Submission

A bright smile transformed Debra’s pretty face, making her truly beautiful. “I was fortunate enough to have married a man who
was my complement. I sometimes wonder if the sub in me was naturally drawn to his Dom nature, or if he has cultivated it in
response to what he sensed in me.” She shrugged. “Either way, we were lucky enough to both want the same thing. Once we
got past our hang-ups and admitted it, the rest was easy.”
Sable laid down the knife beside the neatly cut pile of onions. “I can’t imagine it being easy. I’m really trying, but I keep feeling
like I’m failing him. I can’t seem to meet his expectations.”
Debra patted her arm. “It’s tough, especially when you’re first learning. Plus, it must be daunting to have a superstar in the
lifestyle as your Dom.”
Sable nodded. “Yeah, Julian is...daunting.” He was charismatic and authoritative. She would have found him a bit intimidating
even if they weren’t trying to act out this charade.
With another stir, Debra turned off the burner. “Everything is ready. Before we rejoin the men, I just wanted to say that I’m here if
you need an ear. Your job is to trust him and maintain open communication, but sometimes, you just need the perspective of
another woman and a submissive.”
Warmth stirred in her chest. “Thanks. That’s very kind of you.”
“Not at all. If you stay, Dave and I will get quite a commission from the house you’ll buy.” Debra winked as she busied herself
laying out the food with Sable’s assistance.
Dave and Debra proved to be pleasant dining companions. He excused himself once during dinner to check on their three-year-
old son sleeping upstairs. Sable did her best to hide her surprise that they had a child and bit back the gauche question of how
they balanced their D/s lifestyle with parenting. After a moment’s reflection, she supposed it was no different from any other
couple’s sex life. They had to be discreet.
She wondered about her conclusion after dinner though, when they retired to the living room. Debra took a seat on the floor
beside Dave, who sat on the couch. The way she sat suggested it was her designated resting pose. How would they explain that
to their child in the future? Well, it wasn’t her business, and she supposed they would make it work, just like every other parent
did when it came to challenges.
“That was delicious,” said Julian.
Debra smiled. “Thank you. Sir likes to eat well, but hates gourmet restaurants, so he sent me to culinary school.”

Sable sipped her coffee to bite back the urge to ask if Debra enjoyed cooking or had wanted to go to culinary school. She didn’t
think Dave would have forced his wife to do anything she truly hated, and she didn’t want to offend them with overly personal
questions.
Julian cradled the sturdy ceramic mug in one hand while casually squeezing her thigh with the other. “I’m lucky that Sable enjoys
cooking too and seems very skilled.”
Sable smiled. “Thank you. I’m just happy you don’t mind washing dishes. I hate dishes.”
Dave grimaced. “Dishes? Ugh. The kitchen is Debra’s domain, but I do all the yard work.”
“All?” Debra rolled her eyes. “Who planted all the spring bulbs?”
Dave patted her head, either in an affectionate or condescending manner. Sable couldn’t decide which it was supposed to be.
“Who cares about tulips, love?”
“Curb appeal,” she said with a small smirk. “As a realtor, you should know that.”
He flexed his other hand in a teasing manner. “Someone is feeling sassy tonight.”
Debra looked up at him through her lashes. “Yes, Sir.”
A pang of envy surprised Sable. She didn’t necessarily envy the obvious fact there was likely a spanking in her new friend’s
future. Rather, she envied the closeness the couple obviously shared, regardless of their unique predilections. A lump lodged in
her throat as she contemplated spending her life alone, never finding what they had. A peripheral glance at Julian revealed he
was looking her way, and she smiled slightly while wondering if there could be any future in a relationship with him.
With an internal sigh of disgust, she focused on pushing aside the same thoughts and doubts that kept plaguing her. Instead, she
made a determined effort to follow the conversation and participate. It took her a moment to catch up with the talk.
“You should come by the club Saturday,” said Dave. “It might be just your scene.”
Sable quirked a brow. “Is it a dungeon?” It was hard to keep her tone neutral and hide her natural reaction of being appalled at
the idea of going to such a place. Knowing she might have to at some point in the search for Sabrina didn’t make the thought any
easier.

Dave’s lips quirked, but he didn’t outright laugh. “No, Sable. I’m talking about the country club. Of course, there is something for
everyone there...” He trailed off, leaving her imagination to fill in the blanks.
It rose to the task by summoning some of the scarier images she’d seen in her research, like skin flayed open and bleeding,
piercings in painful places, and bodies confined to St. Andrew’s crosses. It was all she could do not to shiver in reaction. She
busied herself sipping her coffee to avoid making eye contact until the brief moment of panic had passed. “That sounds like an
interesting idea. What do you think, Julian?”
He nodded. “We should definitely investigate.”
Sable nodded, knowing she was the only one who picked up on his second meaning and subtle reminder of their mission. They
were here to find her sister, and then she could escape this weird world. The question of whether she would want to leave it, or
leave Julian anyway, haunted her for the rest of the evening.