“I don’t know,” she shrugged. “I’m just not feeling it. Ya know? I mean, all of the things happening, all the change, it’s just hard. I don’t even know what submissive means right now – what does it look like?”

He looked at her, head tilted a bit, curious, as if he were weighing her words. “I’ve noticed that,” he said. “And it has been hard. I think maybe I haven’t been feeling it so much either. I think it’s time to start figuring it out. If the world is going to end,” and he smiled so she knew he was kidding about that part, “then I don’t want it to end with us in a vanilla relationship.”

She nodded, sighed. She knew that made sense, and in her head she knew he was right. “Yes,” she said. “Yes, but I just don’t feel it the way I used to. I don’t know what to do about that.”

He laughed then, a full laugh. “You don’t have to worry about that. I know you, girl. Come here.” They had been sitting at the table, but she stood and went to him. “See how that works?” he said. “You are probably the most submissive girl I ever met. I tell you what to do, you do it. It’s that easy.”

She started to protest, surely it was not that easy, but then she was aware that her nipples were tingling and there was a tremor of excitement running through her. She blushed and looked down.

“Come closer,” he said. He positioned her so she was standing between his legs. Carefully, slowly, he unbuttoned the first three buttons on her shirt, exposing her breasts. He gently stroked the curve of her left breast. “Mine,” he said, watching her.

He stroked the other breast. “Also mine.” A tiny whimper escaped her and her heart rate sped up.

Omg, she thought. “Yes. Yes, please.”

But he took his time. Unbuttoned her blouse the rest of the way. Caressed and stroked, taking his time, avoiding the nipples. She whimpered again and twisted a bit, as if she might maneuver him into touching her there. He smiled.

“The most submissive woman I know,” he said. “I’m going to hurt you tonight. I want you to feel your submission again.” With one thumb, he just barely grazed a nipple. Her whole body trembled, her full attention on that nipple, hoping he would do it again, do it more.

Instead, he said, “Open your mouth.” Very deliberately, he placed his thumb in her mouth. “Suck,” he said.

She caressed his thumb with her tongue, sucking gently. She was just settling into a rhythm when he pulled it away. He strummed her nipple with his thumb. The nipple was already hard, but quickly became almost painfully hard, flooding her body with sensation. She swayed.

“Kneel,” he said. “No, wait, the rest of your clothes need to come off. Just wait.” He held her hips, keeping her secure for a moment. Then he pulled her blouse off, sliding it down her arms. Tugged her pants til they pooled around her feet. “Step out,” he said.

When she was naked, he helped her kneel at his feet. He took a nipple in each hand, tugging gently at first, pinching lightly, then more firmly until she squirmed a bit.

“Who do you belong to?” he asked.

“You, Sir,” she said, and she felt heat between her thighs and warmth in her heart. Because she knew he would like it, she added, “I belong to you, Sir.”

“I’m going to inspect you tonight,” he said. She blushed, looked down, knowing that she had not been able to keep her last waxing appointment. He grinned, “Don’t worry,” he said, “I don’t expect you to be perfect. I imagine there will be some well-deserved punishment involved.”

Looking stern, he added, “I’m going to hurt you tonight. Not so much for punishment, but because you need to be reminded of your place.” With each word, she felt herself falling into place, slipping down into that deeply submissive self inside her. But he wasn’t through. “Do you agree to that? Agree to me hurting you tonight,without knowing in advance what I will do?”

He waited, watching her closely.

“Yes,” she said, her voice trembling, “Yes, Sir.” She had been looking down, but when he didn’t respond to that she glanced up, saw that he wanted more. She bit her lip, “Yes, Sir, I agree to you hurting me tonight. Of course. I belong to you.”

He nodded, smiled. “Good girl.”