Chapter Five #2
Everyone gave Cal and Mouse a rousing cheer when they finished. Mouse bundled up in his daddy’s arms and gave everyone a shy wave before burying his head against Cal's chest. It had been an incredible scene to watch. The connection between Cal and Mouse was clear for all to see.
“Up you get, Princess. I think we have time to freshen up and grab a drink before we’re expected to be up on stage.
” I reached out a hand and Cullen took it, rising slowly from the ground.
I watched his movements. They were smooth and graceful.
The time on his knees didn’t seem to put him in any pain so far, but I would keep an eye on him tonight.
He seemed to be the sort of man who would push himself to please a Dom, and while that was admirable, I didn’t want him putting himself in actual physical pain just to please me.
At his full height, Cullen's forehead barely reached my chin. I was finding myself noticing his body more. He wasn’t heavily muscular like some men, nor was he boyish in his build. He was sleeker, built like a swimmer, but not overly athletic.
Honestly, he was sexy as hell, and I was finding it hard not to react physically to his presence.
I still held his hand as I led us towards a quiet corner of the club where there were several sofas used often by members for a place to connect and check in after a scene. I sat down while Cullen stood waiting for my command.
“Grab us both a bottle of water please, Cullen, and come back here as quickly as you can.”
“Yes, Sir.” Cullen dipped his head slightly before turning and heading towards the club’s bar area.
I watched the gentle sway of his arse as he walked, and I could almost swear there was a cocky swager to it. The man truly did love being of service.
“Well, he certainly looks happy.” Roman dropped down onto the sofa alongside me smiling broadly.
“You think so?” I looked over at my friend and sighed at his smug look. “You seem rather pleased with yourself.”
“Well, I am. I told Marco I thought you and Cullen would mesh well together. That, or kill each other, both would be interesting to watch.” Roman laughed at my scowl.
“You know it’s considered rude to stick your nose into people’s lives. Meddling is not a hobby you should take up.” I huffed, trying and failing to sound outraged.
“Oh, don’t try pulling the stuffy earl’s son routine on me.
You forget I’ve known you too long to buy into that bullshit.
” Sadly, that was true. Roman had known my parents through their shared charitable works and a love of unusual antiques and oddities.
He knew what a wild bohemian bunch my family was and was likely encouraged by them to meddle in my love life.
In my dear mother’s view, I was unhealthily single and needed to have a sweet man in my life.
I kept an eye on Cullen who was still standing patiently waiting to be served. The bar was busy, and the club was full. It seemed like every member had decided to attend tonight’s function.
“I’m not pulling anything, Ro. I just like my life how it is, uncomplicated.”
“Lonely.” He countered, following my gaze. “He has the same problem, telling everyone he’s living how he wants, but I know when someone is lonely and aching for a daddy.”
“I told you I wasn’t even sure if that was a path I was certain I wanted to try.” I countered, trying not to get frustrated with Roman. I knew he meant well even if he was being annoying as hell.
I turned my head back to see Cullen walking back towards us with two bottles of water in hand. “Here you go, Sir. I wasn’t sure what you wanted, but I went for the mineral water, it has a touch of lemon, Sir”
“Perfect. Now I want you to have your drink and sit quietly until it’s time for us to do our demonstration. Do you have any questions for me before you resume speech restriction?”
Cullen tilted his head. “Sir. You said we will we continue with our scene after the demonstration?” Cullen was too much of a closed book to come across as eager, but I had an inkling he would prefer that we continued, and so would I.
“I can’t see why not. We’re both happy and enjoying ourselves,” I answered.
“Thank you, Sir.”
“You’re welcome, Princess, now on your knees for me.” I tried not to roll my eyes when Roman mouthed ‘Princess’ and then smirked. It would be wrong to thump a fellow Dominant, even if they were acting like an annoying twelve-year-old.
Roman stood up, patting my shoulder. “I need to go find Sebastian. You still have about half an hour before I’ve scheduled you to go on. Take your time and let me know if you need anything.”
Cullen settled on his cushion next to my seat, still holding the bottles of water as he waited for me.
I took both bottles, setting one on the small table to the side of the couch, and I opened the other bottle and passed it to Cullen. “There you go.”
Cullen accepted the bottle with a slight incline of his head and a small smile. Perhaps Roman was right. Cullen did look happy, well, less tense than he had when I’d seen him first in the changing room.
“Tonight, when we go on stage, I want you kneeling in Present, hands on your thighs, open and facing up.
After I introduce us, I want you to move into each position when I command.
While you are in position, I will start talking about my experiences as a Master, and then I will ask you to share your thoughts about your experiences.
Cullen nodded, then lifted his hand to his mouth, asking permission to speak.
“You may speak.”
“I’ve not been in a D/s or TPE relationship for a long time. I don't want to give the wrong ideas,” Cullen said.
“I can promise you that you won’t. They want to hear about why you enjoy this play and how it would feel to be in a long-term contract,” I answered, hoping to allay Cullen's concerns.
“That sounds fine, Sir.” Cullen shifted slightly to place his empty water bottle to one side, then put his hands back in his lap. “Are you happy with what I have chosen to wear?”
I used my hand to signal him to stand, and Cullen obeyed quickly. “Turn for me slowly.” Cullen looked perfect, but I had a feeling this was more about his self-confidence and wanting to please than a worry that he’d worn something I wouldn’t like.
