The Dom's Dilemma (3 page)

He
looked her up and down. She didn't cringe. If anything he thought she steeled
herself not to look away, and down at the floor. Her fingers twitched and the
pulse in her neck beat erratically.

"I'm
fine with it."
Especially now I've met you.
"More to the
point, are you?
Really happy about it.
Did they tell
you I'm a sadist, and I'd expect you to accept that?"

Her
mouth opened and no words came out. She looked shell shocked. However even as
he put a hand out to steady her, she swallowed heavily and blinked several
times. Then she swayed.

 
Hell, I hope she's not going to faint. I'm not
that sort of sadist.

Chapter Three

Bloody
hell fire, what am I letting myself in for?
Seonagh closed the door with exaggerated care and
leaned against it. The ringing in her ears subsided and her misty vision
cleared. For one awful moment she'd had a horrible feeing she had been about to
pass out. That would make a great impression. Fainting before he did anything
at all.

"Say
that again. No," she added quickly. "Don't. I heard you the first
time.
Sadist.
Defined in the
dictionary as 'deriving pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering, or
humiliation on others'.
That sort of thing?"

"Without
the humiliation bit, and only if my sub wants it, but that's a very basic
idea," Claudio said, and nodded, presumably in agreement. "It's more
complicated than that in some ways and simpler in others." He stared at
her steadily with calm dark eyes and a serene expression. Seonagh felt a bit
like an insect under a microscope. Every fiber of
his being
seemed concentrated on her.

"It's
what I am.
A sadistic Dom."

"Right,
ah I'll make the coffee. You can expand on that later." She turned on her
heels and went into the kitchen.
Coward.
She
heard him chuckle as she went.

Why,
she wondered, after she'd switched on the kettle and splashed cold water over
her heated cheeks, did his words conjure up pictures that made her wet? She
wasn't sure what she wanted, but the thought of being at his mercy was somewhat
erotic and juice inducing. But pain? Yes, she thought some pain would be
involved. Reading and research showed her it might be. However it had also showed
her that pain came in many forms, lots of it as pleasure. She wasn't sure if
his sort of pain was a bit one sided on the pleasure aspect.

She
spooned coffee into the cafetiere and sniffed appreciatively. You couldn't beat
Kenya's finest. Put milk into a jug—
oh how proper
—and hunted out some
sachets of sugar. Then she went back into the lounge.

Claudio
was sitting in the big old armchair by the fireplace—her favorite chair—with
his legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles. She'd almost decided to send
the chair to the tip, but changed her mind at the last minute, considering it
would be good for tea breaks during the working day. Now she was glad she had.

The
stance defined his well-toned body, and outlined a rather exceptional bulge in
his jeans, and made her decide she'd definitely keep the chair. She could sit
in it and dream.

His
long black hair hung loose over his shoulders and down his back and a silver
stud, with a diamond in it, glittered in one ear. He'd looked up as she
reentered and smiled.

Do
not drool.
Damn
if I could bottle that smile I'd make a fortune.
Instant
climax.

Seonagh
set the tray on a side table, cocked one eyebrow at him, and hoped to hell he
wasn't a mind reader.
"Coffee how?"

"Black,
thank you. So what did you want to talk to me about? Or have you changed your
mind?" He took the mug from her. "Am I three steps too far?"

Seonagh
sat on the settee set at right angles to his chair, and sipped her coffee. She
eyed him thoughtfully over the rim of her mug. "No, I don't think so. Well
not yet anyway. I wanted to make sure you were on board with this and not just
doing it as a favor to Athol and Edan."

Claudio
put his mug down. "I was at first, now I'm not. You…" He hesitated,
and his dark eyes seemed to have fire shot through them.

It
was arousing and interesting.

"I?"
Seonagh prompted.

He
stared at her and frowned. Her insides turned to mush, and she knew exactly
what her books meant by 'a Dom like look'.
Hell on
wheels,
that
is hot.

