Love and Language Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Love and Language Copyright © 2013 Cheryl Dragon

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Also Available from Resplendence Publishing

  www.resplendencepublishing.com

  Love and Language

  A Masters Wanted Story

  By Cheryl Dragon

  Resplendence Publishing, LLC

  http://www.resplendencepublishing.com

  Love and Language

  Copyright © 2013 Cheryl Dragon

  Edited by Michele Paulin and CJ Slate

  Cover Art by Les Byerley

  Published by Resplendence Publishing, LLC

  2665 N Atlantic Avenue, #349

  Daytona Beach, FL 32118

  Electronic format ISBN: 978-1-60735-649-3

  Warning: All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Electronic Release: April 2013

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places or occurrences, is purely coincidental.

  To all the cougars…enjoy the ride!

  Chapter One

  With her tax refund in the bank, Jane Wendell sat at her computer and searched for airfare pricing. She had her trip to Europe all planned out. Since her childhood, she’d dreamed of Italy and Greece. The ruins and the mythology would allow her to escape the utter lack of magic in her life.

  She’d been imagining the trip for years really, ever since she’d gotten close to paying off her student loans and had begun saving for something fun. At thirty-six-years-old, she finally had the cash for her first real vacation.

  Hard work and frugal living were all she knew. Shuffling around with relatives then foster care as a child hadn’t left her with a college fund or anywhere to go. Books had been her escape, and now, she’d actually see part of the world.

  Her friends at the university where she taught didn’t understand. They certainly had plenty of time off. Spring break and even summers if, unlike Jane, they didn’t teach that session. She took every opportunity to work because she couldn’t stand debt. Growing up owing everyone for their kindness was hard enough. Racking up frivolous stuff on her credit cards wasn’t an option.

  School was still her haven, and while teaching English composition might be dull to some, she could count on it. With tenure and a PhD, her career was secure. There were no excuses anymore for not taking the trip. She held her breath and clicked the button. She’d booked the ticket for her departure flight! No going back now. She grabbed the hotels she wanted then picked the best price for her return flight.

  Trembling fingers printed out the information. A week in each country was all she could afford, but she’d pack in everything possible. She could sleep when she got home!

  The flush of empowerment and control was contrary to the feelings elicited by the other thing on her To Do list tonight. Post a message on the Masters Wanted blog seemed simple and harmless. She’d worked up the courage to book her trip, so now was the time to do the other. The difference was that she’d tried playing kinky before. The Masters either went too far or not far enough. One had even said she was too picky about her limits and refused to play with her.

  This blog seemed to get it. She didn’t want public exposure—in a small college town she’d be risking too much. BDSM clubs might promise anonymity but running into a student, a parent or anyone who knew about her job meant it could backfire. College kids were impressionable and experimented with life. They didn’t need to know their teacher loved to be tied up and spanked.

  All she needed was one Dom who wanted her and respected her. The noise of a club and being on display did nothing for her. “Bedroom Dom” was the phrase the blog used for it. No one there called the subs who wanted that “picky”. Several of the Doms on the site were listed locally, but approaching them online scared her. She knew a local BDSM fetish group held separate meetings nearby for social interaction and kink, but she’d never gotten up the courage to go.

  Tonight, her goal was to post. Just a friendly share about what she was looking for, but nothing too specific though she’d be clear about her limits. As she read over what she’d written, it felt a bit dull, but she didn’t exactly have a rock-star life.

  So glad I found this blog! I’m a sexual sub, and I don’t need a club or the fancy bells and whistles. A strong relationship with a Bedroom Dom is all I’m interested in. I prefer to run my own life except when it comes to sex. Who knows why we’re wired the way we are, but I love being tied up, teased and spanked. Nothing extreme (blood, fire, breath, non-con play are out). Not a pain slut but no wimp either. I’m hoping the right Dom is out there for this female sub.

  If she went into too much detail, someone might trace her back to the college. An English Comp professor should have more of a flair with words, but she couldn’t brag about herself like that. Not here. It was a shot in the dark anyway. Still, some couples had found each other through the blog, so there was a chance.

  After proofing her post one last time, she clicked send. It was from a throwaway email address, so if she got creepy replies, she could delete the account. The username she’d picked for the online part of the fetish group and this blog gave away nothing of her real identity. Generally, she just lurked and enjoyed other people’s exploits.

  Jane sat up a little straighter. A real vacation, no debt except for a mortgage on her small house not far from the university and she’d dipped her toe into finding a real Dom for life.

  It’d been a long time since she’d played. Her fantasies and online surfing had supplied her sub fix, but it wasn’t enough anymore.

  Still, Jane refused to get her hopes too high. If the right guy was out there, it could take a lot of time for them to find each other. She had other things to do now. She flipped over to the university’s website to do one more task for her trip. Find a tutor. She didn’t speak Italian or Greek and wanted to get down some of the basics before she left in a few months. The online methods she’d tried had failed to hold her focus. She’d always learned best from an engaging teacher and tried to give that to her students, as well.

