Page 15 of Teach Me (Deviant Players #1)

Chapter Eight

I stared out the car window as Dr Braithwaite chatted to Dan about recent movies they’d watched and a planned trip to a concert in London, a casual conversation I paid little attention to as we sped down the dual carriageway.

A sign welcoming us to Essex flew past, and I was about to ask if we were headed to London now when Dr Braithwaite turned off the dual carriageway.

‘Where are we going?’ I asked.

‘You’ll see.’

Half an hour later, he parked outside a brown-brick building. A few early fireworks shot into the sky behind it, further illuminating The Aurora, written in bold letters above the dark wooden doors. My heart flipped in on itself.

This was my own damn fault. I’d put ‘visiting a BDSM club’ on my list, and now it was time to face the consequences.

Dr Braithwaite and Dan exited the car. They exchanged a few hushed words before Dr Braithwaite opened my door. ‘Ready for your final assessment?’

‘Final? I thought I had until my exams?’

‘Some things have come up. I’ve had to change my schedule.’

‘Oh.’

I looked at his proffered hand. No, I wasn’t ready to end this experiment. I needed more time with him before we… I wasn’t sure what came after this. He’d talked about a second phase, but maybe he wanted us to be student and teacher again, or worse, strangers. My throat tightened.

‘What’s wrong, Ophelia?’

I swallowed the dread. ‘Am I, eh, dressed appropriately for this kind of club?’

‘Clothes are optional,’ he said with a crooked smile. ‘I’m only joking, of course. What you’re wearing is fine. Shall we?’

‘Okay,’ I whispered, taking his hand.

The Aurora looked like an ordinary nightclub, but there was no music, no drunken people staggered about, and three bulky security guards stood by the entrance.

Dr Braithwaite greeted the tallest one. ‘Evening, Bruce.’

‘Evening, Doctor B,’ the man said with a courteous nod. ‘Mister Greenwood, nice to see you again, too.’

‘Evening,’ Dan responded.

Did they often bring women here? Not knowing Dr Braithwaite’s history made me trip over the threshold. He steadied me before removing his jacket, handing it to a young blonde. ‘Good evening, Shelby.’

‘Evening, Sir Emmerson. Is this the guest?’

‘It is.’

‘Sir?’ I whispered.

Dr Braithwaite met my puzzled look. ‘At the club, Dominants are addressed by their preferred title. It’s a sign of respect.’

I knew that from the little research I’d done, but it was odd to call him anything but Dr Braithwaite. ‘Are you Sir Dan?’ I asked his friend.

‘I prefer Master Dan.’

‘Oh.’ This would take some getting used to.

‘Marquis Jack has your forms. He is in the…’ Shelby laughed, waving her free hand. ‘I don’t know, but you’ll find him, I’m sure.’

‘Thank you.’ Dr Braithwaite guided me to the double doors.

‘Why is he called a “Marquis”?’ I whispered.

‘That’s a story for another day.’

Warmth wrapped around me as we entered a larger room.

A sleek black bar was to our right, with scantily dressed women and dark-clad men gathered around their drinking glasses.

Beyond the bar, a man walked past with a blindfolded, naked woman who had a bushy tail poking out of her butt.

I wasn’t sure what to think about that, or the man wandering past me with so many red scratches decorating his back that he looked like he’d rolled through a rose bush.

‘We won’t be in public this time, but there are papers you must sign before management gives us a room.’ Dr Braithwaite’s gaze shifted to someone behind me. ‘Ah, Marquis Jack.’

A tall, dark-haired man, wearing leather trousers and a black dress shirt with a red letter ‘M’ embroidered above his heart, approached us. Heat rushed to my cheeks when the man grinned, his eyes lit up by something dark and mischievous as he looked me up and down.

‘Ophelia, I take it? Welcome to The Aurora .’

‘Th-thank you.’

‘Papers are at the bar, Sir Emmerson,’ Jack said, sounding amused by my sudden stutter. ‘You can have room fourteen.’ His eyes narrowed at Dan. ‘I need a word with you in private.’

Dan raised his hands. ‘It wasn’t me.’

‘Uh-huh.’ Jack crooked his finger.

‘What was that about?’ I asked Dr Braithwaite as we walked to the bar.

He gave me a slanted smile. ‘Master Dan is known for pulling pranks on the other Doms. It’s nothing for you to worry about.

’ He directed me to a bar stool and put a thick wad of papers before me.

‘It looks worse than it is. These are waivers, the forms you’re already familiar with, plus a member registration form, if you wish to visit again.

You may take that home to consider at a later time, of course. ’

I tried to swallow, but my throat was too dry, making me gulp. ‘What am I waiving the right to?’ I stared at a naked woman passing us. ‘My freedom?’

‘Read it,’ he said sternly.

I did. As he chatted with the barman, I read every word about limits, consent, safewords, supervision, rules, and restrictions.

