Chapter Three

Vale

Pet Play?

Tucked away in the corner of the room, I watched as humans, not the four-legged creatures I expected to see, dressed up as cats, dogs, there was even a ferret, and they ran through the room playing with, well, pet toys.

This was not what I thought it was going to be.

Here I had snuck away from taking calls to play with the puppies and get puppy kisses.

Imagine my surprise.

But why hadn't I walked away?

Intrigued?That was the best way to describe it as I watched a silly human dressed as my favorite dog breed, a boxer, run circles around the other dogs. He barked and chased the ball his human friend threw at him. And he was happy about it.

Was this normal?

Normal was relative but still…

I wandered off, my thoughts a mixture of figuring out what the heck I'd just witnessed and worrying about lunch with Jack tomorrow. He seemed sincere but so had the others I'd attempted to date in the past. Then once they got what they wanted they were never seen nor heard from again.

Wasn't there one man out there who could handle me and my energy and want more than a piece of ass?

"There you are," Darcy announced as I walked in. "Ready to go to dinner?"

"Let's go."

"Okay, spill it," Darcy prodded as we sat with our food. "You haven't said a word since we walked in, and you're calm as fuck which isn't right."

Time to see if I was indeed insane. "On my way to meet you, after my rooms were done," I made sure to point that out, so she didn't think I was slacking. "I stopped by the pet playroom to play with the puppies."

Darcy choked on the bite she'd just taken. I hopped up, ready to give her the Heimlich but she raised her hand to stop me. "I'm okay. Just give me a minute." I waited as she took a drink, though every time she glanced at me the laughter bubbled up and over. "You thought there were real animals? Do you live under a rock? Never mind, don't answer that."

"They were people, Darcy, dressed as animals, and they were having fun."

"Sweets, I foresee you falling down a Google wormhole in the near future. Pet play is a branch of BDSM. Did you forget you were on a kink cruise?"

"That explains the scary room I passed through."

"That scary room is called a dungeon, and don't kink shame. Everyone has their outlets whether it be impact play, pet play, or littles, to name a few." Darcy got a faraway look in her eyes, and I wondered how much about my best friend I truly did not know when I thought we shared everything. "For many, BDSM isn't just about sex. It's their form of therapy, an outlet to relieve stress. And with the right partner, it's truly a beautiful thing."

"Wait, how do you know so much?"

Darcy glanced around the crowded room. "I'll explain once we're back in our room. My point being, do your research. Honestly, I think pet play would be a great outlet for all your energy. I don't know why I hadn't thought of that before."

I didn't know about that. I'd likely spend most of my time in pet time out.

So many grade school memories resurfaced…

We finished our shift and returned to our room. After I'd showered and turned out the light, Darcy finally spoke and what she said shocked the hell out of me.

"I'm a little."

"A what?" We'd been so busy after dinner I hadn't had a chance to research any of the stuff we'd talked about. I planned to do it now, but her words stopped me.

"A little. Though I don't have a Mommy of my own." Darcy's voice took on a sad, younger lilt to it. "The room next to the pet play area is for littles. If you get a chance, take a peek."

"Have you played in there?"

"No, it would be too easy to be recognized and I'd get fired. When I'm home I play at the club in Seattle as a guest of the Mommies I've met at munches. I didn't click with any of them for more than a scene or two, which is why I'm still alone. But hopefully one day I'll have a Mommy of my own."

"Understood." Though not really. I had so much to learn.

She rolled over and cuddled her blankie and said no more. I didn't want to push, it felt too personal. Instead, I pulled the covers over my head and dove into the wormhole Darcy warned of.

Who knew any of this even existed?

Pet play is a dynamic within the BDSM community and involves an individual participating in a Dominant/submissive relationship portraying an animal and while doing so, being treated as such. This generally includes dressing as that pet and acting out how to react within their pack. An example of this is one dressed as a puppy, walking or running around on all four legs, barking, chasing a ball and receiving accolades and treats from their handler for being a good pet.

For some, they even go so far as to nap in a pet bed while in gear. Pet play can be sexual or non-sexual, given whatever was agreed upon prior to engaging in a scene by all parties involved. That is of the utmost importance before any pet is allowed to enter into subspace. Trust is everything within this dynamic.

This is generally a Dom/sub activity and much like within the BDSM realm, pet play does involve collaring as the partners progress within their relationship. Some animals will wear a leash while others opt out of using such a restraint.

