Page 19
Pleasure comes first
T he lounge we’re taken to is impressive!
The spacious area occupies a corner of the building and has two walls of floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a gorgeous, unobstructed view of Central Park! Along with the spectacular view, there is a lovely selection of hors d’oeuvres to choose from.
I look over the offerings, which include mini baguettes, a salmon spread, baked brie, steak tartare, escargot mushrooms, and tiny versions of cream puffs and macarons. The beverage table has a variety of choices as well. From the expected, such as iced and hot tea and lemonade, to a variety of coffee drinks made by a machine that grinds the beans fresh. Although I don’t drink, I’m tempted by the small flutes of Champagne lined up on the table.
When the group of us first enters the lounge, everyone is silent while we fill our plates. I take one of everything, even the escargot, because I’m feeling adventurous tonight.
Afterward, I choose the marble table nearest to the windows.
The modern goth woman with the butterfly tattoo joins me, quickly followed by the Romance Lover. The three of us nibble our food while we privately process what just happened at the practicum.
Romance Lover is the first to break the silence by holding out her hand to the goth girl. “I didn’t catch your name. I’m Michelle.”
“Amethyst.”
“That’s a cool name.”
Michelle then turns to me. “I want you to know that you helped me back there.”
Surprised, I ask, “How’s that?”
“You didn’t freak out when our sexy headmaster described your partner. I was completely shocked by it, but you were as cool as a cucumber.”
“You would have thought differently if you saw the expression on my face.” I sigh, ripping off a bite-sized piece of the baguette and smearing the melted brie onto it. “I didn’t see that twist coming…but it’s certainly taught me not to be so judgmental about looks. Turns out my partner is quite…skilled.”
Amethyst nods. “I never would have thought I’d find gray hair sexy, but damn if that old man made me come twice.”
I’m impressed to hear Amethyst can have multiple orgasms—but I’m also a little jealous.
“Two times? Hot dang, girl!” Michelle exclaims, garnering the attention of people around us.
“Sorry,” she mouths to Amethyst, then turns to me. “I’m really into the big, beefy Dominants that I read about in books. So, when the headmaster told me that my partner weighed 130 pounds, and I heard the guy’s soft voice, the poor dude didn’t stand a chance with me. But, I followed your example and didn’t turn him down, and boy am I glad I didn’t!”
She moans softly as if replaying the encounter in her mind. “That little man made my pussy sing.”
Amethyst and I glance at each other and smile.
Popping a mini cream puff in my mouth, I moan in pleasure as I glance past Michelle. That’s when I notice Miss Diaz sitting alone at a table, picking at her plate listlessly.
Feeling protective of the lone wolf after overhearing Mr. Onassis’ conversation with her earlier, I quietly excuse myself.
Miss Diaz doesn’t notice me when I approach, so I cough gently to get her attention. I’m struck by the deep sadness in her eyes when she looks up at me. It’s so profound that it leaves me unsure what to say.
Taking a cue from Michelle, I stick out my hand to her. “Hi, I’m Sophie.”
She stares at my hand as if it’s a foreign object, then looks up at me warily. “What do you want?”
I nod to our table. “I wanted to invite you to sit with us if you like. I always hated trying to find a table when I was in high school. So many cliques…”
“I prefer to be alone.”
Feeling like a fool for disturbing her privacy, I mutter, “Okay. Just know that you’re always welcome.”
She turns away and slumps her shoulders, letting out a long sigh.
I turn around to see that everyone is watching our exchange. Embarrassed, I quietly return to my table.
“Is she okay?” Michelle whispers when I sit down.
I nod slightly. “Just needs time to process.”
“I certainly can’t blame her for that…” Michelle chuckles, then stares at my plate. “Hey, what did you think of the escargot?”
“I haven’t been brave enough to try it.”
“It’s incredible,” she insists, getting up from the table. “That’s why I’m going to get more!”
Wondering if it’s as good as she claims, I pick up the baked mushroom with the snail nestled on top and close my eyes before putting the whole bite into my mouth. The shallots, garlic, and butter pair well with the snail, which doesn’t have much of a flavor. Other than it being slightly chewy, I find it a winning combination.
Michelle returns to our table with five of them on her plate. Looking a bit guilty, she asks, “Would either of you like one?”
Amethyst crinkles her nose. “I’ll pass.”
