Three Stages of Love: Attraction (7 page)

Alexander nodded. “I believe you. But had you
just
had sex with him, it may have been easier to digest than what he actually did to you.”

And there he left me alone to read my life’s options.

Love Contract

I,
Evangeline Chase
, with a free mind and an open heart, do request of
Alexander Mason
that he accept the submission of my will unto his and to take me into his care and guidance, that we may grow together in love, trust, and mutual respect. The satisfaction of his wants, desires, and whims are consistent with my desire as a submissive to be found pleasing to him. To that end, I offer him use of my time, talents, and abilities.

Further, I ask, in sincere humility, that, as my master, he accept the keeping of my body for the fulfillment and enhancement of our sexual, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual needs. To achieve this, he may have unfettered use of my body any time, any place, in front of anyone, to keep or to give away, as he will determine.

I ask that we guide each other in all sexual, sensual, or scene-related behavior, both together with and separate from him in such a way as to further my growth as a person.

I request of Alexander Mason, as my master, that he use the power vested in his role to mold and shape me, assisting me to grow in strength, character, confidence, and being, and that he continue to help me to develop my emotional and intellectual abilities.

In return, I agree
:

**I will reside with my master and will fall into slumber and awake to the dawn in his arms from here on in.

To obey his commands to the best of my ability.

To strive to overcome feelings of fear, guilt, or shame, and all inhibitions that interfere with my capability to serve him and limit my growth as his partner.

To maintain honest and open communication.

To reveal my thoughts, feelings, and desires without hesitation or embarrassment.

To inform him of wants and perceived needs, recognizing that he is the sole judge of whether or how these shall be satisfied.

To allow him to shower me with gifts no matter how lavish and to accept them willingly and without repayment.

To strive toward maintenance of a positive self-image and development of realistic expectations and goals.

To work with him to become a happy and self-fulfilled individual. To work against negative aspects of my ego and my insecurities that would interfere with advancement of these aims.

My surrender as a submissive is done with the knowledge that nothing asked of me will demean me as a person and will in no way diminish my own responsibilities toward making utmost use of my potential. In recognition of my family obligations, I will strive to see more of and be there for my friends and family, recognizing that what they do is out of love and for my benefit.

This I, Evangeline Chase, do entreat, with lucidity and the realization of what this means, both stated and implied, in the conviction that this offer will be understood in the spirit of faith, caring, esteem, and devotion in which it is given. Should either of us find that our aspirations are not being well served by this agreement, find this commitment too burdensome, or for any other reason wish to cancel, either may do so by verbal notification to the other, in keeping with the consensual nature of this agreement. We both understand that cancellation means a cessation of the control stated and implied within this agreement, not a termination of our relationship as friends and lovers. Upon cancellation, each of us agrees to offer to the other his or her reasons and to assess our new needs and situation openly and lovingly. This agreement shall serve as the basis for an extension of our relationship, committed to in the spirit of loving and consensual dominance and submission with the intention of furthering self-awareness and exploration, promoting health and happiness, and improving both our lives.

I don’t know how much time passed, or how slowly I read each word, or how many times I had read the contract wholly—but I was in shock. I had never seen a contract between a dominant and a submissive, and I don’t know what I expected but, this was nothing like I would have imagined.

This contract wasn’t for the sole benefit of the dominant, nor did it have anything to do with inflicting pain; it was for the growth and benefit of the couple as a whole—the sexual, personal, and emotional growth of the dominant and submissive. I was struck by worship for Alexander and for what he had presented to me: unconditional love in an unconventional way.

Alexander was right; I knew what I had to do.

CHAPTER SIX

“Miss Chase, oh my eyes have never been so happy to see such a sight, and what a sight you are!” Brant embraced me tightly and affectionately. “Alexander is waiting for you in the kitchen. You are just in time; I’ve set the table for dinner.”

But as I moved into the foyer, I couldn’t understand how he knew, why Alexander was
waiting for me
, and how had I been
on time for dinner.
How could he have known that I would come to him?

“How long are you going to stand there with your questions? If I wasn’t so attracted to your intelligence, I would have added a line about stopping you from thinking all the time; it seems to always be the cause for our dinner getting cold. Come, sit.” And there he was,
my master
, prepared to take control of my mind, body, and soul.

“Well, I’m just glad that there
is
at least one thing that you don’t want to change about me,” I added before moving toward the table.

But just then Alexander stopped me. “You still don’t get it. Not one of those rules is about changing
you
. It’s about turning your fear into courage. You will see what I see in you—in time.” Alexander pressed his lips to my forehead, giving me the first endearing kiss I’d had from him in months.

He pulled out a chair for me and pushed me closer to the table, first placing a napkin in my lap and then doing the same as he sat beside me.

“So, you must have questions,” he prompted.

“Now, you know I
always
have questions,” I returned sarcastically, but Alexander found no amusement in it. “I’m sorry, I…Well, first, how did you know I’d come here?”

Alexander placed both my hands in his, and he held them securely. “Because I see in your eyes the love that I feel in my heart; and though it frightens you, you’ve suffered from the desire to seize and grow that love, just as I have. That’s how I knew you would come to me. But what I don’t know is: did you sign the contract?”

“No, I did not,” I responded sharply.

Alexander’s shoulders fell and his back slumped into the chair. The hurt that consumed his expression was heartbreaking.

