by Tori Carson
“You’re welcome, but I want a list of those books.”
“We’ll see, bossy man. I need to think that through a little more.”
“Tonight there’s a book discussion in one of the privacy rooms. You might enjoy joining it…especially if it’s one of the books you’ve read.”
“Sneaky. I see I’m going to have to watch you. You’re not opposed to subterfuge.” She laughed, enjoying every moment she spent with him.
“Well it was a worth a shot.”
* * * * *
Sean had thoroughly enjoyed his day with Michelle, even when they’d shared a few quiet hours at home while she finished up her classwork. It didn’t matter what they were doing—he simply enjoyed her company. But she was working too damn hard. He was going to have to rectify that and he wasn’t sure how. Even though she was tending bar, she also had his laptop open and was multitasking. Granted, Tuesdays were the slowest evenings by far, but he still didn’t like it.
Michelle’s head popped up from the screen as she saw Stella walk past the stage. Steven had told him earlier that Stella had asked if she could still attend the book discussion group and Steven had okayed it. Sean wasn’t happy about it and wished for the hundredth time he’d just fired her and revoked her membership.
“Um, I see on the calendar that you’re giving a demo tomorrow,” Michelle said.
The vein on the side of her neck was distended and she’d stepped away from him. She was definitely upset. “This month we’re highlighting discipline techniques on Wednesday nights. We’re trying to increase our draw during the week.”
“Last week, it was the zipper demo you did with Stella?”
Her voice had taken on a cool tone, but Sean didn’t know if it was about the demo or Stella or both. “No honey, that was part of a predicament play demo that I did the previous Saturday.”
“I see.” She turned and went down to the opposite end of the bar and pulled a bottle of water from the fridge. After taking a few sips and checking in with Master Luke, she returned to Sean. “I thought demos didn’t have an expectation of pleasure. I believe those were your words.”
“I don’t remember exactly what I said, but that sounds about right. What’s your point, Michelle? You’re obviously upset about something. I wish you’d just come out and tell me.” There were tears in her eyes and her jaw was clenched. Damn it.
“Tomorrow’s demo is forced orgasms?” She took another couple of sips of water. “How can you not expect to feel pleasure from an orgasm? I’m trying to be open-minded here, but I’m struggling.”
“Now that I’ve had a moment to think back, I think I said mutually pleasurable. Does that sound right?” He needed to be very cautious in how he handled this. In no way did he want her to come away feeling as if he had lied to her.
She finished the water and threw the bottle into the trash. “Yes, I think you did say that.”
He nodded, pleased that she had conceded that point. “When I give a demo, it isn’t for pleasure. It’s to demonstrate a skill or technique. The sub may find it pleasurable but that isn’t the point of the exercise. And tomorrow’s discipline technique I can guarantee the sub won’t enjoy.”
Michelle cocked her head to one side and gave him an odd look. “Why would you say that? An orgasm is often considered the ultimate pleasure.”
“Remember when I said that in BDSM you couldn’t assume that if a little is good then a lot is better?” He waited for her to acknowledge their shared conversation. “One orgasm is great, but after that…” He shook his head. “It is considered a discipline or punishment for a reason, Michelle.”
She leaned in and lowered her voice. “I don’t even remember how many I had last night and I wouldn’t consider a single second of it unpleasurable.”
“You had three and they were minutes apart. Trust me, honey, it isn’t the same thing.”
She nodded, shut down the laptop and closed it. “I don’t want to talk about this right now. We’re attracting attention.” She waved her hand toward Stella and a few other members watching them.
He knew if he stayed there he’d continue to hash it out with her, so he kissed her on the cheek and took the laptop into his office. While he was there, he placed a call to a restaurant down the street and ordered two mixed salads with chicken to be delivered. As soon as he entered the arboretum again, Luke waved him over.
Luke put his hand on Sean’s shoulder. “Did I ever tell you how I met my Lisa?”
