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Chapter Three

Harper

Was it my presence that elicited those salacious shivers and moans from Sonnet, or the erotic show?

Possibly both. We’d chosen wisely when hiring tonight’s entertainment for the grand reopening and witnessing her reaction to it firsthand set my inner Domme into a whirlwind of potential scenes. All tailored to meet Sonnet’s needs.

I’d always been drawn to redheads. I loved their feisty behavior and no-nonsense attitude. Heightened sensitivity and their overall reaction, absolutely delicious. But when it came with a side of uncertainty and wonder, as Sonnet presented, well then, that was the ultimate foreplay to me.

Beneath Sonnet’s gloriously ribboned exterior was a woman begging to be held, tied down, and repeatedly brought to climax. I’d bet my salary on it. The way she sketched, so lost in the moment. There was no way visions such as the ones she laid out before us were born of a completely vanilla mind.

And that dress…

Did each bow untie? I’d love to find out. Undo them one by one, press my lips to each piece of naked flesh that peeked out beneath it. Jesus, if this evening didn’t end with her in my bed, my vibrator was getting one hell of a workout.

Don’t mix business and pleasure, Harper.

I swear, at times my mind forgot what I did for a living. Seduction. Compassion. Aftercare. The ability to read a sub's needs and bring them to fruition was a gift and one I proudly possessed.

Though Sonnet wasn’t a job. Her trust I’d have to earn right along with her heart.

Fuck, how I thrived when challenged and always did my best work then.

I hadn’t dated in years. The thought never even crossed my mind when my needs were met within the club. For a while I’d been content, and it wasn’t until we had closed for the renovations that I had time to truly reflect, and the loneliness hit.

And it wasn’t until Sonnet walked through those doors that my life came full circle.

It was a partner I desired. Not a playmate, nor a sub, well, not necessarily, though I knew on some level Sonnet was a sub.

To what extent was yet to be determined, but I looked forward to peeling back her layers and learning what made Sonnet tick.

I can’t remember the last time I felt this alive, this energized.

“Good evening, Mistress Harper,” Lana, a member of the new waitstaff, greeted us. “Would you two like to order anything off the menu or from the bar?” The bar was only available to those not partaking in the dungeons.

“Kitten,” slipped past my lips. Surprised, she glanced up from her drawing, and her eyes met mine. I didn’t dare flinch and apologize and instead stayed the course. “Are you ready to order?”

A slow nod of her head as she found her words. “Yes, please. Why-why don’t you order for us? I-I have no allergies or dislikes save for Brussel sprouts.”

Stuttered words filled with uncertainty, but what about? My choice of a pet name or for shocking herself in requesting I order for us. “I too am not a fan. Lana, tell Chef we’ll take two specials. Would you like wine or anything besides water to drink?”

“I’ll have whatever you’re having.” Sonnet returned to her sketch without another word. I’m sure my slip of the tongue would be addressed once the extra set of ears was out of hearing range.

“Ask Chef to pair our dinners with the perfect wine.”

“Very good, Mistress Harper. I’ll be back with your drinks momentarily.”

“Your brain is about to work overtime.” On-the-fly icebreakers weren’t a gift, but I did my best. “The main show is about to begin.” The lights dimmed and the curtains around us opened, revealing the various subs on display.

“Oh my.”

Sonnet’s eyes widened as she stood, then paused and turned to me. “Can we?”

“Get a closer look?” She nodded. “Of course.” I rose and took her hand in mine. She glanced down at them, seemingly fine with it as I led her over to the human displays.

“Do they, do they want this? Or are they being punished?”

“I can assure you, Kitten, all are here of their own free will and have signed contracts stating such. There are many within the BDSM community who enjoy this kind of painful pleasure.” There it went again, the pet name, slipping past my lips.

She didn’t question, nor did I, given I’d never blessed another a special nickname of their own.

“Pain sluts?” She blurted the word out and nearly slapped her mouth. “Sorry, was that rude?”

“Only if it’s said to someone who isn’t. Most of the time those who say it are their masters or Doms for a scene.”

“A scene?”

Oh, my sweet Kitten, I have so much to teach you.

“Some that come to the club are solo members, while others are couples. All of which are either looking to just do a scene—a one-and-done or an occasional meet-up. Anything from being put on display as these subs have chosen.” I gestured around the room to the half dozen display boxes we now had.

