Page 15 of Releasing Reenie

It wasn’t the truth. The truth was, I’d gone home that night, and decided to take the interest I’d always had one step further and use it to make sure no one ever tried to control me again.

I’d googled “How to become a Domme” with the intention that I’d start training at a local dungeon or something. I hadn’tthought beyond that, and I honestly hadn’t planned to quit my very cushy job to teach at a fledgling university in the middle of Montana.

While a bit disappointed in the results of my original online search, in a rather roundabout way, I’d finally found a forum and a comment that led me to another site for those interested in the lifestyle where I saw a mention of Rawhide University. After some more in-depth research, I’d found that it wasn’t a training facility where I could learn the ins and outs of domming, but instead an actual accredited university on a BDSM Ranch. And the BDSM Ranch did have training programs and classes, they were just separate from the university.

On a whim, I’d filled out an application, certain I didn’t have a chance to teach there with my lack of lifestyle experience, and then booked a vacation. I’d arrived at Rawhide several days later, just in time for my extensive application to be approved.

If it hadn’t or if it had taken longer, I’d planned to get a room at a nearby hotel until it did. But it went through fast and Derek had called me the second I’d gotten settled in my room. He’d noticed that the reservation matched an application he’d gotten and wanted to interview me right away.

We’d gotten along right off the bat. I’d been honest with him about my experience or lack thereof, and he’d assigned me to shadow a few different Dommes. Three days later, I’d called and quit my job at Columbia, and honestly, I’d never looked back. It had all seemed just too meant to be. But I was looking back now.

I had to. The past was right in front of me, staring at me with a dopey grin and irresistible dimples on his face, his expression expectant, as if he was waiting for something.

“Well?” Trent asked, and I realized my thoughts had wandered, and I had no idea what we’d been talking about, or what he was waiting for.

“I’m sorry, what did you say?” I asked curtly.

“I asked when you knew you were a Domme.”

That was a much more complicated answer, and one I didn’t want to share. Not with him. My reasons were private, I hadn’t shared them with many people. Derek, when he’d hired me, and Luna one night over dinner in which we’d indulged in a bottle of tongue-loosening wine.

“I’ve always known,” I lied.

I could feel his scrutinizing gaze on me, and I could tell he didn’t believe me, but he said, “Same” and we started walking again.

I changed the subject back to the Ranch because it was the only thing that felt safe. “So you’ve only been here two weeks; how much of the Ranch have you seen?”

“Not much. The drive wore me out, and classes had already started by the time I got here, so there hasn’t been a lot of time for exploring.”

I nodded. “So you’ve seen the cafeteria then, and that’s about it?”

He shook his head. “I’ve seen the inside of Derek’s office and the gift shop. And only because I couldn’t find my toothbrush in my luggage. I think I might have left it in the last hotel I stayed in.”

I blinked. Almost everyone ate in the cafeteria, but if he hadn’t been, it would help explain why the rumor mill hadn’t been running yet.

“I’ve been ordering room service,” he explained sheepishly.

When I looked at him, he checked his watch. “Let’s go have dinner.”

“Sure. The cafeteria is a great place to get acclimated to the Ranch lifestyle and culture.”

“Not there.” He wrinkled his nose and grabbed my hand. “I want to try out the restaurants. I heard there was Mexicanand Italian. My two favorite cuisines. Have dinner with me, Maureen. For old time’s sake.”

“Absolutely not.” I shook my head, but I could already feel my resolve fading. “We’re supposed to be taking a tour, not a trip down memory lane.” It wouldn’t even be a long trip. Trent and I had been nothing more than mildly flirtatious work colleagues for years, up until that fateful date.

“You were fine with eating together when it was in the cafeteria,” he argued.

“Well, yes. That’s more… public,” I finished, praying he would accept my explanation and leave it alone.

“What’s the matter, Reenie? Afraid to be alone with me?” He tapped his chin, then nodded. “Well, of course. There won’t be any windows in the restaurants for you to climb out of if the conversation gets a little too intense for your liking. Then again… I doubt there are windows in the cafeteria either.”

I’d had enough. Whirling, I faced him, stopping in the middle of the hallway. “You know what, Trent? I am sorry I left you in the restaurant for what it’s worth. And yes, I’m sorry I snuck out the window. I wasn’t good at confrontation back then, and for the record, I do regret it. But I will not stand here and listen to you throw it back in my face. You’re a Dom. And in the lifestyle, as Tops, we don’t hold on to things. We forgive and move on. So I’m going to offer my sincerest apology, and then I’m going to ask that you move on and stop bringing it up every chance you get.”

Trent regarded me seriously, looking at me so long and hard it took everything in me not to look away. “Okay.”

“Okay? Okay, what?”

“Okay, I’ll accept your apology, and I’ll stop throwing it in your face.” He paused a beat before continuing, “You do have one thing wrong though.”

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