by Lucian Bane
She slowly pursed her lips and shrugged her shoulders thinking. “That it’s holy?”
“Yes, but more than that! It came from there! What is older? Our idea of D/s or the Bible?!”
“Ah, right. So you’re saying that—”
“That GOD is the one that came up with the D/s! Holy shit. That’s why Preacher said he’s the Master of the D/s. He meant the fucking author of it.” He gasped, staring before him. He finally realized a disheartening thing then. “But how the hell does that help me with my schedule?”
He let his head fall back with a groan before jerking it back forward and grabbing his phone.
“You’re calling him?”
“He said I could.” He answered almost right away. “Preacher!”
“Baaaaane, so soon. I know you didn’t read the Bible already.”
“Not the Bible, no, you said marriage in the New Testament. I Googled it.”
“You sound excited.”
“Well, I am.”
“About what?”
He choked on incredulity. “I’m a little floored to find the D/s relationship in those pages man, but it’s there. Not word for word but the concept is there. The only difference is the Dom has a Dom.”
“Yep, you got it Bane. I knew you would.” His rough voice sounded deeper than normal. Like he might have been sleeping. “And how does that make you feel?”
Lucian didn’t have to consider that very long. “I like it!”
“Of course you do. God designed you to like it.”
“But man… I’m like still lost as to what I’m supposed to actually teach. I mean I get that the bible supports it but that isn’t helping me know what to teach; that’s what I need and I need it pretty quick.”
“Core principals Bane. What’s the core principal of the D/s?”
“Love,” Lucian said without thought.
“Not just any kind of love. But selfless love. It becomes all about her needs and desires. And for her, it becomes all about your needs and desires. You see what I’m saying, Bane?”
“I do. Unselfish love is the foundation. Got it.”
“That is what they need to learn. It’s going to be the answer to every problem they face. And what’s the enemy of unselfish love?”
“Selfish love?”
“Bingo. Nearly any and every problem in a relationship can be traced to selfishness. And you know the solution.”
“Okay, so I teach them about unselfish love.”
“Correct. Now go Google the definition of love in the New Testament to find out what you need to teach them.”
“Okay, on it. Can I call you if I need still?”
“Can you wait till the chickens wake up at least?”
“What time is it there?”
“Two-thirty a.m.”
“Ouch, sorry,” he whispered.
“Google. Goodnight. Say hello to the wife.”
“Will do.”
“Hey,” Tara hurried. “Tell Becca hi for me.”
“Tara says tell Becca hi. Night.”
Lucian hung up and opened the laptop again.
“Now what?”
“Google love in the New Testament.” Lucian’s fingers flew over the keyboard and he popped the enter button with his pinky. “Boom, here’s something: ‘Love is patient, kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres!’ Damn!” Lucian said, excited. “That is exactly how I feel about it with you! I’m patient—except when you take too long to have sex—I’m kind. I don’t envy you—except when you’re having an orgasm, baby, you look like you’re having such a fucking good time,” he burst out laughing. “But at least I don’t boast. Shit, except when I do you good, I can’t help it. It’s just the truth though, I’m not really bragging! Lucian continued comparing. “‘Love isn’t proud’…” he laughed at himself. “I’m so fucking proud when you orgasm! Oh my God,” he said. “The more I compare myself, the more I realize that by definition I’m hating your fucking guts!”
Tara stared up at him with a smile that caught at his heart.
“What?”
“You’re so happy about this stuff.”
He thought about it a moment. “Yeah. I am. Not sure why, but I am.”
She leaned her head on his arm again then stifled a yawn. Lucian put the computer away.
“I have plenty to sleep on, that’s for sure.” He scooted under the covers. “Please pray that I figure out how to put these classes together baby.” He pulled her into his body for a tight spooning.
“Okay,” she murmured.
He kissed the back of her head and stroked the hair along her face. “I’m going to be the best husband, and dad, watch me.”
