Page 22 of Serpent Darling
"I don't know," he admitted honestly. "It was just something that interested me. I guess I spent my life obeying orders and wanted to see what it was like on the other side. The feeling of control and having someone submit to you completely is exhilarating."
"Have you done a lot?" She asked gently, trying not to be too jealous at the thought of Jagger and this other side of him she didn't know until tonight.
"I've had a few submissives," he answered carefully. "Nothing long-term, and more for the learning process and knowledge that needed to be addressed. They were fully aware that I was starting out and offered to help."
"So, like, they let you practice on them?" She asked, looking to understand.
Jagger sighed. "Yeah."
A hand threaded through his hair as he willed himself to calm down, the topic of choice with the person he'd wanted to build that room for in his arms asking about it making him nervous. "In a sense, we kind of helped each other. They were new to being a sub as well. We experimented and tested boundaries and researched."
"It sounds more like work than sex." Sadie wrinkled her nose.
Jagger laughed, and Sadie raised her head and shifted to look up at him. "In the beginning, it is," he admitted. "If you want to learn how to be safe about it. It's not like you can jump into this stuff blindly; you need to put in the work to get good at it. Like anything in life."
"Are you," Sadie paused to bite her lower lip. "Are you good at it now?"
Jagger dared to look down at Sadie, who was looking at him with lust and curiosity, and his Adam's apple bobbed as he found his voice. "I think I'm pretty decent."
With a nod, she acknowledged that information and snuggled back into her place on his chest. "Will you teach me?" She asked after a pause, her voice so quiet he wasn't sure what he heard her say at first.
Jagger exhaled with a hiss. "It's not so much about teaching when it comes to submission. It's about trust. You'd have to trust me, Sweets. You'd have to completely trust me with your body and mind."
Sadie let out a little yawn, her eyelids heavy. The peace of being in Jagger's arms was causing her to feel heavy with exhaustion.
"But I already do trust you," she whispered, and her fingers traced the snake on his hip.
"I know, baby." Jagger kissed her forehead, brushing her hair out of her face with a gentle swipe of his fingers. "You better after that time I saved your ass when we went hiking."
Sadie's laughter shook her shoulders as she tried to defend herself. "I did not need saving! I merely slipped!" She kicked his leg lightly as she pulled herself closer to him.
Jagger rolled his eyes, and then his strong fingers were on her side, tickling her until she was peeling with laughter.
"Stop!" Sadie pleaded with tears streaming down her face from the onslaught of his attack. "Jag!"
Jagger's smile was warm when he let up and pulled her back onto his chest, her laughter quieting.
"I hate hiking," he admitted, seemingly out of nowhere.
Sadie sounded confused when she spoke. "But you always went hiking with me during college."
Jagger shrugged, slumping down the headboard so he was almost lying down with Sadie on the bed. "You liked it, and I didn't want you going on those trails by yourself. I know what's out there and how easily men want to eat you up. Besides, it gave me an excuse to touch you often when you lost your balance every ten minutes."
"Doesn't seem like you need much of an excuse lately." Sadie teased.
"You're right."
"I know."
"Good."
"Well, I feel like today has certainly been enlightening."
You have no idea, Jagger's mind whispered, thinking back to finding that stupid app on her phone.
"About my lifestyle and that room-" Jagger took a deep breath. "It's not something I expected you to know about until much later. I'm sure some of the stuff there might have surprised you."
"Not really," she admitted. "I was more turned on imagining myself in there. Tied up to the wall with those restraints you had hanging -"
