Code Of Command (A BDSM Erotic Romance Novella Trilogy, Book 1) (5 page)

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I did something I never do; left my chat box open with a status of available. It was late; early actually, nearly two in the morning. Lark and Sirella had seen me to my car and, in case I ever decided to visit Subspace again, gave me their number and email address. Bidding them goodnight, and waving from the driver’s seat, I made my way home faster than ever. At one point, I was sure I’d run a red light. The fever with which I wanted to get home shocked me. I knew all too well why I as filled with an eagerness to be home.

I sat, staring at the green light indicating Dr. T was online. Should I? I wanted to. He did say, after all, to report back. He wanted to know my experience and I felt an intense desire to share it with him, but we’d never chatted before. If I contacted him, was I going too far? Was he even at his computer? It was the middle of the night. Perhaps he just left his computer on and walked away from it. Would he think me mad for contacting him in the middle of the nig –

Good morning, Alex.

An incoming chat window interrupted my internal dialogue. I shrieked, doubling over with excitement. Slowly, I lifted my hands to the keyboard.

Good morning, Dr. T.

Placing my hands in my lap and folding them tightly, I waited.

You’re up late/early.

I grinned widely.

I was out for the evening. Just got back.

I sat, waiting patiently. Seconds passed with no response. Seconds turned into a minute. I waited to see the words “Dr. T is typing”, but they didn’t come. I felt myself deflate. Maybe I should have told him where I went. Why was I playing cat and mouse games with this man? He gave me the instruction and I followed. I should have just said that. Finally, a response appeared.

Did you want to share with me?

,

Nodding as I typed, I gave my response.

Yes.

Patiently this time, I waited. I could see he was typing and placed my hands in my lap, tapping the tip of my fingertips against my knuckles nervously.

(415) 555-9143

Turning to look at my phone, which lay spilled from my small hand purse amongst my make-up, keys and wallet, I stared at it fearfully. Stretching my arm to reach for it I shook my head in an effort to talk myself out of the madness I was slowly entering.

It’s just a phone call, came the voice inside. Besides, I wrestled with myself, it’s about time we spoke to each other. We’ve been emailing nearly a month. This is research, after all.

Scrolling through my settings, I placed my number on block, just in case I was dealing with a whacko of some sort. Dialing the number in the chat window, I paused just before the last number. Looking down at the open chat window, I searched for more words from him. He wrote nothing. He simply waited.

I rocked back and forth as I clutched the phone in my hands, willing myself to press the final number. I wanted him… needed him to urge me to do it, but he sat there, silently, waiting for my call.

The minute on my laptop changed, alerting me to the time it was taking for me to make the call. It had been a full four minutes since he’d sent his last (message). He was going to think (I had) disappeared, too (afraid) to make the call.

(NOTE: At this point, you made a sudden shift to third person.)

Squeezing her eyes shut she clutched her phone tightly. Opening them, she saw her knuckles, ghostly white against the device. Moving her thumb slowly, she inched toward the three on the keypad. Before she could stop herself, she pressed it. She heard ringing through the receiver and pressed the phone to her hear. Clearing her throat, she waited.

Ring… Ring… Ring… Ring… The rings stopped and the sound of a connection came through.

“Hello, Alex.”

Confident and calm, a deep baritone as smooth as butter, his voice greeted her.

Alex’s voice caught in her throat momentarily before she could muster up a, “Hello.”

“Tobias,” he said with a bit of a chuckle.

Tobias! Alex thought to herself. Wow. Nice name.

“Wow. Nice name,” she echoed. Oh, for fuck’s sake, Alex. Get it together!

“Thank you. And, the Alex,” he prodded. “Alexis? Alexandra?”

“Alexandra, “ she answered. “But everyone calls me Alex.”

“Then I will call you Alexandra,” he said matter-of-factly.

His voice was that of bedside manner: informative, powerful and pointed, but with enough softness it lacked intimidation. Alex sat silent, quietly waiting for him to speak again.

“You did as I instructed.” He didn’t ask.

“I did. I arrived home about a half an hour ago.”

“Tell me what you experienced.”

