Midmorning, the house was empty save Elisa quietly sleeping while Sydney attempted to pack the cloths Mark had laundered the day before. And to her credit she’d done a fairly decent job. She stood proudly her their suitcases. Her mind drifted from the moment she and Mark walked through the door until where they were today.


She’d arrived in Iowa as a foreigner, a pampered princess, unable to manage the slightest detail of day-to-day life. But now she felt sense of freedom she hadn’t known. She felt the spark of normalcy she’d always seen in Mark’s eyes. She had never been able to put her finger on why he wasn’t calloused as most Doms at their level tended to be. Now she knew what it was. It was Iowa. It was his friends. It was the knowledge that somewhere there were people he shared a common bond.


The trip was supposed to heal Mark yet Sydney found the shattered pieces of herself mending. She’d learned more about herself and the value of family than she thought possible. This is the life she ached for as a lonely child; a large family with children running about and childhood companions, while not ‘in touch’, never lost touch.


But most of all, she needed a mother figure; someone to tell her that she was getting it right. Helen filled those shoes without prompt. For once, Sydney was eager to listen, watch and learn. She’d found what she was looking for and now, in two days time, it would be gone. Back in the city, there would be no Mark Sr., Helen, Jane and the kids nor any of their friends.


Again, she would be on her own and the very thought terrified her.


Unable to focus, she sat on the edge of the bed, breathing deeply while electric currents pulsed through her fingertips. She dug them into the mattress steadying herself. Elisa stirred on her sleep but the weight bearing down on Sydney’s chest hindered her movement. She released her trembling hand, panting. Elisa cooed, soundly asleep.


“Syd,” Mark tapped lightly from the doorway, catching a glimpse of her anxiety. “Is everything alright?” He eyes quickly darted around the room, sensing a change.


“Everything is fine,” she ushered him out of the room and closed the door. Standing in the hallway, Mark scanned her face. Her eyes were blood-shot, her skin somewhat clammy, and her breathing was shallow. He checked her hands, ice cold.


Mark cupped her face, forcing her to meet his eyes. “Sydney, you’re dropping, honey. What’s going on?”


Her head shook violently in his hands and her eyes were blank.


“Shit,” Mark scooped her in his arms and took her to his room, locking the door behind them. Hastily, he threw back the covers, placed her on the bed and stripped her down to her underwear before disrobing himself. He crawled into bed and pulled her back against him as close as humanly possible. “Sshh,” Mark whispered, stroking her face and hair. “It’s okay. I’m here.” He inhaled and exhaled long and deep, feeling the energy permeate from her.


He closed his eyes and concentrated on both their breathing until she lay sputtering in his protective arms. “Breathe, my love.”


She complied giving herself over into his care. They lie entwined, letting time pass.





“Thank you,” Sydney said playing lightly with Mark’s fingertips when she awoke.


“I shouldn’t have left you. You haven’t had a proper release in two weeks; of course you were bound to drop sooner or later. I’m sorry.”


“Don’t apologize. I’m fine. I thought our romp at the hotel yesterday would have curved my appetite but I guess not.”


“Has the stress of my family gotten to you?


“No, I love your family. I’m actually dreading the trip home,” Sydney kissed his fingers. “What if we get home and it doesn’t feel right, then what?”


“Then we’ll find a place that makes us happy. I can’t imagine that place would be Iowa.”


“It may not be Iowa but I want to feel some sort of family connection. Does that make sense?


Mark sighed.


Sydney felt his heart breaking. “Are you angry with me because I don’t want to have children?”


“No, I’m not angry. I…I don’t know what I am but I’m not angry. I guess seeing you with Elisa made me remember how much I wanted my own. I thought that children would at least be an option,” he paused in thought. “I’m a little hurt but it’s nothing I can’t set aside.”


“You shouldn’t have to set your feelings aside.”


He kissed the back of her head. “If being with you means giving up the possibility of having a family then I didn’t see where I have a choice.”


“You always have a choice. There are plenty of women who would fall over themselves to have your child.”


“I don’t want children with anyone else. Hell, it’s too soon for us to be talking about having children. I simply want the option,” he placed his hand on her stomach.


Sydney didn’t reply. Mark took her cue and changed the subject.


“You’re Dom is still high, you’re tense. Can you manage until we’re home or would you like to take out some aggression on me?”


“Sweetie, I’d hurt you.”


“Really,” he said surprised by her cockiness.




