Red Hots (9 page)

All
too soon she was walking in the crisp fall night air to her car. She was
thankful it wasn’t too chilly yet at night. In a little over a month, it would
be Halloween and at that time the temperature in the Tidewater costal area
would drop significantly; it never failed.

The
traffic was light around town and twenty-three minutes later, she pulled up to
Masaun’s house. A large two-story home that appeared conservative and classic
with its wide front porch, brick structure, ivory trimmed shutters and
manicured lawn. Even the mailperson would deliver items and never be the wiser
of what went on in the house in such a middle class suburban neighborhood. She
was shaking almost uncontrollably, but she refused to wimp out. Parking along
the curb before his house, she got out and went to the door. She stood there
for two minutes then exactly at four fifty nine she pressed the doorbell.

She
didn’t have time to take a single breath before the door opened immediately
while the last chime gonged.

~YH~

She
was petrified. That was the first thing that Masaun noticed about the woman
standing on his doorstep. Kindle stood there all bundled and cinched tight in
her coat and winter garments. The expression on her face was what drew him in;
her features were a calm mask, but her lips and eyes revealed the truth. Her
lips were pressed tight, but curved up slightly in the corners and her
golden-brown gaze was wide as a doe’s, however, trusting.

Giving
her a smile, he said, “It’s good to see you, Kindle. Come in, please.”

Like
entering a vampire’s lair, like a helpless woman he had beguiled and seduced to
step outside her comfort zone, Kindle crossed the threshold into Masaun’s home.

Stop
being so melodramatic, Kindle, she chided herself. Emmalee and Randolph’s home
was a bright cheery place, yet they lived such a lifestyle as Masaun
twenty-four seven.

“I’ll
take your—”

He
must have noticed her clutching her coat lapels. If he asked her to drop her
covering now, she didn’t think she could do it.

Smiling,
his eyes were bright with wickedness. “I’m only asking for your hat, gloves and
scarf. I can’t have you passing out.”

“Oh.”
Licking her lips, she tried to smile, but felt her lips quiver and wasn’t sure
how much of a grin she actually pulled off. Removing the items and handing them
to him, she could not believe how nervous she was. She couldn’t recall the last
time she’d felt so out of sorts and uncomfortable.

“To
your right is the living room. Take a seat on the couch.” He began folding her
scarf and setting her things on the table beside the door, neatly.

There
was no bite to his voice, but she understood a command when she heard one.
Before her was a set of stairs that led to the second floor. There was an
archway to her right and she could see into his home office. Moving forward,
her riding boots tapping on the hardwood floor of the short, wide vestibule,
she went to the right and entered the living room onto plush carpet.

Just
like the outside of his home, inside looked like a traditional family room:
sofa, love seat, single chair, end table with lamp and all spaced appropriately
before a flat screen mounted to the wall, currently off. The color scheme as
well as the furnishings were inviting, blue upholstered couches with tan
pillows. The multicolored chair of tan, brown and blue seemed to pull it all
together.

At
the couch, she went to the far end and sat down, tugging the hem of her coat
toward her knees. The navy blue trench was stylish but shorter than she would
have liked at the moment. When she was standing, it came three inches above her
knees. Now that she was sitting, it only came mid-thigh. Pressing her hands on
top of her legs, she forced herself to relax, at least on the outside even
while her stomach was in knots.

She
watched Masaun set her gloves down on top of the stack of her other accessories
then turn and strut into the living room. Instead of sitting on the other end
of the long couch where she hoped, he took up residence in the single chair sitting
close to her.

His
gaze roamed her face then lowered to her body, appearing to take everything in.
After only a short moment, he met her eyes again. “How are you feeling today?”

“Well,
thank you for asking.”

Raising
one of his legs, he rested the ankle on the opposite knee away from her, in the
standard American male figure four while he clasped his hands loosely in his
lap. “Before we begin, I would like us to negotiate, discuss my expectations
and ask you a few questions. We both know that I am not offering you a role as
a slave or a pet. However, even as a part-time submissive, there are still
things I expect from you.”

“Such
as?”

“I
know your knowledge of the D/s, meaning Dominate and submissive, relationship
is extremely limited. Are you willing to learn what I desire to teach you?”

“I’m
here, aren’t I? So, I’d say I’m at least willing to try, Masaun.” Her hands
lifted, palms up then fell back to her lap.

While
she spoke, a single eyebrow crawled slowly up one side of his forehead until it
was in a high arch above his eye.

“What?”
she asked when his silence stretched on after her answer.

“When
we are not in
play session
, no matter where that is, you will answer me
respectfully.” His voice was deep with a low timbre to it, making it too husky for
her to think straight.

When
she started to speak, he held his hand up and locked intense eyes on her that
had gone stone grey, removing the green entirely.

He
lowered all his fingers but one. “If you were going to contradict me, don’t.”
Another finger joined the first. “Only speak when given permission by me or
asked a direct question by me.” A third finger was raised. “You may call me Sir
or Dom Hawk, not Mr. Hawkes and never Masaun.” His hand returned to his lap.

She
sat there, not sure if she should say something or not.

“Do
I make myself clear, Kindle?”

“Yes,
Sir.” Sir seemed the least demeaning of the two names. Besides, in the south,
it was a polite response to any male. No big deal.

His
gaze softened and she could see the small flecks of green returning. “Nicely
done. Once I determine a scene name that suits you, I will use that and not
Kindle.”

