Domme By Default by Tymber Dalton Read Free Book Online Page B

dialed.
    He answered immediately. "Hi."
    I swallowed hard and closed my eyes. "I'm okay."
    "I'm so sorry, babe. Please whatever you want—"
    "Shh. It's okay." I took a deep breath. "I'll be home tomorrow evening."
    I worried for a moment the call had dropped when he eventually replied, "Okay." His voice sounded soft, hurt.
    It ripped at me.
    "I love you," I said. "I mean it, you didn't do anything wrong."
    "I love you, too. I promise I'll try harder." He sounded frantic, near panic.
    "No, you're trying hard enough. I'm the one who needs to try harder. I need to take a step back for a little bit and figure things out, that's all."
    He sounded so sad but I knew he'd never admit it to me even if I asked. "What do you want me to do until you come home?"
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    Domma By Default
    by Tymber Dalton
    I forced myself to maintain a steady, level tone of voice. "I want you to go to work tomorrow like you normally do. I'll see you when I get home tomorrow night. I should be home around seven thirty or so, maybe eight. If it'll be later than that I'll try to call you."
    "Okay."
    No questions, no recriminations, no accusations.
    Acquiescence.
    "I love you," I said again."Be safe."
    "I love you, too. I miss you."
    That's when I nearly lost it. "I miss you, too. Now let me get off of here before my phone dies. I don't have my charger with me." I hung up before he could hear me sob.

    * * * *
I put myself back together before I met Tony downstairs in the restaurant. He cocked his head and watched me from across the table. "Feeling better?"
    I shook my head. "Worse."
    We were seated by ourselves in a corner booth. He clasped his hands and leaned in close, his voice low. "I'm going to ask you something, and I want you to say the first thing that comes to mind, okay?"
    I nodded.
    He turned the full force of his green eyes on me. "If you could have your husband do one thing, what would it be?"
    Without missing a beat I replied, "Have him take control and fuck me silly."
    Tony smiled. "Then ask him."
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    Domma By Default
    by Tymber Dalton
    "How's he supposed to do that?"
    One eyebrow slid up. "I thought you had kids. You don't know how they get here?"
    I laughed. "Duh. I mean, if he's playing sub, how's he supposed to take charge?"
    He eyed me and I suspected I was about to learn a lesson.
    "Does a general go out in the field and fight every battle personally?"
    I wasn't sure where he was leading, but I followed. "No."
    "Do field commanders call generals up every five minutes and ask for new orders?"
    I frowned. "I don't think so."
    "What does a general do?"
    I shrugged. "Beats the fuck outta me."
    He smiled. "A general gives a command. Is a general always in command over a lower officer?"
    "Is this our Yoda moment?"
    "Answer the question."
    I nodded. "Yeah, I think so. I mean, I guess so."
    "Okay. But field commanders, they make 'in charge'
    decisions, don't they?"
    I shrugged again. "I guess."
    He leaned back. "Do you ever tell your husband to make dinner?"
    "Yeah, he does it all the time."
    "Do you stand over him and tell him how every little thing is supposed to be done?"
    "No. I'd do it myself if I had to do that."
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    Domma By Default
    by Tymber Dalton
    "You give him a goal-oriented command and tell him to get it done, correct?"
    I nodded, seeing his point.
    "And does he do it?"
    "Yeah."
    "Just because he makes decisions in the process doesn't make him any less your sub."
    "Right."
    "So you tell him this is something you need. He can serve you by doing it. You get the best of both worlds."
    I closed my eyes, feeling like a fucking moron. It was one of those things that was so easy and clear that I'd totally fucking missed it because it was so simple.
    "I think you just made the connection," he observed.
    "Yeah. I did. So I can order him to be in charge and he's still my sub by taking charge."
    "One of those little ironies that makes the lifestyle so interesting. You can have your cake and beat it, too."
    It took me a second to realize what