Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Brody saw the fear in her eyes—they were wide, the pupils blown. He knew she was crashing a little, despite how minimal the kink had been, despite her refusing to admit it.
“Claudia,” he repeated, “I know you’re dropping.
And I know it may feel different from the subdrop you’ve experienced after heavy kink play.
But people crash all the time after sex—it’s the intimacy and vulnerability, and the chemical release that comes with acutely heightened senses, and even more, after an orgasm.
And, baby, you squirted for the first time, and that’s huge for most people.
I understand you’re in a really vulnerable place right now, but… so am I.”
She blinked a few times. “You are?”
“Yeah. Remember when we discussed aftercare, and I told you I sometimes need it, too?”
“I do remember. Brody, are you alright?” she asked, her face full of concern as she reached up to stroke his cheek, making his heart feel like it was about to burst.
“Yeah, I’m okay. But I need you to know that this was not just sex for me.
I don’t mean to scare you. I’m not about to go all stalkery on you, I promise.
But that was fucking amazing. You’re fucking amazing.
I’ve thought you were so special from the first time I met you, more and more each time we talked when I’d come to Dallas, and I’m even more convinced now.
Not just because sex with you is off the god damn charts, but because of who you are.
How you opened yourself to me, even though it was scary for you.
I need to know that this was good for you.
That we can explore more, get to know each other more.
I can’t keep those thoughts from you. Not after how honest you’ve been with me.
After I asked you to be. I owe you transparency, so… this is my truth.”
“Oh…”
She bit her lip and seemed to be processing what he’d said to her. He hoped to god he hadn’t said too much. But he wasn’t the kind of guy to hold back when he felt so strongly about something. And what he was feeling for her was so deep already.
“I really don’t mean to scare you off. That’s the last thing I want.”
“I am a little bit scared, I have to admit,” she said.
“Because this was amazing for me, too—it was almost as if you could read my mind, and I don’t know that I’ve experienced anything like it.
It felt so, so good. I still feel good. And I feel this weird connection with you.
But I need some time to figure things out, to see where this can go. ”
“Of course. You take all the time you need. And we end up where we end up. But I will always be honest with you about where I stand.”
“Does this mean you still want to go to the Dungeon with me?” she asked, a little flirtation back in her voice.
“Are you kidding? Hell, yeah! How about tomorrow night? Let’s see how weird we can get,” he answered with a laugh.
She grinned up at him, her brown eyes glazed and shimmering with amber. So damn beautiful. “Oh, god. I’m sorry I said our connection was weird. I just meant… ugh! Can we please forget I ever said that? And yes, I would very much like to go to the Dungeon with you tomorrow night.”
He pulled her into his arms, and she snuggled right in, her arms going around his body. She smelled so good, like gardenias and sex and woman.
“Is this what you need?” she asked, burying her face against his chest.
“Yeah. This is it exactly.”
And it was. Not just the close physical touch, but the fact that she’d asked him. That was something no one else had ever done before. This was a lot of firsts for them both, and maybe there was a reason why.
He knew he was getting ahead of himself.
He needed to simply enjoy this moment, come down from the high they’d both experienced, and once he was grounded again he could figure things out.
But right now all he needed to know was that he’d served her needs, that she wanted to be there with him.
And that tomorrow night, they would play in the Dungeon together. He could hardly wait.
Derek had given Brody a tour of the Dungeon, and it was one of the nicest setups he’d ever seen.
Everything was spotless, like the rest of the Ranch’s facilities, and the equipment was top-notch.
There was a row of St. Andrew’s Crosses, spanking benches, spreader bars suspended from the ceiling by long shining chains, and even a low row of nicely built cages for pet play.
There was a wax play area, a fire play area, electrical play equipment, and hard points in the ceiling for rope suspension.
Of course, there were first aid and cleaning stations, and the armoires were filled with racks of play equipment, although he’d brought his own toy bag with him. But he appreciated the thoroughness.
The lighting was dim as he walked in with Claudia. She looked so fucking gorgeous in a tight red dress, her hair piled high on her head, accentuating her long, slender neck.
