Page 8

Ethan

My carefully controlled plan unraveled when Lena dropped into subspace just from my voice.

I’d heard about those submissives. The ones so responsive that just a Dom’s tone could put them there.

The need and passion I’d felt for her earlier erupted, and I was unable to keep my attraction for her at bay.

I knew she saw the hunger in me. My need to have and control her overrode common sense. I managed to rein in my beast and pull us back from the precipice of no return. It would cost me though. What on earth had gotten into me? A man like me never revealed his hand. Never.

I was waffling in a way I hadn’t since my first debate in high school. That’s the effect she had on me. My modus operandi was to dehumanize. It kept the shadows at bay, and when it didn’t, I had the boardroom, the cat and mouse chase in the business world that inevitably led to me winning.

Get a hold of yourself, Reacher. If you can’t control yourself, how can a submissive trust you?

That sobering thought brought me back to the point at hand. What do I tell Lena as to my motivations in being here?

“I came to Rawhide Ranch to let go of control.” Her lovely plump lips parted and rounded into a perfect O. Her jaw snapped shut.

“Is this a joke?” She looked upset like I was lying. She pushed away from the table as if to leave.

“Sit down, Lena.” I used the boardroom control that she’d fallen so hard for earlier.

She sat back down and I rose to push her chair in.

“It’s not a joke but I need to explain.” I took a deep breath and let it go.

One wasn’t enough and I took two more. She picked up on the anti-anxiety breathing I’d taught her by the lake and joined in.

Soon we were breathing in sync with each other.

I watched the tension ease from her erect posture and felt it leave mine also.

“Look, I find myself in an entirely unique position with you.” I slid my hand across the table and took her slim one in mine.

Her porcelain skin was a contrast to my perpetually tanned flesh.

I was a large man and although Lena wasn’t tiny, my hand completely engulfed hers.

“I’ve been accused of being incapable of being present.

I’m here to step outside of the dry echo of rules and move into a sort of stillness that allows me to just be me.

I felt this would be a good place to regroup and learn to listen.

” Lena gazed at me intently as if weighing out every word for accuracy.

“I want to be a better Dom and to have something outside of the rules of power exchange in the dungeon. I want more with a submissive. I thought maybe I might find that here at Rawhide. I didn’t come to play, I came to discover.”

Lena looked surprised before schooling her features. Despite her beautiful submissive, Lena could be hard to read when she chose to be.

“I have a proposal for you.” The pulse in the slim column of her neck silently told me her heart rate was amping up a bit.

It was imperative I be very specific. “Lena, would you consider sharing a short-term D/s construct with mutual intention, daily check-ins, and minimal play to start, for the remainder of our stay at Rawhide?”

By her expression, I’d definitely caught her off guard. She dropped her gaze and was now looking for answers in her lap. This wouldn’t do at all. “I want to be clear. This is not about fixing you, or me, but holding the space for us to explore.”

Of course, Lena looked ready to turn me down, so I added, “I want to see how you serve when you’re not surviving.” My words seem to catch her by surprise. Something undefinable twisted her expression for just the briefest of moments.

“Uh… yes, but I have conditions of my own.”

I wanted to jump for joy but held myself in check.

Lena gulped as she tugged her hand from mine as if in order to draw a line, she needed to not be touching me. Could she want me as badly as I wanted her?

“First off, no sex.”

I remained silent.

“No high-protocol scenes. As much as I wanted to do the high tea, it was more to set something straight from the past than anything I truly wished to do.”

“We can discuss what you feel are high-protocol scenes and remove those,” I assured her.

Lena nodded solemnly. “Limited touch unless negotiated first.”

I chose to remain silent, mostly because my purpose was to listen and allow her to show up authentically, not ravage her despite my desire to do that very thing.

“Agreed. This isn’t about power—it’s about presence.”

Lena’s smile was tentative as she stuck out her hand. “Shake?”

I took her slim, cool hand in mine. “Shake. For now. I can have paperwork drawn up as well if that helps to clarify things.”

“It hardly seems necessary when we are both staying at a place where safety comes before all else.”

“And,” I added, “when there are only nine days left.” I watched her carefully, her gaze lowered and her hand in mine stiffened.

I took that as a sign that we would take our relationship further.

I had nine days to prove to myself I was capable of being in control of my beast and present enough to carry on an intimate relationship and she was clear enough on her wants to trust I could provide them for her.

“As delicious as this was, I could use a steak.”

Lena looked up, her eyes sparkling. “I take it you’re a meat man?”

“I do enjoy a fine cut of meat, but I equally enjoy eating other things.”

