Page 42 of Isle of Pain

“I have very specific needs, Marie. I thought I could never desire anything if it didn’t come from pain, until you touched me, until your kiss. When I feel overwhelmed, that energy needs to go somewhere, and I was lucky Andrea brought someone for me to pour all of that into. Do you understand?”

“Yes. Can you bring me with you, next time? I can let Ember with Giulia and Andrea. I trust them with her.”

I’ve never shared that part of me with anyone, not even Andrea. The killing, yes. But not the rest. “Of course,” I answer gently. Whatever she wants, she’ll have.

She shifts then looks down, and I wait for her next words.

“I really wanted to drink,” she says and her cheeks flush. “I wanted to numb the pain but you don’t have alcohol here. I looked everywhere. So I stayed awake as long as I could, hoping you’d be back and take the pain away. I felt out of control.” A sob cracks inside her throat and on instinct, I pull her into me, hugging her soft curves to my body.

Just like last night, the heat of her soothes something inside me. It’s euphoric and calming all at once. A dual sensation I can’t make sense of, but maybe I don’t need to.

“You need to feel you’re in control, Marie?” I ask against her head.

“Yes. Everything else is so fucked. But with you, it feels safe.”

“Have you heard about dominant and submissive relationships?”

She squeaks and my lips tip up, then she nods against my chest. “I’ve been reading about it. Since you… you let me, uhm, give you orders and I liked it. I read about scenes and aftercare and safe words, but this is all…”

“A lot?”

“Yes, but it’s also exciting. But only because it’s with you.”

My heart beats inside my chest at the prospect of showing her exactly what she can do to me, how I’ll lay my submission at her feet. When she looks up at me, her green eyes have darkened to the most beautiful forest green and I want to drown in them.

It’s time to introduce Marie to what my full obedience looks like.

“I want to show you something,” I tell her. I observe the micro expressions on her face, hunting for any signs of discomfort or, I hope, curiosity.

“Is it your workshop?”

Blood rushes south at the perspective of sharing all the ways I stave off my need for pain, not just on my own body but on others. “Are you thirsty for violence, Marie?” I taunt.

She shrugs, but her body betrays how excited she is about discovering something new, her pert nipples poking through the silk of her black blouse. I don’t know if it’s about me or her. How her family has never picked up on her soft violence is a mystery to me. But I’ll be more than happy to show her all the ways she can extract pain.

“We can visit my workshop later. It’s another place. One I haven’t shared with anyone, not even with Andrea.”

Her head tilts to the side, waiting for me to explain further. “I own a club. And you’re right, I do enjoy it when you give me commands. I want to show you the safe space I created for people with the same proclivities.”

“You own a sex club?”

“I do. Are you curious?”

She hesitates. “Yes. But I… I’m…” She blushes and I don’t understand what she’s trying to say so I ask.

“What is it, Marie?”

“I… I’m a virgin. Our kiss is as far as I ever… I don’t know the first thing about BDSM except for all the books I’ve read in the past three weeks, or whatever people do at your club.” She sighs and her ears turn the cutest shade of bright pink where she tucks a strand behind her ear.

As always when she’s uncomfortable or feels unworthy, she tucks her shoulders in. That won’t fucking do.

“That’s what scenes and safe words are for, Marie. We can establish what you want to do before we start. And I’m a virgin, too,luna mia.”

Her head snaps up and she grimaces. “What? But, you own a sex club, Nico.”

“Yes, I do. And I like to be dominated and I like pain, which I get there. I’m a virgin but I’m not inexperienced. I’ve never touched anyone and no one ever touched me. Sex isn’t limited to penetration.”

“I guess I never thought about it that way. But I’m still inexperienced and I don’t want to do something I shouldn’t.”

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