“Very nice, Princess.” I stood and walked around him slowly, aware that others were watching us.
“You have kept my property looking perfect.” I saw Cullen's brows rise just a fraction.
I leant in closer, close enough that my lips brushed his ear.
“When we are together, you are very much mine, Kitten. Mine to control, mine to dominate, mine to praise.” Cullen's eyes closed for a second, and his breathing sped up before he regained control.
“As my Master wishes.” Cullen's tone was reverent, softly spoken yet clear for anyone close to hear him speak.
“You and I shall have so much fun tonight.”
Cullen was exquisite through the demonstration, his positions beautiful and smooth.
At the touch of my crop, he flowed from one position to the next.
He obeyed each command as quickly as if we’d been doing this for years together not hours.
The only red mark against an otherwise perfect demonstration was Cullen lying to me.
Twice during our performance, I had subtly checked in with him, and I could see he was having some difficulty kneeling.
Not enough that the onlookers apart from very observant Doms would notice, but I did.
“Cullen, you were almost perfect tonight. Almost.” I had led him to the comfortable sofas, and when he had gone to kneel, I had purposely made him sit on the sofa.
“Are you unhappy with something I did?” Cullen asked, his tone more guarded than it had been most of the night.
I rolled my shoulders as I thought the best way to answer. We were on a new path together, and I didn’t want to fall back into our old habits. “Cullen, when I asked you if you were okay, if your legs were hurting, you chose to lie.” I saw Cullen's head drop and his shoulders slump.
The defeated sigh I heard from him nearly broke my heart. “Sorry, Sir. It’s been a while since I’ve knelt for any extended period of time, and my calves were starting to ache.”
Damn proud man, he should have said something. “I understand, Princess, but going forward, you must tell me if anything hurts. I want trust between the two of us.”
“Yes, Sir, I promise.” Cullen sounded contrite, but I needed him to remember going forward.
“I’m sure you are, but I want you to remember, which I feel needs a more physical lesson.
” I lowered myself down next to Cullen. “You were amazing for me tonight, Princess, but not telling your Dom when you are in pain, pain that is not part of the scene and could be detrimental to your health, that is a big red flag.”
“I understand if you don’t wish to continue our scene together tonight, Sir.” Cullen's shoulders rose. I could already see him building up those mental walls I had been trying to gently dismantle over the evening. I needed to act quickly.
“Did I say that, Cullen? Did anything I just say specifically tell you I didn't want to continue?” I watched him squirm as he thought about the question.
Cullen lifted his head and blinked a couple of times before he answered, “No. I just thought…” Cullen's head dropped, and he let out a long breath.
“You thought what, kitten?” Cullen looked up at the ceiling before he spoke. “Can I speak honestly?”
“I would hope so.” I smiled, trying to ease the tension I saw in Cullen's face.
“You’re confusing the hell out of me, and I’m not sure how I’m supposed to react.” I watched as Cullen ran his fingers through his hair, a habit I’d noticed before when he was stressed.
“I am?” I frowned. I hadn't meant to cause Cullen distress. I thought our scene together had gone well besides him hiding his legs hurting. I bit my lip, and a sudden, unexpected wave of nerves flowed over me, the sort I hadn’t felt since I was a baby Dom learning the ropes.
Cullen's lips twisted as he smiled nervously. “I’m messing this up. I had fun tonight, and I didn’t expect to. I maybe even expected to hate it.” Cullen pursed his lips and blew out a long breath. “I suppose it's fair to say I wasn’t coming into this with high expectations.”
I sat back, not sure what to say. Instead of speaking, I listened, waiting for Cullen to continue.
“I wasn’t expecting us to click quite like we have, which led me to feel like I had to prove something to you. That I was just a good submissive and not some sad old fool trying to fit into a younger man’s world.”
“That’s why you chose not to inform me your knees were hurting?” I asked. Cullen nodded.
“To me, it would’ve been an admission that I couldn’t cut it, that maybe the snide little remarks made by some of the younger members regarding my age were right.” Cullen seemed to shrink in on himself, and I didn’t like that one bit.
“Cullen, look at me.” He lifted his eyes, and I saw a vulnerability there that I would never have expected from him.
“I’m sorry for how those other subs treated you.
It was wrong, and they should know better.
” Cullen lifted a hand as if to wave my concern away, and I took it in mine.
“Okay, so we’re going to continue with our night, and you will be getting spanked.
I think you need to remember to always be honest with your Dominant.
After that, we’re going to cuddle and talk. Thoughts?”
A ghost of a smile crossed Cullen's face. “Do you always get what you want?”
I shook my head, laughing. “Not always, but I really do want to continue with tonight. I think there is something here.” I looked down at where I was holding Cullen's hand. “Well, when we aren’t being obnoxious shits to each other.”
“We are really good at that though,” Cullen answered. He seemed a little more relaxed than he had been.
“I think we might be pretty good at this too, Princess. So, what do you say, ready to get that sexy arse of yours spanked?” I loved how Cullen's cheeks pinked when I called him Kitten. There was something sexy about seeing him blush.
“Yes, Sir.” Cullen's voice dipped low, and he graced me with a sweet smile.