Panicked fear that he would leave me unfinished consumed my thoughts. As I fought to escape the magnitude of emotions, I begged, “Please, let me…take me…I promise…”
“You’ll behave, Tia. Do you understand?”
I whimpered my acknowledgment without actually using any words, and he finally settled his movement on my clit. It didn’t take long. With a hard pinch, he said, “Now, Tia. Now you can come.”
I cried as the intensity poured out of my core in giant surges of pleasure. Restrained by his magic and controlled by his soul, all decisions were taken from me. I focused every part of my brain on the electrical firestorm to ride his punishment to the end.
****
In the bedroom and in his presence, Zane’s dominance was easy. I clearly belonged to him in every way possible. Our souls were tied together in the most intimate connection. I drew breath through his movement, and my desire to please him often overtook my reasoning.
While the thought brought me incredible comfort, a small part of me still struggled. This wasn’t the world I’d planned when I stood my ground after high school and demanded the independent move to New York. I may have been struggling on my own, but at least I’d had control over my life and my future.
Emily found me deep in my thoughts and mistook contemplation for unhappiness over the spanking. “I’m sorry you got into trouble. I shouldn’t have talked you into buying so much.”
She was my friend, but loyalty to my mate made me unwilling to discuss any doubts about our relationship. I also had to accept personal responsibility for my poor credit card choices.
I dismissed her concerns. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
That afternoon, Emily and I watched a talk show host interview partners who’d recovered from abusive relationships. I worked on a jigsaw puzzle with only half an ear to the show when Emily said quietly, “Zane can be horrible, I don’t know how you put up with it. You must have the patience of a saint, but you do have options, you know. Everybody does.”
Forcing a calmness to avoid Zane’s detection of my nerves, I listened with growing trepidation as the TV host interviewed men who beat their wives. Emily sent me a nod of understanding, and my heart missed a beat. The idea somebody saw me as an abuse victim was far from comforting. I didn’t feel like a second-class partner in a dynamic relationship, but suddenly submissiveness seemed very confusing.
We turned our attention to the television as women described their experiences with one frightening consistency. They thought they were doing the right thing by staying with their abusers.
My confusion grew that night when I asked Zane to see the mortifying credit card bill. Other than the few books and movies that he’d approved, there was nothing I really wanted or needed.
The month spent hitting purchase now with wild abandon was an action reminiscent of an age long past. The realization I’d acted with no regard to the future made me feel like a selfish child, just like the teaching degree that I didn’t want.
Zane read my emotions and pulled me close.
“I’m really sorry,” I apologized with sincerity. “I…I just wasn’t thinking it all through.”
He rubbed my back. “It’s fine, Tia. Your restraint will continue to develop as your powers grow. It’s all over, and I am sure you won’t do it again.”
I dreamt of Zane that night. Back in New York, I lived my uncertain life and watched money fly around the room. Tremendous guilt consumed me with every dollar and credit card that flew out an open window, but I couldn’t stop it. It was Zane who closed the window. He held me in his arms and all the guilt left me. It didn’t take a psychology major to recognize the simple symbolism.
When I woke, my body was firmly tucked into his, and we rested peacefully in our bedroom in California. “Don’t worry,” he murmured in a half-awake state. “It is going to be fine. I’ll take care of you.”
Connected to his strength, I drifted back to a blissful sleep with no guilt or regret.
The next day, I waited by the pool for Kiyo, whose goal for the day was to torment me with swimming lessons. I hated to put my face in the water, and the challenge filled me with anxiety despite everyone’s insistence that magical powers made swimming easy.
Emily dropped a few extra towels by the poolside. “Are you feeling better?”
I responded politely, “I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”
She busied herself with straightening a deck chair before she whispered in a gentle tone that kept me calm. “My father would help you find the freedom that you’ve lost. He’s amazing and supportive, and he’s also very powerful. We could travel to him right now if you want to end this and regain your life. Zane would never find you.”
The possibility left me shocked, and I stared for a second. Confronted with the first life choice since leaving New York, Isabella’s conversation about successful relationships was the first thing that came to my mind.
I wasn’t an abuse victim. Zane had whacked my ass a few times, but I honestly had to admit my rampages usually deserved it and guilt was settled when he was done.
The effect his stinging palm had on that dance between my legs was a welcome cornerstone to our relationship. I found comfort in his embrace, in this lifestyle, and in our communication, and that was clearly the true meaning of a successful relationship.
The gift of control to a soul who was so closely connected to my own really did complete me. I had no desire to leave Zane, and my response was easy. “Thanks, but this is the life I’ve chosen. I don’t feel like I’ve given anything up. I’ve just gained a great deal.”
I left Emily and joined Kiyo in the pool to master my fear of water.
Chapter Eleven
I saw more of Zane in California than I did in the nursery, but he was still away from home more often than I liked. As my small world grew even smaller, I became bored with my training, bored with my restrictions, and bored with the beautiful house.
With genuine sympathy, Zane took me to a few movies and out to dinner at a nice restaurant, but he remained nervous about my safety. Simon and Kiyo sat a few seats away, and I recognized a few other powerful guards on full alert near doorways and windows.
