Page 7 of Tormented Dreams

Of course, telling himself that didn't change the fact that he found the woman incredibly appealing on a variety of different levels, not least because she identified as a masochist. But there was plenty more besides which had his motor revving.

Despite his very best efforts, Xavier couldn't stop his mind from wandering over all the intriguing possibilities, couldn't help wondering if she'd be open to the kind of sadomasochistic Master/slave relationship he wanted to cultivate with the right woman.

And now he was getting ahead of himself all over again, because he didn't even know if she was going to make an appearance.

She’d been coy with her personal details, and short of deliberately stalking her, he might never see the woman again, so it was time to put the daydreams to bed and make the most of the delights that were right here in front of him.

And he really did plan to do exactly that. In fact, he was determinedly checking out the occupants of the dungeon, which this vast playroom was affectionately referred to, despite the fact that it was upstairs, when the club's assistant manager frantically waved him over.

Xavier had to work to conceal a smile as he caught sight of Trinity trying desperately to make her diminutive stature noticed through the sea of members, since she was such a tiny little thing.

Glad of the distraction from his wayward thoughts, Xavier changed direction and made his way toward her, wondering if there had been an emergency. He was used to being unofficially 'on call', as it were, here at the club, and accepted it good-naturedly. It was rather nice, really, to feel he was relied upon in that fashion, since he had no one to rely on him in his personal life.

"What's the problem?" he asked when he reached the petite redhead.

"No problem, Xavi," she declared, using the pet form of his name which seemed to have become the norm since he'd become a regular here. He let it go. Trinity was management after all, even though he was more used to being called Master X by submissives. More comfortable too, since, to his mind, it showed the necessary respect.

"There's a woman who has just come through reception. She was directed to my office to have the required paperwork completed, but she says she's your guest?"

"Grace?" Xavier queried, a thrill of anticipation running through him that he was unable to quell, no matter how misplaced it might prove to be.

"Yes, that's right. Grace Miller."

Xavier couldn't help the uncharacteristic grin that spread across his usually impassive features. "Where is she?"

"I left her in the care of Connor and Laurel while I came to find you," Trinity told him. "You know she can't wander unchaperoned if she's admitted as a guest."

"Of course," Xavier agreed readily. "I issued the invitation last week, but I wasn't certain she'd take me up on it, so I left the offer open. I'll go and take care of her right away."

Trinity nodded and gave him a far too knowing smile. Damn it, he was losing all his Dom cred right now!

"I left them checking out the theme rooms." Trinity winked cheekily, moving off to continue her inspection rounds, but turning to blow him a kiss across her shoulder. Xavier just rolled his eyes and walked toward the theme rooms. What did a sadist have to do to get some respect around here? But the thoughtlacked his customary bite. He got too much enjoyment from being a part of the club's inner kink 'family'.

Xavier observed the interaction between Laurel and Grace as he walked down the long corridor that accessed the eight large themed playrooms. Between them, the two women kind of represented his past, and what he hoped might be his future.

His relationship with Laurel was the closest he’d ever come to fulfilling his dream of a 24/7 Master/slave relationship. Of course, his was still a pretty off the wall ambition, since he wanted it to be a permanent remote relationship. That is, he didn't want to have his slave living with him.

Ever.

Yeah, he realised that was a pretty oddball idea, but it was what he felt most comfortable with.

He had been Laurel's Master for around six months, but it hadn’t given him the satisfaction he expected. He put that down to the fact their contract had been negotiated out of need rather than desire. At the time, Laurel had been in a bad place in her life, suffering a severe depression that verged precariously on the edge of suicidal. His role as her Master had been one designed to keep her anchored to reality instead of getting too lost inside her head and making catastrophic decisions.

And it had worked as far as it went. The relationship had kept Laurel grounded but had done nothing to rehabilitate her.

For himself, he'd had a taste of what he aspired to, and while it had stopped rather short of being completely fulfilling for him, he put that down to the circumstances. After all, he and Laurel had never even been intimate, well, not in the sense of consummating their relationship sexually—her stipulation andone he respected as a Dom. Not every D/s relationship was based on sex, after all.

But was it really fair to put it down to lack of traditional intercourse? After all, it was no great secret that he had a fondness for seeing a sub on her knees before him while he fucked her face. It was a power trip thing he fed off of as a dominant, and he’d certainly had that with Laurel.

So why was it he hadn't found the satisfaction he’d expected from the situation?

It wasn't because she’d been a bad slave. True, it wasn't her natural inclination, but she had been close to damn perfect when it came to doing as she was instructed.

But that was something to be contemplated on another occasion, he thought, as he approached the trio.

Looking at Grace, Xavier felt his pulse kick up a notch. Perhaps that was the reason things had seemed a little lacklustre with Laurel - chemistry - or the lack of it on their part. Laurel had only ever really had eyes for Connor, the giant of a man who stood protectively by her side right now.

And while Xavier had a special affection for Laurel, more so than any other woman in the club, the chemistry had never been there for him either. Or maybe it was just an age thing. Laurel was almost young enough to be his daughter. Not that that would frighten many Doms off, of course, and Xavier had initially been no different. In fact, he’d leaned toward younger women in the past. But those experiences had left him feeling unfulfilled and he suspected it might have something to do with maturity, so he was ready to adapt and consider things differently. He pridedhimself on being flexible rather than set in his ways. If things didn't work out, he was always willing to find a remedy.

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