She
bit her tongue to stop herself asking more.
If I want to see what it's like
to be a sub, maybe this is where I start to shut up and listen.
The problem
was
,
she had so many questions she wanted to ask
before she even decided to go ahead. And those queries would be better asked
without either Athol or Edan around.

"You
intrigue me. And I thought you called them dad?"

Seonagh
laughed. That was a topic she could answer easily. She suspected there would be
more she couldn't. "Sometimes, but it gets confusing. They were Athol and
Edan for years, but Gordon, my wee brother started to call them Daddy Ath and
Daddy Ede and it sort of stuck. By the way they aren't—his dad. But as he's my
brother and I call his dad, my stepdad, dad, he decided they needed to be
daddies as well. And before you ask I've no idea which one is mine by blood and
I don't want to."

"Fair enough.
So, if you want to talk before
they get here, talk. I presume you asked me to arrive early?"

"Half an hour.
Some things are best not
discussed in front of parents.
Even those active in the lifestyle."
She stumbled over the word, and felt her cheeks heat.
Bugger it. Why am I
acting like a four year old saying
willy
for the first
time?
"Right here goes." She fished a sheet of paper from out of
her skirt pocket and looked at it closely. "Oh and intrigue you how? Now,
would sex be involved?"

His
eyebrows went up and his lips quirked.

She
grinned. "Okay, well, remember I'm book knowledgeable and reality
ignorant. What would
being
a sub entail?
Your sub.
How and where? What do you use for safe words, how
would I have to dress?" The questions came out thick and fast, her words
tumbling over each other.
"Would we do stuff where
people could see?
What…"

"Stop."
Claudio twisted, leaned forward
and put his hand over her mouth.
 
"Slow down and take a breath." Slowly, he removed his hand.
"Breathe."

He
smelled of citrus cologne and man.
A heady mix.
Seonagh inhaled deeply and not just to help her do as he said.
"Yeah, sorry.
Oh shit, should I call you Sir?"

Claudio
chuckled and shook his head. "Not at the moment. So let's see. You
intrigue me
because,
I think inside you there's a sub
waiting to be let out. I'd like to be the one to do it.
My
sub?
I don't know, not yet. How? Slowly step by step. Where? Dommissimma
I think.
Safe words?
I've always used traffic lights,
but that can be discussed.
Dress?"
He chuckled.
"Or undress?"

"Dress,"
Seonagh said fervently. “I'm too curvy to feel happy with it all hanging
out."

"Perfect.
I love a curvy body and a curvy body in a bustier even more.
Scene
in public?"
He raised one eyebrow.
"Why not?
No, just think about it; don't shoot back an instant response. But if you're
happy doing what you are doing, why hide?
Right, anything
else?"

"Lots,
but if my ears don't deceive me that’s Athol's Harley puling up outside. Be prepared
for the interrogation of both of us to begin. Oh, and you never mentioned
sex."

"Do
you want it?"

Oh
yes please
. She
hesitated and the moment was lost.

Claudio
smiled, and looked ten years younger than she guessed the mid thirties he was.
"Let's say, that's negotiable as well. I don't usually, but hey I'm an
open minded Sadist. And as I said you intrigue me.
Dictionary
definition, a mysterious or fascinating quality.
I love mystery. And the
anticipation of sex is just that.
A mystery waiting to be solved."

"Ah
good," Seonagh said and watched her blush spread down her chest. "The
jury's still out on my side."

"Fair
enough, sex—or the anticipation of it—shouldn't be rushed,
Now
,
before we're invaded, tell me. Do I say I'm happy to take you on and see what
happens?"

Seonagh
grinned as the throaty roar of a motorbike stopped suddenly and there was a
knock on the back door. "I hope so."

****

"Dad,
stop prowling, you're wearing a hole in the carpet. I might be moving out but
best Wilton needs to be cherished not route marched on. And it will fit my new
study perfectly.
If
it's
in one piece."

