Layla

by Claire Marta

  I don’t know what I’m going to do with this girl.

  I wasn’t planning on asking her to be my submissive. I did a lot of thinking on the drive from the club to here.

  I’ve seen the curiosity in her eyes whenever she works the main floor. It’s like she just can’t help but stare when something catches her eye.

  She was willing to sub for me. She’s brave. A bit clueless but brave. And I admire the hell out of that.

  I can’t stand her naiveté.

  Hopefully with me she can find not only confidence in her submission, but I can help her learn more about the real world as well. I don’t know if she’ll ever trust me with her story, but I’ll make sure whatever sheltered bubble she’s lived in won’t cause her undue harm in the future.

  Carol comes out of the bathroom with a small smile on her face. “She’s just lovely, sir. Try not to break her.”

  “No promises.”

  Carol rolls her eyes before cleaning up the remainders of our dinner. “Do you need anything else?”

  “No, thank you.”

  “Just give me a ring if you do.”

  “Of course. I don’t know what the girl’s normal schedule is, but please plan to have breakfast ready at the usual time. Something light, lots of fresh fruit.”

  “Very good.”

  Carol shuts the door behind her and I sit on the edge of the bed.

  I don’t know how long Layla needs to be in the bath, but I’ll be here for her when she’s ready.

  We’re done talking for the night. Starting tomorrow she’s going to be my submissive.

  What that means for the both of us remains to be seen.

  Layla

  I wake with a start. When the heck had I fallen asleep? Staring up through the water, the isolated haven still encompasses me. The cold temperature makes me shiver, the heat ebbed from it long ago.

  Slowly easing up, I emerge blinking the wetness from my eyes, droplets streaming down my shoulders from my wet hair. Has Thomas left me all this time? Flustered, I climb quickly from the tub grabbing a towel to dry myself. Normally I’d sleep in my heated tank. Here I don’t have the option.

  The clothes Thomas’s housekeeper left are a little long and I have to roll up the arms of the T-shirt and sweatpants. Hair wrapped in a towel, I walk into the bedroom.

  I find my new Dom sitting against the headboard.

  Golden eyes sweep over me from head to toe. Their intensity has goosebumps dancing up and down my skin.

  “Hi.” Lips tilting up I give him a shy smile. “I fell asleep...I’m sorry I left you waiting.”

  “I understand. It’s been a long evening.” He pats the bed next to him. “We have more things to discuss before I’m comfortable leaving it for the night.”

  Hands laced together, I pad towards the bed, my stomach making an odd little somersault as I settle myself next to him.

  “Do you have any questions about what you agreed to?”

  “No...not at the moment Master,” I reply, my mind still sluggish with sleep. “I’m sure I’ll voice them as I think of them though.”

  “Good. I expect you to be as open and honest with me as I will be with you. Do you understand everything we discussed?”

  Nodding, I’m aware of the weight of the towel wrapped around my damp hair. “Yes, I think so.”

  “If that changes, tell me. Are you tired?”

  My smile is shy. “Sorry, with the early classes I take, studying, then work, I tend to collapse when I finally stop for the night, which is usually just past dawn. Then I get to sleep until eleven before I’m up and on the go again.”

  He shifts so he’s looking at me head-on. “Never apologize for needing a basic necessity. And we will talk about your schedule at a later time. That does not sound healthy for such a young girl.”

  Dropping his gaze which is gleaming with slight disapproval, I fidget with the end of my top. “I have bills to pay. Running a mermaid size tank in my rented apartment isn’t cheap especially keeping it heated. If I want to make something of myself I need to pass the courses I’m on. I don’t intend to work at the club for eternity. I have plans. Dreams. I’m going to make something of myself.”

  Thomas sets a large, warm hand on my thigh. “Settle, nymph. No need to get so defensive. I do not appreciate your tone. There are ways to explain yourself to me, that is not it. Also, is there something wrong with working at the club?”

