His voice was different now. Deeper, maybe. And more commanding. Lexi felt a shiver go down her spine. “Yes, Andrew.”
“Good girl.” She felt disproportionately pleased by his approval. She’d have to keep notes on that feeling. Was that part of the submissive experience? The need for a Dom’s approval? She would make a mental note to think about how she was feeling and her unexpected response to him.
“Lexi!”
“Uh, sorry.” His eyebrows drew together as he glared at her. Right. She’d addressed him wrong. “I mean, sorry Andrew. I just drifted off for a second again.”
“Yes, you did. You’ve done that a number of times and I’ve tolerated it as we were meeting as equals and not Dom and sub. But now that you have agreed to be trained by me, I have certain expectations and one is that you pay attention when we are together. I want you present when we are together, particularly in scenes. No thinking about your grocery list or if you remembered to set the DVR. Do you understand?”
Lexi sat up straighter. The authority in his voice was impossible to ignore and she found herself responding to it. It was unbelievably sexy. She felt the stirrings of arousal. Dammit, she was on a story. She couldn’t get involved. Or, in this case, maybe it was the opposite. Maybe she couldn’t not get involved? She’d think more about it later. She didn’t want to get in trouble again. She answered quickly.
“Yes, Andrew.”
“Now I am going to give you the address of a shop. You will go there and get fitted. I have picked out a few things for you to wear. Tonight I expect to see you in the pink corset and thong.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Pink isn’t really my color. Wait, did you say corset and thong?”
“Did I ask your opinion?”
“Well, no, but…”
“Are you arguing with me on this?”
“Well, I thought we’d talk some more. Maybe you’d give me a tour of the club. We’d go over my list again.”
Andrew chuckled. “In other words, you thought that you’d top from the bottom, take control of our relationship.”
“Well, no, not exactly.”
“The why exactly do you think that you get to tell me what to do. It’s…” he checked his watch, “not even two pm. You have plenty of time to update your checklist based on our discussion, email it to me and also get to Collars and Cuffs and get fitted for your first corset. One of Madam Stella’s girls is a seamstress. Once they have your measurements, they’ll make you up a selection of corsets based on my instructions. They’ll also custom fit your cuffs and training collar.”
He watched as her jaw dropped. “Cuffs and training collar. Andrew?”
“Very good, pet. Yes, cuffs and training collar. You’ll need the cuffs for bondage. I want you to be comfortable when I bind you into place. And the training collar will help you get into the right headspace. When you kneel at my feet and I buckle the collar around your neck, the scene is officially starting and I’ll expect you to submit fully to what I choose to do to you.”
He watched as her respiration sped up and a sheen of perspiration broke out at her temples. He also noted that her nipples were sharp as diamonds and pressing against the fabric of her t-shirt.
“Lexi, Lexi!”
“Yes?” Her voice was shaky.
“Breath slowly and then take a sip of water.”
“I’m okay” she snapped.
“Tone! Remember, as my submissive you are to address me with respect at all times.”
Lexi had to bite her tongue to keep from giving him a snippy reply, but she did it. She just took a deep cleansing breath and stated calmly, “Andrew, I thought a scene didn’t officially begin until I was wearing your collar? Are you saying that I have to obey you at all times?”
“No, not at all pet. And thank you for asking in a reasonable tone. To make my expectations clear, not only do I expect you not to be a brat during a scene, but I also expect you to show me respect at all times. Is that too much to ask?”
“Are you saying I can never disagree with you?”
“Not at all, as long as you do it with respect outside of a scene and with your safeword during a scene. Can you handle that? Now take a moment and think before you answer. I want you to be honest, but understand that if you can’t, then not only can’t I train you, but not many other Doms would either. Now you could probably find someone calling himself a Dom who wouldn’t care. They’d just beat respect into you. But a real Dom needs to know that you know how to follow his rules. After all, you are expecting your Dom to respect your limits. Is this too much to ask?”
