The Playroom

Chapter Nine

T he drive to the dungeon seemed to pass in an instant. As we pulled into the parking lot, I couldn’t help but take in Wonderland once again which now looked completely different than when I first arrived weeks ago. The distant rhythmic roars of crashing waves of the ocean nearby are the only familiar thing.

Leo turns off the care, and the headlights fade, casting us into the growing darkness. He slips the keys into his pocket, leaving nothing but the quiet void that surrounded.

“Is there anybody else here?” I whisper.

“Just us,” he confirms.

Without another word, we step out of the car and into the cool night air. The stars above us twinkle in the deep dark sky. Leo reached for my hand and I accepted the invitation.

His palm engulfed mine, and his grip was strong and calloused, spreading his warmth to my hand bringing a sense of ease to his touch. As we crossed the parking lot, our footsteps echoed, a symphony of thuds and crunches that seemed to be swallowed up by the night.

Getting to the front door, Leo pushed on the wall off to the left of the door revealing a hidden keypad lit up in red where he quickly entered a code, hearing a satisfying beep, before the door automatically unlocked.

Closing the latch, he opens the door guiding us through.

I closed it behind us.

Brightly neon lights faded below us, guiding our steps through a dimly lit hallway. Leo confidently led me down and took a right instead of a left, leading down to a small space that was a dead end that only had a massive portrait of a man wearing a tight leather harness, gloves, pants, boots, and mask standing with one hand on his hip and holding a whip in the other—his stance oozing with provocative confidence.

I kept my mouth shut as I didn’t know where we were going. The only direction I knew was to the left, where the door to the front office was—the one where Scarlet, the receptionist usually sat.

Leo gripped the edge of the heavy portrait frame and pushed it back, revealing a second keyboard attached to a large blue metal door.

Damn! Is Wonderland doubling as an escape room?

Using the same code again, the door opened and him opening it up revealing a fully furnished apartment on the other side.

“Who would have thought?” I said, in a surprised voice.

He chuckled at my comment.

Stepping into his apartment, My eyes widened at the sleek, modern decor. The clean lines and carefully placed items made it feel like a high-end showroom in Seattle. Someone call Better Homes and Gardens as this is next month’s issue feature.

“Welcome to my humble abode,” Leo causally announces, his hands suddenly sliding into his pockets, a little unsure of what to say.

“You have a really beautiful apartment,” I praise.

“Nothing like yours.”

“Are you kidding me? This is nothing compared to mine.”

He nods, “Wine?”

“Yes, please.”

Leo makes his way to the kitchen, retrieving two glasses from a nearby cabinet and scanning the unopened bottles on the counter. As my gaze wandered around his spacious, well decorated space, I couldn’t help but feel a little envious. His sleek leather couch and expensive artwork made my apartment seem like a sad excuse for a living space.

Warm and cozy seem to be the right words to describe his vibe. And who would’ve ever thought his place was under the same roof as his dungeon-every time I think he’s done surprising me, another one pops up.

“If you don’t mind me asking, how come your apartment isn’t separate from the dungeon?” I ask.

A satisfying pop of the cork filled the room followed by the gentle tinkling of liquid filling our glasses.

“It just made sense. A huge warehouse where dungeon space was only going to take up a little more than half, and rather than commute, building a living quarters was the best option. You know, it saves me money.”

It made sense to me. And why would he want to have a place anywhere else in town, buying a building of this caliber, there’s plenty and then some.

Leo finished pouring the wine and made his way over the couch, signaling to come sit with him and did without any hesitation.

“Thank you,” I said, accepting the glass he offered.

“The wine is imported from Spain. Tell me what you think?”

Swishing my glass gently in my hard, I take a few inhales of the fermented juice. The aroma smelt strong earthy yeast with notes of rich oak while the taste exploded with tanginess when hitting my tongue dancing around in perfect harmony.

“I don’t know what they’re doing over in Spain, but they need to keep doing it.”

I took another sip as Leo laughed into his sip.

