Stay focused. Be grateful. Be a good girl.

His words echoed through Jillian's head as she thought of the recent conversation. So far, their conversations had been intense, educational, and fast. It was more than she'd hoped for.

Finally.

Finding a Dom for herself had turned into a much harder task than she ever thought it would be. Every Dom she met claimed to need more than just a sexual relationship, but then one after the other had proven that they didn't get her.

Until Rob.

Serve the process and the one. This one seemed obvious, but the process was a little hard to understand at this point. She had so much to learn, and she could barely contain her excitement. Learning to serve him would be a process, all right. One she couldn't wait to start.

Announce your greatest needs to me everyday. Every day her morning report she emailed to him had to include her fears and needs for that day. With careful thought and deliberation, she had followed his instructions, revealing more and more of herself each time. She'd included past events that made her sad, as well as times of great joy. She'd also sent some detailed fantasies of what she hoped her future would include.

Announce your flaws to me so that I can share them with you, remove them for you, and force you to accept them. That statement floored her every time she read it. Not wanting to forget the importance of it, she had copied it down and posted it on her bulletin board in her home office. She wondered if she'd be able to let go and trust in him this much. She wanted to. More than anything, she did. Needed to, in fact.

Jillian opened the package of new black lace thigh highs with trepidation. Per his instructions, she would wear them for this first encounter with no other undergarments. She knew she would feel a little self-conscious doing so, but pleasing him was far more important than her comfort in what she wore. Gathering up the scrap of soft, thin fabric, she pulled it over her foot and up her leg.

She adjusted the top band so it would stay in place on her thigh, then repeated the process with the other leg before stepping into her long, black silk skirt. Her favorite skirt. It fell nearly to the floor with a long slit up the front that offered plenty of movement, not to mention view of her legs. She imagined Rob's hand sliding along her thigh to her bare pussy, spreading the already moist lips with his fingers before dipping two of them inside. A small groan escaped her lips as she clamped her legs together in an attempt to stop the arousal already building dangerously high.

She couldn't do this now. She had to wait. He'd strictly forbidden her to touch herself for the entire week before the meeting. To disobey him now would result in a severe punishment she knew she wasn't ready to accept. In a couple of hours, she would finally be alone with him, and she would know. Know if he was the one for her. The Dom she'd been waiting for all this time.

As she slipped the snug red sweater over her head, the soft fabric rasped against her hard, sensitive nipples. She shivered with the erotic delight of that simple touch, the fear and anticipation killing her. She didn't fear him in the physical sense so much as the mental. Would he like her? Would she live up to what he wanted? All fears he had made her voice to him. Today those fears would be put to rest once and for all.

She thought she'd been nervous the first time they met for a casual cup of coffee, but that was nothing compared to how she felt now. She pressed her hand to her stomach in an attempt to calm her nerves. This would be their first scene, an encounter beyond anything she'd experienced before.

She dug to the back of her closet, looking for the shoes she planned to wear. Spying the pink box, she carried it over to the bed and removed the lid. Black shoes with black lace around the edge and four inch spike heels. Her fuck me shoes. She giggled at the appropriate term. She'd bought them months ago, just for this, and couldn't wait to wear them. Slipping them on her stocking-covered feet, she stood and hobbled across the room. If I don't kill myself first.

Admiring herself in the mirror, she had to admit that the outfit really made a difference. Made her feel sexier than ever before. She gathered up her things, stuffing them in her purse, when her cell phone rang. She recognized the number right off and answered quickly.

"Hey, baby. Are you getting ready?

"Yes, Sir. I'm dressed and ready to go. Heading out now."

"Good girl. You got the directions to the hotel I gave you?"

"Yes, Sir"

"Mmm, I like that. So good. Call me when you arrive, and I will meet you in the lobby lounge."

"Yes, Sir. I will. I should be there in about thirty minutes."

"Are you wearing the clothes as I instructed? No panties under that skirt, right?"

"Yes, Sir." Unable to control her need, she panted out her response. Just the tone of his voice when he spoke had her wishing to be on her knees in front of him.

"I am so going to enjoy you, Jillian. I'm very proud of how far you have come in so short a time. Drive careful, baby. I'm waiting for you."

Happiness bloomed within her as his pride warmed her from the inside out, pushing her to hurry and get there. She shoved the phone back into her purse and headed out the front door to her destiny.

Arriving at the Westin twenty-five minutes later, Jillian entered through the automatic revolving door that swept her into the elegant hotel.

"Welcome to the Westin, ma'am."

She smiled and nodded at the doorman, too nervous to conduct small talk with a stranger. She peered around the opulently appointed lobby, noticing the few people standing at the front desk with luggage at their feet, as well as the seemingly unoccupied staff. Then she spotted the lounge tucked into the left corner of the huge space.

Click. Click. Click. Her heels rapped out a rhythm on the Italian marble flooring as she paced into the lounge. Nearly every table in the place was empty. An elderly couple sat at one table not far from the bar, enjoying an early afternoon cocktail, and a lone man sat on one of the couches, watching the football game on the overhead television screen, while he nursed a beer.

Jillian strode to the far end of the room, attracted by the quiet alcove next to the fountain. Taking a seat, she sank into the butter soft leather chair, relieving her feet from the beautiful yet very uncomfortable shoes. The water streamed behind her, falling swiftly across the rocks at the edge of the pool. The gentle sound of the brook's movement went a long way in soothing her nerves. She found it difficult to set aside the importance of the day and just enjoy herself.

Reaching for her cell phone, she tapped out a quick text message to let Rob know that she had arrived and was in the lounge.

Good. His simple return message left her to wonder what she should do next. Too nervous to sit, she opted to stand and move closer to the water. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting the sound drown out the chaos of her mind. Knowing he would not be happy to see her so frazzled, she opted for an extra focus moment.

In the beginning of their relationship, he had instructed her take a few minutes each day to relax, slow down, and take some time to recite a devotional for herself. These moments were meant to calm and focus during stressful and needy moments. She'd felt silly the first couple of times she'd done as he instructed and performed them. But in less than forty-eight hours, she'd seen improvements in herself after each break. She'd come to rely on them in much the way she relied on his support.

She slowed her breathing by taking a deep breath, holding it as long as she could before slowly exhaling the air. Then she repeated it. Feeling calmer, she reached for the words that soothed her.

I am graceful and gentle in my moments of service.

My life is merely moments of service and truth.

The now familiar calming sensation flowed over her as she stood riveted in that spot. Calming herself for him. She turned and eased back into the chair, looking around the room to see if he had arrived. Planning to stay calm, she plucked her latest romance novel out of her purse and started to read from where she'd left off. Several minutes and pages later, it dawned on her that she didn't have a clue what she'd just read. Her brain had not retained a single word. As she placed her book on the table, her phone beeped. Looking at the screen, she read the brief message.

Room 1534.

Her heart jolted in her chest. Fear cramped her belly. He wasn't coming to get her. Instead, he called her to him. To give him her trust by meeting him in private. Taking a deep, unsteady breath, she stood and gathered her things before walking slowly from the lounge toward the guest elevators on the opposite side of the lobby.

Grateful there were no other people milling about, she boarded the elevator and gently pressed fifteen. As the door opened on the chosen floor, her stomach knotted in nerves. She turned and walked in the direction of 1534, realizing it was the suite at the end of the hall. Her steps slowed as her anxiety increased. Reaching the door, she stood and stared at the peephole. This was it. Her first BDSM scene. All the years of waiting and searching were about to come to an end. When she walked into that room, her life would change, and she would never be the same, no turning back. She raised her fist and knocked on the door.