Page 77 of Always

“I understand all that, Braden.”

“I believe you’re beginning to.”

“Beginning to?”

“That’s not an insult. It’s just an accurate statement. You said yourself that this is a journey.”

“It is. I also think your lifestyle is a journey.”

“I don’t disagree. But it’s a journey I must have control over. I choose what we do, and you can then choose whether to consentto me or say no.”

“I understand. Truly. Perhaps I said those words before and didn’t actually understand, but now I do.”

I nod. “Then perhaps we’re ready to go back to the club.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The club. Black Rose Underground.

My haven.

So much more to share with her.

“What else is there at the club?” she asks, her voice coming out nearly breathless.

“Oh, Skye, there’s so much more. You’ve only been to the bondage room.”

She gulps. “What other rooms are there?”

“Some rooms are for light play only.”

“Light play?”

“Yes. Basic spanking, light bondage. For example, how I bound your wrists with my necktie at my office.”

“What’s bondage, then? Is it light play?”

“Bondage, other than light bondage, is heavy play. What you saw at the club is considered heavy play.”

“Especially the neck binding, right?”

“In my opinion, anything involving the neck is edge play.”

“What’s edge play?” she asks.

“Anything that involves a risk of physical or mental harm.”

“Mental harm?”

“Yeah. I steer clear of edge play, for the most part. It doesn’t interest me much. Most of it isn’t allowed at Black Rose Underground.”

“But I saw the breath control.”

“Not everyone considers breath control edge play, so I allow it,but all practitioners have to sign a special consent form before they can do it at my club.”

“I see. And I didn’t sign that form.”

“You didn’t, but it doesn’t matter. I wasn’t going to do it anyway.”

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