Page 1 of Switched

Chapter 1

Candace

Theheatneverceasesto amaze me, no matter the time of day or time of year, it’s always one thing.Hot. I guess I could call myself lucky, though. In the middle of August, it’s only a whopping hundred and two degrees today. Thank goodness for good primer and setting spray; otherwise my face would be melting right off.

I’m walking down the strip to one of my favorite client’s hotels. He’s the big gun who owns the joint and prefers us to hold our meetings here, but I don’t mind. Not much affects how I do my job, and the most important thing in my eyes is how my submissive feels. One foot in front of the next I strut into Chase’s, the place named after the man himself. The place is riddled with color; very Vegas if you ask me, and also very Chase. Pops of bold color fill the area with in-your-face furniture choices, yet mellow walls. The floors are a beautiful stone that complements the vast difference in colors decorating the space.

I keep walking, knowing exactly where to head after doing this with him for so long. Chase has been one of my newer clients. He’s been with me for about three years and is the tender young age of twenty-six, extremely successful and quite stressed, but that’s what I’m here for. I’m his older, much wiser and calmer domme. We aren’t dating, or anything close to it, but when I am with him, he knows that he is one thing and one thing only. My submissive. That he is precious, and whatever he needs from me I will give, because it is my role. It is my sole purpose, and my life’s greatest achievement.

I can’t describe just how fulfilled I feel, knowing that I’m making a difference and giving my submissive comfort. There’s nothing quite like it. I’ve tried so many things over the years, until one day I realized that BDSM is where I fit in perfectly. One day, it just clicked, and I discovered the part of me that never really made sense.

It wasn’t until I walked into Club Crimson on that fated night. I shake my head thinking of it, smiling to myself as I reach the elevators that will take me up to Chase’s penthouse. In the beginning, I’d wondered why he chose to stay in his hotel and then after learning more about him and his background… it all made sense.

Chase grew up very poor, his mother worked three jobs and they were lucky if he even got to eat once a day. Everything in his life as a child was given to him, and when he needed things, he didn’t always have them. Fast forward to his teenage years and colleges jumped at the chance to have him attend. He graduated high school at fourteen and college at seventeen. Meanwhile he invested in the right stocks and worked for the right people. All of these choices led him to be able to purchase this old, worn-down hotel and renovate it into the vision it is today. That was seven years ago. Now, he’s built not only a brand for himself in Vegas, but all over the world.

The elevator doors close and music fills the voided space. I press lightly on the button that reads ‘PH’ and insert my key, waiting patiently as it leads me to my destination. When I reach the penthouse, I remove my key from the slot and exit the elevator into Chase’s private home.

“Pet, where are you?” I ask, removing my purse from my shoulder and setting it on the table in the foyer. I glance around, not seeing him within my sights. Usually he’s awaiting me at the front door, eager to get started. It doesn’t take me long to realize that something isn’t quite right with our session today.

I walk into the kitchen, not spotting him. Next, I head into his living room, and still nothing. Hmm. If he was going to cancel, he would have said something, not that Chase has ever canceled on me before.

I go to his movie room, knowing how much peace he finds in it. All that riddles the space is oversized couches and chairs. The epitome of comfort to him. I place my hand on the door and push it open, seeing him seated in a black leather chair, hand leaning over the side with a glass of whiskey in it. He peers over to look at me and turns his attention to the wall in front of him.

“Pet.” I greet, aggravated that he did not come to me as he is supposed to. However, I won’t allow it to show. He should know what he has done. Chase is no fool when it comes to what is expected of him. I can’t help but wonder what it is that’s made him so bratty today. No matter, I’ll get to the bottom of it.

“Mistress,” is s muttered lowly, the tone of his voice signifying that something is very wrong. I have never heard such brokenness spill from his lips.

I don’t bother shutting the door, and instead walk over to him, bringing my hand under his chin I tilt his jaw, making him look up at me. “You know I will never force you to tell me something that you aren’t ready for, but you also know I am here for you.”

Chase nods his head, eyes locked right on mine. I am no mind reader, and never have I claimed to be, but I do know what he needs right now. I sit on his lap, bringing his head to my chest, stroking his hair gently. Today he doesn’t need to kneel at my feet or be flogged until his ass is on fire. He needs my companionship, and that’s exactly what he’ll get.

Chapter 2

Candace

IstayedwithChasefor hours, holding his head against my chest, and brushing his hair. I was never an expert in comfort, but I suppose that’s because I’ve never had anyone there to comfort me. I did my best though, holding him in utter silence in the way I would want to be treated if our roles were reversed. I didn’t pressure him to talk to me about whatever is going on, and I won’t. When he is ready, he will tell me. Of that I am sure.

I didn’t feel right leaving him, even though I’d been off the clock for a while. At first, when I initially began doing this, I viewed it as a job but as time went on it became so much more than that. Not only did I feel as if I was giving my true self what I needed, but I came to care for my clients. Chase is one of fourteen, I see him about twice a week. Everyone has their set time with me, some have weekly sessions, and some have daily. Sometimes I don’t see others for a couple of weeks, or even a month. None of them are paychecks to me. They’re all my subs and have a special place in my heart, whether they pay me for my time or not. I’m notinlove with them, but I do love and care for them all in a unique way. The same as they do me. My sole purpose is to give them what they need, and to watch them grow into the best submissive that they can be, with my hand guiding them along the way. I cannot express how my heart swells with pride.

I’m in Chase’s kitchen, making a fresh pot of coffee. I need it; not knowing when he will wake does nothing but keep me on edge. For him, I need to be alert. He needs me to be the best that I can be, and that means I need an IV of coffee running through my veins right now. I press the button on his high-tech coffee maker and breathe in the fresh scent of coffee beans being transformed into my own personal form of heaven. Glancing around, I take in his penthouse again. Just like the lobby, it is filled with bold color schemes.

“I apologize for not greeting you in the manner that I should have.” His voice startles me from my thoughts.

“It’s okay, pet,” I tell him, looking over in the direction of his voice. “How are you feeling?” I want to know, not because it is the courteous thing to do, but because I need to know how I can help him.

“I’ll be fine, Mistress. It’s just been a rough day.” He tries to offer a half-smile but fails miserably. Just as I thought, something is definitely not right.

“Pet. Come,” I command, walking over to his living room I take a seat on his couch and watch as he kneels before me, placing his head in my lap. I stroke him gently, a slow caress, showing him that I am here. I can only hope that he will speak when he is feeling ready.

I watch as the time passes us by, the minutes counting down until we are leading well into the evening. I don’t mind though, we will stay here for however long it is that he needs. Until he is ready for me to leave.

“My mother died today, Miss” His words come out calm, emotionless, and it breaks my heart to hear of such loss and yet there is no feeling behind the very words he has just spoken. I know how much his mother meant to him. She sacrificed so much so that Chase would have a good life, and an even better future.

“She is in a better place now, Pet. Think of how she is no longer suffering, how free she must be feeling, dancing in the clouds, finally being able to run free.” Chase’s mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s when he was nineteen. A kid who had graduated both high school and college far before his peers, who was barely an adult. He found out he was losing his mother just as he gained his independence and was getting her back, repaying her for all of the things that she had done for him over the years. We both knew that this day would come. It is just unfortunate that this day has happened. Expecting it is one thing, but living it is an entirely different thing.

“I know she is. Call me selfish, but I just wanted more time with her. We never did have much when I was growing up.”

I nod, understanding all he has told me. “We can’t change what’s happened, Chase, but think about all the times you can remember with her. Think of all the good memories, of the joyous days that she was here with you.”

---