It was temporary fun, but the short-term solution did little to satisfy my need for something different. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t hide the inevitable frustration from my mate.
I was thrilled when he finally conceded, “If you stop whining, I’ll take you to my office, but you’ll have to come as your symbol. I can’t have my mate sitting around on the couch all day.”
With a frown, I asked, “Do I have to worry about a demon eating me?”
“I work with many humans, but you’ll also be surrounded by trusted members from our coven and their powers will help protect you. Just remain alert, and you’ll sense any danger before you even see it.”
When the promised day came, I felt like a little kid on the way to the circus. Our driver and Simon occupied the front seat, but I rode happily in the back by my mate’s side. The California sunshine enveloped the rocky Pacific coast in a fresh display of shiny color while I resisted the urge to hang my doggie head out the window to enjoy the view.
When the greater Los Angeles traffic got a little heavy, I sent a silent question. “Why do you even bother with a car? Can’t you just portal to work?”
Zane smirked. “Humans expect their boss to show up in something a little more…traditional.”
He was elegantly dressed in an expensive designer suit, and the thought that my well-tailored master would not receive my canine affection as well as my human devotion did not readily occur to me.
To make use of his commute, he was busy with phone calls and emails, but I completely ignored requests to stay off his lap so he didn’t get covered with dog hair. When I delivered gooey wet kisses, I continued to miss the warning signs that signaled the end of his patience.
I was startled to change back to my naked human form even though I didn’t do it.
“Hey, how did that happen?”
Zane added his all too familiar glare. “I am your master, Tia. And even if you’re in your symbolic state, you will remember your place, especially in public. When I give you an order, you will do what you’re told, or you will suffer the consequences. I told you not to crawl all over me.”
When done with the finger pointing lecture, he pulled me over his previously off-limits lap and paddled my naked butt. There was nothing sensual about his spanking, and I howled.
When Simon turned around and smirked, I snapped, “Shut up, asshole.”
Unfortunately, Zane might have thought I meant him and a hairbrush materialized in his hand. The first application of plastic to the already established pathway to my brain caught my sore butt on fire.
I tried to pacify his need to correct me. “I was talking to Simon, ow…Zane. Not you. Ow…fuck… He’s laughing at me.”
Five more stinging swats covered my bottom for the lapse in vocabulary and the scolding continued. “You won’t call anybody names. Am I understood? And you will behave. Otherwise, you can go home with Simon right now.”
“Fine, fine,” I pleaded. “I’ll be good. Just stop spanking me.”
Despite my vulnerable position, I mumbled, “I don’t know why Simon has to come anyway. I don’t need him when you’re around.”
Zane let me up with a last spank to my butt. “I need him to take you home when you get bored. You will get bored, and we both know it.”
“Well, why can’t he be a flea or a tick or something? That big hulk is an ugly pain,” I said with a touch of bitterness.
Simon turned around. “I won’t even justify that with a remark, Tia. If you’re going to be mean, I won’t talk to you.”
“Fine, I won’t talk to you either.”
“Stop it, both of you,” growled my angry master. “Tia, I’ve already told you that if you don’t mind Simon, I will paddle you myself. That includes respecting him. Can you do that, or should he take you home and confine you to your room the rest of the day?”
I’d received the solitary confinement punishment more than once in the past few months, and it really sucked. “I’ll be good. I promise. Just give me one more chance.”
“Change back, then,” he said. “These are humans and in your symbolic state, you are my pet. No growling, no biting, and no whining. If somebody wants to pet you, you’ll let them.”
Zane’s headquarters took up the entire floor of an impressive modern office complex. I walked by his side without a leash, but a shiny red leather collar with diamond studs showed the world that I was important. The encouraging grins from strangers returned some of the fun after my scolding. Negotiating an escalator with four legs was the only challenge I faced, so I just sat and cried until Simon grumbled and picked me up.
When we got to the corner office suite, my canine-self was an immediate success with Zane’s personal secretaries.
“Mr. Holland,” one of them bubbled. “You didn’t tell us that you had a dog.”
His human assistants were very beautiful and so much alike that I had trouble remembering which one was Margaret and which one was Cynthia. An easy glimpse into their thoughts made it clear that they were no threat to me or Zane, and I relaxed under their attention.
Zane introduced me. “Her name is Tia. She is very spoiled, so don’t let her get away with anything in here.”
One of the blonde secretaries laughed, “I thought Tia was your wife’s name?”
His response was smooth. “Yes, that’s how I met my wife. This one was misbehaving and took off at a park. I called her name, and my future wife showed up instead.”
The girls loved the story. It was certainly easier than the truth of being mated to him as an infant in a magical ceremony. If dogs could smirk, I definitely did.
He turned to Simon. “Go get a cup of coffee. I’ll let you know when she gets bored.”
Guilty over our tiff, I tried to nuzzle Simon’s hand, but he pushed me away and nodded to Zane before he left without saying goodbye.
