involved. Fundamentally, it’s about power. Giving it up. Taking it away. The way that makes you feel.”
“So, you’re going to be her slave?” Faith asked.
“That’s not Camilla’s style. All she wants is someone who will say ‘yes, Mistress,’ and will happily do whatever she asks of them.”
Over the course of the past week, Lindsey and Camilla had discussed their expectations. Lindsey had quickly learned that Camilla wasn’t the type of dominant who used force of any kind to keep her submissive in line. She simply expected her submissive to yield to her control without question.
Lindsey was more than happy to do so. It was what she loved the most about submission. It made everything simple. It freed her from all her worries and problems. And right now, she had a long list of problems. She wanted this more than anything. She needed it.
“I still don’t get it,” Faith said. “Why would you let someone control you?”
“I’m not letting her control me,” Lindsey replied. “I’m choosing to give her control. There’s a difference. And I’m only giving her control of some things.”
Camilla had sent Lindsey a long, detailed questionnaire about all things BDSM to fill out. There were questions about her likes, her dislikes, her limits. And they were comprehensive, covering the obvious activities like bondage, as well as things that were more mundane. How would Lindsey feel about being called a pet name, or wearing her Mistresses collar 24/7? Would she like it if her Mistress chose what she wore every day? What she ate? There were plenty of things that Lindsey had vetoed. But there were even more that she enthusiastically agreed to.
“I’m not going to do anything with her that I’m not comfortable with. And she’s made it clear that she’s going to respect my boundaries.” Lindsey zipped up her suitcase and sat down next to Faith. “Plus, I’ve been thinking about the sex side of things. It isn’t completely off the table. I’m not opposed to sleeping with a woman.”
Faith cocked her head to the side. “Could it be that Camilla has turned you to the queer side?”
“I’m just a little curious, that’s all.” And who better to explore with than Camilla? A thought occurred to Lindsey. “God, I don’t know anything about sex with women. How would I even know what to do? What if I’m terrible at it?”
“It’s all about communication,” Faith said. “Just tell Camilla you’ve never had sex with a woman before.”
“I already told her. I didn’t mean to, but it was this whole awkward mess and now she thinks I’m bisexual but inexperienced with women.”
“Did you tell her you were bi?”
“No, she kind of came to that conclusion herself. And I didn’t correct her.” Lindsey pushed her guilt aside. “It doesn’t matter. Camilla herself said that this was all a big charade. I just have to keep it up for three months.”
“Uh huh,” Faith said.
“Don’t get all judgmental on me now.”
Faith held up her hands. “No judgment here. But I should get to work.” She pulled Lindsey in for a hug. “I expect updates from the minute you arrive.”
“Sure,” Lindsey said.
“And be safe. Call me the moment Camilla shows any sign of wanting to tie you up and lock you in her dungeon.” Faith grinned. “Although, by the sound of things, both of you would probably like that.”
The drive to Robinson Estate was a long one. At least, it felt long to Lindsey. Ever since her car accident, lengthy drives made her nervous. But it was nothing she couldn’t handle.
The car stopped in front of a large set of double gates, which opened slowly before them like magic. They had reached Camilla’s estate. Lindsey rolled down the window and stuck her head out, staring at the sprawling grounds. She could only just see the manor itself in the distance, a large white building at the end of a long, winding driveway.
Finally, the car pulled up in front of the manor. The mansion looked even more impressive close-up. Lindsey got out of the car and stood staring at the house as the driver took her bags out of the trunk.
She scratched the back of her head. What was she supposed to do now? Knock on the door?
Moments later, the front door opened, and a short blonde woman came hurrying out. Her hair was pulled back in a bun, and her face wore a neutral expression. She was dressed in a navy-blue maid uniform, complete with a frilly white apron. She looked around Camilla’s age or older.
“You must be Lindsey,” the woman said.
“Yep, that’s me,” Lindsey replied. “Hi.”
“My name is June. I’m the head housekeeper. Come with me.”
Lindsey turned to grab her bags.
“Leave those. They’ll be taken to your room.”
Lindsey followed June into the manor. It was just as grand on the inside as it was outside. The entrance hall was vast and tall, with a huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling two stories up. Before them was a wide staircase that split into two at the top, branching off into each of the wings of the house.
“Let me take you to one of the guest suites,” June said. “Camilla is still preparing your permanent rooms.”
Rooms? As in, more than one? Lindsey followed June up the stairs and to the right, gaping at every room and hall they passed through. Everything was modern and new, but it had the elegance and sophistication of an old house. There were fireplaces and chandeliers everywhere. And Lindsey had thought Camilla was exaggerating when she said the house had over a hundred rooms, but it seemed like she was telling the truth.
June stopped in front of a door and opened it wide. “This is where you’ll be staying for now.”
Lindsey walked inside. It was like a five-star hotel room, complete with a massive bed and a spacious adjoining bathroom. And her suitcase and carry bag were right there in the room. How had they gotten there before her?
“If you ever need anything during your stay here, call me. There’s an intercom next to every door.” June pointed to an intercom, which camouflaged surprisingly well with the house’s decor. “I’ll do my best to fulfill any requests personally. There are other staff who work here, but I’m the only one who is here 24/7, so you can seek me out at any time.”
“Okay,” Lindsey said.
“Now, would you like to relax and settle in? I can bring you refreshments? Or, I can give you a tour of the house.”
Lindsey glanced at the plush bed. She was just dying to throw herself onto it. But she’d have time for that later. “A tour would be great.”
June nodded. “Come with me.”
Lindsey followed her out the door. June kept a brisk pace.
“Now, Camilla has said you’re to have free run of the house while living here,” June said. “That is, except for Camilla’s rooms. I’ll show you where they a
re when we get there.”
They went back the direction they came. When they reached the entrance, June took Lindsey left and gestured down a hall.
“The east wing is that way,” she said. “It’s not in use anymore, and it hasn’t been renovated like the rest of the house. All you’ll find down there are empty rooms and peeling wallpaper.”
They returned to the entrance hall and continued through the manor, from the ground floor up. June pointed out various rooms. There was a gym, a home theater, a library, even a lap pool. It was like there was a room for everything.
Finally, they reached a set of white double doors. June stopped before them. “These are Camilla’s rooms. You’re explicitly forbidden to go beyond this point. Camilla likes her privacy.”
Lindsey nodded. “Where is Camilla, by the way?”
“Camilla will be with you when she can,” June said.
What does that mean? But Lindsey could tell by June’s expression that she shouldn’t pry.
“Now, let me show you around outside. There are several gardens on the grounds as well as a swimming pool and tennis courts.” June turned and started back down the hall. “There are stables too, but we haven’t had horses here in years.”
Lindsey glanced at the doors to Camilla’s rooms one last time, then walked away.
It wasn’t until later that evening that Lindsey finally got to test out her bed. It was just as comfy as it looked.
She sank into it and closed her eyes. This was the life. She’d spent the day exploring the manor and the grounds, taking in the beautiful scenery. The old Lindsey would have loved to sketch it. A small part of her wanted to. But she didn’t have her art supplies anyway. She’d also found an overgrown hedge maze, which she’d quickly gotten lost in. When Lindsey had finally gotten out, she’d found a quiet corner in one of the gardens, among sculpted topiaries and marble statues, and called Faith to reassure her that Camilla hadn’t kidnapped her.
Where was Camilla? June hadn’t specified whether Camilla was in the house or not. Lindsey found herself wishing Camilla had been the one to show her around the manor.