Chapter Four

The main floor at Sublime was heavily draped with bodies and the smell of sex lingered fresh in the air. Friday nights were one of the busiest nights for the club and the staff. A lot of their members came to play the entire weekend. Showing up on Friday and staying on until Sunday.

Private rooms were available to rent, so the regulars didn’t have the hassle of leaving once they were settled in and could enjoy playing throughout the night. Private rooms were strictly off limits to everyone unless a person received an invitation by the room holder.

Stella wondered around the open play room greeting her guests as she watched the play going on around her. Safety always being the number one concern at the club, and as a Mistress, she needed to make sure everyone’s play remained safe and consenting.

She scanned the area while keeping a watchful eye on the door that led to the men’s locker room. Her job, as a Domme, was to treat every submissive, whether male or female, the same. A true submissive craved submission for one reason or another. Mason could release a lot of stress and built up frustration from his job if he could just get out of his head for a moment.

Too many powerful men walked around cocky and full of themselves. Traits acquired from too many people admiring and relaying on them. Too much pressure placed on their shoulders. Without the right outlet, the pressure could damage a person’s soul. It hardened the heart and turned them bitter.

Submitting had become a great way of letting someone else take the lead. It allowed the mind to clear and the body to simply enjoy what is being done to it.

But the lifestyle wasn’t all about the subs. She couldn’t wait to see him on all fours with her boot heel on his back, taking control over his mind and body. The idea of helping a powerful man with so much pride, find his inner submissive was what attracted her dominant side.

Being the fixer and healer she was, it had become the running joke around the club. Stella, the mothering Domme. If a man within five miles with a problem, she would find him and fix him. She laughed it off along with the rest of the staff but in truth, she did feel as if she walked around sometimes with a sticker on her forehead saying, “if you have deep-rooted issues, I’m your woman”.

She liked to think she got the need to fix people from her grandmother. Ms. Hattie Monroe had her granddaughter’s nurturing personality beat by a long shot. The North Carolina belle had always been all about bringing in strays and trying to fix them. A trait that had skipped her own daughter but took deep roots inside her granddaughter.

Stella’s gaze darted back toward the locker room. She’d only talked with Mason twice, but it hadn’t taken her that long to see that the issues within him ran much deeper than the cocky attitude he wanted others to see. A man could be sexy and confident. He could be sexy and be dominant too, but not as much as a man who knows when to let go of his control and be submissive. To know what he wanted and not be ashamed of asking for it.

However, his answer hadn’t been based on needs he wanted met; they were focused on money. Something he claimed to be more concerned over. To her, life was too short to be wrapped up in material things. At least she couldn’t say he hadn’t been honest with her. But something about Mason pierced through his rough ego exterior. Something deep down calling to her to help him.

She didn’t blame him for working hard at making a career for himself. She could understand and appreciate wanting to make money. Desiring to secure a nest egg herself was a big deciding factor when she joined the team to open Sublime. The hard work the four of them had put into the club gave her the financial freedom she needed. The kind of money she made at the club surpassed the amount she would make in years at an eight to five job.

The dream of owning the club didn’t belong to her as much as it did the other girls. Cara and Piper loved this club more than she and Angel did. They often talked of running the place until they were both old and gray. Not her. Stella would fade out of the spotlight of being a public owner of Sublime as soon as she obtained enough money to buy her studio. Her dream of running her own photography studio was just another year away.

Not wanting to openly stare, she forced herself to look away from the door. Her gaze landed on Angel and Bradly. He had lost his suit jacket and dress shirt leaving him in nothing but dress slacks and a tie around his naked neck. His hands cuffed in front of his body and he looked to be enjoying all the attention Angel poured over him. She softly caressed the back of his hair, while she carried on a conversation with another couple.

By keeping her hands on her submissive while she carried on simple tasks in front of others sent the message that he not only belonged to her, but it taught him to embrace her touch in public. By the end of the night, she would have succeeded in the first step of training him without him ever knowing his training had begun.

