The Master

by Tara Sue Me

  tonight. He remembered how much fun it’d been to shop for her. How he imagined her in the clothes he bought. The shirt she currently had on gave him a nice view of her breasts, but even better, it showed off his collar. He loved the way the black leather wrapped around her throat. Taken, it said. Claimed. Unavailable to you.

  And yet to him it whispered something more. Yours. Take me. Use me.

  He needed to keep that whispering voice in check. Technically, she was only his for the next thirteen days. Thirteen days.

  And twelve nights.

  “Dinner smells wonderful, Sir,” she said, shifting his focus away from his plans for the night.

  “When you’re wearing clothes, you may call me Cole.”

  “If it’s okay with you, I’m more comfortable using Sir all the time.”

  She’d applied light makeup while dressing for dinner and her lips were full and red. It was rather hard to think about anything other than her mouth when she wore lipstick that color. Or if it wasn’t her mouth, it was whether or not her lipstick would stain his cock if she deep throated him.

  She tilted her head as if waiting for a response.

  “I’m sorry, what?”

  Her laugh was musical. “I said, if it’s okay with you, I’m more comfortable using Sir all the time.”

  “When we’re observing lower protocol, I don’t want you to feel inhibited. I’ve found that it’s easier to remember if you’re able to use my given name.”

  She leaned forward and he did the same instinctively. In a low voice, she explained, “I only have these two weeks to call you Sir. After that, you’ll just be Cole unless we’re with the group. Please let me call you Sir. I promise I won’t let it make me feel inhibited when I’m wearing clothes.”

  It had “Bad Idea” written all over it. He should tell her no and insist she call him Cole. But it was such a little thing. She rarely asked for anything. Surely, he could give her this.

  He reached across the table and took her hand. “All right, little one, if you want to use Sir, I won’t make you do otherwise.”

  Her smile transformed her entire face and she beamed at him, like he’d just bought her the damn moon. Bloody hell. Was he that much of a jerk that allowing her to call him Sir could elicit such a response?

  He tightened his grip on his fork. Time to change the subject. “How do you feel after your first few hours of slave training?”

  “My mind’s fighting me more than I thought it would. I thought it’d be easy to stand down and let you take over, but it’s hard.”

  “You’ve worked your entire life to be strong and self-sufficient. Of course it’s hard. And not everyone is cut out to be a full-time slave.”

  A small smile danced on her lips. “I think it’s a bit early to make that call, don’t you?”

  “Perhaps. Perhaps not. If you really hated it . . .”

  She shook her head. “If I really hated it, I wouldn’t have accepted your training collar earlier.”

  “Point taken.”

  “I think I’ll give it another day, at least. I’d hate to make a decision without experiencing a complete night with you.”

  The words left him. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Something flashed in her eyes, but she dropped her head to her plate before he could tell what.

  Changing the subject, he brought her phone out of his pocket. “No one’s called or sent a text today. Do you need to get in touch with anyone?”

  “No.” She scooped up rice on her fork. “I told my parents I was going to a work conference out of town and I’d call them when I could, but it probably wouldn’t be often.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “You lied to your parents?”

  “The other option was to tell them I was living with a man I’ve known less than a year so he could train me to be a slave and I probably wouldn’t be able to call very often seeing as how I’d have his dick in my mouth a good portion of the time.”

  Her matter-of-fact statement was spoken so off-handedly, he choked on his wine. “Yes, I can see why you went with the first option.”

  She shrugged. “I’m more than happy to tell them the truth, but they probably wouldn’t take it so well.”

  “Are you close to your parents?”

  “Not overly. They retired to Florida, so I usually only see them at Thanksgiving or Christmas.”

  “Brothers or sisters?”

  She took a bite of rice before replying. “Suddenly interested in my family?”

  “I’m interested in how you became the woman you are today.”

  Her gaze dropped to her plate, but he thought he saw the beginnings of a smile. He was certain of it when she looked up and he saw the delight in her eyes at his statement.

  “I have an older brother,” she said.

  “Uh-oh, should I be afraid?”

  She laughed. “I won’t tell him if you don’t. He’s a car salesman in Dover. We aren’t all that close, but I see him more frequently than I do my parents. I had a very average and normal childhood. Graduated high school and went to college, where I met Julie.”

  “College was where you also discovered your submissive tendencies.”

  “Yes.”