Athol
stopped his wandering around the room. "Yes, okay, right, so where are
we?"

"Waiting
for you to sit down, calm down and let us begin," Edan said. "You're
like a lion deciding where to pounce, and no one here wants to be your victim.
Cool it."

Athol
grinned shamefaced and nudged Seonagh along the sofa. "Let your old man
plonk his bum."

"My
old man isn't old, and what's wrong with that chair?" She nodded to
another armchair similar to the one Claudio sat in. "It's empty."

"But
I can't stare at Claudio and give him the ‘don't diss with two Doms' daughter’
look from there." He twisted to look Seonagh in the eyes. "You sit
over there. Then I can see both of you."

"Dad, hell on wheels."
Shit she was whining now.

"Seonagh."

Claudio's
deep, slightly accented voice went straight to her pussy.
Oh my god. Climax
central. Grief, not now for fucks sake, act cool
She
clenched her thighs and looked at him.

"Sit
where your papa directs. You want them here, so you do as they say." 'And
as I do,' was the unspoken addendum. Seonagh found herself complying before she
realized what she'd done.

Athol
smirked. Edan studied his nails, but she saw his shoulders shake. Claudio
stared at her steadily until she wanted to scream. Or get onto her knees and
nuzzle his cock. She'd read that greeting in a book and it had turned her on so
much, she'd had to resort to her vibrator, fondly called Arnie.

"Shall
I make more coffee?"

Did
Claudio really whisper, 'coward', to her? His face was expressionless, as he
looked at Athol and Edan in turn. Even though he didn't glance in her
direction, Seonagh could feel his mind focused on her. It was unnerving and
enervating at the same time.

"I'm
fine, honey," Edan said.
"Coffee-ed out."

"No,
thank you. Talk instead," Athol said emphatically. Edan squeezed his knee
and Athol flashed him a grateful look.

They
really are worried. That I will, or that I won't?

"Okay,
where shall I start?"

"Over what you've decided?
Do you think we're stupid?"
Edan demanded. He put his hand over Athol's mouth and winked at Claudio.
"No, don't answer that."

Claudio
chuckled. "I wouldn't dare. Athol at his Domliest scares me
shitless." He grinned at Seonagh. "You might need to hold my hand so
I don't run."

She
loved that… playfulness she guessed was the best way to describe it. It was
good to know he didn't take himself too seriously all the time.

Athol
snorted. "That'll be right Martakis. You, who has been known to reduce
subs to
tears
."

"Of pleasure."

"Well,
duh, if you say so."

 
"We know fine well you asked Claudio to
come earlier than us." Edan interrupted the other two men's bantering and
looked at Seonagh. "Has he told you what he is?"

"A man?"
Seonagh raised her eyebrows and
opened her eyes wide in mock surprise.
"A Dom?
Oh
you mean a sadist. Yes, he's told me."

"So
what
have
you decided?"

Chapter Four

Claudio
waited, somewhat impatiently he admitted to himself, to see what Seonagh would
say. It mattered that she'd say yes, he realized. When he'd told her she
intrigued him, he meant it. She called to him on so many levels, not least the
fact that he wanted to be the one to show her how she could and, he was damned
sure would, sub so perfectly.

 
Only for me.
He'd fight wars to make sure
that if she did agree to sub, and accepted it was for her, it would be as his
sub, no one else's. And come hell or high water he was going to be the one that
introduced her to the lifestyle, even if he had to curb his sadistic
tendencies. After all, it wasn't as if he wanted a slave or a sub 24/7. Or
even, he allowed, someone who accepted his most extreme proclivities every time
they played. Claudio loved his desires and needs but anticipation was a great
high. It was even better sometimes to play gently and build up to full-on
sadism.
But I want to do it with her.

The
vehement thoughts surprised him. He'd never thought he could be quite so
bothered about someone he hardly knew.

"Seonagh?"
Athol prompted her.

Leave
her be.

"Dad,"
she replied as she got up and went to stand in front of her fathers.