“So, do I need to start calling you Master Leo?”

Swallowing, “I know I mentioned that inside these walls, you are to refer to me as Master Leo. Let me redefine that. After today, if you decide you want to be my submissive, the only time you call me that is if we are inside the playroom. Anything beyond that, it’s just plain Leo.”

“I like that better,” I said.

I snuggled up next to Leo, resting my head against the nape of his neck. He immediately pulled me closer and wrapped his arm around me. Being like this, this close next to him makes me feel safe, as odd as that sounds.

Closing my eyes and listening, I could hear the rhythmic sound of his heartbeat, including the rise and fall of his chest with each breath.

“Is this what you had in mind instead?” Leo muttered.

“Not exactly, but this will do,” I said, in a joking voice.

“Such a wise guy, I have in my arms,” he started, “You said you had questions, let’s hear them.”

Where do I even begin?

There is so much to talk about.

“How did you even fall into BDSM?”

“Curiosity often leads to exploration. And this always comes up first.”

How many people have asked him? Let alone how many submissives has he had? Leo doesn’t need to tell me, just when someone makes a comment of that nature, it’s usually never in the single digits. Who the hell am I to say? My track record is not in the single digits either.

“It actually stemmed from the Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco. A bunch of friends and I decided to take a random spontaneous trip-it was something none of us had ever done before.”

He paused, taking another sip of his wine before continuing.

“Have you ever been?”

I shook my head no.

“Down there, the streets are filled with all walks of life, including those who wear colored bandanas.”

“Colored bandanas?” I interjected.

“Yeah! Each color represents a different kink and depending on your giving or taking status, there's where the left and right pocket come into play.”

“Interesting,” I said.

“Well, we came across Whipping Alley,” he said.

I looked up at him with such curious and yet concerned eyes, “And what happens in the alley of whips?”

“Why does it feel like I’m telling a bedtime story?“ Leo randomly said.

”Please don’t mix bedtime stories with whips again,” I laughed.

“My friends and I strolled past the area. Now, it’s hidden behind a fence draped in blue tarp, concealing everything from sight. Only the sounds escaped—sharp cracks of whips mingling with the loud moans of both women and men.”

Whips are out for me. Seeing some of those pornos had me steering clear of anything that requires the dominant to exert said dominance from a distance.

“My friends thought it would be a marvelous idea to venture in and see what all the moaning was all about.”

One could only imagine.

“Once we paid our fee and went inside, the majority of the people were men, maybe one or two women gagged. Submissive men were lined up against the chain link fence in various positions. Some bent over, others facing away exposing their backs to their dominants, and so on.”

Leo’s excitement grew as he remembered how his past as a dominant in the BDSM community had begun. It does make me wonder if he’s into physical pain of sorts. Which means one thing...this isn’t going to work after all.

“The person in charge requested that we remove all of our clothing except for our underwear. At the time, I wasn’t as physically fit and toned as I am now, but I didn’t care.”

Taking another sip of my wine, I find myself hanging onto every word of Leo’s story. His vivid attention to detail and personal insights leave me eager for more.

Control yourself Drew, don’t want to come off as someone who is all about sex. Can I be blamed? Curled up next to a muscular man who talks to me with such respect, that’s all my body wants to do at the very moment.

“Fast forward a bit, the majority of my friends were chained against the wall or bent over as they decided to be submissive. I, on the other hand, decided to give being dominant a chance,” Leo continued on.

“How did that make you feel?”

I could feel his heart start to beat faster.

“Well, after being quickly taught how to handle a whip and having it placed in my hand, the leather felt like an extension of my own body. My movements became instinctual as I focused on the thirty-something-year-old man blindfolded and chained to the wall, dulling out his pleasurable pain with each strike.”

“The feeling at the time was exhilarating,” Leo added.

I started to get nervous, “Do you still use whips?”

“Come to find out whips aren’t really my thing after giving it another chance.”

Leo’s forehead creased as he tilted his head, clearly confused by my statement.

