Chapter Seven #2
“Come on. We'll have a better vantage point up there.” He regarded Ryan, who was grinning like he’d stolen the last cookie from the jar. “Would you like to join us?”
Ryan let out a snort, then quickly covered his mouth before responding. “I just remembered I have to go do something.”
Avery smirked. “Well, I don’t want to hold you up if you have something important to do.”
Ryan rolled his eyes with great exaggeration. “Sooooo important.” He gave Eli a quick hug, whispering something in his ear. He straightened. “You kids have fun.”
Avery cleared his throat loudly. Ryan’s eyes went wide. “Uh, have fun, Eli, and you too, Sir.” He gritted his teeth then hurried from the room.
“Shall we?”
Eli nodded, and Avery placed a light hand on the small of his back, guiding Eli to the other side of the room.
The contact sent a jolt of awareness through him—the warmth of Eli’s body through the thin fabric of his shirt, the way the younger man seemed to lean slightly into his touch.
Dangerous territory, but Avery couldn't bring himself to pull away.
They found a spot against the wall right as Master Gavin entered the demonstration area with his boy.
Avery was aware of Gavin’s reputation in the kink community, but seeing him in person was different.
The imposing, muscular man moved with the fluid confidence of someone comfortable with himself.
His boy followed a step behind, head lowered but not cowering, a practiced submission grown out of trust and experience.
After introducing himself to the audience, Master Gavin introduced his husband and sub, Kyle. The way Gavin beamed as he spoke made it clear to everyone how proud he was of his boy.
Eli tensed beside him as the demonstration began. His breathing quickened, a barely perceptible increase, but noticeable enough if someone was paying attention. And Avery was paying close attention.
“The key to electro-play,” Avery murmured, his voice low enough that only Eli could hear, “is building anticipation. Watch how Master Gavin eases Kyle into the scene.”
Master Gavin was indeed starting slowly, running his hands over Kyle’s bare torso, mapping the terrain where he would soon apply the violet wand.
His movements were deliberate, almost meditative, and Avery found himself appreciating the man’s technique despite the distraction of being so close to Eli.
Eli’s breath caught as the first spark of electricity jumped between the implement and the sub’s skin. The gasp from Eli split Avery’s focus between the demonstration and the beautiful man beside him. Eli had curled his hands into loose fists at his sides, and the muscles in his throat were taut.
“It’s all about control,” Avery whispered. “The Dom controls the intensity, the placement, the duration. The sub must have complete trust. At the same time, the sub has the true power because he can use his safeword.”
Eli nodded, his gaze fixed on the scene before them. The violet wand crackled again, drawing a soft moan from Kyle. Avery watched Eli’s throat work as he swallowed hard.
“Does it hurt?”
Eli’s question was so quiet that Avery had to lean closer to catch it. The movement brought him near enough to sense the heat radiating from Eli’s body.
“It’s different for everyone,” Avery replied, Eli's proximity making his own pulse quicken. “Some experience it as pain, others as an intense sensation. The electricity stimulates nerve endings in ways that can be overwhelming or euphoric, depending on tolerance and headspace. Watch his breathing,” Avery whispered, nodding toward Kyle. “See how Master Gavin pauses between each contact? He’s reading his sub’s responses, adjusting intensity based on what he observes. ”
“He's enjoying it.” Eli’s words held wonder, as if reassuring himself that it was okay to embrace pain as pleasure.
“Pain and pleasure aren’t opposites in this world. They’re dance partners.” He found himself studying Eli’s profile in the low light, the way shadows played across the soft line of his jaw. “The sensation itself isn’t what matters—it’s the trust, the surrender, the connection between them.”
Eli shifted closer to Avery until their bodies were almost flush.
Eli worried his bottom lip, and he couldn’t seem to keep still.
Avery found himself leaning in, drawn by Eli’s clear fascination with the scene unfolding before them.
The violet wand crackled again, its electric blue light casting momentary shadows across the room.
Kyle’s muscles tensed and released with each contact, his breath coming in controlled bursts.
“Are you all right?” Avery kept his voice low, private between them despite the collective gasps and murmurs around them as Master Gavin demonstrated an intricate pattern with the wand.
Eli nodded, not taking his eyes off the demonstration. “It’s so intense to watch.”
Avery angled his body a bit to create a barrier between Eli and the rest of the room. “We can step out if it’s too much.”