Stella stood halfway in the middle of the room facing the other Mistress when the door to the men’s locker room finally opened and Mason stepped out to the floor. She couldn’t remember which male member had set him up with fetish wear, but she needed to find out and thank them.

The man looked incredible in tight-fitting black leather. The pants rode low across his hips showing off the top of his groin muscles as they disappeared under the waist band. His feet and chest were bare, leaving him with no other clothing besides two-inch black leather cuffs wrapped around both of his wrists.

His gaze found hers, and he made his move across the floor. His mouth carried a smug smile telling her he knew just how damn sexy he looked in his new clothes. A fact she couldn’t disagree with.

“I have to confess. I like the clothes. I know the pants look skintight but they’re actually pretty loose in all the right places.” He tugged at the waistband in an attempt to show just how loose fitting they were.

She smiled. “Glad you like them. If you decide to be a member here clothing such as this will become your normal wear when you’re here. Like I said before, no street clothes are allowed.”

Mason’s eyes darted over to his friend who still stood clothed in his suit pants, then looked back at her with a brow raised in a challenge.

“Mistress Angel has her own set of rules. Mistresses and Doms are the only ones allowed to make them. Each of us have our own little set we enforce with our subs. All instructions will be given to you before play begins. If you’re not comfortable with any of the rules, you let your Mistress or Dominant know.”

She paused and glanced toward him. “We aren’t here to hold anyone against their will or make them do things they don’t want to do or aren’t comfortable doing. However, we are here to push our subs to their limits and once they have reached those thresholds, we aim to go for higher limits. It’s never our intent to hurt anyone. If you ever feel like you’re being hurt or treated wrong, there is a dungeon Master on the floor at all times who has the authority to stop all play. Everyone’s safety and consent are our number one priorities here at Sublime. We might be into kink, but we’re not into hurting people. Unless, of course, pain is what you like.”

“Does this mean you’re my Mistress?”

She smiled at his cockiness. It felt strange, but she couldn’t help but to feel a growing fondness for telling him no.

“You don’t get to have a Mistress until you’re a member. Right now, just consider me a friend giving you a private tour of the club. Come with me. I want to show you what a real scene could look like.”

She walked out of the main room, knowing he had no choice but to fall into step behind her. They moved down the narrow hall and into a smaller room they used for a more secluded public viewing. There were no stages for a performance, just a couple of couches and chairs spread around the room. Moving along the edge of the room she stopped once she came to a comfortable two-person loveseat. Taking a seat, she motioned for Mason to join her.

He lowered his body next to hers, looking at all the other couples.

“Is this what you call the floor?” He eyed a couple lounging in each other’s arms a few feet in front of them. The female sub sat naked from the waist up sitting on her Dominant’s lap. Both were in the middle of nipple play. He teased and played with her nipples getting the pink tips hard and ready, most likely for his clamps.

“This is a private floor also known as the red room. This room, like the last, are cut off from the public making it only accessible by members. We like to use this room for newer subs who are still learning to be comfortable in their public play. We encourage long-term members to help our newer trainees. By playing here, our newer subs have a chance to watch and to be observed themselves. The thrill of both is exciting, helping them by tapping into their secret fantasies and desires.”

Mason’s hand moved to the front of his pants. Using the heel of his palm, he shifted himself around. No doubt needing to readjust because of the scene in front of him. She lowered her hand, placing it high on his thigh, making sure she didn’t seem to notice the jerk in his body at the contact. Pressing closer into his side so she could talk in a lower, seductive voice, her breathy words weren’t far from his neck.

The edges of her long fingernails scrapped over the tight-stretched leather at his thigh. The feeling of her nails over the fabric would make him go stir crazy and crave more. The sensation of the tease felt like being given an ice cube while dying of thirst. It could only hold you off for so long.

“Have you ever been intimate with another man?”

His head jerked to the side at the sudden question. “Hell no. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against gay men, but it’s not my thing.”

“Sex with men at all is a turn off for me. Period.”

