Page 49 of At Her Will

“In a power exchange relationship, there’s nothing more serious than respecting someone’s choice. Letting a small infraction go leads to bigger infractions.”

She pointed to the different colors. “Dom, sub, switch. If you’re not sure, you don’t wear one of those. But everyone has the second bracelet, because it communicates your status. The green one tells others you want to play, and you’re not attached. You’re seeking a partner or partners for the evening. Yellow means you’re not attached, but you don’t want to play tonight. You just want to watch. Someone can approach you to have a chat, in case you’re interested in playing in the future. It’s a good, no-pressure way to ask questions and set groundwork for later, if the relationship goes that way.

“Red is for a member or guest who doesn’t want to be approached for any reason. They just want to watch and be in their own head. Purple means unavailable, because you already belong to someone.”

She spoke about each bracelet matter-of-factly, not telegraphing her preferences. “So what makes you feel most comfortable?”

He glanced around him, and she laid a hand on his arm. “Rev, remember what I said. If you decide you don’t like it here, we can leave at any time.”

“It’s not that. It so different, and yet it feels…”

“Like you’re not entirely a fish out of water? Just a fish who’s not been in this kind of water before?”

He knew this was her world, so it shouldn’t surprise him, how well she was reading him. Having lived in New Orleans most of his life, walking along Canal Street or watching the Mardi Gras parade, meant that blatant sexuality wasn’t a shock to him. Bare flesh, leather, silver, body paint, he took that in stride. But the intent here spoke directly to him, making him ache.

Not ten feet away, a man in a suit walked with a naked woman wearing a delicate pink collar and leash. He had his hand protectively on her lower back, keeping her close to his side as he escorted her.

There were versions of that where the woman was in control. He stole glances at them, feeling guilty for wanting to do so, but Veracity noticed.

“Rev, right now, you have my permission to look at anything you wish. You can see in action those things we discussed in my living room. Anyone on the public floor is okay with attention. Part of the fun is looking.” She flashed him a smile.

“Yes, Mistress. Thank you.”

He was expressing true gratitude. Like that box of bracelets, here was the treasure chest of things he’d recognized in himself but hadn’t had the chance to experience. He’d dreamed about them, endlessly. Now, everywhere he looked, those dreams had come to life.

Well, mostly. He blanched at a man wearing a cage around his cock, and clamps on his nipples. His back was curved forward, his chin down, his body betraying his discomfort.

His Mistress had noticed. The slim woman with dyed blue hair, woven with silver strands like thin tinsel, placed the crop she was holding under his jaw. She had him straighten, lifting his chin and posture, tall and proud for her. She assessed hiseffort to do her bidding, murmuring something to him. Though she returned to her conversation with another couple, Rev sensed the greater part of her attention remained on the male suffering for her.

“She knows what his limits are, and he has a safe word.” Veracity confirmed it. She was close to his side, her hand on the side of his neck as he bent his ear to her, her breath on his cheek. “She’ll monitor his skin tone around the nipple clamps, notice if he’s perspiring or shaking. Based on her experience with him, she’ll know when he’s had enough. If he doesn’t safe word as he should, she’ll act on his behalf.”

She drew his gaze toward a man who wore dark slacks and T-shirt with the club name embroidered on the pocket. The lanyard around his neck glowed red, highlighting DM in white letters. “That’s one of the dungeon monitors I told you about. Each one patrols a section of the club.”

“Do she get in trouble if she does something wrong?”

“Not if she’s being diligent. Ideally, DMs are there to ensure a Master or Mistress doesn’t miss something important, because safe play is the goal for all. People are complex in their needs, and this is a very sensory rich environment. Even the most experienced Dominant can miss things. It doesn’t hurt to have extra eyes on your sub.”

She put her hand back on the wooden chest. “What bracelet best fits you tonight?”

“I feel like I need your permission to wear it.”

“Choose it, and I’ll let you know.”

He reached for the purple bracelet that said he was unavailable, already taken, and offered it to her.

Her eyes gained several degrees in heat. She clipped it around his wrist, along with a submissive bracelet. When her hand remained resting over them, he lifted his other one, puttingit on her wrist. He didn’t say anything, stroking it with his thumb, but it was a request all the same.

“Did you want me to wear a purple bracelet, too?”

“That’s not my call.”

“Isn’t it? Even for tonight?”

“For tonight…I’d appreciate that, Mistress.”

Actually for way more than tonight, but such possessive feelings were new to him, and he wasn’t sure if they were a good thing, or appropriate. But when she picked up one of the purple bracelets and offered it to him so he could put it on her wrist, he felt better about it.

“Leave this and your jacket with the coat check.” She unpinned her hat with the veil and handed it to him. “It’s warm inside the play areas, and I enjoy looking at you without it.”

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