“Oh my goodness,” Alex moaned excitedly into the phone, as if she were speaking with an old friend. “I’ve never in my life time seen the things I saw last night. On television or on the internet, yes, but being there. It was exhilarating. It was definitely scary at first, but, after a while, I felt such an enjoyment I’d never felt before. I even shared some of the discussions we’d had and they agreed you really knew your stuff and were teaching me in the ways I should be taught. ”

“Who were you with?”

“I met a lovely couple only a few moments after I walked in. They helped me feel comfortable and relax. They gave me a tour. Subspace. Have you ever heard of it?

“I’ve been there several times, yes. You chose well, Alexandra. I, personally, know the owners Margot and Jim and they’re wonderful people.”

“I met them too. They were lovely.”

“And how did it all make you feel? Stepping outside of your comfort zone?”

Alex paused, trying to find the right word. Finally, it came to her. “New.”

It was the best description she could come up with. She’d been writing romance for years, but had never branched outside of the vanilla with which she’d always been comfortable. (Seeing) what she (had been faced with) tonight, and learning about the intense and arousing dynamic of power exchange from Dr. T over the past several weeks had been like a rebirth. Not only did she feel as if she was invigorating her career, but invigorating herself, opening herself up to new possibilities in all areas of her life. She certainly wasn’t ready to head down a path of daily floggings and wearing a leash, but (the opportunity being presented here could help her break out of the prison her own personal life had become.

“I saw a woman in a spreader bar, like you mentioned. It was… fascinating.”

“Tell me what fascinated you.”

“Well, “Alex said, as her tensions eased and she felt the worry begin to escape her shoulders. His voice was so warm, so smooth and soft. It was like a soft blanket on which she could lay and, unable to help herself, she pushed her laptop away and stood to walk to her sofa, collapsing gently against it and stretching her legs out long against the arm. (“) I found it fascinating that she was comfortable being, literally, a prisoner; shackled in front of others, nude and exposed , spread and open for everyone to see. She placed her shame and her humiliation on display. She was locked, with nowhere to go, there for us all to see.”

“You have quite the way with words, Alex. You should be a writer.”

Alex froze. Covering, she said, “You’re too kind.”

“The operative words in your statement are “she placed(.)” What you need to understand is she didn’t place herself in that situation. Her Dominant placed her there. He instructed her place her vulnerability on display, for him. Remember the discussion about power? This is what I mean. A submissive gives her Dominant the ability to make decisions for her. That’s why these relationships are so dependent upon trust. You have to trust the person you relinquish your power to. You have to trust they will place you in situations that will guide you to testing your limits and exposing yourself to new things that will bring pleasure to not only themselves, but to their Dom.”

Alex laughed softly. “Is that what you did tonight? Guide me to test my limits?”

“You’re a brilliant girl. What do you think?”

“I think you’re dangerous(,) Doctor Tobias.”

“No more so than you, Alexandra, my dear,” he teased, his voice lowering to a coarse whisper.

The richness of his voice melted over her as she felt her skin flush and the crevice between her legs wet. She cleared her throat to hide her arousal.

“I think I’d like to go again.”

“I had a feeling you might. You have an inquisitive nature that lends to fiery curiosity not easily doused. I’ve been in these sorts of conversations with people before and they usually peter off after several days. You… you stay.”

“Yea…” Alex trailed. “Just naturally inquisitive, I guess. Tobias… ”

“Yes, Alexandra,” he breathed.

“Do you normally stay up this late? It is almost three in the morning.”

He took several breaths. Alex closed her eyes, wondering what the feel of his warm breath would feel like against her cheek.

“Only when I have someone to stay up for,” he said.

The pair sat in absolute silence for several seconds, listening to one another breathe. Tobias was first to break the intensely erotic silence. “You should sleep now. (You’ve) had a long day.”

Alex laughed, “Indeed I did.”

“I want you to call me tomorrow evening. Nine o’clock?” he asked.

“Nine o’clock,” Alex parroted.

She could hear the smile in his voice. “Good. I’ll speak with you tomorrow night, Alexandra. Sweet dreams.”

“Good night, Tobias,” Alex said, pulling the phone from her ear slowly and hitting the ‘end call’ button.