My feelings were hurt, and I looked sadly at my master. He knelt next to me and whispered, “You shouldn’t hurt the people who love you, pet. You need to fix that when you get home. Now, go get settled.”
Filled with leather furniture and a dark mahogany desk, the traditional private office was all Zane. He pulled a fuzzy, warm blanket from a closet and spread it on the leather couch. When he rubbed my sides, I pushed any concerns for the always forgiving Simon out of my head.
For the next several hours, Zane focused on contracts, employees, and phone calls. The television entertained me with a 24-hour news channel, and the door to the secretaries’ office remained open. I wandered happily and did a lot of people watching.
I was able to read all the humans, and most of our people very easily, but a few stronger members from our coven were able to block my thoughts with a smile. Surprisingly, there was no correlation between those who could block me and their gender. I also couldn’t consistently determine who was submissive and who was Dominant.
Zane read my question and sent his nonverbal response with a laugh. “Being a woman isn’t an automatic window to her power nor does it guarantee a submissive role. There are plenty of submissives who are male and many others who only follow those roles with their mates.
“You might personally feel submissiveness or dominance to others, but the only person who can truly determine your place is your mate. That is our private tie, Tia.”
I was convinced I could go the whole day without being bored, but Zane knew me better than I knew myself. When the room became too dull, an unsuccessful attempt to wander beyond my restricted space ended with a sound scolding and banishment to the couch.
Calling for Simon crossed my mind when a burst of angry energy came into the room. My canine body stood quickly on full alert, and a subtle growl rose in my throat.
She was the epitome of evil in one incredibly chic and beautiful package, stunning and horrible in a single breath. Her black hair wound into a perfect knot and her makeup looked like something out of a magazine after the photo editing phase. Perfect nails, a perfect body, and a perfect designer suit finished her perfect picture. Even the shoes made my $300 stilettos look cheap.
My powers picked up on her human characteristics, but her clear dominance unsettled my thoughts, and I failed to read her. When she turned to Zane with a sense of possessiveness, hatred gave way to despise.
Her presence didn’t encourage my submissiveness, and I took a dominant stand. I growled louder and took a step forward only to receive a firm scolding from my master. “Lie down, Tia. Shame on you.”
Under Zane’s glare, I obeyed but didn’t take my eyes off the evil bitch.
She spat each word with slow contempt. “What the fuck is that?”
He kept his focus on me. “It’s my pet, Selena. I told you that I was bringing her to work.”
The Selena in question looked at me with disdain. “I thought you’d have a purebred instead of a filthy mongrel. Let me introduce you to some breeders, for God’s sake.”
I stood to take a second aggressive stance, and he sent me a silent message that insisted on my obedience. I was well-trained, but no messages could calm my nerves. I trembled with frustrated anger.
“She’s fine, Selena. You do a lot for me, but I don’t need you to pick out a pet.”
She turned to Zane with a horrible smile. “Fine, but if you ever want to drop it off at the pound and get something more…sophisticated, just let me know.”
Jealous anger rose as I imagined the responsibilities she might have filled, and I had to work hard to obey his persistent silent commands.
Tied to my thoughts, he put his arms around me and lowered his voice to a soothing tone. “We’re good, Selena. Did you get those contracts signed?”
The warm connection helped settle my temper, and I tried to reconcile the flawless female sitting so close to my mate. I picked up no thoughts that represented any
thing other than a professional relationship, and his reassurances were clear.
They fell into a very boring business conversation about some foreign contract. With four feet of solid mahogany desk between them, I grew more comfortable with her presence, and it only took a half hour before my limited attention span pushed me back to the outer office.
The secretaries were taking a break and drank coffee with gooey donuts that their skinny bodies had no right to enjoy. They fussed happily over my appearance, and one of them even broke off a piece of her pastry to share with me. It seemed impolite to refuse, so I took the treat delicately.
I sat between them to hear some girly gossip, and they didn’t disappoint me. After a few minutes focused on a love affair between married coworkers, they moved onto Selena with the familiarity of not knowing their boss’s mate rested on the floor beside their desks.
Margaret whispered, “Damn. I can’t believe super-bitch is back already. I thought she wasn’t coming home until next week.”
“It’s a whole different job when she walks through the door,” responded her colleague dryly. Their ability to read horrible even without magical powers was impressive.
They weren’t done. “Things were a lot easier when they were sleeping together. She’s been awful since he announced he’d gotten married. I don’t know why he didn’t fire her, unless he thought he’d keep her on the side someplace.”
I stared with doggie disbelief, but before I could react, Margaret patted me on the head. “His wife had better be beautiful. Selena’s determined to get back in his pants. Don’t worry puppy, when she sends you to the pound, you can come live with me.”
Vivid images of Selena writhing under Zane’s hardened body formed, and the line between reality and imagination blurred until I could no longer separate the two. My muscles tensed and the comfort found in my subconscious weakened.
Selena’s sultry laugh and Zane’s pleasant response floated through the doorway, and multiple scenes of raw sex filled my thoughts with growing explicit detail. I couldn’t return to the office, and the growing images demanded that I get as far away from them as possible.
Training Tia Page 14