“Don’t make that face. There is a place for signature for us both. One for me offering my submission to you as my dominant, and another for you to accept my submission.” I made it clear to him that I fully understood the letter he had given me. “The way I see it, the contract’s purpose is to acknowledge an equal understanding of our attraction for each other and a common desire to see this relationship reach new levels of ecstasy, respect, and love.”

Alexander remained silent, presumably in awe of my acknowledgment and acceptance of this new stage in our lives.

“Losing you gave me the realization that I don’t want to be without you. The emotions and elation I felt when I was with you was unlike anything I had ever felt before. It is something that I do not wish to receive from anyone else but you. The pain that Michael caused me was nothing compared to how I pained from having sent you away. But it made me forget; it made me blank.” I reached across the table and held his hands as he had done to me a moment earlier, tightening my grip as I expressed that which he longed to hear and I feared to admit. “I am drawn to you in a way beyond any friendship or lust; I desire your total protection and your unconditional love. You have become my ideal, and I am ready and willing to do anything for you.”

We were frozen in a moment that would shape our lives forever, but it gave me no knowledge of whether the shape we would take at the end of this would be superior or inferior to what we were now.

Seeing as he was almost immobile, I took it upon my self to cement my convictions of what I had agreed to; I placed the contract on the table and signed my name. Gently placing the pen down, I turned the contract to face him and moved it forward.

“Are you sure you have thoroughly thought about this? You are prepared to adhere to everything within the contract and accept direction from me as I see fit?” Alexander looked concerned that I was diving into this with my heart and not my head.

And I probably was, but I had dealt with much more complex agreements; this was nothing I couldn’t handle—or so I hoped.

“It is you who doubts your abilities with regard to the contents of the contract; I eagerly signed on the dotted line. Your signature is the one that’s missing, Mr. Mason. If I have misunderstood the purpose of this contract or the instructions detailed within, please do tell.” For some strange reason, my agreeing to be taken control of gave me the feeling of utter control. I felt safe and in a place where I longed to be, a place where I should be: in Alexander’s life.

“I have no doubts, Evangeline, not in you nor in me.”

And with that, he held the contract above the table, examining my signature in a sort of disbelief that I had signed, accepting and willing to be his submissive but, more importantly, to love and be loved unconditionally without fear. It wouldn’t be easy, but nothing worthwhile is easy to gain, or so someone once told me.

And with a swift movement, Alexander tore the contract in two halves.

“What are you doing?” I asked in complete confusion.

Alexander paused and smiled. His cheeks held a sweet and victorious flush of color, and his eyes were pleased. “You being here is the signature that I needed. I can tell you the contents of that contract by heart. Your presence is the confirmation that you are willing to try. This paper is a symbol of what we both want. My discarding this paper is an acknowledgment of the fact that we’ve both taken the first step and that no document will hold us to what we are fated to do or be.”

Alexander’s gesture was indescribably fulfilling and comforting. At first I had trouble understanding the point or purpose of
the contract
, but now I knew: Alexander couldn’t care less if I signed the contract; my showing up after reading the contract was enough to solidify my feelings for him.

“Agreed,” I said as I stood and walked over to the intercom on the wall while Alexander watched me, baffled.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

I shushed him, picking up the intercom phone. “Brant, it’s Eva. Would you please gather my belongings from the front desk? The doorman is holding them for me. You can bring them to Alexander’s room; I’ll unpack them later. Thank you.”

Brant’s voice was that of utter happiness. He must have known that Alexander loved me and that my being here would fill the last empty part of the puzzle.

When I turned back toward Alexander, I didn’t have to look far; he was standing beside me, with eyes of a lion ready to claim what was his. “You’re moving in?” he asked.

“Did you or did you not read this contract? Maybe you should reread it. I did—at least a dozen times. It states that I will reside with my master, and I will fall into slumber and awake to the dawn in your arms every day and every night from here on in. Did I get it wrong?” But there was no need to question him, because immediately after I completed my last sentence, he had me pinned against the wall and kissed me like he had for the very first time: passionately, desirously, and overwhelmingly.

He swept me off the floor and into his Trojan arms as I shouted, “Alexander, wait! What about dinner?”

But he could not be stopped. “Fuck dinner. I have all I can eat in my arms, and don’t worry,” he said as he threw me flailing over his shoulder, “I’ll make sure you get enough to
eat
as well.”

And in a hungry and fast pace, he hurried me up the stairs, biting and squeezing my ass with every step he took as I giggled foolishly.

“Wait, Alexander. Brant will be bringing my things to your room. Where are you going? Alexander?” I yelled excitedly.

But he just continued down the hall. When we reached his bedroom door, he turned left and climbed one last flight of stairs.

“Where are we going?” I asked once again, but I still received no response.

Instead, a sharp mouthful came at my ass, sinking teeth into me, basically telling me to shut up.

I carried feelings of anticipation, a rush of adrenaline, and an embodiment of a feral woman of godly proportions.

We reached a single large door at the top of the stairs. But there were no doorknobs and no lock on the door except for a numbered keypad on the wall. He placed me down slowly, sliding me down his chest until my feet were gently planted on the floor.

“Remember this code, zero-six-one-three.” He punched it into the keypad, causing a click on the inside of the door, which I assumed was the lock coming undone.

And just then I realized, “Hey, zero-six-thirteen. That’s the month and day of my birthday, what a coincidence.” I giggled, smoothing my hand over his heaving chest.

“You are too cute,” he said. “I know it’s your birth date; it is also the day we met. And it is now the code to our very own playroom. A code that holds a significance neither of us could ever forget and gives entry to a place where our love can be unleashed for each other.”