CHAPTER 5
1418 Words
DOMINIC
I hadn't stopped thinking about her since she drove away that morning.
Sia. Even her scene name was beautiful. And the woman herself? She was everything I had been looking for and hadn't known I was missing.
I had been in the lifestyle for twenty years, since my late twenties. I had played with countless submissives, had even had two long term relationships. But nothing had ever felt like last night.
The way she had surrendered to me. The way she had trusted me enough to break. The way she had felt in my arms afterward, soft and vulnerable and perfect.
I wanted more of her. Not just scenes at the club. I wanted to know her. Really know her.
I was sitting in the penthouse apartment I had leased when I moved back to Seattle, looking out at the city skyline, when my phone rang. It was William Chen, my oldest friend.
"William. Good to hear from you."
"Dominic! Are you settled in?"
"Getting there. The apartment is fine. I've been unpacking all week."
"Well, stop unpacking. I'm throwing you a welcome home party on Tuesday. Black tie. My place. Seven o'clock."
I smiled. That was William. Always taking charge, always generous. "You don't have to do that."
"Nonsense. You're finally home after five years. We're celebrating. Plus, I want you to meet my daughter. You haven't seen Sophia since she was a teenager. She's really made something of herself. Owns an art gallery downtown."
Sophia. I vaguely remembered a quiet teenage girl at William's holiday parties years ago. She must be in her mid twenties now.
"I'd love to meet her," I said. "Tuesday at seven. I'll be there."
"Excellent. And Dominic? I'm really glad you're back. I've missed having you around."
"I've missed you too, old friend."
After we hung up, I checked the time. Two in the afternoon. I had told Sia I would call her tomorrow, but I wanted to hear her voice. Wanted to make sure she was okay.
I pulled up the contact for the phone I had given her and pressed call.
It rang four times before she answered.
"Hello?" Her voice was quiet, uncertain.
"Sia. It's Dominic. How are you feeling?"
There was a long pause. "I'm okay."
But she didn't sound okay. She sounded stressed.
"Talk to me. What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I'm fine."
"Sia." I kept my voice gentle but firm. "I can hear in your voice that something's wrong. You can talk to me."
Another pause. Then, "I can't see you again."
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. "What? Why?"
"It's complicated. Last night was amazing, but it needs to stay as a one time thing."
"Bullshit." The word came out harsher than I intended. "Something happened between this morning and now. Tell me what it is."
"I can't."
"Can't or won't?"
"Both." Her voice cracked slightly. "Please, Sir. Don't make this harder than it already is."
Sir. Even now, even trying to push me away, she was still calling me Sir. That told me everything I needed to know. She didn't want to end this. She felt like she had to.
"Is this about your real life? About keeping your two worlds separate?"
"Yes."
"Then we'll keep them separate. I told you, I'm not asking you to introduce me to your family or go public. Just dinner. Just us."
"You don't understand."
"Then help me understand, Sia. Because from where I'm sitting, we have something rare and special, and you're about to throw it away out of fear."
"It's not just fear." She sounded like she was on the verge of tears. "It's impossible. We're impossible."
"Nothing is impossible."
"This is." She took a shaky breath. "I have to go. I'm sorry, Sir. I'm so sorry."
"Sia, wait—"
But she had already hung up.
I stared at my phone, frustration and confusion warring inside me. Something had spooked her badly. Something between the time she left the club and now.
I thought about calling her back, but I knew that would just push her further away. She needed space. Time to think.
But I wasn't giving up. Not by a long shot.
Whatever obstacle she thought was in our way, we would figure it out together. Because last night hadn't just been about great s*x or a powerful scene. It had been about connection. Real, deep, undeniable connection.
And I hadn't felt that in a very long time.
Tuesday night arrived faster than I expected. I put on my tuxedo, looked at myself in the mirror, and headed to William's estate.
The drive to Medina took thirty minutes, and the whole way I thought about Sia. I had texted her twice over the past two days. Once to check on her, once to ask her to reconsider dinner. She had responded to the first with "I'm fine, thank you" and hadn't responded to the second at all.
It was driving me crazy.
When I pulled up to William's house, the circular driveway was already full of expensive cars. Valet parking, of course. William never did anything halfway.
I walked up to the front door, and a man I assumed was William's assistant opened it.
"Mr. Sterling. Welcome. Mr. Chen is in the main hall."
The house was exactly as I remembered it. Elegant, expensive, with family photos lining the walls. I noticed photos of William's late wife and son and felt a pang of sympathy. William had been through hell and back.
I walked into the main hall, and William spotted me immediately.
"Dominic!" He crossed the room and pulled me into a hug. "You look good, my friend. New York agreed with you."
"It was fine. But it's good to be home."
"Come, let me introduce you to some people. Most of them you already know, but there are a few new faces."
He led me around the room, and I shook hands with tech moguls, investors, and socialites. The usual Seattle elite crowd. Everyone was polite, congratulatory about my return, curious about my plans now that I was divorced.
I was in the middle of a conversation about real estate when William touched my arm.
"Dominic, I want you to meet my daughter. Sophia, come here."
I turned, a polite smile on my face, ready to meet the girl I vaguely remembered from a decade ago.
And froze.
Walking toward us in a stunning navy blue gown, her long black hair swept up in an elegant twist, was Sia.
My Sia. My submissive. The woman I had taken to subspace three nights ago.
She was William Chen's daughter.
Our eyes met across the room, and I saw the exact moment she realized I had just figured it out. Her face went pale. Her steps faltered.
But she kept walking, because what else could she do?
"Sophia, this is Dominic Sterling, my oldest friend. Dominic, my daughter Sophia."
I recovered faster than she did, extending my hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Sophia."
She placed her hand in mine, and I felt the tremor running through her. "Mr. Sterling. Welcome back to Seattle."
Her voice was different. More formal, more controlled. This was the version of her that the world saw. Polished. Perfect. Completely buttoned up.
But I knew what was underneath. I knew how she sounded when she begged. How she looked when she came. How she felt when she surrendered completely.
"Sophia owns an art gallery downtown," William said proudly. "Luminous Arts. You should stop by sometime."
"I'd love to." I kept my voice neutral, professional, even as my mind was reeling. "I'm actually looking to purchase some pieces for my new apartment."
"Oh, wonderful!" William beamed. "Sophia has excellent taste. She can help you find exactly what you need."
"I'm sure she can," I said, my eyes never leaving hers.
She knew exactly what I meant. And the blush that crept up her cheeks told me she was thinking about Saturday night too.
"If you'll excuse me," Sophia said quickly, "I need to use the restroom."
She practically fled, and I watched her go, my mind spinning.
Sophia Chen was Sia. William's daughter was my submissive.
No wonder she had panicked when I suggested dinner. No wonder she said we were impossible.
But I didn't believe in impossible. And now that I knew who she was, now that I understood what the stakes were, I wasn't backing down.
If anything, I wanted her more.
- Writer