“I’ll pass, too…as in, pass me another ,” I joke awkwardly. Thank goodness Michelle gets my attempt at humor and shovels one onto my plate.
As I pop the savory morsel in my mouth, Headmaster Wallace enters the lounge with Mistress Kim beside him.
“The two of us will be talking to each of you separately before we begin the second practicum.” He then looks at me and gestures to an empty table. “Miss Lane.”
Not wanting the poor snail to have died for nothing, I refuse to spit it into a napkin. Instead, I wipe my buttery lips with the napkin and start chewing rapidly as I walk over to join him.
Unfortunately for me, this snail is much chewier than the first, and I sit down at the table still chomping on it.
“So, what are your thoughts after completing the first practicum?” he asks.
“Umm…” I struggle to swallow the large bite so I can answer him. “It was…” I take a big gulp and feel it slip down, “…enlightening.”
“Explain what you mean.”
“As you know from my survey, missing teeth have always been a big turnoff for me. But, after my interaction with Mason, I’ve realized it isn’t as important as I thought. And…I feel ashamed.”
“There’s no reason to feel shame,” he assures me. “Everyone has invalid preconceptions they cling to. It’s not until you are challenged that you become aware of them.”
I’m struck by his profound statement.
Sighing uncomfortably, I confess to him, “I’m nervous about what other misconceptions I have that I’m not even aware of.”
He looks at me kindly. “If you keep an open mind, you’ll be able to navigate any that reveal themselves. There’s no reason for you to be afraid.”
“I’m not afraid!” I insist, still feel the sting of Lord Murray’s critique.
Headmaster Wallace leans forward, gazing into my eyes. “I suspect you have a fearless nature you haven’t fully tapped into yet. But be mindful of pushing yourself too hard.”
I smile shyly, encouraged by his words.
“If you listen to your instincts, you’ll be able to meet every challenge you face in the weeks ahead.”
“Thank you, Headmaster.”
Staring into those ocean blue eyes, I notice that his left pupil is a different size from his right. Without thinking, I ask with concern, “I’ve noticed something seems a bit off with your eye. Is everything all right?”
He sits back in his chair, staring at me for several moments.
Afraid I’ve offended him, I apologize. “I meant no offense. Please, forget I said anything.”
“I’m not offended,” he assures me. “You are keenly perceptive, Miss Lane. In answer to your question, it’s a prosthetic.” He shrugs, saying offhandedly, “I should have listened to my mother when she told me not to run with scissors…”
At first, I’m horrified but quickly realize he’s joking. I smile hesitantly at his joke and refrain from prying any further. However, I have a gut feeling that something terrible must have happened and wonder if it has anything to do with his wife who died.
Leaning forward, Headmaster Wallace changes the subject by asking, “How are you feeling about our course so far?”
I can’t hide how overwhelmed I feel. “It’s been a lot to take in. But…I appreciate everything I’ve learned tonight.”
“Good.” He looks genuinely pleased as he stands up from the table. “We’ll talk again soon.”
I return to my table while he calls Miss Diaz to join him.
Naturally, Amethyst and Michelle want to know what we talked about, but I keep my answers vague and choose not to mention our headmaster’s prosthetic. Instead, I return to the hors d’oeuvres table so I can mentally compartmentalize everything he’s said.
Hearing that he believes in me boosts my confidence. I feel ready to face this next practicum and shiver in anticipation.
Who knows? Maybe my next partner will be the one to check all of my boxes…
After the two trainers finish speaking to everyone, we’re led to a circular auditorium with a circular stage in the center and rows of red theater chairs around it. The other trainers are already seated and waiting for us.
While Headmaster Wallace steps onto the stage, our small group of eleven heads to the front. There we’re instructed to sit in the first two rows.
“We have something special planned for you for this second practicum. We want you to observe and learn from one another, so you will watch each individual scene as a group.”
I hear someone gasp in the row behind me. As much as I hate being the center of attention, I’m intrigued by the idea.
Headmaster Wallace then informs us, “Once again, your partner has been chosen based on the questionnaire you filled out.”
I’m thrilled to hear that and am equally happy when he calls Amethyst to go first. She gives me a pleased look as she gets up and walks to the stage.
Headmaster Wallace sits down next to the other trainers before addressing her, “Miss Prescott, on your form you noted that you dislike paddles.”
She nods, then remembers to add humbly, “Yes, Headmaster.”