Although I tried to take it all in, my mind was fixed on one important detail: I was in a BDSM club with my dissertation supervisor, and he was asking for my permission to share me with Dan.

I had to read that sentence a few times before it sank in.

He’d even requested no condoms, provided I was happy with their STD checks, which page fourteen told me had been done a few days ago.

Dr Braithwaite offered me a glass of water. ‘Any questions?’

‘Uh, yeah, why no condoms?’

‘It will work best for what I’ve planned. You’re still on birth control, right?’

I nodded. ‘What have you planned?’

‘You’ll see,’ he said with a small smile. ‘Sign the papers so that we can get started.’

I breathed slowly. This was an experiment, I reminded myself. Tomorrow… no, I didn’t want to think about what would happen tomorrow.

‘Are there other students here?’ I asked after signing the last page. Jack and Dan joined us at the bar. Although they didn’t crowd me, I still felt small surrounded by so many large, dominant men and instinctively took Dr Braithwaite’s hand.

‘If there are,’ he said, squeezing my hand, ‘they will have signed the same confidentiality agreement. Whatever happens at the club stays at the club.’

‘Except for whatever marks you’re left with,’ Jack said.

‘May I?’ I reluctantly passed the papers, mortified at the thought of having a stranger see what I would let Dr Braithwaite do to me.

‘Or no marks, in your case,’ Jack said, flicking through them to check I’d signed on every line.

‘A fun challenge for you, Sir Emmerson.’

‘Which I’m happy to accept.’ Dr Braithwaite raised my hand to his lips, gently kissing the back of it. ‘If she agrees.’

‘No marks?’

He shook his head.

‘And he’s joining us?’ I asked, glancing at Dan.

‘Two Doms will work better for what I have in mind,’ Dr Braithwaite said.

I wanted to ask again what he had planned, but the wicked glimmer in his eyes suggested this was better revealed in private, and dammit if curiosity didn’t get the better of me.

I nodded. ‘Okay.’

‘A bit of housekeeping before I let you go,’ Jack told me. ‘Have you chosen a safeword?’

‘Um, no. Do I need one?’

‘Yes, club rules.’

I glanced at Dr Braithwaite. ‘How about “Unicorn”?’

He looked into the room, his lips tipping with a smile.

‘Unicorn?’ Jack chuckled. ‘That’s a new one, but all right.

It will apply to the whole club. If there are any issues, find me or…

’ He directed my attention to two men standing by the door we’d entered.

‘We have security staff throughout the building. I’ll still ask you to please stay with Sir Emmerson or Master Dan at all times, if possible.

New subs are a tempting treat for our Doms.’

My wide eyes pinged back to Dr Braithwaite. His smile brimmed with confidence. ‘You’ll be fine, Ophelia.’

‘Should you wish to join us as a regular member,’ Jack continued, ‘you’ll need to undergo basic training, okay?’

‘S-sure,’ I stuttered, unsure of what that would involve. ‘Thank you.’

‘As discussed, this grants her access to our facilities for twenty-four hours,’ Jack told Dr Braithwaite. ‘If you wish to extend her stay, she must complete the full application and attend an induction session.’

‘Understood.’ Dr Braithwaite offered me his hand. ‘Ready?’

No, but I took his hand and followed him down the hall, my imagination running wild by the time we reached a door left ajar. I expected chains and whips, a dungeon-inspired playroom, but that wasn’t what I found on the other side.

Deep red walls hugged a small sofa in dark blue velvet, positioned opposite a leather armchair with a matching futon. A pleasant scent of vanilla hung in the air from the many flickering candles, and the lit fireplace added to the serene, almost romantic atmosphere.

‘It’s nice, isn’t it?’ Dan asked, watching me with a bemused expression.

I jumped when Dr Braithwaite shut the door. ‘It’s not locked, Ophelia,’ he said, his deep voice soothing. ‘You’re free to leave whenever you want.’

I nodded, eyeing Dan as he shrugged out of his jacket. He carried himself with the same class and mystery as Dr Braithwaite, the type of man you couldn’t help but admire for his confidence. I never imagined myself with two men at once, but it would be a lie to say I’d never fantasised about it.

‘Please undress,’ Dr Braithwaite said, ‘and put your clothes on the chair in the corner.’

‘Umm…’ I licked my lips. ‘Okay.’

My nervousness teased out his smile, the secretive one I often saw in lectures, as if he knew the reason for my trembling voice and fidgety hands. Maybe he did. Perhaps he could read me better than I’d imagined. Perhaps that was why he made me feel safe enough to follow his order.

My fingers trembled as I pulled down the zip. The dress slid down my body, leaving me standing before the two men in only my underwear – my soaked pants and a lace bra that barely covered my nipples. I folded the dress and placed it on the chair with my shoes.