Sadly,
it meant Claudio couldn't see her face. It was just as well he was adept at
reading body language.

“Yes,
I've made my mind up. You know, to be honest? It's actually not anyone's
business except mine.
And Claudio's.
But as I involved
you both, I'll tell you. We're…" She giggled and Claudio fancied it was
more due to nerves than amusement.
"Negotiating."

They
were? Claudio kept his face blank and merely nodded. This was Seonagh's scene
not his. He picked up his now cold cup of coffee and sipped. It was more sludge
than anything.

"Okay…"
Athol let his breath out in a long whoosh. "Sorry for being a clucky
hen."

 
Claudio spluttered into his drink.
"Clucky hen?"

Edan
laughed. "He does it so well, eh? I'm the cool, calm and collected
one."

 
Seonagh shook her head in what looked like
mock exasperation.
"Says the man who fainted when I got
a fish hook in my palm."

"It
looked painful," Edan said in a defensive tone.

"It
was painful, and you're supposed to enjoy pain," Seonagh said with a
straight face.

"Not
that sort."

"Anyway."
She didn't comment on Edan's
reply. "The doctor wanted you to hold my hand still, not my legs. He fell
on them," she said to Claudio. "It was like a scene from a farce.
Then Athol came rushing in and didn't know who to fuss over first. The doctor
groaned
,
said something about poufy mates who were
wusses, and winked at me. He shouted for a nurse—male, hot and, sadly for me, I
discovered also gay, like the doc—who shooed Athol away, took Edan with him,
and let the hunky medic sort me out. I still have the scar. Look." She
held her hand out. Claudio gave into temptation, took hold of her hand and
rubbed his thumb over the scar.

Next
time it will be my teeth.
The fleshy Mound of Venus drew him like a magnet. Seonagh gasped and Athol
coughed.

"Enough for now."
Athol grunted. "I've just
had my tea. So, do you need us any more?"

"Dad,
I'll always need you somehow.
Just not this how."
She kissed both dads on the cheek. "Love you."

Athol
turned to Claudio. "Can we take you anywhere, Martakis?"

Claudio
smiled.
"On a Harley?"

Edan
burst out laughing and after a second Athol joined him. "Fuck, I forgot
that."

"Dad,
I'm fine." Seonagh butted in. "You both vouched for Claudio. Hell,
you suggested if I wanted to see the club and explore my…my interests, he was
the man to do it with. I just wanted you here so I could say, I'm happy to chat
with him, and if I do go forward, he'll show me what I want to know.
Okay?"

Edan
nodded. "Say yes, Athol."

Athol
muttered under his breath. Edan poked him.

"Oh
all right, yes, Athol. But you hurt her and I'll haunt you."

"Dad,
surely it's a given, if I go ahead, he will hurt me? Think straight."

"Damn
it, what is it with clever kids? I know but, but seriously, I can't help but
worry. Jesus, I'm all over full of 'buts' here. You can tell I'm gay. My sexual
preferences aside, I know what we all are, and it seems a bit like a
sacrificial offering." Athol snagged his leather jacket from peg on the
door. "Scary."

Claudio
stood up.
"Your lamb to the slaughter?"

 
Athol nodded.
"Precisely."

He
could understand that. Nevertheless there were no words he could use to
reassure Athol. What would be would be, and the only way anyone would know if
it was a happy outcome or not, would be to ask Seonagh.
Later.

 
Much later.

Claudio
stood
politely by his chair as Seonagh kissed the other two men and
ushered them out.
 
What had
he
gotten himself into?

She
came back inside with a gust of welcome cooler air. The atmosphere in the room
was decidedly warm.

Claudio
looked at her as she leaned on the door, her hands behind her back and stared
at him.

"Well?"

"No,
not well. Sir,
kitten
. It will be in your best interests to remember
that."

