Page 1 of Ashes of Sin and Stardust

Part One

There is a moment inany new dynamic where the submissive pushes back for the first time. It is usually subtle: a hint of attitude, an eye roll, perhaps choosing a piece of clothing that wasn’t approved by the dominant. This is the submissive attempting to challenge the dominant. A wise dominant will shut down the rebellious streak immediately. Reinforce the lines of the relationship, provide a punishment, and have a conversation with the submissive that provides guidance on how to push back appropriately without resorting to topping from the bottom or being a brat.

Bratting is not a form of submission, and is generally considered to be manipulation.

~ Safe Power Play, Chapter 4, by Reuben Weston

Chapter 1

“Iwill destroy you.”

Every night, I dreamt of her. Every morning, I rose to those words digging themselves deeper into my brain, searing themselves into my soul.

A galaxy lived in her eyes. They were dark blue with streaks of lighter blue, and a supernova of purple, gold, and red flecks. Her Cupid’s bow lips were painted dark red, plump and pouty. Her hair was raven-black, long and thick, framing her face in a full-bodied disaster that had a life of its own and would not be tamed.

She wore a black leather collar fastened around her neck, swirls of purple decorating the leather, and my name stamped into the material. Property of Reuben Weston. A look of gratitude and wonder filled her face.

And that phrase, over and over.I will destroy you. I will take everything you know and love. I will be ruthless. I will put you in the ground. There won’t be anything left by the time I’m done. Only ashes.Every morning for the past twenty-four years, I woke with those words and that pretty face etched into my mind.

I had no idea who the girl was, but I’d been looking for her for over half my life. The dream had started off vague and grown more specific as time went on. But it never faded or changed; it only got stronger.

Throughout my life I had a variety of visions and dreams, some of them coming true, some of them fading away, and some changing when someone made a decision that affected their future. So far, this was the only one I got every night, without fail, and was the only one to never change, and never fade. She only got brighter. She only got closer.

My sub. My girl. The girl I was looking for, the one I was supposed to find. The one I was waiting for. I knew when I found her, my life would change.

Was it me she would destroy? Or was I to destroy her? I didn’t know, but I had a feeling it would be worth it no matter what. At this point, being without a submissive, a companion, or a lover for nearly six years, I was ready to find her and start the hunt. I was hungry for it; for the thrill, the adventure, the slow discovery of her, the unveiling of the layers of her soul.

Inside me, the Beast stirred.Find her. Catch her.

All in good time,I told my inner demons, pushing them down.Be patient. She’ll turn up.

Even if it wasn’t time to pursue her, to catch her, I ached to know who she was and what she was like.

Stifling a groan and rolling over, I checked my phone. 4:59 A.M. I dismissed the one-minute left on my alarm, forced myself to my feet, and got to work.

The daily grind hadbecome a coping mechanism for the boredom and frustration. Eat breakfast. Run for twenty minutes and try to lift some weights. Take a shower while the coffee brewed. Boot up the laptop. Answer emails. Pack the suitcase. Drive to the next meeting, hotel, restaurant, or whatever else was on my agenda for the day. It was always different, always changing, and always a mess... and yet it was always redundantly the same. A chaotic, well-practiced routine. I really needed a personal assistant but I didn’t have it in me to train someone new right now.

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