Actually, that didn’t help. One of the things she’d liked about Storm was the fact that he’d seemed relatively unmoved by her. The last thing she needed was to get involved with someone she didn’t even like. She’d chosen Storm because she wouldn’t get emotionally involved. And yet she couldn’t quite say it to him.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t send it, and obviously Adam and I will be having a conversation.”
Jake sat forward. “Add me in, baby, because I made him put in the part about this guy being a complete ass. You do know his real name is Austin Stinchfield, right? I would have changed my name, too, dude. Though I would have picked something other than Storm.”
Storm’s eyes narrowed. “Serena, dear, one of the things about our lifestyle is we must decide to ignore those who don’t understand us. And we must make hard decisions.” He leaned forward. “Serena, you don’t have to do this. I have a dojo. I teach several members of the Dallas Police Department. I can protect you. You don’t have to put up with this. As a matter of fact, it would be best if you would get a bag and simply come back to my place.”
Jake sat forward. “She’s not going anywhere. This is a serious threat.”
Jake’s jaw had tightened, forming a dangerous line. Serena put a hand on his knee, silently begging him to let her handle this. They had already damaged her relationship with Master Storm.
“I thank you for the offer, Sir,” she began politely.
Master Storm smiled, a deeply self-satisfied expression. “Good. Because I also wanted to discuss your books with you.”
“I told you,” Jake began, but Adam stopped him. They seemed to have one of those silent conversations she usually found fascinating. After a moment, Jake sat back. “Please feel free to have the discussion now.”
Master Storm frowned. “I think this is best done privately. I don’t like to humiliate my submissives unless I am forced to.”
Humiliate? She felt her gut tighten. She didn’t like the sound of that. Master Storm had told her he would read her books. He’d shown an interest, and she’d thought that perhaps she could change his mind. After all, he was in the lifestyle. She was promoting the lifestyle. She knew that what she wrote was romance and not pure erotica, but surely he would see the value in it. “I’d like to hear your opinion.”
She didn’t want to, but it was better to know.
Master Storm frowned and settled back into the loveseat. “Fine. If you insist. One of the reasons I’ve decided to take on your training is so I can mold your writing career. You have some talent, but you are woefully wrong about most aspects of the lifestyle. There is no such thing as ménage with any permanency in BDSM.”
“Oh, god, he’s a ‘one-true-wayer,’” Jake said on a groan.
Storm ignored him. “You place the emphasis on the submissive which only proves to me that you don’t understand the meaning of submission. Submission is about service to the Dom, and the submissive finds her true purpose in serving and pleasing the Dom. The Doms in your books are far too easy on the submissives. I believe that if I train you, you will understand Dominance and submission more fully. I’m going to offer you a place as a full-time slave. I’ll take a guiding hand in your work. You need to move away from the bourgeois romance angle.”
“Really?” Yep. There it was. Humiliation. Adam’s hand crept out, seeking hers, but she ignored it. He’d humiliated her, too.
Storm sighed. “It’s all right, little one. You simply don’t understand. You’re taking a child’s view of the world.”
Serena took a deep breath, trying to banish those hated tears that had gathered again. “So you intend to take control of how I do my job?”
The Dom’s face was a bland blank. “Yes, dear, that’s what a Dom does. I will be in control of your work and your daily life. I already have a schedule planned for you. Your day will be highly regimented. I noticed that you seem a bit disorganized. That will stop. I will inspect your room, the house, and your work station on a daily basis. If they are not up to my standards, you will be punished in whatever manner I see fit. I have a whole contract already written out. I will need you to sign it, and then we can begin our work.”
“You wrote the contract without her input?” Adam asked.
“It’s obvious to me neither of you understands the relationship between a Dominant and his submissive. The submissive will either sign the contract or refuse. I am not going to negotiate.”
“Which is precisely why Ian Taggart refused you a membership to Club Sanctum.” Jake stared straight at the Dom. “I pulled your records when I discovered you were involved with my charge. Sanctum’s counselor wouldn’t clear you. She believed you would potentially abuse the power you took over your subs. I won’t allow Serena to go anywhere with you. You should leave now.”