Graceful Submission (14 page)

Grace bit her lip. “I’m sorry, Master.”

“That’s all right. I think it just means you like sleeping tied up next to me, cause you earned another night of punishment.”

He kissed her temple. “I want to ask you something, Grace. If you didn’t have your job to go back to, would you stay here?”

“In
California
?” Her heart beat faster.

“In my house. With me.”

She turned to look into his eyes. “Truly?”

“Yes. Don’t answer now. Just think about it.”

“What exactly am I supposed to think about? Being your submissive?”

“It’s not exactly romantic to propose in a hot tub after you’ve just fucked a woman silly, but I think having you as my submissive, and my wife, would be an awesome thing.”

“Toffer, we live in totally different worlds.”

“It doesn’t matter. Like I told you the first night here, my being Drake Dawson doesn’t change anything between us. I love you, Grace. I’ve loved you for days now. Don’t answer just yet. But please don’t rule it out, either.”

Grace bit her lip and he laughed.

“You keep biting your lip and there won’t be anything left of it.”

“I love you, too. But I was married once before and it was a disaster.”

“Yes, but your husband wasn’t me. Think about it. You can give me your answer before you leave on Monday.”

Monday. Grace shook her head. “The day before Valentine’s Day. The day before my hearing.”

“From what you said, Preston thinks it’s a slam dunk. You have no reason to lose your job because of these stupid accusations. But if you wanted to quit and move out here at the end of the year that would be a different story altogether.”

He pulled her close to him and kissed her softly. “We could be together. It doesn’t matter what other people think, or that we live in two different worlds. Here we live in our world. The world of Toffer and Lolly. No one has to know about that world except the two of us. And we would be very, very, very happy.”

Grace didn’t answer. This was what she had been thinking of for weeks. She and Toffer had formed a bond several days after getting to know one another. But the truth of the matter was that when he was Toffer, things had been great. When he was Drake Dawson, she had been scared. She’d forced herself to face those fears, but in the long run would they really be able to stay in their own world, cocooned together against the world?

“I’ll think about it.”

“Promise.”

“I promise, Master.”

“Then let’s go to bed before we end up looking like prunes. Besides, I have a sub to tie-up for the evening.” He grinned and swatted her behind as she scurried toward the bathroom to dry off.

Chapter Thirteen

Note to self: Success can come into your life both personally and professionally if you let it. Don’t sabotage yourself. Think about your answer to Toffer’s question carefully.

To Do List:

Wrap Lindsey’s birthday present

Iron dress for party

Call
Preston
about Tuesday’s hearing

As the hearing date grew closer and closer, Grace got more and more nervous. Despite Toffer’s reassurances she was sure that something would happen at the last minute to cause her world to come tumbling down.

But would that be a bad thing? She had Toffer now, she belonged to him. When he’d untied her on Thursday morning she’d asked if he’d been serious about marriage, or if it had been the wine talking. For an answer, he’d kissed her so deeply she thought his tongue would merge with her own. Then he’d left without another word.

The next two days had been wonderful. They’d talked and played as if they were an old married couple. So if the hearing went south, would it be a bad thing? Grace shook her head. She didn’t want to have her reputation as a teacher tarnished by false accusations. But if she lived with Toffer, would it matter? And would the tabloids get hold of the information and banter her name around as the “blackmailing wife of Drake Dawson?”

She shook her head. The party was tonight. Peter had a full day planned with Lindsey that included a day out at the movies, one of Lindsey’s favorite activities. Then the couple would have dinner while everyone invaded their home. The party planner had assured Grace on Friday that they had “the decorating specs” down to a science and it would only take them a few hours to prepare.

Grace and Toffer were scheduled to meet the organizers at
7:15
, moments after Peter and Lindsey left. Now she sat in front of her laptop, trying to finish the last chapter of her mystery novel and not think about Toffer, not think about what he’d proposed.

But how could she not? Everything depended on her answer. She loved him. There was no doubt about that. But she was almost forty years old, and thinking about taking a huge step away from her comfort zone.

