| |
Her day began in Master Richard’s office as he explained some of the intricacies of the BDSM lifestyle.
“Safe, sane, and consensual are three key points about anything you do or see here at Inferno. We’ve spent many years weeding out the bad to provide a place that is safe to let down your hair and be comfortable.”
“But not too comfortable, right?” She eyed the two, now familiar books on his desk and noticed that the same woman was featured in both. She’d only had time to read part of one. Curious, she reached for them and he nodded.
“Help yourself. There’s a contract oftentimes, stating what each party agrees to. The do’s and don’ts, if you will.”
“A contract?”
“Yes.” He fished one out of a filing cabinet and laid it out on the desk.
She scanned it, her flesh heating up with every line. Anal sex. Pony play. Nipple clamps. Rope bondage. Orgasm denial. Violet wand. Figging. And a whole lot more things she’d never even heard of, let alone considered letting someone do to her.
A Wartenburg Wheel? It looked like something from her mother’s quilting table.
Wax play? And where, pray tell, did that candle go?
She decided she didn’t want to know.
A flush crept up her face as she considered some of the other activities listed.
It was embarrassing and exhilarating all at the same time.
“What are hard limits?”
“Hard limits are the things you will not do. It’s a firm no stance. Soft limits are something you are not comfortable with, but would consider given the correct situation and partner. All of these things are written down and understood before anything ever happens. It is protection for the sub and for the Dominant. At the very least, a conversation must happen before play happens to alert the Top or Dominant if there are any health requirements, anxiety triggers, or things of that nature.”
“Why would a Dominant need protection? Aren’t they the one in charge?”
He shook his head, a slow smile tilting his lips up. “No. While the Dominant’s job is to keep testing and pushing the submissive forward to help reach his or her goals, the submissive in many ways is the driving force of the couple. The Dominant’s world is made up of his or her desires and that is a heady mixture of power, but one that has to be wielded properly.”
Her mouth went dry.
“So, you couldn’t touch me until I agreed? I mean...if we had an agreement.”
Mortification spread through her. Had she really just said that?
Her bunny wiggled her whiskers at her and she felt the heat slide up her cheeks.
A smile played on the corners of his mouth and he pulled the blank contract across the desk and slid it back into the file cabinet. “Yes, that’s absolutely true. If a Dominant pushes a sub into an arrangement without one, he or she can create needless problems that could have been best solved by clear communication at the onset.”
She wished the regular world worked more like that. It would have totally helped her with Ellis.
“What do people do if they have a grievance?”
“Most of the time it’s resolved with a sit-down discussion. Others may involve a dungeon monitor or even the owner of a club, depending on the situation.”
“The girl in the pictures. The one from the bar...she looked so happy.”
His expression closed and she immediately regretted bringing up the subject.
“She was, but she never learned how to property submit. You’ll find her inside of both books and in many photographs around the club.”
“Are you still seeing her?”
“No.”
“Oh.” Clover paused, her gaze scanning the books in front of her, trying to find the right words.
“I don’t know if I could do that.”
“Do what?”
“Surrender. To another human being.”
“It takes courage.”
“More than I have right now, I think,” she replied wryly, her body still sore from her encounter with Ellis. Just thinking his name in a place like this felt wrong somehow, and she knew with certainty he could never survive in this environment. The thought made her smile.
“If you’re interested, don’t forget, I have classes every day from five-thirty to six-thirty in BDSM basics. It’s the premise for my new book.”
“I might just do that.”
She retreated to the bar, all the while feeling his eyes on her heavy and searching, and part of her wondered what it would be like to have his fingers bring her to the heights she saw in the photographs. A spring in her step, Clover went about her day, eager for the first class to start.
Five-thirty came quickly. She ran up to her room to make sure Sylvester was okay and gave him a quick walk in the back field. She took him back to their room and then hurried back downstairs. She found Master Richard in the stage area, and this time it appeared as if he was getting ready to move the class. Cursing her tardiness, she tried to seamlessly join the others before he noticed.
***
She was late.
“Today we’re taking a trip down our themed room hall.” Master Richard observed Clover join with the group and had to suppress a smile. Oh, what he wouldn’t give to have her alone in the school room right at that moment so he could introduce her lush backside to his ruler.
The class followed as he led them down the hallway.
“Can anyone tell me what some of the themed rooms might be used for?”
A young woman with dark hair raised her hand. “You can have lots of different settings. Like the Victorian Suite can be for people who like romantic assignations or even a schoolroom for, like...you know, paddling?”
“Very good.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
“That’s exactly it. Can anyone else tell me what other kinds of rooms there might be?”
A middle-aged woman he’d had in class before raised her hand. “Well, you can have medical suites for the people who like doctor play. Or maybe, you could have a St. Andrew’s cross and dungeon style implements for folks who are into that scene.”
“Good. Yes. There’s also a littles room, a pony play area, and a couple of other new rooms that we’re working on. One is set up to appear as if you are outside, for those who have exhibitionist tendencies.”
“Really?” Her face grew flushed as all eyes turned to look in her direction.
His gaze turned to Clover and she met his inquiring look with a shy, apologetic glance, then immediately lowered her gaze to the floor.
She wasn’t going to have it that easy, he decided.
“Hello, everyone, please welcome Clover. She is our guest, so make her feel welcome as we learn more about the many facets of the BDSM lifestyle.”
“Thank you.” She replied, her eyes shining with her animal.
He cleared his throat. “Okay, folks. One of the other rooms we have is dedicated to something called Shibari. Has anyone heard of that?”
The group started to mumble amongst themselves.
“Raise your hand.”
Casey, a young, perfectly coiffed, African American woman, thrust her hand in the air. “Yes, it’s the Japanese art of rope tying.”
“Is it something recommended for beginners?” Another person asked.
“No. Not usually.” Master Richard replied with a frown. “Most of them haven’t learned how to be still.”
“So, people shouldn’t try this at home without some training?”
“Very good.” Master Richard nodded. “Shibari is something that requires concentration and the skilled hands of a Master or Mistress to lead the sub through. Otherwise, you risk loss of circulation and a host of other issues.”
His gaze met Clover’s, and for a moment he could swear she parted her lips in what looked like desire.