So perfect to wear my collar.
He had to stop thinking like that. Had to give her—both of them—time to see where things could go. This woman brought out ideas—feelings—in him he’d never felt before. But he’d have to put that all aside and focus purely on her tonight.
There were only two other couples in the Dungeon so far, and they were already in their scene space.
One couple—a man and a woman—he recognized from having met them the day before; they worked at the Ranch.
The other couple, two women who were laser focused on each other, he thought were guests.
But it was time to concentrate on his girl.
Mine.
I wish.
He shook the thought away as he led Claudia to the play area he’d chosen for them: a spanking bench set up next to a long, padded table in a shadowed corner of the room.
He thought it might be better for her to be tucked away, rather than on full display, since really focusing on each other was so important.
He set his toy bag down and gestured to a chair.
“Sit down while I set up. And as gorgeous as those heels are on you, I want you to take them off.”
She nodded and removed her pretty shoes without saying a word.
She’d barely said anything since he’d met her at her apartment a little while ago, but she’d smiled when he’d kissed her before taking the elevator down to the parking garage and getting into the golf cart to take them through the tunnels—he didn’t want her to walk that far in her high heels.
She’d been silent on the short ride, either from nerves or because she was getting her head into play mode.
It was okay if she was nervous. He expected it for their first Dungeon night.
If he couldn’t kiss or beat the nerves out of her, he’d take her back to his apartment and find a way later.
But he was hoping for her sake that everything went well tonight.
He laid his toys out on a narrow table against one wall, and he caught a glimpse of her from the corner of his eye.
When he set out his long leather flogger with the angled tips, she took in a deep breath.
And when he pulled out his five-barrel neuro wheel and a black rabbit fur glove, she bit her plush lower lip.
She’d love the surfacy sensation play, he could tell simply by watching her reaction.
He pulled out more items: a small selection of narrow bamboo canes, a leather paddle, a wooden paddle, a pair of soft leather cuffs with matching ankle cuffs. And lastly, a narrow gold satin ribbon. He turned and approached her, the ribbon in his hand.
“Stand up for me. Yeah, good girl.”
She was watching him, her eyes enormous, and he was sinking into Top space just sensing her response to him laying out his implements.
“I’m going to put a play collar on you. Accepting it means you want to scene with me tonight, that you accept my dominance, that you’ll do your best to submit to me, to let me take over.
To let me take care of everything. Take a minute to consider what will happen here tonight, what your role will be when you’re with me.
If you decide you’ve changed your mind, step back into your shoes, and I’ll take you to your apartment.
There will be no judgment, I promise. But if you agree to the terms of the evening, get down on your knees and clasp your hands behind your back. ”
She bit down on her lip once more, but he felt it was more about her processing what he’d said, rather than questioning it. And moments later, she sank gracefully to her knees.
“Ah, excellent. Now bow your head for me, beautiful.”
She did as he asked, and he bent to tie the ribbon around her neck, leaving the bow in the front. He felt her trembling the tiniest bit. Nerves? Excitement? Maybe both.
It didn’t matter. All that mattered was they were there together, and the moment he’d put the ribbon in place, it was all about a synchronized flow, encouraged by the ambient music playing and the dim red and purple lights of the Dungeon.
He took her hand in his, lifted it and kissed her palm, felt her answering shiver.
“Let’s go over your safe words one more time. We’re using the traffic light colors. Tell me.”
Her hand went to her neck, and she brushed the gold ribbon with her fingertips briefly before letting her hand fall back to her side.
“Green is for go, meaning everything is good. Yellow is a pause to check in to see if we need to change toys, or if I need a break, or something to drink, or if a rope is too tight. Red means we stop the scene altogether.”
“Yes, that’s it exactly. And just to add a note, if you call red, we end the scene. Then, when you’re ready, we review what went wrong so I can do better next time. Or, if you decide it’s best for you, we decide not to play again. Understood?”
“Yes. Thank you, Sir.”
“Stand now, Claudia.”