A beautiful flush spread across Lena’s lovely cheeks. She’d gotten my innuendo. I released her hand to stand. “Let’s move on to our next adventure.”

She stood and I took her hand as we moved to the counter where Heaven Leigh stood waiting for us, a wistful expression on her face. The woman had a story, but it wasn’t mine to discover. “Two of every sweet, sugary goodness to go please.”

Heaven Leigh got to work filling a large pastry box full, while I ran my thumb in soothing circles over the back of Lena’s hand. A glance told me she was in subspace from my touch. My god, this woman was so responsive.

We were tucked in at my little kitchenette in my cabin nestled close to the mountains. The floor-to-ceiling glass showcased a purple sky at dusk. Stars were popping up like weeds in a freshly mowed lawn.

Lena ate Tortellini-alla-panna while I chowed down on a medium-rare steak with a side of spaghetti. Our meal was accompanied by crisp white napkins and a bottle of the restaurant’s finest red.

Like the car ride to town, we shared companionable silence. Not too silent. From the screen in the living room, the gentle sounds of Chopin in nature played, adding to the relaxed atmosphere.

Observing her was becoming my favorite obsession.

Her hands showcased an intelligence, each movement deliberate.

I couldn’t help wondering if this was an effect of the high-protocol training or who she was naturally.

She must have felt my eyes on her because she glanced from her plate, capturing my gaze with hers.

Her eyes, which at first had appeared blue, were more gray. The limbal ring was a dark thick black that acted like a natural highlight and gave depth to the lighter pewter of the irises it surrounded.

“What are you looking at?”

“I thought it was obvious. The beautiful scenery of course.” She blushed, as I expected she would. My girl wasn’t used to positive affirmations. Yes, she’d become my girl in the space of an afternoon.

Lena pushed her half-empty plate away. I noticed she never finished a meal.

This may be something we’d need to address if she was doing it because she had a twisted view of how she looked, assuming she saw herself as anything less than beautiful.

Her build was slim with the exception of the wide flair of her hips and the luscious ass that wiggled as she moved.

My plate was empty, and I also pushed it away. “Lena, how do you feel about doing a light-protocol scene?”

Instantly alert, Lena’s posture and energy shifted. “What did you have in mind, Sir?”

“My leathers I wear for a scene are laid out on my bed, with the exception of the belt and boots I’m wearing. Many submissives find it relaxing to help me remove these items and put them away. Would you like to try that?”

She offered a small smile. “What are the rules, Sir?”

“I will give you instructions and you will carry them out. If you have a question, you will put up your hand to seek permission to speak. Is that acceptable?”

“Yes. May I begin?”

“You may.”

Lena stood and moved to kneel at my feet.

She lifted my booted foot into her lap, untying my laces with precision and speed.

She loosened the boot until my foot slid out easily.

She repeated her actions with the other foot and then took her time fussing with the discarded boots until she was satisfied.

She set them aside and then rose on her knees to undo my belt.

“Before you do that, sub, I would prefer to stand.”

She lowered herself and scooted back a few feet to give me room. Once I was standing, she shuffled back. When she reached for the buckle, there was a flicker in her eyes, a moment of fear, like a ghost had brushed her skin.

“Lena. If anything feels wrong– anything– you say it and stop. No judgment. No penalty.”

I waited while she processed my words. She allowed herself a deep breath before continuing. When she’d pulled the belt successfully from the loops, I kneeled down opposite her. “That was perfect, Lena, and I want to thank you for trusting me.”

Lena swallowed but didn’t reply. I stood back and helped her to her feet. I took her by the hand and led her to my room where the other items were laid out on the bed. She made quick work of placing the items in the closet and going back for the boots and belt and putting them away as well.

When she was done, she kneeled at my feet, head bowed, hands falling palms up and resting on her thighs, presenting beautifully.

I wanted to run my hands through her curly locks but I held myself back.

She’d specifically said no touching during a scene without first getting permission which I had not done.

“Well done. You may stand.” Once she was standing opposite me, I added, “Permission to be at ease.” Lena relaxed although it didn’t affect her naturally erect posture all that much, but she did smile.

“Thank you, Ethan, that was very relaxing indeed.”

“You are welcome, sweet girl. I should probably get you home.”

At the front door, I slid on my sneakers and grabbed a jacket. It could get cold at night despite the warm temperatures during the day. I grabbed a hoodie from my closet and wrapped Lena in it. With our size difference, she looked like a child wearing her father’s coat.

I swallowed a satisfied growl seeing her in my too-big clothing. “Ready?”

She nodded and we stepped out into the darkness.