The Submissive's Last Word (The Power to Please #4) by Deena Ward Read Free Book Online Page A

you.”
    He visibly flinched, looked taken aback. “He punished you
for that?”
    “Yeah. He said I endangered his property by being in a room
with another man without his permission.”
    The muscles twitched in his jaw. He sat up straighter and
looked away for few seconds. “And the third punishment? What was that for?”
    “I disrespected him in front of another dominant.”
    “In front of me?”
    “No, not you. It happened before I ran into you. It was Ron
Hoyte.”
    “What did you do?”
    “He wanted to show Ron my breasts, there in the restaurant.
We were in this secluded booth in the back. Michael wanted to lower my dress
and show me off. I stopped him, grabbed his hand and told him no.”
    “And?”
    “That’s it.”
    “I thought you said you disrespected him.”
    “Right. I told him no in front of Ron. I embarrassed him.”
    A distinct shade of red was starting to climb up the sides
of Gibson’s neck and face. He was tense, smoothing the fabric of his pants over
his knee. “You told him no because you were uncomfortable being undressed in a
public restaurant.”
    “Yes, and because Ron is Elaine’s husband, and I didn’t
understand then about their open relationship.”
    “You told him those things.”
    “Sure. But he said I was being ridiculous and had behaved
badly in front of Ron.”
    “Was Hoyte there during all that? While Michael told you
these things?”
    “No, when he saw how mad Michael was, he stepped out to call
Elaine.”
    “At least that’s something.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I mean I’m glad Ron didn’t hear that, because otherwise I’d
have to reconsider my opinion of him.”
    “Are you angry with me?”
    “God, no, Nonnie. No. Not you. I’m sorry.” He rubbed the
back of his neck. “I shouldn’t be reacting this way. I’ll do better. I promise.
Just give me a minute.”
    I nodded and watched him stare off toward the lake, his face
and neck muscles working as he tried to calm himself.
    I understood that what I told him had upset him. What I
didn’t understand was why. I had doubted many things about Michael, but I
hadn’t much doubted the legitimacy of his punishments. I doubted the ferocity
of the punishments, thought they might have been excessive for my misdeeds, but
I hadn’t ever considered whether or not they were misdeeds to begin with.
    When the lines of his face smoothed out again, Gibson turned
back to me. “How would you feel about walking while we talk? I think it might
help.”
    I agreed, thinking it would release some of the tension we
both felt. We headed down the stairs of the deck, and made for a walking path
that wound down through a grove of trees then toward the lake.
    We settled into an easy stroll.
    “Do you believe the punishments that night were
appropriate?” Gibson asked, his voice thoughtful now.
    “I was thinking about that a minute ago. No. Not now. But
back then, I didn’t know what to think.”
    “I see. And did Michael tell you ahead of time not to remove
the Ben Wa balls?”
    “I don’t remember. I don’t think so.”
    “Did he warn you to never be alone in the company of another
man?”
    “No.”
    “Did he give you a safe word to use if you were ever
uncomfortable with what he was doing?”
    “Only once, on the night I was punished.”
    “But not at the restaurant?”
    “No.”
    Gibson clasped his hands behind his back and half-turned to
look at me. “Then it’s important that you understand Michael never should have
punished you for anything you did that night. Nothing.”
    “I thought, as my dominant, he had the right to punish me
whenever he wanted, for anything he wanted.”
    “Not all D/s relationships involve codes of conduct and
systems of punishment. In those that do, if a dominant has laid down certain
rules for his submissive’s behavior and she disobeys those rules, then he has
the right to punish her if he chooses. But he doesn’t have the right to invoke
rules arbitrarily after the fact. It’s