Graceful Submission (2 page)
Read Graceful Submission Online
Authors: Melinda Barron
Grace stared at the screen. The feeling in her stomach built and moved to her nipples, which hardened immediately. Toffer’s words on the screen made her feel warm, very warm. In all the right places. She shook her head.
Graceful:
Never mind. I’ll talk to you on Saturday. I’ve got to get these papers graded.
Toffer4U:
OK, for now. But Principal Shelley will be back on Saturday and he’ll want an explanation. So be prepared, missy.
His icon disappeared from the screen and Grace laughed. The tingling that had spread to her nipples had made its way south. How long had it been since a man asked her about herself? And why was the idea of talking about punishment with Toffer exciting to her? She didn’t even know the man.
She wondered what he did for a living. If she called Peter with her questions, then Lindsey would wonder why she was asking about Toffer. She would just have to ask the man in question on Saturday.
She picked up her red pen and took a paper off the huge stack on her desk. Only thirty-two more projects to grade. At least her Saturday conversation with Toffer gave her something to look forward to while she dodged Joe Watson during the week.
* * * * *
Christopher “Toffer” Shelley, known as Drake Dawson to his millions of adoring female fans, shut off his laptop and laughed.
He wondered what Grace Kinison was thinking right now. It was obvious that she had a sense of humor. The remark about the jury proved that. Did she think his parting remark was funny? Or did she think he was a jerk?
It had been so long since he’d talked to a woman as Toffer that he’d forgotten how great it felt. Grace wouldn’t judge him on his 6 foot 3 inch frame. She wouldn’t judge him on his square chin and high cheekbones; his muscles or his broad shoulders; his tanned skin and brilliant smile; or his light blue eyes and dark hair.
She wouldn’t know about his ability to charm fans and the press. He could be himself and not Drake Dawson, star of both the small and big screen.
He walked upstairs to his workout room and programmed the stair-stepper. He began his workout with a smile on his face. He wondered if she was submissive, or if she was freaking out right now about the punishment idea. He hoped she was submissive, that she would react favorably to his tendencies. An online submissive was better than none. And Toffer hadn’t had a submissive in his life for ages. He’d learned early in his career that letting his dominant tendencies known was risky. He didn’t want to see his sex life splashed across the tabloids.
Toffer’s cock hardened as he worked out. Getting to know Grace was going to be fun. With any luck, he could make her his online sub. He’d have Thai food delivered to the house on Saturday. And he’d buy a bottle of red wine to sip while he IMed with Grace.
He made a mental note to tell Peter that he’d introduced himself as Toffer, not as Drake. Then he felt a pull at his conscience. Was it fair of him not to tell Grace the truth? He wasn’t really lying, per say. He really was Toffer Shelley, legally. Drake Dawson was his professional name.
If she came out and asked him if he was Drake Dawson he would tell her the truth. Until then he was just Toffer. And he was happy that Toffer was going out to play on Saturday with Grace.
Chapter Two
Note to self: Just because you talk with someone online doesn’t mean you are attracted to them. No harm can come from a conversation.
To Do List:
Attend faculty meeting
Pick up take-out menu from
Pick up bottle of red wine
Go through and scan photos picked up yesterday from the Murphy house
Try to forget every embarrassing thing I’ve ever done so I don’t incriminate myself tomorrow while IMing with Toffer
Keep up writing streak and finish Chapter Nine of manuscript
The week had been perfect. It had started with her interesting conversation with Toffer. It had continued when she’d given Jessica the good news that, as long as she kept working hard, she would pass senior English. It had hit another high when Joe Watson had gone out of his way to ignore her. The good days had continued when she and Toffer exchanged daily e-mails. She told him about Watson and he told her about life on a TV set. He’d never come out and said it, but she knew that he must be a writer for the show to be such good friends with Peter.
The e-mails had contained subtle hints of sexuality. Nothing too overt, just reminders that he wanted to spend time on Saturday getting to know her better; Principal Shelley was interested in correcting her bad behavior, if necessary.