“Penetration is a hard limit for you?”

“A very hard limit. Like scratch the damn thing off the list.”

She chuckled. “What about oral sex? Would you be comfortable with that?”

His gaze drop down to stare at her mouth. “Hell yeah. Who isn’t?”

“So oral sex is a go? What if it’s performed by a male?” She purposely pushed him to the edge to see just how far he would let her go. Even though it seemed as if she were just teasing him, the seriousness of these questions did have meaning behind them.

“You mean, would I let a guy blow me? Or the other way around?” He was a quick learner and knew exactly where she was going with her questions. “For now, let’s just say blow you.”

Mason turned his gaze back to the couple in front of them taking a minute to think. Stella followed his gaze and watched as the girl, now completely naked, spread her legs wide to dangle them off the outside of her Dom’s thighs, straddling his lap. Her back pressed hard against his chest. Two metal clamps pulled at her nipples and her Dom’s hand lazily laid between her legs.

Bringing her gaze back to Mason, she watched his eyes follow the other man’s fingers as they eased inside the girl’s body. The growing bulge in the front of his leathers confirmed her questions to if he were enjoying the show. Good. She needed the truth out of him, and people were far more truthful when they were turned on. They didn’t care so much about hiding their secrets.

“I don’t think I could have another guy touch me like I would a woman. I mean, it’s never been a subject that has come up before,” he answered. His eyes stayed glued to the couple.

“That’s honest of you to admit. Thank you. Most people wouldn’t confess that much. To say you don’t know because it’s never presented itself to you is being open and honest. Come on. There’s other rooms I would like for you to see.” This time she took his hand as she stood from the loveseat and walked them out of the room.

The room next to the red room had been decorated to look more like a traditional sex club. Or what people thought a BDSM club should look like. The room housed an array of different sex toys and tools along the walls that were strategically placed there for decoration. The large spanking bench had become the focus piece in the room along with a St. Andrew’s cross, a structure shaped like a cross with wrist and ankle straps designed to secure a person’s hands and feet. There were also metal hooks in the ceiling and floor where a sub could find themselves tied, stretched, and secured.

“This must be the torture chamber.” He awarded her with a dazzling but short lived smile.

She looked around the room trying to see it through his eyes. “Hardly.”

Only one couple occupied the room. A male Dom had his male sub naked and strapped into the floor and ceiling cuffs. The Dom worked his submissive’s flesh over with a cat-o-nine tails making him count every lick as it graced his skin.

She guided him through the room, stopping once they got closer to the scene playing out. The Dom leaned into his sub sweetly talking him through every lash. The poor sub must have disobeyed his Dom and now found himself in the middle of punishment.

“This doesn’t look fun to me.”

She couldn’t help but to smile. “It’s not supposed to be fun. This is a punishment scene for disobeying his Dom’s orders. All couples have their own idea of punishments. Not all of us are the same. What works for him might not work for you. This is theirs. Trust me, if you ever find yourself on the other end of a punishment, you will come to love every minute of it.” Her hand let his go to slide around his back, and she brushed her fingertips along his naked flesh. He jerked and twisted toward her.

“Down this way are the private rooms the members can rent for their use. A private room isn’t needed, but a lot of our members like to stay for the weekend, and this allows them to.” Moving down the hallway of closed doors she had walked them in a full circle ending back in the main lounge.

She led them to the bar, pressing her back against the counter. She dug her elbows into the bar top as she placed an order for the two of them from over her shoulder. The position pushed her breasts forward as if seeking attention. She turned her gaze toward him as she waited for their drinks.

“Did you enjoy your tour? Is there anything you might want to see again?”

Bridgette placed their drinks in front of them. Stella ordered her normal sweet ice tea and Mason’s rum and coke.

“I liked the PDA rooms. The public display seems fun. I mean, it’s fun to watch.”

“You’re a voyeur, huh? I should have guessed. A man like you who’s always in control. I can see where you would enjoy watching. It’s mentally letting go. You have no control over what’s happening because all you’re doing is watching from afar, and yet, you’re gaining so much intense pleasure.”

