Submission

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 petulant note in her words.

Julian laughed, 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 titillation. 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.”

those are all that kinky, Sable, but what do you

anything. I’d love a seduction scene,

caressed her with the flogger again, and the strands tickled her stomach. “What do you want this

“I don’t

have thought

our naked bodies—” She broke off,

will write out your fantasy in detail and present it to me

it out instead of saying it. She was eager to move on and answered the rest of his questions without stumbling. Her last reward was another

from

breath, wondering if he would permit the

she extended it. A second later, the blindfold came off, making her grateful for the dimmer illumination provided by the electric candles as

her bare arm. When she reached for her shirt, he intercepted her

to ask why, but didn’t. Was she imagining the trace of desire in his expression? Trying to appear casual, she glanced down and saw evidence of his arousal pressing insistently against his jeans. The sight made her mouth water and heat flare between her thighs, though she wouldn’t have admitted to an attraction to him under threat of torture before

you like

your family and childhood

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 vanilla, and I’m the sole freak

did you become…like

liked to be in control. I was the bossy one on the playground, but the other kids listened. In my teens, I got

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

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 accountability in the process. By the time I was out of