“Good evening, gentlemen.”
“Caleb, how are you this fine evening?” Dylan replied, petting his little kitten sub.
“Fine, Dylan, I’m just fine, and you?”
“Life has never been better,” Dylan said, smiling down at his sub sitting patiently at his feet.
He was pleased for his friend, but also jealous that he’d found true happiness. Dylan had waited a long time and gone through a lot of heartache to finally complete his family. They were both the same age, and granted thirty-eight wasn’t old anymore, but damn it, why couldn’t he have it all, too? God, he was becoming jaded and generally fucked up in the head. He needed a distraction or three. He shook off his morose thoughts.
Not everyone in this world was meant to find a life partner or partners and have children.
Hell, he didn’t even like children. Yes, some could be cute to look at. But hell, it wasn’t like he wanted any. He liked his peace and quiet. He liked not having to hide who he was. Somehow though, something was missing from his life. He needed to go find some entertainment. All this introspection was bad for his mental health.
“Well, gentlemen have a good night. I’m off to find some playmates.”
“Come round to the house next weekend for dinner?” Dylan asked, smiling.
“I’ll get back to you. Thanks, Dylan!” Moving back toward the dance floor, he felt edgy. His body vibrated with the need for release. He needed to expel his excess energy. He needed the rush of endorphins and the freedom of his mind floating with a single pinpoint focus. He needed his submissive fix. Allowing the collared beast within him a bit of slack, he headed to the far corner of the dance floor where a reliable group of hardcore submissives gathered, waiting.
* * * *
Petra stood in the shadows watching Caleb as he moved through the sway of submissive bodies. She could tell by the way he looked around the group that he was on the prowl. Was he choosing one, two, or even three subs to play with tonight? Should she stand in front of him and demand he choose her? She dreamed of him finally opening his eyes and seeing her then claiming her as his own. Her dream replayed every day like a well-worn record over and over in her mind. She needed to give up her addiction to him.
Isn’t there a statute of limitation on obsessions?
For the past two years she’d fantasized about Caleb. She wasn’t some pathetic little girl with an unrequited crush. She was a woman with needs that she felt only a Dom like Caleb could fulfill. Although, after watching some of his scenes and talking to the other subs at the club, she wondered if even she mightn’t be able to handle him. She didn’t know. No, she couldn’t lie to herself.
She’d entered the lifestyle five years ago as a stumbling baby sub. She’d had a few bad experiences early on, but thankfully, she’d found the Locks and Chains club just over four years ago and had never looked back. She’d been well trained by the club and fully understood what the risks and rewards were. She’d even contracted herself out as both a submissive and a slave to a few Doms to further her education. Over the years she’d had Masters offer her longer term contracts and even one who wanted to collar her. But she hadn’t felt the connection. Like all new subs she’d had the fantasy of meeting the Dom of her dreams. And just like in the vanilla world, the reality wasn’t quite so easy. First, you had to weed through the available guys. Eliminating the assholes to find a good one, and even then sometimes things just didn’t click. She, like most of the other experienced subs, was jealous when a Dom picked a new girl and they had a happily ever after. It wasn’t fair. Some experienced subs and slaves were left waiting for years only to be usurped by some fresh-faced newbie. God, she was feeling bitchy tonight. Maybe a good spanking would clear her head, better yet, perhaps a good flogging to empty out all her garbage.
Like a moth to the flame, her eyes roamed back to Caleb. She couldn’t stop herself from watching him. She studied his six-foot-one-inch frame with wide, straight shoulders that tapered to the perfect male waist. Her eyes then travelled down to his steel-hard ass covered by the softest black leather pants. She adored his short black hair and most of all his eyes. She loved his eyes. They were the most piercing sky blue she’d ever seen. So amazing. She thought she could drown in them. She knew he was looking for a masochist sub to complement his sadistic nature, and actually she knew he was looking for something more, one who wouldn’t tap out. He was looking for the one true sub who would take all of him. She so desperately wanted to be that person. He had overlooked her time and time again. In the two years she’d known him, not once had he asked her to play. One night a year ago she’d been standing with a group of five subs. He’d selected two of the group, never even looking at her. It was like she was invisible. They were acquaintances only. They’d had casual conversations over the years. But when he was prowling he always walked past her.
She wasn’t blind when she looked in the mirror. She knew she was small, and most people perceived her as fragile. A little doll to be taken care of not punished. They had it all wrong, so very, very wrong. She needed the feel of that pain as much as she needed air to breathe. She needed the snap of the lash and the sting of the whip to fly free. She needed to be owned, to have everything taken away from her. She needed to be everything to her one true Master. She wanted to be reborn, to start afresh, leaving behind the life that taunted her. She needed the strict rules and regulations of the lifestyle. She needed the passion and pleasure of pain to set her free. She wasn’t a sniveling idiot who was going to submit to any man who called himself a Dom, though. She had a right to give her submission to whomever she deemed worthy of it. It was her gift to give, and she would only give it once. For her to give her complete submission would be to give her soul.
* * * *
“Petra, my dear.”
She turned at the sound of the familiar voice. One she’d known for just over four years.
“Master Craig. How are you?”
“Very well, my dear. Are you playing tonight?”
“As always,” she replied, a sly smile on her lips. Craig knew she was still looking. She’d been one of his most troublesome submissives. She’d never been able to find her place in the lifestyle, and she’d wavered back and forth over the years. No one had ever been able to bring her to heal, including himself. Not that he wanted to break her, which was all well and good if you were prepared to rebuild your sub and make her yours. As a teacher and mentor that wasn’t his place. He was there only to educate and help his clients find their paths. He followed her line of sight and saw she was watching Caleb. She’d been fascinated by him for the past two years. He’d never pushed Caleb toward her, though, because he knew Caleb was a strong man, a true sadist, and he wasn’t sure that was what she really wanted. Only a true pain-lover would be able to handle him. However, maybe it was her fascination with him that held her back. Maybe if she experienced a session with Caleb she’d allow herself to be open to other avenues.