  On the language department’s page, she posted a simple request for short term Italian and Greek tutors. She knew some of the professors there but didn’t want to put them on the spot to do her a favor. Odds were she’d get some grad students looking for a little extra money.

  Her mind stopped on one man in particular, but she half-hoped he didn’t apply for the job. Ben was a PhD candidate who taught intro classes. Though a student in the technical sense, he was also a skilled teacher from what she’d heard. He was on track to get a fulltime post as soon as he completed his degree in a matter of weeks. The man had the skill, no doubt, but he might not be the best tutor for her. The way she thought of him made her ashamed, but her dreams refused to stop. He wasn’t even thirty.

  Ben for a tutor would make focusing on language a big problem for her. His body was lean and muscled. Despite his youthful face, he had wise blue eyes that promised he wasn’t innocent.

  Sometimes, he forgot to shave, and she’d spotted some stubble on his chin. One chilly day, he’d worn a thin shirt under a sport coat, and she swore she saw a pi
ercing in his nipple. Younger men had always aroused her, but this one made her wet with a little smile in her direction. She squirmed in her seat just thinking of him.

  Pushing back from the computer, Jane felt a bit like a stalker. It was a fantasy and nothing more! She closed the university website and went back to the Masters Wanted blog. No one had responded to her post, but the fact that she’d sent it was the triumph. Maybe, she’d meet someone, but even if she didn’t, she’d tried. Controlling a room of college kids, she could handle, but putting herself out there in a small town was harder.

  Closing that website, she went back to the vacation. This she could control and plan carefully. It was all for her. Now that it was real, she could plot out the sightseeing to maximize her time. However, she knew when she closed her eyes tonight she’d be thinking of the young tutor she wanted and not the Leaning Tower of Pisa!

  * * * *

  Ben Whitbeck cursed the construction outside his office window. Grad students were naturally assigned the crap locations, and he had to share the tiny office. Right now, he should be enjoying the peace from his officemate being on sick leave. The guy was a whiz with exotic languages, but the accompanying cuisine hadn’t agreed with him over spring break.

  Even with the office to himself, Ben’s head split with the pounding of jackhammers and the stress of waiting for the next step in his career. He’d turned in his dissertation at the beginning of the term. All that remained was for the college administration to set the date and time for him to defend it.

  The department head had assured Ben that the junior linguistics professor position was earmarked for Ben. All he had to do was get that PhD. He was more than ready for the degree and job to be locked in. This cute little New England college town felt like the home he wanted. In the last ten years, he’d spent two abroad. Even when he visited his family at holidays, he wanted to come back here.

  When the construction workers began shouting over the jackhammers, Ben shoved away from the desk and went for a walk. It was his light day with just online classes later. He’d finished the necessary grading and needed a distraction.

  He walked to the food court and eyed the coffee shop. Caffeine wasn’t what he needed, but before he could pick another destination, Ben spotted Nelson Cannon headed his way. Dr. Cannon from IT was a friend but also a reminder of what Ben really needed. Ben had been avoiding the BDSM fetish group’s functions lately. Nelson liked to play social director and was one of the organizers who ensured safety and compliance at the kinky events.

  “Ben, haven’t seen much of you lately,” Nelson said with a grin.

  They shook hands, and Ben shrugged, taking a quick look around for anyone in earshot. “I’m waiting to defend my dissertation. My brain isn’t really in play mode.” It was sort of a lie. The release would help his stress, but random play didn’t fit his mood.

  “Coffee? I’m buying,” Nelson offered.

  “Nah, I’m too wound up as it is.” Ben kept his private life very quiet. Nelson was outside of Ben’s department and safe. The last thing he wanted was for someone in his department to get wind of something that could be a problem. It was easier not to hire him for that permanent position than it would be to fire him.

  “Smoothie? Fruit is good for you. It’ll cool you off.” Nelson headed for the counter.

  “Thanks. Strawberry.” Ben decided he could use some mindless chatter.

  Shortly later, Nelson led the way from the food court, handing Ben his drink. Ben didn’t ask where they were going. If Nelson wanted to chat, he’d also respect Ben’s privacy. By the time they sat in Nelson’s funky office full of computer screens and keyboards, Ben had downed a third of the smoothie and felt better a little better. The creamy and tart mixture was a nice change from the coffee he lived on.

  “So you’ve been busy with your nose in the books and teaching. Got your defense all prepped?” Nelson slurped on his smoothie.

  “Sure. I just want it over with. So much work for one degree.” Ben waited for the little lecture he knew was coming.

  “It’s a big degree. A little play would help you relax. Get your head out of your world and into something fun.” Nelson leaned over and tapped on one of his laptops. The tech guy was surrounded by screens and keyboards.

