by Vera Roberts
“Open your eyes and rise up,” Nick ordered and Zerrin complied. “Lay out the clothes you want to wear and I will examine them to see if they’re to my liking. If they are, I’ll leave them alone. If they’re not, I’ll put something else on the bed for you to wear instead. When you shower, shave every body part. I only want hair on your eyebrows and your head. Everything else is bare. When you’re done, come see Me.”
“Yes, Master,” Zerrin hurried upstairs.
Nick listened for the shower to turn on and he went upstairs to examine Zerrin’s clothing she picked out for the day. It was jeans and a plain t-shirt. He searched her overnight bag for something else and found a rainbow-colored top. He chose that instead for her. He loved how colors complimented her skin tone and wanted her to wear more of them.
Their relationship had blossomed into something beautiful, even magical. Sure, he’d had sex with Whitney and Stacey, but that was purely physical. Every time he made love to Zerrin, he was opened to something new and wonderful. Their lips met repeatedly, passionately and deeply kissing as they met throughout the night, pleasuring and exploring each other with their mouths and hands. Zerrin surrendered her body and soul to him as Nick opened himself to monogamy and commitment with someone he considered his equal.
Was he in love? Nick wasn’t sure about that. Sure he had a profound affection and appreciation for Zerrin, much stronger than what he had for any of his other submissives. He would admit he only wanted to be with her and only her. But in love? That was something foreign to him.
****
“Today, we’ll be going over how you are going to serve Me,” Nick instructed to Zerrin outside on the balcony. After Zerrin did her morning workout, she met with Nick for breakfast. Now He was continuing His submissive training on her. “How you are going to act in public, private, around friends and family and other situations. Are you ready?”
“Yes, Master,” Zerrin nodded.
“At school, I’ll be Professor D’Amato. In public, I’m Nick. If you sense my tone has changed, you will address Me as Sir.” Nick explained. “In private just the two of us, I’m Master or Sir when we’re getting ready to do a scene. In private among our respective friends and family, I’m Nick or whatever name you choose to call Me.”
“Baby?” Zerrin smiled. “Would I be allowed to call you, baby, Master?”
The way Zerrin said baby rolled off her tongue and it sounded so sensual, Nick felt his cock twitch in his jeans. “Yes, that’s allowed,” He maintained his composure. He cleared his throat and continued. “When you are here, you are to serve Me. You are to be kneeling with eyes down, until I address you. You will have a special pillow you will use to kneel to protect your knees. You will begin all of your sentences with ‘May I?’ You will cater to My needs, asking Me what I want and what I need before you think about yours. You will give Me a full body massage once a week when you spend the night here.
“Your clothing will be pre-approved by Me. If you want to change anything about your appearance—clothing, hair, makeup, physical assets—you need My permission first,” Nick started back inside the home. “Follow Me.”
He led Zerrin back upstairs to the playroom. He opened up French doors and revealed a walk-in closet. Zerrin’s eyes widened as she looked at all of the implements on the walls. From floggers to paddles to whips in various sizes and shapes. Another shelf had many sensory deprivation toys from masks, ball gags, and plugs. Zerrin looked carefully at one particular instrument. It was a silver vibrator attached to a box with several small black pads. She was scared yet intrigued.
“After I use an implement on you, you will take care of it. You will wash it off and place it back on its hook or place in this room. And before you place it back, you will give it a small kiss.” Nick instructed His submissive. “Any questions?”
“This, Master,” Zerrin pointed to the vibrator, “what is this?”
“Ah, yes,” Nick walked over to the shelf with the vibrator, “this is the silver bullet. It’s not for everyone, and you have to be in a certain mind frame to use it. It’s a form of electro stimulation.”
Zerrin scanned her memory. She recalled seeing that as a yes or no question on the contract and she swore she answered no. She silently pouted. She wanted to try the silver bullet.
Nick noticed the new interest in Zerrin’s eyes. There was a little bit of a question in them but there was more interest and desire. “Are you interested, tesoro?”
