My thanks to lilgirlsix, this was her first attempt at editing and she was wonderful to work with. In addition thank you to Morganalafaie who helped me bring the story to life. Thank you both ladies.
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It seemed like this day would never come. I put down my bag in the room of the downtown hotel I'd set up shop in this weekend. I had an appointment with an author with whom I'd nurtured a special relationship for almost a year now. Our publishing firm's specialty was erotic literature. Specifically aimed at a unique audience, BDSM devotees, a style I favored in my everyday life as well. He had shown me over the past years through his tales, many sides of himself; from the hero to victim; dominant to submissive; strong to vulnerable.
It had taken a long time to get him to this point. His lack of confidence, in his words and himself, had proved to me to be at times almost heartbreaking yet maddeningly frustrating. His was the most fragile soul I ever encountered in all my years. I knew of his struggles, of his past, which he clung to it like a lifeline while in reality it was an anchor which threatened to pull him under the darkest sea.
After finishing getting dressed, I made my way down to the restaurant for our seven p.m. reservation. I had an idea of what I would be looking for, since his descriptions in his stories always remained the same. Longer brown hair, blue eyes. Oh yes, what were the other words he would use? Plain. Average. Ordinary. The worst though, easily forgettable. I'd lost track of the times that I had read those words thinking if I were there Mister, I would make you pay...dearly.
As I walked in, I saw him. I had said we would meet in the bar and he of course was in the very back of it, in the furthest, darkest corner. So many of his stories had mentioned the darkness, how it was easy to hide there, to not draw attention to yourself. Another line from one of his tales; you can't get hurt in the darkness.
I watched him for a few minutes, how his head hung down, how he didn't make eye contact with anyone. I'd known from many of the numerous hints what he truly desired. He would always try to hide his feelings behind the horrible jokes that he told, his defense mechanism whenever the subject turned toward his own wishes. I had thought all along that I would handle him with kid gloves, fearing he would bolt like a frightened deer.
It took only watching him for that brief period of time to convince me that would be a grave error. I took a look at what I was wearing, decided it wasn't quite the impression I wanted to convey. I retrieved my cell phone, dialing his number as I watched him from nearby. He opened his phone lifting it to his ear, but before he could say a single word, I spoke.
"I will be approximately 15 minutes late. You will have a glass of red wine waiting for me. I will expect you to be waiting as well." I hung up the phone smiling as I saw the look on his face, and I went back upstairs.
It wasn't 15 minutes later that I returned, it was more like 30 but I knew he would still be in the same spot, my voice, my tone having assured that. He sat there, hands in his lap, his head bowed as I walked up standing at the table and saying coldly. "I have read of how you're a gentleman yet you seem to lacking the simplest of manners." Jonathan turned a bright red as he rose, pulling my chair out and I simply nodded as I sat and he took a seat across from me.
I wasn't dressed in black leather or lace. I wore what I called my power suit, business wear which showed off all my curves. I saw him cast a furtive glance my way. I took a sip of my wine before turning my attention his way. "I've brought the contract which you will sign this night, I want this matter resolved. Look at me Jonathan, now."
He slowly raised his eyes, the blue much more striking than he had ever spoken. My brown eyes locked with his, my voice remaining calm. "We have spent far too much time in conversation over this matter than should have been necessary. Your first book should have already been published and I grow weary of this. If you will not make decisions, I will make them for you."
I kept my eyes locked on him never letting them move, almost daring him to say something. If he had, perhaps the weekend would have turned out differently. Instead, he showed his true colors, the ones I had seen glimpses of. His eyes lowered submissively. I took the final sip of my drink before saying, "I have changed my mind concerning where I will dine. You will follow me, now."
I stood, making my way to the elevator, my heels clicking across the floor. I didn't have to look, I knew he would be two steps behind me as we came to the elevator. The glass enclosure took us up to my room, his head remaining slightly bowed, his body trembling. I calmly put the key in the door and entered and as he closed it. I walked over to the window, opening the curtains, turning and pointing to a spot in front of me. "Jonathan, present yourself, now."
He stood frozen to the spot, I could almost hear his mind trying to grasp what was happening. I was in no mood for him to continue to drag his feet. I strode over, my hand finding his hair. I roughly pulled him over to spot the where I had pointed to. My hold on him tightened as I said tersely, "You will present yourself now, boy." He had spoken of it many times in his stories but I never knew the power it held to hear a grown man...whimper.
Falling to his knees, he trembled visibly as he did his best to assume the proper position. I waited until he had finally allowed his trembling palms to rest on his thighs. I stood over him and said, "The next time I give you a command and you hesitate for even the briefest of seconds, you will pay dearly pet. I've put up with your actions for too long. It ends tonight."
