Desire's Awakening (8 page)

“Yeah? Well, being busy is a good thing, right? Everyone, I’d like to introduce you to Damien, probably one of the best damn Trainers you’ll ever meet.”

Damien shook each person’s hand in the group. “Pleasure to meet you too.”

“Hey, we’re going to have a special guest at our next meeting of the East Coast SMers. He’s coming to demonstrate a new Japanese bonding technique. Thought you might be interested,” his friend said.

“Thanks, Jason. I would like to see that. Always interested in advancing my knowledge, you know.”

“Absolutely! And then, of course, you have to go home and practice with someone so you don’t forget it, right?” Jason poked him in the ribs.

Damien nodded. “That’s right.” Once again, an image of Kaitlin emerged, this time she was tied in a way that made him hard just thinking about it. Damn.

“Ah, here she is. Damien, do you remember Cynthia? I bought her training package from you at auction about three years ago.” A tall, blonde sub walked toward them carrying two sodas.

Damien smiled. He never forgot a face. “Of course I remember her. She was in my first batch of trainees. How’s it working out?”

“Oh I tell you, we couldn’t be happier. Hey, you want a blowjob? She’s got a fabulous tongue that’ll drive you crazy.”

The thought of having oral sex with anyone other than Kaitlin didn’t appeal to him. He wanted
her
hands and tongue on him and no one else’s. But he had to be careful in turning down his friend’s offer.

“Perhaps another time. I’m here with one of my subs and a Dom in training and I told him I’d be back soon. But thanks for the offer.”

His friend shook his hand. “No problem. I understand. I’ll send you a notice of the meeting.”

“I appreciate that.”

Tim and Melissa were engaged in a serious conversation by the time Damien arrived. He had to clear his throat to get their attention.

“Damien! Sir, please join us. Here, have a seat.” Tim pulled out a chair next to his.

He looked back and forth at his sub and apprentice. They both appeared relaxed and happy. “So, how’s it going?”

Tim looked over at Melissa and smiled. “We haven’t covered everything, but I explained that I’ve been studying the manuals you recommended and watching movies on techniques and now I’m ready for some hands-on experience.”

Damien nodded. “That’s good. Did you discuss the kinds of things that interest you and her limits?”

“Yes and we agree on many things. With your permission, I’d like to visit Melissa and perhaps have a training session with her.”

Damien smiled. He was about to suggest that very thing to his young apprentice.

“All right. Let me see what we can do.” He pulled out his scheduler and checked his appointments. “It appears I have an opening at two thirty tomorrow afternoon. Come over and I’ll spend some time with you and Melissa in the dungeon.”

Tim reached over for Melissa’s hand. “I’d like that very much, Sir. Thank you.”

“Welcome. Now let’s find a seat near the stage and watch the demonstrations.”

They located three seats up front just as the lights were dimmed and spotlights focused on the couples on the stage. Though Tim seemed totally absorbed in everything that was happening, Damien couldn’t engage his interest as he normally would have. He occasionally saw a technique that he thought Tim could try and pointed it out to him. But his mind kept drifting to the pool and the dark-haired sub swimming in the moonlight.

Stop it! What the hell is wrong with me? Why does that woman have such a magnetic pull on me?

He was grateful that Tim had joined them, for he provided a nice distraction for Melissa. Damien looked over at his sub and saw that she too was enthralled by the spectacle of Doms whipping their subs and others administering spankings.

The show ended around two in the morning. As the lights came on and the crowds dispersed, Tim shook Damien’s hand.

“Thank you, Sir, for inviting me here tonight. This has been a fantastic experience. I really felt part of the crowd and know this is where I belong. I’m looking forward to meeting with you and the girl later today.”

Damien nodded. His friend looked happier than he had seen him in a long time. “I’m glad you came too. See you later. Melissa.” He tugged gently on the leash and the submissive followed him to his SUV.

Damien drove home in silence, occasionally looking in the rearview mirror to check on Melissa. She was pensive too, with a slight smile. He would bet any money that her thoughts were on Sir Timothy and their conversation tonight. The chemistry between them was quite evident and he had a good feeling about them.

