Epilogue
Q
The second time walking into Marquis for a class was more daunting than the first. Maybe because the first time he’d gone to a class, it had been for Dominants, not submissives.
Somehow, being a submissive was scarier, even though he had nothing but respect for them after going through the Dominance class.
Admitting that part of him resonated instead of rejected being submissive didn’t fit the image he’d always had of himself.
More than the other Doms had, he’d really liked the parts of the Dominance class when they tried things they’d want to do to a submissive.
He didn’t always feel satisfied being the one in charge. Sometimes, he wanted to give up control. Sometimes, the idea of having a woman bossing him around, telling him what to do, was hot as hell.
Even if his brain told him it was wrong and he shouldn’t want it.
He wondered if it was a holdover from living with his friend, Angel, for so long before she’d started going to Stronghold and met Adam, her now-husband.
She could be incredibly bossy when she wanted but was submissive in the bedroom—all the time, not just some of the time like Q felt he might be.
Q had gotten used to her bossing around him and their other two roommates, Sam and Mark.
Thinking about Sam made him shake his head.
He knew that was another reason he was nervous tonight.
Not because of his old roommate, Sam, but because of Samantha Dupre, who preferred to go by Sam.
In his head, she was always Samantha… or Samwise—the nickname he’d given her in high school when they were butting heads.
Calling her that had never been a good idea, but tonight, in particular, it would be a mistake.
This whole thing was probably a mistake.
He was still questioning the wisdom of putting himself and his tenderest bits at the mercy of someone who didn’t seem to particularly like him very much. Not that he understood why she was holding a grudge. Of the two of them, he had the better reason, that was for sure.
He wouldn’t ask for special treatment because of high school bullshit. If Samantha didn’t want to work with him during the class, that was her thing. Q would not be the one to back down.
Bounding to the top of the stairs and into the main lobby of Marquis, he looked around.
Master Law and Mistress Julie were standing in front of the desk outside the door to the main stage area.
It looked like they were arguing, though they were keeping their voices low.
A vase filled with red roses was sitting on the desk beside them, and Master Law kept gesturing to it.
Curious, Q moved toward them, and they glanced up when they saw him.
“Hey Q, head inside. All the other submissives are here… no, you’re not late. They were just very early.” Julie gave him a reassuring smile before turning back to Law, who still had a scowl on his face. “Give it up, Law. They’re just flowers. It’s fine.”
“This is the second time—”
Whatever it was the second time of, Q didn’t hear.
Taking his cue from Mistress Julie, he headed into the main room of Marquis.
It looked a lot like it had for the first Dominance class, with the round stage in the center of the room cleared off except for chairs.
There was one still open, and everyone turned as he entered.
Relief flooded him when he saw he wasn’t the only male submissive. He thought… oh. Master Law said he was the only male submissive who preferred a female dominant. Got it. Talk about being forced to examine his own internal biases. He’d try not to make that assumption again.
“Hey, everyone,” he said, smiling and pretending a casualness he didn’t feel. Fake it till you make it. “I’m Q. Nice to meet you.”
They all stood, almost as a group, as he got closer.
“Hey, we’ve met before. Steve, I’m Chris’ brother.
” As soon as he said the words, Q recognized the guy.
They’d met in passing at a group event. Chris was the husband of Jessica, who was one of Angel’s friends.
Sometimes, it was like six degrees of kinky separation.
Steve was still holding out his hand. Tall and dark-haired, although lankier than his brother, there was a strong resemblance between them.
“Right, hi, sorry.” Q shook his hand.
“No worries.” Steve grinned as they let go of the handshake. “It’s been a while.”
“Hi, I’m Emerson, they/them pronouns,” said the person next to Q, holding out their hand. “I’m non-binary.”
“Right, sorry, I’m he/him,” Steve said, shooting Emerson an apologetic glance.
They grinned back at him. With short-cropped reddish hair and a slim build, they were a few inches shorter than Steve and seemed perfectly at home as everyone fumbled around them.
Maybe even as though they were enjoying it a little.
Another brat in the making. Q smiled back.
One thing he’d learned from dominance class, he enjoyed the brats.
“Q, he/him.” Q shook their hand.
“Cassidy. Um, she/her.” The pretty blonde next to Emerson whispered before offering her hand.
She seemed nervous, and Q was ninety-nine percent sure she was the one Iris had rescued from an abusive Dom a few months ago.
Interesting that she was in the new submissives class when he’d thought she was experienced.
The woman beside her was much more chipper, smiling brightly at him. She was also blonde.
“And I’m Noelle, she/her pronouns. Nice to meet you.” They shook hands. “So, I guess that’s all of us.”
Everyone sat down.
“So, you’re submissive?” Steve asked, leaning forward to look at Q a little curiously. “I thought I heard you took the Dominance class.”
“I did. I think I’m a switch.” Noelle and Emerson looked a little confused at the term. “That means, sometimes, I tend to be more dominant, and other times, I tend to be more submissive. I can go back and forth between.”
“Oh.” Emerson’s expression cleared, and they laughed. “Well, I know what that’s like.” Which made everyone else laugh.
Q started to relax. It seemed this was going to be a fun group. No one seemed judgmental, which was reassuring. Not that he’d run into anyone judgmental yet, but he kept waiting for it to happen. There was a part of his brain that insisted it couldn’t possibly be this easy.
“I’m excited. My old best friend was into BDSM, but I never really understood it.” Noelle’s expression turned a little sad. “I’m hoping I’ll be able to reconnect with her once I understand it better.”
Huh. Wasn’t Iris’ old best friend named Noelle?
It had to be a coincidence. Iris had moved in with Law months ago after a big blowup with her old roommate and best friend, and that Noelle had basically kicked her out. Couldn’t be the same one.
Could it?
The door behind them opened again, distracting Q from his thoughts.
Master Law and Mistress Julie came in, followed by five other dominants, including Samantha Dupre.
Their gazes meeting for a moment, she arched her eyebrow and lifted her chin, then she looked at the Dom next to her and smiled at something he’d said.
Q’s chest tightened.
So, she hadn’t backed down.
It was just like old times.
Samantha Dupre had been his greatest rival in high school.
She’d also been the one who got away.
Switch Play, Legally Bound, and Shallow Submission are all available in the Masters of Control Boxset.