The idea was horribly frightening, and wonderfully exciting. She imagined herself working out of the home she was sitting in, enjoying lunches with Millie and putting her collar on every day when the woman and her husband left.

Her collar. That idea of a collar represented so much. Toffer had put one on her for their sessions in the dungeon. He’d told her last night that if she accepted his proposal they’d have an official collaring ceremony after the party, and that he would expect her to wear the collar when they were alone in the house together. If there were people about he had a short silver chain, holding a charm with the letter “T” that she would wear around her neck.

She closed her eyes and imagined her life. Would he make her sleep tied to the bed every night? He had the last three nights. Of course, he’d say that had been for punishment from the hot tub session on Wednesday night. The memory of that night brought a huge smile to Grace’s face. Despite the original discomfort of taking him that way she’d loved every minute of it. She’d loved everything they’d done together.

Would she love it if it had been someone other than Toffer as her Master? She tightened her eyes and tried to think of her ex in that position. She shuddered in disgust. Likewise, none of the men she’d “dated” since her divorce fit well into her image of a loving dominant that would take care of her … that she could serve and be totally submissive to.

She closed her laptop and went in search of Toffer. She found him in the workout room, building up those beautiful muscles that women swooned over.

“Done already?” He huffed out as he curled his arms up and down.

“Not yet. I just wanted to tell you that I’ve made my decision.”

He set the weights down and crossed to her.

“And?”

“The answer is yes; I’ll marry you.” She pressed her lips to his in a gentle kiss and he enveloped her in a bear hug.

“I love you. I’ll always love you. You won’t regret this. I promise.”

“I know. I love you, too.”

He pulled back and laughed. “I’ve got you all sweaty. Let’s go up and shower together before the party.”

“Anything you say, Master.”

“No. Right now I want us to make love as Christopher Shelley and Grace Kinison. Because Christopher is who you’re marrying. He’ll be your Master, yes, but right now he’s going to be your lover.”

Grace melted into his chest. “Then take me upstairs and ravish me. Make good on your promise to always love me.”

Toffer raised his eyebrows and gave her a cocky grin.

“After you, sweet one.”

When they were in the bathroom they undressed each other, laughing as they pulled clothing from each other’s bodies. The shower was huge, an eight by eight square with multiple showerheads on three walls. Toffer turned them all on and pulled the removable showerhead from one of its moorings.

He turned it to pulse and pulled Grace back against his body, running the water over her breasts and pussy until she cried out.

“All rules are suspended for now, Grace. I want you to come, and come, and come. I want to hear you, feel you, smell your sweet juices, taste you.”

Toffer dropped the showerhead and turned her. He moved her until her back was against the wall, then he dropped to his knees.

“Spread your legs.” Grace put her hands on either side of her hips and spread her legs as far as they would go. She moaned when Toffer parted her lips and ran his tongue up and down her slick folds.

“So very good,” he whispered. His breath tickled her clit and she giggled. Seconds later, the giggle turned into a scream as he sucked the bud into her mouth and Grace came. She ground herself against his face as he licked and nibbled.

“Again.” His words were muffled as he continued his assault. Grace closed her eyes and allowed the sheer bliss of his tongue to spread through her body. He lapped at her clit, sending shivers down her spine as his tongue moved down her folds and pushed inside her wetness.

“Toffer! I need you inside me. Now!”

“But I am inside you. I’m inside your sweet little pussy.”

“No, I want your cock!”

“Don’t you like my tongue?” He teased her by darting his tongue in and out of her, holding her close by clasping her ass in his hands and pushing her into his face.

“You’re killing me!” He ignored her words and continued to lick. His talented tongue sent her over the edge again and she begged him to fuck her.

Toffer lay down on the slick floor. He moved his head out of the water stream and held out his arms.

“Come here, baby.”

Grace knelt over him. She held herself over his erection.

“Is it my turn to tease you?”

Toffer grinned, grabbed her hips and brought her down onto his cock. She gasped and laughed.

