《Submission》 CHAPTER ONE-PART 1 CHAPTER ONE-PART 1 Considering what the building housed, it was a lot more normal than Sable had expected. Feeling more than a hint of trepidation, she walked to the entrance to enter. It was like stepping into another world. A foreign, strange, alien world that looked painful and bewildering. What did people get out of this? All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Sable eyed the leather and vinyl costumes in one section as she slipped past, thinking they were hot¡ª not in a sexually attractive way, but imagining how much one must sweat inside them. Her eyes widened when she came upon a hood with a zipper for the mouth and no other openings. It baffled her that people voluntarily submitted to having something like that put on them, taken off only at another person¡¯s discretion. With a small shudder, she bypassed a selection of crops on a handsome mahogany stand. As she walked past the whips, she couldn¡¯t resist reaching out to touch one of the strips, finding it soft and supple. It could probably still do a lot of damage in the wrong hands. Finally, she navigated her way through the BDSM products barring her way, until she arrived at the front counter. To her surprise, Julian Talos himself was working the counter. Her research had led her to think he wasn¡¯t often so hands-on with the customer side of his business, and she was relieved not to have to try to track him down. Head bent, he was focusing on something, giving her a moment to observe him discreetly. His hair was longer than she remembered it, secured at the back of his neck in a ck leather band that contrasted nicely with the pale blond locks. Had he been that tall and solidly built the previous time she¡¯d met him? Maybe, but she hadn¡¯t paid much attention. She was paying attention now. To her surprise, he wasn¡¯t in some outrageous bondage costume; instead wearing a white button-down shirt and ck pants. ¡°Have you seen enough?¡± he asked without looking up. Heat bloomed in her cheeks at being caught, and she forced herself to cross the remaining distance to the counter. ¡°Julian Talos?¡± She caught her breath when he looked up, caught off-guard by the unusual deepvender shade of his eyes. Purple eyes were easy to acquire via contacts, but something about this man suggested he wasn¡¯t one to hide behind artifice. He¡¯d worn sunsses on their previous meeting, so she had no basis forparison. His chiseled lips curved at the edges, but that was his only change of expression. ¡°Yes. Who are you?¡± Sable licked her lips, suddenly nervous. ¡°You probably don¡¯t remember me, but we met once.¡± He nodded, looking bored. ¡°I see. Was it on the scene? Maybe at a convention?¡± At her head shake, he asked, ¡°What can I do for you, Ms.¡ª¡± ¡°Sable Collins.¡± Ingrained manners had her extending her hand, and she could see the hint of amusement in his eyes when he took it. She tried to ignore the spark of electricity that seemed to singe her at his touch. ¡°We met a couple of years ago, when you were dating my sister.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t remember you.¡± She nodded. ¡°We only met once. I was picking up Sabrina.¡± Julian¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Sabrina Sparrow?¡± Sable nodded. ¡°That¡¯s her stage name. Her real name is Sabrina Collins.¡± He smiled, and the change was breathtaking. ¡°I remember Sabrina, but we never dated.¡± She frowned. ¡°Sabrina introduced you as her date.¡± Julian put away the papers he¡¯d been examining before leaning a bit closer to her. She had to struggle not to step back instinctively. ¡°She was ufortable with you knowing the truth.¡± He chuckled softly. ¡°Believe me, I was as surprised as you when she said I was her date.¡± ¡°What were you then? A one-night fling?¡± She tried to keep the disapproval from her tone, not wanting to alienate the one man who might be able to help her, but it was difficult. Her sister would have been twenty-one then, and a na?ve twenty-one at that. She guessed Julian must be in histe thirties, so definitely old enough to know it was sleazy to seduce a girl her age. Julian shook his head. ¡°I was her director, as in a movie.¡± Sable frowned. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t she tell me?¡± ¡°It was a bondage movie, Ms. Collins. When she talked to me the next day, she gave me the impression you wouldn¡¯t approve of her decision to participate.¡± Sable sagged slightly. ¡°Yeah, she was right.¡± Her eyes narrowed. ¡°It must have been you who got her into all this nonsense.¡± Mouth tight, he said, ¡°Wrong again. It was her first adult film, but she came to me via her boyfriend, who was in a couple of scenes. I don¡¯t know the details of their private life, but he seemed like her Master, and they had a good rapport, with a lot of trust.¡± She couldn¡¯t hold back a small snort. ¡°Master? Trust?¡± Shaking her head, she red at him. ¡°This is all crazy.¡± ¡°Why are you here, Ms. Collins?¡± His eyes gleamed with a hint of irritation. ¡°You clearly don¡¯t have a genuine interest in the lifestyle.