Chapter 20
RYDER
The training floor is packed tonight, ready for a night of skilled debauchery.
Logan is doing a Shibari class, Helena, Pierce, and Freya are showing the art of including a third without their participation in sex.
Flex and Helena will be doing a class on anal toys, and Theo is overseeing everything as the new Master of the training suite.
I tried to get out of doing the breath-play demonstration, but in the end, I caved.
Breath play is extremely dangerous if done incorrectly and still holds an element of danger even with the most experienced Dominant.
It’s why I fucking hate myself for doing it to Aspen.
I’ve never been that cavalier with it, and I question my judgment when it comes to her.
My friend, Dalton, appears at my side with Nadia. “Where’s your sub?”
“I don’t have one. Viv is going to be my partner for the class.”
“Are you two…” Nadia asks.
“No.”
“Don’t question a Dom about his sexual partner, kitten. On your knees. You can sit at my feet for asking such an invasive question.”
She has a mischievous smile playing on her lips as she drops to her position, her eyes cast to the floor. “Yes, Master Callaghan.”
“Have you seen Viv? We’re about to get started.”
“She just arrived with Jenna.”
“Jenna is coming to these events now?”
“Yeah. She wants to know more about the lifestyle. Why? You looking to take on a new sub?”
“Not right now. Jenna is fucking hot, though. Maybe if I were in a better headspace.”
“What’s going on?” It’s been a while since I’ve had a one-on-one conversation with Dalton. Sure, we have some laughs down in the bar with everyone, but I’m not exactly spilling my guts about Aspen. He’s someone whose opinion I take seriously.
“Let’s grab lunch this week, and I’ll fill you in.”
“Sounds good.”
“Tut, tut, tut, Nadia.” Viv’s voice is smooth like butter as she appears at my side, looking absolutely killer in black lace underwear. “Already on your knees.”
“She loves it,” Dalton says with a wry grin.
“Oh. I’m sure she does.” Viv turns her attention to me. “Are we ready to start?”
“Yeah. Flex said the new Master is going to say a little something before we get going, but we’ll be up first.”
“Good evening, everyone.” A low, rumbling voice speaks into the microphone. Nadia’s head snaps up to where the new training Master stands.
“Theo?” Her hand goes to her mouth, her eyes wide as saucers when Dalton notices that she’s broken her position. Nadia is a seasoned sub and knows not to speak or lift her gaze without permission.
“You know Theo?” Dalton asks, the firm knit of his brow showing his displeasure.
“Yes, Master Callaghan. We… he was…”
“Spit it out, Naddie.”
“He trained me. He was my Dominant until I moved to New York.”
“He’s the guy? Fucking Theo Randall took what was supposed to be mine. We’re friends, for fuck’s sake. Get up. Now.”
“Dalton, I didn’t know. You have no right to be mad.”
“Go to our private room. Strip. Get in the position and fucking wait until I say otherwise.”
“Dalton.” She reaches for him, but he looks about ready to storm the stage and knock Theo out.
“Last time I checked, you fucking address me as your Master within the walls of this club. My fucking club.”
“I apologize, Master. Can we talk about this?”
“Not here. Do as you’re told, Naddie.”
She dips her head and takes her leave as I attempt to act as if nothing happened while Theo introduces himself.
“Welcome to the training suite. I’m Theo Randall, the new training Master here at Venom. Some of you I know, and others I’m looking forward to meeting. We’re kicking off our evening with a demonstration of breath play.”
“Are you okay?” I ask Dalton. He looks fucking murderous as Theo speaks.
“He trained her. He was her Dom for years. Her only Dom before me. When she kneels for me, it’s because he taught her how. When she takes her punishment like a good girl, it’s because he was her first.”
“We all have a past, bro. You can’t hold it against them. You had subs before Nadia.”
“He trained her. That was supposed to be me. I can’t explain it, but it feels worse knowing that there was only him. He meant something to her.” He slings back a whiskey. “I need another drink.”
“Calm down before you go to her. She didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I fucking know that.”
“Do you? Because you spoke to her like shit a few minutes ago. I’m just saying, if you don’t want your wife to walk out of here tonight thinking you’re an asshole, you might want to take a beat to compose yourself.”
“He’s right, Dal,” Viv interjects.
“Duly noted.” He practically spits as he disappears into the crowd.