It was like a light bulb popped on for Lexi. She was expecting Andrew, she couldn’t really consider anyone else in the role of training Dom, to respect her limits. Not only that, she believed he would. If this was one of his hard limits, then the least she could do was follow this rule of his, which, if she was honest with herself, was just basic good manners.
“I can do it, Andrew. And I apologise for the earlier disrespect.”
He smiled, a broad and genuine grin and Lexi couldn’t help but smile back. This could work. The really could work!
“Can I ask you a personal question, Andrew?”
“Sure. But I don’t promise to answer it.”
“Fair enough. Is this rule just for subs you are training, or does it apply to your actual submissives?”
“I can answer that. Yes for all subs I am training, but not applicable otherwise.”
“Not applicable?”
“That’s right. I don’t take on submissives in real life. I prefer to keep a slave. And before you ask, no I don’t currently have one.”
Chapter Six
Six hours later, Lexi’s brain was still reeling from Andrew’s revelation. He kept a slave? A slave! She needed to do some research on that topic.
She hadn’t even begun to process that revelation when he handed her the card for Collars and Cuffs, told her to meet him at the front desk of Club Hades at eight pm sharp, left some money on the table to cover their meals and a very generous tip and left.
She’d sat there lost in thought for so long that the waitress had come over to ask if anything was wrong. She’d thanked her and then headed straight to the clothing shop before she changed her mind. She’d had to scrape jaw off the ground when she’d gotten there. Madam Stella was a Domme and her staff were from her stable of submissives. Three beautiful barefoot females who scurried under the crack of Madam Stella’s sharp tongue.
The pink corset was absolutely beautiful if you could ignore the fact that the laces down the front left a gap of more than four inches of flesh showing and pressed her breasts up to the point that she was afraid a deep breath would have them popping out of their confinement. And then there was the thong. Pink and lacy and just as revealing as you’d expect a thong to be.
The cuffs and collar were a soft buttery black leather. There were for cuffs, two for her wrists and two for her ankles. The collar included a lock. It also included a leash. A leash! Lexi blushed every time she thought about it. And if she were honest with herself, she did more than blush. Her nipples hardened, her pussy clenches and leaked moisture at the thought of being lead half-naked through the club by Andrew.
She arrived at the club twenty minutes early. She thought it might have been a mistake and almost left to drive around the block a few times when she saw the first couple arrive. The woman, like Lexi, was wearing a thin coat over her outfit and flip flops which would no doubt be left in the change room. The man, her Dom presumably, smiled down at her, his arm tight around his waist. Lexi caught a glimpse of the woman’s face and she looked radiant with excitement and anticipation.
The second and third couples were the same. She recognized the forth couple. It was Maggie, the owner of the restaurant where the Kinky Book Club met, and Rick, her fiancé? Dom? Both?
At five to the hour, she finally got out of her car and made her way to the lobby. There were several people milling around and a woman at a reception des
k, but Lexi only had eyes for Andrew. He was wearing a pair of leather pants, a matching vest and motorcycle boots. That was it. His body was as ripped as she expected. His chest was bare of hair, but she could see a treasure trail starting at his navel and disappearing down into his pants.
She forced her eyes up to meet his. Wordlessly she handed him the bag. Was she supposed to kneel? Call him Sir? Unable to do either, she stood frozen, staring up at him.
“Pet, this is Cara” he indicated the tall blonde beside him. “She’ll help get you settled and take care of the rest of your paperwork. Then she’ll bring you to me. See you soon, pet.”
And then he was gone. And now, thirty minutes later, here she was standing outside the door to a whole new world.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. Andrew is the best trainer here. You couldn’t be in better hands.” Cara smiled reassuringly and then pushed the door open.
With heavy feet, Lexi walked into the club. The light was dim and there was muted music playing in the background, the bass heavy but unobtrusive. The decorations were in black leather, red velvet and gold. It looked very ornate and retro. There was a bar and over to one side, a lounge. She stood still, rooted to the spot, unsure of what to do.