He wished it could be that easy for him. But his situation was much more complex. Even though Kaitlin stirred something inside him that he hadn’t felt in a long, long time, he had to be careful.

He pulled the car into the driveway, turned off the ignition and opened the car door for Melissa. She followed him and waited while he turned the key in the lock. They walked into a dark and silent house. He released the leash from her collar and hung it by the front door.

“I hope you enjoyed yourself tonight, girl. You may answer.”

“Oh I did! Thank you. I had a wonderful time, Sir.”

“Good. You may sleep in late today. You are dismissed.”

Melissa bowed to him and headed for her bedroom. Damien undressed as he walked to his room, leaving clothing in his wake.

* * * * *

Saturday mornings at the household were quite different than the rest of the week, Kaitlin discovered. Neither training sessions nor chores were done on weekends and everyone had free time to do what they pleased, except for party weekends, where everyone had a hand in decorating and preparing the food for the guests. However, this was not one of those weekends.

Kaitlin woke early out of habit and discovered the discarded tuxedo on the floor trailing up the stairs. As she gathered it into her arms and hung the clothes neatly on a hanger, she glanced up at the Trainer’s door. It was closed. The tux smelled of smoke and a light tinge of Sir Damien’s cologne. It would most likely need to be dry cleaned before next Friday. She made a mental note to call the cleaners for a pickup when they opened later in the day. In the meantime, she hung the tux in the foyer closet.

When the rest of the house stirred, she didn’t see Melissa and a pang of jealousy hit her. Whether or not the Trainer was locked away in his master bedroom with the girl between the sheets was none of her business, she reminded herself. So why couldn’t she get the disturbing image out of her mind?

The groceries arrived at ten o’clock and she spent a half hour putting everything away. Kat had to work around some of the late risers who were in the kitchen getting their breakfast. Though the strict schedule was relaxed on the weekend, apparently the rules of etiquette were still enforced. No one spoke to her as they prepared their meal.

Mrs. Swenson arrived in the kitchen as Kaitlin put away the last of the groceries. Kat noted five others were present, but Melissa still hadn’t appeared.

“We will have a volleyball game this afternoon. Meet me on the court at exactly one o’clock.”

“Yes ma’am,” they all said in unison.

“Good. I’ll see you then!” Mrs. Swenson left the kitchen and the girls clapped their hands and smiled at each other.

Kat liked the interaction between the subs, however brief. It was great fun getting to know her “classmates” better before they went on to their permanent homes. It appeared this was a sport the girls looked forward to and Kat got excited.

At one p.m., the girls gathered on the sand volleyball court. Since Melissa hadn’t arrived to join them, Corinne sat out so that the sides would be even. They separated into teams of three. Kat was joined by the two other girls with matching blue collars. She realized the game would be the owned subs versus the unowned subs. Interesting. Apparently this would be some healthy competition.

Mrs. Swenson arrived with the volleyball a few minutes later.

“Points only count when the ball lands within the orange ropes lying in the sand. There will be no talking among yourselves, but you can yell out words like ‘mine’ or ‘I’ve got it’ to your teammates and, of course, you can laugh, cheer and have a good time. The first team to get twenty-one points will win and be entitled to an extended curfew of one a.m. instead of the usual ten p.m. Any questions? No? Good. May the best team win!”

Mrs. Swenson tossed the ball into the air and the two subs closest to the net jumped to grab it. Kaitlin’s teammate got control. She and the other girl clapped their hands and cheered her on. The girl had a powerful stroke and the ball went sailing over the net and hit the ground inside bounds before the other team had a chance to reach it.
Score
one for my team!
This is so much fun!

The other team came back with some close shots to the net that Kat and her team could not get to in time. The score was tied in the first fifteen minutes and Kat worried that perhaps she had been a little too confident at the outset. However, a few well-placed comebacks gave her team the lead once again and she was dizzy with enthusiasm.

Kaitlin didn’t notice Sir Damien watching the game at first for he was standing back from the railing, leaning against the door jamb with his arms crossed in front of him. But she fell after making a save and when she stood to brush off the sand, she looked up and saw him on the balcony. From then on, she felt very self-conscious about him observing her.

