“This floor is where the playrooms are set up. There are ten, and each is outfitted to suit the varied tastes of our clients and students. Some are milder in content, while others contain implements for those more experienced.”
“I've been doing a little research since we spoke yesterday,” she admitted as they reached the top of the wooden staircase.
Dane nodded. “I'm sure you've come across an abundance of information.”
“That's an understatement.” She glanced up the long, wide corridor.
A chill snaked its way along her spine as she thought of what she would encounter in those rooms.
“Remember that not everything you've found is an accurate interpretation of the lifestyle.”
“I understand that.”
“Though we are open-minded here at A Master's Gift and are more than prepared to assist individuals and couples in exploring the various elements of sexual Mastery and submission, there are areas of play we will not partake or train in. Trust is key for all parties. Safe, sane, and consensual are paramount in the lifestyle, most especially in play.”
“I understand,” she repeated.
Dane outstretched his arm, urging her to step forward. As they strolled along the hallway, he encouraged her to glance around the various rooms. Within she found different implements for restraining a person—crosses, benches, chairs, and beds, all made of various materials, such as woods and metals. On the wall outside of each room she saw a number.
“The rooms are numbered so when the doors are closed, other clients won't walk into the wrong room inadvertently. Yet there are some clients who choose to leave the doors open and will welcome an audience.”
Alayna swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. She wasn't sure she was interested in being watched, or watching someone else, for that matter.
“Keep in mind, Alayna, men are visual creatures,” he said close to her ear, as if reading her mind. “There are women who also find watching or being watched to be quite stimulating.”
She mulled that over for a few minutes and wasn't so convinced.
“Alayna,” Dane said after the silence between them lengthened.
“Hmm?”
“Will you trust me?”
“At this moment, I have no reason not to, Mr. Reese.”
Again he stretched his arm out and motioned for her to continue down the hall.
“Here we are,” he announced as they came to the last door.
After turning the knob, he pushed the door open. It was dark as Alayna entered, but soft light from the left side of the room cast enough illumination that she could see her way around. The room was narrow and deep, as if it were used as a closet at some point in time. As she glanced to the left, she froze. Through a window, she watched as a couple on the other side engaged in a session in the next room.
A woman was bound face-first against a metal cross, with her back to Alayna. She was naked, and her eyes were covered with a blindfold. She had a voluptuous, full figure, similar to Alayna's; that made Alayna smile. Big girls have fun too!
A tall man with a flaming red crew cut stood to one side of the woman. His build was slim yet defined. He wasn't drop-dead gorgeous, but he was attractive. He was shirtless and barefoot, clothed only in a pair of leather pants. In his hand he held a long, thin item resembling a cane, similar to the ones Alayna had found in her research. The woman's buttocks bore angry thin strips of red from the contact of the implement striking her pale flesh.
A chill of excitement raced through Alayna's body and caught her off guard.
“It's one-way glass,” Dane said behind her. “A mirror on that side, and a window on this. These rooms are used in training where clients act out their sessions, and we can observe without interfering.”
“Does the couple know they're being watched?” she asked, feeling uncomfortable, almost like a Peeping Tom.
“Yes. All clients and the ones training to be masters sign agreements to have their sessions observed,” he answered.
Alayna gasped as she thought of herself in the position of the woman her eyes were glued to. Only, in her vision, the man holding the cane was Logan Abram.
From the corner of her eye she saw Dane fiddle with a panel on the wall beside the window. When they'd first entered the small room, silence had welcomed them, but now Alayna could hear the sounds coming from inside the room. The woman panted unevenly. Reaching out, the man took her right nipple between his thumb and finger and twisted it. A gasp of arousal mixed with surprise slipped from the woman's mouth.
After releasing the bound woman's nipple, the man took several steps away and simply studied her. A light sheen of perspiration glistened on her skin. A grin of pride and satisfaction lifted the man's lips as he continued to walk around her. Then he came to a stop beside her once again; his face drew tight and his arm rose.
The slice of the cane cutting through the air filled the small space where Alayna and Dane stood. When the whip struck the back of her thigh, the woman flinched. “Mmm, yes,” she moaned a few seconds later.
The man approached her and grabbed a fist full of her long, dark hair. Pulling her head back, he growled in a low, sexy tone. “You don't have permission to speak, slave.”
The woman's breath grew even heavier as she seemed to tamp a shudder moving through her body. “My apologies, Master.”
The man dropped his mouth to the woman's in a fierce kiss.
When Alayna heard a groan rumble in her own chest, she coughed in an attempt to cover it up.
“There is no reason to be embarrassed, Alayna. To be aroused is perfectly normal,” Dane said in a soft voice.
“A-are they l-lovers?”
“Yes. They are engaged to be married, and they are very much in tune with each other's needs and desires.”
Several moments passed before Alayna cleared her throat. “Um, perhaps, w-we should talk shop now,” she said.
Dane feigned a pout when her eyes met his. “Shame. Things are about to heat up with our couple.”
Hotter than that?
