Free Subterfudge by Normandie Alleman

Chapter One
    Ashley snuggled down under the lofty comforter. Sunlight floated in lazily through the bedroom window, the yellow light blending with the cream-coloured walls of the old Victorian tenement. Lounging around on Sunday mornings, curled up in her Egyptian cotton bed sheets, was when she felt the most cosy and secure.
    She and Roger shared the newspaper—he read the business and sports pages, while she perused the comics and the lifestyle section.
    Ashley sipped her coffee daintily. She pretended to be reading an article about the latest colour trends, but took a sly peek over the top of the paper to observe the man she loved. He sat next to her, reading. That broad, muscular chest, those deep blue eyes…he was everything she could want in a man. Watching him caused her heart to skip a beat.
    But lately, Roger had been acting a bit off. What is with him? He seems restless. Wonder what it is…
    Roger’s coffee mug made a clinking noise when he set it on the bedside table. “Darling,” Roger said, looking up from his newspaper, “I’d like you to learn to cook.”
    “Cook? Me?” She arched an eyebrow in his general direction without completely turning her head.
    Out of the corner of her eye she saw Roger give her that benevolent, indulgent grin she loved so much. The one that told her he adored her. She softened.
    “Yes, you know? Cook. Prepare food,” he teased, running his hand through her hair, mussing it up. He winked at her. It made her insides go all mushy, and she felt a tingle of delight between her legs.
    Ashley hesitated, but only for a moment. “All right.” She had never tried cooking before. This was unchartered territory for her. She hated to admit it, but she felt uncomfortable with something so foreign to her. What if she was a flop?
    But a sub’s job was to make her Master happy. To comply with his requests, to serve him. So she agreed. Anyway, lots of women do it. How complicated can it be?
    In her everyday life, Ashley was a professional equipped with all the assertiveness that required. She could stand toe to toe with anyone in business, or in any sort of dealings for that matter.
    But at home, behind closed doors, Ashley had no greater desire than to please her man. In her relationship, she had chosen to be submissive to him. She needed a take-charge man in the bedroom, one who could dominate her and make all her fantasies come true.
    Two years ago, some friends had introduced her to Roger. At first Ashley had thought he might be too buttoned up for her. The serious investment banker had come across as too staid for her free-spirited, artistic nature. But behind closed doors, Roger surprised her. He wasn’t a bit boring, and they’d turned out to be a great match.
    He became her Dominant in a short time. He gave his heart to her completely, and he cherished her. In return, she gave him the gift of her submission. Ashley prided herself on how she took care of Roger and met his needs. She had never trusted anyone the way she trusted Roger. He was a better man than she had ever dreamt she could have, and she was thankful for him every day.
    They’dmoved in together a year ago, settling into a quaint, if unconventional domesticated existence. With some whips and handcuffs thrown in for good measure.
    Their life together was so…complete. Why bring this up now? It caught her off guard. I thought he was happy with the take-out and frozen dinners.
    “How do I learn?” She furrowed her brow. “To cook, I mean.”
    Roger handed her an ad he’d torn out of the newspaper. ‘Culinary Class’ was printed at the top in large letters. There were some dates, times and a phone number along the bottom.
    “I’ll call and sign you up. Looks like it starts tomorrow. I’ll see if I can secure you a spot.”
    Ashley’s heart sank. Tomorrow? She had a full day planned with things she needed to do Monday. She worked for herself, basically, as a freelance graphic design artist. Sure, her schedule