“No, that’s okay. I don’t want to leave yet.” He peered up at Avery. “But can we talk some more afterward?”
Avery’s heart rate kicked up a notch. “I’d like that.”
They exchanged a smile, and this time, Eli moved close enough that he was leaning his small frame against him. Accepting the action as a silent invitation, Avery rested his hand on Eli’s hip.
For the rest of the demonstration, Avery found it increasingly difficult to concentrate on Master Gavin’s technique.
Instead, he found himself captivated by the man next to him.
The subtle pressure of Eli’s body against his own was much too tempting.
He tightened his fingers on Eli’s hip, his thumb finding the narrow strip of skin where Eli’s shirt had ridden up.
The contact was more electric than anything happening in the scene.
When Master Gavin finally concluded the demonstration to enthusiastic applause, Eli seemed to come out of a trance. He blinked a few times and straightened, creating a small space between them that seemed like miles.
“What did you think?” Avery kept his voice low.
Eli tucked a curl behind his ear, a gesture Avery was beginning to recognize as a nervous habit. “It was actually pretty stunning.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “I can’t believe Master Gavin is here. The night Lenny and I went to Kiss of Leather, he wasn’t—”
Eli gasped, his jaw dropping open. Before Avery could register that Eli had confessed to going to Kiss of Leather, he was pushing his way through the crowd, once again running away from him.
Shit.
Avery rushed after him, excusing himself as he quickly moved past everyone, anxious to catch up to Eli.
Running from him wasn’t his main concern.
He didn’t want Eli to freak out and leave the safety of Zane’s home.
Fortunately, there was only one elevator, and Eli wasn’t familiar enough with the club layout to know there were two stairwells at either end of the hallway.
Avery caught up to the elevator right as the doors began to close, sliding inside before Eli could protest. The confined space seemed to amplify everything—the sound of Eli’s rapid breathing, the faint tremor in his hands as he pressed himself against the far wall, the wild look in his eyes.
“Eli, everything’s okay. You can trust me.” Avery’s heart ached for him.
“I can't believe I said that.” Eli’s voice cracked, and he raked his fingers through his hair. “I’m so stupid.” He smacked his forehead. “And me reminding Lenny not to say a word, but here I am, blabbing away like a moron.” He covered his eyes. “I keep messing everything up.”
Avery pressed the stop button. He hoped Zane wouldn’t ride him too hard for bringing everything to a halt on such a busy night. But he needed a few minutes of peace and refuge to calm Eli down.
“Breathe, sweetheart. In through your nose…exhale slowly. That’s it.” Avery smiled. “Keep looking at me. Very good.”
“I’m sorry, Sir.” He drew his eyebrows together. “That’s what I’m supposed to call you, right?”
“When we’re in the club, yes.” Avery held Eli’s gaze, noting that he seemed to be relaxing a bit. “Would you still like to talk? It doesn’t have to be about what just happened. I’ll leave that up to you.”
Eli lowered his eyes, and Avery held his breath. The agony of not being able to help Eli was eating away at him. Even if he was typically a patient man, there was nothing typical about Eli or how he felt about him.
Eli lifted his head. “Is there somewhere more private?” He fiddled with the yellow bracelet. “I don’t mean one of the playrooms. Just someplace we can talk where no one else is around.”
Relief washed over him. There was a chance he could help Eli with his terrible secret after all.
“Let me see what I can do. I’ll check with the dungeon master and see if there are any openings.” Avery pressed the green button, and the elevator continued its downward journey.
The doors opened to the main floor, and Avery stepped out first, scanning the crowd for Zane.
He spotted him near the bar, deep in conversation with Kurt about something that held the bouncer’s attention completely.
Avery placed his hand on Eli’s lower back again, steering him through the clusters of people toward his friend.
“Zane,” Avery called out as they drew near.
Zane turned, eyebrows raising slightly at the sight of him and Eli so close together. “Everything all right?”
“We’re looking for somewhere quiet to talk. Any of the consultation rooms available?”
Zane’s questioning expression shifted to understanding.
The consultation rooms were designed for this exact purpose, private spaces where Doms and subs could negotiate scenes or work through issues without the distractions of the main floor.
They were soundproofed, located apart from the other rooms or main area, yet provided the same welcoming and comfortable atmosphere as any place in the club.