Since
he seemed to be informing her and not asking a question, she sat quiet.

“Thank
you for dressing in the attire I directed. This is something I will do often,
even when we are not together.”

Her
forehead tightened in confusion.

His
head tilted to the side. “Is there a problem?”

“Sir,
I assumed our relationship, for lack of a better word, would be contained to
the times we both agree to. Not that I’d be required to perform things during
other times.”

“Considering
the magnitude of stress in your day and the emotional detriment it is having on
you, I believe it is best to have small commands interjected at times. Like a
cue to your mind not to become locked so tight on the case you become unaware
of the impact on your body. Do you understand, Kindle?”

She
was starting to feel the realness of the situation she’d placed herself in. “I
understand, Sir.”

“Will
you agree to listen to my instruction and follow direction?”

Swallowing
the tightness in her throat, she said, “I agree, Sir.”

Even
though she preferred not to admit it to him, there was an odd sense of relief
causing a cool sensation through her body, like standing by the sea in early
spring. It was instigated by the knowledge that someone else would carry a
small fraction of the mental load of her day. She couldn’t explain it to
herself, nor did she want to try, but rarely did she ever feel that anyone else
was considering her while she toiled in her job. Now, Masaun would.

A
small smile turned up the corners of his mouth.

She
gave him the same small grin.

“Are
you pregnant?”

That
caught her off guard, but she kept the “what?” from coming out. “No, Sir.”

“Is
there a boyfriend or jealous male friend I need to be concerned about?”

“No,
Sir.”

His
chest lowered as he exhaled, as if he’d been holding his breath. He continued
with more personal questions about her cycle, current injuries and past
surgeries, to all of which she replied negative.

His
gaze ran over her lower body briefly. “Are you on birth control, Kindle?”

“May
I ask a question, Sir?”

He
gave a sharp nod.

“Are
you planning to have sex with me?” They both were aware of the sexual tension
between them. At the restaurant, it had been so palpable that she was surprised
the blaze didn’t catch fire around them. Then there was the kiss they shared. A
kiss that had been on her mind all night and all day.

“During
scenes, I don’t have sex with my submissives. It is a rule I have to enforce at
The Dollhouse and one I maintain in my personal life.”

Evasive
much?
That didn’t
answer her question at all.

“Are
you attracted to me, Kindle?” The low husky texture was back in his voice.

Just
hearing it made her nipples draw tight below her coat. She wanted to lie, tell
him that she felt nothing for him. But the bold stare he was giving her doused
that small flame of rebellion. She bet he was a kick ass attorney when he
practiced.

“Yes,
Sir.” She forced the response through her lips, wanting it to come out smooth and
matter of fact, not fluttering on the wispy breaths caused by her racing heart.
Just the conversation of having sex with him had her blood pumping fiercely
through her veins.

“We
will let that take its own course.”

Non-committal
much?
She wanted to
groan out her frustration. It wasn’t like she wanted him to lay her on the
couch and have at her now. Her sex swelled and throbbed with the mental picture
she had painted and she had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep silent. It
had been way too long since she’d had sex.

I
probably should have masturbated before I came over…just to take the edge off.

Taking
in the physical and authoritative persona of the man next to her, she doubted
it would’ve helped much at all.

She
realized that his lips were moving and, lost in her own thoughts, she had no
clue what he’d said. She moistened her lips. “I’m sorry, Sir, can you please
repeat that.”

His
gaze darkened again. “Being present with your Dom means being present with your
Dom. Do I make myself clear, Kindle?”

No
wool-gathering.
“Yes, Sir.”

“When
orders aren’t followed, there will be consequences.” He paused for a moment as
if to ensure she comprehended his words this time. “Stand before me and remove
your coat.”

And
it begins. As much as she wanted to remain seated where she was, she didn’t
wish to incur any disciplinary actions, whatever they may be. She rose slowly
to her feet then took the three steps across the carpet that brought her
directly in front of him.

Staring
at the wall behind his head, she took hold of the leads to the belt around her
waist, then she took a breath. Then she took another. And another.

“Don’t
make me ask again.” He spoke low but his words were clear, letting her know she
was trying his patience.

Rushing
so that the fear forming a knot in her stomach wouldn’t spread and cause her to
stop, she quickly untied the sash, undid the buttons and shoved her coat off
her shoulders then allowed it to drop to the floor. The material draped around
her feet like a sheet at the base of a Christmas tree.

Masaun
was silent. There was no gasp of excitement at seeing her nude form displayed
before him for the first time. No words or sounds of agitated breaths showing
he was hot and bothered. Nothing.

The
quiet of the room was driving her insane, grating on her nerves and making her
more anxious. Lowering her gaze to his face, she was shocked to see he was
looking into her eyes. He hadn’t even looked at her bare body.

“How
do you feel?”

Freaked
the hell out.
“Exposed. Nervous. I’m hoping it will pass, Sir.” Her voice was trembling.

“It
should. As you become comfortable with me, with us, the nervousness should
diminish greatly. However, you should always feel exposed when you’re with me
but grow to feel comfortable revealing yourself both physically and mentally. I
hope you will grow to trust me and know that I will never hurt you. I may be
dominant, but you are in control even as you submit to me. Do you understand?”

She
shook her head. “No, Sir.” She didn’t. His words seemed like a monologue full
of oxymoron phrases. How could she be in control and dominated at the same
time? Didn’t that mean he had the power?

The
smile that stretched his sexy mouth was broad this time. “You will.”