  “What made you stay in the lifestyle? As one of the group members, I mean. Why not just be a dabbler?”

  She took her time thinking through his question. “I didn’t see the point in doing it halfway. I knew almost immediately that I was submissive, so it only made sense to seek out likeminded people.”

  “You told me a few weeks ago that one of the things you liked about being a submissive was turning over control so you could just feel while knowing that you would be protected.”

  She nodded.

  “What makes you feel the most protected?”

  “During a scene or outside of one?”

  “Either.”

  “Earlier today, after the kitchen island, when you took me to your bedroom. That made me feel safe and protected. I mean, I know it’s aftercare and you have to do it, but I felt so secure with you holding me. It was as if nothing else and no one else could touch me.”

  “It may be aftercare and I may do it regardless of the scene, but rest assured I got just as much out of holding you as you did.”

  “I never understood that part of being a Dominant.”

  “I can’t speak for every Dominant, but after a scene, I need to hold you. I need to feel you in my arms, so soft and satisfied and know that you’re okay. Know that we’re okay. When I hold you after a scene, it’s a way to reconnect and ensure our relationship grows. Plus, I’ve always found it’s easier to talk when you’re cuddled together.”

  “You don’t strike me as the cuddling type.”

  “Perhaps cuddle is the wrong word.”

  “I didn’t think you ever picked the wrong word,” she teased, watching him carefully over the rim of her wineglass.

  “All writers have editors.” He leaned back in his chair, enjoying the lighthearted conversation. “Let’s see. If I had to replace cuddle with another word, I’d say, ‘I’ve always found it’s easier to talk when you’re wrapped together skin-on-skin and so close your bodies speak in ways your mouth can’t.’”

  The wineglass she’d been drinking from was now suspended halfway between the table and her lips.

  “Sasha?” he asked.

  “Uh, what?” She put the glass down. “I got lost somewhere between skin-on-skin and mouth.”

  He laughed. It seemed it was always easier to laugh when Sasha was around. “I’ll help you clean up the kitchen and then we’ll see if we can find a movie to watch.”

  • • •

  She woke the next morning, not surprised to find the bed empty. He’d told her he was an early riser. What was surprising was that they hadn’t done anything the night before. When they made it to bed, he’d simply pulled her to him and whispered that they had plenty of time.

  She stretched, still feeling the slight aches and pains of the day before. He�
�d told her what her morning routine was to be, so she scurried out of bed, made it, and freshened up in the bathroom.

  Naked, she walked to the large picture window in the bedroom that overlooked the backyard. She took only a second to glance outside and in doing so, noticed Cole on the patio. Without looking to see if he was watching, she knelt down and started her new morning ritual of meditation.

  She’d never meditated before, but Cole had told her all he expected was for her to spend time in quiet reflection and he’d let her know when her time was up. That she could do.

  But on her knees, she discovered it was hard to still her mind. Numerous questions popped up, one after another: what were they going to do today, what was he doing outside, did she oversleep, what about breakfast?

  Switching tactics, she focused on her breathing and took a deep breath in and slowly let it out. In her mind, she heard Cole’s voice praising her, “Good girl.” After a few cycles, her body settled into the quiet peacefulness she’d anticipated. She focused on Cole and how excited she was to be with him for the next few weeks.

  The shuffle of footsteps worked their way into her consciousness. Cole was back; her time must be up. She waited in stillness for him to say something.

  But he continued moving silently and he came to a stop in front of her. His feet were bare. That was the only part of him she saw with her head down. And still he didn’t say anything.

  Finally, he moved. He shifted his feet so they were farther apart. In the next second, his jeans slid down around his ankles.

  That probably meant what she thought it meant, but would he want her to assume or wait for instructions? She clenched her fists in exasperation. She didn’t know because he didn’t tell her.

  He cupped her chin and lifted her head slightly so she was eye level with his erection. “Did you enjoy your quiet time this morning, little one?” he asked in a whisper.

  “Yes, Sir.” She licked her lips, hungry for the taste of him.

  “Elaborate.”

  “I first focused on my breathing and it was almost as if I heard you giving me instructions. Once my mind settled down, I was able to think about this week and seeing you. Serving you.”

  “And you still want to continue?”

  “Very much, Sir.”

  “Thank you, little one. I’m glad to hear that.” He shook first one leg and then the other, removing his pants completely. He grabbed a handful of hair and moved her head closer to his groin. “Show me.”

