Submission Revealed (3 page)

“Look, the total commute time won’t be much longer than driving.” Sarah started to take a bite, then stopped as another thought occurred to her. “Besides, if I take the bus, I’ll finally have time to read through all those books you keep giving me!”

Even Beth couldn’t find an argument for that. Beth avidly collected books the way others might collect stamps or coins. She had eclectic tastes and was always giving Sarah something new to “broaden her horizons”. Unfortunately, Sarah didn’t always have time to read them and return them in a timely manner.

“What about kids? You planning to have any? Your clock is ticking, you know.”

Sarah rolled her eyes. “Now you sound like my mother.” She pointed with her fork. “No kids. Tom and I had that agreement and Phillip and I have the same one.”

Beth shook her head. “Never did figure out why not.”

Sarah shrugged. “I want my career. I like getting out of the apartment on a daily basis and I like my job. I have responsibilities and some day might be CEO if I keep playing my cards right. Kids need their mothers. Don’t get me wrong. I love kids. But I also love being able to hand them back to their parents at the end of the day.”

Beth shrugged and Sarah knew her friend was arguing just for argument’s sake now. Neither of them had chosen the family route—probably why they’d remained friends long after their other girlfriends had left them for a world of play dates and diapers. “Nope,” she told Beth, “I’m staying on the Pill and am just going to have to get my hugs and kisses from Phillip, instead of children.”

“So what does your Mr. Romance do for a living?”

“He owns a small dot com company.”

Beth paused, frowning at her over a rib dripping with barbecue sauce. “Thought those all went bust after the whole Y2K problem.”

“No, only those that didn’t know what they were doing. Phillip and some friends created some sort of software that the libraries bought to help them inventory their collections. They’ve since expanded it and now it’s used all over. He’s mostly retired on the money they made, although he keeps his hand in. Said the company needs to stay current if they’re going to continue to make money.”

“So he’s rich?” Beth’s eyebrows went up along with her appreciation and Sarah laughed.

“Yes, he’s rich.” She toyed with the remnants of her salad. “Or well-off, anyway.”

“You’d better get a pre-nup before you go jumping into holy matrimony.”

“Why?”

“As I recall, Tom left you with enough to live on very comfortably. You work because you’d go nuts sitting at home all day long. I just don’t want to see this guy get control of all your money, then dump you and you end up destitute.”

Sarah sighed. “I love you, Beth. You always find the darkest, most unpleasant possibility and make sure I’m aware of it.”

Beth wiped her hands on her cloth napkin before picking up her glass to take a sip of her diet soda. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to rain on your parade. I just worry about you is all.”

Smiling to show she wasn’t really angry, Sarah nodded. “I know. And I appreciate it, I really do. But Beth…I love him.” She thought of how she felt when he held her in his arms after an especially passionate sexual play and knew the color came up in her cheeks.

Beth sighed. “I know. That’s why I’m gonna be there at the wedding. Because I haven’t seen you this happy in a very, very long time.” She threw her napkin on the table. “But he tries one thing, hurts you in any way and I’m gonna rip his balls off and stuff ‘em down his throat!”

Sarah laughed and the tension between them fell away. She was about to marry the most wonderful man in the world and her best friend would be by her side. All was right with the world.

* * * * *

All the same, Beth’s questions nagged at her for the rest of the week. When you got right down to it, there were several conversations she and Phillip hadn’t had yet. Yes, the sex was wonderful. More than wonderful, it was incredible. But twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week of sex? Not likely to happen. Even if she had the stamina.

She’d been making assumptions that she’d keep her position at work. Yes, it stressed her out sometimes, yet she actually enjoyed what she did and didn’t really want to give it up. Except she and Phillip hadn’t discussed that. Did being a total slave mean she no longer had control over her own money? And what about her job? If she gave control to Phillip, would that mean she’d have to stay home and service him whenever he wanted instead of going to work and using her mind?

By the time Friday rolled around, Sarah had most of her “extra” belongings packed in an assortment of cardboard boxes she had collected from the neighborhood grocery and the liquor store around the corner. She had also worked herself into a state of confusion. As she surveyed the mess before she left for work, she made a mental note to set up a time with Phillip to take all her things to the mini-storage mall. It was only a mile from his cottage outside of town so anything she later decided she needed wouldn’t be too far away. But, then again, would she ever need any of these things if she were a slave? She growled as she shut the door harder than she intended. Damn Beth. She’d gotten too many questions swirling around in Sarah’s mind, like so many autumn leaves in the wind.

At least she didn’t need to look at the remaining mess in her apartment until Monday night. Only eight hours of work and then she’d be in Phillip’s arms. She could ask her questions, he would have sane, sensible answers and life would be glorious once more.

* * * * *

Why did Fridays always drag? For the past twelve weeks, every Friday evening she would head directly from work to Phillip’s rural cottage where he would immediately put her to use. She hid her grin behind her hand as the vice president in charge of her section droned on. Under her strict business attire, Sarah wore a tiny thong…and knew it had dampened as she thought about what the evening would bring. Questions about the future aside, she couldn’t wait to tell Phillip that the mere thought of being with him that night put her on the edge of an orgasm while stuck in a roomful of stuffed shirts and laced-up women.

Escaping at long last, she sped down the highway and out of the city to Phillip’s one hundred acres out in the middle of nowhere. The scenery turned from urban to industrial, from suburban to farmland and finally to a long, meandering country road bordered with trees and brush. Often she saw deer standing in the infrequent meadows, so she kept a lookout for them now. With winter coming, they would be on the move.

