Page 8 of Exquisite Temptation

"Damn right, I did, girlfriend. I didn't give him your number. Instead, I told him to come here tonight and ask you himself." I bump her shoulder with mine to lighten her mood. She purses her lips into a petulant pout, but the twinkle in her eyes tells me she secretly wanted to see him again.

"You should've asked me first, Heids," she whispers.Dang, did I misread the situation?I swear they looked ready to tear off each other’s clothes. I expel a sharp breath as guilt seizes and knots my throat.

"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry, babe. What I'm going to say now might sound completely insane, but he radiated weird energy that made me feel safe and comfortable, like I could trust him." Scrunching my brows into a frown, I continue, "So, I thought, why not? As your best friend, I think it's time for you to get back on the horse, babe."

"Let's forget about it and have a great night. Maybe we can go dancing." She gives me a massive grin and I nod, relief flooding through me.

"I'm up for it. There are a couple of good clubs nearby," Katie declares, who appear as equally relieved as I do.

"Sorry, I’ll be right back. It’s my turn now." Allie leaps to her feet as if the devil is chasing her and dashes straight in the restroom's direction.

Sebastian dips his head in acknowledgement as he rushes through the bar in hot pursuit. Fuck, this is why she ran off. Maybe I should go after her?Stay put. Allie is a big girl and doesn't need you to rescue her.I shift my attention back to Katie, fixing my gaze on her day collar.

"Did you choose it or your Dom? It’s stunning. I was close to getting mine," my voice falters as I remember how excited I was about getting mine. "And I probably would have got it if I hadn’t caught my scumbag Dom cheating with his ex submissive."

Katie’s lips part in a silent surprise. I bet she didn’t expect my unexpected confession.

"Oh, girl, I'm so sorry. What a fucking asshole! It’s his loss." She pats my shoulder, her eyes sparkling with empathy.

"Thank you, Katie. I haven’t told Allie yet. In my heart, I know she would never judge me, yet part of me fears telling her. I guess you have said nothing for the same reasons, right?"

She bobs her head, tears welling in her eyes. "I feel bad for keeping secrets from her. Allie is one of the rarest souls in this world who truly cares about others, but after being judged, shamed, and shunned by friends and family, I find it hard to trust. I need to tell her the truth before Master Sebastian tells her I work in his club." I open my mouth to reply, but Allie saunters back, and I change the subject as this is not the place or the time for big reveals.

"Come on, let’s do some selfies before we hit the club." I grab my phone and scoot closer to Katie, who clasps her hands excitedly, her eyes silently thanking me for keeping her secret.

We take turns snapping photos of us, laughing and making silly faces. After knocking our drinks back, we head off to The Cloud Nine. It’s not a BDSM club, nevertheless, we still end up laughing, drinking, and dancing the night away.

Chapter 5

Christopher

Iperchonmydesk, watching the light flurries of snow build up on the window ledge. Raising my mug, I inhale the delicious nutty aroma of Arabica beans and take a deep drink of the liquid gold. There is nothing better than the first sip of freshly ground coffee on a cold winter’s day. The image of the girl with long, wavy chocolate hair and a delicate face has lingered around the edges of my mind since I woke up this morning. When our eyes locked last night, something stirred deep inside me. She jolted my dead, shriveled heart back to life and, for a split second, the starved animal I keep under lock and key broke out and vowed to make her ours. The desperate need to revel in her pain hits me like never before, shaking me to the core.

Iron bands tighten my chest as guilt rears its ugly head. Sucking in a deep breath, I drown my lungs with air to loosen the pain. I swore off love. Although, I want to open my heart to love again and build a happy home for a future family, but nothing good ever comes from falling in love when they can be snatched from you in a split second, leaving you to pick up the pieces. I don't want to be back in that dark place where I felt so cold, alone, and shattered. When I lost her, there were no last words or goodbyes, just agony, pain, and an enormous emptiness.It’s time to let go, my heart whispers.

"Sorry to interrupt you, Master Christopher. Everyone is here, sir." The sound of Emma’s voice snaps me back.

"Thank you, pet. I’ll join you in a minute." Draining the coffee in two large gulps, I stand up and make my way to the dungeon.

The eyes of fresh-faced and eager Doms and Dommes sitting in a semi-circle snap in my direction. Tension as thick as molasses permeates the air, which makes me chuckle. It’s hard being a newbie. Once upon a time, this was me, inexperienced and not knowing what the hell I was doing. It took me a while to learn the ropes, stop doubting myself, and enjoy.

"Welcome, everyone. I'm Master Christopher and co-owner of club Dominion. I have been in the kink community for eleven years and teaching for the last five. If you are here because you get a kick out of hurting people, taking no responsibility for yourself and the well-being, health, and safety of your submissive, I suggest you walk away now." I swing my gaze between each member, one brow raised. No one takes me up on my offer to leave.

I ask them to introduce themselves by telling us random facts about their life, which breaks the ice and melts the tension. I quickly go over the house rules and let them know we will need to discuss the role and responsibilities of the Dom and Dommes and how to use a flogger before they can practice on the dummies.

"First lesson: You must accept that you are a sadist. It’s only one aspect of you, and it doesn’t define you. You should not feel ashamed or guilty for being a sadist because there is nothing wrong with you. My plan is to teach you how to channel your sadism, take responsibility, and learn how to do things properly. Who can tell me how we create a positive emotional environment for our submissives?"

"Negotiation and gaining consent," a dark-haired Dom with a lip piercing exclaims.

"Absolutely. Before any type of play, we need to go over the soft and hard limits with the person you are playing with and establish a safe word. Any play without prior negotiation and consent is simply abuse and will not be tolerated here or in the club. Is everyone clear on this?"

"Yes, Master Christopher," a chorus of voices answers.

"Great. When you negotiate a scene, you need to take several things into consideration. Is this the first time you’re playing with this person? How experienced are they? Are they in extreme pain? This will help you decide how to handle the session." Leaning on the edge of the table, I cross my arms over my chest. "Who can tell me why an open line of communication, empathy, and self-awareness is a MUST in any D/s relationship?"

"To build trust," a Domme with fire engine red hair replies, looking at me expectantly. As I open my mouth to reply, the thirty-something Dom sitting next to her interjects.

"To prevent any injuries!"

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