¡± CHAPTER ONE-PART 2 CHAPTER ONE-PART 2 ¡°No, I won¡¯t deny that.¡± Taking a deep breath, she plunged into the sordid tale. ¡°Sabrina told me about a year ago that she was a submissive. I tried to make her see reason, but she was convinced she was happy bowing and scraping to someone.¡± ¡°Perhaps she was.¡± Trying to hide her distaste, she shrugged. ¡°Maybe. It seemed fairly harmless, as long as it was still a fantasy. I knew she had a membership to some prison club.¡± ¡°Dungeon,¡± he corrected with just a trace of augh. ¡°Whatever. A few months ago, she told me she¡¯d met a wonderful man and had epted him as her Master.¡± She grimaced. ¡°I was worried about her, but I couldn¡¯t convince her to slow down. Six weeks ago, she told me she had entered into a contract to be his ve.¡± Sable shuddered. ¡°very. What the hell is wrong with her?¡± He wore a serious expression. ¡°Some submissives enjoy having someone assumeplete responsibility for their needs. It makes them feel free.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± It seemed wiser not to show more of her opinion on the subject. ¡°It was crazy. She gave away her possessions, sold her apartment and car, and stopped taking modeling and acting jobs.¡± Sable frowned, remembering how buoyant her sister had been as she¡¯d dismantled her entire life. ¡°She even left her dog with me. Sable loves Sparkles more than anything in the world, except maybe me. Sobbing her heart out, she actually left her.¡± ¡°I suppose it had to be done, and she¡¯d decided to entrust herself to her Master¡¯s care.¡± Julian shrugged. ¡°What do you want from me? Are you looking for a psychological exnation, or more information on the finer workings of top and bottom rtionships?¡± ¡°No, thanks. I have the Inte, you know.¡± She took another deep breath, trying to control her irritation. ¡°Look, part of the contract included Sabrina being able to contact anyone she chose. She was supposed to retain her own cell phone and email address and be able to freelymunicate.¡± At his nod, she continued. ¡°I heard from her the day after she arrived, but not since then. Her phone number is disconnected, and she hasn¡¯t answered her emails.¡± Julian frowned. ¡°Do you know if the contract allowed the Master to suspend her privileges as punishment?¡± Sable shrugged. ¡°I have no idea, but I thought about that. It seemed reasonable to assume someone like that would punish a grown woman for following her own mind, but surely it wouldn¡¯tst six weeks? I¡¯m afraid she¡¯s gotten in over her head with someone who isn¡¯t holding up their side of the bargain.¡± Julian looked troubled. ¡°I won¡¯t lie to you, Ms. Collins. There are Dominants who disregard the ve contract in an attempt to truly enve their partner.¡± ¡°Partner?¡± She snorted. ¡°Sabrina isn¡¯t a partner. She¡¯s being exploited, and the idiot agreed to it.¡± His lips thinned. ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s moreplicated than that.¡± ¡°Whatever.¡± She waved a hand. ¡°I really don¡¯t care about the dynamics. What I care about is finding my sister. You¡¯re the only person I know who is into this stuff, so I thought you might be able to give me an idea where to look.¡± Julian shrugged. ¡°I might. If I can help, I will. Do you know the Master¡¯s name?¡± Sable shook her head. ¡°She only called him Master.¡± ¡°Do you have any idea where she went?¡± ¡°I know it was somewhere in the mountains. Her flightnded in Denver, and I know she called me about six hours after shended, so I assume it¡¯s somewhere in Colorado? Sabrina told me it was an exclusivemunity, and she was excited to join it. She said she wouldn¡¯t have to live in fear of others¡¯ judgments.¡± Sable shifted with difort, sure her sister had included her in that group. Julian¡¯s eyes lightened a bit. ¡°I might be able to help. I¡¯ve heard of a fewmunities around the country, where Doms and subs live openly, or at least with less need to hide. I¡¯ve never been to one, but I can try to track down some information.¡± Sable had to suppress the urge to cry. She was not a weak woman, constantly in tears, but the stress was catching up with her. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯d appreciate that.¡± ¡°How can I reach you?¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°Here.¡± She withdrew a business card. ¡°Call my cell number. I¡¯m staying at The Fairmont.¡± Julian took the card, slipping it into the pocket of his ck cords. It waspletely inappropriate to appreciate the snug fit of his pants in the circumstances. ¡°I¡¯ll make some calls and be in touch as soon as I can. I¡¯ll also let you know if I can¡¯t get any information.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± A small surge of hope made it possible to stand erect and leave the shop when what she really wanted to do was just copse in a heap and sleep for twenty-four hours or so. By the time she reached her hotel, theck of sleep over the past week caught up with her, and she crashed into her bed in one of the bungalows. CHAPTER FOUR-PART 3 CHAPTER FOUR-PART 3 With a sigh, she subsided, doing her best to answer his questions honestly. The next several were inconsequential, followed by one that made her freeze. ¡°Tell me a fantasy.