Languishing on her couch(,) she felt herself drifting off into a deep sleep, the sound of Tobias’ voice in her head a welcome lullaby.

CHAPTER FIVE

Alex pulled her legs underneath her, wrapping her arms tightly around her knees like a child. She felt light-hearted like one, listening to the sound of Tobias’ voice over the line. She had worn her bluetooth, a decision she was glad she’d made, as their conversation had stretched on now for a good two and a half hours.

“And what led you to move all the way from Florida to California?” he asked.

“What normally leads people to move: work, change, love,” she said.

“I notice love was last, not first,” he said.

“Well, mostly because love put me last, not first, so, over time, the move became more about work and change, all of which I found following the move. The love, I lost.”

“Mmm,” Tobias mumbled, “Been there. I think most of us have.”

“And you? What lead you to move here?”

“Born and raised, my dear,” he replied.

“Really? That’s rare,” Alexis laughed.

“You’re telling me. Nine times out of ten, someone I meet is from somewhere else. Case in point…”

“Don’t make me into one of your cases, Doctor!” Alex joked. “What kind of medicine (do) you practice, anyways?”

“Um, just your regular general practice type stuff. Runny noses and fevers, aches and pains. That’s me. I’m curious about what you do. Your emails come at such interesting times throughout the day.”

“People have computers at work, you know,” Alex said.

“True, true. I guess since I’m constantly with patients, if it’s not something I can send from my cell phone(,) (it’s) something I send early in the morning before work or late at night when I’m home. You still haven’t answered the question.”

Alex laughed, “Gosh. And you call me inquisitive. I,” she stalled, thinking, “I’m in marketing. For a small venture-based start-up in the South Bay. One of the perks is I work from home quite frequently, thus the flexible schedule.”

“I see,” Tobias said. “And, single?”

“No. Actually, my husband has been (staring) at me strangely the entire three hours we’ve been talking.”

“Ahhhh,” Tobias laughed. “A cuck husband.”

“Oh, goodness,” Alex sighed. “You have so much more to teach me! No, no. I’m single.”

“I figured. You honestly have no idea what a cuckold is?” he asked.

“I’ve heard of it, but, I suppose, learning the intricacies of the relationship would intrigue me.”

“Well,” Tobias said. “Remember the woman in the kimono you mentioned from the other night?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sure you saw her, later in the evening, with other men in the club. Right?”

“I did, yes.”

“The man that was with her is her cuckold. Maybe her partner or boyfriend, maybe her husband, but most certainly her beta male. She has the ability to be with any man she chooses, opting to allow him to please her, in any form she chooses, whenever she chooses. Sometimes this includes sex. Sometimes, no sex at all, keeping his chaste. It’s what the pair desire and what she, ultimately, (decides) is best for them both, most importantly, her, because she is the Dominant in the relationship.”

“And he finds this arousing? Not fucking his wife while other men do?” Alex asked.

“Remember, Alexandra, “There is no ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’. Some men are aroused (at) the idea of their women being with other men while they are forced to a life of chastity or service to her or, even to them. It can get very complicated, but you’ll learn to understand.”

“You’re certainly the proper teacher,” she said as she settled into her couch and laid her head against the edge, grabbing a pillow to make herself more comfortable. “What about the other way around? Have you ever shared your woman with another man?”

“I, personally, haven’t. It’s not my thing. When I bond with my sub, it’s a very deep and powerful bond I choose not to break. She is mine and mine alone. It’s done. Some Masters derive pleasure from loaning out their sub missives, as do some subs with the idea of pleasing their Masters in this way. I do know couples who have tried it, only to stop once they become married or she becomes collared. Their love for one another is just too great.”

“It all sounds so…. Romantic, I guess is the word.”

“You use that word hesitantly,” Tobias said.

“Well, mainly because people don’t normally think of BDSM as romantic. Most people just think it’s kinky people with ropes and handcuffs and whips. But there is a true care and romance to it and, as you’ve taught me, a trust; a strong bond between two individuals aware and accepting of one another’s desires.”

Tobias quieted for a moment. Alex sat up, afraid she’d said something wrong. “What’s wrong?”