Chapter 4

Easton

"You made it." I'm actually surprised she has shown up. She was so timid both when I saw her and on the phone earlier. I know coming to Edge is a stretch for her.

I lean in and air kiss her cheek, inhaling her scent. Vanilla and Faye.

She's stunning. Her strawberry-blond hair hangs halfway down her back, the front pulled up in a clip. She has on very little makeup—mascara and lip gloss, I think.

She's wearing a black dress. It's demure, and I suspect she only owns demure clothes. She can't hide her fantastic tits, though. The spandex material gives me an eyeful even though they're fully covered.

The dress reaches almost to her knees, and the skirt is loose and flowy. She has on black ballet slippers, pearl earrings, a pearl necklace, and a matching bracelet. She could be going on a date, to the theater, or to her grandmother's house for dinner.

Or to my BDSM club.

"Am I dressed okay?" she asks in a soft voice.

"Perfect, Faye. Like I said, anything goes here, really." I set my palm on her elbow and guide her away from the reception area and into the club.

Her breath hitches. "Oh, it's a lot different without all the lights on."

I pause just inside the entrance and look around. "Yes. It's all about ambiance. What do you think?"

"I love the deep purple. It's rich and elegant."

"I'm glad you like it." I fight the urge to chuckle. About a dozen scenes are going on in this room. It's almost ten o'clock. The club is in full swing, and Faye chooses to comment on the lighting.

I glance down and note she has nothing with her. "I assume Marny showed you where the lockers are?"

"Yes. I put my coat and purse in one."

"Good. Phones are not permitted on this floor. For one thing, absolutely no photography is allowed, but we also don't want someone's phone to suddenly ring and disrupt a scene."

She nods. She's rubbing her palms together in front of her. She's very nervous.

I'm torn. I've thought about this woman far more often than I should have for the past two weeks. What is my obsession? Sure, she's stunning. Heads are going to turn. But it's something else.

It's her innocence. She's so green. I get the feeling it's not just BDSM. I feel like she's pretty innocent in general. I want to know how many men she's slept with and if they took care of her. Something about her makes me think that number is low.

I don't play with newbies. I don't have the patience for it. I don't train subs. I don't even give them a tour. And yet, I find myself wanting all of that with Faye. I need to back the fuck off and get a grip.

I'm not the man for Faye. I'm not even the man for anyone right now. I'm jaded. Before Bethany, I considered myself a strong Dom. She shook my foundation a bit. Even though intellectually, I know she was the one in the wrong, she made me feel inadequate.

I've never been with anyone who felt like they weren't getting enough from me as a Dominant. It's historically always been the opposite. I can be overbearing, controlling, and demanding.

When I scene with women inside the club, they end our session wrung out. I waste no time bringing them to a deep submission. When I'm in a relationship that extends outside of the club, I'm still very commanding. I've never moved a woman into my home, partly because I'm aware I have trouble turning off my Dom. Or maybe it has more to do with the fact that I've never met a woman I wanted to spend that much time with.

Even Bethany didn't live with me. She spent the night on weekends, sometimes, but she never had a drawer or even a toothbrush. Every time I considered taking that step and suggesting she leave some things at my place, something held me back. I suspect I knew months ago that we weren't quite right together.

Bethany was the first woman I've ever dated who could submit as deeply as I crave, and then she took things too far. It wasn't that she wanted to submit to me more hours of the day; it was that she wanted to submit on a level that crossed the line.

I shake my ex from my head. She doesn't deserve to take up so much space—nor should I let her hold any power over me. It's ironic how much power I let her maintain. She's gone. I'm not even sorry or sad. I'm simply shaken. My foundation was tested.

I look at Faye and find her looking around the main floor with wide eyes. Her breaths are shallow. Again, I remind myself she's the polar opposite of what I look for in a sub.

Oh, she's submissive. There's no doubt. But fuck. Does she know it? Normally, I would pass someone like her off to another Dom to show her the ropes. However, the thought of passing Faye off doesn't sit well with me. I want to train her myself. I want to own her firsts. I want to watch her blossom.

"You don't have to babysit me," she says. "I'm a big girl. I can wander around and watch. I bet you have better things to do."

"I don't mind showing you around for a while." I try to make my tone indifferent, but I'm not sure I succeed. I nod toward a St. Andrew's cross where a scene is about to begin. "Let's start over there."