¡± Sable bit her lip, unable to reply. ¡°Sable, what¡¯s one of your fantasies?¡± He punctuated the question with something stinging against her skin, along with a snapping sound. It didn¡¯t hurt much, but it was startling. When she shook her head, he swatted her again with it, this time a little harder. ¡°Answer me.¡± ¡°I thought you said no pain.¡± The stinging tendrils hit her again. ¡°This isn¡¯t pain, Sable. This is motivation.¡± ¡°It sure as hell feels like pain.¡± She winced at the petnt note in her words. Julianughed, a warm sound that made her stomach flutter. ¡°You¡¯re a lightweight. This is the smallest flogger in my collection.¡± Shuddering, she said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to meet the rest.¡± ¡°Answer me then.¡± He sounded husky. ¡°I won¡¯t judge you. This isn¡¯t for my titition. I¡¯d just like a glimpse inside your desires.¡± The flogger touched her skin again, this time in a soft stroking motion that made her nerve ends tingle. ¡°I¡¯ve heard probably everything. More than likely, I¡¯ve done it, whatever it is. Threesome, lesbian, or rape fantasy, perhaps?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Nothing that kinky.¡± He chuckled. ¡°None of those are all that kinky, Sable, but what do you want?¡± ¡°I want someone to want me so badly that he¡¯d do anything. I¡¯d love a seduction scene, with all the romantic trappings and satin sheets.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it? Nothing a little less vani?¡± He caressed her with the flogger again, and the strands tickled her stomach. ¡°What do you want this man to do for you?¡± Sable shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°You must have thought about it? What specifics?¡± ¡°Roses, champagne, and flowers. Purple satin sheets, and our naked bodies¡ª¡± She broke off, unable to share more. ¡°I asked you not to hold back. However, I understand your difort. You will write out your fantasy in detail and present it to me by tomorrow evening, before we go to dinner at Dave¡¯s.¡± A rush of relief swept through her. It was still embarrassing to tell him, but it would be so much easier to write it out instead of saying it. She was eager to move on and answered the rest of his questions without stumbling. Herst reward was another piece of chocte, but she hesitated. ¡°May I ask for something else?¡± His fingers brushed her mouth as he drew back from putting the chocte on her tongue. ¡°What would you like?¡± ¡°May I ask you some questions?¡± She held her breath, wondering if he would permit the request, or if it was supposed to be one-sided sharing. ¡°Of course. You can have the chocte too.¡± He ced it on her tongue when she extended it. A secondter, the blindfold came off, making her grateful for the dimmer illumination provided by the electric candles as she blinked several times to re-limate to the light. Julian sat beside her, his skin pressing against her bare arm. When she reached for her shirt, he intercepted her hand, taking it in one of hisrger ones to hold. ¡°Leave it off.¡± She wanted to ask why, but didn¡¯t. Was she imagining the trace of desire in his expression? Trying to appear casual, she nced down and saw evidence of his arousal pressing insistently against his jeans. The sight made her mouth water and heat re between her thighs, though she wouldn¡¯t have admitted to an attraction to him under threat of torture before that moment. ¡°What would you like to know?¡± ¡°Tell me about your family and childhood please.¡± Julian shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s pretty boring stuff. I have two brothers, and my parents are still alive and still together after forty-three years. As far as I know, they¡¯re all vani, and I¡¯m the sole freak of the family.¡± He smiled to indicate he was joking. ¡°How did you be¡­like this?¡± He tilted his head, giving her a long look. ¡°I admit I¡¯ve always liked to be in control. I was the bossy one on the yground, but the other kids listened. In my teens, I got a little wild and stole a car with some friends. We were sent to different military schools.¡± She gasped, touching his ponytail without thought of the intimacy of the gesture until the silken strands were between her fingers. ¡°I just can¡¯t picture you as the military type.¡± Julian lifted a shoulder. ¡°I wasn¡¯t. At first. It took a no-nonsense drill instructor to get my attention. He earned my respect, and I straightened out. Sergeant Stark made me responsible for myself and others, teaching me ountability in the process. By the time I was out of the Air Force¡ª¡± ¡°You enlisted?¡± He nodded. ¡°I spent six years in the USAF.¡± He pronounced it you-saf. ¡°I discovered I was good with responsibility and being inmand. It wasn¡¯t a far leap to explore dominance and BDSM.¡± Sable grinned. ¡°So, Uncle Sam made you a Dom?