Page 10 of New Tradition

She shrugged. “It’s just a house. We’re both busy people. It doesn’t make sense to put a lot of time into a place when we don’t know what the future holds.”

Samuel tensed and she realized how her words must have sounded. “Shit, Samuel. I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant. We’re together. There’s nothing to worry about there. I just meant with my job and where we live. We’re still figuring everything out.”

He relaxed and stepped away from her. “You don’t think you’ll stay with Anette all six years of her term?”

Erin shrugged. “It would be nice to think that, but statistically we’ll outgrow each other and I’ll need to move on. Not to mention, my real passion is running campaigns. I’ve already fielded a dozen calls from prospective candidates for the next mid-term election looking to see if I’m available for hire.”

He looked surprise. “I didn’t know that. That’s wonderful, baby girl. You can have your pick of jobs then. But let’s backtrack to something else you said. No matter how uncertain our futures are out there, in here it’s solid, and that means it’s not just a house, understood? Our home is worth putting some effort into.”

She nodded and because he looked so solemn, she dropped her head whispered, “Yes, Sir.”

“Hey, stop. I’m not scolding you, baby girl. I’m just trying to let you know how important this is to me. To us.”

She smiled. “I know. And I’m letting you know it’s important to me too. That’s why I said, Sir. Our dynamic is part of what will make this or wherever we live a home.”

His fingers grazed her cheek again. “Then baby girl, maybe you should get on your knees and remind me what our dynamic is.”

Her belly warmed with lust as she sank to her knees there in the kitchen and stared up at him. At first, he’d had her write a simple mantra in her journal when she asked to explore her submissive fantasies of ownership and belonging. Now he often made her recite it on her knees.

“My body is not my own. It belongs to the one who loves me. My mind is forever my own and I give my surrender freely.”

Samuel cupped her cheek and said, “I am the one who loves you and I’m honored to possess a treasure like you.”

It was such a simple act, but it always helped her remember the foundation of their relationship. It often felt like she was reciting a vow.

She pressed her hand against his and waited for him to help her up or give her further instructions.

“I love you,” she whispered after a moment. “I’m sorry I’m so practical sometimes. I feel like it must come across as disinterest in things that are important to you.”

He shook his head. “Stop. I read your journals to me every night, baby girl. I know how committed you are to us. I’ve never questioned that. I don’t always appreciate the way you say things in the moment, but you always express yourself to me when it matters.”

The journaling had started when she first expressed interest in exploring BDSM with him and had continued. It was yet another way she was able to express herself, and her words were always met with love and acceptance.

“You can get up now, baby girl. But after dinner I think I’ll have you spend some time on your knees doing… other things to remind you of what we’re building.”

She stood and kissed his cheek. As she pulled away she said. “I didn’t order dessert, so that sounds perfect.”

His wicked grin made her want to skip dinner altogether.

When the food arrived, they sat in the living room and ate while they talked about their upcoming trip to Solitaire. Erin still felt like the new girl at the club. And since they’d only really been together for a few short weeks, they’d only visited a couple of times. She peppered him with questions between bites and he answered each one as thoroughly as he could.

"Austin was telling me about a time when Lance spanked her even though she belonged to Patrick. Would you ever let another Dom spank me?"

His eyes flashed, and she was pretty sure she knew the answer.

"Absolutely not. You're mine and mine alone."

She smiled. "That's what I thought. It was just interesting to me."

He gave her a stern look and said, "That doesn't mean the others can't call you out for misbehaving, and if you were to purposefully disrespect their place at the club, I might let the offended Dom watch while I paddle you."

She swallowed. "I would never do that, Sir."

He set his fork down. "And why is that?"

She knew the answer to this one. "Because as your submissive, I'm a reflection of you and I would never want to reflect poorly on you. Disrespecting them is a disrespect to you."

His smile was breathtaking. "Good girl. I love how quickly you've taken to all of this."

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