Seduced by Fire

THREE




The week passed slowly. Daniel called twice and they sent a few texts back and forth, and even planned a date for Saturday, but he seemed distant. Julie remembered his words from the benefit, that there were things she didn’t know about him. Did that explain the distance? Or did he think her cheap and easy after the night in her hotel room?

On Thursday night, she sat in the shop, counting down the minutes until she could lock up. Then it would be back to her place for takeout and a good book. At least she had Saturday night to look forward to. Saturday night she’d keep her clothes on for the entire date. Or at least until they could talk about why he was so distant.

If there was a following week. Sasha had said she wouldn’t be compatible with Daniel. Maybe she was right. Earth-shattering sex aside, because they’d certainly seemed compatible in bed.

She drummed her fingers against the countertop. She’d had the dream again. The one that had started during college. Though it’d always been the same, last night it’d ended differently.

The room is dark. A single candle provides the only light. He’d told her to keep her eyes closed, but she risks a small peek to try and see him. Always he was cloaked in darkness. Always. Tonight is no different.

“Did you open your eyes?” His voice is thick with displeasure.

She whispers her apology, but it’s too late. One hand covers her mouth, while the other slips her panties down her hips.

“I’ll teach you to disobey a direct order.”

Somehow, she is on her stomach and he is spanking her. It doesn’t hurt, it simply turns her on more, and she wiggles in a desperate attempt to alleviate the needy ache between her legs.

“Look at you getting horny by being spanked.” He rains more slaps against her flesh. Harder. Harder. “The harder I spank you, the more desperate you are to come.”

He’s right. There’s no sense in even trying to deny it. He circles her * and she comes with a yelp when he sweeps a finger across her hungry flesh.

“I didn’t give you permission.”

He flips her over, onto her back, and for the first time ever, she sees him clearly.

“Daniel!”

“Thinking about a certain banker again?” Sasha flipped the sign over the door to CLOSED.

Julie couldn’t believe she’d spoken aloud, but just remembering the dream had surprised her again. Now she blushed and tried to explain. “No, I just thought I saw someone who looked like him walking by out the front window.”

Sasha looked at her funny, but didn’t point out it was too dark outside to see anyone walking by. Julie decided to change the subject. “Time for me to curl up with a good book. What are you doing tonight?”

“It’s my monthly group meeting.” Sasha tilted her head and gave a sly smile. “Come with me?”

“What? No. I’m not like that.” She didn’t know why it was so difficult to admit her interest.

“I’ve seen the look in your eyes when I talk about it. I know you’re curious. Come check it out. Trust me. You won’t regret it.”

Julie was so tempted.

Sasha held out her hands as if weighing something. “Lonely Thursday night or meeting cool people? Romance novel or acting out your fantasy?”

She would never stop wondering what BDSM was all about until she learned more. Though she’d never admitted it to Sasha, she was extremely curious and the reoccurring dream had been at the forefront of her mind all day. She knew the meeting would be safe. And Sasha would know everyone. “Oh, okay. I’ll go.”

Her friend applauded. “Good for you. Take charge. Come on, I’ll brief you in the car.”

During the drive to the community center that housed the meeting, Sasha chatted about what to expect. Namely, that everyone would have a bracelet on. As a first-time guest, Julie’s would be white. Sasha, a submissive, wore red. Switches wore green. Doms wore black.

When she entered, she’d be given paperwork to look over and complete if she would like to come back or attend the party the next day. After a brief meet and greet time, a senior member would lead the group in either a teaching session or a roundtable discussion.

“What’s the topic tonight?” she asked Sasha.

Sasha stared intently at the red light they were stopped at. “I’m not exactly sure.”


“I don’t know if I’m ready to talk sex with a roomful of strangers.”

“Only roundtables involve group discussion and even then, they won’t make you talk.”

Julie squirmed in her seat. She wasn’t a prude. Heaven knew, she had only to look back to last weekend to figure that out. She just wasn’t sure she was open-minded enough for the next few hours.

“You going to the play party tomorrow?” she asked Sasha.

“Yeah, Peter and I are doing a demo.” She turned and gave Julie a wicked smile. “Wanna come?”