¡± He chuckled. ¡°Not exactly. I was born dominant, but the military helped me hone the trait.¡± ¡°So, how did you go from a soldier to a Dom?¡± ¡°The same way a lot of people do.¡± Julian stretched his neck, making her realize she still had her hand in his hair. She pulled back immediately. ¡°The wasn¡¯t as big a thing back then, so I learned the old- fashioned way, by researching and meeting others in the lifestyle. I had a lot of help in bing a Dom. It¡¯s usually a long training process for anyone new to the lifestyle, regardless of your position preference.¡± His gaze locked on hers when she stifled a yawn behind her hand. ¡°Do you have any other questions before I send you to bed?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the history you have with Rafe Monahan?¡± His expression changed, and she could almost see a figurative door m in her face, so it surprised her when he spoke. ¡°That¡¯s a long,plicated story. He hurt someone I cared about.¡± Julian pursed his lips. ¡°I will tell you the story, but I¡¯m not in the right frame of mind tonight. I was enjoying our interlude and would like to end the evening on a good note.¡± Wanting to insist on an answer, she forced back thepulsion. ¡°Of course. Whatever is between you, or your reason for helping me find Sabrina, I appreciate it. I know it must be difficult for you to put your life on hold for this.¡± He turned slightly toward her, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°I¡¯m merely exploring a different facet, not putting a hold on my life.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s still really nice of you to help me.¡± His gaze never left hers. ¡°I want to find Sabrina, and I¡¯d be thrilled to stop Rafe if he¡¯s still hurting people, but those weren¡¯t my only reasons for helping you.¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. She frowned. ¡°What else¡ª¡± CHAPTER FOUR-PART 4 CHAPTER FOUR-PART 4 ¡°The Dom in me finds you a challenge, Sable. You¡¯re so strong and independent, and I know if you surrender to me, it will be an amazing gift. Some of the best subs I¡¯ve ever yed with were extremely independent in their everyday lives.¡± He traced small circles on her cheek as his hand caressed her side. ¡°The minute I saw you, I knew I wanted to be the one to break you.¡± Her eyes widened, and she didn¡¯t know whether the elerated heart rate came from fear or anticipation¡ªor abination of both. ¡°That sounds scary.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mean actually break you, pet. I simply mean I want to unleash your surrender. Whether you believe it or not, I¡¯m not much into the sadistic or masochistic side of the lifestyle. The idea of physically breaking someone down doesn¡¯t appeal to me unless I know that¡¯s what he or she wants.¡± Julian shifted, leaning close enough their lips were almost touching. ¡°I want to find out what you want and give it to you. In return, I get the pleasure of knowing I fulfilled your needs and earned your trust.¡± Wow. How did she respond to that? ¡°I¡¯ve never found submission appealing.¡± She wet her lips with her tongue, conscious of the nearness of his. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I know, but I think you will, if you open up to the idea.¡± He brushed his lips against hers in a butterfly- soft kiss. ¡°Just consider the idea.¡± Another kiss. ¡°Think about what you would like, and see if that includes me.¡± He brought his mouth against hers in yet another teasing kiss, and she buried her hand in his hair, forcing his mouth against hers. Sable deepened the kiss, though he remained passive, as if evaluating her every movement. She nipped his lower lip and stroked the spot with her tongue, but he remained still. Sighing, feeling as though he was testing her, and she had failed, she leaned back. Their gazes locked, and they were just inches apart. Julian cupped her cheek and pulled her toward him again, kissing her so thoroughly her toes curled as she tried to keep herself grounded. The kiss was passionate and forceful, but managed to make her feel wanted, not fearful. His tongue plundered her mouth, moving with expert precision in mimicry of what his cock would do to her pussy, if she epted it. Sable was strongly considering the idea when he lifted his head. ¡°Good night, Sable.¡± Feeling dazed, she got to her feet slowly. ¡°Good night.¡± It was like the words had drained her, and she sagged a little. Turning, she walked toward the door, pausing when he called her name. ¡°Yes?¡± she asked, looking over her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t forget your homework.¡± Yep, he definitely had a way of making her feel like an inept teenager. Cradling her swollen breasts in her hands as she walked up the stairs, she acknowledged he also made her feel like a wholly sexual creature. They were so different. How could she find him so desirable and want him so badly? There was no denying the ache in her pussy that begged for him to fill it. Sleep was going to be elusive with the hormones raging through her. At least she¡¯d have time to write out her fantasy and review his checklist. CHAPTER SIX-PART 5 CHAPTER SIX-PART 5 A bright smile transformed Debra¡¯s pretty face, making her truly beautiful. ¡°I was fortunate enough to have married a man who was myplement. I sometimes wonder if the sub in me was naturally drawn to his Dom nature, or if he has cultivated it in response to what he sensed in me.