CHAPTER 15 #2
I knew they’d told me not to rely on the stories I’d read, but I couldn’t help it. I had no frame of reference otherwise, and since collars seemed to be an outward sign of possession for a Dominant, I took it to mean as much for the three of us.
Cav leaned in, pressed his lips to mine. “I’m very fond of this outfit, by the way.”
My breath hitched as he licked his tongue over my bottom lip. I remained as still as possible, wanting to obey his every command.
The backs of his fingers grazed my nipple. “I look forward to seeing you without it, though.”
I swallowed, the sound loud between us.
“And if you’re a really good girl, perhaps I’ll even give you a little something to remember me by.”
When he kissed me this time, it was full on the mouth. His tongue slid past my lips, meeting mine. It took everything in me not to reach for him.
“Now, cupcake, let’s join the class.”
“Yes, Professor.”
He allowed me to walk in front of him. The collar snug around my neck, a constant reminder of who I belonged to. It would take some getting used to, sure, but I wasn’t complaining. Not even a little.
Cav steered me toward another room, one I’d yet to see during my time at the club. It looked like a regular classroom with three rows of tables and chairs. From what I could tell, all of the chairs were filled, leaving no place for me to sit.
“This way, cupcake,” Cav said, his tone firm.
He led me to the front of the room, where Edge stood waiting.
“Kneel,” Edge commanded.
I went to my knees, remembering to keep the lines of my body appealing, my only goal to please these two men. It wasn’t easy to ignore all of the eyes on me, but I forced them out of my mind.
“Thank you, sweetness,” he said before addressing the class. “If you walk away learning nothing else, I expect you to know the most basic, the most important aspect of BDSM.”
Edge began to pace across the room as he spoke.
“Have you heard the terms safe, sane, and consent? Yes? No? Maybe?” He chuckled, then sobered.
“Well, listen carefully. Those are the three basic rules of BDSM. Safe, meaning to do things in the safest way possible, knowing the risks and adjusting to minimize them. This isn’t merely a rule a submissive will follow.
During our Dom training here at the club, this is drilled into our heads.
And let me tell you, this class is a leisurely stroll through the park compared to that.
A Dominant who undergoes training here at Dichotomy is subjected to every instrument, every toy, every piece of equipment repeatedly in an effort to teach them the safe way to use it.
If a Dominant does not understand what it feels like to be whipped, flogged, or sealed in rubber, he has absolutely no right to perform this on his submissive.
It is imperative that we keep our submissives safe at all times.
And it’s your responsibility to recognize when something appears unsafe to you.
“Sane is exactly as it sounds. While this may seem like a fantasy world to you, it’s very real.
The equipment out there on the floor … those aren’t toys as we often refer to them.
The role-playing you engage in, while it may seem otherworldly at times, is very real.
Being restrained, chained up, strapped down, suspended in the air, it’s not make-believe.
Ensure that you are grounded in the real world before engaging in any sort of play. The same applies to your Dominant.
“As for consent…” Edge stepped closer to me, placed his hand on my head.
“That is your right. You choose whether to participate and how you participate. This goes for those who choose to give up all consent during a scene or in the lifestyle. No one has the right to choose this for you. It’s up to you to decide if you will participate.
If you aren’t making the choice yourself, it’s abuse. ”
I drifted on the sound of his voice, my mind absorbing every single word. While some of the blogs I’d previously read said there was no such thing as submissive training, I had to disagree. The information Edge was bestowing on us was important.
“While each of these Dominants has their own requirements, rituals, protocols, and such, these are the basic rules. Do not assume because someone refers to themselves as a Dominant that they are trustworthy, that they deserve your submission. Any man or woman can dominate you. That isn’t necessarily a good thing.
Without consent, it’s abuse. Without trust between the two of you, it’s simply ignorance.
“During this class, you’ll get to experience the tools and the toys, to feel what it’s like to be spanked with a crop, tied up, strapped down, stimulated with a violet wand, but know this.
” He stopped moving. “Just because a Dominant can yield a whip does not mean he knows how to handle it, that he won’t cause you significant harm.