Sean took a seat beside Luke. He’d been trying to get the man to open up and finally talk about Lisa’s death for a long time now. Luke and Lisa had been among the first members Sean had accepted. Luke was a good Dom, considerate but firm. He’d been a great mentor to the new Doms until Lisa had entered the final stages of her disease. Since then, Sean hadn’t had much luck getting him back into the club activities. “No, I don’t think you ever did.”
“I was just out of the service and living on the West Coast. I was the Dom in residence at a club near base. I’ll never forget the first time I saw her.” He paused, obviously lost to memories. “Lisa was a newbie and not very familiar with the lifestyle. I fell head over heels in love with her but it took me a while to win her over. Lisa never understood the distinction between me topping with some random bottom as part of my job and what she and I shared. Once I got it through my thick skull that she wasn’t ever going to come around, I stepped down. I never once regretted it.”
Sean nodded, understanding what his friend was getting at, but he didn’t have that option. He owned the fucking club. “How are you doing, Luke?”
“The house is too quiet. Lisa was a whirling dervish, constantly in motion, dancing around the house. Music was always playing.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I stay gone as much as possible. I spend my days helping my son with his business and my evenings here.”
“We’ve missed your guidance in the Doms’ council. Your mentorship has been a true asset to the members. Would you be willing to take on a leadership role again? Maybe do some of the demos or lead the Master or Dom group?”
Luke chuckled. “You know, Sean, that might just benefit us both.”
Sean looked over at Michelle. She was smiling as she talked with a couple of subs. If he hadn’t learned to read her body language, he’d think she was happy and relaxed, but he knew her now. She was as tense as he’d ever seen her. “I think you’re right about that, Luke, and the other members of the club as well.”
“Do you have a sub picked out for tomorrow’s demo?”
“No. There never seems to be a shortage of willing participants.”
“Why don’t you let me do tomorrow’s demo? I’ll ask Stella if she’d like to volunteer.”
“Luke, I forgot what an evil bastard you can be. Damn, I like the way you think.” Stella would agree in a heartbeat—she knew Luke was loaded and she was a woman who enjoyed the finer things in life. She’d tried to put her claws into him as soon as Lisa was diagnosed. “I’m looking forward to the demo, Luke. Thank you.”
“Believe me, Sean, the pleasure will be all mine. I guarantee it.”
Sean got a text from Liz at the receptionist desk, letting him know the food had been delivered. Before he headed up to retrieve the salads, he shook hands with Luke. “Let me know what you’ll need for tomorrow. And if you decide you’re willing to do more, we can sit down and work out the details.”
When he went up to the front desk, he saw Stella leaning against the desk talking with Liz. Both stopped talking the moment they saw him but he’d heard Michelle’s name being bantered about. It appeared Stella was still making trouble for Michelle.
Luke’s plan was sounding better and better.
“Stella, Master Luke was looking for you. Liz, thank you for letting me know the food was delivered.”
“No problem, Master Sean. I didn’t know you were allergic to seafood. How awful it would be not to be able to enjoy shrimp or lobsters. I think I’d die.”
Sean
looked down at the container and understood her comment. “No seafood” was scrawled across it in black Sharpie. He winked at Liz and headed back to the bar.
“Take a break and let’s eat.” He held out his hand to Michelle. Not giving her the option of saying no, he led her to a table between the stage and the bar. There weren’t many people at the club and the table he chose was in the shadows, thus granting them some privacy.
Sean could see she was still upset. “Relax, babe, and eat. We’ll discuss the other issue later in private.”
“Thank you. This looks good.” She took a few bites. “I have no idea what half of it is, but it tastes good.”
“I’m glad. I think it’s time you told me about another scene in the books you’ve read—or give me the titles. Your choice.”
She lolled her head to the side. “Argh, you’re killing me.”
Sean didn’t respond—he just sat and waited. First, she started to blush, then squirm. God, he loved her.