Mason picked up his glass and took a drink, eyeing her over the rim. “How does this work? I mean, let’s say I’m interested in becoming a member. Who do I work with, and do I even get a say on who I end up with?”

“You and your partner will pick each other. There needs to be trust between the two of you, and you need to be comfortable with who you choose. We will introduce you around to all the other members, giving you a chance to meet and talk with other Dom’s and Mistresses so you can see if you bond with someone. Some of our new members like to look around so to speak. They like to see if anyone in particular catches their eye and…”

“Wait a minute. What are you talking about? That sounds like it could take a lot of time to find someone.” His voice edged with roughness.

“It could take a while. I’ve seen a connection happen in one night, and I’ve seen it take a few months.”

“A few months? No. That’s not good for me. I’m all for trying this out to see where it goes, but I can’t start all over with someone new. I already have you. You can do it.”

It wasn’t a question. For a second, she remained speechless. She had every intention of handing him over to one of the others. She’d already let go of all the other subs she had been working with. Her plans were to take a break away from the club to pursue her other talents. However, she did see him and his giant ego as a challenge. In her world, most men thought they were God’s gift to women on a regular basis. The little she knew of Mason, his thoughts weren’t too far off.

“I could, I mean…”

“Good. Then it’s settled. You’ll train me.” Mason downed his entire drink before turning back to Bridgette and ordering another.

He seemed sure of himself. “What do you mean, I’ll train you? Who the hell said I wanted to? I don’t work like that, Mason. It needs to be a mutual agreement, and I sure as hell don’t take orders from anyone.” She wasn’t about to tell him she would like to be his Mistress, but having the time for him played a factor. With her days consumed with trying to get her studio off the ground, all she had left were a few nights that weren’t spoken for.

She would have to stand her ground and hold firm to her answer when his gaze found hers again. She felt the heavy pull of being sucked into his stare.

“The truth is, I’m not even sure this sort of thing is what I really want. But you seem to think it will do me some good. I’m willing to try, but only with you as my trainer. I’m a busy man, Stella. I don’t have a lot of time for a personal life. Most of my days are spent trying to either make money or make other people money. I don’t spend time thinking about my own needs and don’t have the time or the patience to start over looking for someone new. With that being said, I’m willing to try if you’re willing to be the one to teach me.”

Her heart pounded in her chest. Seven years she had been in the lifestyle. Seven years, two Dom’s and countless subs later, and she’d never had the urge to help introduce someone to the lifestyle as much as she did right now for Mason. Maybe it was his raw and complete honesty, but something he said touched the softer side of her. The man already drove her crazy with the way he kept trying to top her.

If she was going to even entertain the idea, she needed to lay out the ground rules, fast. “I’m not saying it’s a yes…yet. There are some rules you need to agree to obey first. One is, you have to give me your weekends at the very least. I understand you’re a busy man. We all have busy lives, but I’ll need you to give me some time. It won’t work otherwise.”

His face hardened as if he were pondering the thought. “I can only guarantee one day a weekend, with the promise that I’ll try to give more when I can.”

She nodded to agree. She could accept those terms for now. One day a week was far less than a new trainee needed. However, she was willing to take what she could get.

“I can take one day a week, but no canceling on me. I too am a very busy person, and I can’t be giving time to someone who doesn’t want it when there’s others lining up who do.” Maybe lining up was a bit of an over statement, but she didn’t need to correct herself in front of him.

He turned his body until his naked chest pressed against hers and gazed down at her. “Agreed. When do we start?”

Stella smirked as she took a sip from her tea. “Are you eager? How about we sign some paperwork and get your background and some tests ran. Then, we will talk about days and times?”

‌Mason eyed her from under black lashes. “I hope you take your sub’s training as seriously as you do your business. Control is something I know a lot about.”

“That’s good to know. Then you’ll know what I’m asking for when I tell you to hand your control over to me. And I expect you to listen.”