Submit to Me

by Sappharia Mayer

  "Good morning, Detective," Samantha said in between bites of bacon. "I hope you slept well."

  "Good morning, Samantha. I did, thank you," Jessica replied with a clipped formality.

  "Since you're here, I need your help," Kade said as he turned toward Samantha.

  "Do I even want to know?"

  "It involves shopping with Alexandra's expense account," he said dryly.

  "I'm in," she answered without hesitation.

  "You don't even know what I want you to do."

  "It involves Alexandra's expense account, and that's all I usually need to know."

  Kade watched Jessica raise an eyebrow, but she didn't interject.

  "There's more to it than spending the boss' money," Kade said with authority.

  "You always know how to ruin a good time with a catch to a great deal."

  "I need you to bring the detective up to speed on the club. My schedule is full today trying to get all the preparations complete, besides my normal duties. She must understand the rules, go through the membership protocols, be groomed and dressed appropriately."

  "You know, the rest of us juggle multiple jobs on a normal basis," Samantha countered.

  "Yes, and if you fail there's generally a way to recover. If I fail, someone might end up hurt or dead—again."

  The words slipped out before he could stop them, and he watched Jessica's head spin in his direction. He needed to get out of here before he said something stupid.

  "Fine," Samantha replied, feigning distress. "I'll make sure to spend time at the spa, buy new clothes, and tell Jessica all your secrets."

  Kade glared at her, but she only returned a Cheshire grin.

  "Don't believe a word she says, Detective. Except about the club, that's probably the safest subject with this one," he said, hiking his thumb toward Samantha and smiling.

  He turned and shot a warning look at his friend. "I'll be in my office if you need me."

  With that, he turned and hustled down the apartment's front stairs.

  Kade walked through the receptionist’s office of the PR firm and reached for the door at the exact moment it opened. With a quick reverse, he stepped back to prevent getting hit. He expected to see Melodie, the PR firm's receptionist, making her way into the office. Instead, Cassandra walked in, looking nervous.

  "Good morning, Cassandra. What brings you to McKenzie-Kingston this early in the morning?" Kade asked with suspicion.

  Cassandra jumped back with a start. "Um... good morning, Kade," she said nervously.

  "Is there something you need?"

  "I was looking for Samantha or Melodie."

  "Why?"

  "Well, I was working through, uh, the books Alexandra recommended. And, well, I thought... um, maybe Samantha would be able to, um, well... give me a perspective."

  Kade raised an eyebrow.

  "Let me get this straight. You're breaking a cardinal rule of separation by coming to Ms. Kingston's workplace to ask her a question about things which happen in the club?"

  "When you put it that way..." she said, her eyes hitting the ground and her hand moving behind her back.

  "And if you were coming to talk to Samantha, why were you looking for Melodie?"

  "I thought she might help me find her or get an appointment on her calendar."

  "You would pay for your appointment time at the PR firm?"

  Cassandra looked up at him shocked, as if what he said was the most unreasonable thing she'd ever heard.

  "It was just questions. Why would I pay her for information easily found on the internet?"

  "If that's the case, why don't you go look them up and return it in a ten-page research paper?" he challenged.

  "I don't owe you anything. You aren't Alexandra."

  "This much is true. I don't look that damn good in a dress. However, until she returns from her business trip, her authority is in my hands and carries the same weight."

  "Maybe someone should put you in your little submissive place, Kade. It seems you're getting too big for your position."

  Kade took two steps forward, stepping into Cassandra's personal space. Even at five foot seven inches, she still had to look up to see him.

  "Let's get something straight right here and right now. It doesn't matter which side of the dynamics I choose around here, I am still in charge. When Alexandra is here, my authority is my own. When she is not here, my authority is hers combined with my own. If you think you are up to the task, then you are either stupid or arrogant. Never make the mistake that a submissive is weak because they submit, or that they can take a position of leadership, as you’ve see throughout our mentorship. Just because you observe me in a submissive position to someone else doesn’t mean I’m submissive in any way to you. Do we have an understanding?"

  Cassandra nodded and took several steps back until she bounced against the front door.

  "New topic for your research paper. Ten reasons people submit and why it isn't a weakness," Kade said but didn't move toward her.

  "I don't owe you anything," she said with a glare.

  "Let me put it in simpler terms. You are here by the grace of Alexandra on a provisional membership based on a guest pass. Alexandra extended a provisional membership to you prior to leaving on unexpected business based on you following through on the in-house mentorship program. Since I have neglected your program because of multiple factors, I'm prioritizing my interest in your education. You can either do as I ask or I can revoke your membership," Kade said casually.

  "You can't do that," Cassandra screeched.

  "Can. And will."

  He watched Cassandra's face fill with rage and waited for the explosion.

  "Fine," she spat.

  "Paper is due Thursday end of business. That is standard business. As in five o'clock post meridian. If it isn't up to my standards, not only will you not attend the event this weekend, but I will immediately revoke your membership. You can appeal the decision upon Alexandra's return."

  "And when will that be?" she said with too much interest.

  "When she returns."

  "She'll be hearing about this upon her return," Cassandra sneered.

