Tearing Down Walls (Love Under Construction Series Book 2) (6 page)

How to explain it? Vic sat for a minute, trying to think of a way to tell Steve where he’d been and what he’d done in his younger years, but he couldn’t. “Let’s just say that I was extremely experienced in all things sexual at a very early age.”

“Hmmm. Guess you’re not going to expound on that, huh?” Steve’s green eyes bored into Vic’s deep brown ones.

“Nope.” As far as Vic was concerned, that was ancient history and no one needed to know about it. “Let’s just say I don’t mind training subs, and I’m not above using them, but I’m never unkind. I can get rough, and if they’re coming for a hand-holding or hugs and kisses, they’ve come to the wrong guy. I reserve that for personal relationships. But I will tell you this; I’m no sadist, and I don’t need any of this for sexual fulfillment. To me, it’s just something erotic that I enjoy. When I was in the lifestyle before, I used lots of restraints and bondage methods, and I
will
discipline, won’t hesitate, if needed. If a sub tells me she needs an application of pain, I’ll give her what she needs and no more – that’s my responsibility – and I’d be horrified if a sub safeworded and I didn’t hear her. But I don’t get off on causing anyone pain, ever. I’ve always felt that my most important duty is to satisfy the sub I’m with. The play, the scene, is for
her
, not me.”

“Understood. Fortunately for some of our patrons, we’ve already got one sadist here.” Steve smiled as the words left his lips, and Vic couldn’t help but feel sorry for any sub he worked with.

Leading the way back out into the main commons area, Steve bypassed the sofas and chairs and pulled a bar stool over to the wall near one of the stages. Vic perched on it and leaned back against the wall with his arms crossed. As imposing as he appeared, anyone who didn’t know him would’ve assumed he was a bodyguard. There were some other members on other stages, but Vic was paying attention to Steve.

Just as he had instructed, the sub from the office was sitting in a chair at the edge of the stage. Vic saw Steve lean down and whisper something to her, and she sat up straight. Steve righted himself, walked to the center of the stage, then looked at the woman and said, “Present yourself to me. At my feet. Quickly.”

The woman rose and went straight to Steve, dropped to her knees, and assumed the same position Vic had witnessed in the office, all with utter grace. And true to form, Steve didn’t bother to tell her that he was pleased with her. Steve put his hand on her head and stroked it. “What is your safeword?”

“Red,” the woman answered.

“Red what?” Steve asked. Vic smiled.

“Red, sir.” The corners of her lips dipped down at the reminder. “I’m sorry, sir.”

Steve smiled. “That’ll be ten strikes with the paddle on top of the thirty you were already promised.”

The woman stared at the floor. “Thank you, sir. I’ll try to do better, sir.”

“See that you do.” He took a handful of her hair, tipped her head back so he could look down into her face, and said, “Go to the kneeler. Immediately.” As soon as he turned loose of her hair, she rose and rushed to the kneeler, leaning over the front of it with her hands hanging down to the sides. Steve took the cuffs already attached to the front corners of the kneeler and cuffed her wrists, then cuffed her ankles to rings on the other two corners. Vic was a little shocked when Steve turned the kneeler with the back end of it toward everyone; that left her entire backside in full view of everyone there. She was shaved smooth, and Vic could see from her wetness that she was already somewhat aroused.

“From this point on, you will not speak unless I ask you to. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

Steve let out an exaggerated sigh and rolled his eyes. “As I recall, I just told you that you could not speak. That’s an extra ten strikes for a total of fifty. In order to comply with my instructions, please just nod. That will suffice.” She nodded in silence. “And count to yourself. I will be checking to see if you are doing so. Are we ready?” he asked. She nodded again.

Steve turned to the crowd. “This sub has come to me for training. As a Dom, I’m not only responsible for her care; I’m responsible for her submissive education. Punishment is often needed for wayward subs, but discipline can take many forms so that a sub becomes proper and well-mannered. Marlee has a particular problem; her mind wanders and she has trouble complying with my requirements at times, just as she forgot that I’d told her not to speak. From my standpoint as a Dom, she shouldn’t be punished for this. Discipline is more in order. Tonight I’ve chosen paddling. At other times and/or in private, I choose other forms of discipline, such as orgasm torture or orgasm denial, often combined with some sort of bondage.”