“I mean, from the sounds of it, you really took the time figuring out your likes and dislikes.”

“You could say that.”

A wave of relief flooded through me upon hearing him utter those words, no whips. At the same time, ponders yet another question, what does turn him on in the playroom?

I don’t know why I’m even wondering this, we haven’t even had been inside each other, and here I’m trying to contemplate what kind of dom he is-what the fuck is wrong with me.

“After that experience, I walked away with a new understanding of who I am,” Leo said, his tone reflective, “I realized that I belong to the world of BDSM, and more than that—I’m a dominant. From there, everything started to make sense, and the rest is history.”

“That’s it?” I replied, shocked that there is nothing more dramatic to his backstory, “No Mr. Robinson or even a man twice your age introducing you to the world of leather and lace?”

“You really think that book about the billionaire guy is an accurate depiction? Don’t get me wrong, Drew, there’s a lot of sensual scenes, but at the same time a lot of it is depicted wrong—well, I mean in the sense of how that character introduces BDSM.”

Leo uttering my name sets off a fiery heat deep within me. His voice saying my name is like honey dripping from his lips. It’s as if he knows the power he holds over me by just saying Drew.

He does have a point. The book I keep referencing shouldn’t dictate expectations of my current reality. It’s just a story after all, a work of fiction created by someone else’s imagination. For all I know, that author probably never even got a chance to experience what’s about to happen.

“Then show me, Master,” I said, in a flirtatious tone.

With a gentle clink, he set his wine glass down on the smooth brown coffee table in front of us. We both shifted in our seats turning to face each other. His intense blue eyes peered into mine with such emotion. It was as if I had spoken the words that he longed to hear and couldn’t look away for fear of losing the moment.

We looked at each for a brief moment saying nothing.

Was me calling his master too soon? Have I already ruined any chance of experiencing whatever this was going to be with the man sitting across from? In my entire life, I’ve never wanted something so badly, and being with Leo here at Wonderland has placed some perspective.

Leo rose from the couch, his eyes still fixed on mine. He held out his hand, palm up, gesturing for me to follow him ready to lead me somewhere. My gaze left his, drawn instead to the rough and calloused hand reaching out to me. My mind was soon filled with dirty thoughts of what those hands could do to me-their touch leaving trails of desire wherever they roamed. The urge to feel them on my skin grew stronger with each passing moment.

Rising from the couch, my heart quickened with anticipation. Our bodies were mere inches apart, but I gently closed the gap sliding my hand into his, feeling the warmth of his palm yet again against mine. I could sense his eagerness for what was to come, and I mirrored it.

Leo guided me through a lengthy hallway adorned with intricate damask wallpaper and Victorian paintings. Little light pours in from the open doors of the various bedrooms casting on the hardwood floors. As we turned left, we entered a short hallway with a unique mahogany door bordered with hot pink fluorescent lights at the end.

The door stands out like a sore thumb, its heavy wooden frame looming over the rest of the house. It exudes an aura of desire, radiating sexual energy. Can’t believe a simple wooden door can do this to someone.

Out of the corner of his eye, Leo looks back at me with such a devilish grin that sets my heart racing and makes me wonder what he has planned.

“Are you sure you want this...” Leo says, giving a chance to opt out.

Looking at the door and then at Leo, I cupped my hand on his face turning him back to me, “Yes, Master, I want this.”

My voice had never spoken with such conviction and as I mentioned prior, I’ve never desired anything so intensely before.

I want Leo.

I want to be his.

No doubt about it.

With the gentlest touch, I caress his cheek drawing him closer to me until our lips meet in a passionate kiss, mouths molding together as if they were made for each other. My heart races as I press against him, savoring every taste of our intimate moment.

Our lips part, and my hand wanders over his sculpted features, sliding down touching his luscious lips. Leo tenderly bites down sensually igniting a small amount of pain that quickly evolves into pleasure.

I moan in my sudden gasp.

Leo releases, pressing a kiss to my thumb before turning back to the door and unlocking the playroom.