“And now you get to be all holy too. Cake and eating.”
“You’re so tired.”
“Mmmm,” she barely murmured.
“I love you.”
“Love you,” she whispered, snuggling into him more.
Lucian draped his leg over her hip and resisted the urge to press his cock into her. It was very hard. So very hard.
In the morning. First thing. Nice and slow.
Chapter Seven
First day of class. Finally. They’d built the residence in record time, at least to Lucian it seemed fast. They built on piers since a slab would require too long to wait. Week one, they had the ground ready. Week two the ten-man crew framed the entire structure and had it blacked in. By the end of week four, the painters were getting ready. Amazing. Since they were hooking to Gramma’s home, it saved them a lot of time and by six weeks, they were ready to start classes.
“You look so handsome,” Tara said as he fretted over two different shirts while standing in only his black briefs. “The black long-sleeve, definitely. Shows off your muscles and dominance. And blue jeans for sure.” She stroked her fingers over his chest and leaned to cover his nipple with her mouth, hands raking hungry along his back and cock now.
“Baby,” he gasped, getting insanely hard.
She moaned and drew away. “I’m so horny,” she whispered, sounding desperate. “Maybe just a quick one?”
“Oh my God, class is at seven! It’s six and I need to go over stuff.” He embraced her, hating to deny her that ever. “I love that you seem to want me twenty-four seven, but I need your help to focus in this.”
“Okay, okay.” She pushed out of his arms and he resisted. “I’ll need to not be close enough to smell, touch, or taste you in order to comply with that. Talk to the hormones.”
He let her go and eyed the adorable swell of her belly in the long sleeved clingy white top. Her tits had fucking doubled in size and though he loved her small breasts, having them get full for their baby was one of the strangest turn-ons he’d ever experienced. Even her cute ass in those pregger-jeans was fuller, and that drove him some kind of crazy.
Blue jeans and a long sleeve ribbed shirt for him. Much easier than dressing up.
“Okay so run me down on these couples again.”
She sat on the love seat before their amazing four poster, king-size bed that he loved fucking her in. “Four couples. One: Vicky and Darrel. She’s my age; he’s twice hers, ew. They have two kids, a boy nine; girl, six.” She ticked off on her finger, looking up. “He’s a janitor at the high school. She’s a stay at home mother.
“Second couple: Jessica and Tom. Tom has worked the window at the Farmer’s Merchant bank for years. He’s my age also and a really nice guy. Jessica’s that semi-nice red-haired waitress at the diner. They have three kids—two boys and a girl—all a spitting image of their mother, ages twelve, six, and two.
“Your memory is astonishing,” Lucian said, truly amazed as he worked his watch on.
She gave a flippant shrug. “Our third couple is Lauren and Ricky. Ricky I went to schoo
l with, Lauren I don’t know a whole lot about. Ricky seemed really sweet in school, quiet. What?” she said, looking at him.
Lucian realized his lip was quirked. “Just all the… ‘went to school with him, he’s sweet blah blah blah’ stuff.”
She snorted and smiled. “I haven’t seen him in years really and he was very geeky.”
“Uh-huh,” Lucian nodded, not convinced as he pulled his shirt on.
“Anyway, Ricky works at the mill. They’re the ones with the one deaf child, a four-year-old girl.”
“I remember. And the wife?”
“Lauren is an out of towner, don’t know much about her. Yet. Except that she was really excited about the classes.”
“Got it. And last one?” He splatted a little cologne on him.
“Hannah and Boyd. I know both of them.”
“She’s the one you don’t like?”
“Right. Total bitch in school. And Boyd wasn’t any better.”
“Geez, don’t remind me. I can’t afford to go psycho on one of the students. Just give me the gist, the other stuff.”
A soft knock sounded at the door. “Thirty minutes.”
“Thanks Steve,” Lucian called. “Coming.” He walked over to Tara and pulled her up, kissing her.
