“If they did, I think that would give us all the insight into their character we needed, don’t you?”

I smiled. “Yes, Sir. Very much so.”

“In fact, it might be a good idea to get a sub’s thoughts on a potential Dominant.”

“Do you think you’d work it the other way? Have a senior Dom observe a sub?”

“Fair is fair, right?” he asked through a chuckle.

“That would only be for experienced people. What are your thoughts for the new ones?”

“I think new members should be made to go through a mandatory mentor training with a senior member.”

“You’re putting a lot of responsibility on the senior members. It’s going to take a lot of time to clear a new member.”

“But if it works, the tradeoff would be worth it because we’ll know we can trust that person.”

“True, but all this will make it harder to join the group, so it won’t get much bigger.”

“I’d thought about that,” he said. “But again, isn’t it worth it if it keeps everyone safe?”

I watched him for a minute. He was wearing jeans and a soft T-shirt in a green hue that matched his eyes. It was one of those everyday moments that took my breath away. Just the joy of a simple moment, sharing a meal and talking. The way his smile danced across lips.

The smile deepened. “What?” he asked.

“You.” I reached across the table and took his hand. “How everything comes back to safety. How you won’t put up with attitude from a Dom.” I dropped my voice. “How damn hot you look in that T-shirt, how it pulls across your chest, and how your face is all scruffy because you haven’t shaved yet.”

He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles. “You’re making it very hard for me to concentrate on the group when you say things like that.”

“Good, because we’ve already made a really good start and I think we should put it aside for now and continue with our weekend, Sir.”

He tilted his head.

“I did say Sir,” I reminded him. “And we’re at the kitchen table.”

“I wasn’t going to reprimand you.”

I let out a breath. “Oh.”

“I was going to say, look at how damn hot you are in that T-shirt.”

His words were so unexpected, I laughed. “With all due respect, Sir, I find that hard to believe.”

“You’re right. I was going to agree with you. It is time to continue our weekend.”

Something about his expression made desire swell low in my belly.

But he was full of surprises. “First thing is a jog.”

A jog? Was he serious?

My disappointment must have been obvious. He laughed. “There’ll be plenty of time later in the day for what you’re thinking. It’s been a while since we’ve jogged together and I know I need a good workout.”

I nearly huffed. Sex. Sex was a workout.

“Later, Abigail.”

Two weeks later, I stood in front of the large gathering of people for the tri-state conference. Nathaniel and I had driven up for the evening, since it was being held in Philadelphia at a private club. There were easily one hundred people present, and only a handful of them were from our Partners in Play group.

The St. Andrew’s cross Nathaniel requested stood behind me. He’d told me he wanted me nude, and though there were parts of my body I didn’t like, at the moment I felt sexy and sultry. Being in a BDSM demo, having the opportunity to play in front of people never made me feel self-conscious. When we were in a scene and Nathaniel was controlling me, it was as if I saw myself through his eyes. Even when he didn’t say anything, I could see how he felt just by looking in his eyes.

I doubted anyone other than Nathaniel noticed my nervousness. Or at least, I hoped they didn’t. They had all smiled warmly and welcomed us when we arrived earlier. I felt the urge to fidget, but forced myself to remain still. Nathaniel placed a hand at the small of my back and I took a deep breath.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yes, Master. Just a few butterflies at being in front of a new group. But overall I’m excited.” Sometimes I wondered if it was the excitement that helped turn me on.

“Kneel for me,” he said, and I dropped to my knees.

He called the group to order and introduced us.

“Abigail is going to help me demonstrate the use of a bullwhip. Now, there are several ways to use one and while most people associate them with punishment, I want to demonstrate how they can be used for sensual pleasure.”

I watched his feet turn back to me. “Ready, my lovely?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Thank you. Go stand and face the cross.”

My nerves dissolved into erotic excitement as I stood and made my way to the large wooden X. Nathaniel took his time binding me: running his hands along my body and trailing kisses along the inside of my elbow before securing me.

“Before you use a single tail and especially in a nonpunishment scene, you’ll want to warm the submissive’s skin up with a flogging or something similar.” He picked up a waiting flogger and gently started working it along my backside.

I loved floggings. Especially when he worked the flogger seductively across my body, easing me gently into subspace. His strokes grew harder and I fell into my yoga breathing.

“Abigail,” he said, “are you with us?”

“Green, Master,” I said.

I heard him address the crowd again, but since he wasn’t talking to me, I didn’t pay attention to what he said. Instead I returned to that blissful place in my mind.

A sharp lick of pain hit my right butt cheek and I knew he had switched to the bullwhip, but the sensation soon diffused into vibrations of pleasure and I couldn’t help the moan of contentment that slipped from me.

“Very nice, Abigail.”

After a few more strokes he asked, “How are you doing? What color are you at?”

“Green, green, green, Master.”

The whip started landing higher up my body and at times I could have sworn he was using two. But it felt so good, I wanted to concentrate on the pleasure and not worry about breaking down everything he was doing.

I got lost in subspace then and was surprised when a few minutes later—or what seemed like just a few minutes later—he said, “So good, Abigail. You did so good.”

I wanted to protest because I wasn’t ready for it to be over. I wanted more. But I trusted him to know what I needed. He switched the whip out for a flogger and I sighed as I came back down from my subspace high. He didn’t say anything when he put the flogger down and ran his hands up and down my body.

Yes! I shouted in my head. This was what I needed, too. His hands on me so I could feel the way he spoke through touch alone.

“You did so well, my lovely,” he finally whispered, pressing himself against my back. He undid the buckles attaching me to the cross. “You looked incredible. You made me so proud.”

“Thank you, Master.”

He placed soft kisses along the back of my neck. I was faintly aware of the quiet shuffle of people and then there was nothing.

“How did it feel?” he asked.

“It felt so good, Master.” I still felt warm and floaty inside.

“I’m so glad, baby.”

“I thought it would only be painful. I wasn’t expecting it to feel so good.”

He lifted me in his arms and carried me to a padded table in the corner of the room. As we went, I realized everyone had left. Once he put me down, he climbed up beside me and pulled a fluffy blanket over both of us. I pushed back against him.

He whispered against the skin at the nape of my neck, “Do you want to come, Abigail?”

“Yes, Master.” I was starting to wake up. “So much.”

He kissed the spot right at the top of my spine, the one he knew would drive me wild. I shivered when he licked it and bit it softly. Ever so slowly, his hand slid between my legs and teased me.

“You looked so hot being worked over by a whip. You handled it so well. Such a good girl.” He continued softly praising me as he worked his finger deeper and started stroking my clit. “When I get you home, I’m going to fuck you properly. For now, I’m going to make you come with my fingers. Come for me. Come all over my fingers like you would my dick.”