Six Signs of Submission (Desire Island 6)

Lainey eyed the table, her heart kicking up a notch. A padded mattress covered in black leather was set in a wooden frame. Metal O-rings were studded around the perimeter, adjustable straps hanging from them.

Cooper put his gear bag on the small counter near the table and unzipped it. As he pulled various items from the bag, Lainey removed her shoes and hoisted herself up on the table. She lay down, butterflies flapping wildly in her belly. Reaching for the hem of her short dress, she tried, not very successfully, to tug it down over her thighs.

Stop being such a prude, she admonished herself. I’m sure this guy has seen a girl’s panties before.

Cooper appeared, looming over her. He held out short, rectangular strips of black leather with silver clips attached. “I’m going to place these cuffs on your wrists and ankles, okay?”

“Okay,” Lainey replied, pleased her voice sounded steady.

He wrapped soft cuffs around first her wrists and then her ankles. Lainey liked the feel of them against her skin.

“Now, extend your arms on either side of you. I’m going to clip your cuffs to the table straps, and then I’ll do the same with your ankles. Okay?”

Swallowing hard, Lainey managed a small nod.

Cooper attached the cuff clips to the canvas straps and then adjusted the straps until her arms were spread wide on either side of her. He moved down to the end of the table and pulled her legs gently apart. As he locked her ankles into the strap restraints, raw fear spiked like an electric current through Lainey’s body.

She tugged at her restraints. She couldn’t move. She was truly helpless, and the sensation both thrilled and terrified her.

Cooper reappeared near her head. Dropping a hand to her face, he lightly grazed her cheek with his knuckle. “Relax,” he said soothingly. “Slow your breathing.”

Lainey tried to do as he said, but her lungs wouldn’t quite cooperate. She was glad she was lying down.

“It’s a little scary, isn’t it?” His voice had deepened, his dark eyes glittering. He continued to stroke her cheek. “You’re not used to giving up this kind of control, are you?”

“No,” she agreed throatily, caught in his powerful gaze. Oh, god. What had she gotten herself into?

Though his eyes remained hooded with lust, he smiled. “Don’t worry. You’re safe with me. We’re just going to explore tonight. That’s all. No pressure. No rush. We’ll only go as far as you want us to. Okay?”

Lainey felt incredibly vulnerable tied down like this, arms and legs spread wide. A part of her wanted to demand that he release her that second. But, along with the fear, she was super turned-on, her nipples tight, her clit throbbing.

“Okay,” she replied.

He turned away, reaching for something on the counter. When he faced her again, he held out a black satin sleep mask. “I’m going to blindfold you. It will help to keep you from anticipating.”

Lainey’s mouth was dry, her heart beating loudly in her ears. She was definitely outside her comfort zone. But she had never shied away from a challenge before. She wasn’t about to start now. “Okay,” she managed again, though this time it only came out as a whisper.

Gently, he lifted her head and slipped the mask over her eyes. Though she had been uneasy at the prospect, she found, to her surprise, that the sudden loss of sight was comforting, almost peaceful. She relaxed a little against the padded table, letting out a long, slow breath.

“A few ground rules,” Cooper said from somewhere above her. “In order for you to get the most out of this session, you need to be able to let go. That will involve a power exchange. Nothing excessive, don’t worry. But I want you to give me the power to control this scene. Yes, you’ll still have the ultimate use of your safeword. But unless or until you feel the need to use it, you will allow me to decide what you can and can’t do. You will trust me to take you where you know you want to go.”

He paused a moment, and then continued. “This is your chance, Lainey. The chance to begin to explore your submissive nature. Will you trust me to guide you in this?”

“Yes,” she agreed, both frightened and thrilled at what was happening. It was comforting to know she had her safeword as a last resort. But she’d be damned if she wimped out and used it.

“Good girl. We begin.”

She startled when she felt Cooper’s large, warm hands on her. He started with her arms, stroking and lightly massaging the flesh. It felt good, and she relaxed a little more. Running his hands lightly down her body, he stroked her thighs, gently massaging her calves and even her feet. She sighed with pleasure at his skillful, soothing touch.