Submission

CHAPTER FOUR-PART 3

With a sigh, she subsided, doing her best to answer his questions honestly. The next several were inconsequential, followed by one that made her freeze.

“Tell me a fantasy.”

Sable bit her lip, unable to reply.

“Sable, what’s one of your fantasies?” He punctuated the question with something stinging against her skin, along with a snapping sound. It didn’t hurt much, but it was startling. When she shook her head, he swatted her again with it, this time a little harder.

“Answer me.”

“I thought you said no pain.”

The stinging tendrils hit her again. “This isn’t pain, Sable. This is motivation.” Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

“It sure as hell feels like pain.” She winced at the petulant note in her words.

Julian laughed, a warm sound that made her stomach flutter. “You’re a lightweight. This is the smallest flogger in my collection.”

Shuddering, she said, “I don’t want to meet the rest.”

“Answer me then.” He sounded husky. “I won’t judge you. This isn’t for my titillation. I’d just like a glimpse inside your desires.” The flogger touched her skin again, this time in a soft stroking motion that made her nerve ends tingle. “I’ve heard probably everything. More than likely, I’ve done it, whatever it is. Threesome, lesbian, or rape fantasy, perhaps?”

She shook her head. “Nothing that kinky.”

He chuckled. “None of those are all that kinky, Sable, but what do you want?”

“I want someone to want me so badly that he’d do anything. I’d love a seduction scene, with all the romantic trappings and satin sheets.”

“That’s it? Nothing a little less vanilla?” He caressed her with the flogger again, and the strands tickled her stomach. “What do you want this man to do for you?”

Sable shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“You must have thought about it? What specifics?”

“Roses, champagne, and flowers. Purple satin sheets, and our naked bodies—” She broke off, unable to share more.

“I asked you not to hold back. However, I understand your discomfort. You will write out your fantasy in detail and present it to me by tomorrow evening, before we go to dinner at Dave’s.”

A rush of relief swept through her. It was still embarrassing to tell him, but it would be so much easier to write it out instead of saying it. She was eager to move on and answered the rest of his questions without stumbling. Her last reward was another piece of chocolate, but she hesitated. “May I ask for something else?”

His fingers brushed her mouth as he drew back from putting the chocolate on her tongue. “What would you like?”

“May I ask you some questions?” She held her breath, wondering if he would permit the request, or if it was supposed to be one-sided sharing.

“Of course. You can have the chocolate too.” He placed it on her tongue when she extended it. A second later, the blindfold came off, making her grateful for the dimmer illumination provided by the

electric candles as she blinked several times to re-acclimate to the light.

Julian sat beside her, his skin pressing against her bare arm. When she reached for her shirt, he intercepted her hand, taking it in one of his larger ones to hold. “Leave it off.”

She wanted to ask why, but didn’t. Was she imagining the trace of desire in his expression? Trying to appear casual, she glanced down and saw evidence of his arousal pressing insistently against his jeans. The sight made her mouth water and heat flare between her thighs, though she wouldn’t have admitted to an attraction to him under threat of torture before that moment.

“What would you like to know?”

“Tell me about your family and childhood please.”

Julian shrugged. “It’s pretty boring stuff. I have two brothers, and my parents are still alive and still together after forty-three years. As far as I know, they’re all vanilla, and I’m the sole freak of the family.” He smiled to indicate he was joking.

“How did you become…like this?”

He tilted his head, giving her a long look. “I admit I’ve always liked to be in control. I was the bossy one on the playground, but the other kids listened. In my teens, I got a little wild and stole a car with some friends. We were sent to different military schools.”

She gasped, touching his ponytail without thought of the intimacy of the gesture until the silken strands were between her fingers. “I just can’t picture you as the military type.”

Julian lifted a shoulder. “I wasn’t. At first. It took a no-nonsense drill instructor to get my attention. He earned my respect, and I straightened out. Sergeant Stark made me responsible for myself and others, teaching me accountability in the process. By the time I was out of the Air Force—”

“You enlisted?”

He nodded. “I spent six years in the USAF.” He pronounced it you-saf. “I discovered I was good with responsibility and being in command. It wasn’t a far leap to explore dominance and BDSM.”

Sable grinned. “So, Uncle Sam made you a Dom?”

He chuckled. “Not exactly. I was born dominant, but the military helped me hone the trait.”

“So, how did you go from a soldier to a Dom?”

“The same way a lot of people do.” Julian stretched his neck, making her realize she still had her hand in his hair. She pulled back immediately. “The ‘net wasn’t as big a thing back then, so I learned the old- fashioned way, by researching and meeting others in the lifestyle. I had a lot of help in becoming a Dom. It’s usually a long training process for anyone new to the lifestyle, regardless of your position preference.” His gaze locked on hers when she stifled a yawn behind her hand. “Do you have any other questions before I send you to bed?”

“What’s the history you have with Rafe Monahan?” His expression changed, and she could almost see a figurative door slam in her face, so it surprised her when he spoke.

“That’s a long, complicated story. He hurt someone I cared about.” Julian pursed his lips. “I will tell you the story, but I’m not in the right frame of mind tonight. I was enjoying our interlude and would like to end the evening on a good note.”

Wanting to insist on an answer, she forced back the compulsion. “Of course. Whatever is between you, or your reason for helping me find Sabrina, I appreciate it. I know it must be difficult for you to put your life on hold for this.”

He turned slightly toward her, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m merely exploring a different facet, not putting a hold on my life.”

“Well, it’s still really nice of you to help me.”

His gaze never left hers. “I want to find Sabrina, and I’d be thrilled to stop Rafe if he’s still hurting people, but those weren’t my only reasons for helping you.”

She frowned. “What else—”