“I-I—”
“You heard what I said about work, work, work,” he continued. “Come,” he said, motioning to the door. “We'll head down to my office.”
They walked through the hall, then down the staircase. As she moved through the house, she gave thought to what she'd witnessed. She had to admit, watching the couple had been very stimulating. Regardless of the stinging of the thin cane striking her, the woman had found pleasure in the experience. There was no doubt in Alayna's mind it hurt; she'd seen the woman flinch. But perhaps the woman found it pleasurable because it had been her lover inflicting the brief splinters of pain.
Alayna wondered if she too could find that place. The place where putting her complete trust in another person to meet her needs would bring total contentment. She wanted to. But when it came right down to it, would she have the strength to follow through?
They strolled past the living room and dining room in silence. Dane guided her with his hand pressed firmly against the small of her back, steering her toward a corridor.
“My office is the last door on the left,” he said.
When they reached the end of the hall, he reached for the knob and, after a turn, pushed the door open.
“Have a seat,” he said, gesturing to one of the wingback chairs across from an antique desk.
Alayna did. Once seated, she squeezed her legs together and settled her hands in her lap.
“Let's get to it. Why don't you start by telling me how you came to the decision to give me a call?”
“Well,” she began and then stopped to clear her throat. “Your Web site is arousing, to say the least, Mr. Reese.”
“Dane, please. And my apologies for being so rude. May I offer you something to drink?”
Feeling very dry in the mouth, Alayna nodded. “Some water would be nice. Thank you.”
“Give me one moment before you continue.” Dane picked up the phone, pressed a cou
ple of buttons, and then spoke into the receiver. “Yes, Shendah, will you bring a pitcher of ice water and two chilled glasses to my office, please? Thank you.”
After setting the receiver back in the cradle, Dane turned his full attention on her. He didn't say a word; just a look in his eye told her to continue.
“The idea of relinquishing control intrigues me.”
“Complete control?”
“I'm not sure. I want to. But I just don't know if I will be able to do so.”
“Why not?”
Alayna hesitated, reluctant to discuss the reasons behind her decision with a man whose only reference came from a Web site. Her expression must have given away her thoughts because Dane leaned back in his chair, his eyes cool and assessing. “If you truly want assistance, I'm going to need to know just how committed you are to learning about the lifestyle.”
“Does that require me to tell you everything about my life?”
“No, but some understanding of where your responsibilities lie is necessary to determine how we can help you.”
“What details are you looking for?” Maybe if she knew what he needed, she could limit how much to tell.
“I know you own the café, and you have a younger sister who works with you.”
Alayna nodded. “Ariel and I inherited the shop when our parents died ten years ago.”
“You would have been, what? Twenty?”
“Twenty-two. And Ari was seventeen, almost eighteen.”
“And you took care of her?” Dane's expression and tone encouraged her to fill in the blanks.
A soft knock on the closed door interrupted. Dane motioned her to wait. “Enter,” he called out.
The young woman who entered carried a pitcher and two glasses on a mirrored tray. She set them on the corner of Dane's desk. Though average looking, the woman had pretty eyes. There was a rough-around-the-edges aura about her. Long, dark hair framed her face. Though her features were not predominant, if she had to guess, Alayna suspected she had Native American ancestry.
“May I serve you and your guest, sir?” the woman asked.
Reaching for the pitcher, Dane shook his head. “No thank you, Shendah. I'll tend to my guest's needs.”
The young woman nodded, lowered her gaze, and left the office. Alayna took the chilled glass of water Dane held out to her.
“You were telling me about your sister,” he prompted.
Alayna lifted the goblet to her lips and took several swallows.
“Not much to tell,” she replied. “When our parents died, I took on the role of parent. I made sure her needs were met, that she went to the best schools, obtained the best education. It was important to both of us that the business continue to flourish, in honor of our parents. All business-related matters are my responsibility. Ariel is a certified chef and handles the menus and catering. But I am in control of the financial end of the business.”
Dane nodded. “What do you think we can do for you?”
“Being in control of my business life keeps me grounded. But if I understand correctly, you may be able to offer me an outlet to explore giving up control. The pictures of the women on your site, they seem to be experiencing such heightened pleasure. Then, the woman upstairs… I've never done that, and I think I'd like to try. I think it might be just the thing for me.”
“You're talking about relenting sexual control.”
“Yes.”
“Do you have a current lover?” Dane made a note on a pad of paper in front of him.
“No. I have no time for romance.”
“Past lovers?” Another quick scribble on the page.
“I have had two.” Alayna wondered just how detailed his notes were. Though she felt uneasy about him taking notes, she reasoned that, were she interviewing a potential new employee, she would do the same. Their purposes were just for different outcomes. She continued with her explanation. “The first was a boy in high school. We were seniors. The experience was disastrous.” In silence she recalled their fumbling around in the dark after prom. “The second, a gentleman I met in university. We dated for a year and a half before he broke it off. I believe his parting shot involved the word 'frigid.'”