Hearing the door click open, a faint but distinct scent of tobacco fills the air, mixed with the warm and spicy aroma of cloves—a lingering scent adding a touch of masculinity just before entering.

Leo exudes a calm confidence, unaffected by any nerves—why would he be? What I’ve come to know is that a dominant’s playroom is their sanctuary, their safe haven, a place where they can truly be themselves without any guilt or shame and be sexually authentic. The only one who should be feeling anxious is me, yet strangely, I’m surprisingly calm.

“After you,” Leo insisted, gesturing to walk through the door first.

As I inched closer, a soft pink light radiated from behind the door, the very same light that glowed around the edges. I slowly push the door open revealing what appears to be a vast and surprisingly spacious room. The walls were lined with an almost overwhelming array of erotic toys, ranging from the innocently playful to some taboo things.

Each corner of the room seemed to hold something new and unfamiliar. It was a world of pleasure and desire that I have never imagined before, and I couldn’t help but feel a mixture of even more curiosity and apprehension the further I entered.

As my eyes roamed over every inch, they immediately landed on a colossal black bed that dominated the southern wall. It seemed to stretch a good length, large enough to accommodate at least seven people.

It was draped in luxurious black silk sheets, their sheen dancing under the soft glow of the distant pink fluorescent pink lights. As I moved the fabric seemed to transform color into a deep, rich red.

“I hope the grandiose bed doesn’t intimidate you,” Master Leo purred.

“Why is it such a monster?” I asked, turning back to face him.

He took a second to think about his answer.

“Let’s just say, I prefer not to have limitations as it only hinders true pleasure.”

“You say that to all your submissives, don’t you?” I flirtatiously press.

“None who’ve captivated me before,” he said, his voice dripping with passion.

I deliberately turned my back to Master Leo, knowing he would be able to sense my arousal all over my face. I couldn’t let him see how much his words or even touch affected me so quickly. But deep down, I was secretly drowning in his affection.

What doesn’t help is the way he just stands there, bathed in the vibrant light that highlights every curve of his muscles. Those arms...all I can think about is how badly I wanted them around me, holding me close, his lips claiming mine again.

And those sinful lips.

I could go on and on about Master Leo.

And a thought hit me.

“How many men have you brought to this room?”

A mood killer, yes, but he did say if I had any questions...

“Two,” he replied, interrupting my thoughts, “Just two.”

Our conversation fell into a lull, the air now thick with sexual tension as Master Leo’s heavy footsteps closed in on me. I could practically feel the heat emanating from his body as he stood behind me, his fingers tracing tantalizing patterns up and down my arm.

His mouth brushed against my ear as he whispered in a low voice, “I'm very picky.”

Suddenly the thought of the other two mentioned melted away. He picked me? How so? I’ve got nothing to offer other than random off the cuff jokes and the ability to help make anybody sound good on paper.

Maybe some good taste in music as well.

There’s simply nothing else to me.

“Why me?”

Strong hands pressed into my chest, feeling the rise and fall of not only my chest, but Master Leo’s. Every caress threatened to steal away my control at any second, leaving me at his mercy.

Ugh, the rush it brings.

“The first time I laid eyes on you, there was intimidation,” he started, “Your sharp tongue and dismissive attitude only made me want you more.”

“So, my insolence turned you on?” I asked, my lips curling into a sly smile.

Master Leo chuckled darkly.

“Let me clarify, the way you carried yourself, so confident and being able to resist up to a certain point.”

“To dominate me with no physical attraction” I say, in an almost defeated tone.

“No physical attraction? When you arrived at Wonderland standing in my reception area wearing your crisp slim fit suit outlining every inch of you, I swear your ass was about to bust out of your pants—Drew there was plenty for me to see. Your entire being pulled me in,” his voice thick with lust.

“You haven’t answered my other question,” I said, wanting an answer.

“I’m a soft dom.”

“Might want to expand on that sir, me being vanilla and all.”

“Gladly,” he said, again in a whisper.