Temporary Master (6 page)

“Dammit,
I knew I shouldn’t have let you handle this.” Davis’s rueful voice came from
the doorway as he walked back into the room. “What do you say we do
this my
way next time?”

“Next
time?”
Hope
blossomed.

Davis
smirked. “Now, you really didn’t think I was going to let that little subbie
escape our net, did you?”

The
calm silence was deafening after the loud, boisterous tones of her youth class.
Sabella pushed her way into her boss’s office. Looking up from his newspaper,
Kaleb Terzis smiled at her. With his blond hair, and all around American boy
look, he always had a ready smile, whether it was for her, or the disadvantaged
kids they helped each day.

“You
wanted to see me, boss?” She fidgeted in the doorway.

Setting
the paper down, he gestured for her to come in. “Yes, come in. How was your
teens’ class today?”

She
smiled, thinking about Shara and her twin brother, Samuel. At fourteen, they
had already had a rough life, but seemed to find plain old fun as well as
wonderment in the basic art skills.
“Crazy as usual.
But I really enjoy working with the kids.
Particularly the
older ones.”

“The
terror twins giving you issues?”
He pushed back from his desk.

She
shook her head. “They’ve been good. Both of them have quite the eye for art.”

“Good.
I was hoping this art program would help.” He moved to shut the door. “But it’s
not the reason I called you in here. Have a seat.”

Surprise
flooded her along with a bit of apprehension as she sank into the chair across
from his desk. “I see. Was it something I did or didn’t do?”

“Relax.
This isn’t meant to be uncomfortable. In fact it has nothing to do with your
job performance here at the youth center.”

Her
eyes widened. “Then what does it have to do with?”

He
sighed. “I’m sure Lauren told you I’m in the lifestyle?”

“Of
course.”
She shifted uncomfortably, wondering where Kaleb was going with this
conversation. Surely he wasn’t hitting on her. She was quickly disabused of the
notion.

“Well,
I also am a member of New Beginnings, and this morning I got a rather unusual
request from one of the owners.”

Her
blood froze before embarrassment hit her as her face heated. “I’m sorry if
Davis has been pestering you. He’s been calling me for the past several days
and I keep telling him to…”

He
held up a hand. “It wasn’t Davis. Relax. It was Dr. Ethan Tremaine.”

Her
heart jumped and she frowned. “Ethan? Why would he be calling you about me?
He’s already decided I was unsuitable…”

Kaleb
chuckled. “Darlin’, if unsuitable is him trying me not only at home, but also
here at the youth center, then I don’t want to know what he’d do if he found
you desirable. He
’d probably would
’ve camped out on
the youth center doorstep when he couldn’t get a hold of me.” He paused. “
Which is exactly what he did.
”

Mind
whirling, Sabella tried to grasp exactly what was going on. “I…what do you mean
he camped out here at the youth center? I would’ve noticed some man loitering
outside when I came in. After living in New York, I’m always on the lookout for
danger around children. Not to say he’s dangerous to kids, but when it comes to
looking after the
kids
one can’t be too careful.” She
was quick to add.

“I’ll
give you that, but Ethan has a quiet demeanor about him. Even when he’s
loitering, he blends into his environment. It’s probably what makes him such a
good doctor.” Kaleb nodded. “He’s been waiting all day to talk specifically to
you.”

“I
don’t know what to say.” She slumped down in her chair, trying to think if
she’d noticed anyone watching her today. There had been a quiet Asian man
earlier in the day who’d held the youth center door for her when she’d come
back from lunch. She’d passed by him, and couldn’t help but think about the
cologne he was wearing. The citrus-y scent had lingered in her nose long after
her busy class. But he’d left.
Or had he?

He
sighed before placing a hand on her shoulders, jerking her out of her thoughts.
“I won’t force you to talk to him, Bella. But he does seem honestly sorry about
what happened on the phone, and has requested a few minutes of your time.”

Chewing
on her lower lip, she wondered what it would hurt to actually see the man —
other than her overwhelming need to kick him in the shins. The good girl in her
protested while the little devil on her shoulder told her to go for it. He’d
given her hope only to dash it with a few callous words. She had to remind the
little devil he hadn’t actually ever said he would take her on, and if her
hopes had gotten dashed it was because she’d wanted too much, too soon. She
went back and forth mentally until Kaleb’s concerned voice put an end to her
internal bickering.

“Darlin’,
I won’t make you see him if you don’t want to.” Crouched in front of her, Kaleb
wore an expression of genuine concern.

She
blinked up at him, before shaking her head. “No, since he’s taken the time to
come down and see me, I suppose it can’t hurt to hear him out.
Although I might hurt him if he says something incredibly
stupid.

“All
right then. Wait
here,
and I’ll go get him.” Kaleb
stood and was gone, before she could question whether or not she was doing the
right thing.

Within
minutes, Kaleb was back. When she didn’t notice anyone with him, she figured
Ethan had left. Disappointment tugged at
her,
even if
it had gone no further she’d wanted to be able to put a face to the voice she’d
talked to on the phone. “Oh, did he leave?” She forced the words past her
suddenly tight throat.

“After
waiting all day to talk to you, no, I wasn’t going to leave.” The softly spoken
words teased her ears before sending shivers down her spine. Despite their soft
tone, the command in them was undeniable. She nearly fainted when the Asian man
from earlier in the afternoon stepped out from behind Kaleb. With his long
dreadlocks pulled back at the base of his neck and striking Japanese features,
he carried himself with a strength which belied his slender build. Dressed in a
pair of loose but neatly pressed linen pants and silk shirt, he exuded
confidence.

