Page 45 of Volatile

Nico ran his hand over her ass and down her thighs. “Make sure to avoid the hips and kidney areas. It’s better to aim too low than too high. And when getting into the more intense sessions for altered states, it may be safer to restrain them first. You don’t want to risk hitting a sensitive area if they twist their body around at the last second.”

He raised the cane. “Now, observe,” he said, striking it down with a whoosh. The tip struck hard on the meat of her ass, and she jerked forward. He whispered into her ear, and she nodded.

“You want to space out your strokes. Most of the pain doesn’t occur immediately so wait until the sensation goes away before striking again. Either your sub can give you verbal feedback telling you when that is, or you can read off their physical cues. It’ll all depend on your experience, both as a Dom and with your current partnership with your sub.”

Nico struck twice more, once on the tops of her thighs and once in the fold beneath her ass. She barely made a sound. It had to have hurt like hell, but her endorphins had probably kicked in so hard she was floating.

Jon could understand the appeal, for both a Dom and their sub. Certain tools could encourage a deeper subspace, but there were also other ways to accomplish that.

Nico set the cane down on the table alongside a solid paddle and several floggers. “You can experiment with different lengths and widths as you get more into it. Some prefer a thuddy feel over a stinging one or vice versa. Communication with your sub is vital. Especially when you’re just starting out. They need to let you know what is and isn’t working for them. And some subs”—Nico grabbed Viv’s ass and kneaded the darkened skin—“like my pet here can orgasm from a good, steady caning.”

Nico sat down and gathered her in his lap, lightly stroking her body. Jon could see the strong connection between them. Would he ever have that again, and why the fuck did he even care?

“Aftercare is crucial, the amount and type varying per sub and the experience. For instance—”

Jon drowned out the rest of Nico’s words when Ivy popped into his mind out of nowhere. He flashed back to when he’d held her afterward, caressing the side of her flushed face, her curls clinging against her damp forehead. He’d wanted to keep her there with him much longer, but the moment she’d snapped out of it, she rushed out. Said Lily was expecting her. How much of that was true, and how much was an excuse to get away from him?

Chairs scraping against the floor directed his attention back to the room. The lesson appeared to be over. Nico was standing, and Viv was wrapped in a blanket on the chair. Jon approached him as the others filed past.

“Twice in one week? In no time you’ll be a regular again.”

“Hey, Nico.”

“Looking for anything or anyone in particular tonight?”

“You, actually,” Jon said.

“Sorry to disappoint you, buddy, but I don’t swing that way.”

Jon laughed. “Do you have a few minutes? I’d like to talk to you about something.”

“Sure, just give me a sec.” He leaned over Viv and palmed her nape, pulling her in for a kiss. He spoke something into her ear, and she nodded. He smiled, kissing the top of her head and sliding his finger into her collar. Nico could say whatever he wanted; there was no way in hell those two weren’t committed.

“All yours. Do you want to go to my office? Viv’ll be good here. That was mild for her.”

“Yeah. It shouldn’t take too long.”

Heading back, he wished they didn’t even need to have this conversation. They stepped into the room, shutting out the noise behind them when Nico closed the door.

“Does your brother still do PI work on the side?”

Nico leaned back on his desk. “Max? Yeah. Why, you need someone?”

Jon nodded. “I also need complete discretion, that’s why I’m coming to you. And I need him to be able to block out large chunks of his day. I’ll make it worth his while, of course.”

Nico rubbed his chin. “You got a cheating woman on your hands?”

“I don’t have any woman on my hands. This is for a friend who’s working at Rig’s. She’s not in a good situation, and I can’t get involved. But I need to make sure she’s safe, especially when she leaves that shithole. I need him to find out when she’s there, then stick around to keep an eye on her.”

“Why don’t you just ask her?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Ain’t it always? You’re going to be spending a pretty penny for just a friend.”

“Doesn’t matter. Do you think he can do it?”

Nico reached in his desk drawer and pulled out a pen. “Tell you what. Let me talk to him, explain the situation. I’ll have him get back to you. That work?”

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