Now she wanted to impress him. With only a few more points until the game was finished, every move had to be executed perfectly. Kat and her team worked well together, calling out who would get the ball, rushing in if someone needed help. One girl on the other team stood at the back corner and served a high ball. Although the sun was in her eyes, Kaitlin saw it headed her way.

“I’ve got it!” she called, placing herself in the right position to be at the best angle to hit the ball.

Bam! She struck it with all her might and the ball flew over the net to the other side. Two girls tried to get it at once and bumped into each other, totally missing the ball. They fell in a heap on the sand and the game was called. Kaitlin’s team had won.

“Yes!” she screamed and the two girls on her team came over and hugged her. They hopped up and down in the sand.

“Very good!” Mrs. Swenson offered each girl a congratulatory handshake. “You girls have won an extended curfew. Enjoy!” She picked up the ball and left the volleyball court.

Kat saw Corinne standing to the side, a look of annoyance on her features. Apparently, she wasn’t too happy that Kat’s team had taken the title. Kat smiled to herself. There was nothing her mentor could do. She had won fair and square and was going to enjoy every moment of her extra free time. She watched Corinne turn and walk inside and sighed happily.

She looked down at the sand covering her entire body and tried to brush it off, but it clung to her sweat as though it was a second skin. Needing a shower to rid herself of the stubborn grit, she headed to the outdoor shower located below the master bedroom. Her gaze drifted upward as she walked over to it, but the Trainer was no longer on the balcony. She sighed and shook off the feeling of remorse. The cold water brought goose bumps to her heated flesh, so she rushed through the shower. Once satisfied that she had rinsed the sandy residue completely off, she walked back into the house.

The loud banging of a knocker on the front door caught her attention. She peeked around the corner of the kitchen into the hallway leading to the entrance as Sir Damien came bounding down the stairs to answer the door.

“Sir Timothy! Come in.” A handsome young man in his early twenties with light brown hair and a well-trimmed mustache entered the house.

“Good afternoon, Sir.”

“Welcome. You’re right on time. Come, let’s go to the recreation center. I’ve asked Corinne to bring Melissa to join us there.”

They walked down the hall toward the recreation center. Kaitlin backed away and opened the refrigerator door so they wouldn’t see her as they passed. Fortunately, the two men were so engrossed in their conversation they didn’t even look into the kitchen. “I really enjoyed my time with your sub last night,” she heard the visitor tell the Trainer.

“Yeah? That’s great. So, tell me what you would like to start with today…”

The conversation faded as they closed the door to the recreation center. It didn’t matter, however. Now Kat knew that Sir Damien hadn’t spent the night with Melissa and that brought a smile to her face.

* * * * *

By the time Miss Tiffany arrived at four o’clock, Kaitlin had all the ingredients for dinner set out on the counter.

“I’m impressed,” she said, smiling at Kat. “Are you having a better day today?”

“Yes, much better. Thank you. Sorry about yesterday.”

“No need to apologize. I see you’ve been very productive. Chicken, rice, corn, lettuce, tomatoes, spices. It’s all here. Let’s get started, shall we?”

“You bet.”

They worked in companionable silence, each taking a separate task and following the recipe. Kaitlin loved how well she and Miss Tiffany got along and wished she could have developed the same relationship with the other girls. But she understood the reason for the rules and accepted them.

“Did you enjoy the volleyball game today?”

“Yes and my team won. We get an extra three hours tonight. I’m so excited.”

“And what do you plan to do with your spare time?”

“Well, I considered going to a movie, but instead, I think I’ll just stay home and jump the Trainer’s bones.”

Miss Tiffany dropped the knife and her shocked expression made Kat laugh.

“I was just kidding. Good grief! Don’t take me so seriously!”

Tiffany looked around and whispered, “You should never say anything like that out loud, even in jest. If the wrong people hear you…well, trust me, you don’t want to know what could happen.”

“Okay. I’ll be careful about what I say from now on.” Kat swallowed hard. Miss Tiffany was right. Comments like that could get her in trouble.