“And the only time I’m me, actually myself, is when we’re playing these roles.”She sighed deeply.
“Then, let’s always play the roles,” I suggested.After all, it sounded like the solution to our problem.“How did you feel about the contract I made you sign?”
“Good.It still seems kind of ridiculous that you went to that length, but it’s weirdly comforting to see your expectations for me laid out like that.It felt like a handbook.”
I let those words roll around in my head a little bit before I answered.“So… what you’re asking for here is clear communication.”
She blinked.
“I’m fine with communicating my needs and expectations.But you have to do the same for me,” I warned her.“I’m perfectly happy to try out a full-time domination and submission situation, but you have to swear that you’ll let me know if it doesn’t work for you.”
“And if it doesn’t work?”
“Then we find something that does.Because I’m not willing to give up on you.”
I doubted her shiver had anything to do with our conversation; she was naked under a thin cashmere throw in an apartment with the central air cranked.
There was no better time than the present to start our little adventure.“I want you to go put some clothes on.Something comfortable.Are you hungry?”
She considered.“Well...now I am.I wasn’t when I got here, but someone made me burn a lot of calories.”
I kissed her cheek.“Think about what you want to eat, get dressed, and then you’re going to tell me aboutthis business proposition of yours.”
* * * *
We waited in the dining room while the chef worked on our dinner.Charlotte had struggled with the concept of “anything you want,” which I should have anticipated.It sounded like she’d lived her life without limits, but also, without guidance, which left her floundering with far too many choices.
She’d finally blurted, “Spaghetti!”with such desperation, I might have found it comical.But it pained me to see her so worried and uncertain and eager to please me.
“Okay,” I said to Charlotte, nodding thanks to the servant who filled my wine glass.“Let’s hear about this business idea.”
Charlotte glanced at the servant and waited until he left the room before leaning conspiratorially over the corner of the table.“Did you know that kink clubs are legal in New York?”
“Yes.”I swirled my glass.
“Oh.”She blushed and looked down.“If you already knew about that, this might be a stupid idea.”
“I doubt it.”Though I thought I knew the conversational road she was going to walk us down, I didn’t want to step on her toes.“Tell me.I want to know.”
She hesitated.
“Princess...”I began with a warning tone.“If you don’t tell me, I might have to punish you.”
She wouldn’t want another spanking today.
With a deep breath, she said, “I was thinking about how much fun Ascend Red was.How much simpler things felt when we were there.And I don’t see why there can’t be something like that here, in the city.”
“I have considered that before.”It had always hit a dead end when it came to secrecy.“I think it’s a great idea, but the anonymity is where it becomes a problem.”
“Because everyone will see people entering and leaving the building,” she said with a nod.“I thought of that, too.What if it was a hotel?”
“A hotel?”
“Yeah.That’s what you do.Hotels, resorts...why not one with a secret, very discrete, invitation-only section for kink?”The more she talked about it, the more confident she sounded about her idea.“It wouldn’t have to be marked on anything official.You could even put a fancy restaurant in it, so people would have an excuse if they got caught arriving or leaving.”
“Arriving and leaving through an underground entrance.”That could work.
“What about a fleet of nondescript vehicles?They could like, secret-Uber their way there and home and none would be the wiser.”Her eyes lit up like we were hatching a naughty scheme.