“I’ll probably pass.”

“Invitation’s open.”

She loved Sasha as much as she loved her sister; she just didn’t know if she wanted to see her participating in whatever it was she was demoing with her latest fling.

They pulled into the parking lot and there were a lot more people present than she’d anticipated. Even though Sasha told her not to worry and that the group held confidentiality in the highest regard, she still feared running into someone she knew. Or running into someone next week that she’d met at the meeting.

A friendly-looking young guy wearing a green bracelet greeted Sasha warmly and handed Julie a stack of papers and a white bracelet.

After slipping the plastic band on her wrist, she flipped through the papers.

“Don’t let the checklist freak you out,” Sasha whispered.

Julie glanced at a few items on the list and decided it would be best to read through it later. In private. And with the Internet handy.

The forms she didn’t pay much attention to, since she wouldn’t be going to the party the next day. She’d take them home, too. If she ever decided to come back, she’d fill them out then.

Sasha introduced her to a few people and Julie began to relax. Everyone was open and friendly. There seemed to be an equal number of men and women present, representing a wide age range. Sasha addressed the people wearing black bracelets as either “sir” or “ma’am,” but since Julie was new, they insisted she use their first names.

Julie was standing with Sasha, talking to a group of women wearing red bands, when a familiar voice rang through the room.

“Sorry I’m late. Everyone go ahead and take a seat. We’ll get started right away.”

She spun around to find Daniel striding through the crowd. On his wrist was a thick black band.

“What the hell, Sasha?” Julie asked when her mind cleared somewhat and she found her voice.

Sasha sighed. “You needed to know.”

Holy f*ck. Daniel was a Dom.

She couldn’t be more shocked. Clearly this was what her dream was trying to tell her, and she hadn’t been listening. She was certain if she thought about it, it would make sense. Maybe. But at the moment she was still dealing with the shock of seeing Daniel. At Sasha’s BDSM group meeting. Where he was a Dom.

“What?” Julie questioned. “So you thought dragging me here was the best way for me to find out?”

“You’re getting more and more involved with him and he obviously isn’t telling you. I know something happened last weekend—it was written all over your face on Monday. Don’t look at me like that. I’m not an idiot.”

Last weekend. Daniel’s insistence she needed to know more about him. Her lighthearted brush-off of that insistence.

The two of them were starting to draw attention. The group of submissives moved away to find seats. A black-bracelet-wearing man she’d been introduced to moments earlier came up to them.

“Is there a problem here, ladies?” He looked cold and hard. Julie guessed he didn’t smile often.

“No, sir,” Sasha replied. “No problem here.”

Julie wondered if she could slip out of the room without Daniel seeing her. But their little commotion had grabbed his attention. He caught her gaze and his eyes widened in shock.

“Julie?” Then he looked to the woman at her side and understanding crossed his face. “Sasha,” he said, his voice low and commanding, allowing no possibility of disobedience. “Side room. Now. Dena, run a roundtable discussion.”

Sasha straightened her shoulders and, looking like a condemned prisoner walking to meet her fate, followed Daniel out a side door. The man who had approached her and Sasha went with her.

A leggy blonde jumped up. “Um, since Master Covington has been detained, let’s have whoever wants to share tell one thing that can improve communication between Dominant and submissive.”

Not jumping their bones when they tell you there’s something you need to know.

Several heads turned in her direction.

Damn it all, did I say that out loud?

Luckily she hadn’t, and the conversation began to flow around her. She found she couldn’t concentrate on the words. Instead, she unsuccessfully tried to hear what was happening in the side room. There wasn’t any yelling or shouting that she could hear. Then again, Daniel didn’t seem like the yelling sort.

And why had the blonde called him “Master”? Didn’t that speak to a deeper intimacy?

The side door eventually opened. Sasha slipped out and sat down beside her. “They want to speak to you,” she whispered.

“They do? Why?”

“It’ll be fine. Just go on.”

Julie stood up on trembling legs, stopping only when Sasha grabbed her hand and whispered, “I only did what I thought best. I hope you know that.”

Julie squeezed her hand and walked to the door. Deep inside, she knew Sasha had acted out of a good heart. That didn’t mean she wasn’t still upset at the way she handled the situation.