She didn’t have to wait long. Andrew strode towards her with a smile on his face. She started to talk, but he put up his hand.
“Rule number one in the club. Speak only when asked a direct question by your Dom. Do not speak to anyone else with permission from your Dom. You may answer, pet. Do you understand this rule?”
“Yes, Sir.”
Andrew smiled. Sir. She’d called him Sir without being asked. That was good. And she looked nervous but not terrified. But she could still bolt. He had to handle her carefully.
“I don’t want you to be overwhelmed the first time out, pet, so I’ve booked us a private room. Not to worry, security will be monitoring to make sure you are okay.”
He saw her visibly relax as he led her to the room he had booked. The club had a number of theme room, but he’d picked out the simplest room. It had a spanking bench and a cabinet filled with every sensation play implement you could think of from feathers to a complete selection of canes. There was a small bathroom with a sink and a toilet, a sound system so a Dom could play the music of his or her choice and there was even a nice comfortable lounger to use during after care. The floor was carpeted and there were a number of throw pillows so a sub could kneel in comfort, that is, if she was allowed to. In a word, perfect.
He could feel her test again as they came to the door. He ran a hand gently down her back just like he was gentling a skittish colt.
“Don’t worry. I’ll go slowly. I won’t push during this scene. Think if it as a getting to know you opportunity. I might jump around a bit and try some different things to see what you respond to and what you don’t. Then we’ll have lunch tomorrow after you’ve had a chance to process everything and we’ll talk about your checklist. What do you think of that, pet?”
“I was wondering about the checklist, Sir, I mean, Andrew, oh, I don’t know what I mean! Should I be calling you Master?”
“Calm down, pet. Sir was the correct title at the club or in a scene. Or you can call me Master Andrew. You only call a Dom Master if they are your Dom. All the Doms in the club would be Master or Mistress and then their first name.”
“And the subs, Sir?”
“You don’t speak with them or with the Doms or Dommes unless you have my permission.”
“Oh.”
He opened the door and gently ushered her inside.
Lexi jumped at the sound of the door closing. Andrew had been nothing but sensitive, caring and empathetic, but now she was standing half naked in front of him in a closed room with… she let her gaze wander. She recognized the spanking bench for what it was. She had seen them on the internet when she’d done some research. She was afraid to know what was in the cabinets.
She turned and looked at Andrew.
“Have I told you how beautiful you took today, pet? I told you the pink would suit you.” He reached out and touched the lacing at the front of the corset, one finger gently tracking the pattern made by the laces, his finger lightly skimming her bare skin.
She shivered.
“Cold?”
She shook her head.
“You need to use your words, pet. Are you cold?”
“No, Sir. Nervous.”
“Thank you for being honest. It’s okay to be nervous. I’m be worried if you weren’t. Now, look over there, pet.” He directed her gaze backwards above the doorframe. There was a camera and a red light. “That’s the camera to the control room. They aren’t making recordings. They are only making sure you are safe. They have a microphone so they can hear what we say, but they will only watch if they hear something that worries them. Please tell them you understand. They’ll respond by flashing the red light.”
“Um, hi. I’m Lexi.” The light flashed.
“Now tell them your safewords.”
“Green for good, yellow for slowdown and red for stop.” The light flashed again.
“Feel better now, Lexi?”
“Yes, Sir.” It was the truth, more or less. She could feel the butterflies flittering around inside her, but it was kind of a good feeling, a feeling of anticipation tinged with just a little fear.
Andrew looked at the vision confronting him. He’d secured Lexi to the spanking bench. She was still wearing her thong, although he’d helped her remove the corset before she took her position on the bench. Seeing her like this almost made him forget why she was here.
He slowly circled the bench trailing his hand over her exposed flesh. He could feel a small shiver go through her but she said nothing as she’d been instructed. No talking unless I ask you a direct question or you want to use your safe word.
She was really quite perfect. She was a tiny thing, probably no more than five foot two, and lushly curved. He’d let her keep her back to him when she removed the corset, but soon he was going to be able to see and touch and taste those luscious breasts.