“Don’t start something you can’t finish,” she warned breathless after he slipped her some tongue.
He set her before him. “First class is only two hours. Now tell me the rest.” Lucian sat with his black socks and began putting them on.
“Boyd works as a manager at the Post Office, and Hannah is a ballet teacher.” He eyed her at hearing sarcasm in ballet. “They have no children and are the town’s prized couple.”
“I know most of the couples joined for the pay but there were a few that had to be bribed with the dirty secret.”
“Yes, and they are one.”
He propped his hands on his legs. “The drug problem?”
“Both of them. Went to rehab in another city under the guise of a long vacation.”
Lucian didn’t get that. “I mean to me that’s honorable that they got help.”
“Yyyyeah, not in this town. Once you do the crime, you will never quit doing the time.”
“How sad,” he muttered, slipping his shoes on next. “Who else did we have to use the threat with?”
“Red,” Tara said.
“And why again?”
Tara rolled her eyes. “Something about jealousy.”
“Jealousy? He’s jealous?”
“You would think,” she said incredulous, “but no, her.”
Lucian stood and put his wallet in his pocket, not remembering that. “Her? Why?”
“Another good question.”
“That you know the answer to and aren’t saying, why are you doing that? Fucking pisses me off.”
“Because it’s stupid.”
“Oh? Do tell.” Lucian already knew now. Fucker liked her.
“Tom had a crush on me in high school. It was a geeky crush though. I was a bean pole.” She shot a finger in the air for emphasis.
“Yeah? And look at you now,” Lucian said, not happy.
“Yes, look at me. Married to the most handsome man in the world, and pregnant. And getting fatter by the day,” she added.
“Fatter? More like more edible by the fucking day. You don’t know what you do to men Tara. But I know.” He nodded a lot, pointing to himself, “I know. And I can tell you now,” he warned. “I will not tolerate the least indication of that dude being inappropriate, especially since he’s married, no good motherfucker. You’re laughing?”
She nodded, howling now. “Listen to you! You act like he’s guilty before you know anything.”
“Oh he is. They all are. Glad you find that so hysterical.”
She finally said, “You don’t have to worry. The dirt we have on them is actually on Red. She’s had an affair and it’s no doubt why she’s so jealous.”
Lucian relaxed a little at that news. “And he doesn’t know?”
She shook her head with wide eyes, making Lucian feel much better while disliking the woman. “And the other couples are here for the money.”
“Yep.” She tucked her fingers into the front of her jean pockets. “Nothing like being paid twenty-five hundred dollars to take relationship classes.”
Lucian sighed. “Let’s go get class ready. Susan was getting food prepared last I checked.” He pulled Tara in his arms again. “I’m so fucking nervous, it’s ridiculous,” he said, agitated.
“Listen to me,” she said. “Look at me.”
Lucian gazed down into her face.
“I want you to remember who you are. Remember the man you were when we met? That man. The man that said I’m going to marry that woman.” She angled her head, squinting one eye. “Did you really say that?”
He grinned and put his forehead to hers. “Not marry, no. Kiss.” He pecked her lips. “Then after I kissed you, I said, ‘I’m going to have this woman.’” He shook his head against hers a little. “But I had no idea at the time what you were doing to me.”
She smiled against his lips. “What was I doing?”
“Besides driving me crazy, you were leading me out of a very dark part of my life.” He closed his eyes, remembering. “I remember it so clearly. Knowing I needed something but not knowing what it was. An emptiness inside that was devouring me. It was the Tara void. And you came and filled it.”
“And do you know what you did for me?”
“What?” he asked, needing to hear it again.
“You dominated all my demons. Conquered every single one of them. One at a time, one after another. And these classes? This is nothing compared to that, don’t you think?”
He nodded with closed eyes, kissing at her lips again.
“Not to mention, these couples need help learning how to love each other. Be happy. Like me and you?”