The scent of autumn filled the air and she hit the button to roll down her window as she slowed for the turn into Phillip’s driveway. Beside the entrance, a climbing vine flashed up the telephone pole like a flame of scarlet fluttering in the late afternoon breeze and as she slowly drove along the dirt path, she noticed several trees beginning to change their colors from the tired greens of summer to fresh hues of orange and red. The colors ought to be at peak right around the wedding, she realized, making a mental note to figure autumn shades into the bouquet of flowers she would carry.

Practically bounding out of the car as soon as she parked beside the house, Sarah drew in a huge breath, filling her lungs to their utmost with fresh air untainted by harsh city life. Closing her eyes and letting her head fall back, she spent a moment enjoying the sun’s warmth on her face.

Phillip watched her from the porch, stepping out of the cottage as soon as he heard Sarah’s car turn into the drive. Watching her now, when she was still unaware of his presence, brought a smile to his lips. When they had first met, she’d been so guarded and careful, so concerned lest she frighten him away with her incredible passion for life. And now she stood in his driveway, soaking in nature’s peace, her soul bared for all the world to see. How could he do anything but love her?

She slowly turned in the sunlight and he gloried in the sight of her long brown hair unbound now and cascading over her shoulders to fall free. He loved it when she draped that silky curtain over his cock, teasing him to distraction. And he loved it when she was bound, unable to move or have her way at all. Both giving her free rein and reining her in had unique advantages.

She turned to face the cottage, opening her eyes and his heart quickened at the sudden joy that leapt into her face. With a bounce and a skip, Sarah crossed the space between them and he gathered her into his arms, burying his face in the soft tresses of her hair to drink in her perfume as moments earlier he had devoured the sight of her. Crushing her to him, he held her tightly in his arms, never wanting to lose the precious gem she had become.

And when he mastered himself and stepped back, he was again undone by the soft sensuousness of her heart-shaped lips—lips made for being kissed. She looked up at him with eyes half closed with lust and his body responded. Bending down, he captured her mouth in his kiss, first gently tasting, then ravenously devouring her as the wild animal banged at the cage inside.

The birds twittered in the trees and a chipmunk paused in its mad dash across the clearing but Phillip and Sarah didn’t even notice. After a week apart, with only emails to sustain them, they reveled in the sense of touch.

Phillip pulled back with a stern look. “See what you do to me, woman?”

She grinned. “I almost thought you might take me on the front steps again, my dear Sir.”

Phillip cocked an eyebrow at her. “You liked that, as I recall.”

Sarah nodded. “Yes, Sir, I did.” She paused and a naughty twinkle sparkled in her eye. “A lot.”

He laughed and the chipmunk skittered away. “A far cry from the time you walked the deck naked!”

Sarah colored and Phillip bent to kiss her again. Pulling the inner wanton out of her took patience, but patience he had in plenty. He loved testing her limits and finding her boundaries, knowing the journey was always more fun than the destination.

A gentler kiss this time. This one filled with promises of what was to come. He wondered if she would like the new toy he’d bought? Okay, maybe toy was the wrong word, even if he was going to have some fun playing with it. Them, he corrected in his mind.

Taking her hand, he led her toward the house. Sarah paused at the door, as she often did. One of these days, he’d have to ask her why she did that. This time, she looked up at him, a question in her voice. “Phillip, once we get married and I’m living here all the time, will you still greet me like that? Won’t you become used to me? If I come home to you every day instead of every weekend, it won’t be as special anymore.”

Phillip took both her hands in his. “It will be special, but in a different way.” He could see she was truly troubled. He set his plans for the evening aside for a few moments so he could ease her fears. Long ago he’d learned that small concerns could blossom into huge problems if ignored. That previous relationship had ended in disaster because he hadn’t learned the lesson fast enough. Phillip was determined not to repeat the same mistake. “Come on over and sit down for a minute.” He led her to the porch swing he’d put in two weeks ago so they could enjoy the sunset together. They sat and he started them swinging as he answered her questions.

“You were married before and you know passion flames brightly and burns quickly. What’s left once the passion is gone?”

“That one’s simple. Love.” She reached over and took his hand. “The passion Tom and I shared was nowhere as intense as what I feel with you, though.”

“It doesn’t matter. Passion has many faces. There’s an elderly couple I know who still hold hands when they sit down. Both need walkers to get along or I’m sure they’d hold hands even when they’re walking down the hall. Their kisses are small but no less intense for all the infirmities of age. Their passion isn’t as violent as ours can be, yet flames just as brightly after all their years together, wouldn’t you say?”

Sarah nodded. “That couple has love to back them up, that’s why.” She shifted on the seat. “I loved Tom but our relationship was…quieter. The fireworks died early and life became…well…comfortable. More like an old sweatshirt or a favorite-pair-of-sneakers-comfortable.” She laughed. “Something tells me that’s not the kind of relationship we’re ever going to have.”

Phillip grinned. “Oh, I think you’ll be surprised. There’s something wonderful about putting on your favorite sneakers in the morning.”

“Yes,” she agreed. “And there’s also something to be said for putting on nothing but a pair of cuffs!” She waggled her eyebrows toward the door. Phillip took the hint. Sarah only wanted her concerns noted and verified, not solved immediately. Apparently his intended was far hornier than worried.

“All right, you minx. If that’s the way you feel.” He paused to pull her to her feet. “Off with your clothes!”

“Right here?” She looked around in shock.

“Right here.” The long, curved drive cut off all view from the road. No one would see her strip but him and that was just the way he liked it. He would share her beauty with others, but others of his choosing. Strangers had no business looking at her wonderful body. His cock stirred at the thought of Sarah on display for his friends to admire.

She wore a scarlet blouse today, with a full black skirt that fell below her knees. The severe cut of the blouse, coupled with the freedom of the skirt finished off with heeled sandals, gave her a look that crossed between carefree hippie and confident businesswoman. A look that showed she was not afraid to make her own statement in the world.