Steve raised the paddle and sent it down. It hit her right ass cheek with a resounding and satisfying “thwack,” and she jerked but didn’t make a sound. Steve brought it down again on the left side, then rubbed her ass in a circular motion starting with the right cheek. Vic watched as the pinkness spread outward. She still didn’t make a sound. Steve delivered eight more strikes, then asked, “Sub, report: How many strikes was that?”

“Ten, sir!”

“Very good.”

Vic noticed that she’d flashed her hand signal. “Very good, you’re doing very well. Permission to speak granted,” Steve snapped.

“Sir, may I have permission to moan?” she asked.

Vic saw the corners of Steve’s mouth turn up in an almost imperceptible smile. “Permission granted, sub. And make it loud enough that we can all hear it.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”

Steve began to rain strikes down on her again, one on each cheek followed by the circular rubbing motion. After the sixteenth strike, Vic heard her moan rather loudly. She didn’t moan for the strikes, but rather for the rubbing; not surprising. A few more strikes, and Steve asked, “How many strikes was that?”

“Twenty-six, sir!”

“Exactly right. Nice work. You are doing very well. And you may thank me verbally.”

“Thank you for the kind words of encouragement, sir.”

Steve began again, and did the same thing until he reached the fifty strikes. By that time, the sub trainee was no longer moaning. She’d grown quiet, and Vic knew why. When Steve was finished with the discipline, he uncuffed her wrists and ankles, then took a blanket from a trunk on the stage, covered her with it, and literally picked her up from the kneeler. As he stepped off the stage with her, he looked at Vic and made a motion with his head, and Vic stood, following him to a room in the back.

The room was one of the private rooms, but instead of being private, it had several sofas in it, a stack of blankets on a small table, and a refrigerator. Steve sat on one of the sofas and gathered the woman into his lap. Her head rested on his collarbone, and he stroked her hair with his free hand. He looked at Vic and whispered, “Get a couple of bottles of water out of the fridge, would you please?” Vic opened one of the bottles and handed it to Steve, who held the bottle to the woman’s lips and said, “Drink, honey. You need it.” When he tipped it to send the water into her mouth, she drank greedily, then settled back into his chest.

Vic was stunned. He’d never seen Steve be that careful and tender with
anyone;
matter of fact, he didn’t know the big blond attorney had it in him. In a little while the woman roused a bit and looked up at Steve. There was a measure of tenderness when he pushed a little bit of hair out of her face. “How are you feeling? Doing okay, honey?” he asked her.

“Good. That was nice. You’re a merciful master.”

“Thank you, little one. I hope you’re learning.”

“Yes, sir! I hope I am, sir. I just want to please you, sir.” She batted her eyelashes at Steve and he smiled.

“Is there anything you need before I let you rest?”

“Yes, sir. Will you fuck me, please, sir? I’d like to come, sir. Please? Please, sir?” she whined.

“Yes. I think you earned some satisfaction.” Steve stuck his free hand down into the blanket. Vic glanced toward the door with a “should I go?” look, but Steve shook his head. He had to admit, it was kind of nice to get a free pass to this show, and the woman was beautiful on top of everything else. In a matter of seconds she was moaning and squirming, and Steve said, “Oh, honey, you’re so wet. You did so well out there. You have my permission to come whenever you’re ready. You don’t have to wait.” She came almost immediately, stiffening and shaking, and Steve kept going until she said, “Red, sir!” He stopped right then and kissed her on the forehead. “Good job! You passed! I will continue to work with you, if that’s what you want.”

“Yes, sir. Sir, would you please fuck me, sir? Please?” the woman pleaded.

“Not tonight. I have business to attend to.” He placed a kiss on her forehead and Vic couldn’t believe what he was seeing – Steve being kind? To a woman? Incredible.