¡± She shrugged. ¡°Either way, we were lucky enough to both want the same thing. Once we got past our hang-ups and admitted it, the rest was easy.¡± Sableid down the knife beside the neatly cut pile of onions. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine it being easy. I¡¯m really trying, but I keep feeling like I¡¯m failing him. I can¡¯t seem to meet his expectations.¡± Debra patted her arm. ¡°It¡¯s tough, especially when you¡¯re first learning. Plus, it must be daunting to have a superstar in the lifestyle as your Dom.¡± Sable nodded. ¡°Yeah, Julian is¡­daunting.¡± He was charismatic and authoritative. She would have found him a bit intimidating even if they weren¡¯t trying to act out this charade. With another stir, Debra turned off the burner. ¡°Everything is ready. Before we rejoin the men, I just wanted to say that I¡¯m here if you need an ear. Your job is to trust him and maintain open communication, but sometimes, you just need the perspective of another woman and a submissive.¡± Warmth stirred in her chest. ¡°Thanks. That¡¯s very kind of you.¡± ¡°Not at all. If you stay, Dave and I will get quite amission from the house you¡¯ll buy.¡± Debra winked as she busied herselfying out the food with Sable¡¯s assistance. Dave and Debra proved to be pleasant diningpanions. He excused himself once during dinner to check on their three-year-old son sleeping upstairs. Sable did her best to hide her surprise that they had a child and bit back the gauche question of how they bnced their D/s lifestyle with parenting. After a moment¡¯s reflection, she supposed it was no different from any other couple¡¯s sex life. They had to be discreet. She wondered about her conclusion after dinner though, when they retired to the living room. Debra took a seat on the floor beside Dave, who sat on the couch. The way she sat suggested it was her designated resting pose. How would they exin that to their child in the future? Well, it wasn¡¯t her business, and she supposed they would make it work, just like every other parent did when it came to challenges. ¡°That was delicious,¡± said Julian. Debra smiled. ¡°Thank you. Sir likes to eat well, but hates gourmet restaurants, so he sent me to culinary school.¡± Sable sipped her coffee to bite back the urge to ask if Debra enjoyed cooking or had wanted to go to culinary school. She didn¡¯t think Dave would have forced his wife to do anything she truly hated, and she didn¡¯t want to offend them with overly personal questions. Julian cradled the sturdy ceramic mug in one hand while casually squeezing her thigh with the other. ¡°I¡¯m lucky that Sable enjoys cooking too and seems very skilled.¡± Sable smiled. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯m just happy you don¡¯t mind washing dishes. I hate dishes.¡± Dave grimaced. ¡°Dishes? Ugh. The kitchen is Debra¡¯s domain, but I do all the yard work.¡± ¡°All?¡± Debra rolled her eyes. ¡°Who nted all the spring bulbs?¡± Dave patted her head, either in an affectionate or condescending manner. Sable couldn¡¯t decide which it was supposed to be. ¡°Who cares about tulips, love?¡± ¡°Curb appeal,¡± she said with a small smirk. ¡°As a realtor, you should know that.¡± He flexed his other hand in a teasing manner. ¡°Someone is feeling sassy tonight.¡± Debra looked up at him through hershes. ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± A pang of envy surprised Sable. She didn¡¯t necessarily envy the obvious fact there was likely a spanking in her new friend¡¯s future. Rather, she envied the closeness the couple obviously shared, regardless of their unique predilections. A lump lodged in her throat as she contemted spending her life alone, never finding what they had. A peripheral nce at Julian revealed he was looking her way, and she smiled slightly while wondering if there could be any future in a rtionship with him. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. With an internal sigh of disgust, she focused on pushing aside the same thoughts and doubts that kept guing her. Instead, she made a determined effort to follow the conversation and participate. It took her a moment to catch up with the talk. ¡°You shoulde by the club Saturday,¡± said Dave. ¡°It might be just your scene.¡± Sable quirked a brow. ¡°Is it a dungeon?