Hunter - Secret Submission

An Elloras Cave Romantica Publication

www.ellorascave.com

Secret Submission

ISBN 9781843607540

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Secret Submission Copyright 2003 Diana Hunter

Edited by Pamela Campbell.

Electronic book Publication September 2003

This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Elloras Cave Publishing, Inc. 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors imagination and used fictitiously.

Secret Submission

Diana Hunter

Chapter One

A new idea

A widow by the age of 30, Sarah Simpson-Parker spent the obligatory one year in mourning and then moved on with her life. Her husband, a soldier for his country and a munitions expert to boot, had died two years ago in an ironic off-base traffic accident. It had taken her a year to start thinking again; in her opinion, the Victorians probably had it right when their social customs dictated a year-long mourning period.

She felt much freer this time around on the dating circuit. Both she and her husband had been throwbacks to an earlier time, adhering to an increasingly outdated morality; when theyd married, they both were virgins. After five years together, they realized a little more experience would have gone a long way towards making sex satisfying. As it was, their sex life was adequate, but nothing more.

At least then shed had a sex life. In the two years since her husbands death, Sarah had remained chaste, and she was getting darn tired of it. Age was beginning its slow slink into her limbs; recently shed found a white hair mixed in with her long, shoulder-length brown waves. A critical look into the mirror showed her a reality she had to face: her still-fit body and long, carefully brushed hair were ever-so-surely creeping into middle age. She wasnt even sure why she was still on the pill anymore, it had been so long since sex had been a part of her life.

Shed had a few kisses from the men shed dated, but most of the men shed gone out with just didnt do anything for heruntil she met Phillip.

The first few dates with Phillip Townsend had gone so well, Sarah had agreed to more. Tall, dark, handsome, rugged; she almost had said no the first time hed asked her out. She guessed he was slightly older than sheat least hed looked it in the grocery store where theyd met when each of them chose the same orange at the exact same moment. Older, perhaps, and a bit rugged; clean shaven, but no gray yet in his hair. She liked the way his dark hair curled and was glad hed left it just a little on the long side. In fact, had his hair been buzz-cut short, she probably wouldnt have given him a second glanceshe liked to run her fingers through a mans hair, and Phillip had just enough to play with. On their dates, shed noticed women notice himand throw glances full of venom in her direction. He was Hollywood handsome and shed been worried the beauty had only gone skin deep. But it hadnt and hed caught her interest. Tonight theyd done the dinner and a movie thing and then gone for ice cream and a walk along the beach. It was late, or rather early nowand Sarah was glad tomorrow was Saturday and she didnt have to work. No cares, no commitments, just a day to relax.

The moon was full and the soft white light bathed the empty beach. Phillip pulled her close and kissed her once, twice. Sarah returned his kiss, liking his smell, his touch. His hands began to wander and she let them, liking how they made her feel.

I like my women compliant, he whispered in her ear.

And compliant she was feeling. The moonlight, the anticipated day off, his touch; they all combined to put her in a tremendously relaxed mood.

Would you do what I asked you to? he asked her, nuzzling her ear. Phillip Townsend knew what he liked in women. Never married, he had been through several long-term relationships; each one had run its course and the break-ups had been mutual. He dated more selectively now that he had grown older, and theoretically wiser. Sarahs blush when their fingers met on the orange had prompted the first dateher intelligence had dictated several more since then. Tonight he would find out if she was worth any more of his time. He sincerely hoped she was.

Of course, it wasnt only her brain that intrigued him. While not drop-dead gorgeous, she was still a beautiful woman. That set of freckles scattered over the bridge of her nose gave her a pixie-like quality that belied the severe cut of her shoulders. Obviously that was where she carried all her tension. He saw those shoulders as a bit of a challengewould she be compliant enough to relax with him?

Yes, she murmured her answer, his touch arousing her.

Would you come back to my place and do what I asked you to?

This was exactly what shed hoped for. Shed been a virgin until marriage, then monogamous throughout it and chaste afterward. It was high time she was naughty. Yes, she murmured again, an impish smile dancing in her eyes.

He took her hand and they worked their way back to his black Corvette, the sand of the beach squishing through their toes. He did not kiss her again, nor touch her except for holding her hand. Pausing at the car only long enough to brush the sand off their feet, Phillip held the door for her as she sat and refastened her sandals while he slid on his docksiders . A moment more and they were on the road.

* * * * *

The ride to Phillips cottage wasnt longhe lived out of town in a cottage separated from his neighbors by several acres of woods. They talked of small things along the way, getting to know more of each others opinions; he liked brussel sprouts and she didnt; he hated washing dishes and she found it relaxing. As he pulled into the long drive and parked the car up near the house, the two of them fell silent. The Corvette was his one extravagance; certainly it seemed out of place beside the simple cottage. Putting the stick in neutral, he let the engine idle for a moment as he turned to the beautiful woman beside him.

Now, Sarah, I need to ask you again. Once you step out of this car, I want total control over you. Are you willing to give that to me? I promise, I will not hurt you.

She hesitated, suddenly realizing the position she was in and what shed agreed to. Her physical desires warred with her practical nature; did she really want to give this guy total control?

Seeing her hesitate, he leaned over and kissed her gently. From the few statements shed made about her dead husband, he knew she was really not prepared for what he was asking. I will give you a worda safe-wordand if you say that word at any time, I will stop what we are doing and we will talk. Will that make you feel better?

Swallowing hard, Sarah nodded.

Then the word I will give you will be orange. Hows that? Just think of the day we met and youll remember it.

She nodded again in response. Part of her couldnt believe she was actually doing this, the other part of her was so excited, she didnt trust her voice.

Remember, once you leave the car, you will do as I say.

The warning tone was implicit, yet Sarah knew he meant it. She nodded again and took a deep breath at the sudden arousal his words caused inside her. She was voluntarily giving up all controlletting someone else take the lead. She, who prided herself on her ability to think through every problem shed been given; she who led an entire set of teams at work. What would her friends and co-workers say of her now, agreeing to give up control to a man shed met only a few times? She didnt care. It had been far too long since shed had sexual relations of any sort. Putting thoughts of everyone and everything else aside, she opened the door and stepped out.