“Still looking for the perfect Dom?” he asked.
Her heartfelt sigh confirmed her loneliness, and he could feel it radiating from her. After a while even the most experienced Doms and subs who hadn’t found what they needed began to get bored with the lifestyle. And they normally went one of two ways. They ventured into more intense or harder sides of the BDSM world. Or they became jaded and cut off emotionally, allowing only their physical needs to be fulfilled.
“Yes, Master Craig. I’m still looking.”
“You know, my dear, maybe it’s time you tried a new avenue. Maybe you need to push your limits, your boundaries, a little.”
“I’ve thought about that for quite a while, Master Craig. I’d need a strong Dom to do that. And well, there aren’t any. Any new ones to the club would need lots of training, which would take time I just don’t have.”
“So true, my dear. But maybe you haven’t given the experienced Doms a chance to show you they could be what you’re looking for. Everyone changes and grows with time, including you, my dear. Well, have a good night and keep it safe, sane, and—”
“Consensual. I know Master Craig. Thank you.”
Maybe it was time to push Petra into trying out her fantasies, to let her see in the light of day whether those dreams were what she truly wanted. Not that in truth he really understood the Spanish beauty very well. She was a built little package. Great size breasts, nicely flared hips, and a great set of legs. Her long dark hair flowed to her waist, and her rich, glowing olive skin broadcast her heritage. A little short for him, he would have to guess her height at around five-two maybe five-three. She was not his normal first choice in a playmate, but she had a sexy spice and fire to her. He never understood why she was overlooked by the other Doms. Her face was beautiful and her deep chocolate-brown eyes were warm molten pools that you could drown in. Okay, yes, she was on the smaller side of normal, not just in girth but also in stature. He’d once joked that he could wrap his hands around her waist with his fingers touching. When he’d tried it he was shocked when he could. After that he had to admit he handled her with kid gloves as well. Maybe that was the issue? Everyone saw her as childlike. If she wanted to swing the age play routine then the Doms into it would eat her up. Hell, they would be fighting for a chance with her.
Chapter Two
Craig sat in his office, trying hard not to think about what, or rather who, was in the suite only seven doors down the hall. Sophie was of no importance. She just needed help that’s all. No, he wasn’t going there. No. Focus.
Thinking back over his conversation with Petra last night, he realized quite a few of the trained subs had been showing signs of dissatisfaction lately. The more experienced Doms had begun looking for fresh blood in the water rather than toward the fish already in the tank. How could he show the Doms that subs grew and developed different tastes with life, age, and experience? He pondered what he could do to put a new light on his subs. He’d been considering a play auction to raise money for the club’s favorite charity. He’d had a call last week from the local women’s shelter. They were desperate for money to purchase another safe house, so this idea might actually kill two birds with one stone. He would offer all sub members a chance to auction themselves for any category of play they wanted for the night. All money raised would be donated to the women’s shelter. He would push his sub members to go to their limits and to follow any fantasy they wished.
Fantasies…His thoughts drifted back to the flighty little bird he currently had caged down the hall. God, the fantasies he had about her. Getting her to kneel at his feet for a start would take every ounce of persuasive power and energy he had. The thought of finally obtaining that submission was what every Dom dreamed of. The final conquest of the maiden…
Fuck!
He needed to stop thinking about it. For God’s sake, she was an innocent woman in trouble.
Not so innocent
. Fuck, fuck, fuck! He hit his desk in frustration, needing to get that shit out of his head.
Get your head back to business, man
.
An auction, a fantasy auction. That was perfect. He could see the sales pitch right now. A night of fantasy where your extreme desires can be satisfied for charity. Better yet. Live out the taboo…all for the good of those in need. The double meaning made him chuckle. Be a humanitarian through your humiliation. Submit for the greater good. He opened his laptop and picked up his phone. After placing a few calls and sending a few e-mails, he had it all organized. The e-invitations would be released tonight to all subs. At the end of the week he would have a catalog together, and in two weeks the auction would take place. He would raise money to help abused woman and children, and the subs of his club would have another chance to be recognized. All organized and under control in a couple hours of work. He was pleased.
His mind drifted again to the slim, naked body of his little bird just down the hall. Would she be a handful or would she overflow in his hands? Her blazing blue eyes as rich as the Caribbean Sea. The deep rose-pink pout of her plump lips.
He imagined his hands wrapped in her long chocolate hair. “Suck my cock, little bird,” he would demand.
“No.” His little bird would never just kneel. She would be defiant until the end.
“Obey me, my little bird, or you will be punished.” To have her captured, locked, and unable to escape him was his ultimate dream fantasy.
“You think you can get me to kneel before you,” she would spit at him, anger in her eyes.
“Yes! You will kneel before your Master.”
Just as she was destined to do.
“Never,” she would hiss at him.
He would tug her hair, pulling her down before him. “I’ll break you, my little bird. I’ll clip your wings and cage you for all eternity. You’re all mine forever.”
Fuck! This couldn’t be happening to him. He needed to get out. He need to…Fuck, he needed something. That something was what?
Think, man, think
. Maybe he would play with one of his student subs tonight. Maybe that would take his mind off her.
It didn’t last night, you dickhead. You just kept imagining her face on the other girls.