  “Well, no...but I don’t really see it going anywhere. I’m not exactly management material. Cleaning up after scenes and sterilizing sex toys is not on my list of life achievements. Don’t get me wrong. I love being in the club. The atmosphere. Getting to watch. I just sometimes wish it was because I was a member rather than an employee. With the exclusive membership and fee, it’s never going to be possible, not with what I’m earning.”

  “We wouldn’t be able to do our jobs without the support staff. It’s a well-oiled machine, nymph. Don’t sell yourself short.

  “Have you tried talking to Adam about membership? While he doesn’t handle that part of the business, I am more than sure he’d help you with reduced fees, since you’re an employee.

  “You have yet to apologize for your tone, nymph. Don’t tell me you’re looking for a punishment already?”

  Oh goddess, does he want to punish me already? Squirming on the mattress, heat scolds my cheeks. “I’m sorry, Master, I didn’t mean to offend you with my tone.”

  “Don’t let it happen again. You won’t get off so easily next time. Now, sleep. It’s been a long night. We can continue in the morning.”

  Hesitating, I don’t move from my spot waiting to see what move he makes first. He mentioned a spare room. Do I find it myself or does he expect me to share his bed? The thought of cuddling up to Thomas does strange things to my insides, sending liquid warmth low in my groin.

  “Get rid of the towel and lay down. Since you never made a decision, I’m making one for you. You’ll sleep in here for tonight. We’ll reevaluate the next time you stay.”

  I can do this. I can do this. The words chant through my head as I remove the towel, quickly giving my green hair a vigorous rub until its partially dry. He said he doesn’t eat sushi. Doesn’t eat my kind. I’m going to be perfectly safe. Discarding the towel, I scoot backward over the bed, diving beneath the blankets to lay on my side.

  My mind is racing a million miles a minute scattering my tiredness to the tides. Oh goddess what if he snores? Does he sleep naked? Even worse, what if he shifts in his sleep? The thought of waking up in bed with a large scaly lizard has me tucking my legs up into my chest.

  “Relax, Layla. Go to sleep now. You’ll feel better when you wake.” Thomas gets under the blankets, making sure to leave plenty of space between us.

  When the light flicks off I stare into the darkness with wide-open eyes wishing for once I had night vision. The blanket is a weight I’m not used to along with the clothes which suddenly feel itchy. Would he stay at my place? I have a bed but I don’t use it often. He could use it while I’m in my tank among my fish. I can’t imagine Thomas among my things. My world is cluttered and his seems to be filled with order. Is this arrangement going to work?

  Moving restlessly, I’m hyper-aware of the man on the other side of the mattress. The sound of his breathing. Every tiny movement he makes. It feels like forever before my eyelids droop. The last thing I’m aware of as I slip into sleep is a heavy sigh escaping into the stillness of the room.

  Thomas

  The girl is terrified. We might have an arrangement, but we know nothing of each other. This is not how I wanted to acquire a new submissive.

  She’s so timid, so innocent, so naïve.

  It took her forever to fall asleep last night. As I watch her slumber, I make note of how young she looks. If I were a better man I’d leave her alone, but I’m not.

  I hope when she wakes she isn’t as timid. Once she realizes nothing bad happened to her during the night. I don’t have to be a mind
reader to know what the thoughts circling her head were. It’s amusing to watch as she tries to run through every possible scenario and horrible thing that could happen.

  I send Carol a text, asking her to start breakfast a bit early and to add some more hearty selections to the meal. My little nymph is in need of guidance, in more ways than one. She’s slight with curves, but it also seems like she doesn’t take the best care of herself. Not with the ridiculous amount of things she has on her schedule each week.

  I’m reading the news on my phone when the girl stirs. Her body shifts a bit and I glance over at her as her eyes flutter before opening fully.

  “Good morning, nymph. Breakfast will be done in about half an hour. We’ll be eating on the patio today. I’ll have Carol bring you up some clean clothes if you wish to shower before then.”

  Her languid stretch freezes at the sound of my voice. Turning her head, her blue eyes widen at the sight of me. “Oh...hi...erm.”