The week had peaked last night when her IM program dinged with a message from Toffer.
Toffer4U:
Hello from LaLa land. Looking forward to Saturday. Don’t forget the Thai food. Do you have a scanner so you can shoot me photos? And I want details. Lots of details. And, oh yeah, stories about Lindsey too …
Graceful:
Scanner hooked up. Teacher has amnesia and can’t remember anything about her own life. Sorry. :-(
Toffer4U:
Does Principal Shelley need to stand you in the corner? Would that bring back your memory? Please advise.
His comment had made Grace smile. Her fingers were trembling as she’d typed her response.
Graceful:
I thought you were gonna bring the paddle? Guess I’m off the hook, huh?
Toffer4U:
Hardly. The corner is for after the paddling. And I don’t paddle on a covered behind, so be prepared to bare your little ass. If I were you, I would start remembering, really quick.
And his icon had disappeared. Grace had hugged herself, excited about the prospect of a cyber spanking. D/s play had always fascinated her, but she’d never had the chance to try it out. She knew that she would be meeting Toffer in three weeks time when she went to Los Angeles for the party. Would he want to play with her in real life too, or was this just an online flirtation?
She hadn’t told Rebecca about the cyber punishment. She had told her about the conversation turning a bit sexy; she just didn’t say what direction the sexy part had taken.
“And I’ve been writing like a fool,” Grace told Rebecca Friday at the faculty meeting at lunch. “You wouldn’t believe how things have been flowing out of me. I don’t know what started it.”
Rebecca took a sip of her water. “How about a man telling you he wanted to hear details about your life? That denotes some interest.”
Grace laughed. “You think? He was pretty funny. I can’t wait to meet him.”
Her grin disappeared when Mr. Alt walked to the front of the room. She was going to miss this man. He had been a great principal.
“Welcome to my last faculty meeting as your principal.” The emotion was visible in Mr. Alt’s voice and the faculty members gasped. “I know that everyone expected me to remain until May, but things have come up in my life that precipitates my leaving early. Mr. Watson is now the principal, effective immediately.”
His voice grew low and tears appeared on his cheeks. The crowd grumbled and Alt held up his hands.
“Things will be fine and I’ll miss you very much.” The crowd rose and clapped and Alt shook Watson’s hand and left the room.
“I’m thrilled to be the new head of
His words sent a chill up Grace’s spine. She looked at Rebecca, who mouthed the words, “Hello, little fishes, and welcome to freshman English.”
“I’m already working on new teaching assignments for next year.” Watson looked around the room. His gaze stopped on Grace and his smile deepened. “We are also taking applications for my new right hand. If you are interested in this position, see me ASAP.”
The meeting ended in a smattering of applause and Grace slumped back against her chair.
“You’re gonna get screwed, and not in a good way,” Rebecca said softly. “You have more experience than half the English department, and he’s going to have you teaching the lower end freshman English classes.”
Grace felt the breath leave her lungs. Then she sat up straighter and smiled. “I don’t care. Nothing can ruin the high I’ve been on this week. If he tries to screw me, I’ll quit.”
“And lose retirement money? Are you out of your mind?” Rebecca’s blue eyes widened in alarm.
“I won’t let him bully me. If he thinks that by changing my assignment, I’ll cave into him, he’s sorely mistaken.”
* * * * *
Grace stared at the blindingly white snow that draped the grounds and trees. The delivery man had just dropped off her Thai food and she’d poured herself a glass of wine. It was a little early in the day, but she didn’t care. She’d looked forward to this all week. Fifteen more minutes until Toffer IMed her.
His comments from yesterday about the paddling and standing in the corner brought a smile to her face. She wasn’t sure why. Maybe it just took her mind off Watson and his threats to demote her. Or maybe it was just the idea of submission. She’d thought about it before, but never brought it up to anyone. She’d never even told Lindsey, or Rebecca, about her secret fantasies. She’d tried to propose the idea of bondage to Jesse, her ex, who had promptly shot her down.