“You also indicated that you prefer tattooed men with long hair.”
“Yes, the more tattoos the better.”
Headmaster Wallace gestures to a young man walking onto the stage. Naturally, he’s holding a leather paddle in his hand.
“Meet your partner, Miss Prescott.”
The group starts to murmur when he joins her.
“Quiet,” Headmaster Wallace commands. “If you are not on stage, you are expected to remain silent and observe.”
Everyone turns their attention to the new Dom, who is wearing nothing but a pair of boxers. Instead of long hair, his white hair is styled in a buzz cut. The man’s skin is pale like moonlight and devoid of any ink.
Amethyst tilts her head as she openly studies her partner’s physique.
I glance up at the ceiling and spy a unique red bench being lowered to the stage.
The Dom commands Amethyst to take off everything except her skirt. She quickly complies, setting her clothes on the floor beside her. Standing before him bare-chested, she looks tense as she waits for his next command.
“Mount the spanking bench, little lamb,” he says in a quiet voice.
His tender name for her, along with his gentle demeanor, sets the tone for the encounter, and I notice her visibly relax. She turns to face the bench and lies on her stomach, resting her legs on the padded side rails.
“Good girl,” he murmurs. Joining her at the bench, he lifts her skirt to expose her naked ass. “Paddles are not used exclusively for punishment.”
Walking to the front of the bench, he lifts her chin with his finger and plants a kiss on her lips. He then walks around her, lightly grazing her bare skin with the leather instrument. After several passes, he stands in position beside her shapely ass and lifts the paddle above it.
“First, a light slap.”
I watch as he swats her left buttock with the paddle, captivated by the sound of leather on flesh.
“Did you like that?” he asks Amethyst while rubbing her butt cheek.
“Yes.”
“Let’s make it a little harder…” He slaps her right cheek with more force, and her flesh ripples from the impact.
Amethyst lets out a soft gasp.
Caressing the skin he just swatted, he asks, “How did that feel?”
“Even better,” she answers.
“Perfect,” he says with satisfaction. Using the same force, he switches from one ass cheek to the other, pinkening her butt with the paddle.
The seductive slapping sounds of the instrument fill the auditorium as the rest of us watch. He continues to rub her pink ass with his hand and then reaches between her legs. “Yes, little lamb. Show me how wet you can get.”
I stare at the two, surprised by how turned on I am by the sensual way he uses the punishment tool to heighten her arousal.
Glancing at the four trainers, I note that they are watching the scene intently. Each has a tablet in hand and appears to be taking notes.
After teasing Amethyst with the paddle for several minutes, he leans down and whispers something in her ear.
I see her nod.
He then moves to the back of the bench and pulls down his boxers, exposing his hard shaft.
I hold my breath when he presses his cock into her, grabbing Amethyst by the waist as he starts to thrust. The air quickly fills with the sound of his grunts and her moans of pleasure.
Minutes later, Amethyst makes a high-pitched scream while her Dom thrusts rapidly inside her until he comes.
The scene makes me wet, and I can’t help but wonder if Amethyst just orgasmed in front of all of us. While she pants softly on the bench, an assistant throws her partner a towel that he uses to clean her.
Helping her off the spanking bench, her Dom stands beside her and leans in again to whisper something in her ear.
She smiles and looks down at her feet.
Headmaster Wallace directs his question to her. “Miss Prescott, how do you feel right now?”
“Stunned…and happy.”
“Did you enjoy your introduction to the instrument?”
She glances at the paddle her partner is holding and nods. “I never knew a paddle could be used like that.”
“Your impression of your partner?”
Amethyst turns to face her Dom. “You surprised me.”
“Good,” he replies with a satisfied smirk.
“Would you scene with him again?” Headmaster Wallace asks her.
Amethyst answers without a moment’s hesitation. “I would.”
“Excellent. Thank your Dom and return to your seat.”
She turns to face him and murmurs with a playful grin, “Thank you.”
The Dom picks up her uniform and hands it to her, then nods to the headmaster before exiting the stage. As the spanking bench disappears upward, Amethyst dons her uniform and returns to her seat.
Already excited after witnessing their encounter, I’m thrilled when Headmaster Wallace calls my name next.
“Miss Lane.”
The eagerness I feel instantly fades when I notice Lord Murray rising from his seat and starting toward the stage to join me…