“I’m curious.” Zerrin blinked to remove the thoughts out of her mind. “I’m just curious.”
Nick leaned in closer to His submissive and whispered in her ear. “You know you’re allowed to change your mind about what you want and what you don’t want?”
Zerrin’s tongue darted out to quickly moisten her lips. “Yes, Master.”
“Good. I just want to make sure you know that,” Nick smiled. “Remember you’re the one that calls the shots here. I just facilitate your wants, needs, and desires.”
“I know, Master,” Zerrin smiled, “I just have a lot to take in.”
“I don’t expect you to know everything off the bat and there are some things you will forget. It’s okay. It’s a learning process and I’ll guide you along the way,” Nick smiled, “but this is not a test on what you need to know or what you’re going to be graded on. This is something you’ll do for the rest of the time we’ll be together.”
Forever? The question popped in Zerrin’s mind and glared in front of her face. It was her weakness—confusing how a man was in bed with how he felt about her. “Thank you for the knowledge, Master,” she chose her words carefully.
“You’re welcome, tesoro,” Nick smiled warmly at her, “but let’s have a fun day today. I’m going to take you another special place I hold near and dear to me. I think you might like it.”
“Oh?” Zerrin was curious. “What is it?”
“The Boundary.”
Twelve
The Boundary was a BDSM lifestyle club located in an unassuming brick building in a historical part of New York. Inside it boasted a large kitchen, reception area, and separate quarters for the group’s monthly activities. Members could rent part or all of the building for a reasonable price for weddings, receptions, and other special events.
Nick told Zerrin to dress down for that afternoon’s meeting, but she didn’t quite grasp what he meant. She took a chance and wore simple jeans paired with a black tank top and heels. She put her hair in a ponytail and wore her signature glasses. Looking at herself in the side-view mirror of Nick’s Mercedes, she wondered if she wore too much clothing.
“Nervous?” Nick asked.
“Yes, Master.” Zerrin nodded. “I’m not sure what to expect.”
“Don’t expect anything,” he suggested. “Go in without any expectations and you’ll be surprised.”
“Okay,” Zerrin couldn’t shake the feeling she’d bitten off more than she cared to chew. “I trust you.”
Nick pulled up to a gated parking lot and entered a code. The gates opened and he drove inside and parked. Zerrin looked around to observe the other cars in the parking lot. Hondas, Nissans, Toyotas. The occasional luxury car appeared. Nothing out of the ordinary. No bumper stickers that stood out or devilish décor. She felt silly for even trying to guess she would see something.
“Are you ready?” Nick smiled.
For the first time, Zerrin felt comfortable. She only hoped the feeling would continue once she was inside. “Let’s go.”
Zerrin and Nick held hands as they walked through the front door. Zerrin felt ridiculous for even assuming she would see some freaky, fucked-up mess. Inside were people dressed in normal attire—jeans, shorts, and tank tops. One lady looked like someone’s grandmother. Another lady looked like a homemaker. Everyone varied from Latino, White, Black, short, tall, medium-build, fat, skinny. They were all normal.
“Have a seat, tesoro.” Nick pointed to a chair. “Did you want some punch?”
Punch? Not virgin�
�s blood? “Um, yes. That would be great.” Zerrin was more shocked at how normal everything was. Nick told her the place of the group meeting was called The Boundary, but there was nothing about it that was remotely close to a BDSM sex dungeon about it. It looked like a typical rental hall. Everyone was dressed in normal garb and not in cloaks and chanting some weird foreign language she had never heard of.
Maybe her friends were right; Zerrin was definitely the weird one.
“Zerrin, I want you to meet someone,” Nick brought a guest over with him, “this is my friend, Daniel. Daniel, this is Zerrin.”
Daniel Price was a short young man. Zerrin assumed he was no more than twenty-three at most. He had crooked teeth and looked a bit nerdy with black frames and tousled hair. He didn't have any tattoos on him, and other than his worn Converses, Zerrin thought he looked more like he belonged in a science laboratory than a BDSM community.
Daniel took Zerrin's hand and kissed it. His lips were soft. “Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Zerrin,” he smiled.