He cupped her face and looked at her. “You’re so right. And so sweet to think of others. And you think I can do this?” He wondered that against her lips now.
She held his face tight. “I know without a doubt that you can. You taught me, didn’t you?”
“You taught me.”
“We taught each other,” she said back. “We’ll teach them how too?”
He paused. “When you put it that way…” he glided his hands along her back, avoiding her ass so as not to arouse her more than she was, “… I feel much better. Seems less… intimidating.”
“Just be who you are baby,” she whispered. “You may not realize but you’re a remarkable man and I’m not just saying that because I’m madly in love with you. You really are.”
“God,” he pecked at her lips. “We better get out of this room before I lose control.”
“Jesus,” she gasped, pulling away, fanning her face. “Those words are flammable Mr. Bane.”
Lucian led Tara downstairs at fifteen minutes till show time. Steve stood at the window, watching for the first couple, dressed in his usual dark suit clothes. He made his way to him while Tara went help Susan with final touches.
Steve turned at seeing him. “You’re ready?” he asked.
“No, but I don’t have a choice, do I?”
Steve put a hand on his upper shoulder, that helpful gleam lighting his blue gaze. “Remember, this is just the intro. You’re saying hello, you’re introducing the course to them. Grazing over each topic.” He slid his hand smoothly across the air. “Susan and I will help guide the questions too, don’t worry, we’ve practiced. And then you have your packets all ready to be handed out that covers the course.” He gestured with that same grace toward the desks. “That’s the first hour. Questions will be asked then. The second hour will sort of be the first class.”
“Who did you marry?” Lucian said. “Got it.”
“Exactly. We’ll all talk about that, they’ll leave and do their homework over the weekend and return Tuesday to check answers and get their next assignment. Wash, rinse, repeat.�
� He gave him a firm nod with the soft words and Lucian wanted to just bear hug him.
“Got it. You’re right.”
“And look,” Steve pointed behind him. Lucian turned. “I wrote the outline on the white board. All you have to do is go over each, and bam, you’re done.” Steve patted him on the arm just as lights flashed outside and shattered all the confidence Steve had just instilled in him.
Fuck, this was ridiculous. Why was he still so nervous? This wasn’t him; this wasn’t who he usually was. Where the fuck was his dominant backbone? He glanced at Tara who waved at him with a shy smile and suddenly Lucian was propelled back in time to that moment he’d first met her in line at Dom Wars. That instinct and dominant urge to protect her came rushing back, reminding him of who he was at his core. He was a Dom. A protector. And she was his sub. His wife.
But it was different now. The confidence he’d had at first meeting her was not the same, it had morphed into something he wasn’t familiar with. Not a bad something, just different.
Tara’s hand stroked along her belly, caressing their unborn child, and Lucian felt that different thing rising up to be defined. It was much bigger, more powerful. Lucian winked at her when she looked his way again. And it was in that second he put his finger on it. His dominance was still there, but it was reinforced with…purpose…yes. Tethered with reason and that reason was life. Her life. His life, Their child’s life. And the immense weight of that impossible gift… was fucking terrifying. Before when he’d fight, it was fuck it if he lost. Nothing mattered anyway. But now… now he was a husband and a father. The game pieces weren’t sacrificial and the win wasn’t negotiable. It was the weight of that risk that rattled his psyche and being.
Lucian took a deep breath, feeling the knowledge of this revelation giving him what he needed. And wow, was it powerful. Like a connoisseur of dominance, he stroked the thick mane on that noble beast inside him, his fingers instinctively digging deep for a commanding hold. The awe of what flowed through him stilled the restless inside his mind all the way to his soul until who he’d become stood exactly before him, face to face.
Lucian was no longer just a Dom. He was the man that dominated every-fucking-thing—especially himself—for the woman he loved, his wife. His child. His family. He’d become what he’d always dreamed of. A righteous warrior, an alpha hero.