The same goes for any of the toys you play with.
You should know what to expect and know your limits.
Communication is key between a Dominant and their submissive.
You cannot wall yourself off and not share your thoughts with your Dom.
And vice versa. That’s a disservice to you and to them.
Talk to them. Before a scene, after a scene, and any other time you have questions, comments, or concerns. ”
I got the sneaking suspicion Edge was talking about me. I’d clearly run from our issues, hidden from them, refused to talk. Looking back on it now, I understood his side of things. He had no idea what I wanted or needed because I hadn’t shared that with him.
I could hear the sincerity in Edge’s tone, knew that this was the most important part of his training class.
For the first time, I did not think about my dissertation.
Not even once.
CAV
“Not all Dominants are looking for a possession,” I said when Edge deferred to me.
“Some are looking for part-time sexual submissives. In the bedroom, in the club, that sort of thing. Others want a full-time submissive, one who will cater to them in whatever manner they’ve chosen.
And though you feel you’re submissive, otherwise you wouldn’t be here, this doesn’t mean you’re suited to one or the other.
For example, there are Sadists who get off on causing pain, but a responsible Sadist won’t settle for any submissive.
Their objective is to identify and connect with a masochist, someone who craves the pain and/or humiliation a Sadist can offer. ”
I kept my eyes on each of the students as I spoke, ensuring they were listening.
“Do I think you’ll find the person you’ll spend the rest of your life with in this class?
” I moved toward the first row of tables.
“Absolutely not. That isn’t the reason these trainers are here.
They’re here for your benefit, to help you understand the variety of Dominants we have here at this particular club.
Do we do things the same way as other clubs? Absolutely not.”
Edge took control again. “While there are other upstanding clubs out there, you have to be aware of those that are in it for the wrong reasons.”
I stood back, listened as he gave his spiel regarding the various clubs, the abuse that sometimes occurs and so forth. He continued on for several minutes while my attention drifted to Jamie.
So far, she’d held up well. When I first saw her wearing that barely there lingerie, I’d been somewhat surprised she had stepped out of the locker room.
I had to remember to give Edge shit about it.
The least he could’ve done was give me some sort of warning.
The second she’d walked through that training room door, I’d damn near swallowed my tongue.
As for the collar, I thought for certain she would balk. Yes, it was a symbol in many respects, but it was also a mind fuck. A way for me to let her know who she belonged to.
Needless to say, I was content with this turn of events.
Edge claiming Jamie openly was a big deal.
While I would’ve preferred my chance to do the same, this was Edge’s domain.
And I didn’t have any issues being the second during the training class.
It gave me something to focus on, something to look forward to.
If we could only get past the classroom portion of this training, I’d be set.
Two hours later, after we gave the class in-depth detail regarding the difference between a Dominant, a Sadist, a Primal, and the like, the class was dispersing.
While Edge went to his office, I led Jamie to the locker room.
As promised, I kept the collar on her, told her to keep it on until I removed it.
Edge appeared before Jamie did, his hands tucked into his pockets.
“I’ve got some things to take care of tonight,” Edge said seriously. “However, I’d like to spend a few minutes with her. With you.”
Jamie appeared, the collar still around her neck. It wasn’t exactly unobtrusive and looked all the more intimidating around the delicate column of her neck. Still, I liked seeing it.
“Would you mind joining us in my office?” Edge requested.
“Of course,” she said sweetly.
Edge motioned for her to precede him. I followed them, my gaze sliding over Jamie’s ass seductively swaying beneath that long skirt. While I had loved seeing her in the lingerie, I got the same thrill seeing her fully dressed. Just seeing her, actually.
The door to Edge’s office was open. Once the three of us were inside, I closed it with a soft click.
“Please have a seat,” Edge said, nodding toward his desk, which I noticed had been cleared completely.
Jamie glanced at the wooden surface, then up to him, before she turned and perched on the desk.
Since the room was relatively small, there wasn’t anything other than the desk, an executive chair, and two cushioned chairs on the opposite side.
The desk was the only flat surface aside from the small sliver of floor.