Pushing
herself out of the chair, Sabella tried not to stare. She was so focused on the
good doctor she barely noticed Kaleb leaving the room. “Hello, Dr. Tremaine.
Kaleb was
right,
you’re very good at blending into
your surroundings. I never would’ve guessed the man I spoke with on the phone
was the same as the one who held the door for me earlier today.”

Ethan
tipped his head. “Why? Just because I’m a Dom doesn’t mean I lack manners, Ms
Johnston.
Even though at times I might seem to.”
He
paused for a moment to take her in. “Believe it or not, I’m sorry if what I
said on the phone upset you. I didn’t intend to. There are too many wannabes in
the scene, and I jumped to the wrong conclusion.”

She
sighed, acknowledging his point, before finally nodding. “You’re right. There
are. Apology accepted.” Uncertain what to say, she finally blurted the first
thing which came to her mind. “You know you’re not exactly what I was
expecting.” She pursed her lips. “But I suppose I should’ve been.
Considering Davis’s earlier threat.”

He
chuckled.
“Which one?
The one to
kick my ass, or the one where he’ll lock me in my own dungeon for the next week
if I, as he puts it, “fuck this up again”.”

Shifting
his weight a bit, he took a cautious step forward and closer to where she was
standing. It was as if he were trying not to spook her. A slow smile teased her
lips. It was hard to stay mad when he was being so careful with the way he
handled her. “Relax, I’m not a horse.”

He
arched an eyebrow at her, stopping with less than two feet separating them.
“Some of the things you Americans say. Do I even want to know what horses have
to do with this situation?”

“The
way you were treating me. Being cautious, talking in a soothing manner. It’s as
if you’re expecting me to bolt at any moment like a startled horse.”

“Ahh.”
Understanding shone in his eyes.
“Much like people from my mother’s family
do
when they
work in with abused shiba inus.”

Tipping
her head, she frowned. “You’re honestly comparing how you’re treating me to the
way your family treats an abused dog?” Her face reddened, she knew she wasn’t
fashionably thin but it didn’t mean she was a dog... “I know I’m a bit heavy
for my height but there’s…”

“Stop
right there.” The command had her drawing up short. Her eyes flew up to meet
his. Their bright green depths were now frosty with displeasure. Everything
submissive in her wanted to apologize. This whiplash thing going on with her
emotions needed to stop, she decided as she fought the urge to drop to her
knees and plead for his forgiveness.
But he’s not my master. I have to
remember I don’t have a Dom anymore.

He
moved closer, his hand cupping her chin. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with
your body. If I have my way about it, I’ll get the chance to see it embraced by
my ropes. Now repeat after me, “
there’s
nothing wrong
with my body”.”

Disbelief
coursed through her. She’d thought he was confident before, but where had this
dominating presence come from?

“I’m
waiting.” Softly spoken his words jolted her with both surprise and the
unsurpassed need to submit. He obviously didn’t have an issue with waiting for
her to repeat his words.

“The
..re’s
nothing wrong with my body.” She gave a sigh as he
stepped back with a pleased nod.

“Since
we have that out of the way and you’ve excused me for my rudeness on the phone
earlier, can we discuss the possibility of you helping me with my upcoming
demonstration?”

Mentally
shaking herself out of the moment, she tried to gather her thoughts up. To
remember what she’d originally planned on asking him, before their ill-fated
phone call. She had stipulations. She needed to be strong — for her own sanity.
Stepping away from him, she drew in a deep breath of air which wasn’t scented
with his cologne. “I…if I do there’ll be some stipulations.”

A
slight frown crossed his face before disappearing.
“Stipulations?”

“Yes.”
She met his gaze steadily with her own. “You’d have to agree, any relationship
in the BDSM scene, whether it’s professional or personal, has to have a few
ground rules so both parties involved know exactly what’s expected or not
expected of them.”

“Of
course, the foundation of any relationship, BDSM or otherwise, is
communication.” He settled into the chair she’d abandoned. Crossing one ankle
over his opposite knee, he relaxed. “So please tell me what you’d require of
me, if I were to be your Dom for this demonstration?”

Her
pulse jumped at the mention of him assuming the role of her Dom, but she forced
her excitement back down. “To begin with, I wouldn’t expect you to be my
full-time Dom. This would be a temporary situation at best. And while I’d agree
to obey your commands during our time together regarding the kinbaku, I would
expect when we’re not practicing or you’re not instructing me, that I be
treated as your equal. I’ll also have a safeword. Lastly don’t expect sex from
me — I’m very selective when it comes to choosing my lovers and I don’t choose
lightly.”

He
gazed at her thoughtfully. “Why?”

“Why
what?”

“Everything
other than the safeword stipulation you’ve asked for does nothing but diminish
your position as a submissive. In fact, if you were my submissive, I’d assume
you’re trying to top from the bottom.”

She
forced a smile. “
Which’s exactly what I’m doing.”
Gathering up her courage, she continued. “It has nothing to do with your
domination, Dr. Tremaine, but everything to do with me. I’m not the typical
sexual submissive. I’m a true submissive who, if given the chance, lives for
nothing more than taking care of those around her. Whether it’s my Master, my
family, or even those kids out there who expect nothing more than a few art
lessons from me, my need to care for them becomes my pleasure. Because of this,
I’ve been hurt in the past. While I want to help you out, I also need to
maintain my objectivity.”

He
drummed his fingers on his knee as he absorbed her answer, taking a few moments
before speaking. “When we spoke on the phone, you mentioned you’ve always had
this desire to be bound and explored it with a previous Master. Obviously you
found something intriguing enough about it in your limited exposure to it, that
you still want more, or…” his eyes narrowed. “…you’re still looking for
something. Which is it?”

She
shifted uncomfortably. “That has nothing to do…”