As with any relationship, pet play is what you and your partners make of it, but we encourage all parties involved to set limits beforehand, establish safe words, and sign an explicitly detailed contract that breaks down what acts you are and are not willing to engage in. Remember, no means no.

Pet play, as with any engagement in the BDSM community, is a beautiful, therapeutic means to releasing energy and receiving gratification, whether it be sexual or otherwise.

From there it was a series of videos, none of which scared me but all of which intrigued me. Could pet play be the outlet I'd waited my entire life for? One where I wasn't the token weirdo who couldn't control himself. I know fitting in isn't all it's cracked up to be but it sure would be nice to have like-minded friends and not be the oddball anymore.

Not to mention there was a certain anonymity that came along with wearing a costume, such as not losing my job. But where would I find an animal outfit and on such short notice?

As soon as the alarm on Darcy's phone went off, I hopped up and whistled a cheery tune as I made the bed.

"I don't know how you do it." Darcy stretched and shut off the alarm. "When I get less than even six hours of sleep I'm a grouch, yet you survive on four and are always so freaking cheerful."

I danced around and gathered my work outfit, feeling much like Cinderella only there were no birds flitting around, gathering pieces for my ball gown.

"Okay, even for you this is too much. Spill it." Darcy's demand went ignored until the pillow she launched hit my head.

"What? Can't I be in a good mood?" Jeez, non-morning people were so grouchy.

"Not this annoyingly good. Now, what gives?"

The immovable stance she took up blocked the path between our beds and didn't leave me with much choice.

"Promise you won't get mad first."

Likely not the best choice of words given her growl.

"Now, butthead."

"That's not nice, but fine. I have a lunch date. At least, I think it's a date? Yeah, yes, he said it was a date."

"You have a date? With whom?"

She may be some future Mommy's little but right now she claimed the role of my keeper. "Um, Jack."

"Jack, Jack, Jack," she repeated, trying to picture who the name went with. "I don't know any Jack on staff that you've met."

"He's, um, not staff."

Oh, that look was not a happy one. "No! No! No! No! Hell to the mother fucking no, Vale."

"It's in his room while I clean. He ordered lunch. It's a working lunch date. No one will see us, I swear." Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

"I put my neck on the line for you and I even got them to approve our sharing a room. If you get caught, we both get canned." Cue in the guilt trip. For someone who wasn't a mom, she sure had the way of the mother down.

"I won't, I promise."

Darcy stormed off and had the doors had the ability to slam, the bathroom one would've just done so. Not wanting to further piss her off, I made sure all I had left to do when she came out was brush my teeth and hair, so I was ready to roll when she was.

We walked to the dining hall, during which she said nothing.

We got our food and took a seat, still nothing.

We got to our supply rooms—zip, zilch, nada.

I grabbed my cart and headed to my rooms and contemplated canceling lunch, though I really didn't want to. But by the time I got to Jack's room, I was prepared to do so until I stepped foot inside.

"Wow." The curtains were wide open, and sunshine filled the room. He had the dining table pulled to the center with a white tablecloth draped across it. Atop it sat a pair of candle holders, sticks lit and two plates with silver domes covering them.

"Hello, Vale. Please, take a seat."

Too stunned to disobey and now far too excited to cancel, I sat as Gentleman Jack pulled the chair out for me.

"It smells wonderful."

Jack uncovered my dish before doing his. "Surf and turf, no pun intended, but it's one of my favorite meals. I hope you enjoy it."

Wiggling as I ate, a mixture of yummy excitement and my inability to sit for long periods of time was the norm but sadly it didn't go unnoticed.

"You okay over there?" Jack asked, no anger to his words, but still I froze.

"Yes, sorry."

"No need to apologize. It's adorable." His watchful gaze was glued to me, which only increased the squirms.

Adorable? No one had ever called him that before. Sit still. What's wrong with you? I'll make your ass hurt so you have a reason to squirm. Yeah, I left mid dinner during that date. But if Jack noticed my discomfort, he chose not to comment on it.

"So, Vale, why don't you tell me about yourself."

Blank. It was like someone just took a giant eraser and scrubbed my brain.

"Vale?"

I got up and paced the cabin. Jack let it go on for a couple of rounds before addressing it.

"Did I say something wrong, Vale?"