¡± It was hard to keep her tone neutral and hide her natural reaction of being appalled at the idea of going to such a ce. Knowing she might have to at some point in the search for Sabrina didn¡¯t make the thought any easier. Dave¡¯s lips quirked, but he didn¡¯t outrightugh. ¡°No, Sable. I¡¯m talking about the country club. Of course, there is something for everyone there¡­¡± He trailed off, leaving her imagination to fill in the nks. It rose to the task by summoning some of the scarier images she¡¯d seen in her research, like skin yed open and bleeding, piercings in painful ces, and bodies confined to St. Andrew¡¯s crosses. It was all she could do not to shiver in reaction. She busied herself sipping her coffee to avoid making eye contact until the brief moment of panic had passed. ¡°That sounds like an interesting idea. What do you think, Julian?¡± He nodded. ¡°We should definitely investigate.¡± Sable nodded, knowing she was the only one who picked up on his second meaning and subtle reminder of their mission. They were here to find her sister, and then she could escape this weird world. The question of whether she would want to leave it, or leave Julian anyway, haunted her for the rest of the evening. CHAPTER FOURTEEN-PART 6 CHAPTER FOURTEEN-PART 6 Sabrina trembled, and Sable acted without thought. Going strictly on instinct, she stomped down on the foot of her assant, grinding in the stiletto heel to maximize damage. When the guy cursed and let go of her, she slipped away from him to run to Sabrina. She scooped her sister into a hug, acting as a physical barrier between Sabrina and Rafe. She red at him. ¡°You¡¯re such a big man, beating up a little girl.¡± ¡°She¡¯s an adult, and she came to me of her own volition. That¡¯s the beauty of all this, Sable. She agreed to do what I wanted, so I¡¯ve broken nows.¡± ¡°You¡¯re delusional.¡± Sable red at him. ¡°Right now, you¡¯re breaking kidnappingws, not to mention authorities frown on human trafficking.¡± Rafe seemed bored with her and looked away. ¡°Load them in the vehicle,¡± he snapped again at his goons. This time, there was no resisting as they crowded around Sabrina and Sable. She struggled to hold on to her sister¡¯s hand, but they were ripped apart by the same goon whose foot she just stomped. He dragged her roughly toward to the SUV, identally smashing her head against the doorframe when he tossed her inside. That earned him a rebuke from Rafe, but she wasn¡¯t stupid enough to think Rafe was going to keep them unharmed permanently. She righted herself and realized the back of the SUV had been configured to hold two bench seats facing each other rather than the traditional configuration. That put her across from Rafe¡ªand offered a perfect view of the back area. She gasped when they tossed Julian in the very back of the SUV, and he waspletely unconscious now. Either he¡¯d been drugged, or they¡¯d finished subduing him physically. She could feel the effects working through her as well and her eyelids were heavy. At least she was beside Sabrina, who clung to her hand, though her sister didn¡¯t speak. Sable realized Rafe had had weeks to condition her to be his little drone, and perhaps her sister was the sensible one by maintaining her silence. Sable didn¡¯t have that in her though. ¡°What happened to Bhudhari?¡± Rafe grinned. ¡°Mr. Bhudhari is in my employment. He¡¯s a security guard, and he stepped in to y a little part in this. I¡¯ve been pulling the strings practically since the moment you and Talos arrived in Rack.¡± ¡°What tipped you off?¡± It was pointless to maintain the charade that she didn¡¯t know who he was now. ¡°With a name like Sable, you stood out, especially after hearing all about you from your lovely little sister. She practically considers you a saint in spite of your judgmental and narrowminded view of her lifestyle.¡± Rafe chuckled. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°That¡¯s not true, or I wouldn¡¯t be with Julian, as his sub.¡± ¡°It was patently obvious you and Talos aren¡¯t in a rtionship, and you¡¯re certainly not his sub. With some discreet digging, it was clear you were here to find Sabrina.¡± Rafe reached out from the seat across from them to push hair off Sabrina¡¯s face. It appeared to be a tender gesture, but Sable suspected it was merely a silent reminder to Sable to emphasize the red, throbbing ce where he¡¯d struck her. ¡°I¡¯m not selling Sabrina. I just used her as bait to ensnare you. We¡¯re all traveling to Dubai, though I haven¡¯t yet decided if Talos will make the full trip. I really like the idea of tossing him out of the ne over the Antic Ocean.¡± His eyes gleamed at the prospect, and he grinned openly for a moment before his expression closed. ¡°You¡¯reing all the way with me though, Sable. You might not be a submissive, but you will be. Talos couldn¡¯t break you, if he even bothered to try, but I will. I¡¯ll break you and reshape you until you¡¯re unrecognizable.¡± Sable couldn¡¯t repress a shiver. When Julian had once mentioned breaking her, he said it in a sexy way and presented it as an option that appealed. There was nothing appealing about Rafe¡¯s statement of intent. She could well imagine he was up to the task of breaking her, and if he couldn¡¯t, he¡¯d kill her. She had no doubt of that. If her choices were to submit to Rafe Monahan or ept death, she honestly couldn¡¯t pick a worse fate between the two. ¡°You should be feeling the effects of the Rohypnol by now.