Her heart raced as she entered the side room, but she didn’t want to look anything less than calm, cool, and collected to Daniel. Even if she was the exact opposite.

A row of chairs was placed in a semicircle in the middle of the room. Daniel sat in one, but stood at her entrance. He gave her a tentative smile. She took a deep breath.

“Daniel, I—”

He held a hand up. “Jeff. Leave us.”

She’d forgotten about the other guy.

Jeff stood up from his chair. “That goes against protocol.”

“I know.”

“You helped write the protocol.”

“I know.”

“So then, you understand why I strongly suggest someone else be present.”

“Jeff, I heard you, but with all due respect, I’m going to politely tell you to leave one more time.” It was a no-argument-allowed, don’t-even-think-of-disagreeing voice.

It appeared as if Jeff gave serious thought to disagreeing, but he eventually nodded. “Right. I’ll go help Dena with the roundtable. You take as much time as you need.”

Daniel only turned his attention back to her when the door closed. His eyes looked tired and there were crease lines in his forehead. “I’m sorry. I never imagined you finding out like this.”

She thought about going and sitting down next to him, but decided to stay where she was for the moment. “How did you imagine me finding out?”

The corner of his mouth lifted. “I do like your spirit.”

“Are you avoiding the question?”

The smile left. “Come, sit down.”

“First tell me what’s going to happen to Sasha.”

Though she was still irritated with Sasha, she knew how much her friend enjoyed the group. It would be upsetting if they kicked her out. Surely, she hadn’t done anything to warrant that.

Daniel seemed to sense her concern. “Very well. Nothing’s going to happen to Sasha. Assuming, that is, your story matches hers.”


Her mouth dropped. “You brought me in here for an interrogation?”

“I think ‘interrogation’ is pushing it a bit, but yes, I have to question you. And it was either in here or out there. Personally, I thought you’d prefer it be just the two of us talking instead of doing so in front of the entire group.”

In front of the entire group? He would do that? Her heart rate had slowed a bit. At his suggestion he could question her in front of the group, it started pounding again.

It was as if Daniel sensed her unease. “You have to understand how important we hold each other’s confidentiality. Our lifestyle isn’t commonly accepted. If I . . . we found out that she had told you about me, about anyone . . .”

“She didn’t. She’s actually invited me several times to come in the past. We were closing the shop tonight, she mentioned she was coming.” She shrugged. “I didn’t have anything to do. And I’ve always . . .”

“Yes?”

“Wondered.” There. She’d said it out loud. To Daniel even.

But he showed no reaction to her confession. “That’s pretty much what Sasha said. Except you know, of course, that she was aware I’d be here and she knows you and I are . . . involved.”

“Yes, I know. I’m still pissed at her about that.”

“As your friend, I can see how you’d be upset, but as a senior member of Sasha’s BDSM group, I understand why she went about it the way she did.”

“Which brings us back to my original question. How did you imagine me finding out?”

He sat back down in his chair. “Come sit with me, please?”

Warily, she crossed the floor to him. When she took the chair beside him, he held out a hand. She placed hers on it and their fingers intertwined.

“I was going to tell you Saturday night.”

She believed him. Though he hadn’t told her everything about himself, she knew enough about him to know he wouldn’t lie.

“Why did that woman call you ‘Master Covington’?”

“Dena? The blond submissive?” At her nod, he continued. “It’s a title used by the group’s submissives when addressing the senior Dominants.”

She gave a sigh of relief. “I thought you and her, maybe, you know.”

The hand holding hers tightened a bit. “No, we’re not. I’m not with anyone right now except you.”

Her heart gave a little flutter and she squeezed his hand back. His thumb stroked her palm.

“Now,” he said. “About that wondering part you mentioned.”

“I’m not sure I’m ready to talk about it right now. Just seeing you here. Finding out you’re a Dominant. It’s just . . . I need to let it sink in.”

“Fair enough, but will you answer one question?”

“Maybe?”

His thumb continued stroking hers. “When you were wondering, what role were you in? Were you a Domme, with a submissive worshipping you? Or was it you who kneeled? Did you find your strength in control or yielding?”