“Oh, all right! In this one book the Dom tied his wife to his desk and told her to…give him head. When he came, he pulled out and soaked her face.”
He’d thought she have been describing one she’d actually found interesting until the end. The expressions on her face made her feelings on the matter clear. “Some women refuse to allow a man to finish in her mouth and prefer it. Some men consider it a possessive marking-their-territory type of thing. But that aside, what do you think about being tied to my desk?”
‘You have a beautiful desk. I rather enjoyed borrowing it this morning, but I’m not sure how comfortable it would be to lay on.”
He liked the smile she was wearing. It was good to see her relaxing more as they talked. “Comfort can be overrated.”
“I’m learning that.”
“How did the sub feel in the book?”
“She was pissed and emotionally hurt.” A shocked expression chased across her face. “She had been his employee for a few years and they’d developed a strong friendship. Although she was attracted to him, she stayed far away emotionally because she knew he was a man-whore. Eventually, they forged a sexual relationship and I think they were engaged when that scene took place. I don’t remember. It’s been awhile since I read it. She’d felt degraded to a convenient lay instead of the more meaningful, loving experience she’d thought they were sharing.”
Now he was confused. If she understood the difference between a meaningless exercise and the meaningful activities they shared, then why was she upset? Maybe it was seeing Stella…but she’d been the one to talk him out of firing her. “How did they resolve the matter?”
“They both talked about what the experience meant to them. Eventually, they came to an understanding. He was kind of a jerk. She had a lot more patience with his crap than I would have.”
“Do you believe a person can have an unemotional hook-up?”
“Yeah, it’s done all the time. But much like the girl in the book, I wouldn’t tolerate it for a moment. Would you be okay with Steven using the future Mrs. Jameson in a demo?”
He opened his mouth, “of course” on the tip of his tongue, until an image of Steven tying Michelle to the St. Andrew’s Cross and whipping her came to mind. His stomach actually clenched. He set his fork down and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Had you asked me that a week ago, I would have said absolutely. Tonight, no, I wouldn’t be okay with it. I’d fire him on the spot and Mrs. Jameson would receive a punishment she wouldn’t soon forget.” He got up and threw his salad in the trash, knowing he wouldn’t be eating any more. The whole idea left him feeling very unsettled. Luke was a very wise man indeed.
When he came back to the table, he noticed one of the stage lights glinting off his collar around Michelle’s neck and he was able to breathe again.
“Come with me.” Sean led her to the far end of the stage away from the bar and down a darkened hallway. He went to the last door on the right, peeked in the viewing window, then spun the handle. Michelle was a little hesitant, but walked inside. In consideration of her privacy, he took off his shirt and hung it over the window.
“What the heck is that? It looks like a cross between a picnic bench and a teeter-totter.”
Sean laughed. It had been a long time since he’d looked at a spanking bench and thought of anything beyond its purpose. “You’ll understand what it’s for in a few moments.” He went to her and wrapped his arms around her. “You’re fun. And you look amazing in this outfit. Dana outdid herself with this one. The rich burgundies bring out the color in your hair.”
“It was very thoughtful of them to send over the clothing. Thanks for helping me with the ties. I was starting to feel like a challenged spider.”
He remembered the look on her face when he’d gone into the closet and found her with the ties in her hair and jumbled around her. Yeah, that had been almost as endearing as the love they’d made after he’d gotten her untangled. “I enjoyed it. Now let’s see if taking it off is half as much fun.” He started working the hook and eye closures.
“That door doesn’t lock.”
“Nope.” He wondered if she’d push back and refuse. Once he’d undone the last fastener, he removed her corset and laid it on the cabinet top. “Off with the skirt and thong, subbie.”
She kept looking toward the door, but didn’t say anything as she removed the rest of her clothing.
“Knees here.” He patted the leg supports. “Forearms here.” He pointed to the arm supports.
“It’s a spanking bench?” She rested her forehead against his chest.
Sean put his arms around her waist. “Read about one?”
