Page 28 of On His Terms
“Ah.”
“I’m not hearing any sympathy, Sir.”
“No. You’re not.” The waiter returned with the sparkling water, and Alex ordered their meals and remembered to say, “Please ensure there is no parsley anywhere near the lady’s plate.”
The man nodded.
When they were alone again, Alex asked her, “Rather painless, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, Sir. It wasn’t nearly as bad as I’d made it in my mind.”
“Did it take away from your empowerment?”
She sank against the back of her chair. “No.” She picked up her water. “It didn’t change who I am, Sir, or the fact I’m capable of ordering my own food at any other time.”
He nodded. “First lesson. Being submissive doesn’t take away anything from you as a person or as a woman. You’ll enjoy the meal you wanted, cooked the way you like, and you delighted me in the process.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Not all Doms order for their subs, but many do. Take your lead from him or her, and don’t argue in the process.”
“I understand,” she said.
As they relaxed, he asked about her background and her desire to succeed.
“You don’t leave much uncharted territory, do you?”
“Understanding you will make me a better trainer.”
“You take this seriously.”
“I do. Which is one of the reasons I no longer deal with neophytes.”
“It’s time consuming.”
“This is about you, Chelsea. I won’t allow you to redirect the conversation.” But nice try.
“No one really knows this, except my closest friends…”
“Your secrets are safe with me.” He topped off her glass. “I don’t discuss my trainees with anyone. Whatever you choose to share is up to you, but I will reveal nothing.”
“That helps.” She traced tiny circles on the tablecloth before sitting back. “My father didn’t have much use for a daughter.”
Fuck that.
“Neither did my mom, for that matter. According to them, boys are more intelligent.”
“They’re not.” That he knew from his business dealings.
“My brothers—one younger, one older—both received great educations, cars the moment they were old enough to drive, and they were indulged with every whim and interest. Even when Ian—the baby of the family—went to jail, my father said that boys will be boys.” She shrugged. “They each have positions at Dad’s firm. I was told I needed to get married. When I didn’t want to enroll at the college they selected—where I’d presumably meet my future husband—they withheld the funds they’d set aside for me. Instead of getting to play soccer like I wanted, I took modeling classes then was sent to charm school.” She flashed an overly bright smile. “Clearly it worked.”
“Clearly.”
They both laughed, a shared moment unlike any he’d had in years.
“Can you believe they called it that? Charm school.” She toyed with her knife and fork. “To them, nothing was more important than learning the correct etiquette to attract the right man. I’m a huge disappointment to them.”
“Despite your success?”