She closed her eyes against the sensation his touch created. Behind her closed eyes she saw it so clearly: her body, given to him, for his use.

“I yielded,” she whispered.

“Oh, Julie.” He untwined their fingers and stroked her cheek. “Open your eyes. Look at me.” When she opened them, he continued. “Never doubt the strength to be found in yielding. A good Dominant understands that strength. Protects it. Makes it flourish.”

Her mouth was dry. “And you? Are you a good Dominant?”

The look in his eyes spoke of one at complete ease with who he was. “I’m the best.”

? ? ?

Daniel watched as her expression changed from shock to desire. She might not be ready to discuss her interest in submission, but her body knew what it wanted. He could wait for her to be ready. He’d seen the same look in the eyes of numerous submissives. It was only a matter of time. What she needed was the space to think.

“Do you still want to have dinner Saturday?” he asked. If not, if the shock of seeing him at the meeting had been too much, they could reschedule.

“Yes.”

He dropped his hands, afraid of appearing too forward and eager. “If it’s okay with you, why don’t you come over to my place and let me cook?”

“Your place?” She had an I-know-what-you’re-doing look in her eye.

“Trust me when I say it’s not like that. It’s just that if you want to discuss anything, I thought you’d prefer to do so in private.”

She nodded. “Your place.”

“Until then, if you have any questions, I’m sure Sasha would be more than willing to answer.”

Finally. She laughed. Progress.

He saw the question in her eyes before she asked it. “Have you and Sasha ever . . . played?”

“No.”

“Will you be at the party tomorrow?”

“Yes, though I’m not sure you’re ready to attend one yet.”

“That’s not why I was asking.” She looked down at her hands. “I was wondering if you would be with anyone there.”

He waited until she lifted her head again before answering. “I’m a senior member of the group. I need to be there and I’ll be serving as Dungeon Monitor, making sure group rules are followed, being an overseer. But for right now, I’m only with you and I won’t be playing with, or seeing, anyone else.”

He stood up and reached for her hand. “We should get back into the other room. The meeting’s probably almost over.”

“You didn’t get to give your presentation.”

“But you and I talked, and in my mind, that’s more important.”

“What was it going to be about?”

Oh, yes, there was interest behind that inquisitive glance. Just thinking about being the one to reach inside and bring out her submissive side made him hard.

“The Importance of Being Teachable.”

“Huh,” she said, sounding slightly disappointed. “Not exactly what I was thinking it’d be.”

“There are breakout groups that meet every other week. One for Tops, one for bottoms. If you get to the point you’d be interested, Sasha can give you more information.”

“Sasha? Not you?”

He led her to the door, his hand on the small of her back. Chatter was coming from the other room. The meeting had ended.

“Sasha’s a submissive. I could give you my opinion, but it would mean more coming from someone living the role. More importantly, though, Sasha is a friend of yours and has your best interest in mind. I don’t want you to think I’m being self-serving.”

She turned to him, her eyes soft. “I could never think of you as self-serving. You’ve been nothing but selfless.”

He brushed her cheek. “Ah, but you’re wrong. When it comes to you, I’m totally selfish. I want to keep you all to myself.”

She grinned and reached for the doorknob, but he stopped her. There was something she had to understand.

“Julie, I want you to know that what happened last weekend was amazing.”

She turned back to face him, her hazel eyes darkened. “For me, too.”

“It’s just, I know I’ve been distant this week and I didn’t want you to think it was because I found anything lacking between us. I felt guilty at keeping this part of me from you.”

She was being far too quiet. It tested his resolve to give her space. But first, he needed some reassurance himself. “And, if it’s okay with you, I’d really like a kiss.”


“I’d really like that, too.”

He took her face in his hands. “Then why deny ourselves what we both want?”

He meant for the kiss to be tender and gentle, but when his lips touched hers, she moaned and rocked her body into his. He ran a hand behind her head and held her close, parting her lips and tasting. Her hands fisted in his shirt, her need as desperate as his.

A knock on the door brought them both back to reality.

“Daniel?” It was Jeff. “There are some people who need to speak with you.”

“Saturday,” Daniel whispered to Julie before pulling away and opening the door.