about dominance and submission tonight. Let
her guide you. I want you attending the models when my work is
done. There is nothing sexier than a woman when a scene is finished
and she’s still in that blissful headspace of submission. I’m
talking about when the scene is over, and the sex is over. We call
it ‘aftercare.’ It’s the time a sub needs and craves, to be held
lovingly, to be praised and petted, and allowed a safe place to
come fully back to herself. When possible, I will always release
your bindings first, and then I want you to unbind the sub. You
will need to touch her body, praise her beauty, and give of
yourself. This is a work in progress for me. It’s something I’ve
dreamed about, but all the rough edges are not yet polished. That’s
the amazing thing about art. It’s always changing.”
***
Zach’s mind drifted away
while Monroe worked out the stiff muscles surrounding his knee. His
touch hadn’t caused a problem since that day, and, for months after
he left Monroe that first time, he actually missed the
interaction.
As the years and their
relationship continued, Zach finally admitted to himself that he
loved Nathaniel Monroe. He loved his art; his willingness to teach
an arrogant young Jarhead to control his dominance; and he loved
the man himself. He was a part of Zach’s life, but much more than a
father. Accepting the love was easy, but knowing how to define it
was much harder.
Zack let out a groan when
the ice pack landed on his knee.
He opened his eyes and saw
Monroe wiping his hands on a towel.
“I am not your doctor, nor
your physical therapist, so don’t expect me to put up with your
shit when it comes to your leg.”
“You actually said ‘shit,’”
Zach laughed. “In all the years I’ve known you, it’s only the
second time I’ve heard you swear.”
Monroe ignored
him.
“You’ll sign a medical
waiver tomorrow, and we’ll get your medical records. I’ll have
Stephens begin physical therapy with you.”
“Is there anything Stephens
can’t do?”
“Not that I’ve discovered.
That’s why I pay him so well.”
“So tell me about
Angel?”
Zach noticed Monroe’s
hesitation before he finally spoke.
“Angel is part of the
reason I needed you here. You’ll meet her tomorrow night at the
Club. She’s an amazing sub and Shibari model. She’s also my
slave.”
The silence hung in the
air.
“A slave? Why?”
“It’s more complicated than
I’m prepared to go into right now but I need you to stay with her
for a few weeks while I’m out of the country. She’s quite unique
and comes from an exceptional set of circumstances. As I asked once
many years before, I need you to withhold your answer until you
meet her, and to trust me.”
“Is there a reason I’m not
meeting her tonight?”
“Yes, though you won’t like
that answer either. She’s being punished.”
Zach’s jaw tightened. He
had been in the lifestyle for many years but when it came down to
it, he played around the edges. Hardcore sadism and masochism
wasn’t his thing. He enjoyed administering a little pain with
pleasure and loved the eroticism of bondage. But he knew Monroe
went for some of the extremes but Zach didn’t think 24/7 slavery
was Monroe’s style any more than it was his.
He gave Monroe a direct
stare. “At some point in our relationship, the Wookie debt will be
paid in full.”
Monroe smiled, causing the
stern muscles in his face to soften.
“No Zach, it’s a debt for
as long as both of us lives. The rules are defined on the Internet
and I refuse to argue with the Force.”
Chapter Twelve
Zach kept his leg propped
up until dinner. The swelling receded and the pain medicine kicked
in. What he would give for an ice cold beer!
Marguerite served dinner.
She seemed a little upset with Monroe, and only spoke to him in
clipped sentences when she had to.
Monroe acted as if nothing
was out of the ordinary.
“Has Angel eaten her
dinner?”
“ I took
it to her,