“Look at me,” he said.
Tentatively, she gazed up at him. Relief flooded through her. A beaming smile covered his face, his head nodding approvingly. “Beautiful sight, babe. This is a much better start to the day.”
Gemma opened her mouth, an offering to him.
“No. Here on the bed. There is time for a quickie before work.” He patted her side of the bed.
She bounced back from her mini-depression like a jack-in-the-box, expressing gratitude, as he heaved in and out of her. She allowed him to go deep in her, feeling no discomfort at his pace and depth, and came with a screech of delight. With a groan and a shudder, he ejaculated, thankfully in her and not her herbal tea.
***
At Gemma’s next antenatal appointment, she called Mrs Henderson by her first name—Maggie—and after a moment of bemused small talk, they relaxed.
“How’s the sex life?” asked Maggie.
She cleared her throat, nodding. “Oh, good. After all the concerns, it’s very good. Vanilla, that is.”
“Vanilla?”
“Straight sex. No kinky stuff. Making love in bed sort of thing.”
“And the other kind?” Maggie’s eyebrows rose.
“Fine. We’ve toned it down somewhat. Nothing excessive or demanding. He’s happy. So I am.”
“It’s important to you, that he is happy. What about you? Emotionally, I mean.”
“I like to please him. He’s very Dominant at the moment, but we agreed it works best for me. Keeps me from worrying about the birth and other things. To be honest, the sex is good. Pregnancy has kind of spiced it up a bit. He likes experimenting, nothing outrageous, just fun, kinky play.”
“I see.” Maggie pursed her lips. “My husband and I have been married a few years. Spicing it up is what we need, too.” Her eyes flitted about.
“What does your husband do?”
“He’s an art historian, lectures at Goldsmiths.”
Gemma’s heart had a skip-a-beat moment. It hadn’t crossed her mind the solution to her problem would be so convenient. For weeks, she’d been searching for a possible contact at a university, and Maggie’s husband might be the man. “I paint. It’s turning into more than a casual activity. I’m having a workshop built at our country house. An atelier for me. I’m thinking of jacking in my job and opening a gallery.”
“Sounds exciting. Hugh is something of a collector, buys and sells for patrons of the arts.”
“I’m planning on setting up scholarships for students, using the gallery to help exhibit new talent. Would Hugh know of a suitable contact for me to speak to, someone at his university?”
“Oh gosh. I’m sure he could help. He came from a humble background himself, nothing grand. His dad took him to the National Gallery when he was a child, and he loved it. Not my interest, though. Maybe that’s why we drift apart a bit.” She frowned.
“Jason doesn’t see art like I do. He treats artwork as an asset to invest in, not what the artist is trying to communicate. But he supports me. I don’t think it’s necessary to enjoy each other’s interests. I don’t like golf, but I go to his club now and again.”
“But you enjoy your sex life. The extra side of it. A shared hobby, you might say.”
Gemma forced out a smile of agreement. Their D/s existence was more than a diversion, it was a way of life. She didn’t let him tie her up and whip her to further a hobby. She didn’t agree to be used and humiliated for an occasional respite from the real world. She and Jason were the real world.
“I fell in love with him because of that hobby. I don’t think we consider our lifestyle a hobby,” asserted Gemma.
“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to trivialise what you do. I’m curious. That’s all.” Maggie went silent.
Gemma leaned forward. “You can e-mail, if you like. Ask some questions, if you think it would help.”
They laughed together for a while. Then the tables turned and they went back to being obstetrician and new-mum-to-be. Later, Gemma reported to Jason by text her pregnancy was progressing normally.
The day of her twenty-week scan, there happened to be another key meeting at work. Since Daniel had announced he was considering selling the company to an American operative, the rest of the workforce had ranged from downright depressed to optimistic at the news. A plethora of heated meetings followed, involving the less-keen staff. Then, upon entering due diligence, the employees came together to make the company look good on paper. Daniel, naturally, wanted the best deal. He didn’t want to sell his baby short and reminded them at one lengthy meeting, he’d built it from scratch.