Chapter 1: Introduction
Alex glanced at Michael as she lingered in front of their bedroom dresser, languidly pulling hairpins from her golden hair. She wanted his unfiltered reaction to her news.
"So I was thinking," she started, studying his reflection cautiously. There was no reaction, only slightly crinkled brows, as if he were trying to figure out a receipt's total.
She took another step towards the bed where he sat, letting her silk robe slide from one shoulder—a test to elicit some sort of spark of awareness, some sign.
But he remained static, maddeningly unreadable.
"Remember", she continued, dropping the robe onto a plush velvet chair, "My desire for control has always drastically outweighed our so-called societal norms."
Intrigued, his gaze slowly slid from her face, navigating the curves and dips of her body. He leaned back against the headboard, resting his hands on the bed, but never wavering from her form with his eyes.
Naked and unafraid, Alex firmly planted her knee on the mattress, crawling leisurely towards him.
"I want you to submit to me," she whispered brazenly, stopping to pin his gaze with a seductive arch of extended brow. Though she expected a quick and truthful response, Michael simply blinked, just once.
Before he could break eye contact, she moved closer- their breaths merging in syncopation. She could feel his anticipation, but again, no tangible reply. A sudden breathlessness escaped her lungs- not from nerves, but frustration.
She brought her lips a hair's breadth from his, and for a moment, Michael's eyes fluttered closed, as if desperate to drown in the taste of her kiss.
"Tomorrow," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper, "I'll be sending you a list of activities we'll begin together."
He nodded, opening his eyes long enough to understand her intentions, the pure eroticism she planned to ignite.
Alex found herself relishing the challenge of pushing his submission- the primal thrill exuded from her pores. "And Michael.
Everything on that list? Do them willingly, eagerly."
She didn't need to say more. In that moment, Alex understood the unspoken depths of Michael's deference. It was in the slight curve of his lips and the subtle squint of his eyes. She'd seen the hunger, the yearning to please her in every way.
She broke away from their smoldering interaction and gently ran her fingers over the stack of photographs scattered on the nightstand - memories of their past, the time when their bond was uncomplicated.
At that moment she wondered if Michael ever felt hemmed in by the sheer size of these experiences, weighted by the preciousness of them. Was she asking too much?
Alex glanced over her shoulder, meeting his searing gaze. Without a word she pulled off the remaining hairpins, sending her golden waves spilling onto her shoulders. She knew this bold act hinted at the tangibility of her desires.
"I hope you have a strong will," she murmured to Michael, her voice dripping with intent.
Then, she gracefully stood and sauntered to the ornate armoire, her every step a potent declaration of her dominance. With a nonchalance that belied the magnitude of the moment, she opened the concealed drawer, revealing a black velvet case. It rested in stark contrast against the expensive wooden interior- a symbol of what was to come.
As she slowly turned around, her eyes settled back on Michael.
The obvious lump in his linen trousers was the only proof she needed of his arousal to assure her that the groundwork for her master plan was well on its way. With a lazy smile, she opened the black velvet case, revealing a few of her favorite toys.
The fragrant candles flickered in the background, the light casting a warm glow that played with the shadows of the room. She sauntered back towards the bed, purposely moving in a manner that ensured her hips swayed provocatively.
Alex knew she was playing a dangerous game: her dominatrix past could have destroyed their marriage had she not met Michael.
Michael's eyes were firmly affixed to the tools in her hands and the way her body glided, entranced by her movements. She reached the bedside, giving him an unfettered view of the riding crop that lay across her delicate palm.
"Have you missed this?" she asked, delicately tracing the length of the riding crop.