Page 13

Lena

My heart was hammering so hard I wondered if Ethan could hear it. Not out of anxiety, but out of anticipation. Carrie hadn’t given anything away except to say she felt I’d be pleased with what Ethan had set up.

When we’d agreed to this scene it was to be sensory only. Taste, touch, smell, vision, hearing but inside of those were many varying interpretations as to how to make each sensation come alive in a scene, and it truly varied from Dom to Dom.

At the entrance, one of the security staff I recognized as Drake Oliver smiled and told us to have a wonderful evening.

Did everyone know we were in a private room tonight?

There was a hush as we entered the Dungeon, all eyes swung our way, eyes filled with warmth and light.

My sixth sense kicked in, my gut telling me that Ethan and I had a lot of support from everyone here and I knew everything would be okay.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Ethan.” He gazed down at me, his expression unreadable. “In case I forget, you know how easy it is for me to go into subspace, I want you to know I had a great time.” His smile pulled on those sexy lips of his and even his eyes looked happy.

“Thank you, Lena. I will always cherish those words from you.”

Ethan had me close my eyes before he opened the door to the room.

I heard the lighting hum to life. He guided me in and closed the door.

“I’m escorting you to a seat, Lena, I will give you instructions once seated.

I want your eyes to remain closed until I’m finished, then we can engage and firm our directions for our scene. Is that understood?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Good girl.” His words of affirmation practically made me purr.

I was led across the floor. The faint floral scents, reminiscent of those when at the table in the restaurant, teased the edges of my nostrils.

I inhaled, taking in the deeper notes of the fragrance permeating the space.

I recognized lilac and gardenia, in addition to the scent of rose.

Ethan sat me down on a plush seat. When I put my hands out at my sides, I felt different fabrics under my fingertips. Fur was the most distinguishable, and I had a sudden urge to bury my nose in it.

“Lena, what do you call me during our scene together?”

“Master Ethan.”

“Good girl. What do I call you?”

“Sub, or Lena.”

“And what is your color for when you are wishing to slow things down, sub?”

“Yellow, Master Ethan.”

“Good. What is your color if you get triggered and need or want to stop?”

“Red, Master Ethan.”

“Good girl. Now tell me, sub, do you promise to use both of these words and know that by doing so you are honoring your true self and mine.”

That was a lot harder to answer and I hesitated.

He didn’t force me to hurry but allowed me space to process his words.

Until Ethan, I’d had no safeword, except for in public scenes in my dungeon back home.

Learning that my voice counted and was needed for this to be a responsible scene with two consenting adults had come as a surprise.

I should have known, I had in fact known, but had allowed Daniel to take away my power until having a voice was a memory.

But this wasn’t Daniel. It was Ethan and he was asking me now, to admit to this being a necessary thing and, in giving my word, accept responsibility for using it. I blew out a breath.

“Yes, Master Ethan.”

“Good girl. Then we can begin. Open your eyes, Lena.”

I did, and they instantly rounded as I took in the decor. It was lavish, over-the-top, Hollywood glamour. I held up my hand, indicating permission to speak.

“Do you have something to say, sub?”

“I do.”

“Permission granted.”

“Master Ethan, this is so beautiful.” Tears gathered and leaked from my eyes. “Thank you so much for doing this for me.”

His eyes softened for a moment as he uttered, “Anything for you, Lena.”

My heart melted in my chest.

“Come let me show you all of our agreed upon toys, hidden like everyday items in this ornate scene.”

I smiled and took his hand. Standing in a vase of tall flowers was a soft flogger.

I smiled seeing it so cleverly included.

Tied around a bundle of dried roses laying on the makeup table was silk rope.

Wool mittens like the kind you polish a car with were tucked under an antique hairbrush.

The bristles of the brush were horsehair and had a stiffness to them that when run over heated skin would feel abrasive but not in a bad or harmful way.

A buffer brush for shining shoes sat beside the hairbrush. Sitting among the makeup items were several different brushes with varying levels of softness. I ran my fingers over the tips to feel the different strands that ranged from stiff to ultra-soft.

In a stack of books were different grades of sandpaper used as bookmarks.

On and on it went, anywhere an implement could be added without being glaringly obvious, one had been carefully placed there.

Laying on the table was a silk blindfold.

We’d agree that the sensory experience would be heightened without the ability to see what was coming.

“Before we begin, sub, I would like to ask if you would wear my collar during this scene.”

Being collared, even for a scene, was like a dream come true.

With Daniel it had been that horrid blue ribbon I’d be burning in the fires of Rawhide Ranch’s first Firelight Ritual.

Could I wear Ethan’s even if it was only in a scene?

His expression gave away nothing. He was leaving my choice completely up to me.

“No, Master Ethan, I’m not ready.”

Ethan smiled widely. “Good girl using your voice and speaking your truth so respectfully. I’m proud of you, Lena.”

Oh wow! That had not been what I expected at all. He was so perfect, but I needed to see beyond his perfection to his darker side.

“Go to the couch and undress, fold your clothing nicely and put it on the stool. Leave your shoes on the floor beside it and then come and kneel at my feet, sub.”

This was it. The exchange had begun. Tingles of desire swarmed through my body like the fluttering of thousands of butterfly wings. This is how it is supposed to be, how I was meant to feel—filled with wild anticipation, not dread.

I did as I was told and knelt at Ethan’s feet, presenting myself as I’d been taught to do. Only this time I wasn’t erect in fear. My body softened into the pose and I felt beautiful.

“You came to me because you want to give something. You can still walk away.” Ethan’s tone was low and measured. His gaze held mine.

“I want to stay.”

He nodded once. “Eyes down.”