  “Thomas will be fine for this morning. If you have questions or concerns about last night you know how to start that type of conversation. I, personally, would like some caffeine in my system before we have any type of heavy discussion, however.”

  Layla stares up at me with a look of trepidation. “I read somewhere caffeine can raise blood pressure and the risk of heart attacks, not that you’ve got that to worry about I guess being a….well...being immortal.” She babbles.

  My dragon rolls his eyes, but I give her a patient look. “Do you have a problem with what I am?” I ask. “I want you to say it. It’s okay, you can call me a dragon. I am, you won’t be offending me or anything ridiculous. And yes, I don’t have to worry about human afflictions because I am not human.

  “Do you not drink caffeine? We might have decaf tea somewhere if not. I don’t drink coffee, but I love tea.”

  “Tea...tea is perfectly fine, thank you. And I have no problem saying serpent.” Her nose wrinkles when she realizes what she’s said. “Winged dinosaur? Lizard? Fire-breathing beast?”

  I have to hold myself back from snapping at her. “I am not a snake, thank you very much. If you can’t say dragon please do not refer to me as a fucking serpent.” Throwing the covers off I get out of bed. “Get up. There’s something I want to do with you before we eat.”

  She stares at me wide-eyed.

  “I won’t tell you again. There are toiletries on the counter, please be downstairs in ten minutes or less.”

  I leave the room for the guest bathroom. It takes all of my self-control to not drag her out of bed. This girl gets under my skin like no one else.

  Dressed and seated at the dining table, she arrives with a few minutes to spare. She’s showered. The smell of something scented teases my nostrils. Head bowed, she scurries to join me at the table, seating herself daintily on the chair.

  “I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to upset you.” She says quietly. “I just never expected to meet someone like you. Saying what you are makes it real. My kind hasn’t had the best history with yours. I’m worried if I say it I’ll jinx this whole thing we’ve started.”

  “I understand. But where I have decided to forget that sordid past, you have not. I suggest you make your peace with it, Layla. If this is going to work we can’t beat around the bush here. We already had that discussion. We can have it again if need be. Just not now.” Standing I give her a look. “I would appreciate it if you keep yourself under control.”

  Walking away from the table I stand in the middle of the yard. Unlike other types of shifters, I don’t need to remove my clothing for this. The magic of my being is just stepping into one form from another, she should consider herself lucky. I can only imagine how she would react seeing me naked.

  Within seconds I go from a man to a dragon. The yard is large enough that there’s room to spare when I take on my dragon form. My long black tail whips around my back legs as I study the stunned girl at the table.

  Layla’s breath stops in her lungs and I hear her holding a breath. Eyes round as saucers, she sits deathly still. Prey caught in a predator's glare. We remain like that for several minutes. The color ebbs and flows in her cheeks but she doesn’t blink. She reminds me of a possum playing dead.

  Crouching low to the ground, I tilt my head and wave a wing, hoping to entice her to take a few steps closer.

  I can smell her fear and it makes me want to breathe some flames to see what other types of reactions I can evoke in her, but I beat the primal urges back. This is meant to get her more comfortable with me, not scare her off.

  Layla’s fingers on one hand finally twitch. Creeping slowly, it crawls up to circle her neck in a nervous gesture. “You...I mean you...big...really big...and those scales…” She whispers.

  I huff out a laugh, smoke escaping my nostrils. She jumps a bit in her seat, making me laugh more. Oh, she’s so much fun to play with.

  I wave my wing again. Taking a risk I open my jaws, exposing the teeth of a predator, but also tasting more of her fear...and her curiosity in the air.

  Layla

  Thomas stands proudly, his scales gleaming in the morning sunlight. I’m having a hard time trying to breathe through the building panic attack as I take him in. His beauty isn’t lost on me. I’ve never seen anything so magnificent. He puts my tail and my own shimmering scales to shame.

  Watching his jaws widen, I see the rows of deadly white teeth. Oh goddess. I can just imagine them ripping through flesh and crunching bone. His claws could cleave through a whale.

  Thomas’s size makes me feel so small and vulnerable. A tiny mouse to the beast before me.

