Previously:

In addition to organizing his office, Daniel used those two days to his advantage, cruising the Internet and making some phone calls, arranging a couple surprises for his Domme. He wanted things to be perfect when Vala moved into his house- Their home.

o-0-o

Chapter 36: Surprising a Domme Can Be Dangerous

Vala observed her prospective sub very closely over her self-imposed two day waiting period.

She looked for any signs that Daniel was having second thoughts or regrets, even subconsciously. If he ultimately turned her offer of a Dom/sub relationship down, if he withdrew his invitation for her to live at his house, Vala would respect that decision. Yes, it would take all her willpower, but she would respect it.

So in the late afternoon of the third day, when she strolled with her very best faux-casual smile into his office and Daniel looked up to greet her with an unrestrained grin of pleasure... Well, could you blame her for the relief that flooded in? Daniel's instinctive grin instantly transformed the brow-wrinkling frown he had been aiming at a wrinkled charcoal rubbing, and Vala's faux-smile grew of its own accord, becoming very real indeed, the sub's joy infectious and impossible not to respond to.

Nyan, off in a corner sorting wooden statuettes from a crate, was used to the new dynamics between the two team members, and only gave Vala a shy welcoming smile. But the woman who held up the charcoal rubbing, a junior officer of some SG team or other, stared back and forth between Daniel and Vala in speculative surprise.

"Hey, Vala," Daniel said in greeting, his eyes fastened on hers.

"Darling." Vala moved to stand near him, knowing the rest of the room ceased to exist for him.

For a newly minted sub, his Dominant could eclipse the world; not a safe frame of mind for an off-world mission and Vala was thankful that it had been a quiet two days. There had been no great demands on Daniel's emotions, no dangerous situations that her presence could distract him from. He would find his equilibrium soon enough and she laid a hand on his shoulder, not only to ground him, but to stake her claim. She had no intention of hiding their new closeness, although she wasn't flaunting it either. The sub needed physical reassurance from his Domme and Vala intended to give it without restraint.

After greeting Nyan, Vala looked expectantly at the young officer and the energetic looking woman gave her a firm handshake, introducing herself as a lieutenant on SG-14.

"Oh!" Daniel snapped out of his dreamy contemplation of Vala's face (oh, the hardships of being a Domme...). He turned to the lieutenant with a regretful smile, offering the rubbing parchment back to her. "Um, Louise, you did some really great work here, especially for a beginner, but it's a little smeared around the edges."

Louise gave an easy laugh as she rolled the paper up. "'A' for effort, 'F' for execution, huh, Doc?"

"Um...maybe a 'D-plus'?" Daniel hazarded, smiling in response. He looked over at his assistant. "Nyan, if you have time, do you think you could give the lieutenant some basic rubbing instructions?"

"Hmm," Vala purred, moving closer to Daniel with an exaggerated shimmy. "A course in rubbings? Really, darling, how do I miss all the good stuff?"

They all laughed at that, Vala reveling in the relaxed expression on Daniel's face: no glower at thinking that either he or his work was being made fun of, no panic at the suggestion of sexuality, no fear of revealing more than he intended to in front of an audience. Just enjoyment of a silly joke and pleasure in the company of friends.

Nyan, a little pink in the cheeks, agreed to teach the lieutenant and when the two left, Louise shot a last glance back at Vala, a knowing, and approving, smirk on her face. Well, if the base didn't know about the two SG-1 members before, it certainly would now...

When they were alone Daniel turned to Vala with a sigh, taking her hand with the same charming air of timidity and wonder that he had been exhibiting since his Taming was complete. "Vala," he breathed.

Vala stroked her knuckles softly up his cheek, watching as the sub's pupils widened and his breathing deepened in contentment. Like any good Dominant, she assessed him automatically: his health, his attitude, his disposition.

"Are things going well, sweetheart?" she asked, knowing the answer already, but wanting to engage him.

Leaning unconsciously into her touch, Daniel nodded. "Yes, Vala. Nyan and I've made a lot of headway."

"Not too many bad rubbings?"

His smile turned sly. "Is any rubbing truly bad, Vala?"

Vala grinned as she gave a teasing sigh. "Oh dear, I've created a monster."

"Yes, but I'm your monster."

"That you are, sweetheart."

Daniel shook himself, trying to regain his wits and his bearings. "That rubbing really was bad, though," he said, contradicting his earlier statement with a rueful smile. "And the thing is, two weeks ago I would have killed myself trying to translate it despite the poor quality."

"But now you have better things to do. Like taking me home." She all but held her breath. This would be the point for him to make excuses if he'd changed his mind.

Daniel checked the clock, looking gratifyingly eager. "Is it that time already?" He put his computer to sleep with a quick keystroke and slid off his stool, grabbing his jacket as he started for the door.

Vala gave a mental sigh of relief. No second thoughts then. If he'd been the slightest bit unsure he would have fussed and fiddled for an hour before finally allowing himself to be chivvied out of the office. In fact Vala wasn't sure if she'd ever seen Daniel move so quickly.

They made short work of getting out of the Mountain, however the closer the Wagoneer brought them to Daniel's house, the quieter the sub became. And after they parked in the garage, as he helped Vala carry her miscellaneous bags into the house, Daniel paused as he closed the door behind them.

Vala held her breath. He had seemed so sure as they left the Mountain.

