Page 25 of Ward

She claims a spot on the sofa this time so she can fold her legs beneath her. I don’t sit down right away. I want to enjoy the bird’s-eye view my superior position affords for a moment longer.

“How did you sleep?” I ask.

“Not very well,” she says. “You?”

“About the same.”

She shifts position on the sofa, freeing one of her legs. It doesn’t seem intentional on her part, but my gaze is automatically drawn to the naked limb.

“Aidan,” she says. “I want to apologize for crashing your party.”

“You didn’t know I was having one.”

“I know, but I could have stayed in my room and waited until it was over to come find you. I know my being there probably ruined your night.”

“It certainly altered the course of the evening.”

I take the chair across from her. While I wouldn’t say Grace’s presence ruined my night, having a minor at the event put me and my guests at risk. More importantly, it put her at risk to be there without knowing the dungeon rules.

In our community, all uncollared submissives are considered up for grabs by any Dominant. It’s a rule made clear to all guests before they consent to attend a party. Dante believed he was within his rights to punish Grace for spilling a drink on him. If she had been anyone else, no one would’ve batted an eye, though some would’ve stayed to watch.

“Do you wish you’d stayed in your room?” I ask.

She bites her lip, considering her response. If she wants to recant anything she did or said last night, now is her chance.

“No, I don’t.”

She’s not backing down, which means she still wants this, though what I’m willing to offer her probably isn’t the type of arrangement she’s imagined for us.

I can’t guarantee Grace’s safety if she plays with strangers. Any cocky shithead can squeeze into a pair of leather pants and call himself a Dominant without bothering to educate himself on the risks involved. As Grace’s guardian, it’s my responsibility to ensure her wellbeing. If she’s mine, I can keep a closer eye on her than I could if she was merely my ward.

“If I agree to take you on,” I say, “it’s with the acceptance and understanding that I know what is best for you, as a new submissive. Presuming that’s still something you want.”

Her lips drift apart as her chest rises. “It is.”

“This is for training purposes only. A chance to learn from someone who’s experienced. There will be rules and instructions for you to follow, both here and while you’re at school. You will call me Sir from this point forward when we’re alone, unless I say otherwise, and I will refer to you as little one.”

“Yes.” She breathes the word, her gaze centered on my mouth. “I, um, feel like I should probably tell you that I’m a...virgin.”

“I don’t need to know anything about that.”

“Oh.” Her brows knit together in confusion.

I can’t believe that this ray of sunshine would offer me something as precious as her untouched body. I won’t deny it. Thinking about taking Grace’s virginity gets me hard, the same way thinking about tying her up and flogging her gets me hard. I must have a secret masochistic streak if I’m willing to invite this sort of temptation into my life. However, I suspect this arrangement won’t last beyond her eighteenth birthday, once she realizes I can’t give her everything she wants in a Dom.

I’ve kept myself in check for over twenty years; three months is barely a heartbeat by comparison.

“I don’t need to know about that because I’m not going to fuck you,” I tell her. “In fact, I’m not even going to touch you.”

She opens her mouth and then closes it again. As I predicted, she’s not sure what to make of my offer.

“I’m going to train you as a service submissive,” I say. “Do you know what that means?”

“Kind of.” I see her making the mental note to Google the term as soon as I permit her to leave.

“It means I’ll give you tasks to complete and instructions to follow, and you will complete these tasks to the best of your ability.” Since her parents passed away, Grace has been set adrift. I can provide her with structure. Keep her on the right track as she heads into college. “When you perform a task correctly, you will be rewarded. If you fail, you’ll try again.”

I lean forward, resting my elbows just above my knees.

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