  How can I not be frightened?

  Releasing a shaky breath, my heart pounds in my chest. If he was going incinerate me he would have done it by now I reason.

  A puppy.

  That’s it, I’ll just pretend he’s a puppy.

  Feet edging forward, I take a step towards him. Big black, cute dog, with a long scaly tail.

  Raising a shaking hand, I hold it out in front of me. Just pet him on his head. I try not to think about the jaws that could rip off my arm.

  My breathing changes into short, sharp pants. No. No. Can’t do this. He’s not going to feel all fuzzy and fluffy.

  The head moves closer to me until only an inch of space separates us. Large eyes blink at me and one of the leathery wings flaps again. My whole body shakes. Closing my eyes, I thrust my hand forward and touch him.

  Smooth scales graze my palm. Warmth. They're bigger than mine but in some ways feel the same. Keeping my touch light, I skim it along his snout. Thomas remains still. I think he knows that if he makes any sudden movements it will send me screaming back into the house.

  It’s not so bad I realize. A fraction of my terror drains away. Circling along the side, I avoid his teeth and caress up towards his forehead.

  Thomas shifts with me, a rumbled growl vibrating his body. It freezes me in place, but I realize he’s content. His head lowers more so I can touch as much of him as possible.

  He is kind of like a puppy. A hysterical giggle escapes me and I have to press my lips tightly together to keep the rest of it contained. Curious now, I take in the rest of him. Shapely wings, sturdy legs, a long body that dips to a lethal pointed tail. Tilting my head to look under him I check to see if something else is well proportioned for his size.

  As if realizing what I’m doing Thomas changes his stance, spreading his legs and lifting his body so I can get a good view of his underbelly. Catching sight of his massive scaly manhood my face flames with red.

  “Oh my goddess, that...that should be illegal! It a weapon not a….” Gaze snapping up, I keep it on the sky above us. “That thing is terrifying.”

  He huffs out more smoke and his whole body shakes...is he laughing at me?

  “Well it is!” I tell him. “Your females must be very brave to want to have that stuck anywhere and enjoy it.” Changing my caressing to a scratch I draw my fingernails gently over his skin.

  He leans into the touc
h. He’s so responsive. My terror hasn’t dissipated, but I’m enchanted by this beast and how he’s more than I ever thought he would be.

  “This isn’t as terrifying as I thought it would be.” I admit in our one-sided conversation. “It’s kind of surreal. I’m not sure though if that’s something to do with the feeling of lightheadedness I’m experiencing or the fact I’m still in shock at the size of your...well you know. I mean I know it’s big in human form from when you whipped it out in the playroom when you caught me...” Voice trailing off I realize where my babbling is taking me. “Maybe I should go sit down.”

  Hand dropping from his head, I turn to go back into the house. Sitting sounds like a really good idea right now.

  “Stop,” the human Thomas commands.

  Looking behind me I find a fully shifted Thomas standing in the yard, arms crossed over his chest. “We’re eating out here, remember? I highly suggest you sit at the table so we can discuss what just happened.”

  Moving to the table I keep my head bent. It’s odd but I kind of like the non-verbal dragon more than the broody Dom. The thought strikes me out of nowhere. Get a grip Layla I tell myself. Just because he let you pet him doesn’t mean he’s not still something that could prove deadly.

  “Settle, nymph. I’ll inform Carol it’s time to bring the food out, then we’ll have a nice talk and a nice meal.” Thomas moves across the yard with confident strides. I let out a breath when he disappears into the house for a few moments.

  Once he’s seated at the table with me he studies me intently. “How do you feel about my nature now?”

  “Apart from having a mini heart attack, I think I coped quite well. You were definitely bigger than I imagined and smoother...” I pull a face at the fruit expertly arranged on the platter in front of us. Not my normal breakfast but I’ll find some sushi when I leave for my place.

  “You did cope, extremely well. That was not what I asked, though. Do you feel more comfortable in my presence now?” He loads up both of our plates with fruit, toast, and eggs.