She swallows hard and nods, pulling her shoulders back and pretending to be brave. She's trembling, though, and her skin is pale. I suspect it's taking a tremendous amount of bravery to convince herself to do this. I wonder how many times she debated not showing up in the last few hours. I also wonder why she's here.

I set a hand on the small of her back and guide her toward the cross, leading her to one side where fewer people are gathered. I want to be able to whisper to her without disturbing anyone.

She sets her hands on the half wall. I stand slightly to one side, as close as I can get to her without touching her. I give half of my attention to the scene in my peripheral vision, but I'm watching Faye. I want to see how she reacts to everything.

The couple performing is well-known to me and everyone in the room. They are married. Faye doesn't know this, though. She has no idea who they are. Matt and Tammy.

Matt whispers in Tammy's ear before lifting her dress over her head and tossing it aside, leaving her naked.

Faye's breath hitches and her eyes widen yet again as her fingers come to her throat to play with the pearls. Somehow, the pearls make her look even more innocent. She's thirty-one years old but looks like she's in her early twenties. Part of that is her skin, but most of it is her innocence.

I thought the nudity might shock her, and it has. I don't think she has blinked since Tammy's body was unveiled. Tammy is a gorgeous woman. She's real. She and Matt have two kids, so she has a soft belly and stretch marks. She earned them, and I know Matt worships them. Her hips are wide from childbirth. Her ass is the perfect handful. Her breasts hang slightly from nursing. Everyone in the club is mesmerized when Tammy performs naked.

I'm unable to look away from Faye. My cock is rock-hard from her expression. It's illogical. I don't understand this hold she has on me. I want to touch her. I don't.

Matt guides Tammy to the cross. He whispers to her again. I know he's giving her directions. He never speaks loud enough for anyone else to hear when they scene. It's as though his instructions are private and only for her to hear, even though everyone watching can surmise what he has said.

Tammy faces the cross and lifts her hands over her head to wrap her fingers around the pegs. Matt knows exactly where to place the pegs to precisely stretch his wife's body how he wants it. He placed them before the scene started.

She spreads her legs at the same time, opening herself up and making herself vulnerable.

Faye licks her lips. The lip gloss she was wearing is almost gone. I wonder if it's flavored. Does she know I'm watching her? I'm not hiding the fact at all. Anyone looking at me must know I'm staring at Faye, though I doubt any of the members are paying attention to me with the Matt-and-Tammy show going on. It's far more alluring.

Matt stands behind his wife and lovingly smooths his hands up her sides from her hips to her breasts. When his fingers stroke the edges of her breasts, she arches her chest forward and tips her head back. She's already in subspace. It's easy for her. Once she turns herself over to her Dom, her entire demeanor changes.

Faye sucks in a breath and holds it, clenching her pearls with her fingers. If she pulls any harder, the necklace will snap, and pearls will ping across the room.

She's so fucking gorgeous, standing there mesmerized by the couple who haven't really done anything yet.

Matt steps closer to his wife, pressing his fully clothed body against her back as he slides his palms around to cup her breasts and then pinch her nipples.

She rises onto her toes, causing him to admonish her. "Feet flat, my pet," he says loud enough for everyone to hear. "You know better."

She moans as she lowers to her heels.

Matt keeps his body against hers as he reaches up to secure first one wrist and then the other to the cross. She will still hold on to the pegs, but if she should try to release them and lower her arms, she will come up short.

Next, Matt squats to the floor and secures her ankles before sliding his palms up her inner thighs, stopping just short of her pussy.

Faye squeezes her legs together. Her mouth is hanging open, but she's not breathing. Her cheeks are flushed a lovely shade of pink. She's turned on, and so am I.

Tammy is panting when Matt steps away. She sways slightly back and forth, anticipating his next move. He doesn't do the same thing every time, so she can't be sure what he will do, but she noticeably squirms when he lowers a blindfold over her eyes.

Faye's fingers release her necklace and trail up to her lips. She absentmindedly rubs them. I want to do the same thing. I want to rub her lips with my fingers and then press my middle finger into her mouth and command her to suck.

Somehow, I know she would do so. With a little training, this gorgeous woman would eagerly drop to her knees, tip her head back, clasp her hands behind her back, and suck my fingers.

The visual is all-consuming. I want to see Faye on her knees, knees wide, hands behind her head, tits raised. I'm nearly salivating.

