Page 7 of Emergence and Ascendance

She nodded. "It was a good way for you to settle into your role as a Dom and also a good way for you to play with multiple women to get a feel for what you prefer in a submissive."

"And?"

"The goal was for you to find one that suits your preference and enter into a contract."

"Contract play isn't a requirement of membership, G."

"No, it's not but…"

"Then why the fuck are you trying to force me into one?"

I narrowed my eyes, feeling annoyed, and her only reaction was the slow crawl of her eyebrow lifting. "We're friends, right?"

I snorted and shook my head, laughing arrogantly. "Doesn't fucking seem like it if you're switching up on me."

She laughed lightly, crossed one leg over the other, and leaned in my direction, dropping her elbow on the arm of the chair. Giselle gently placed her chin on a closed fist and just stared at me, not speaking until I exhaled my frustration. "What the fuck do you want, G? Every time you hit me with that damn pose, you're either in business mode or on some bullshit."

"When you applied for membership here at Erogenous, you said you needed to regain some control over your life. The situation with Aja and the complications with the rumors she got you caught up in really fucked with your head."

"Don't bring her into a gotdamn thing that has to do with who or what I am now."

"Unfortunately there's no way to avoid me doing so. She is the reason why you're so closed off. Why you feel the need to control when and how you deal with women."

I grunted. Part of that was true. What started as me needing control turned into a satiated feeling I never knew I was missing. Having a woman submit to me gave me something I wasn't used to. I fucking loved restraining a woman, playing with her, being the sole reason for her pleasure and desire. It was much more gratifying than simply fucking her until I reached my own orgasm.

"That might have been what got me here, but that doesn't have shit to do with why I chose to stay. I like being a Dom; that doesn't have anything to do with her."

Unfortunately, everything in my life tied back to my ex-wife, whether I liked it or not. However, not all of it was bad. If I felt anything at all for the woman, I would thank her for fucking me over because it created a need that was now satisfied with my time spent at Erogenous.

"This is natural for you which is evident by the number of requests I receive from submissives demanding contracts with you. You always turn them down but I also know you're refusing contracts because being detached is safe. You're still not dealing with the fucked up shit she did to you."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Did you recently earn a doctorate in psychology I'm unaware of, G?"

She grinned. "No, but my skill set with reading people is above average. You no longer trust women and it's very fucking obvious, Christian. You're enjoying your role as a Dom but you still haven't fully embraced it. Submission can't be one-sided."

"It can if that's what I want."

She sighed. "It can, but again, I'm asking for a favor, so…"

My head was shaking before the word left my mouth. "No."

Based on the conversation, I could already assume what she wanted and in whatever form she would ask for my commitment to someone, the gotdamn answer was no.

"Can I ask first?" She smiled arrogantly.

"If you want to waste your time, ball the fuck out."

"I have a new member. She'll only be in town for a month…"

"If you're about to ask me to do a one month contract with her then I might as well leave now because the answer is no."

"Can you at least consider it? She's new…"

"You have new members twice a month, G. That's not arguing your case."

"New to the lifestyle." After revealing that detail, she watched me carefully. That was my one sweet spot. There was something addictive about being a woman's first. She was fresh, untainted by experiences in this lifestyle or expectations, basically a blank canvas. Doms either loved or hated that experience. Me personally? I loved the challenge.

"Are you not going to say anything?"

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