speculated.
“I assure you, misconduct on a master’s part is practically unheard of. I’m not saying it’s never occurred, but this is a small community that takes pride in playing safe. Masters come in very distinguishable personality types and kinks, and it’s our responsibility to know our own limits as well as the limits of our subs. We read facial expressions and body language. We use safe words and we know the difference between pushing subs past what they believe they can take and when they’re truly afraid and need to stop a scene.”
“What type of personality are you as a master? I’m not sure I get that.”
“There are several indentified types of masters. I’m what’s called a responsive master. I care about my subs and prefer to have a real connection with them. I like to nurture them, bring them to an emotional and sexual catharsis, and comfort them when we’re done with a scene. I use a firm hand, mixing a bit of pain with the pleasure, but without cruelty. Does this sound acceptable?”
The sudden pucker of her nipples against her blouse, not to mention the dilating of her pupils and quickening of breath, gave him the answer he wanted. It was still gratifying, though, to hear the words.
“It sounds exciting, and much different from the stereotype I was carrying in my head.” She gave him a sheepish smile. “I’m still nervous, but a normal kind. I wish I’d sat down and had this talk with you before. If I had —”
“Uh-uh.” He silenced her with a brush of his lips on hers. “We’re talking now — that’s all that really matters. What’s left is to decide how we play. What turns you on, baby? What do you want from this?”
She chewed her lip, considering. “I’m tired of living in my rigid, black-and-white world. I want you to show me colors I’ve never seen before. I want to feel beautiful and desired. And I want to trust a lover completely for the first time in my life.”
“I can do all those things for you, sweetheart,” he said softly, skimming one cheek with his fingers. “The trust has to come from you, but I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t. It’s me letting
That was quite an admission, coming from the most self-assured woman he knew. “It’s not a problem — part of my job is to help you discover yourself.” He set his beer on the coffee table. “Why don’t I grab a copy of my standard contract and let you read it? Then we can discuss any changes you’d like to make, come to an agreement, and sign if you’re ready.”
“Sounds good.”
Nodding, he rose to go fetch the document, barely able to contain his excitement — though somehow he managed.
It wouldn’t do for his new sub to see her big, tough Dom reduced to a puddle of mush.
Emma’s hands shook as she read the contract, the implications of which were both overwhelming and terribly arousing.
From the moment she entered a scene with Blaze, she’d be under his control in every sense of the word. Sure, concessions were made for her safety, as he’d said, but the reality was that she belonged to him. He was her master and as such would enforce a strict code of conduct in public, with consequences for breaking them.
“Flogging?” she croaked, attention riveted to the “punishment” section of the document. “Time and place to be determined by the master?”
“Yes. Though we can amend it to read that all punishments for breaking a rule will be rendered in private.”
“I’d prefer that, yes.” She frowned. “Wait a sec — I thought you said I could use a safe word!”
“Except during punishment,” he said gently. “Consequences are doled out for a reason and are not fun for the sub.”
“But that’s not fair!”
His reply was patient. “It’s not fair to be punished when you break a rule you agreed in writing not to violate? Present a good argument, and I’ll strike the whole section.”
She swallowed hard, mind scrambling. After a few moments of struggling to come up with a valid reason, her protest deflated. “I can’t, and you know it.”
“I’d never truly hurt you, Emma. That’s part of the trust you want to develop with me.”
“I know. This is all going to take quite a bit of adjustment for me.”
“Anything worthwhile isn’t all roses and sunshine.”
She glanced up, and an encouraging smile took the harshness from his words. “True.” Straightening, she laid the papers on the coffee table, took the pen, and heaved a deep breath. “Well, this all seems to be pretty straightforward. Don’t make me sorry.”
“Don’t make me sorry,
“Don’t push it, buddy. I haven’t signed yet, and even if I had, we’re not in a scene.”
“You’re a fast learner. Excellent.” His impish grin kick-started her pulse.
“Humph.” She shot him a disdainful look simply to remind him she was no pushover, which only made him laugh. Annoying, sexy man.
“Speaking of the safe word, you need to choose one. Something you wouldn’t be likely to say in ordinary circumstances that I couldn’t possibly mistake for anything but ‘stop the scene.’”
She thought a moment. “How about… peppermint?”
“That’ll work. Fill it in the blank on page one, amend the punishment to be rendered in private, then sign if you agree to all the terms.”
Once the deed was done, she presented the papers with a flourish. He took them, a glint of heat in his golden eyes.
“I’ll put these away and then give you a tour of the playroom.”
“Okay.”
Recalling her last foray to the basement, and how badly his revelation had gone over, she couldn’t help but feel a little sad. But they were moving on now. Right?
Blaze returned and took her hand, leading her down the stairs and flipping on a dim light as he went. The cavernous space was just as she remembered it — well, what little she’d seen before they’d had it out and she’d fled like a rabbit being chased by a pack of hungry hounds.
Leather harnesses, whips, clamps, handcuffs, and a wide assortment of glittery, eye-popping gear were neatly arranged on black-painted walls for maximum effect. Designed, she suspected, to immediately put a sub into the proper headspace.
Nothing could possibly say “this is my domain and I’m the master here” more than this room.
“Come here.”
Her gaze snapped to his at the tone she’d never heard him use before, meeting an expression on his handsome face she’d never seen, and the change was mesmerizing. She was about to be treated to this man in all his powerful Dom glory, and suddenly her entire body was spring-loaded. A live wire ready to be tripped and sizzled.
With a start, she realized she’d hesitated, and she quickly obeyed, walking over to stand in front of him. The musky, manly aroma of him teased her senses, and the sight of him in his tight faded jeans and blue T-shirt, dark hair brushing his broad shoulders, made her pussy tingle.
“Undress,” he said.
“Completely?”
A raised brow was her only answer. Okay, stupid question.
She stripped and stood before him, refusing to look away, though it wasn’t easy. They’d been lovers before, but this was a level of sensuality she’d never experienced.
For the very first time, she understood that the word
Reaching out, he touched her cheek and sent her a half smile, telegraphing warmth and reassurance. “I’m going to start you out with something easy,” he said in a low, soothing voice. “Raise your arms over your head and