  She didn’t want to just give him a blow job, she wanted to lavish his cock with everything she felt at that moment. Tentatively, she placed her hands on his upper thighs and engulfed his length in her mouth. First taking him as deep as possible, then pulling away and swirling her tongue around his tip. With both hands, she worked the base.

  His fingers tightened, giving her hair a slight pulling. “Mmm, little one. That’s right. Worship that cock. Show me how much you love it. What it does to you.”

  His words of praise filled her with warmth. She took him down her throat and didn’t move, allowing him to enjoy the feeling of being inside her that way. With her whole being she paid homage to his cock using her lips, her tongue, her hands, and, most importantly, her mind.

  It had the desired effect on him. His breathing grew raspy and his fingers held an almost painful grip on her hair. He was close and she was ready. She wanted to taste the evidence of how much she’d turned him on.

  But right when she thought he was going to come, he stopped completely, and jerked out of her mouth. She dropped back so her butt rested on her heels and looked at his feet.

  “Eyes on me, little one. I do enjoy watching you swallow, but right now I’m going to come all over you. Lift your head higher. I’m not going to come on your face yet.”

  Damn. That meant he would eventually, right?

  She didn’t want to admit how much that thought turned her on.

  Once she’d lifted her head, he worked his erection and within seconds, he painted her chest and shoulders with his come. It felt feral kneeling before him as his release slid down her skin. She shouldn’t like it. She should be disgusted. But she wasn’t. She loved it. Loved that it was like he’d marked her. That he gave that part of him to her.

  He offered her a hand and helped her to her feet. “I’m going to enjoy eating breakfast with you wearing nothing but my collar and my spunk.”

  It was an unusual breakfast to say the least. Cole didn’t have her sit across from him at the table, the way she thought he would. He told her he wanted her in his lap and proceeded to feed her from his plate.

  “You really can’t cook?” he asked.

  She swallowed the bite of omelet she had in her mouth. “I really can’t.”

  “Nothing?”

  “Nothing.”

  “It’s not that big of a deal for me, but if you do want to enter into a Master/slave relationship at some point, there are Masters who require domestic service.”

  “I make a mean pot of coffee.”

  “You’re not that bad with tea, either.”

  “Thank you, Sir.”

  He held the glass of orange juice up to her lips and she took several sips.

  “Speaking of cooking,” Sasha said, “I’m having a package delivered here today. It’s perishable. If you let me know when it gets here, I’ll take care of it.”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “Is it food?”

  “Kinda. Julie told me about this site where they send you the ingredients and give you the recipe and supposedly it’s easy to fix.”

  “Really?”

  “I know it’s an area I need to work on. I totally forgot until you said something. I ordered it last week.”

  Before she could get her next sentence out, his lips were on hers and he was giving her a kiss that curled her toes and made her very aware she was naked in his lap.

  “You never stop surprising me,” he said. “How do you do that?”

  “I don’t know, but if I do it again, will I get another kiss?”

  “I’ll give you more than a kiss.”

  She decided she needed to work out different ways to surprise him.

  • • •

  The package was delivered shortly after lunch while Sasha was working on a writing assignment Cole had given her. He carried the box into the kitchen and then went to get her.

  He knocked on the door to the sunroom, where she sat writing. “Your package arrived, little one. If you need to go take care of it, you may finish the assignment later.”

  She glanced at the clock on the wall and then stood and walked to him, where she knelt. “Thank you, Sir. Is it okay with you if I start dinner?”

  “Of course. I look forward to whatever it is you’re making.”

  “It might be wiser to wait until you actually taste it, Sir.”

  He stroked her hair. “You took the initiative to work on an area you wanted to improve on. It wasn’t anything I requested or anything I would have required. You did it because you wanted to. No matter how it tastes, it’s going to be wonderful.”

  Did she have any idea how rare that was? For anyone to have that drive impressed him. For it to be a submissive woman he had feelings for? It blew his mind.

  He ran his thumb over her lips. “You may go to the kitchen, little one. And you may slip some clothes on.”

  She rose to her feet and kissed his cheek. “Thank you, Sir.”

  Yup. Mind blown.

  He waited until she made it to the kitchen before sitting down at a small desk he had in the living room. Doing so gave the illusion he was working, but in reality, it afforded him the opportunity to watch her.