  Kade chuckled. "You can bank on it," he said.

  He leaned against the wall and endured her petulant staring contest for the next few minutes until she gave up and wrenched the door open. Without grace, she stormed out of the PR firm and back toward the club.

  Kade ran a hand through his hair and exhaled. Something about the encounter wasn't sitting right with him. While they had limited his interactions, Cassandra has always been cordial until now. He made a mental note to follow up on it later, but he knew there was a stack of work already piling up on his desk. Alexandra owed him after this one, he thought as he made his way back to the club's security office.

  Chapter Ten

  "Dare I ask what happened to you yesterday?" Samantha asked between bites of bacon.

  "Are you always this direct?"

  Samantha laughed and took a sip of her coffee.

  "I find it facilitates getting to the core of issues, finding out what people value most and hide. I'd blame it on New Jersey or maybe it's my combination of partners. Regardless, it works-most of the time," she said matter-of-factly.

  "Did you say partners, as in plural?"

  Samantha nodded but didn't elaborate. She spun the tablet Kade had used around and punched in a couple of combinations.

  "Looks like you've got quite a full schedule this week. Kade extended a provisional membership to you…" Samantha said without a pause and wrinkled her brow.

  "What's with the look? It's a provisional membership, and I'm here for work," Jessica said.

  "No. It's actually a full club membership contingent only on the paperwork, bloodwork, and skills assessment," Samantha said and then smiled.

  "It's probably just a mistake, an oversight in trying to make me look more legitimate 'undercover.'"

  "Kade doesn't make mistakes like that. If he
gave you a full membership, it's on purpose. Only two people can revoke a membership or grant one, and there's only a handful of reasons for revocation."

  "Let's be reasonable for a minute. Mr. Kinkaid thought he'd given me a provisional membership, accidentally marked full. Simple paperwork error," Jessica said with a shrug.

  "Let me fill you in on something, Detective Lawson. Kade had to override three different warnings against a full membership without you going through the provisional process to make this happen."

  Jessica stared at Samantha for a long minute. The weight of the information sat heavy on her shoulders, but she didn't understand its meaning or significance.

  Without looking up, Samantha asked, "How did you say you got that bruised eye?"

  "A colleague challenged me to spar," Jessica started and pulled up short. "It's inconsequential to the case. You said there was a series of assessments I needed to pass?"

  Samantha grinned and nodded.

  "Let's finish filling out your membership so it will pull up the appropriate list. How do you identify?"

  "Identify? I'm not sure what you're asking."

  "Are you a top, bottom, switch, Dominant, submissive-all the above, none of the above?"

  The question wasn't surprising, though Jessica rarely said the words out loud. Few people knew of her particular desires. She didn't fit into the commercial image of a 'Dominatrix' or 'Domme' or whatever they wanted to call a female Dominant these days. It was difficult enough being a female Dominant without all of the labels and baggage of social media.

  Samantha looked up from the tablet expectantly.

  "Dominant," Jessica said simply.

  "Perfect."

  A slow smile curled around Samantha's lips as she continued to type.

  "Particular kinks?"

  Jessica took a slow, deep breath. "Straight razors, knives, wax, chastity, and submission. I think that's enough to get the paperwork started," she said dryly.

  "A woman who loves sharp things, denies pleasure until she deems it is her wish to grant it, paints with wax, and loves to see a person kneeling before her," Samantha said as she typed, a grin planted firmly on her face. "Are you first aid certified?"

  "I am."

  "Last blood test?"

  "Six months ago."

  "How did you learn your skills?"

  "A combination of my job, life experiences, and a mentor in the scene, though I hesitate to call him that," Jessica said with disdain.

  "Why?" Samantha asked, the grin falling from her face as she looked up from the tablet.

  "There are things we learn out of force. It takes time to reconcile it when you realize you enjoy it. Even more when you realize you enjoy doing it to someone else," Jessica answered as she stared across the kitchen as if lost in a memory.

  "You and At... Alexandra will get along famously. Both of you hold too much to the chest and think pride is strength. You do realize it cometh before a solid fall, right?"

  Jessica nodded. "Oh, I've been made aware of that fact more than once in life. As to holding things close to the vest, I find it keeps things relative and compartmentalized. Removes the... emotions from the equation," she said with a slight hesitation.

  "Removes the emotions from the equation? You must be a hoot at parties. The emotions are the equation. The connection and bond in any experience," Samantha said, cocking her head to the side and staring at Jessica.

  "You've obviously never worked in a field which required logic and reason to compete on an even footing. You seem like a wonderfully open free spirit who wants everyone to be happy and live their best life."

  It was Samantha's turn to stare at Jessica agape. "A profiler?"

  "A detective, as you already know. Reading people is part of the job," she said coolly.

  "The men here are in so much trouble and they won't even see you coming," Samantha mumbled.

  Jessica raised an eyebrow and took a long sip of her coffee.

  "We need to get one thing straight. I'm here for the case. If I deem there's nothing here, other than a bout of harassment, then I'm out of here. My proclivities don't come into play except they allow me to blend. I'm already irritated Kade chose to talk to the captain without consulting me and irritated he agreed, though not surprised from our conversation yesterday."