  “How many computers do you have?” Ben asked.

  “Don’t ask that sort of thing. You don’t really want to know. Let’s just say it’s a good thing I’m an ethical person because I could make a much better living as a hacker. And stay on topic.” Nelson shook his head. “You haven’t logged onto the group for a month. A lot of new women have posted.”

  “We’ve all got to prioritize.” Ben sipped more of his smoothie.

  “Now the degree and job are out of your hands, and you’re sitting around worrying. You could be looking for the right submissive. Blowing off steam won’t kill you. You’d probably defend your paper more convincingly with less tension. Even if the relationship doesn’t work out, you can give a sub a good night and feel better about yourself as a Dom.” Nelson smiled.

  Ben could use the release, but he knew the female grad students and none fit him. The other women connected with the college who came to things were spoken for or failed to spark his interested. He wouldn’t do anything with an undergrad. He was also tired of playing with subs who loved someone else. “Playing is fun, but I know all the usual subs. I’m not up for training a newbie.”

  “Not everyone is a newbie. You’ve seen the Masters Wanted blog? I think this woman has potential for you.” Nelson turned around his laptop.

  Ben read the posting. He didn’t want to be intrigued, but there was genuineness to her words that came through. “Not much detail. She doesn’t sounds like a student though. Do you know her? Why don’t you work for the NSA?”

  “Please, I have ethics and was a naughty kid so either my background check or my interview sinks me. I control this blog and I traced her IP address, for the greater good of helping her. We both know her. Look, some Doms like to play the field. You’re barely twenty-seven, but you’re a Bedroom Dom if I’ve ever met one. You want your playmate, and finding the right sub doesn’t always fit into a schedule.” Nelson took back the computer and did more tapping.

  “I know you like to play matchmaker, Nelson, but I don’t just want a sub to play with. I need a relationship. Someone I can talk to.” Ben had spent his entire childhood adapting to new people and places. His parents traveled for work. It had helped him pick up tons of languages and learn to navigate in strange places, but he’d always wanted a home and friends.

  The stability of college and knowing people year after year kept him in this snowy New England town. He loved his family, but he’d rather travel on vacation and stay put the rest of the year.

  Nelson arched an eyebrow at Ben. “Did I just meet you yesterday? I’ve known you since you were a freshman in my class. You’re a relationship guy. I can understand your hesitation to top another Dom’s sub even when they both want a little change. This might be the one for you. You don’t want to know who she is?”

  Ben loved that he had friends he’d known for awhile. In this college, he had a community and a home. His apartment lacked a yard with a tire swinging from a tree, but he’d had that same address for longer than any address he’d had while growing up. His parents had given him every advantage, but they’d moved for their careers constantly.

  Deep down, Ben feared he couldn’t trust anyone to stick around, but he wouldn’t turn down something that Nelson had obviously put thought and effort into. The more experienced Dom had taught Ben a few things over the years.

  “Sure, who is she?” Ben drank until he approached brain freeze.

  Nelson grinned and rubbed his hands together like an evil scientist. “Jane Wendell.”

  Her image jumped into Ben’s brain, and desire shot much lower. “Jane? The English prof?”

  The woman was shy with short, black hair that framed her face and deep-brown eyes. Her curves always go
t his attention when she passed. Those full breasts and hips begged for discipline, but he’d never believed her to be a submissive.

  “The very one. She’s a little older than you, but when I saw her post, I thought of you.” Nelson leaned back with a smug grin on his face.

  “Why? I’ve met her, sure. I like her, but asking out a tenured professor? She’ll think I’m nuts. And just a kid. Plus, if it goes bad, she’s got tenure. I’m trying to start my career here.” Ben didn’t believe for a second she’d report him or sink his career. The students loved her, she was a good person, but would she want him?

  “Jane isn’t a vindictive bitch.” Nelson shook his head. “She’s smart and a sweetie who needs the right kind of attention. This is a big move for her. I’ve never seen her at any events.”

  “So I’m supposed to reply to her post like I don’t know who she really is? Feels underhanded and creepy.” He couldn’t take advantage. He wasn’t that sort of Dom. He loved the sex and the power, but truly, he got off on giving the sub what they needed. Spoiling Jane would be a turn on, but it was only good if it was honest.

  “No! This is the best part. I’ve got the perfect way for you to feel her out. She’s going on vacation and needs a tutor.” Nelson showed him a computer screen with the university’s site up.

  “Italian and Greek? Really?” Ben had to give Nelson credit. If it worked, it was a brilliant plan.

  “You speak both of those languages fluently. You offer to be her tutor. Find a reason to do it at her place and feel her out—without actually touching her at first. Flirt, seduce and let her know you like to play.” Nelson smiled.

  Ben shook his head. “I can’t believe I didn’t know she’s a sub.”