Zerrin was surprised by Daniel's warmth. Chivalry was not dead. “Pleasure is all mine, Daniel.”
“Please make yourself comfortable and look around. Ask any and all questions. We don't bite unless you want us to.” Daniel smiled. Even with crooked teeth, his smile was charming.
“Thank you.” Zerrin nodded before Daniel left to mingle with other guests. She turned to Nick. “Your friend is very nice.”
“Everyone is nice here, tesoro.” Nick led Zerrin to a pair of chairs and sat next to her. “We're not a cult or a gang of freaks. I will admit some are a bit freakier than others, but that's what makes The Lifestyle so interesting. We don't judge here and more or less, we really don't care as long as no one is doing something that's against their will.”
“You still haven't told me why you brought me here, though,” Zerrin wasn't too convinced. “What is it about me that makes you think I'll like this?”
Nick softly kissed Zerrin. “To convince you that yes, you’re a nerd like me, but you’re not weird. Just a little kinky.”
****
The Boundary felt more like a potluck than a group gathering to explore their sexual fetishes. There were monthly minutes about ongoing situations and happenings with certain couples and individuals. There were announcements and ads listed. There were bi-weekly and monthly classes held.
Still, Zerrin was looking for the catch. There's always a catch with thing like this. Why wouldn't there be? Why was everyone so…normal?
“Lastly, we’ll break up into our respective groups,” the meeting organizer, Mark, said to everyone. “Masochists, go to the RedRum room. Submissives—with permission from your Dom/mes—go to the Bitch room. Those in between, you can wander around. Newcomers, stay here for the orientation.”
“Alright, tesoro,” Nick gave a quick squeeze to Zerrin’s hand, “you stay here.”
Zerrin panicked. Nick was her only contact at the meeting and he was leaving her alone. What in the hell was she supposed to do? “Where are you going to be?”
Nick smiled. “I’ll be wandering around.” He kissed her before he left.
During the orientation, Zerrin learned the ins and outs about the lifestyle. No meant no, regardless of the circumstances. Safety words and their different meanings and levels. The difference between discipline and punishment. The community wasn’t just about whips and chains but about people who shared a common interest coming together. It was just like any other gathering with the exception of occasional bondage and hot wax.
Zerrin was floored. She was fascinated. She was a sponge. She wanted to learn everything. She was hungry for more.
“If there are any questions, now’s the time to ask,” Mistress Tamara asked the group. She was an older Black woman with long, straight gray hair. She wore glasses and had cherry red lipstick that contrasted with her light skin, giving her a very mystical, almost witch-like appearance.
She was of average build and wore jeans, heels, and a dark tank top. She looked as if she could be someone’s grandmother and at home baking an apple pie than teaching a class on Domination/submission. It was the contrast that made Zerrin wonder if all those so-called Dommes she saw in the backpages of the local newspaper were full of shit.
“No questions?” Mistress Tamara looked around.
“I have a question!” A woman stood up. “I want to try wax play with my husband, but I heard that candle wax is too hot but I don’t know of any other wax to use. What do you recommend?”
“Spa wax,” Mistress Tamara recommended, “because it won’t burn as much and it’s a lot easier to peel off the skin. Spa wax contains paraffin which is better for the skin and has softening qualities. You use regular candle wax on your partner and I’m pretty sure I’ll be seeing you on an episode of Snapped in the future.” The class chuckled. “Any more questions?”
Zerrin decided to get bold and ask a question. “How does one become a better submissive?”
“Simple.” Mistress Tamara smiled. “Leave your ego at the door and keep your mouth shut until you’re allowed to speak. It really is that simple.” The guests nodded to her statement. “Any more questions? Wow, you’re the easiest group I’ve had in a while. You’re dismissed. Go enjoy yourselves! Refreshments are in the back.”
The group mingled amongst themselves at the back table and Zerrin waited for a free moment to speak privately to Mistress Tamara. “Thank you for your knowledge and wisdom, Mistress. I’ve learned a lot today.”
