Page 39 of Releasing Reenie

Derek blinked hard, obviously taken aback and Maureen rushed to reassure me.

“Oh god no! No!” She shook her head. “It was… my idea. To be punished, to be put in a place where I was the one with no control. To be reminded just how vulnerable that position is and how important it is for the Top to pay attention.”

Her voice shook on the last two words, and I wondered if Master Derek had any idea just how big a deal her request was.

“Is this a contingency on being able to keep your job?” I asked sharply.

“No!” Maureen exclaimed then paused, her brows furrowing in uncertainty. “At least, I don’t think so. That never came up. I came here intending to make this proposal.”

We both turned to Master Derek, who cocked his head, then slowly shook it. “No, I don’t think Mistress Maureen’s job was ever on the line here. We hadn’t quite figured out a fair solution yet when she came and proposed this one.”

“Ah, okay.” I turned back to Maureen. “Are you sure about this? And why me?”

“I am. And ah….” She shrugged and Derek took over.

“I thought it would be better handled by either a female Top or one of her colleagues rather than me, and you were my first choice. I don’t want this to be an official action of Rawhide. While I think it’s a fair solution and I’m more than happy to sign off on it, Mistress Maureen is not one of the submissives or Littles here. She’s my employee, and I don’t have any contract for disciplining her like this. I think it’s best to keep it that way. Plus you were there, you witnessed everything and took care of Mira afterward.”

“Understood.” I turned my attention back to Maureen, once again bouncing between the two of them. “You’re sure about this? Wouldn’t you be more comfortable with a female Top?” I was concerned about this complicating the growing relationship between us. But… maybe it needed to be complicated. Because if one of us didn’t change what we wanted, it couldn’t go anywhere. Maybe we were just fucking around and this would be the wakeup call we needed. My final reminder that Maureen had no hidden submissive desires, and her final confirmation that she needed all the control. The thought broke my heart, but maybe it was for the best.

At least, we’d come a long way. This time, we’d be able to be friends afterward at least.

I think. I hope.

My throat went dry, like I’d just swallowed a mouthful of sawdust, but I pushed the agreement past my lips. “I’ll do it. What are the terms?”

“Right. Good.” Master Derek fumbled with his bolo tie. “Well, I think it should be done publicly, as the scene tonight was a public mistake, the retribution should also be I think.”

I didn’t have to look at Maureen to know she’d paled. To know she wasn’t bargaining for that.

“No,” I all but roared. “Absolutely not. I will not agree to that.”

“Should I find someone else then?” Master Derek bristled.

“That’s an even harder no.” I leapt to my feet, and began to implore to his sensitive, reasonable nature. “Sir, I understand that the mistake was public, but that’s not a reason that the punishment should also be. Maureen is an authority figure here. By displaying her… moment of weakness, her vulnerability, you’d be compromising her authority. The Dungeon is open to anyone. Her students and her colleagues alike. It’s not a fair position to put her in.”

Master Derek frowned deeply. “While I hear what you are saying, this is a BDSM-friendly establishment. We have plenty of people here, employees even, who are switches. I don’t think anyone would think less of her for accepting a punishment for a mistake she made.”

“Of course they wouldn’t,” I countered. “That’s not the issue here. The issue is?—”

“I’m not a switch!” Maureen interjected before I could get a word in.

Reaching over, I placed a hand on her forearm in what I hoped would be a gesture of comfort—to let her know I had this.

“The issue is,” I continued, “you’re comparing apples and oranges. Maureen is not a switch, and with her mistake happening so publicly, there’s no way there won’t be whispers. And what’s the point of making it public if you aren’t going to make a big deal about it? But if you make a big deal of it, you compromise her position as one of authority over the students here.”

Derek rubbed his chin thoughtfully, and I could tell he seemed to be seriously considering my words. “We can’t… I mean we can’t allow people to think we didnothing. That’s not a good look for us.”

“I agree.” Maureen jumped into the conversation again, leaving me confused. “How about a public apology and we assure them that the matter has been dealt with privately?”

I let out a whoosh of breath. Her terms were agreeable. Master Derek seemed to think so too.

“Yes, I suppose that would work. Okay, you and Master Trent can handle this in private and you can offer a public apology tomorrow morning at breakfast.”

“Yes, Sir. Thank you.” Maureen looked relieved.

I still had questions.

“Do you have any expectations for this punishment?” I was willing to let this man negotiate a minimum number, or an implement of choice. I trusted him to be reasonable.

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