Gilded Lily(5)

Lily stretched her legs and yawned.

Sure, sex would’ve been the quick solution to fill the emptiness, but that wasn’t what Tony had wanted that afternoon. He’d carried a black duffel bag full of exciting tools Lily had only read about or learned about online. Keith, her ex, hadn’t been interested when she’d tried to approach him with books about dominance and submission. He’d reminded her that she needed to focus more on her career and hitting the gym than she did some sick fetish. After that day, the loneliness and doubt took hold. Brushing the truth of her nature aside proved to be the hardest task of her life. To deny herself the pleasure of her nature made for anger, resentment, and eventually calling family and friends to tell them the wedding was off.

The lecture Tony had attended the afternoon they met at Louisiana State University would be the turning point of her life. Lily hadn’t known the chance meeting with her soon-to-be trainer was going to change the entire course of her destiny.

Tony Moretti insinuated himself into every aspect of her already hectic schedule. The two manuscripts she’d been working on, teaching classes at the university, and edits from hell had sent her life into a tailspin. Tony had set her life into a different motion. By the end of that first evening he’d calmed her nerves, forced her to take a nap, and made a delicious dinner—in her kitchen, as if he’d lived there forever.

There was a promise made.

A promise accepted.

The bond between a trainer and his submissive had been secured, and Lily had been surprised by her growing ability to slow the cadence of her chaotic life and quickly transform full schedules into a healthy, manageable lifestyle. Within three weeks the schedule Tony had built for their sessions created a sense of excitement and anticipation that Lily hadn’t felt at any point in her life. The first months were a revelation as her mind accepted the reality that her submissive secret was no longer a taboo but a celebrated pleasure with a man who could anticipate her every need and answer all her questions regarding the Dom/sub bond. The relationship was built on trust and obedience, a concept that Keith had never been able to grasp.

Tony was a man of constants. Every Wednesday was routine, something she could count on. The lessons were simple. Life is meant to be fulfilling in every aspect, never doubt your worth, and love is always possible. Over time, the training became engrained in her mind, and her body relaxed and accepted Tony’s methods. Pleasure was a reward, meant to be earned. Loneliness was a self-imposed punishment, one that Tony was always careful not to use.

Trying to get comfortable, Lily rolled her head on the back of the seat. Should have packed the travel pillow. The woman sitting in the seat beside her looked over and smiled. Lily returned the courtesy and closed her eyes, letting the vibrations from the engines lull her tired body. The control she’d longed for in her professional and personal life had manifested into success. The tools she still used were put in place by her loving trainer, her friend.

Her body felt heavy against the seat as sleep started to claim her roaming thoughts. The image of a tall man with coffee-colored hair slipped into her daydream. The way his suit molded to a tight waist, the deep blue fabric pressed, smelling of clean soap and musky cologne. Adam Stark. Her lips silently said the name. His easy presence and confidence had been a balm to the searing pain as she’d sat on the small folding chair, looking at the side of the coffin.

Lily startled awake as her stomach sank. Nicholas was gone. When she got home he wouldn’t be there, waiting with a bottle of wine and their favorite movie. The Breakfast Club and popcorn had become their ritual when she got home from a lecture tour or a long day in class. Nicholas had answered the ad to rent the stable house over a year and a half ago. In one afternoon his colorful, fun-loving presence burst into her life and made each day an adventure. Tony had adored him too. Nicholas would get as excited as she did on Wednesdays when Tony would come to the house.

The layover made Lily’s body ache from sitting on the thinly cushioned metal chairs in the terminal. After taking an uncomfortable nap and trying to work out the kinks in her stiff neck, she was finally able to board the plane that would take her home. By the time they landed in Baton Rouge, it was three in the morning. She wearily made her way to the baggage claim as the other eager passengers rushed by to grab their luggage. By the time she reached the escalators, her body was ready to collapse. Overwhelmed with emotions and physical exhaustion, she held on to the wide rail as the moving stairs carried her down.

She looked up just in time to step off the last step. The heavy clutch in her chest eased. Tony was standing by the row of plastic chairs. A gentle burst of energy carried her over to where he was waiting.