Page 25 of Submit

Chapter Eight

She took the same route to Adam’s house she had the week before, taking the cab Adam ordered for her. The evening fog had rolled in early and the air was cool and damp. Even now, at night, she could see the fog obscuring the stars and moon, could feel it all around her. She’d always love the faint tang of sea salt in the air in San Francisco. It soothed her raw nerves a bit. But only a bit tonight. Most of her was thrumming with anticipation like some drumbeat deep in her body, shimmering out to her limbs, through every nerve ending.

The cab made a straight shot down the Church Street hill, then through the east end of Noe Valley. The city’s lovely Victorian structures flashed by outside the windows: store fronts, bars and restaurants, the beautiful homes the city was famous for. She was acutely aware of everything—the sensations in her own body, but also the city outside the dark, womblike confines of the cab. Neon signs, the glow of streetlights, the chugging buses, a group of people standing outside a bar. Color and sound and scent all around her.

She realized then that she was worked up into an incredible state of hyper-awareness, a lovely, nearly painful awareness she’d never felt before.

Almost there.

Her fingers tapped the vinyl seat on either side of her thighs, which were pressed tightly together as she tried to suppress some of the tension between them—tension that had built excruciatingly all week. If he hadn’t instructed her not to, she would have spent the entire week with her vibrators, getting off in her bed, in the shower, on the damn living room floor.

But he had made her wait, and now she understood exactly why.

Oh, he was cruel. But in the most wonderful way possible.

She recognized his block as the cab slowed and pulled over. She recognized the feeling of being there, arriving at Adam’s home, but tonight she felt completely different. This time she had some idea of what might happen there. She knew the scent of him, the feel of his hands on her skin: the gentle touch of stroking fingertips, the rough touch of his spanking palm. She was soaking wet by the time she reached his door.

She knew in making her wait to see him, he’d wanted her to take some time to figure out if this was working for her, to be certain this was what she truly wanted. Over the course of the week, she’d come to understand she’d never wanted anything so much in her life.

Adam had arranged payment for the driver, so she got out and went to the front door and knocked, her heart hammering in her chest. Adam pulled the door open right away, as impossibly handsome as always. He was dressed all in black, the color of sin. He smiled at her, a wicked gleam in his deep blue eyes.

“Welcome, Skye.”

She paused, feeling uncertain, but he reached out and drew her through the door.

“Why so quiet?” he asked, rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb.

“I… I think I’m sort of falling into subspace already. Is that normal?”

“There’s no ‘normal’ or ‘abnormal’ in the BDSM realm. Everyone responds differently. But is it common? And does it please me? Absolutely.” He stroked a finger over her jaw, and she simmered at his touch. “So smile, beautiful girl.”

She did, feeling as if she were lighting up from the inside. It was those words again. Beautiful girl. The way he said them. The way he looked at her. She could feel his pleasure with her, could already feel his absolute command, and she’d just walked in the door. What else might happen there tonight? In his house? In his hands?

She bit back a small moan as he slid her coat from her shoulders and hung it in the hall closet.

He turned to her then, laying his hands on both of her shoulders, looking into her eyes. Searching them. His were that magnetic dusky blue. Intense, as always.

“Tell me, Skye, how are you?”

“I’m fine. Wonderful.”

“Have you done some thinking? About what we’re doing? About being here with me? About your entry into this lifestyle?”

“Yes, I’ve thought about it a lot. I’ve thought of almost nothing else, to be honest.”

Except him.

“And?” He gave her shoulders a small squeeze.

“And this is exactly where I want to be. This is what I’ve needed. You were right and… I want the process. I know that now. You’ve helped me see it, helped me see myself. I’m understanding things more and more, how it’s working for me. Maybe it sounds corny, but I see the beauty in it. Does that make sense?”

“Absolutely. You have no idea how much that rings true for me.” He gave her shoulders another squeeze, his dark brows drawing together. “I know you’re going under already, Skye, but tell me truthfully. Would your answer be the same if I asked you at any other moment?”

“Yes, of course. I couldn’t even say it now if it wasn’t the truth, I swear it.”

He smiled, his grip on her shoulders relaxing. “Good. That’s good.”

He slid his hands down, his eyes glittering in the soft lighting, his mouth softening. He said quietly, “Tell me then, Skye, are you ready to begin our evening?”

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