“Thank you for agreeing to train me, sir.” She smiled a lazy, satisfied smile at Steve, and he smiled back.

“Stay here as long as you need to. Rest a little, and please drink some more. Scenes can dehydrate you pretty fast, and you need the rehydration. Then go on out and enjoy yourself. Go to the bar and tell the bartender, ‘Steve said hit me.’ She’ll give you a free drink.” With a finger under her chin, he tipped her head back so she could look at him and said, “I’ll see you again on, I don’t know, Monday night?”

“I can be here, sir.”

“Monday night it is. And if you start to feel kind of down, you call me – don’t hesitate. See you then, little one.” Steve motioned for Vic to follow, and they left the young woman lying on the sofa, still wrapped in the blanket.

Vic was almost in shock. “What’s-a-matter, the places you frequented didn’t do aftercare?” Steve chuckled.

“No, that’s not it,” Vic said almost in a whisper. “It’s you. I didn’t think you could be that caring with anyone.”

The look on Steve’s face told Vic that he’d hurt Steve’s feelings. “I can be if I want to be. I just don’t usually want to be.”

“Yes, sir. Sorry. I was being flippant and it won’t happen again.”

His apology made Steve smile. It was obvious Vic knew the ropes; he knew his place in deference to the older Dom. “Oh, it’s okay. I know I play the heavy around you guys, but I have a soft underbelly too. It’s just harder to find.” The idea made Vic smile. “You’ll notice I told her to call if she started to feel down. I don’t want her to go through subdrop alone. Matter of fact, I’m going to insist that you get a burner phone. And have some cards made up with just your first name and the phone’s number. But just know that I take my subs’ safety and wellbeing very seriously, and I expect you to do the same.”

“Not a problem. You know I would anyway.”

“And that’s why I’ve agreed to work with you. You’re one of the most decent guys I’ve ever met. You genuinely care about people. Tony’s the same way. In all truth, the two of you plus Nikki, Peyton, José, and Laura are about the only people I’ve
ever
trusted.” Vic couldn’t help but think,
That’s kind of sad.

“By the way, why don’t you have a sub of your own? Seems like you would’ve collared someone by now.”

Steve laughed. “My underbelly’s not
that
soft!” That made Vic chuckle.

Steve spent the next two hours showing Vic various tools, toys, and implements, and more or less bragging about the club, but Vic didn’t mind – it
was
very impressive. The private room made up to look like a doctor’s office even had instruments for medical play, and Steve took great delight in showing Vic the speculum and how it worked. Vic couldn’t help but think how much Steve had invested in the place. It was obvious he was dedicated to the lifestyle.

“So, after what you’ve seen tonight, do you still want to pursue this?” Steve asked Vic when they’d gone through pretty much everything except the instruments of discipline.

“I do.” Vic was resolved. “If you’ll train me.” The idea of helping someone who needed that release, helping them achieve it, had always been Vic’s motivation. “But I’m still a little afraid that . . .”

“Relax,” Steve said and clapped Vic on the shoulder. “If I have any question in my mind about your self-control, I won’t let you hurt anyone. No worries.” Everything he’d seen there told him that Steve was in his corner.

“You’ve spent an awful lot of time with me tonight. I just want you to know how much I appreciate it.” He took Steve’s hand and shook it.

“I know you do. That’s why I’ll be happy to do it. Be here at four o’clock on Monday; can you do that?”

“If I have business, that’ll have to come first. But I’ll let you know if I’m going to be late.”

“Fair enough. We’ve got something very important to talk about.”

Vic wondered what it was, but he didn’t think he could digest one more bit of information right then. Their next stop was the bar, and Vic was glad. That was the best place to be at that moment, because he needed a good stiff drink.

Laura had been working on hiding behind the bar all evening, ever since she’d seen Vic sitting on the stool up close to the stage. When he walked out of the back hallway with Steve and turned toward the bar, Laura wanted the floor to open up and swallow her.
Shit. This guy isn’t going away. What’s going on here?