Taking His Advice

I hadn't really considered why I would use this place or what it could be used for. At first, I just wanted to visit, but now I'm considering whether I would.

"You have no idea about this world, do you?" He smirks, and I nod.

"Of course I don't. I keep telling you that your son was right." Has he forgotten that?

He laughs and nods. "Someone not knowing about this world doesn't instantly make them boring, dull or a prude. People only search out this world through interest and such." Sighing, he stands.

"Stay there." I watch as he walks off. Why am I to stay here? Looking down, I see my glass is empty, walking to the bar I order another drink.

"Hi." Turning, I look at the guy. "I'm Kian." The guy holds out his hand. I shake it and smile.

"Ruby." He nods at me, starts talking, and then stops. Alaric looks between us and turns me away from Kian.

"I'm sorry, Mr Hendrix. I didn't realise she was your guest." Kian smiles at him.

"She isn't, but she doesn't know enough to hop into a room with someone." Alaric pulls me away, and I sit down.

"He was only saying hello." I laugh slightly.

"That's how all connections start. Right now, you shouldn't be in one. So, here." He passes me an envelope. Opening it, I pull out the papers. "Now, before you assume, no, it's not for you to sign. I suggest you read through, search things, and find out what this world is really about."

"I know the basics." I'm not stupid.

"Tell me them." He sits back, holding his glass.

"Well, for one, the relationships involve a submissive and a dominant. The submissive gives up her control, her rights, and her will to the dominant. The relationship is about them both getting pleasure from each other within the bedroom." His hand raises.

"It sounds like you watched some bullshit film or read a book that has it all wrong." I bite my lip. "For one, it's more complex than submissive and dominant. There are brats, slaves, rope bunnies. There are not just dominants, but masters, brat tamers, slave trainers and such."

Okay, that I didn't know. "Mostly, though, the submissive does not give up her control, her rights, and her will. She gives up aspects of it that she is comfortable with and agrees to. If she weren't willing to be tied down in any way, then that wouldn't happen; she keeps control of that part."

"Okay, so I am wrong." I shrug, and he laughs.

"You're very wrong. For instance, it's not about getting pleasure from each other. It's also not just within the bedroom. There are two sides, those who live the lifestyle all day, every day, then those who do it purely in the bedroom or for sexual purposes."

"Point taken." I get it, don't believe what movies say.

"For instance," he glances around the room and points towards a couple. "What do you see when looking at them?" He gives the person a clear nod so he doesn't look weird for pointing them out.

I sit looking. "I see a man sitting with a woman and drinking." What else is there to see?

He laughs. "Observe them for a moment." I nod at him, and watch, I don't get what I am missing though. They are sat drinking, the guy is talking to someone else. "Okay, well, for one she is wearing a collar, which signified she is his. It's a form of commitment and acknowledgement that they are together. Second thing, she is a slave; hence, she isn't speaking to people. If you watch long enough she will reply only when given permission to do so. In here, she would not speak to other Masters and Mistresses without his prior permission."

"Sounds like control." Not having permission to talk?

"Each relationship is different. Some do some don't. For many, the rules outside the room are more to ensure both parties are safe and healthy, for instance, having to eat well. Not drinking in excessive amounts, there is a lot, and many are explained in this contract." His finger taps it.

"I apologise. I clearly had no idea about this."

"You see it as control, right?" I nod at him. "Would you willingly sit here right now and let me tell you not to speak to someone?"

"No."

"Exactly, but if we spoke, we would be in the dynamics together. I explained that talking to another Master or Mistress in the lifestyle can be seen in the wrong way, it can be disrespectful, and I would rather you had permission. Then what?"

"Then I would agree." I can understand why they wouldn't.

"So who would really have the control? It wouldn't be me, as you read and agreed to the rules you were happy with—rules which, at any moment, you can say you don't want. A Master and such is only in control as far as the submissives' permitted list goes. Anything else they have no control over, and the biggest thing is that the submissive can stop any part she wishes, at any moment she wants."

He's right about me having no idea. I clearly don't. "Thank you Alaric, I shall read through this and do my own research."

"Research is the key to this world—not just online but in person, at places like this where the rules are known."

All I do I nod at him and stand. His hand stops me.

"My son won't get away with this, Ruby. What he did was wrong, and he clearly failed to realise that he was told that any issues within the first few years and he would lose access to his account."

"I don't care about him anymore." I don't, let him have fun with his money, it won't last long.

"Maybe not him, but you care about how he made you feel, and I apologise again. He should never have said or done anything like that towards you."

"Thank you, Alaric." I walk away, and his hand stops me.

"Be careful, Ruby. You want to explore, branch out, and try new things. That's fine, but ask yourself, is it really safe?"

"I will." Rushing out, I get into my car and drive back. I can't believe Bex left me.