Let’s start with the important stuff.

Coming Soon – The Great Online Cookie Exchange Extravaganza! December 10th, at blogs near you.

This is Jz’s 10th annual cookie exchange, and if you haven’t participated before, this is the year to do it. If you’ve done it before than you already know how much fun it is. It’s simple.

Leave a comment here at A Reluctant Bitch. so Jz knows you’re in. On December 10th, post your recipe on your blog and Jz will link to you from her blog. Then we all run around and collect recipes. It doesn’t have to be cookies either, it can be candy, or a drink, or any kind of edible holiday deliciousness. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Now back to our regularly scheduled program...

“I’d like to see your hand,” he said, placing his hand on the table, palm up, then added “Please.” Sofia placed her hand on top of his, her palm up as well.

“You’re a generous woman,” he said, pleased, and a shiver ran through her. She wanted to know why he said that, but didn’t want to side track him from wherever he was taking the conversation. “I’m going to touch you,” he said, watching her face. “Is that ok,”

“Yes,” she said, a bit breathless.

He touched her palm with one finger, tracing the lines on it. She watched him touching her, her awareness settling there. Vaguely, she remembered other times she’d been touched this way, the boy in high school who used to trace I Love You on her palm, and the man who’d first really awakened her to BDSM. But mostly she focused on the sensation.

He stopped and their eyes met. “Here’s the problem,” he said. “I like you. You’re bright and funny and interesting. We could be good friends.”

Sofia nodded, listening.

“And,” he went on, “You’re a submissive woman. I’m a Dom, I’ve been a Master for a long time. But it’s been many years since I tried to have a relationship that combines friendship and Dominance.” He paused, watching her, but she was just listening.

“And I don’t know that you’re interested in either of those kinds of relationships,” he continued. “Much less both. But we live next door to each other, which means we’re in close proximity most of the time.” He smiled ruefully. “My first instinct is always to push the boundaries. I want to overwhelm you, to pour lots of attention and energy into wooing you. Engage you intellectually and emotionally. Seduce you into submission.”

Sofia laughed, “That doesn’t sound all bad,” she said.

Lucas chuckled, “I know, it’s tempting. But I really don’t want to screw this up. No matter what else happens, at the end of the day, I want us both to be comfortable living next door to each other. Even if you don’t want to speak to me anymore, I don’t want either one of to feel out of place when we pass each other on the sidewalk.” He grinned, “Ideally, I want it to go a lot better than that. But it’s most important to me that our homes continue to feel like safe places. What do you think?”

Sofia frowned, thinking about what it would be like living next door to someone she’d had a bad relationship with. “Yes,” she said, “You’re right. I don’t want that either. And I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone be quite as intentional going into a relationship as you are.”

Now Lucas frowned, “Yeah, some people are really bothered by that. I’m sorry if that offends you -”

– and Sophia broke in, “No, not at all!” she said, “I think it’s really wise. I don’t know how we manage this either. I guess I hadn’t really thought about it that way.”

“I don’t expect you to,” Lucas said. “That’s my responsibility. As friends, we’re completely equal and we can be – we are – co-responsible for everything. I expect no less. As the Dominant in this relationship though, if we decide to add that component, then there are aspects of this that just are my responsibility.”

“I’ll talk to you about them when that’s reasonable,” he said. “I’ll be as transparent as I can be. I’ll seek your input. But – ” He paused, taking in Sofia’s skeptical look.

“Here’s an example,” he said. “When I told you I’d like to see your hand, did you stop and ask yourself what I was going to do? Did you wonder if it would be a good idea to go along with me? Did you think about saying no?”

Slowly Sofia shook her head. No, she had not hesitated. She felt a bit foolish now, should she have resisted him?

“No, of course you didn’t,” he said. “Partly because I am clearly an upstanding and honorable gentleman, deserving of your trust, especially out here in a public place.” He grinned, and she breathed a bit easier. At least he didn’t think she was stupid.

“But,” he went on, “I also know that submissives, men and women both, want to be open. And giving. I know that if I were your Sir, you would want to please me. Right?”

Sofia squirmed. Yes, of course he was right, but damnit. Why pin her down like this now? He was looking at her, waiting for her response. Ok, fine.

“Yes,” she said, looking down at the table. She mumbled, “Yes, if you were my Sir, of course I would want to please you.” She felt herself blushing, and at the same, she was aware of her nipples tingling, the warmth between her legs.

His lips turned up in a half smile. In a gentle voice, he said, “Of course you would. That’s not to my credit, that’s just who you are. ” She begin to relax a bit, her head still down, but looking up at him.

He added, “And that’s why it’s my responsibility to be intentional and to spend time planning. Because when you give me control, when you have agreed to obey me, I don’t want to hurt you thoughtlessly or carelessly.” She did look up then, and he grinned, adding, “I only want to hurt you in the ways you’ll consent to.”

Sofia looked up, startled, torn between a desire to run away and a longing to kneel at his feet. Damnit, she thought, what have I done? I knew he was dangerous and now look at me, half-caught already. But omg, that’s so hot. I only want to hurt you in the ways you consent to. Yes.

Lucas, as if sensing her distress, said, “And we have lots of time to think about it. Tell you what. Let’s take a quick walk to the pier and see if the fishermen are catching anything today. Then I’ll walk you home.”