¡± Her eyes widened. ¡°The date rape drug?¡± Rafe chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not going to rape you, at least not yet. I prefer you awake and unwilling if we¡¯re going to y that game. Rohypnol just happens to have a convenient side effect of temporary memory loss and unconsciousness.¡± ¡°Did you give it to Julian too?¡± Her words sounded thick, and it was difficult to string them together. ¡°No, the fool fought until we were forced to subdue him through more barbaric means. That suits me fine, of course.¡± Rafe leaned closer to her, until his face was all she could see. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sable. If I decide to dispose of him over the Antic, I¡¯ll wake you up to make sure you enjoy the show.¡± ¡°You sick bastard.¡± She suspected he wasn¡¯t able to make out the sybles, since they were so garbled, but the statement was clear in her head. ¡°You¡¯re going to die.¡± His indulgent chuckle seemed to confirm he had no idea what she was saying. ¡°Rest now, sleeping beauty, and when you wake¡ªwell, if you¡¯ve read the S&M version of that story, you might have some idea of what¡¯s in store for you.¡± As he spoke, Rafe crossed the distance between them to jerk her head near him. He kept his hand buried in her hair while he ground his mouth against hers. Sable tried to fight, attempting to turn her head or at least lock her lips, but she was too incapacitated to do so, As she passed out, she could only hope he was telling the truth about not nning to vite her unconscious body. On the other hand, not being awake for it might be the lesser of two evils. Chapter 45: EPILOGUE Chapter 45: EPILOGUE Six monthster, Santa Fe ¡°This is quite a crowd,¡± said Sabrina to Sable and Julian as they eyed the potential shoppers filling the store. It was his new branch in Santa Fe, since Julian had chosen to move so she didn¡¯t have to uproot the headquarters for the charitable trust. The n was for Sabrina to go to Phoenix to manage the original store, and she seemed like she was strong enough for the task these days. Sable was still worried about her, but tried not to let it show. She hadn¡¯t even protested very much when Sabrina and Julian had worked out the n. She understood Sabrina needed to test her regained independence. Though she worried about her working in the BDSM shop, which would bring her in contact with the lifestyle on a daily basis, she also understood her sister required that element to thrive. She had to let go and treat her like an adult rather than a little girl. ¡°It¡¯s usually like this when you open a new shop, especially one with a hint of controversy about it,¡± said Julian with small grin. He must be referencing a couple of articles that had appeared in more conservative city papers, decrying yet another filthy sex shop opening in their fair city. Sable moved closer, snuggling against him. ¡°Let¡¯s hope business remains brisk.¡± ¡°If not, you might have to be my sugar mama,¡± said Julian with a wink. ¡°As long as you¡¯re okay with that, I am.¡± She kissed his cheek. ¡°I¡¯ll require you to wear a thong and service me as needed though.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather not wear a thong.¡± ¡°Okay, then nothing it is.¡± ¡°Agreed, and that¡¯s how youpromise.¡± Julian turned his head to kiss her, and it escted. Sable had meant for it to be yful, but her desire rose, and she temporarily lost track of where they were. ¡°Ugh, gross, you guys. Get a room.¡± Sabrina huffed the words before saying, ¡°My flight leaves this evening. I just popped in to see how things are going and tell you both bye.¡± Sabrina straightened her shoulders, looking resolved, as though she expected ast-minute argument with Sable. ¡°I really am going.¡± Sable stifled the urge to try to talk her out of it. ¡°I know. And you¡¯re going to be fabulous.¡± Sabrina¡¯s confidence seemed to rise another notch. ¡°Yeah, I probably am. But I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± ¡°You¡¯d better be. The bridesmaids have fittings three different times before the wedding.¡± Sabrina chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m sure they have seamstresses in Phoenix as well, Sable, but I¡¯ll make sure my dress fits well and I show up on time.¡± ¡°We¡¯d better see you before the wedding, kiddo. That¡¯s still months away.¡± Sable¡¯s insides warmed at the thought of the uing nuptials. The date was still months away, because these things took time to n, and Julian had only proposedst month, but in her heart, she already felt married to the man she loved. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Okay, so I¡¯ll call you when Ind in Phoenix.¡± Sabrina moved closer to hug both of them before stepping back. ¡°I guess we¡¯re ready.¡± She bent down to lift up Sparkles, who was in a TSA-authorized carrier. ¡°Ready for an adventure, sweet girl?