“Good morning, you two,” Josephine calls from the edge of the kitchen.
We turn and smile at her in unison.
“Get out of my kitchen. I need to cook the Master of the house his breakfast or there will be trouble.” She winks at Reece.
He chuckles.
“Something I wish more people around here would understand.” He throws me a look.
I roll my eyes and shake my head.
“Go get dressed, Atlas. I’ll meet you poolside in ten minutes.”
“Yes, Sir.” The words flow without thought.
Josephine starts to make a comment, but a look from Reece stops her before a sound ekes out of her mouth.
I laugh to myself. It is a look I’ve thrown many times with the same result but one which I’ve rarely received. With a soft pivot, I pad back to my room to dress.
On the horizon, the first rays of the sun sneak over the horizon through the patches of broken clouds. The storm abates just as my mood lifts. With a smile, I change into a one-piece bathing suit, tentatively stretching my body, pulling tight muscles taut and then releasing them.
Ten minutes later, I walk onto the terrace. Reece stands behind the pool staring out over the sea. The steam from his mug rises, kissing his skin, and I find myself jealous of it. I scoff at the strange thought.
Reece turns around at the sound and smiles.
“Have you stretched?”
“Yes,” I state and look at the glassy water of the pool.
“Then in the water you go.” His hand moves in a flourish toward the pool, and he bows.
“Thank you, kind Sir,” I say and roll my eyes, tossing the towel on the nearest chair.
I hit the water in a fast, shallow dive and come up halfway across the long lap pool. The cool water wakes up every sense. On the surface, I stroke to the end of the lane and flip to turn around and swim back. When I touch the other side I am winded, and the effects of the short swim burn through my muscles.
“Another one,” Reece says from the pool deck.
I glare at him and he only smiles. With a strong kick, I glide under the water and once again surface halfway down the lane. My strokes are slower. Each breath is an effort. I chastise myself for not working out as I make the turn back toward Reece.
When I tag the wall, I hear him command, “Another one” above me, and the whole cycle starts again. For the next half hour, he pushes me. Every time I touch the wall, his command is simple and sends me back down the pool for another lap.
Muscles scream with each stroke. My lungs burn. I touch the wall and hear the familiar command. This time, I flip on my back and stroke backwards. Above me I see him smile and nod.
After two more laps, my body struggles in the water. When my fingers graze against the wall, I grasp the edge. Every breath is a gasp.
“Let’s get some breakfast,” Reece says and walks away from the poolside.
I stare after him. My body hangs limp in the water as I stare out to sea. The sunrise is an explosion of color, and I watch it until my breath returns to normal. Pushing off the wall, I glide to the pool ladder and climb out. Water sluices from my body. The change makes it heavier as I walk to my towel.
When I arrive at the table, Reece looks up from his tablet.
“How are you feeling, Atlas?”
“Tired.”
“Looks like we need to do this every day then.” He smirks.
“Sadist.”
“A well-known fact. You’ll find I don’t just use the conventional toys and activities.”
“Noted.”
“Good. Now eat some breakfast. The day is just getting started.”
"In your perfect world, how deep down the rabbit hole would you go?" Reece asks casually.
My movement stops mid-bite and I work to swallow the food in my mouth. I reach for a glass of water to aid my distress. The cool liquid coats my mouth and gives me time to form an answer.
"I don't understand your question," I reply to stall for more time. Without a doubt I know exactly what he's asking me. He wants to know if I want to know where this all fits in my world. It breaks my temporary illusion of peace. My mind races and screams not to answer the question.
"Stop stalling." The words are not harsh but direct.
For a long minute we watch each other.
"I’m curious to know how deep I can go without losing a step in the other parts of my world."
Reece nods and stabs the vegetable omelet with his fork.
“I saw an openness and vulnerability about you at Dominick’s.”
Memories of my ‘redemption’ pour through me. It is a need I rarely address.
“Yes,” I confirm. “He made me.”
“Your creator, as he put it.” His casual tone is at odd with the conversation.