I broke up with my girlfriend three weeks ago. I'm in no state of mind to entertain the idea of taking a new sub. I shouldn't be lusting after this newbie. It's batshit crazy.

Matt picks up two supple floggers, steps behind his wife, and starts swinging them through the air. He's getting the feel of the rhythm without touching her. After several swings, he steps closer and lets the soft leather gently stroke her shoulder blades.

Tammy moans and tips her head back. She's so sensual.

She's not half as mesmerizing as Faye. The way Faye's stroking her lips makes me nearly groan. She has no fucking clue she's killing me.

When Matt picks up the pace, striking Tammy harder, the thuds landing against her shoulder blades, Faye flinches. Suddenly, she turns to me, lowers her hand, and lifts onto her toes to whisper in my ear.

She doesn't touch me, but her balancing act to avoid doing so is impressive. "Are there rules?"

I know what she's referring to, so when she lowers to her feet, I lean toward her ear. I'm not keeping my hands to myself, though. I set one on the small of her back as I whisper, "Not many. Safe, sane, and consensual. Most Doms will not draw blood. That's why intense impact play is better on naked skin. It helps us ensure we aren't striking too hard."

She turns toward me, grabs my arm this time, and angles her lips to my ear again. "Most Doms? So, sometimes it's okay to draw blood?"

Not for me. I force myself not to react. Of all the questions she could ask me, this one lands awfully close to home.

She shivers when I lean in closer than necessary to whisper again, "Occasionally, blood play is permitted. Members need to get it approved by Drake and me first. That goes for knife play and any other impact play—like a cat o' nine tails. We put extra monitors on scenes that will involve blood. I like to be certain the submissive is fully consenting the entire time."

She nods and resumes watching. Her hands go to the short wall once again, and her knuckles turn white when she grips it.

Matt shifts the floggers to one hand, flattens himself to his wife's back, and cups her neck with his other hand. He tips her head back erotically and whispers in her ear.

Faye turns to me. "What's he saying?" she mouths.

I lean toward her. "He's making sure she's okay. It's important to check in with a submissive during a scene to ensure they're in the right headspace and enjoying themselves."

Matt lowers his hand to Tammy's breast and squeezes it hard.

Tammy moans. She needs the pain. She craves it.

When her husband releases her breast, he slides that hand down to cup her pussy.

Tammy whimpers loudly as she rocks forward.

Faye gives a small gasp as her fingers come to her lips again.

I want to draw her hand away from her mouth and replace it with mine. The desire to order her to suck my fingers is stronger than before. I want to drag her out of this playroom, rush her up to my third-floor apartment, and flatten her against the door so I can ravish her mouth.

I need to take a step back and pull my shit together. I'm not thinking straight.

A throat clearing to my side makes me shift my attention to the left.

It's Asher Bennett. He's one of our most prominent members with a top-tier membership to the third floor. Drake and I have known him and another of our elite members, Isaac, since college.

Asher keeps his voice low. "Sorry to interrupt. There's a minor incident on the first floor. Drake sent me to get you."

I wince. Shit.

Faye glances at me. "I'm fine. Go."

As much as I hate my next words, I look at Asher. "I was giving Faye a tour. It's her first night here. Can you take over for me? This was our first stop."

Asher nods. "No problem. Happy to help."

I force myself not to give him a pointed stare. It's not my place to make decisions for Faye. I don't want to leave her completely alone in the club because she's far too na?ve and green to make wise decisions or know who to fully trust.

My members are well-vetted. Drake and I are choosy. We don't allow any nonsense. One strike, and you're out. But some Doms are pushier than others. Faye is a gorgeous woman and is obviously out of her element. I don't want just anyone to swoop in and take her under their wing.

I can trust Asher. He will not take advantage of her or steer her wrong. I wouldn't ask him if I didn't already know he came to the club alone tonight and told me he had no specific plans to scene.

"Thank you." I turn toward Faye. "Asher will answer any questions you have. I'll catch up with you later."

She gives me a smile that doesn't quite reach far enough. She's being brave, but she's not super fond of the idea of me leaving her with a stranger. My chest swells a bit. Good. I'm feeling so fucking possessive of her that it would break me a little if she shrugged me off.

As I jog down the back stairs to the first floor, I take deep breaths and give myself a pep talk. Shake her off, man. What the hell are you thinking? You're rebounding hard. Do not lure this woman into your web. It's too soon. She's not your type. Remember—women suck.