"You're nice to me and didn't yell about my squirming. You asked me questions and I forgot my name. Are you for real?" Was he being paid to play with me? Was Darcy keeping that secret and maybe she was mad at herself and not at me? Did my mom pay him to be nice to me? Shit, did I say that last part out loud?

"No one is paying me to be nice to you, Vale."

Yup, I did.

Well, shit.

"I don't believe I know anyone who knows you outside of Darcy and I only met her the one time when she came to get you. Based upon your comments, I venture to guess you haven't dated the nicest of men."

"The word date is stretching it. Most didn't go past a single date. One time I left because he threated to spank me if I didn't sit still. I don't like to be spanked so if you do this needs to end now." That was something I wouldn't budge on. My own mother never spanked me and in my eyes no one but her had that right to. I get it, it was some people's kink and that's fine, but it's not mine.

Jack smiled and crossed the room toward me. "Sweet boy, spankings are only given to those who are accepting of them, whether it be for play or punishment. Knowing that's a hard limit for you…" My brain scrambled in search of those words I knew I read last night. "Spanking is off the table so please, don't worry that handsome head of yours. Come, sit down and finish your lunch while we talk."

As soon as I sat, the floodgates opened. "I'm bad at dating. Hyperactive. Guys don't like that. They don't like me. It's ADHD now. Sometimes I can control it but not always. I'm not a virgin, but I haven't had a lot of experience. Oh my god, did I just word vomit all of that?"

At this point, Jack had a hard time holding back his laughter and when it burst forth I couldn't help but smile. "I'm sorry, Vale. I'm not laughing at you, really I'm not. But that was the most you've said to me in all our encounters, and it was a lot of information at one time." He gestured to my plate for me to finish while he drank most of his water. "All right, let's tackle each item. One, you've dated assholes and on behalf of gay men everywhere, I apologize for that. The fact they mistook your neurodiversity for naughtiness makes me want to hunt them down and give them a stern talking to."

Neurodiverse.

None of the men I dated used that word. Oh, they used several others, none of which were nice, but they were clearly uneducated on my lifelong challenge.

"There are many outlets and exercises you can engage in to help channel your energy. Had they been worthy of you, they would've made suggestions to that." Jack shook his head, clearly bothered by this.

"Why did that guy in the hallway the other day call you Daddy?"

It was like once I started, I couldn't stop and out came every question and thought.

"Well, he was being a smart ass but ironically, I am a Daddy who is also a handler. Do you know what that means?"

"Only what I read last night."

"I take it being exposed to kink on this cruise is new to you?"

My head bobbed up and down. "Yes, though I read some about it last night after I saw the scary room and Darcy told me she was a little." I slapped my hand over my mouth. "Oh my god. She'll kill me if she ever finds out I said that. Please don't tell her."

"I promise, your secret is safe with me. Let's touch on the scary room comment. What part of that room scared you?"

"There was a guy tied to this cross thingy and another guy was hitting him with something like a whip with tentacles. I don't like pain and I'd freak out if I was tied up. Do you like those things?" Please say no, please say no.

Jack sighed. "In a past life, I did engage in impact play, though it's not a make it or break item in a relationship for me. I'm a Daddy. A natural caregiver. I've had littles and while they're fun, my interests lie more in pet play. Did you go into that room?"

"Did you play with that guy? Is that why he called you Daddy?"

"No. I've never played with him nor will I. He's more of a brat and I prefer good boys." Jack paused and I wasn't sure if I should say more or wait. "Pet play is a great way to get out of your head and gain exercise at the same time."

Get out of my head, oh how I hoped that would happen for me. The damn thing ran a million miles a minute and the fucking squirrels were always in charge.

"Well, if you get a chance, pop into the pet playroom and look around. Maybe do an online search or feel free to ask me any questions you may have." Was this guy for real? Lunch, nice comments, come to him with questions? There had to be a fault somewhere.

Did I tell him I already had, or keep it to myself until I figured it out? I landed on keeping my mouth shut and a simple nod and shoveled more food in. Full mouth = inability to speak. Jack too returned to eating as we sat in silence and finished our meals. I knew my mind was a swirly mess of questions and likely his was, too, but it was good to hear he hadn't messed around with that dillhole who tried to lure me into his room.

Not that I had any say in what Jack did or who he did it with.

Nor should I.

All the praying to the gayest of gay deities wouldn't land me a man as handsome as Jack.

At least not for more than an orgasm…