A lick of excitement roiled through my lower belly and tugged at my clit at the commanding tone of his voice.

“I’m going to remind you that you’re not perfect. That you’re human. That your value doesn’t disappear with a mistake. Can you let me do that?”

I swallow the lump in my throat before answering. “Yes, Master Ethan.”

He gently brushed his fingers over my temple as he blindfolded me. I shivered despite the heat emanating from him. My nipples were hard enough to cut glass. With my vision gone, every sound sharpened. I heard him easily as he moved slowly across the room. Then his voice again, but firmer this time.

“This is your last reminder to answer with ‘yes, Master Ethan,’ or ‘no Master Ethan’. You will not apologize for flinching; you will not correct yourself. You will just be present.”

“Yes, Master Ethan.”

“Stand.”

I was hyperaware of my nakedness, the air on my skin, the heat from his body and control he was exuding. All of it was fanning the fire building deep inside of me.

“Sit.”

He had me sitting on the leather bench. Then, I felt the lightest touch in the curve of my neck, across my shoulders and down my spine.

A slight shudder moved through me. My breath hitched ever so slightly. My nipples ached, begging to be touched. Instinctually, I pressed into the sensations, wanting more.

“Stay still, my naughty girl.”

He didn’t say it with anger, and another shudder moved through me.

Stroking with the hairbrush, sweeping my muscles.

“Lie on your front, Lena.”

I obeyed and the strokes moved further down my back. Circles on each buttock cheek and down my legs. I inadvertently let out a little groan of pleasure.

Next, leather tendrils floated over my skin, the soft kissing strokes amping up my desire a notch.

Between my legs was soaked with my excitement.

From Ethan’s mouth a steady stream of good girl, and that’s my girl , was a constant reinforcement that I so desperately needed.

He gently flicked the tendrils creating small pockets of heat all over my flesh.

I was practically beside myself as the need for Ethan increased.

Never had I wanted a man inside of me as much as I wanted him right now.

I hadn’t had sex for two years. Never with Daniel and it had been far and few between prior to him. The fact was, no one had turned me on like this before. The light strokes of the flogger rhythmically fell like a gentle rain, soothing, relaxing.

Next was ice. I hadn’t noticed any but then remembered what I thought had been pearlized bath beads in a crystal container on the table.

“I think my sub needs some cooling down.”

His sub? I would love to be his sub, forever and always.

He ran the ice down my spine and along the cleft of my ass. The cold water dripped and mixed with my hot essence. “Ohhh.” Once the ice was gone. Ethan had me stand, helping me to my feet.

“I’m going to bind your wrists with the silk, Lena. Do I have your permission?”

“Yes, Master Ethan, but may I ask a question?”

“Always, sweet girl.”

“Then what will happen?” My voice trembled on the last word and Ethan’s tone instantly turned to one of concern.

“Lena. I will never hurt you and I would never leave you here. I want to set you free, not keep you a prisoner.” His words rang true.

“I am ready.” Ethan tied my wrists and after walking me forward, lifted my arms above my head to where I remember seeing a hook hanging from the ceiling. He removed my blindfold.

“Look at how beautiful you are.”

Now I could see why he chose this room. It was covered in mirrors, even the ceiling.

What I saw shocked me. My skin was flushed with desire, and my unruly hair had fallen from the messy bun to spill around my shoulders.

With my arms up, my breasts were thrust slightly forward, and my nipples were hard and swollen.

I stared, never having seen myself during a scene.

Ethan moved behind me, stroking me with the horsehair brush. “You’re fucking perfect. A goddamn goddess. Look at how wet you are.”

He ran the handle of the brush down my inner thighs and I whimpered with need. My eyes hooded and I was gone, allowing the weight to drop as I relaxed my stance.

“Are you floating?”

“A little, Master Ethan.”

“Then I’ll hold you down.” He circled me. “You like being watched, don't you?” His voice softened, was teasing now, coaxing me.

“Yes, Sir.”

“You want someone to see the cracks. The part of you that still thinks she needs to be perfect.”

Holy cow! I didn’t respond. How could I when he’s said exactly what I’ve been hiding, apparently unsuccessfully.

“That wasn’t rhetorical, Lena.”

“Yes, Master… Ethan.” I almost missed adding his name. That would have been a huge mistake, or would it have been? To call him Master only was insinuating that I belonged to him. I had negated his offer to wear his collar during this scene, therefore, I also gave up the right to call him that.

He stepped closer. His body heat rolled off him in waves.

“I see you now, Lena. Even messy I want you. Trembling, gasping, falling apart on my fingers or otherwise. Say you are mine.”

Was he a mind reader? How did he know that this was what I’d been wanting since he’d first stabilized my breathing by the pond. A soft gasp escaped my lips. He gently tipped my chin with just one finger.

“Say it.”

“I’m yours, Master.” He didn’t request it of me, not in so many words, but by asking me to claim his dominion in this scene, he was.

“Because I earned it?”

“No, Master Ethan, because I chose you.” And I did. In that moment something inside of me shattered and a new Lena emerged. One that knew exactly what she wanted. He untied the rope and I slumped into his chest, eyes closed, weightless.

“You were perfect in your honesty.”

“Thank you, Master Ethan.” He lifted me off my feet and held me like I weighed nothing. He stalked to the chaise lounge and moved several blankets before sitting down with me in his arms. He wrapped me in a linen sheet and then the fur. I was relaxed and happy for the first time in forever.

He gazed at me as if I was made of something precious as he stroked my hair. “You didn’t just gift me your submission,” he said softly. “You gave me your fear and let me hold it.”

“I did. I didn’t know surrender could feel like freedom.”

“Now you do.”