Sydney turned to face him, aware she was playing with fire. “Yes, really. I wouldn’t want to harm you.”


His fingers traced her profile as they took in one another. “Get on your hands and knees because I’m going to fuck you until I cum,” Mark quietly demanded.


“You’ve forgotten who you’re talking to. Let me remind you,” Sydney crawled atop him until they were face to face, and inches apart. She spoke seductively. “I love you,” she kissed him softly. “I need you,” she kissed him again. “My body aches for you,” kiss and pause. “But I’m still that woman who had you on the verge of physical collapse the first night we had sex.”

Mark gave a light moan, turning his head to one side. Sydney kissed his neck and whispered close to his ear, “I own you.”


“What!” His eyes flew open with anger. He pulled the back of her hair forcefully and sat upright with Sydney astride.


“Aahh,” she screamed, taken off balance.


“You what!” Mark’s eyes blazed with rage. “Repeat yourself.” He tugged her hair and grabs her throat.


Sydney tried pushing him away but found his throat instead and squeezed firmly. “Let me go! Mark you’re hurting me!”


“I know,” A smile turned at the corner of his mouth like a cat’s tail and he releases his hold.


“Asshole,” pushing him backwards, falls on top of him. “I love you.”


“I love you to, babe,” he caressed her hair. “You do own me. I’m all yours.” 




                                                          
                                                   ******




Meanwhile Charles, Lee and Sydney’s assistants ran defense. Aware, of what was at stake, Charles had the good sense to reach out to Richard Guy, Sydney’s former mentor and top Dom. Though retired, Richard still held sway in the Kink community. Charles went into the conversation knowing that selling Richard, a member of the old school, on the idea of a relationship between two Doms at Sydney and Mark’s level wasn’t going to be easy. He was prepared to work to gain Richards approval.


Much to his surprise Richard was more concerned with the lower ranking Doms audacity to interfere in upper rank affairs. They had forgotten to whom they owe their livelihood and needed to be checked. He was confident that Sydney and Mark wouldn’t be unseated nevertheless he offered his full support with a stipulation: his name wasn’t to be used unless absolutely necessary. He wanted to see his protégé in action.


“She ousted me, she took my place. Let’s see what she’s made of.” Richard demanded.


“Yes sir, I understand. Thank you,” Charles turned to leave.


“Oh, Charles,” Richard called.


“Sir,”


“Any Dom that can’t be brought to heel, turn their names over to me. Richard grinned like a Cheshire cat. “I’ll have Lee talk to them.”


“Yes sir. Thank you. I will be in touch.” Charles smiled and left, quickly dialing Lee in stride


“Lee, it’s me. How are things going with you? Have you heard from Gus?”


“Gus is with me now,” Lee looked across the car to Gus franticly dialing on his cell. “We’re picking up Tim.”


“Tim? Why Tim. His name wasn’t on the list.” Charles handed his valet slip to the parking attendant.


“He was as of this morning. I’ve taken care of the rest. They’re all on board.”


Charles eyes widened. “That was fast even by your standards.” He paid the attendant and stepped inside.


“European know-how, my friend,” Lee chuckled. “You Americans could learn a few things.”


“I’ll hold you to that. Look, I’m going to break the news to Sydney in the within the hour. I want to conference you in on the call. How long is this meeting with Tim going to take?” He pulled away from the curb and into busy traffic.


“No time at all. I’ll call you when I’m done,” Lee pulled to the curb, rolled down the window and said menacingly, “Get in.”


Gus opened the passenger side door and moved to the backseat. Tim nervously took his place beside Lee. Tim was second only to Lee, so if anyone should have challenged Lee, it would have been him. He wasn’t much smaller than Lee, with dark looks and a handsome face however even Tim was dwarfed by Lee’s uncompromising aura.


“Nice car,” Tim said scoped the interior. He caught Gus’s fear stricken eye.


“You like it?” Lee replied, cutting through traffic.


“Yeah, it’s nice. Lexus LS, right?”


“Correct. It was a birthday gift from Sydney,” Lee smiled. It didn’t make Tim anymore comfortable. “Sydney takes care of her underlings and we, in turn, take care of her. Do you know what I mean?”


Tim nodded but said nothing.


“It’s like I told Gus: you fuck with her and you’re fucking with me.”


Tim angled towards Lee preparing to plead his case.


“I know what you’re going to say,” Lee stopped him. “I don’t have time to listen. Buckle up---I have a conference call I can’t miss.”