“You’re Zerrin.” Mistress Tamara smiled to Zerrin’s surprise. “I’ve heard about you.”
Zerrin was shocked. How did the Mistress know who she was? “How…how did you know about me?”
“Saint Nick has His own reputation.” Mistress Tamara grinned. “He’s one of the best Doms around. You can’t get any better than Him.”
“I’m afraid of disappointing Him, Mistress,” Zerrin revealed, “I can’t compare to what He’s had before.”
“And that’s your problem,” Mistress Tamara dismissed Zerrin’s concerns. “You’re comparing yourself to others. A true submissive will focus on pleasing her Master and what He wants. A true submissive would not care who came before Him or who will come after her, if someone will come after her. She only cares about serving her Master. All the tasks and assignments Saint Nick gives you are to bring out the best in you. A little uncertainty and low confidence is natural. But in order to be the best submissive, you have to put that aside before He puts you aside, you hear me?”
The Mistress could not have been clearer to Zerrin. “Yes, Mistress.”
“Besides, you’re not going anywhere and neither is Saint Nick,” Mistress Tamara walked with Zerrin to the refreshment table, “I haven’t seen Him like this in a long while.”
Zerrin knew it was against her better judgment to ask but she was curious. “Like what, Mistress?”
“In love.”
****
“How’s California?” Nick asked His Mistress.
“Entertaining,” Mistress Sanora poured a glass of cranberry juice for Nick and a glass of whiskey for Herself, “very, very entertaining.”
While Zerrin was going through orientation, Nick met with his Domme, Sanora, who was making a rare appearance in New York. They met upstairs privately in a lounge room. “It sounds like you’re having a blast, Mistress,” Nick took the cranberry juice from Her.
Sanora sat down next to Nick on the sofa and took a sip of Her whiskey. “I think I’m a hidden Sadist. I really get off on seeing somebody suffer.”
Nick read into what Sanora didn’t say. “It sounds personal.”
Sanora thought about what was awaiting Her when She returned to Los Angeles. A lifetime of misery and heartache was finally culminating with just one phone call and e-mail to every single major news agency and social media outlet. Hell hath no fury like My vengeful ass scorned. “It’s always personal,” Sanora replied. “Enough about Me and My problems. How is Zerrin working out for you?”
> “She’s great.” Nick smiled. “She’s still new but there are no problems or any foreseeable ones. She’s perfect.”
“I’m glad she is. She’s already made a difference with you,” Sanora noted.
“Oh?” Nick was intrigued. “And what difference is that?”
Her lips turned upward to their trademark curl. “You’re in love with her.”
Was he? Maybe. Maybe he could finally admit that yes, he was in love with Zerrin. He was in love with her, and he wasn’t scared or put off by it. Maybe it was the feeling of not being scared or put off by being in love was what frightened Nick the most. It felt too comfortable. It felt too right. Zerrin was everything he needed. She was his freak in the bedroom. She was his lady in the classroom. And if she became his chef in the kitchen, he was going to marry her. “She’s very dear to me, yes,” Nick corrected, “but it’s too soon to fall in love.”
“Says the man who’s alone.” Sanora smiled.
“You taught me not to fall in love with a submissive, Mistress.”
“I taught you not to fall in love with someone stupid, Nicholas,” Sanora corrected, “Dominants have been falling in love with their submissives for years. There’s nothing in the BDSM rule book that it’s a crime or taboo.”
“Have you ever fallen in love with a submissive?”
“This conversation isn’t about Me, it’s about you,” Sanora flipped Nick’s question. “You need to admit to her how you feel before you won’t be able to.”
“I’m not trying to get married and have kids.” Nick took a sip of cranberry juice. “Yet.”
“Telling someone you love them doesn’t mean you’re rushing to the courthouse the next day. Damn, who in the hell put that idea in your head? Please let me know so I can flog the shit out of them,” Sanora said, and Nick smiled. “Nick darling, you already own her mind and body, you might as well own her heart. I don’t know too many Dominants who are willing hold hands with their submissives unless they are in exclusive relationships with them.”