Page 5 of Minha Dona

Juliana came around the banquette and dropped into the seat next to Helena, her seemingly untameable hair bouncing, her eyes alive with whatever she and Mariana had been drinking over dinner. She was wearing a dress that Helena hadn’t seen before, very short, very fitted, and very, very sexy.

“You look great,” Helena said. “New dress?”

“Mariana made me buy it. Apparently I need to stop dressing like a student.” Juliana stole Helena’s champagne glass and took a sip. “She’s not wrong.”

“Where is my sister?”

“Talking to some guy at the door. She’ll be in eventually.” Juliana handed back the glass and leaned closer, her voice dropping below the music. “I missed you this week. It’s been ages.”

“Five days isn’t ages.”

“Five days is absolutely ages when you’re used to seeing someone at least twice a week.” Juliana’s hand found Helena’s knee under the table, the relaxed physical intimacy that said everything about how long they’d been sleeping together now. “I had ideas about tonight. If you’re interested.”

“What kind of ideas?”

“The kind where you come back to mine and do whatever you want with me.” Juliana’s grin was wicked. “I’ve been practising being patient like you asked me to. I want to test it.”

Helena laughed. This was what she liked about Juliana… the playfulness, the directness, the complete absence of games. With Juliana everything was on the surface and nothing was complicated. And their dynamic was one of the healthiest Helena had had as a result: open, honest, Juliana had that strength to be both dominant and submissive that few people had. Caitlin had had it right from the start, even if she didn’t know, Helena had it now but hadn’t at first, Alessandra had never had it which was why they’d only lasted a few months after that revelatory night.

It guided Helena’s whole philosophy, that the true dominant was the one submitting, that their submission was a gift to whoever they allowed to dominate them that came from their inner strength, that the dominant had to respect and nurture the submissive’s strength outside of the dynamic. Above all else, a dominant-submissive relationship had to be a meeting of equals, one where one party temporarily ceded control to the other… including, of course, sometimes switching if both of them wanted that.

“I might be interested,” Helena said, matching Juliana’s grin. “Get yourself a drink first. I’m not rushing.”

“See?” she said, finishing Helena’s drink instead. “I haven’t even got my own drink yet and I’m practising patience already.”

Helena shook her head, laughing. “I think you might have missed the point…”

***

They spent another couple of hours at the bar, Juliana slotting into the group easily, unsurprising since she’d known them all for years too. Mariana arrived eventually, shooting Helena a look that said I know exactly what’s going to happen later between my sister and my best friend, and I’m very deliberately choosing not to think about it, and sat herself at the far end of the booth.

Helena appreciated her sister’s discretion, genuinely. Mariana knew that Helena and Juliana were sleeping together, Helena had told her directly as had Juliana a few days later, but the details were carefully kept separate. Suffice it to say that Mariana had an inkling that Helena’s love life could be unorthodox, and she knew that Juliana was exploring some things about herself, but that was all she needed or wanted to know, which was entirely fair. Some boundaries were worth maintaining.

Sometime after midnight, Helena caught Juliana’s eye and inclined her head towards the door. Juliana caught her meaning immediately and smiled, straightening slightly. Despite her playful nature, Juliana had practised patience perfectly since she’d arrived, making it clear that she wanted Helena but keeping it under control.

They said their goodbyes. Isabella gave Helena a knowing look. Mariana conspicuously found a guy she vaguely knew to talk to at the crucial moment, maintaining a veneer of deniability.

Outside, the São Paulo night was warm and busy. They decided to walk the few blocks to Juliana’s building rather than get a taxi, their arms brushing, all part of building the anticipation.

This, tonight, the way that Juliana had been clear as to what she wanted and then had displayed admirable patience… this was what told Helena that Juliana was rapidly growing into a formidable dominant. She’d understood completely Helena’s philosophy, that the submissive was the true dominant, and she was putting it into practice tonight. Juliana, though still nominally the submissive, had been the one to tell Helena what she wanted and Helena had obeyed without question… there were layers upon layers to what Helena and Juliana were doing, and Helena didn’t quite have it clear in her head where it was going or where it ended, just that there had been zero chance of her saying no to Juliana when she’d suggested they end the night together.

An interesting thought for the woman who was nominally the dominant out of the two of them to have, certainly.

In the lift Helena turned to Juliana and said, “When we get inside, Rainha, take off your dress and kneel by your bed. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

Juliana’s breath caught. “Yes, Helena.”

Rainha… Helena’s name for Juliana when she submitted. Queen. It felt so right, so appropriate to call her that. Juliana’s potential was so great she could rule every heart she encountered if she wanted to, and it thrilled Helena to acknowledge that directly. My Queen, surrendered.

The lift doors opened, and Juliana unlocked her door before walking straight through to the bedroom without hesitation. Helena heard her undressing as she went to the kitchen and poured them both water.

Helena took her time, pausing and looking out at the view. Waiting was part of it, pushing the patience just a little further, piling on the anticipation. She was tempted to pour herself a proper drink, really take her time, but she judged that to be a little too slow. It was a delicate balance between building the anticipation to a peak and letting it become frustration or annoyance, and she judged it was right about where she needed it to be already.

When she walked into the bedroom, Juliana was exactly where she’d been told to be, kneeling at the foot of the bed, naked, her wild curls loose around her shoulders, her brown eyes looking up at Helena. She looked stunning… a couple of years younger than Helena, Juliana looked so alive, her body taut with anticipation.

“How long have you been kneeling?” Helena asked.

“Maybe ten minutes.”