Viv turns her attention to me. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”
“Please welcome, Ryder Stevens. He will be instructing tonight’s first lesson.” Theo’s voice sounds menacing, dark and authoritative.
“It’ll have to wait, Viv. We’re up.”
I take her hand in mine and stride over to the stage with easy confidence. I may not want to be doing this tonight, but I’m the best person in here to teach this particular kink, even though I did the unforgivable with Aspen. And she liked it.
Her body came alive under my touch. I need to get through this, and then I’m going to drink myself into a stupor and pretend I’m not thinking about my baby girl. Except she isn’t mine.
“Hey, everyone. Mistress Genevieve has agreed to assist me with this masterclass. Breath play is a very particular kink, and even when engaged in correctly, it comes with safety concerns that most kinks don’t.
” Viv crawls up onto the demonstration bed, looking every inch the temptress I know her to be.
“Firstly, do not attempt this without proper training or without signed consent. I suggest only engaging if both parties are equally interested. I would not recommend indulging with a sub if breath play is even a soft limit. I know as a Dominant, it is our place to help our submissives push themselves within safe parameters, and with any other kink, I would encourage you to test soft limits. After all, it’s why they exist. But, this is the one kink I would avoid under those circumstances. ”
You could hear a pin drop in here right now, in a room of at least a hundred people. I am such a hypocrite, but I firmly believe what I’m teaching.
“Mistress Genevieve is going to sit up, facing forward so I can show you how to start learning this kink. As I said before, this can be a dangerous kink for even the most experienced Dominant if not done with the utmost care.”
I relax into it, slowly unbuttoning my shirt as I continue.
“When learning breath play, there are several methods, depending on the drive behind the kink. In most cases, it is to deepen trust in a D/s relationship. It requires complete trust from the submissive but also from the Dominant. You must know with absolute confidence that your submissive will alert you if you need to stop. You need a safe signal that has been rehearsed beforehand. That may seem like a small thing, but the sub will be unable to speak during the course of breath play. If they have an item in their hand to drop, you need to know the surface you’re working on.
Items may make a noise on a wooden floor, but would they on a carpeted floor or on a bed? You must know this ahead of time.”
I reach into my pocket, grab my keys, and hand them to Viv. “Drop these on the floor, please, Mistress Genevieve.” They clang against the hardwood stage. I reach down and hand them back to her. “Now, drop them on the bed.” There’s a collective understanding in the crowd. “Know your surface.”
I walk over to a table laden with masks and gags.
“I do not recommend starting your journey with any of these items. Only a seasoned Dominant should entertain a physical impediment to their submissive’s breathing.
I know it can be sexy as hell, but when it comes to safety, it can hinder how quickly you can relieve your sub if they are in distress.
It may not seem like much, but seconds count. ”
I make my way back over to the bed, crawling on behind Viv, her back resting against my naked chest. Typically, this would be such a turn-on for me, but my cock seems to answer to one woman these days. The one I can’t even have.
“There are three main variants of breath play. Number one is smothering. This is akin to using a mask or gag but gives you complete control of the situation.” I reach around, placing my hand on Viv’s shoulder to let her know I’m about to demonstrate.
She remains completely relaxed against me. “Tell me your safe signal.”
“I will tap your shoulder with my right hand.”
“Very good. Now, breathe deep, Mistress.” She does as she’s told.
I place my hand over her mouth. “To gauge time, I will close off her air and hold my breath as I do it. This is a great way for the Dominant to learn limits. Bear in mind that some of us can hold our breath longer than others, so be cognizant of that when restricting air.”
I pinch Viv’s nose with my other hand as I take a deep breath and hold. When she’s ready, she taps my shoulder. “It’s simple, but effective.”
Viv has a blissful look on her face. She’s usually the one administering breath play, but it seems like she’s quite enjoying it.
“Number two is choking. Some confuse this with strangling, but for the purposes of breath play, they are different. Choking is the presence of a foreign object that cuts off breathing. In kink, that would most likely be a cock or a dildo. Allowing your submissive to gag on your cock is fucking transcendent.” A knowing amusement ripples through the crowd.
“However, you need to be aware of how long and how frequently they gag. You don’t want to activate their reflex to the point of vomiting, and always make sure they can breathe through their nose throughout the play. I won’t demonstrate with my dick.”