She nodded. “Did I upset you?”
He tipped her head back so he could see her face. “Not in the way you mean it. You did give me some things to think about though. Now, time to trust me, subbie. Up on the bench.”
“I don’t suppose I could talk you into waiting until the club closes…”
He understood this was hard for her, and yet she was still following his orders. “Nope.” Once her back was to him, he drew out his cell phone and texted Steven, telling him to stay clear. With the club closing soon and the number of people thinning out, Steven was the only monitor on duty in the area.
Sean rubbed her back. “Thank you for trusting me, subbie. I know this is pushing your comfort zone.” He kicked his gym bag—he’d put in the room earlier, in front of the door. It wouldn’t keep it shut, but it would slow it down enough that he could protect her privacy.
“I trust you, Sean.”
He pulled four bundles of rope from his bag and draped three of them on her back. “I’m going to tie you to the bench. Tell me your safeword.”
“Seafood.”
Her breathing was speeding up as her anticipation built.
“Good girl. Have you ever heard of a tawse? I’m considering using one tonight. They leave very distinctive marks.”
“Yes, they’re supposed to hurt. A lot.” Her voice quivered, telling him he was pushing her hard.
“They can. Like most tools, it depends on the delivery.” After securing her arms, he moved behind her and began binding her legs. “You put some disturbing images in my mind tonight.”
“Did I? I’m sorry if I upset you.”
If any other sub had said that, he’d know it was a rote statement, completely untruthful except as a ploy for him to go easy on her. He suspected Michelle was being honest.
“What did I say?”
“You suggested you might demo with Steven. I hope you realize that as long as you wear my collar, I decide who you come in contact with.”
“The subs need to unite and fight for equality on that issue.”
Sean chuckled. “Good luck. That’s an old standard that isn’t likely to change in our lifetimes.” After knotting the last tie, he stood and drew his flogger from his bag. “Keep your eyes shut.”
It always sent her nervousness level up a notch when he told her not to look. Scary thoughts shot rapid-fire throu
gh her brain. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He’d never hurt her and he wouldn’t start now.
The pressure he applied to her back pushed her breastbone to rest against the bench. “There’s a hole in the wood near your breasts. If I choose, I can clamp your nipples and run the chain through the bench, ensuring you don’t move. Well, not without considerable discomfort. Do you think that will be necessary tonight, Michelle?” With his finger, he circled her areola.
“I’ll stay still, Sean,” she answered quickly.
“Good girl. If you’d used the word no, I was going to have to do it anyway. No is a word I’m not fond of. Tonight, I forbid you from using it. Do you understand, Michelle? It doesn’t matter what the context is, you are not to use the word no.”
“Okay, I won’t.”
“Good girl.” Sean pulled the flogger from his pocket and very lightly began striking her back. “Does that hurt?”
“N…ot really. I like it.”
“I’m so glad.” Little by little, he began increasing the strength of the strikes. “Is blue your favorite color?”
“N…My favorite color is red.”
“Mmm, so is mine. Like the color I’m making your skin. Such deep, rich hues. But as much as I love the sounds you make when I give you a flogging, it wasn’t my main objective for the evening.”
One hand pressed down on her back as his other caressed between her ass cheeks. It was such a naughty feeling her stomach fluttered.
“I’m going to take you here one day soon, and tonight we’re going to start some of the prep work. Are you worried how it will feel?”
“A little.”
As his finger pushed a little harder, Michelle started to sit up, but the bindings held her in place. She was truly bound and at his mercy. The hand he’d placed along her back disappeared and then his other one did too. Panic started to set in until his thigh brushed along hers.
“You’re so tight, it’ll be a while before you can take me comfortably. I’m feeling generous tonight and I’ll give you the option. Would you rather we jumped right to it?”
“N…ot really. Let’s take the long road.” She giggled until she felt something wet and cool swirl around her ass. As his thumb brushed along her back, she realized it was just his finger back there.