¡± ¡°You really will be amazing,¡± said Sable with a slight lump in her throat as Sabrina waved at her and rushed from the shop, looking on the verge of tears herself. ¡°She probably ran out of here so she didn¡¯t have to endure an emotional scene.¡± Sable nodded at Julian¡¯s words. ¡°I¡¯m sure that¡¯s what happened. I¡¯m on the verge myself.¡± She sniffled a bit before discreetly wiping her eyes with a tissue Julian offered. ¡°She¡¯s going to be fine though.¡± She spoke with utter confidence, and more importantly, she felt that confidence. Sabrina hadn¡¯t quite found her path in the world, but she was well on her way. Meanwhile, Sable herself knew exactly who she was, what she wanted to be, and where she was heading. Julian was an integral part of all those things, and she knew it was the same for him. She had complete faith in the man who would soon be her husband and spend the rest of his life with her. She had no hesitation that it was the right choice, and she had no doubts they would spend the rest of their days together. Sometimes, those days might include a little spanking or submission, and she had to admit a fondness for the idea. She lowered her voice. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose we could slip away from all this for a little ytime?¡± Julian chuckled. ¡°You do like to be spanked, don¡¯t you, my love?¡± He looked regretful. ¡°I¡¯m afraid we¡¯ll have to wait until this evening.¡± ¡°If you say so, Sir.¡± He frowned at her tone. ¡°That sounds like a challenge.¡± Sable reached over to pick up something off the shelf and dangled it from her fingers. ¡°Take it however you¡¯d like, Sir.¡± With a sassy wink, she dropped the item, which turned out to be an expensive ss dildo that cracked as it hit the floor, and she winced at therge damage point when he bent down and held it up a momentter. ¡°Oops.¡± She actually did feel bad about damaging expensive merchandise, but she couldn¡¯t show that and risk ruining her ploy for discipline. With a sigh, he took her hand. ¡°It¡¯s clear to me that you need some discipline, pet.¡± He cut his gaze to Ellen, who was the assistant manager. ¡°Miss Collins and I will be in my office doing inventory. Please handle everything, and the other employees if you need a hand besides Marty.¡± Marty was another employee who was circting the sales floor to assist customers. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± said Ellen without a hint of submission, and she seemed oblivious to the undertones between them. She didn¡¯t appear to be tuned to the nuances and was unlikely to be involved in the BDSM lifestyle, so she had no clue what they were about to do. Sable liked that just fine as she followed him into his office. She preferred to be discreet about her love of being spanked. It had been a shocking revtion that she had tried to deny at first, but Julian had recognized and encouraged her interest, and now he reveled in disciplining her as much as she enjoyed receiving a firm wallop from his palm. That was all she enjoyed though. No whips, chains, or paddles for her. Just the basics of his skin against hers. In no time, Julian had stripped her pants to her ankles and had her ass angled in the air while his hand briskly warmed her bottom. She was wet and dripping with need, and it was always like that with Julian, with or without spanking. She couldn¡¯t deny she¡¯d found blissful release in this aspect of submitting though. There was something fun about provoking Julian to the point where he disciplined her with a spanking followed by a sound fucking. It was time for that, and she wiggled her hips impatiently when she heard the rasp of his zipper. He didn¡¯t bother undressing, and she still wore everything but her pants and underwear. A momentter, his cock surged inside her, and she pressed back eagerly, tightening her muscles to keep him deep inside her. ¡°I love you, Sir.¡± ¡°I love you too, Sable.¡± He pressed a kiss to her shoulder as his hips thrust in and out of her rapidly. ¡°This is just a taste, you know?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Tonight, when we have more time, you¡¯re really going to get it.¡± Sable shuddered with pleasure and just the faintest hint of apprehension. She wondered how Julian would press her boundaries that evening, but she wasn¡¯t truly concerned. He¡¯d opened her mind to new possibilities, but he always knew when to draw the line, and she had no fear whatsoever that he¡¯d pressure her to move past a point she didn¡¯t enjoy. ¡°I can hardly wait.¡± And then she couldn¡¯t wait any longer as her orgasm overtook her. Her sheath tightened around Julian¡¯s twitching shaft as he grasped her hips, mmed himself deep inside her, and came with a low grunt. It was a quick joining and more of a sample of what woulde, but it was just what she needed right then to feel their bond and strengthen it further. She couldn¡¯t imagine a day without Julian in whatever capacity they made love or even just spent time together. There wasn¡¯t a doubt in her mind that Julian was the man and Dom for her, and the love of her life. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!