If only she wasn’t there to do an expose on the lifestyle. Expose. He sighed. He’d read every word she’d written once Gabriel had given him this assignment. She was a brilliant writer, insightful, empathic and had a writing style that drew in the reader. But she only ever did exposes, bringing injustice to light to helping to send wrong-doers to jail.
As far as Andrew was concerned, there was no expose to be had at Club Hades. Maybe if she’d picked one of the less reputable clubs or found a random wannabe Dom, but Club Hades had the highest standards of ethics and safety. Members were protected. Safety was paramount. What was there for her to write about other than her own experiences?
He wished that she had told him why she was really there. He wished he could tell her that he knew her secret, but he’d made a promise to Gabriel. Hell, maybe Gabe was even right and if he told her he knew, she’d leave and find another club, another Dom to train her and he found himself hating that idea and not just because of her story. He found himself attracted to her. He had become jaded from training newbies but there was something different about Lexi and the way she made him feel. He would see this out or live to regret it.
He also knew her job was on the line. The online magazine she worked for had been sold and the new owners wanted stories which would drive readers to their website. Clicks were golden nowadays. But he thought there was more to her being here than just a story. He’d seen the look of wistful desire on her face when they talked. She may not even have admitted it to herself, but she was intrigued by the lifestyle. He was willing to bet that what she’d told him about reading BDSM romance books and being turned on by them was one hundred percent the truth.
He studied Lexi. He couldn’t see her face, but her body had relaxed as he’d run his hands over it, gentling her like a skittish filly looking to bolt. He’d gone into the assignment determined not to have sex with her, to keep things professional, traini
ng Dom and trainee sub. But he could see that his assumption was right she wasn’t pretending to be interested in the lifestyle. She aroused by it. He would teach her and train her and even collar her if he had to so that when she wrote her story, it would be about how wonderful the lifestyle was.
Once the story was over, he’d get over this strange fixation he’d developed. He would gradually step things back and eventually uncollar her and free her to find the Dom of her dreams. But for now, he’d take full advantage of his role as her guide and mentor. Andrew felt a stab of guilt but ruthless pushed it aside. He would earn her trust. He would make sure that the story she wrote wasn’t salacious or an expose because he would do whatever it took to make her fall in love with the lifestyle, even if that included making her fall in love with him. It probably, no, it definitely make him a crappy person, but he wasn’t going to let her hurt his friends in the lifestyle and especially not his best friend Gabriel.
“Now we are ready to start, pet.”
“Start? I thought we’d already started?”
Smack
Lexi jumped more at the shock than the pain of the swat on her ass. Dammit, he’d told her not to speak and he clearly meant what he said.
“Did I ask you a question, pet?”
“No Sir.” Her tone was sullen and she knew it, but her ass cheek was on fire.
Smack.
“Watch your tone, pet, that is, if you want to come today.”
“Can I ask you a question, Sir?”
“Go ahead. But be warned. All future questions will have a price. Your second question will be two swats. Your third question, three swats, and so on. Now go ahead, what’s your question? This one is free, so make it a good one, Lexi.”
“Um, I thought we weren’t having sex, but you mentioned withholding orgasms if I disobeyed.”
“That’s a statement not a question, pet.” Damn him, he was right. As a writer, she knew better, but she couldn’t say that. She was supposed to be an administrative assistant. Damn again. He was such an open and candid guy. She had half a mind to come clean with him and tell him why she was really at the club. She wanted to write about BDSM from a new submissive’s perspective. It would be as an open and explicit exploration of her feelings and experiences. No smut or hatchet job. She’d gotten Althea to agree to that. But she was afraid if she fessed up and told him she’d be writing about her experiences, he’d become self-conscious and that could impact the way he was training her. No, staying undercover was the right thing to do. Even when he was talking about giving her orgasms.
Kinky Book Club Trilogy: Written Submission, unSubmissive and Undercover Submissive Page 24