"Um, I kind of have a surprise in the living room," Daniel said, setting her stuff down near the washer and dryer, glancing at her sidelong as he chewed his lower lip.

Ah. Perhaps that explained the nervousness. "Show me, darling."

They rounded the corner to the living room, and the first thing Vala noticed was that the couch now sat facing the fireplace, a much cozier setup, she was sure.

The next thing she noticed was a large loom sitting near Daniel's baby-grand piano.

Before she could say anything, Daniel gushed forth with a stream of nervous patter: "So, um, I thought it would be nicer with the couch there and I wanted to use the fireplace tonight, but I'm afraid of setting the house on fire because the chimney hasn't been used in years and I tried to get a chimney inspector but no one can come out until this weekend. And the loom, it's-it's nice in here, but you can put it in one of the spare rooms if you need a private space or even the master bedroom if you want. If it's not the right kind we can exchange it. It's a mechanical version, um, apparently it's a 'mechanical dobby-head,' whatever that is, but if you want the electric kind we can add that on and get the software. It was a stroke of luck I got it here so quick, a place in Denver had it and was already making a delivery here in the Springs and-and-"

"Daniel," she called gently. "Sweetheart, slow down, this is a lovely surprise and quite kind of you."

The sub didn't look reassured, but even more nervous if possible. Well, there was one sure way to calm a sub down. "Please strip, darling, while I take a look at the loom."

Daniel blinked, frozen like a deer in the glare of a hunter's light. Then he obeyed, pulling his clothes off like he was peeling layers of tension from his body.

Vala kept a discreet eye on him as she moved to inspect the loom. Made of a blond wood, it was easily as big as the piano and looked very sturdy, with a generously wide shed and voluminous heddles. It could probably handle some of the complex weaves she'd always wanted to experiment with as a child but had never had the right equipment for. She sat down on the padded stool and tested the warp batten and treadles, finding them smooth and easy to use.

Her mind already teaming with ideas of what she could create, Vala pictured Daniel kneeling at her side as she worked, reading from some journal or other, or bouncing ideas and theories off her, or perhaps playing his piano. A scene of domesticity and joy that she wouldn't have thought possible a month ago.

However even this couldn't distract her from her duty and she came back to Daniel, inspecting the nude sub approvingly, lingering with pleasure on the woven collar, her claim on him that he had not removed once since she had placed it around his neck, his every emotion plain to see to her experienced eyes. She was so proud of him, only a slight curl of his back showed he wanted to hide, but he had nevertheless chosen the most exposed position, kneeling at attention, his body arrow straight, his fingers laced behind his head, his manhood half-hard. Despite whatever worried him, his impulse was to surrender himself to her.

"I love the loom and I love it right where it is," Vala announced.

He bit his lip, nodding and said, "I'm glad, Vala."

Something still bothering him then. "What's wrong, darling?" she asked softly.

Daniel suddenly dropped forward, prostrating himself with hands and forehead flat on the parquet floor. "Mistress, I think I did something wrong," he said formally.

This was the first time Daniel had used the title 'Mistress' non-sarcastically and Vala froze for one heartbeat in surprise. She had been sure he would never use it, but she could see now that it would be for times of stress, when he most urgently felt the need for submission, for the reassurance that his Domme was there to care for him, to look after him. Right now he didn't need coddling, however, but decisive care, and Vala stepped close, her boots inches from the splayed fingers of the nude man.

"Explain."

A shiver wracked him, but he spoke immediately and clearly, admitting in a worried voice, "I bought a new bed, Mistress. I thought that would be a good idea, to get a bigger one, to surprise you, but-but now-now that I think about it-now I realize something like that should have been your decision. I-I'm sorry, Vala."

Thank the Lady, he wasn't having seconds thoughts after all then, she thought with relief. Simple impertinence was easily dealt with.

"Follow," she ordered, beginning to walk to the bedroom, glancing behind to see how the sub would obey, indulging a private grin of approval to see Daniel crawling in her wake on all fours, head lowered.

The bed... It was lovely. Made from a rich reddish wood, it was what they called a 'four-poster' on Earth: four posts at the four corners rising up high, joining an upper rectangle of stabilizing slats, like a large box. The posts were quite sturdy...hmm, all the better to secure a sub spread-eagle. A headboard of interlocking slats formed geometric shapes, eminently useful for tying up pesky arms. There was no troublesome footboard, which was good, those simply got in the way. There was also no hanging canopy. Well, that she would have liked, but a man like Daniel would probably cringe at the thought of such frilliness, so she was willing to forgo that luxury for now. Perhaps later she could weave something masculine enough for him, but lovely enough to please her.

The bed was the same size as her own on base, what she had been told was a queen size, not the biggest available, but not too small for two adults as tall as herself and Daniel. It was roomy yet cozy, and exactly what she would have chosen. The thought that her sub was so intimately in tune with her wishes was thrilling.

But...no reason to let him know that right away. Besides, what better way to test out those lovely strong posts?

"Look at me, Daniel," she ordered.

Daniel's head rose from the prostrate position he had retaken, his eyes darkened with blown pupils. "Yes, Vala."

"When did the bed come?"

"Late yesterday afternoon, Vala."

"And did you sleep in it last night?"

"No, Vala. I-I didn't think I should somehow. I slept on the couch."

"Well, let's try it out now, darling. Get on to the foot of the bed and prostrate yourself."

tbc