  "Kade is... prideful, protective, and possessive. Those traits can make him stubborn, willful, stoic, and unthinking," Samantha offered.

  "It makes him a man who stepped all over me because I was stupid, vulnerable, and weak."

  "You got one of those things right, but only one. It makes him a man. I've known Kade for a long time, and his heart is in the right place."

  Silence lingered between them. Frustration welled in Jessica when she remembered her irrational move and the kiss the night before. He'd been so close and smelled so good. Under him she wasn't intimidated or less. For the first time in far too long, the world lifted from her shoulders, and she could breathe. He gave only what she asked and waited on her to take the next step. Never in her life had she met a man like him. This is a case, she reminded herself. Her only focus was finding out what was going on around here. Not fooling around with the locals.

  She squared her shoulders and forced a smile. "Where do we start?"

  "Let's start with a wardrobe. When's the last time you wore a corset?" Samantha grinned.

  "It's been years since I've put one on."

  "Good, let's start there."

  Outwardly Jessica nodded. Inwardly she cringed as the pain in her ribs lit up again. If she were a betting woman, she'd bank at least two of them were cracked. This was going to be a long week.

  Wardrobe was one of the last things on the list. For the past four hours Jessica had finished the paperwork, taken a long tour of the facilities, done a blood draw, threatened Samantha's life if she even thought about the spa, and then landed in a never-ending rotation of outfits.

  She breathed a deep sigh of relief when Samantha stepped back to observe her work.

  The black brocade waist-cincher completely changed the look of the aubergine business suit. It tucked right under Jessica's bustline, slightly pleating the gray camisole underneath. Looking in the mirror, she admitted there was something alluring about the hidden garment when her jacket was buttoned. The added benefit of support to her ribs didn't go unnoticed as the compression relieved some pain in her ribs.

  "Who knew a business suit could look so sexy?" Samantha said to the woman standing next to her.

  She hadn't introduced them; instead she'd worked her way through a large closet of clothes, each time declaring the outfit wasn't right in this way or that until Jessica cried uncle when her body refused to deal with all the movement. Finally, she'd settled on exchanging the original white button-down under the suit for a gray camisole and waist-cincher. Her already small waist looked almost impossibly small, and they'd barely cinched it down.

  "All of this dress-up has been fun, but I've got work to do," she finally announced.

  Samantha's face fell, and she huffed.

  "I suppose. At least we've got the necessary measurements and Emily here does wonders with a needle and thread," she said proudly.

  "That's great," Jessica replied, half listening. "Do you know where I can find Kade?"

  She watched Samantha tap the tablet.

  "He's in his office. Let me ping him for you."

  Jessica made her way to a chair and gingerly lowered herself down. Everything hurt, but that was the price for being stupid and challenging one of the biggest men in the department. She would never live this one down and only hoped everyone would remember she'd actually won, though he'd walked away in far better shape.

  "Kade is meeting with Ian Breckenridge. He's asked that I show you to his office," Samantha said, pulling Jessica out of her thoughts.

  "Excellent. It's about time I quit all of this nonsense and get back to work."

  "All work and no play," Samantha quipped.

  "Makes me a
damn good detective," Jessica finished.

  "Without a life."

  Jessica shrugged and rose from the chair. "I understand you and Alexandra are close, based on your comments and my investigation," she said as they walked out of the room.

  "You could say I've known Alexandra all her life."

  "So you two grew up together?"

  "In a matter of speaking, yes."

  She made a note of the cryptic answer and changed tactics.

  "You're Atlas Devereaux's business partner? How long have you known her?"

  "We went to college together. Atlas lived on campus and I commuted. We happened to meet in the library when she was supposed to be working a grad paper in business and I was looking up a juicy story for a PR research paper. We've been friends and business partners, in some form, ever since."

  "How did Atlas and Alexandra meet?"

  Samantha looked down at the floor as if she was thinking about the question.

  "College. Atlas was the TA for a professor and they formed a deep friendship."

  "I'd love to meet Atlas. Do you know when she'll be back?" Jessica pushed. Something wasn't adding up.

  "No, Detective, I don't know when either of them will be back. I'm not always privy to the projects of either Atlas or Alexandra," she said with annoyance.

  "But you're Atlas' business partner."

  "An astute observation. And on that note, this is Kade's office. I'm sure he's more than capable of filling you in on any details you might desire. It's been a pleasure, but I need to get back to the PR firm."

  Samantha nodded slightly, turned on her heel, and headed back toward the front of the building in a brisk walk.

  She wanted to follow her and get to the bottom of the strange shift in mood, but the door behind her opened and a familiar voice called her.

  "Come in, Detective," Kade said. "We were just discussing the situation with the knife."

  Chapter Eleven

  Kade watched her straighten her shoulders and turn to face him. The makeup on her cheek was smudging enough to show a hint of the bruise underneath. Its presence made him want to punch someone for hurting her, but he'd learned enough to know voicing such a thought was a mistake. Jessica might be small, but there wasn't anything fragile about her.