This is a really interesting question - one for which I don't have an immediate answer (so forgive me if I babble my way to an answer).

I like things varied and unpredictable, so I don't think I have one set preference. It depends on the mood I'm in, what type of scene we're having, who I'm with, etc.

For the most part, my husband/dom is very emotional and passionate. He wears his heart on his sleeve. That can be wonderful. It's beautiful seeing him excited and aroused. But if we're playing with humiliation and/or degradation, it wouldn't work for me--it wouldn't evoke the "right" feelings in me--if he wasn't at least a little bit cold, distant and unemotional. With that said, he needs to finish off any scene with warmth, love and emotion to center and ground me. Does that make sense?

I did once have a previous dom who was very distant and cool--almost icily so--yet he still managed to be incredibly passionate. This will probably sound very unsubmissive, but I lived for the moments when I finally broke him and cracked through the ice. It was extremely arousing to me, but I love a challenge. Honestly, I've never had a more satisfying D/s relationship than I had with him. Was it because he wasn't overly or outwardly emotional? Probably not, but it might have played a part. However, I also don't know if he and I could have sustained a satisfying relationship (we broke up because of geographical difficulties). While the 10 months we were together were mind-blowingly awesome, I think I need a little more warmth from my life partner.