Dane grimaced, scrawled something on the paper, and underlined it. Twice. “Allow me to apologize on behalf of all men. A man who truly worships his woman will make it his personal mission to see she is sated beyond words.” He shook his head and leaned forward. “So how long has it been since you've had a lover or sexual partner?”
“I don't know…ten, maybe eleven years. To be honest, the business and my sister are my life. The restaurant takes up so much of my time, and I don't regret doing what I do.”
“You masturbate?”
“I've tried.”
His brows furrowed in question. The pen remained poised over the pad for a moment before he lowered it and waited for her to continue.
Alayna shifted in her chair, her nerves gaining an upper hand. The palms of her hands began to sweat as she thought of how to answer his unasked query. Dane Reese was going to toss her out on her ear. He was likely used to dealing with women who were in tune with their bodies, knew what they liked, what they needed, and who came to him wanting to learn how to heighten those desires. In this area, Alayna struggled.
“Okay, here it is. I-I can't come. I have a great deal of difficulty reaching climax. In fact, it doesn't matter how hard I try, I just can't, so I don't bother. That's why I've not taken another lover since the last,” she said, slumping into one of the wings of the chair. “God, I'm so humiliated.”
The smile he gave her was indulgent but not superior. His blue eyes were reassuring.
“There's no reason to be embarrassed. I suspect you put too much pressure on yourself to find release, and therefore you don't relax and enjoy the experience. That and you've not placed yourself in the hands of the right man.”
A chill ran up her spine as the image of Logan Abram entered her mind. “And you think the right man is here, just waiting for me?”
Dane leaned farther forward, seeming to search her expression for some clue to the puzzle that had driven her to contact him.
“Should you agree to a contract, you will first explore your own body with the guidance of a trained dominant, your master. It's important for you to learn how to pleasure yourself before we introduce intercourse into your training. Therefore you will be taught relaxation exercises along with masturbation techniques. Once comfortable in achieving orgasm by your own hand, you will work with your master, who will teach you how to open up to him, to trust him to meet your needs. In essence you will learn what it is you want and need to reach a deeper, heightened sexual release, and, more importantly, how to demand it from your lover.”
“But isn't my master already supposed to know what I need and how to do it?”
He nodded. “Once the trust is built from the foundation, yes, a master will know exactly what you need and how to push you beyond that to something more intense.”
Alayna sat silent for several minutes digesting what she'd just been told. She could do this. She wanted to do this. She needed this. If she was going to ever be the woman Logan would want and love, she needed to find herself sexually.
“May I ask some questions that may or may not be related to the present topic of discussion?” she asked.
“Of course.”
“Your home here is quite a ways from my restaurant,” Alayna pointed out. “I'm surprised you and Mr. Abram come for lunch every day considering the drive is a half an hour each way. I know my sister is the best chef in the state, but the distance alone…”
“Though the service we provide here at the mansion keeps us busy, Logan and I work as consultants in an office kitty-corner to your eatery,” he replied. “We were impressed the first time we ate there. The two of us very much enjoy the food, as well as the ambiance, and we look forward to our standing lunch appointment.”
“Ariel will be pleased to hear that,” she said. �
�Is Shendah your submissive?”
“No. When Shendah came to us, she sought structure, guidance. She isn't here for sexual purposes. Her needs are met through strict routines and practices. She is a paid employee here at the mansion. Her duties include meal preparation and housekeeping details. We also have a gardener who keeps the property in exceptional condition. You've met Keegan McAvoy, our in-house chauffeur.”
“Do you have a slave?”
“No, not at the present time.”
“Does Mr. Abram?” she asked and then bit her tongue. Had she seriously just asked that?
Dane shook his head; his eyes flickered at the mention of his friend's status, and she wondered what he wasn't saying.
“Will I be one of your submissives?”
“Have you decided to commit?”
“I'm not certain yet.”
“Fair enough. Logan and I train others in the art of Mastery and submission. Right now we have several dominants in training that we work with hands-on. When we feel they are ready to move on to an actual sub, then we make that happen. We also have three couples who are exploring Dominant/submissive relationships. Neither Logan nor I are involved in a D/s relationship of any sort right now. What is it you wish to achieve should you choose to submit?”
Alayna paused, wondering if she could put what she truly wanted into words. It was worth a try. “I want to feel cared for. I want control taken away from me so I don't have to think about it. I desire to experience pleasure. By my hand and that of a lover. Well, I mean, in this case, I wouldn't have a lover, but a partner. There's a difference.”
Dane's expression reflected his understanding. “There is. Do you believe you can submit to experience all those things?”
After listening to Dane and learning Logan did not have a submissive, she'd made up her mind. “I think I can. I'd like the opportunity to explore it.”
“We have a contract you would be expected to sign. It is straightforward, but you are welcome to have your attorney read it over. Should you choose to submit, you will live in the mansion for one month—thirty days. While training, your contact with the outside will be limited, if at all. We believe that for a person to fully commit, the less external stimulation to sidetrack them, the better. That goes for both training masters and submissives.”
An Invitation: Alayna's Training Page 4