“How can I give you what you need?”
“Understand me.” He quirks an eyebrow.
“Isn’t that what every Dominant says to a submissive?” I mock him. “‘How can I understand you and fulfill your needs?’ Come on, Reece, you're better than this.”
“Hark, is that a hint of Alexandra I hear?” he teases.
“Maybe. I’ve been feeling less like Alexandra and more like Atlas fallen.” I force a smile.
“That’s what we’re here to fix.”
“You need to learn all of me. When this ‘little vacation’ is over, the world will slam right back down on my shoulders and the mess it's in will be my responsibility.”
“Our responsibility,” he corrects. “You are so many things. The duplicity of your life is astounding, but it leaves you empty in so many places.”
“Then fill those places.” It is a simple but weighty statement.
"Are you willing to put in the work to make it happen?"
"Are you?" The words grace my lips in a full challenge.
I hold my breath. The hope of being understood hangs in the air.
"I am," he states and looks into my eyes. Something new lights behind them.
"Then so am I." I push back with the same force.
"See how easy it can be when you agree with me, pet?" An enigmatic smile snakes across his face, transforming into a mischievous grin.
The term of endearment runs a warm tingle across my skin. Realization dawns. This is new. Safe. Here we sit, sparring, talking about every aspect of me in a single conversation, and I feel safe. It is both disarming and exciting.
"Something's changed," I parry.
"More like something is released. You aren’t a singular facet. No one set of anything serves all of your needs. When I said I'd failed you, it wasn't in need or want. You seemed perfectly put together. When we were together, you submitted so easily. Every motion, every position, every command carried out. I never imagined it was the smallest part of you. My failing is putting a label on you, only letting my experience with others dictate my reactions and interactions."
“Your move, Sir.” I smile.
He smiles at me and cups my chin.
“How far down the rabbit hole do you want to go?”
“I already live in this land, Mr. Gabriel. Bring it.”
He releases my chin, his whole body shaking in laughter.
“Oh, my dear Atlas, I plan to bring it to all your masks.”
“We welcome it.”
Silence falls across the table. Reece picks up his fork and continues his breakfast. I follow his lead as we continue the meal in amenable silence.
With each bite, I replay the conversation in my head. Processing it, opening to it, and letting hope bloom from it.
Reece finishes his breakfast and breaks the silence. "I want us to go as deep as we can go together. To delight in your accomplishments, watch you artfully work your duplicity, and see you enjoy setting it all down at my feet when you need to rest."
With a deep breath, I smile. "I'd like that too."
"Good. While we can't erase our history, nor would I want to," he says with a knowing look. "I believe we can reset it. To that end, let me start."
With that, he reaches his hand over the table in a gesture to shake mine. When I lift mine to his, he pumps it a couple of times. "Hi, I'm Reece and I will be your Dominant and partner on this journey."
A boyish grin blooms across his face, and I can't help but laugh. For the first time in months something in my chest loosens.
I laugh out loud at the pure ridiculousness of the whole scene.
"Now there's a sound I'll delight in hearing often—along with other sounds, to be sure. I want all of you, no matter what name."
A genuine smile etches across my face as I look up at him.
"Not everything has to be hard in a dynamic relationship, you know. Sometimes things are hard or stoic, and sometimes they are soft and funny." His fingers graze my chin.
"An excellent observation."
"I'm glad you agree. Since you’re a writer, and I hear you were writing a book, I thought you could spend the rest of the day writing."
I groan, thinking about the book Samantha had been pushing me to finish when I walked away.
“I want you to write about you. You’ll find everything you need in your room. Because of our current circumstances, everything is air-gapped with few exceptions. I’m sure you’ll understand.”
“As you say, Sir.” Sarcasm drips on the edge of my tone and I chuckle.
Reece smiles knowingly.
“I think I’ll take a shower,” I say as I slide from my chair.
“Want some company?” Reece asks but doesn’t move.
“I thought you’d never ask.” My voice is tight and a thrill of anticipation runs through me.