“To a more masochistic play down in the dungeons. Each encounter is called a scene.”

“Wow, that’s interesting. Would you like some of the more explicit scenes,” she tried the word on. “Depicted in my art?”

“Kitten,” I’d grown attached to the pet name, though her given one was equally as beautiful.

“I want to see what you feel. What’s drawn you into our lifestyle?

Maybe even choose scenes you perhaps wish to be a part of.

” Her eyes lit up, and I knew I’d struck gold.

“I’d happily be your Domme for any aspect you wished to try. ”

“R-really?”

I leaned in, there wasn’t a millimeter between my lips and her ear.

“Really. After dinner, I’ll show you more.

” That would be the real test of how well she’d handle watching others engaged in sexual acts or otherwise.

Would it turn her on or turn her off? One thing was for certain: something about me reached her inner core if her shivers were the telltale indication of the effect I had on her, tonight would end on a very happy note.

“Shall we?” My hand never left her lower back as we walked, and since she hadn’t complained, I left it there.

But a conversation about consent would be our dinner discussion.

Lana waited around the corner to bring our meals. As soon as we sat, she delivered them. “Ah, surf and turf. One of my favorites. Thank Chef for us, please.”

“Will do, Mistress Harper. May I bring you two anything else?”

A quick glance at Sonnet and a head nod confirmed we were good. “No thank you.”

“Is Mistress a moniker reserved for those you…”

Hmm, where was this headed? “Those I?” Brow raised in question.

Her face flushed, and she stared down at her food. “You sleep with or dom over? I’m not sure what the proper terminology is.”

I nearly laughed and barely refrained. Offending her was the furthest thing from my mind.

“I can assure you, Kitten, I’ve never slept with that girl, nor will I.

Mistress for me is a term of respect. While I am a Domme and have actively sexually pleasured some of my subs, not all, it’s not as frequent as you’re assuming.

” Interested? Jealous? Further clarity was required.

“May I ask what’s going on inside that beautiful head of yours? ”

“You think I’m beautiful?”

Gently raising her hand, I pressed my lips to the top of it. “I think you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” Sappy? Most likely, but in my mind the words were true. She’d captured me from the first moment we met. “Now, back to my question.”

Sonnett stumbled, took a bite of her food, and then a sip of wine. “I-I, I like you.”

Now we were getting somewhere. “I like you too, Kitten. But what does that have to do with my status as a mistress?”

She shrugged. “I don’t think I could date someone whose job was to, um, please others. Orgasm wise.”

Ah. Hard to hide the realization in my facial expression, though I did my best. “There are ways to work around that. And not every scene is about bringing a sub to climax, nor myself. Now, if I had a sub of my own, that would change everything.”

“How so?”

“My focus would shift to them and their needs, whatever they may be.” Was that clear enough?

To those outside the lifestyle, comprehension wasn’t always easy.

“Which brings me to another question, one of consent. Earlier, when I placed my hand on your back I should’ve asked first, and for that I apologize. ”

Her grin had my rarely used one appearing. “I liked it, and I, um, I like it when you call me Kitten too.”

Goddess, have mercy. Sonnet was about to wrap this I’ll never love again Domme around her paint splattered finger. Yes, the deep pink hue that was missed during a scrubbing wasn’t missed by me. Another thing I already adored about this woman. Innocence and curiosity, a highly dangerous combination.

Flirty stolen glances as we ate, all the while wondering to myself where her thoughts were made for an interesting meal.

Most subs were easily read between their responses to the limit’s questionnaire and one-on-one initial meetings we had, I hit it dead on most times.

Did they like the subspace received from pain, or were they a little?

Maybe a pet with an abundance of energy to run off.

Or maybe they preferred the ability to be rendered motionless with the beautiful art of Shibari.

Once upon a time that was a highlight for me when accepting a new sub, depicting their needs.

Now, my focus was on one sub whose needs I’d soon uncover.

Sonnet would take time and patience. Thankfully, I had an abundance of both.

With our plates cleared away, the time had come to see if current scenes taking place inside the club grabbed her… attention .

“Are you ready to experience a whole new world?”

“With the head mistress as my guide.” Was it the great food, I must remember to thank our Chef, or the wine that brought out her sassy side? “I’d be honored.”

“Elevator or stairs?”

“You have an elevator?”