Grace took a sip of wine and then filled her plate with food. She’d just taken a bite of a spring roll, when her IM button pinged.
Toffer4U:
Good afternoon, Gracie.
Graceful:
Hi, Toffer. How are you today?
Grace laughed. A week’s worth of e-mails and it was like they’d known each other for years.
Toffer4U:
Fine. Just polishing up my paddle.
Graceful:
Good. Yours? And I’ve been good. You don’t need the paddle.
Toffer4U:
We’ll see. I want to get the party business out of the way first. Then you and I can play a little, get to know each other better. And talk about the punishment. Do you have photos for me?
Grace took a deep breath as she read the message again. Ten minutes ago the idea of a cyber paddling had been fascinating. Now it scared her half to death. Of course he wasn’t here. But in three weeks, she would be in Los Angeles, and the threatened spanking could turn into the real thing. She set down her wine glass and sighed. This could be fun or this could be very scary.
Did she really want to go here? Or did she want to put a stop to it, immediately. If she put her foot down, they could plan the party and be done with it. But if she said yes, they could explore something that she’d always been fascinated about. And since she didn’t know him, she didn’t have to be shy, or worry about what he thought about her weight. Not yet, anyway. She needed to remember that this was a friend of Lindsey and Peter. So surely he wasn’t a creep. Hopefully.
Peter trusted him enough to ask him to help with the party. That counted for something. But Peter wasn’t going to discuss sexual things with someone he’d never met. The IM ping shocked her out of her thoughts.
Toffer4U:
Grace? Are you still there?
Graceful:
Yes, I’m here.
Toffer4U:
Did I scare you?
Graceful:
A little.
Graceful:
OK, a lot.
Toffer4U:
Hum … but are you tempted?
Grace bit her lip and stared at the screen. Then she tentatively typed in
yes
. Her hand moved toward the enter button, and then pulled back, before she finally reached out a finger and hit send.
Toffer4U:
Good. Hold on to that feeling. Now, about the photos …
For two hours, they laughed as Grace told stories of her and Lindsey’s childhood that included camping, whitewater rafting, horseback riding and reading. She shot him a copy of the first story they’d written together, a horrible rip-off of the Nancy Drew stories that he promised to read later that evening.
Around
, she reached the end of her scanned photos. She took a deep breath as she stared at the last one.
Graceful:
This is Lindsey and I just after my wedding. She was my maid of honor. Of course, the marriage turned to garbage, but it’s the best photo I have of the two of us in recent years.
She’d debated about whether or not to send that photo. After all, it showed her in all her glory. When she’d sent everything else, she decided it was a good idea. Toffer would get the chance to see her, to see that she wasn’t beautiful and model-thin. She held her breath as the file uploaded to his computer. If he forgot about the punishment discussion after seeing the photo, then she’d know that he wasn’t impressed with her body. Better to get it out in the open now.
Toffer4U:
Is that your husband standing next to you?
Graceful:
My ex-husband, yes.
Toffer4U:
I can see why you left him. He doesn’t deserve someone as lovely as you are.
Graceful:
She sighed and chewed on her lip. No derogatory comments about being fat, no “nice tits, baby.”
Toffer4U:
So are we done with the work, any more photos or stories about Lindsey that I need to give to Peter? We’ve done our duty for the afternoon?
Graceful:
Yes, I think so. :-)
Toffer4U:
Good. Before we go any further, I want to make a few things clear. I’m a Dom. Do you know what I mean by that?
Grace stared at the screen, her heart beating wildly. She’d known that already, but she was impressed that he came right out and said it. The idea made her squirm in delight.
Graceful:
Yes, I’ve read about D/s before.
Toffer4U:
Have you thought about submitting to a man?
Grace took a deep breath and sighed. She couldn’t believe this opportunity was being given to her. It was thrilling. And it was frightening.