“Spoil sport. Of course, I can always tease you with these.” She pushed her breasts together, pulling on her nipples as she rocked back and forth on his cock. The look of hunger on Toffer’s face was priceless.

“Mine,” he growled. “Lean down.”

“No.”

He slapped her ass, the sting accentuated by the water slapping against her backside.

“Lean down. Give me that nipple, now.”

“Never.” She worked to keep from laughing.

He slapped her ass again, and then flipped her onto her side, his cock still inside her as he lowered his head and captured a nipple. She cradled his head against her breast. His thrusts increased as he sucked her nipple.

When he pushed her onto her back and rose above her, she marveled at the look of pleasure that lit his face. He thrust gently back and forth, and then said, “You’re mine, Grace. Forever.”

“Forever.” Their words echoed in the shower, and then he came, their gazes locking as he gently rocked back and forth.

When he’d collapsed on top of her, she whispered, “No protection.”

“I don’t care,” he answered. “I hope we made a baby. Part of you, and part of me. The best of both of us.”

Her heart swelled at his words. She had found the perfect man in Christopher Shelley. And she never planned to let him go.

Toffer stood and helped Grace up.

“Now that we’ve used up all the hot water, shall we bathe in the cold shower?”

“Can we stay here forever? I don’t want to share you with anyone else tonight.”

“What about Lindsey’s party?” He nibbled on her lips, then grabbed the soap and lathered up her breasts.

“I know.” Grace really looked forward to seeing Lindsey. But with her body tingling from Toffer’s lovemaking, she couldn’t help but want to stay in his arms.

“We’ll continue this later, Lolly.” He grinned and kissed her again.

“As you wish, Master.”

* * * * *

Even though she’d greeted Lindsey at the door, Grace didn’t get a chance to really talk to her until more than two hours into the party. People had surrounded Lindsey to wish her well, and even though she’d tried to latch onto Grace, she’d been lost in the crowd.

When Grace heard her friend’s voice whisper in her ear several hours later, she’d laughed.

“Get upstairs, now! I want to talk to you.”

Lindsey had slammed the door of the office once they were upstairs.

“You bitch! How could you?”

“Peter wanted it to be a surprise,” Grace said innocently, knowing full well that not telling her about the party wasn’t what Lindsey meant.

“I’m talking about Toffer. You’ve been staying with him for more than a week and you didn’t call me? You didn’t tell me that you and he were having sex? Geeze, my best friend develops a relationship with the most eligible bachelor in Hollywood and I have to find out about it at least a week after it’s happened. You owe me some gossip, woman! So spill. Now!”

Grace laughed as the women embraced. She had been determined not to tell Lindsey that she and Toffer were engaged. She didn’t want to ruin the party that was supposed to be for her friend. Now she knew that if she waited to tell her, Lindsey would never forgive her.

“Can you keep a secret?”

“Depends.” Lindsey put her hands on her hips and cocked her head.

“He asked me to marry him, and I said yes.”

The look of total shock on Lindsey’s face made Grace giggle.

“You’ll live here! We can see each other all the time! Maybe you can write for the show! Oh my stars! I can’t wait to tell Peter.”

Lindsey ran for the door and Grace pulled her back. “Not now! This is your moment and Peter has gone to a lot of trouble. I don’t want to overpower it with this. Besides I don’t want to make everything known until Toffer and I have talked through the details. I just told him yes this afternoon.”

“So is he good in bed? No, wait, don’t answer that. I don’t want to ruin the fantasy.”

Grace raised her eyebrows and Lindsey laughed.

“Hey, I’m only human!” They headed downstairs arm in arm, weaving through the crowd toward the kitchen. Toffer was talking to someone that Grace didn’t know. She heard people refer to him as Drake several times and she laughed. It was still difficult to think of him as Drake Dawson. To her that would be a work persona, just like her nom de plume would be her work persona.

Peter pulled her in for a brotherly hug and then kissed her cheek. “Can I be the first to say ‘Hello, Mrs. Shelley?’”