She
blinked and straightened up, away from the door. "Sir Kitten?
New one to me."
It was blatantly obvious she was
baiting him. Claudio reigned in his temper and smiled. Any sub at Dommissimma
would recognize that smile and run for cover. Not his Seonagh.
My Seonagh?

He
tapped his hand on the chair arm next to him. Her glance flickered to it, and
skittered away. "Let’s get one thing straight, kitten. Yes you, Seonagh,
from now on with me, you are my kitten. Do you understand? I can not and
will
not denigrate what I am, and what I desire. Nor will I allow you to do so.
From now on, until you cry enough, i.e. shout red, you will if we are alone
address me as Sir. And I will call you kitten. Do you understand?"

The
oil in the Aga burbled, and somewhere nearby he could hear the steady tick of a
clock, but that was all. Not even their breathing registered with him.

I'll
count to one hundred, and then accept defeat.
He got to twenty-seven.

"Sir?"
Her voice was clear, but he was
experienced enough to notice the faint tremors that shook her, and know they
were a mixture of trepidation and anticipation.

He
counted to five. "Yes, kitten? Do you think you'd like to come and kneel
next to me?
If I sit down again?"

She
bit her lip and tilted her head to one side. Her eyes were clear and bright,
and shot with sparks of anticipation.
"Yes, Sir."
She walked slowly, but deliberately toward him and showed no apprehension as
she did so. Claudio glanced around and threw a cushion on the floor. "Save
the Wilton."

She
sniggered, sank gracefully onto the soft furnishing, and tucked her long legs
to one side. Her feet were bare, something Claudio was pleased about, and her
nails were painted a sparkly, shocking pink. A silver plaited ring curled
around the big toe on her right foot, and she wore a similarly patterned chain
on her left ankle.

The
color of the cushion—tomato—clashed beautifully with the shade of her hair.
Commonly known as carrot.
All in all, Claudio accepted he
was enchanted. And rock hard,
uncomfortable,
and no
doubt creating a zipper mark along his cock.

"So,
kitten, shall we play?"

"Now?"
Her voice rose as he took hold
of her chin and held it tight enough to pinch, and forced her to look him in
the eyes. "Here?"

"Why not?"
He ran the index finger of his
spare hand over her lips. "Suck."

She
drew his digit into her mouth and did as he bade. The expression on her face
invited praise.

"Good
girl. You want to learn, I want to show you. Regretfully, as much as I'd like
to share a little taster, I won't. You need to think hard. Read this list,
answer it honestly, and then we'll see if we continue." Claudio pulled a
thin wad of papers out of his pocket and passed it to Seonagh. "I've
tentatively booked the club for Wednesday next week, but I'll push that date
back. We need to meet up before we go there, preferably more than once.
Dinner tomorrow?"

She
shook her head and his heart sank. "Thanks but no thanks so soon? A Dear
Jonny do you say?" As soon as he spoke, even though it sounded like she
was giving him a shove out the door, a memory made him smile. When he was
growing up, a Jonny was another name for a condom. Why had he said
that?

"Nothing
of the sort," Seonagh said indignantly. "We say a Dear John letter
and this isn't one.
Late night opening.
I won't shut
until eight and then I have to tidy up. We're short staffed. My assistant
manager's son has chicken pox so we're one down. But I'll rustle up something
if you want.
At home not here."

The
unexpected lump he'd got in his throat lessened. "I'll bring something.
Any preferences?"

"Lovely,
that would mean no cooking for me. Er, not tripe please. I live in Treedwell.
Mill Cottage."
She named a village a few miles nearer
his home.

He
nodded, stood and pulled her toward him.
"Around
nine?"

"Great."
She stood on tiptoe, licked her lips in a gesture of nervousness he was
beginning to recognize and kissed his cheek.

It
enchanted him, and made him ache. There and then he decided to cancel the visit
to Dommissimma indefinitely. He wanted his kitten to himself for a while first.

After
a smile that would melt the strongest misogynist's heart she spoke again.

"Thank
you, Sir."

I'm
a goner.